Submission (#6516) Approved

Despite all odds, Mary and Nico finally arrived safely in Devara after a few more days wandering through the desert and rocky terrain. Once they left the traces of the Daeva behind, their journey was uneventful.

Almost.

Mary kept having nightmares, each more harrowing than the last one. He kept waking up in cold sweat, exhausted, and afraid of going back to sleep. Nico was being supportive throughout and finally got Mary to open up about his nightmares. It didn’t fully prevent them from happening but talking about them out loud seemed to lessen the horror. Eventually, Mary also tried to explain to Nico what had happened in the pocket dimension, although the more he tried to remember, the more confusing his memory got and the memories started to mix with his nightmares. But Nico kept encouraging him to unravel it all, slowly, but surely, and they continued talking about it even after they arrived in Devara.

It was such a relief for him that they made it out alive of the valley and Mary was utterly grateful that Nico emerged from the ordeal unharmed. Sadly the same couldn’t be said about him, and Nico made an appointment for him with a healer the instant they arrived at the Inn. He also informed others about the corrupted elnin they had found, so someone more qualified could hopefully take care of it.

Mary on the other hand indulged in taking long baths and Nico bought dinner for the two of them - fresh fruits, cheese, freshly baked bread and some chocolate…, before they both finally rested in a proper bed again. Mary curled up close to Nico and, to his surprise, for the first time in a week, he didn’t have nightmares and finally got some much needed rest. 

[...]

The next morning, they headed out to seek a healer, who was located near the outskirts of Devara. Mary was unsure about this, but Nico kept encouraging him. Normally Mary dealt with his problems on his own, but he had to admit that this was beyond his capabilities and he was a little desperate. The events of the journey still clung to him and made him feel uneasy in a way that was difficult to explain.

After talking to the healer for a little, Mary started to feel better and finally relaxed a bit again. It was nice hearing someone else explaining things for once and assuring him that he was not going crazy for once. The effects of the overwild border and the pocket dimension were devastating for most elnins who experienced it - finding Daeva evidence on top of all that was not only extremely unlucky but also further destabilizing for Mary.

“I have some ideas on how to help you… ideally we could do a recovery spell with one of the corrupted anima shards, but I think that is out of the question~”, the healer said, half to themselves, but then were surprised when Mary started rustling in his bag - and suddenly carefully pulled out his Pomu; which had turned to stone - and was carrying a dark purple anima shard with a black halo around it.

“You mean these ones?”, he asked quietly and placed the Pomu on the table.

“Woah wait. When did you-?” Nico was bewildered, raised an eyebrow and took a step closer to the table, inspecting the little Pomu that had turned to stone.

“When we first found the anima splinters all over the path… I’m not sure what happened, but something .. I don’t know. It felt like an urge to take one of these?” Mary wasn’t sure how to explain it. In the moment, he had been terrified and wanted absolutely nothing to do with any of it, but thankfully his instincts kicked in and told him to take one of these anima shards - just in case.

“I didn’t notice you taking one of these at all”, Nico wondered. How did he miss that?

“Oh, this will work!”, the healer elnin was delighted as they examined Marys’ Pomu. “Did you touch the anima shard directly at any point?”, they then asked and watched Mary like a hawk, but the dark elnin just shook his head.

“No.. something… told me it would be a bad idea to do that”, he quietly answered. “It felt off… wrong in a way. And before I could think too much about it, my Pomu must have sensed something, because it jumped out from my shadow and went to retrieve the splinter for me.” Mary was still a bit haunted by the feeling of watching his little friend turn to stone. It was very eerie, but he decided to trust his Pomu with this. If his friend offered to help, he supported their decision. Once his Pomu had secured the anima splinter, Mary had tucked them away in a bag and had been very careful with them. Alas, he didn’t really know what to do next and was extremely thankful that Nico took the initiative and made the appointment with the healer.

“We’re in luck then. With the anima splinter present, I can give you a healing and cleansing ritual that will take effect during the purification of the corrupted anima shard. Once it turns white or clear and your Pomu returns to normal, come see me again and we will turn the anima splinter into a charm. You will wear it over time, and it will slowly deteriorate until it vanishes - and with luck, so will the corruption you feel now.” The healer continued to explain further, saying it would help Mary to cope with all the things that had happened and Mary really hoped they were right. Nico was next to him, listening to everything as well while Mary got distracted. He carefully reached for his Pomu and nudged it gently with his nose. He didn’t like that it turned to stone, even if it was necessary to protect both him and the Pomu from harm - he still wished there was another way. Alas, the healer explained in great detail how lucky Mary got when he decided not to touch the anima splinter.
Eventually, they finished the session. Mary was prescribed a few tinctures that would help his body to recover, and the healer recommended he spend time near shrines and mana wells, to replenish his mana levels as well. “Make sure to rest and eat healthy as well.”
Mary nodded softly, while he carefully wrapped his Pomu in a scarf again and placed them back into the bag, next to the medicine.
In the background he could hear Nico talk to the healer, but the older elnin was too tired to pay any attention anymore.

“Ready to go?” Nico suddenly appeared next to Mary, who didn’t realize that he had dozed off and looked up, surprised. He purred softly when Nico kissed his forehead and gently nudged the other one.

“Yeah~ all set…”

[...]

Nestled at the outskirts of the bustling desert city, a serene shrine area unfolded like an oasis amid the arid landscape. The air carried the soothing melody of babbling rivers and gentle waterfalls, providing a stark contrast to the surrounding desert. Mary instantly felt more at home and like he could breathe easier. The shrine wasn’t very far away from the healers’ shop; they didn’t have to walk for long.
Lush greenery adorned the sacred grounds and the trees with emerald leaves stretched their branches, providing shade for the area. Clear crystal clusters were spotted throughout; sparkling in the sun in yellow, orange and green. The centerpiece of the shrine area was a collection of shallow, slow rivers that meandered gracefully through the terrain. Their crystal-clear waters were cool and full of life.

After wandering the deserts for weeks and going through everything, Mary could feel his throat close up and almost wanted to cry. It felt like he had forgotten how beautiful Ahza could be, and the shrine provided much needed refreshment for his memory.
He carefully placed his Pomu on a beautifully carved stone with lanterns on top, and they lit up some incense.

“Everything alright?” Nico could sense Marys’ mood was a roller coaster.

“A little overwhelmed…”

“It’ll be okay.. your Pomu is safe here. How about we will grab some food from the market and then come back here? The healer said it would be best if you spend time near mana wells… we might as well wait out the 24 hours here until the purification is complete.”

Mary nodded quietly, and with one last glance to his pomu, they headed back into the city once more. Nico decided to also swing by the Inn to ask for blankets, so they could spend the night more comfortably.

[...]

They both strolled through the vibrant market of Devara together, the afternoon sun shining through colorful tapestry above the stalls and between the houses. Everything was so colorful and a medley of aromas. Stalls brimmed with an array of local delights. Mary tensed up a little when he saw all the action and all the other elnins around; he was still feeling jumpy after everything.

“Hey, it’s okay. Take a deep breath. We will take it slow, okay? And if you want to leave at any point, just say so and I’ll take you back to the shrine~” Nicos voice was quiet and dark and calmed Mary down, who did as the younger one told and took a few deep breaths, until he felt somewhat alright again, and they continued.

Their first stop was a spice merchants' stall, where an assortment of powders and blends awaited them. Mary carefully inspected each jar, inhaling deeply to savor the distinct scents and Nico, always the culinary enthusiast, eagerly discussed recipes with the merchant, ensuring they left with a selection of spices to elevate their home-cooked meals. As they meandered through the market, the duo encountered stalls laden with succulent fruits and the aroma of freshly baked treats led them to a confectionery, where the air was thick with the sweet scents of honey and nuts. Marys’ eyes started to sparkle with anticipation as they sampled baklava and other delectable pastries and they bought a few for his Pomu.

Devaras market proved to be a haven for the culinary explorer and the curious soul - they both spent all afternoon exploring. Their journey through the market unveiled more treasures; a vendor selling artisanal bread, a quaint tea shop offering fragrant blends, and a corner dedicated to handmade trinkets and souvenirs.

Bags full of deliciousness they finally returned to the shrine. Nico laid down a blanket and a few cushions, while Mary plated a few fruits and looked at the notes the healer gave him.
They included a few exercises for him to deal with the anxiety and stress and Mary was determined to work through it all. He didn’t like feeling this way, it made him feel vulnerable and like he was a burden for Nico - and that was the last thing he wanted to be.

[...]

The next 24 hours felt odd for Mary, but being at the shrine definitely helped. He was immensely relieved once his Pomu came back to life. It chirped and purred and beamed at him in joy, waving the now cleared anima splinter over its head.

“Yes, you did an amazing job~ Thank you so much”, Mary whispered lovingly and cuddled with his Pomu.

Nico smiled, as he gently grabbed the anima splinter and stored it safely in a little bag, before giving it back to the Pomu. “Here you go, little fella. Take good care of it, we will need it again soon.” The Pomu twirled in response before jumping onto Marys’ back.

“We have a little surprise for you~”, Mary explained and laughed, when he heard his Pomu trill in excitement as it spotted the treats all laid out in front of them on the picnic blanket - and then proceeded to jump into a bowl of strawberries.