CAREGIVERS - 3
The Caregivers immediately rushed to both Xayah and Cislunar's pools once they closed the visions. Spared the pair the pain of reliving any further past trauma. Already, they'd both feel mentally and emotionally raw. Would be mentally drained in ways neither had likely experienced before. Gentle care and comfort would be needed in excess after this.
Xayah emerged from the water with a splash, all but clawing her way out of the liquid in a frantic scramble to get away. From what, she wouldn't be able to say, but her instincts were screaming she needed to and they'd taken the reigns. Ragged, deep and frantic breaths sounded from her as she desperately tried to fill her lungs with air. There was no near drowning to recover from, but it felt like she was drowning under the weight of her memories. Of her mind, her panic. Two sets of hands gently grabbing her almost tipped her the rest of the way into a blind panic. The only thing to keep her from that point was the sound of their comforting croons and murmurs as they embraced her soaking, shaking form.
"Shh... you're okay. Just breathe. You've finished your trial, and we will subject you to no further pain." One mumured to Xayah softly, both her and the other haedian curling their bodies around Xayah's own as a form of cover. To hide her away and offer some form of security for her to latch onto.
It was that very comfort that made Xayah crumple. Her heart ached, the pain of her mother's loss as strong and vivid as it was the day she'd lost her. The crippling isolation, the sorrow and grief so strong she felt as if she would suffocate under it all. How was she supposed to get up after it all? What did she have to lean into- what support system? Everything Xayah had, she'd carved out for herself by herself. Did it all alone, with no one to lean on or turn to. As broken sobs tore from her, Xayah wondered how she managed to do it all. How was she supposed to return to that? Whatever strength she'd mustered up, she no longer felt she had. No longer had that fire inside. Instead, there was only the oppressive weight of wanting nothing more than to curl up and hide against her mother. A feeling that had crept up many times over the years, but never to this intensity.
"You need not suffer so, Xayah. Your soul is hurt and scared, but you are kind. You will endure, and you will be alone no longer. Even now, you have others you can trust. Yes?" The other Caregiver crooned, hugging Xayah tighter as she all but cradled the sobbing vayron like a child. One Xayah very much felt like at the moment.
"Cislunar had his own challenge to face, and he too is enduring the now fresh pain of an unimaginable loss. But we four will tend to you both until you are ready, and then you both will continue to endure. Our trust in you both is secured. Rejoice- you've done what few others can or ever will be able to do as well."
Xayah didn't have the ability to respond with how her sobs wracked her body. It wasn't until she had cried until she couldn't any longer that she started to pull away from the ever present Caregivers. Tried to regain some dignity as she wiped at her eyes herself, ignored the way her whole body seemed to ache. Somehow, Xayah had a feeling she would be sore after this level of crying. Her heartache was still present, but it had certainly calmed down to an ache instead of a white hot agony.
"Thank you," Xayah mumbled, her voice raspy and quiet from crying. "What... or where do we go now? You said we passed, but I don't know what to do or expect from here."
The Caregivers shared a look, despite their eyes being concealed by their veils. Xayah looking up at them with so much vulnerability and uncertainty only fueled their worry about the duo. Yes, they passed, but...
"You will rejoin with Cislunar. When you're ready, we will lead you further inside to seek an audience with the Matriarch. Not even we can guide you on what that will entail, or how it will go."
Xayah nodded, mulling over their options slowly in her mind. Her brain felt like molasses, and her limbs felt heavy and weak as she stood to go meet with a teary eyed Cislunar. Not even the Royal Guard had been spared the experience of crying his eyes out. Granted, not as severely as Xayah had, but it was clear he had been. Even as he went about putting his armor back on and cleared his throat.
"I suppose we should follow them now," He mused quietly, walking at Xayah's pace as they trailed after the softly murmuring Caregivers. However, she wasn't fully thinking about this moment in time. Her mind was starting to wander to the crystals that lined the pools, to how the Keepers used crystals to store information. Surely her memories and inner soul wouldn't be recorded in these crystals around the pools, right?
It... wasn't a comforting thought. Made her squirm internally at the very idea. There wasn't much she would be able to do, though, and she was... oh so tired. It would be something for her to stress about another time, if at all.
WC: 922
Imports: https://www.deviantart.com/reos-empire/art/Xayah-15630-940114798
Submitted By LumosElm
Submitted: 1 week ago ・
Last Updated: 1 week ago