Sora noticed Brie was barely breathing and his pain continued to increase. He forced himself out of bed, drank a large potion, which eased some of the pain. He moved to Brie's side of the bed, kneeled near her and held her hand.
Suddenly, his system spoke to him without him giving a command.
[Would you like me to disengage the link between you and Brie?]
"No! Why the hell would you even suggest that?"
[To protect you from any further harm to your body. Brie can handle the pain herself.]
"Sora, it's ok. Relax. Take a deep breath. She's with your mom now." Celeste's voice played in his head.
"Calm Aura! Tranquility!" Sora whispered as he cast two spells on Brie. "I hope this helps you. Just stay strong, you're with my Mom now. You can get through this!"
*****
Aphrodite snapped her fingers and took Brie to the blank, white space.
"This is why Sora needs you and his friends in his life. You will meet more allies and face many enemies. Your party and your love for Sora are the keys to Exteria's future," Aphrodite said calmly with a smile.
"Wait… why did I see myself in a wedding dress? Is this something the gods and goddesses influenced?"
"Of course we did not force or influence you to fall in love! Athena forbids us from interfering with humankind without her permission. We simply watch over the souls of the living and the dead. The souls who do great things in life or try to be good people and pray to us for forgiveness end up resting in peace in our beautiful, luscious lands for eternity. I'm not here for a history lesson, but your party needs to start finding the lost races."
"Ok, thank you. I will let Sora know. Anything else you'd like me to tell him?" Brie asked with a smile.
Aphrodite floated toward and hugged Brie. The goddess smiled and brushed her hand through Brie's beautiful blue hair. Brie started to feel a strange, tingling sensation spread throughout her body. When the spreading stopped, her heart skipped a beat and a sudden burst of adrenaline shot through her entire nervous system.
"Woah…what was that?" she asked.
"Our formal blessing for your marriage and a gift from the goddess Athena, ruler of Paradise," Aphrodite said.
"A gift? What do you mean?"
"100 years ago, Athena sent me to live on Exteria to observe and learn more about the planet. That's where I met Sora's Father, and eventually we had a child together. Cyrus was a trusted advisor to the current Uthra King," Aphrodite said.
"Sora was born on Exteria?!" Brie exclaimed.
"Yes. Athena forced me to return to Paradise and presented Cyrus with a proposition: pass the trial of the gods or live out his life as an Uthra. He passed the trials and earned Athena's blessing. He became a god and left Exteria to live in Paradise with me. Sora was around 7 years old," Aphrodite explained.
"Sora's dad is a god now?! Doesn't that make Sora… a god?!"
"Yes, but he hasn't fully awakened his power. I've spent far too long in this space." Aphrodite said as she disappeared while saying, "Tell him… about his Father… I love you–"
******
Brie gasped for air as she woke up. She started breathing heavily and noticed the sweat drenching her forehead.
"FINALLY!" Sora said, still clenching Brie's hand. "I'll be right back!"
Brie stopped Sora and she started crying. "You look horrible. I'm so sorry! How long have you been in this much pain? Sora I'm so sorry!"
"System, please give a large potion to Brie."
Brie saw the potion form in her hand, quickly unscrewed the lid and drank it as quickly as she could. She burped and Sora began to feel better.
"Don't be sorry… and you don't have to tell me anything. I just hope your visit with my mom went well!" Sora exclaimed.
"It was amazing! I have so much to tell you about but it looks like it's daytime. How long did I sleep for?" Brie asked.
"It's four PM, so around 16 hours."
"I'm so sor—"
They heard the doorbell ring.
[Sora, King Joseph Tanquinn is out front with a car waiting for you and Brie.]
"I'm glad you're awake, Brie. How did your meeting with his Mother go? You should tell us on the ride with the King," Celeste's voice echoed in both of their heads.
"Sora, when you had your dream, did it smell like smoke and fire the entire time?" Brie thought, assuming he would hear her telepathically.
Sora's frightened and shocked expression overwhelmed his normally calm face. Brie couldn't recall a time he ever looked this afraid or taken aback by a question.
"No, but that's horrible! That's probably why you were shaking so much and what caused all the pain from the dream. Let's go see the King, he's waiting at our door," he said with a smile.
"Good. I see you two have figured out you are able to communicate through your thoughts. Now that you have been blessed by Athena, you two can speak telepathically." Celeste sounded happy inside their heads. "But only with each other. Nobody else, aside from me of course."
"That's so cool - I love you Sora!"
"I love you too, Brie!"
"You know I can still hear you right?" Celeste laughed.
"Yeah but you can hear everyone when you want too, so who cares?" Brie laughed.
Brie and Sora stepped out of their room and walked into the living room. They noticed a note left on a bright piece of pink paper.
"Taking Leila, Jubelle and Levi to Prosperia for some drinks! Jubelle could use a night out, don't think he's ever been to a human restaurant! Signed with a heart, Sasha."
"I guess we shouldn't keep the King waiting." Sora said.
Brie gave him a quick kiss and they opened the door. King Joseph and his regular massive body guard stood at the door. Sora and Brie bowed, and the body guard turned to walk to the car.
"Accompany a dying man on a ride?" the King spoke so softly they could barely hear him.