Aramora

Chapter 37: See You Soon

Warning: This chapter contains themes of death/suicide.

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Nisha doesn't know how Naomi was able to fall asleep with everything going on, but she somehow managed to which left the Tus'Felnis envious. There's just too much running through her head to allow herself to relax for even a moment. It's been a few hours since their talk on deck, and it's probably close to the time to act.

They passed through the Ganil River in order to avoid attention from the Orcs and so they could get to Ecrin as quickly as possible.

But Nisha remains in the cabin, sitting at the foot of the bed with her knees hugged to her chest and her eyes closed and she just lets herself feel the rocking waves. But not even that is enough to calm her nerves.

She slightly opens her eyes to peer over at Naomi where she's sleeping beside her, seemingly having another vision from her Resonant Sight ability by the way her face will occasionally scrunch up as though she's trying to focus on something even though her eyes are closed.

What Nisha would give to be able to sleep. To let herself just accept what's to come. Maybe it's the knowledge of how, in a couple of hours, she is going to die. She probably could have slept, but the subconscious part of herself that knows about this makes her not want to waste a single moment on sleeping.

Even with the hours passed where nothing has happened, she doesn't mind. If some of her last moments are spent sitting beside Naomi while she sleeps peacefully and feeling the waves steadily rocking the pirate ship around her, then she considers these moments well-spent.

But the moment is gone the instant there's a soft knock on the door.

Part of her wants to stay in bed and act like she didn't hear it. As if she were a kid not wanting to wake up for school on Monday, even as her parents are knocking at her door for her to wake up.

But unfortunately, she never had that. She was never just a kid.

The knock comes again which makes Nisha sigh, coming to terms with the fact that it's time to get up and face the day. No time left for fantasies she wishes she could live in.

She slides off the bed with a meaningful glance at Naomi before she lumbers to the door. With a deep breath, she opens it to see Malachi standing on the other side.

"Nisha? Where's Naomi?" he asks. She can hear the hint of mistrust underneath his tone but she can't be mad about it. These people have every right to not trust her.

Nisha motions back into the room with her thumb. "Still asleep. Want me to wake her up?"

Malachi narrows his eyes at her and his face shifts in skepticism. "Did something... happen last night...?" he asks uncertainly.

Nisha half-heartedly scoffs. "Jeez, get your mind outta the gutter, old man. Neither of us wanted to be alone so she let me stay in her cabin for a few hours," she explains and he slowly nods his understanding.

"I see... Anyway, to answer your question, yes. Wake her up and come out on deck when you can," he says, followed quickly by a weary sigh.

Nisha's ears slightly lower. "...We're here, aren't we?"

Malachi nods. "Yes, but there's a problem. You'll see what I mean when we get out there," he says and turns to leave. For an old man who, for as long as she's known him, doesn't really do a good job of expressing his emotions or when he cares about someone, but he seems utterly drained. Guess the events in Narvadin did a number on everyone, even him. It's understandable, but it still hurts to see.