Miradjinn

As Aleria's footsteps sink into the fresh snow, I cradle Belyy against my chest, his soft fur tickling my chin. I observe him closely, fascinated by his unique appearance. His light grey, almost white coat captures the winter light in an otherworldly manner. His vivid turquoise eyes, disproportionately large for his head, give him a perpetually astonished look. His pointed ears with black interiors twitch at the slightest sound, betraying his alert nature.

I gently lift him above my head, studying his expression. His bewilderment at the situation is evident, his turquoise eyes gleaming with an intelligence I've only seen in totems. His voluminous, bushy tail flicks nervously, contrasting with his compact body.

Noting that Aleria has moved sufficiently ahead, I decide to test my theory. I hold Belyy close and softly whisper:

"Blink."

In an instant, we materialise before Aleria. She continues on her path, unaware of our presence. My hypothesis is confirmed: Belyy's camouflage renders us invisible whilst motionless, while Blink allows me to teleport without perceptible movement.

This combination opens up a dizzying array of tactical possibilities. As long as I remain still, I can both teleport and stay invisible. It's a discovery that could be a game-changer in many situations.

Belyy seems disoriented by this sudden spatial leap. I gently stroke the top of his head, feeling the silky texture of his fur. "Don't be afraid, Belyy," I whisper, "stay focused on maintaining your camouflage." His ears perk up at my words, and I sense him regaining his composure.

Allowing Aleria to take the lead, I seize the opportunity to survey the territory of Rastaïno stretching before us. The half-timbered houses, typical of mediaeval architecture, line the narrow streets. Their pointed roofs, heavily laden with snow, seem to lean towards one another as if sharing secrets. At the centre of the main square stands a stone well, the true beating heart of the village.

However, my attention is quickly drawn to a troubling phenomenon. The villagers' faces, initially marked by ordinary joviality, transform at the sight of Aleria. Children hastily move out of her way, whilst adults stare unabashedly, their gazes oscillating between distrust and hostility. Aleria, for her part, maintains an impassive facade, her gaze fixed straight ahead, as if striving to ignore this malevolent attention through sheer force of will.

I feel Belyy stirring in my arms, his expression betraying deep sadness at this spectacle. This widespread animosity towards someone as benevolent as Aleria leaves me perplexed and concerned. What dark secrets could possibly justify such collective hostility?

About ten minutes elapse, during which I discreetly teleport in Aleria's wake, still invisible thanks to Belyy's power. We finally arrive at an isolated house. Aleria cracks open the door, creating an opening sufficient for me to slip inside once the coast is clear.

Seizing the opportunity, I quickly slide into the house and gently close the door behind me. The slight click startles Aleria, visibly surprised by my sudden presence. Belyy, sensing the end of our little game of hide-and-seek, wriggles out of my arms to leap into Aleria's.

"Already?!" she exclaims, eyes wide. "How did you manage to come so quickly and without being spotted?"

"I'll tell you another time, if you're interested," I reply enigmatically, preferring to keep my secrets for now.

Aleria's expression oscillates between confusion and curiosity, but she quickly regains her composure. She opens an inner door, revealing a bedroom where a man lies in bed, watched over by a young woman.

As Aleria introduces the people in the room, my gaze discreetly analyses each detail.

"This is Olga, a childhood friend of mine," Aleria says, indicating the young woman at the bedside of the supposed cousin.

Olga catches my attention. Her short brown hair frames a face with delicate features. Her blue eyes shine with a vivacity that contrasts with the situation. A slight scar on her chin suggests an active life.

Surprised by my presence, Olga asks, "Ria? Who is this person?"

Her gaze quickly appraises me, mixing curiosity and wariness.

"This is Sahar," Aleria responds with a hint of hesitation. "I'll explain everything later, but would it be possible to lend him some of Ilya's clothes?"

My attention then turns to the bedridden man. Ilya, with his blond hair similar to Aleria's, seems to be battling an invisible ailment. His condition is alarming. His skin, of a worrying pallor, is dotted with dry, scaly patches. His breathing is laboured, each inhalation a visible effort. His half-open eyes have a glassy aspect, as if veiled.

"I don't see a problem with that," Olga acquiesces, her gaze softening slightly. "In any case, you can ask him when he's able." She turns to Ilya, her hand gently squeezing her husband's.

Aleria sits near Ilya's bed, her notebook open and quill ready. Her demeanour reminds me of an experienced physician.

"Is there anything new regarding his symptoms?" she asks, her voice calm and professional.

Olga responds, concern piercing her voice: "No, nothing new. His skin is still very pale, patches are forming on his skin. He still seems to have as much difficulty moving and breathing."

Aleria nods, noting this information. "Indeed, nothing new. Let's begin the treatment then."

I wonder how she intends to heal him with only a notebook and writing materials. Her confidence intrigues me.

"Ria, are you sure?" Olga interjects, casting a nervous glance in my direction. "Sahar is still here, aren't you afraid of him seeing what you're doing?"

Aleria turns to me, her gaze questioning. "If my father trusts him, then I have nothing to worry about," she says with quiet certainty.

Olga nods, visibly reassured by Aleria's confidence.

The atmosphere subtly shifts. Aleria sits on the wooden chair previously occupied by Olga, places her hand on Ilya's shoulder, and closes her eyes. I closely observe her ruh consumption, but it remains stable. She doesn't seem to be relying on this energy.

Suddenly, I hear Aleria murmur: "Life vision".

Her eyes open, and I'm struck by the change. Her purple irises glow with an intense light, and her pupils, previously black, are now a vivid red.

Reflexively, I activate my mirror eyes. "Mireye," I whisper.

I then see an ultraviolet mist escaping from Aleria's eyes and entering Ilya's body through his shoulder, where her hand is placed.

This manifestation of her power, so different from the usual use of ruh, deeply intrigues me. I remain motionless, observing with fascination as this unusual treatment unfolds before me.

My mirror eyes allow me to observe every microscopic detail of Ilya's body. The ultraviolet mist emitted by Aleria infiltrates every cell.

"Vital Ink," Aleria murmurs. The mist seems to scan every cellular component, from organs down to blood molecules.

"Cellular Archive," she continues. A subtle glow courses through the mist.

Suddenly, Aleria pronounces: "Organic Erasure." In an instant, I see cells, crystalline structures in the lungs, and even blood components completely disappear! It's as if these elements simply ceased to exist, leaving a void at the cellular level!

Immediately after, Aleria follows with: "Biological Duplication." New cells, tissues, and blood components appear, filling exactly the empty spaces. These new structures seem identical to the previous ones, but present no visible anomalies.

The changes are instantaneous and perceptible even without my mirror eyes. The patches on Ilya's skin fade away, his colouration returns to normal. At the microscopic level, his lungs are now free of any crystalline structure, his blood shows no more anomalies.

The entire process lasts only a few seconds.

The mist dissipates, and Aleria blinks, her pu

pils returning to their normal hue. She seems slightly fatigued.

I remain silent, trying to comprehend what I've just witnessed.