Narli's room had been cleaned a little, compared to how I remembered it. The windows were not open, but the drapes were as to let what little sun that could peer through the dark clouds into the room. And in the large bed, where I'd once seen Renn sleep soundly with the young saint, was that same saint who looked like she was having a terrible nightmare.

"She's been like this for almost two months, Vim," Berri whispered, as if afraid to speak too loud, lest to wake her.

Which was funny, since we did in fact want to wake her.

"Cries out yet don't wake! Fever won't break, yet isn't getting worse either!" Horn added. The usually calm and simple man sounded far outside his comfort zone. Panicky and scared.

Studying the young narwhal, I noted the way her eyes were shut. They were strained, as if she was forcing her own eyes closed as to block a bright light. But of course there was no such light. The room was barely lit enough as it was, thanks to how dark the world was outside since a storm was right above us.

Beneath those tightly shut eyelids were eyes that were rapidly moving. And every so often her lips quivered or a muscle had a spasm, as if they'd just been pricked by a needle.

She looked like anyone would right before waking thanks to a terrible dream. Renn hadn't done such a thing in a long time, but she used to look like this every few nights. I had always laid there watching her, debating to let her sleep through them or wake her from them. Back then I had hesitated, but today I'd not do so.

Yet it seemed no matter how long we would wait for she stayed asleep. Not just any sleep either. She was dead asleep. And although breathing oddly, and slightly twitching here and there, she wasn't squirming around in pain and agony either… as if she was simply just having a bad dream, or something.

I ignored the worried parents as I bit back a small sigh of relief. When I had arrived a few moments ago, Berri had screamed at the sight of me. She had been so happy, so relieved, that I'd shown up she had yelped and nearly passed out in relief. The sight of her falling to her knees, weak at the mere sight of me, made me fear the worst had happened.

Though this wasn't the best result, she was at least still alive. Still breathing.

Taking a small breath myself, I noted the lack of smell.

"Does she sweat a lot?" I asked as I stepped even closer to the girl's bed, bending down a little as to study her face closer.

"Not really… We wipe her and clean her bed every few days, but only in hopes it speeds up her healing, not because it gets nasty or anything," Berri said from behind. I could hear her voice better; she had not only spoken a little louder but had drawn closer… as if to keep watch on what I was doing.

I grabbed the soft blanket laid over her and pulled it back. The saint was wearing a very thin nightgown, one so light I could see through it. But as thin as it was…

Gently grabbing a piece near her waist, I lifted it a bit and noted that it was dry as can be.

Not a piece of it was sticking to her from sweat.

Yet…

Reaching out, I cupped her forehead. Her horn stuck out between my fingers, and I frowned at how hot she was.

Not only was she burning up, so was her horn. A horn that should be as cold as ice instead was hot enough it almost felt as if it could burn at the mere touch of it.

"What do you think is wrong with her, Vim?" Horn asked worriedly.

I frowned as shook my head. "She's been like this for how long?" I asked.

"Two months," Horn answered.

"The day before it got this bad she came to me and said she didn't feel good. She was worried she was about to have a terrible prophecy, and so wanted me to keep an eye on her. I sat with he as she fell asleep and… well… she became like this not long after, and now won't wake up," Berri explained further.

"Is it her bloodline? A sickness from the past?" Horn asked worriedly. I knew the reason he focused on that was because of who and what they are.

Their kind, these narwhals, used to be numerous. Now they were all that were left. A disease had wiped them out centuries ago, one that had seemingly only affected them and no one else. Not even the humans. He likely feared it was the same thing that had wiped his race out that now threatened his daughter's life.

"No. This isn't natural, Horn," I said, as I took my hand off the girl's brow.

"Not natural?" Horn asked as I wondered what to do next.

"She's not sweating. At all. Even though burning so hot she should be covered in a thick layer of it, to the point you should be forced to change her clothes and bedding daily. And she's very active mentally, based off the way her eyes are squeezed shut and she's twitching, yet she's not moving around as if in pain," I said.

"You think it's a prophecy Vim? But why is taking so long?" Berri asked as she grabbed my arm. She too had already came to the same conclusion I had, since it was all that could make sense.

"It… could be. Saints do sometimes get odd during their dreams, but…" I hesitated as I wreaked my mind in search for any proof of it.

I never really associated with saints. Even back in my youth, during the wars, even when I had used them against their creators… I had others do it for me. I spent as little time with them as possible, on purpose. So I had very little experience with such things, at least in this context. And…

I sighed as I realized I didn't remember seeing, or ever hearing a hint, of a saint going through this.

Getting sick? Sure. Their powers failing them, or going out of control? Also something I knew could happen. But this…?

It was as if she was stuck in a prophecy. Either one unending or maybe looping it over and over again.

But that made no sense. A saint could see a prophecy that lasted hours, yet only a few seconds actually passed during it. I'd met many who laid down to sleep, only to shoot up to their feet minutes later and babble about a dream that in their perspective had lasted damn near a lifetime. Which meant their prophecies did not operate on a normal scale. They operated just as they had them, as dreams.

This though…?

"Vim…!" Berri squeezed my arm, drawing closer as she tugged on me.

"I'm thinking Berri. This is… different. New. But it's got to have something to do with her powers. To me she looks like she's in the middle of a prophecy," I said with a gesture at her.

"But…! After all this time?" Berri asked worriedly.

Right… a few days, maybe even a week or two I'd understand… Since sometimes even normal people fell into a strange and deep slumber, spurned by ailments or sickness... but months…?

I tried to think where I'd been a few months ago. Before Telmik, but where…? Had I noticed anything odd at the time? Had the world done anything strange? Was what she was experiencing something related to something else, or was she simply going through something internal and personal?

If she had done this five or six months ago, I'd say it was because of the birth of that monarch… The one Renn's human friend had foreseen… but now…?

Glancing the girl up and down, I looked for anything odd. Any weird wounds or cuts or bites. It wasn't too hard to do since the nightgown she wore was so thin, but of course I couldn't see the backside of her since she was lying on her back.

"Help me turn her over," I asked Berri to help, not because I actually needed it but so that I could be proper and respectful.

I turned over her legs and Berri helped the girl over onto her stomach. Berri then quickly went to make sure the girl's face was angled, as to let her breathe comfortably as I studied her other side.

"What are you looking for, Vim?" Horn asked as he drew closer too.

"Anything. Anything at all," I said as I checked her again, since I hadn't found anything.

She had an odd birthmark on her butt, but that was it. In fact… she looked almost too healthy. Why didn't she have any scars at all? Not even little ones? She lived out here in the dense wilderness for crying out loud, she should have a few scrapes at least…

But the lack of them wasn't too surprising. She was a saint, even if a weak one. Maybe one of the abilities she had gained from her divinity was that of a healing nature. If that was true it was likely something she was unaware of. Which meant I really should help her figure out how to use it, since she'd be able to heal her mother. Even if only a little bit would…

I shouldn't think of any of that right now, I needed to focus on the problem before me. The here and now.

"Can turn her back over," I said gently as I decided there was nothing visibly wrong with the girl. Other than her appearance of being stuck in a nightmare at least.

I sighed a bit as Berri went to straight and fix the girl's nightgown; it had gotten wrinkly and shifted during the movement.

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What to do…? How to do it?

I could of course fix up some medicine for her… but what type and how much of it? And what would it even do for her?

My first instinct was to say it was some kind of infection, viral or otherwise, but…

Saints usually didn't react this way. Plus wouldn't there then be other signs? Runny nose? Sweat? Sores or something? Some kind of ailment affecting her so strongly it interfered with her divine powers would usually show itself in many other forms. And it wasn't as if it could be stress, right…? Surely not… Narli might have worries, like all people did, but I couldn't imagine them being so heavy upon her psyche it reduced her to this state. She had seemed very happy and healthy when we'd last been here.

"What do we do Vim…? My poor baby…!" Berri whimpered as she reached over to brush some of Narli's hair out of her face.

Hearing Berri speak in such a way made my chest hurt. I'd heard that tone before, long ago. Before and after she had gotten half her body burnt and marred.

"I…" I was about to tell her that I'd make some medicine, and do some tests, but right before I spoke… Narli moved.

The room went still as Narli turned her head. Ever so slightly but enough that all of us who had been staring at her had noticed without missing a beat.

"Narli…!" Horn and Berri both shouted her name, with Horn hurrying over next to Berri and joining her in reaching out to touch her.

Watching closely, as Berri and Horn both gently touched the girl's face and shoulder… as if to help hasten her waking, I almost didn't notice the girl's hand.

Glancing down, I frowned at the small and thin fingers that had just grabbed my pinky.

"Honey! Honey wake up…!" Berri said, a little loudly through her fear and tears.

Yes. Please do. I had ideas but by my parents I was lost here, and…

"Vim…" The room went quiet as Narli's eyes opened. Glowing brighter than I'd ever seen them do before.

"I'm here," I said as I grabbed her hand and leaned forward. I had to angle myself a bit since Berri and Horn were in the way.

"It's cold, Vim," Narli whispered.

"Narli…!" Horn placed his hand on the top of the girl's head.

She didn't seem to even register his touch, or her mother's. In fact…

Studying the way her eyes glowed, I noticed how they were angled. And how she had moved her head earlier.

She was looking straight at me. Through her mother, nearly, thanks to the angle.

Narli was not here. Not really.

"Narli? Honey!" Berri tried to get her attention, but it seemed it was pointless.

Taking a small breath, I steeled myself and put aside my hate and rules… to do what I had to.

"Where are you, Narli?" I asked gently.

Berri glanced at me, her face a wreck of tears and worry… but it didn't take but a moment for cold understanding to wash over it all. She turned a little, right as Narli's eyes narrowed a bit.

"Cold…. And dark…" Narli whispered an answer to me.

"Narli…? Baby…?" Horn whispered, still not realizing what was happening.

"Horn…!" Berri grabbed her husband's arm; rather stiffly as she tugged him back a bit… so I could step even closer to her.

The two gave me a bit of room as I bent down a little, to speak to the girl face to face.

She still held my hand, but I felt it growing hotter. Too hot. Hot enough that it shouldn't even be possible. She was a creature of water. Of cold and ice. Whatever was wrong with her needed to be fixed, and fast, because this internal temperature would kill her if it remained like this for much longer.

"I'm here Narli. Right here," I said, speaking calmly and evenly. As if to beckon her towards my voice.

Narli's glowing eyes were still locked onto me, but it was obvious she wasn't actually seeing me. Her face scrunched up a bit, as if about to cry. "Vim…?" she asked again.

"I'm here. Right here," I said again and grabbed her shoulder with my other hand. As if to steady her.

Narli began to breathe harder. Faster. I heard and felt her heartbeat increase in pace thanks to our clasped hands. Her grip on my hand tightened, and I heard other parts of her shift. Toes clenched, her other hand and arm shifted, muscles tightened. I ignored it all though and kept my eyes on hers.

"Vim…!" Berri couldn't help herself and stepped closer. She grabbed my shoulder, digging her nails into it as if to keep her from rushing forward and grabbing her daughter.

"Vim…" Narli said my name again, as if remembering I existed for the first time in a while. Likely thanks to Berri's outburst.

"I'm here, Narli. Where are you? What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm lost…" she whispered.

Lost. "Where?" I asked alongside her mother.

Narli's eyes narrowed further, and my stomach turned as if I'd just fell off a huge cliff. Or rather, as if I'd just watched her or Renn fall off a huge cliff.

She was about to fall back into slumber. I couldn't let that happen!

"Narli!" I squeezed her hand, not too strongly but enough so to make her blink.

"Vim! I'm lost!" Narli shouted, as if in pain from my squeeze.

"What do you see, Narli? What are you seeing?" I asked further.

Narli's breathing became a little strained, and she clenched her jaw a bit. Then she tugged on my hand, as if to draw me closer.

I leaned closer, enough so that I could now feel her hot breath.

Berri began to whimper and cry, but I ignored her as I focused on the girl's face. Her expression. And most particularly, the way her eyes glowed.

They were glowing not too unlike Celine's and Light's. As if she was as strong a saint as them, all of a sudden.

Which shouldn't be possible. Saints could be strong and weak, and have a myriad of different powers... but never had I known one to become more than they had been born as. Ever.

"Narli… tell me what you see," I said, speaking lowly enough to be comforting but firmly enough to be heard.

The narwhal shifted a bit, gulped and nodded… though not at me.

"I'm in darkness. Sitting by a pool of glowing water," she whispered, as if afraid to be heard.

"Narli…?" Horn said his daughter's name as I frowned.

Darkness. By a pool of water… that glowed…?

I could actually think of several places that she was speaking of. Which wasn't a good sign. It meant both that she was likely seeing a genuine prophecy, and also it could one I'd have no idea how to verify without great effort and expense.

"Are you alone, Narli?" I asked.

"Yes…!" Narli whimpered, her fear very thick in her voice.

Berri whimpered again and pushed me aside a bit, as to grab at her daughter. She released my shoulder as to firmly grab onto Narl's arm and head, as if to puller her into an embrace. I didn't stop her; though I knew Berri's attempts to comfort her daughter were meaningless.

Narli wasn't here with us. Not really. Not in the way we understood.

"Where are you Vim…?" Narli asked, her voice still thick of fear. She sounded like she was about to cry. It was eerily similar to the sounds Berri was making. If I turned away I'd almost not be able to tell them apart.

Those whimpers reminded me of harsher times. I tried not to pay attention to them. I wasn't able to.

"He's here, Narli! Honey, he's right here," Horn said, speaking loudly.

I ignored Horn's outburst. "Do you see anything in the darkness, Narli?" I asked her.

She blinked a few times, and I knew in her own head she was looking around. "No… It's just dark," she answered meekly.

"Then why are you scared?" I asked.

Narli began to breathe a little quicker again. "I hear noises. Out there," she said.

"Explain them to me, Narli. Tell me what you hear," I said.

She didn't seem to want to. Her face scrunched up a bit, as if disgusted at the idea… but she seemingly gathered her resolve all the same. "They almost sound like voices. Whispers. Terrible whispers."

"What are they saying, dear?" Berri asked gently.

Narli sniffed, and for a tiny moment I expected her to answer her mother. Instead though she grabbed my hand even tighter. "Vim… I'm scared!"

"It's okay to be scared, Narli. It's okay. You'll be okay. You're safe, I'm here," I said gently.

"They…" Narli was about to say something more, but then the bright glow of her eyes dimmed. Within moments she relaxed, as if collapsing from exhaustion, and her head fell back to her pillow. Her eyes shut, the glow disappeared completely, and…

"Honey…? Dear?" Horn asked worriedly.

"She fell back asleep…" Berri whispered as we watched the young girl. She was already breathing normally… calmly…

"True sleep. Look, she's no longer struggling," I said. In fact, thanks to my still holding her hand I could feel that she was also already cooling down.

Berri let out a groan of relief as she leaned forward and wrapped her daughter in a hug. Such a strong one, I was a little surprised Narli hadn't woken.

"She's already cooling off…! Horn!" Berri cried out in relief, and her husband quickly went to kneel down next to his wife beside the bed.

I released Narli's hand and stepped away, trying not to stare too deeply at the family. The sleeping girl looked… peaceful. She was completely unaware of the simple father bawling his eyes out and the mother now praying to her gods in thanks and relief.

I wasn't going to ruin their moment of relief by warning them that it might not be over. She had relaxed, and she did indeed look… normal now, but…

That had been odd. Very odd.

Especially since… if it had really been some kind of divine power acting out, why did it feel worthless? Senseless?

I had learned nothing from Narli's words. She had been somewhere dark, kneeling next to a puddle of glowing water. Though I had no idea if she had started there, or went to that location after running around in the dark. Likely the only place she felt safe at in the darkness. She heard sounds, which she claimed sounded like voices and whispers…

Nothing about that had been too weird. The dark place. The glowing puddle. The strange whispers, that she wasn't even sure were whispers… none of that made any alarms go off. Not for me, anyway.

For crying out loud that could have just been a normal dream, not a prophecy at all…

Though maybe once Narli woke, truly woke, she'd be able to give me more details. Maybe in her panic, over seeing the prophecy before her as it happened, she had not been capable of telling me what really needed to be said.

"Vim…!" Berri looked up and over at me. Her face was a mess. "What… why?" she was barely able to get her question out between her sobs.

"I don't know, Berri. For now let her rest. Maybe the worst is over and she'll wake soon, for real," I said gently.

Berri nodded harshly, as if glad to hear it.

"Damn those gods…!" Horn cursed as he gently ran his hand along Narli's head, brushing her hair as if she was dead.

She wasn't. But I understood why he'd act so. Had she remained asleep, she may as well have been.

"Gods forgive him…!" Berri whispered as she went back to prayer, this time with even more vigor. As if afraid her husband's outburst would send Narli back into that strange fit of sleep.

Horn looked hurt, as if slightly offended his wife would react so to his statement. He glanced at me, and I met his fury and rage… and nodded in silent agreement with him.

He was right after all. Had every reason to be.

Especially since it was likely their fault she was like this. There was genuinely no other thing on this planet that could cause a saint to act so… odd. Especially when during a prophecy.

But that… shouldn't be possible…

Right?

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