Eren and Lillya run to the side of the bed, surrounding me, enclosing me in what feels like a group hug, Rika included. As they squeeze me tightly my mind goes blank, I can't think of anything as a sense of relaxation overwhelms me. My body falls limp in the embrace and I release a deep sigh; I let my head droop to the side alittle and notice something different about Rika, then Eren and Lillya. I sit up and look at them properly, then down at myself. In their bodies, a light shines inside, a pleasant aura radiating from its core, I inch closer to Eren whom ended up right in front of me; as I grow closer feel warmth and comfort, like it's inviting me. My mind becomes engulfed in the pleasant sensation; I try to caress and touch the unfamiliar light, but my hand is stopped by a force preventing it from moving forward.
"K-Kou..." I gasp softly, blinking as reality rushes back to me and I realize I was completely overtaken by the pleasant aura the light was showing me, I look up at Eren whose cheeks have turned red, and his pale stomach exposed from my hand lifting his shirt and my other hand pressed against his stomach.
"U-Uhm..." feeling embarrassed I yank his shirt down and push him away, feeling Rika and Lil's eyes on me I squeeze mine shut and cover my face. "I-It's not what you think, I swear!!" I stutter in defense, "s-stop blushing!" I yell at Eren who isn't helping my case right now.
"Are you sure?" says Lillya lifting her eyebrow, "sure didn't seem like nothing, Hm, save his sister so now you think you can 'embrace' him hmmm?" she continues teasing while pretending to look at her nails; Rika giggles and Eren turns red in embarrassment.
"I saw something though, I seriously did, I-" as I try defending myself Rika presses her index finger to my lips and nods, draping her arm lazily around me in a loose hug as she explains.
"It was his soul," she begins, "well; actually you saw the Path." I look at Lillya and Eren and see they both know what she's talking about.
"You see," Eren says while gesturing to the girls, I look at them and see the same thing I saw in Eren, "this means our souls are in a way, being blessed with the Blue Path, or its given name; Mercury." He sees my confusion and continues, "When we all finally awakened, we were given the overall knowledge of what we're supposed to do, and because of your great declaration, I think we were Sealed, but I'm not exactly a hundred percent sure on that one. I believe what you said to Rika, about her being your Handler and that you will protect her, your heart was saying that to us as well, we felt it very strongly; you finally accepted your role as our Natural Handler; truly accepted it."
Everything he tells me sinks in, and I realize that he was right, from the first time I was told about my Gift, I only accepted it as a 'it can't be helped' sort of thing, but I was still bitter toward all of it, thinking how I wasn't given a real choice and yet I was expected to do as I was told with little information. I look at Rika and smile,
"I'm sorry for going into your mind against your permission, but I'm happy I did, I've learned a lot about you, and I don't regret it." Her cheeks turn soft pink and she hides her face in her pillow in embarrassment. I chuckle softly and pull her into a hug as if to once again reaffirm my feelings and happiness.
"I can't believe you went through all of that," Lillya chimes in, she sees my look of confusion and says, "remember? We're pretty much connected now, so the things we buried deepest in our hearts are all out in the open between the three of us. Rika and her abuse, me and mine, Eren and-"
"I think we should go eat!" Eren interrupts while flinging his arm around Lillya, my chest weighs heavy as I wonder what she was about to say.
"Eren accepted right away, so I didn't need to do any 'brain digging' into his past like I had to with Lillya and Rika, I'm so curious. Maybe he also had to deal with Merila when she wasn't torturing Rika, I don't know but I want to find out sooner or later." Eren sees the curiosity in my eyes and smiles apologetically.
"Don't worry it's nothing bad, just alittle embarrassing, I promise." He says while helping Rika out of her bed and laying her clothes out on the bed. As we walk out something clicks,
"I saw something again, while inside Rika's head or past or whatever." They all pause and look at me, "I think there is a new Path, and it's Grey."
They exchange glances at one another, "That's impossible, we don't have any knowledge or experience in it at all, after awakening we'd know about a new Path for sure," Lillya says without doubt.
"But I saw it, twice actually; with Lillya's father and then Merila, they both had it while they were...-" I trail off, hesitating to say it, "hurting the both of you." I sigh and continue, "when I was in Lillya's head, I saw her dad hurting her, and then the Path appeared on him, so dim I almost didn't see it, and when Mo finished him off it turned white and then vanished as if he were a target or something."
"What about Merila," asks Rika.
"I saw it when she tied you up and was hurting you, but it's so weird, the things I saw in your past, were from years ago, when you were only a child, way before any of us met and all the Handler stuff started happening, so it's ridiculous to say she's been under the Grey Path influence ever since Rika was a child."
"That's true, although Merila has always been wicked, some say even before our grandfather took her title as the Heir and gave it to my father, she had a reputation for being pretty cruel and never showing mercy." Rika says, "well first things first, we should probably go to Crate on Core and see Gloria, she may have some answers."
"Crate on Core, what is that?" I ask, utterly confused, although the mention of 'Crate' rings a bell.
"You'll recognize it." Lillya assures me, "anyways we should split for the night, Kou and Rika have had a hell of a day, not to mention the excessive worrying Eren went through." She smiles softly, and I turn to Rika and Eren, but I notice Eren standing still and stiff.
"Whats the matter, Eren?" I take a step forward but he ignores me and grabs Rika, holding her tightly taking her by surprise.
"E-Eren What is it?!" Rika exclaims, obviously confused and worried.
"I...I had no idea you were going through THAT much!" He yells, holding her tightly while burying his face in her long hair, I can hear the quivering in his voice, he's crying.
"That's right, when they all awakened, they suddenly knew all about each other's past, that means even though he thought he was protecting her, throughout her life, Merila was still able to get to Rika without him knowing about it at all! It must have just sunken in that she was going through such a traumatizing life." I back away knowing I can't say anything to ease his heart, I lower my head feeling utterly useless.
Rika stays silent as she lets Eren hold her; she closes her eyes and squeezes the material of his clothing. A moment passes and she breaks the silence, whispering that she doesn't blame him at all, "I didn't want you to worry, it's inevitable that she would exact her revenge in some way, and I didn't want you to be dragged into it. She only targeted you a few times, and even that was too much for me, I just couldn't bare seeing you get hurt after all you did to try and make my life easier given the position I was in. We were both protecting each other in the best way that we could; Eren look," she slowly pushes him away and as the tears fall she unbuttons the top of her gown, letting the cloth fall off her shoulders and she holds it up a little, exposing her shoulders, neck and just above her breasts. Her skin pale and smooth, as if never hurt or harmed in the slightest; Eren examines her skin, looking closely before wiping his eyes again, he sighs heavily with relief while Rika pulls the gown back onto her shoulders. She cups his cheeks and grabs his attention, although she's much smaller than him she seems to easily have him in the palm of her hand; he falls to his knees and is now looking up at her.
"Rika," he mutters, gripping her wrists tightly while they still hold his face, she smiles and places a gentle kiss on his forehead, they hug one another again for a moment before he stands up.
Rika watches him as he wipes his eyes and takes deep breaths, "Eren what are you going to do?" she asks, he grabs her hand and they exit the room. Lillya and I follow with curiosity as they make their way around the house.
We finally stop in front of a large door, one bigger than the other doors in the house. Eren knocks, then opens the door slightly and peaks in. The room is dimly lit, the window curtains closed and the walls have been covered in dark fabric, pillows litter the floor all over, mainly around the bed, food is on a tray next to the large bed across the room from the door we stand.
I hear Eren's breath shaking and hesitant, as if he is nervous, I grab hold of his free hand and almost instantly his shaking stops and I feel he has calmed down. As my eyes adjust to the dark room I notice a large figure lying in the bed, Eren breaks the silence, with a voice full of strength.
"Father..."