Zoi woke to cold stone and a scent like fresh snow.
He wasn't in bed. He was lying on cloth at the base of a tree that normally doesn't exist. It was huge, all its branches, leaves, trunks, everything, were pure white, and not the pale tree kind, like light that decided to take shape.
"What the fuck," Zoi muttered, pushing himself up.
That's when he saw her.
A girl with shoulder-length brown hair and gold eyes framed by lashes that looked unfair. She was kneeling over Tabitha's lifeless body, both hands hovering above her chest. The air around her shimmered green. Mana bent, spiraled, then poured into Tabitha like water into a cracked cup.
A soft shockwave rolled out. Tabitha's wounds were sealed once, she began to do it over and over as if doing CPR, after some time of pumping mana into Tabitha's body, she stopped.
It was a miracle. The kind only one family could manifest.
Zoi's mouth fell open. He was watching something people would kill to witness once.
She exhaled, and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear with her pinky. Then she smiled looking at Tabitha's.
"Hey, quit drooling and take what you need from the life tree behind you," Lumina said. "Don't waste a miracle staring at it. The White Tree only blooms like this once a decade, and its sap can regrow bone, stitch torn meridians, even pull a soul back from the edge. So grab what you need, Fool, before it decides you're not worthy and closes."
Zoi snapped his jaw shut, annoyed. "Must you always be like this every time?"
"As long as you keep behaving like the idiot you are, yes, I will," Lumina replied without missing a beat.
Zoi clicked his tongue and turned toward the tree. "Well, now that I look at it clearly, it's actually kinda beautiful," he said as a light wind moved through the white leaves.
"I can see you're marveled by the tree's beauty, right?" the brown-haired girl said as she sat beside him.
Zoi glanced at her. "Uh, yeah. Sure."
"You're the little red riding hood girl, right?" Zoi asked. Mira let out a short laugh. "Little red riding hood? What am I, four?"
"I mean the girl that wore the red hood," Zoi said. "Oh. That makes more sense. Yeah, I'm Mira," the girl replied.
"Okay, Mira. You're from the Sanari family, aren't you?" Zoi asked.
She was startled and shifted away. "H-how do you know that?"
"What? Did you wanna keep it a secret?" Zoi smirked. "Well… yes, I did," she mumbled, cheeks heating.
"There's no need to be embarrassed about that kind of stuff. Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret," Zoi said. "But if you never wanted people to know, you shouldn't have revived a person outdoors, where everybody can see."
"I-I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it," she stammered. "I saw someone in need of help, so… well, my body acted on its own."
Zoi smiled, "Well, that's a good thing. It shows you have a good heart. That's something you can rarely find nowadays. I like that about you." he said as Mira began to blush. "Did my heart just skip a beat?" she wondered.
"Thank you," she said.
Zoi's expression shifted. "Anyways, what are you doing here in the Sicuria family's territory? If you're found, you could get executed."
"Oh, I just wanted to explore," Mira said, tucking her hands behind her back. "Our residence is close by, and the Sanaris have an alliance with the Sicurias."
Zoi stared at her. "Yeah. But the alliance says no one crosses territory without permission."
The air went tense between them.
He sighed and finally met her eyes. "You know what, forget it. It'd be best if you get going now."
Mira smiled. "Thanks for your consent." she said. "Oh, by the way. I noticed the incomplete resurrection potion you were making. I helped you finish it." she added.
Zoi's gaze dropped to her hand. A small cut marked her finger. "You didn't have to go that far." He said, feeling guilt twist in his chest.
Mira shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with helping. I'm learning apothecary. And I don't mind helping… you… out." Her cheeks turned red on the last words.
Zoi looked at her and shifted his weight. Uncomfortable. "Yeah. Sure." He stood up, brushing dust from his pants.
"Oh, yeah. You can have this," Mira said, holding out a small bag.
Zoi took it and opened it, noticing bread and wine inside. He closed it and let the bag vanish into his inventory. "Thanks."
He turned, grabbed Eleanor's hair sticking out behind the tree, and dragged her to the area Tabitha was. "Guess I'll be leaving first." he said.
With a flick of his leg, he flipped Tabitha into the air and caught her over his shoulder.
"Um," Mira hesitated. "Why are you carrying the lady with blonde hair like that?"
Zoi glanced back over his shoulder. "Cause she's a bitch."
He started to move towards the edge, then added, "I'll come visit sometime."
Mira opened her mouth wanting to say something, but then closed it. The words wouldn't come. But as Zoi was about to jump away, she forced one out. "Name."
Zoi stopped. "My name?" he asked as she nodded.
He smiled. "Zoi Thanatos Sicuria. That's my full name. Or just Zoi. It's my formal name."
Mira blushed and broke eye contact, staring at the ground. "Zoi Thanatos Sicuria… I'll remember that name." she said.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait. Sicuria?!!!"
She looked up fast, but Zoi was already gone. She ran to the edge and looked around but still, he was nowhere to be found.
Mira sighed and sat down hard, eyes on the sky. "Zoi… I'll make sure I tell you next time we meet."
_BACK AT THE THANATOS RESIDENCE_
Val and the king walked down a dark, dusty concrete staircase. The Thanatos residence dungeon…or prison, if you wanted to call it what it was.
They stopped at the end in front of a cell. A small barred window cut light across the floor, illuminating some parts of the room, but barely reached behind the bars.
"Wake up," Val said as he kicked the bars, making a loud noise that echoed through the dungeon.
A voice came from the dark. "What do you want?"
The light shifted. It hit the prisoner, revealing his features, it was the elf Val had captured. But was skinny, chained to the wall, and had hollow eyes.
"Long time no see…"
The king paused. His smile pulled, slow and sharp, as the elf widened its eyes in surprise, his facial expression filled with fear.
"…Nevir," he finished.