A Light to Bright (Uriel/Helle)

Again. She finds herself waiting for another visitor. Her time has been spent with constant attention, people from every position within the Vandenreich coming and going to check up on her. She has lied to many of them, blaming a failed mission for her sorry state. It is the least she can do to save face before her subordinates, and to protect the image of him. She doesn’t want to think about him, but it’s impossible for her to not.

At least, for now, she’s allowed some respite thanks to Rafeala. She is busy using it to catch up on much needed rest. With her eyes closed, she kept her breath steady, to keep her heart at a constant beat. She has not had any episodes, but that is thanks to her constant use of meditation to keep herself tamed. At least she has found an application for the lessons from when she was younger.

Ah. Someone is at the door. Rest does not stay peaceful for the weary. It took but a request to send Rafeala to the door and see who it is. The quick description of a man that stood as tall as the door with blonde hair proved adequate enough for Helle. She knows who it is that awaits entrance, and she wondered just what brought him here. Is he worried? Was he asked to check up on her? Are there questions he wished to have answered? Her mind pondered for a moment before she allowed him entrance with two quick words from her mouth.

"Come in."

Uriel would find the woman in question sitting still on her couch, staring at nothing in particular until he approached, her gaze slowly moving towards him. One would say that Helle seemed well enough. However, one can see the weakness in her gaze, the poorness of her movements and expression. A small smile pulled at her lips, but everyone knows she is far from the prideful champion she used to be. Still, she found Uriel's appearance peculiar. That is not his uniform, nor does it seem formal in any fashion. He also has food with him. Hopefully, it proves edible.

"What brings thou so far, my dear friend?"

Eh? Eh? There's something wrong with the way she talks? Why, she's always spun her words in a similar manner with everyone. Uriel's the first to ever say it's weird to her face, but now she's unable to believe that other's have not thought the same. Well, now she has another thing to feel a bit self-conscious about. However, she does not let her newfound disdain for her vocabulary show on her face, deciding to keep her calm, yet, burdened smile steady. Things made in jest are just that, but that does not mean every insult thrown her way was in jest. What he founds a simple quirk, others may find undeniably irritating.

"Ah, yes. Thank you for cooking up something. You did not have to. I am kept well-fed."

She didn't even try to respond to his other words. They have spoken little, especially after Helle had closed herself off from everyone to focus solely on her work. Uriel did not visit her then. Many did not care to drop by during her time working herself to death. Maybe they thought she was fine. Maybe they thought nothing would occur due to her strength. If only they understood the danger that lied underneath the surface of her soft skin. Though, none of them probably would have adequately helped her with her situation. Only one person could. No matter how close people make themselves out to be, there's always that barrier between them, and Helle is unsure if she's willing to poke a hole in her own for this man.

"Do not fret too long over minor details. I am fine and recovering well. It won't be long until I'm able to continue my prior duties for our glorious Vandenreich."

Her words, as hollow as they are, seemed almost rehearsed. However, her smile was all too real, all too sad, all too injured. In fact, she broke eye contact, her eyes everywhere but on the only other person in the room. Ah... She began to toy with the food he had brought just to pretend that she is as chipper as she has always been. It is hard, but she's used to working under stress. She's been practicing staying in control.

'Is this where things end? Has all I've done been for naught? Why must this body of mine prove incapable of the simplest of dreams? What was the point in the end? The power to save the world? Why has one lofty dream sunken me so low?'

Thoughts that did nothing but piss her off fired off in her brain like a barrage of bombs, never relenting. She can see it all: her birth, her youth, her training, her life, her death. Is this another moment of seeing everything she was, is, and could be again? Then, she is dying? Again? What a pissant of a human she proves to be. Brought low by the mere nightmares? Guess she was always weak willed. It's growing dark, the light turning hazy with shadows slowly eating away at it. She's losing consciousness. If she falls asleep, will she wake up. What will she dream of this time? Will she even dream? Maybe she should just accept it this time, save herself the trouble of having to see reality. That would be a pleasant dream.

However, she found herself annoyed, a hand that burned and shook her brain awake holding onto her. With a lofty breath, she turned her head slowly towards the man who burned too brightly for his own good.

"Uriel..." She found herself muttering as the shadows around her visage seemed to burn away. What a sorry excuse for a woman she is. She should apologize to him. She has a lot of people to apologize to. There are a lot of people who want to see her well, not dead. Ah, but isn't she done living her life for people? Isn't that an impossibility now? Is she really going to die unresolved? She had accepted such before, but now? Dammit. She hates everyone. Why do they still cause her suffering now? Fine! If they want her here, then she will give them their chance to break her stubbornness. Tch... Is this just her way of being afraid of death? Blaming others?

Her hand tightened around her chest, the sudden pain tearing her body apart nothing as her bloodied teeth tightened. More blood dripped from her lips as she began to focus entirely on her heart. For a moment, the Helle of old had returned, Reishi moving at her whim for one sole purpose: to save her. It was a simple but complicated procedure to force the energy of the world to take hold of her heart and force it to comply and return to a stable state. It hurt her. She could feel the last remnants of her teacher slipping away in totality. She won't be able to do this again, but at least, for now, she'll have another chance at life. Why? She doesn't know. All she knows is that she can breathe, and that Uriel is too bright and hurting her eyes while also burning her arm.

"Please let go of me, Uriel. I'm fi-" She broke into a coughing fit, more blood coming from her mouth. She is not going to die, but her body is still in a state of decay and immediate attention is still required. She's shaking horribly.