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While trapped in Lyhe Ghiah, Lillium had found himself lapsing between lucidity and crushing dissociation. The whisperings of Light compelled him forward. Telling him to fall to the primal need to seek out aether.
Feed… Become… Eater…
Voices that were not the spirits he had grown so accustomed to infected his mind, trying to make him go with the flow of their instinct and transform into a being of power that would rival the elemental residing in his soul.
Initially, Lillium tried his best to remain stalwart and true to his convictions. He wanted to remain strong to be able to rejoin his companions if they also came to this dying world.
But while wandering the empty halls, he finally came upon the throne room.
Inside, Titania- King of Pixie kind.
Titania had been excited to have a new person to play with. Exhausting Lillium as the viera found that Play was more like being on a battlefield. Dodging drowning and being torn by burrs and thorns… all became a bit too much as they didn't accept any break that Lillium begged for.
"Silly little creatures don't need to rest."
As their 'play' continued, Lillium could feel hunger and dehydration consuming his rational thought. The desperate need to bite, tear, and drink aether made him lose focus. The pixie knocked him down and laughed as they loomed closer to the viera's broken form.
"Broken already? How disappointing."
But the toll of the bell that sounded around them meant naught but trouble.
Turning was excruciating. His mind ringing and eyes reeling as his back felt like it was being torn to shreds. White ichor of Light streamed down his sides and out of his mouth as he gagged and coughed up more onto the otherwise pristine flooring.
I can't… I can't turn… Please….
Lillium wasn't sure who he was begging to, but cried out in sheer agony as he tried to catch his consciousness like sand falling through his fingers.
It was as though the elemental within his body was exacerbating the symptoms, absorbing more of the Light to give him more power.
"Lillium?"
The viera gasped, looking around, though it was difficult to see where the sound came from when his vision was naught but white. "U-Uri…"
"Thou must hold fast to thine heart and convictions. We shall navigate a way to free you as quickly as we art able."
His voice sounded calming and soothing to his blazing soul. Sobs left him as Lillium briefly came back to himself. He wanted to be strong for Urianger and not succumb.
He needed to go against the grain of the Sin Eater inside him and resist as much as he could.
How much time has passed since I was here?
Is this affecting my body on the Source?
I'm so hungry…
I need more aether.
Titania flew closer to Lillium and chuckled. "Will my new friend join me, or can I absorb you and become more powerful?" They leaned down and poked Lillium with their staff. "I can sense that power in your soul, and I would much like to have it for myself."
Shaking and trembling as he looked up at the Pixie King, all Lillium could see was a wellspring of Light.
A source to quench his undying thirst.
Launching off his haunches, Lillium caught the King off guard; eyes burning and teeth gnashing, he began his feast. A chorus of voices cheered in his brain, and for the first time he felt like the beast Zenos had once compared him to.
Rip… tear… drink of the hunt…
Savage and disgusting.
But he couldn't stop himself.
༺☆༻_______☾✧ ✩ ✧☽_______༺☆༻
The world around them faded to darkness, moonlight streaming through the throne room. Lillium had all but finished his meal, soaked in Light, blood, and his clothing tattered, as small fae-like wings twitched against his back.
He felt more lucid. Staring at his hands and the way the limbs were turning marble-white at the fingertips.
What happened?
Where am I?
Where is Urianger?
"Oooh! My little sapling defeating the King all on his own?" Came the coo of an old companion, his dearest Feo Ul.
He turned to see the others entering the room. His stomach twisted, and he ducked his head. His chest felt tight, his exhaustion palpable.
Urianger's presence was the first he felt draw near, but the viera shifted back before signing with shaky hands.
<I am tainted with Light. Let me… wash up somewhere in case I get any on you all.>
"Thank the Twelve we were not too late to find thee," Urianger whispered. Lillium peeked up at him through matted hair and watched as the elezen looked him over. "I-Is aught amiss? May we aid you in any way aside from procuring you a bath back at mine own cottage nearby?"
<I am tired. I absorbed the Light… though the tempering effects seem to be nonexistent.> Lillium began. The whispers of consuming aether were all but silent. He tried to assume that by taking on such an influx, the elemental power, coupled with the echo, had given him the ability to stop the effects that were previously consuming him.
But part of him knew that it would only be a matter of time.
<Can we talk more once I am… clean?>
The elezen's hands hesitated by him. Urianger wanted to pull him close, to shield him from the others. But Lillium shakily stood and almost fell back down when his legs continued to tremble like he was a petal in a whirlwind. "Of course thou can talk more with me anon. The others are most eager to see your radiant self once more, but I beseech the pixies to let thee recover and keep the others busy until thou art ready to convene with all."
Smiling one shaky smile. Lillium nodded his head in thanks and let the elezen go on ahead of him as he slowly made his way to his new haven.
It will be okay…
Everything will be okay, right?