The Other Side: A Second Chance

"Can you do anything right, ███?" Matthew said it with a sigh as he shook his head. "I gave you one task, one simple as fuck task, and you didn't do it. What were you doing?"

I stood there, stone-faced, as I looked him in the eyes. "I was preoccupied."

"For fuck's sake, ███." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I asked you to do the goddamn dishes. What were you doing that had you so preoccupied?"

I bit my lower lip and sighed. He's going to get pissed if I tell him I was doing fuck all. Honestly, I just forgot.

"I… forgot," I admitted.

Matthew looked at me dumbfounded; his mouth slack-jawed for a second. "You forgot?" He asked again.

I gulped and gave him a curt nod. "Yeah," I said huskily.

My brother's brow knitted as he scowled. "Jesus Fucking Christ, ███." He sighed and turned away from me. "It was one job! One job!"

My heart twinged, and I frowned as I stepped forward. "You act like I do this all—"

"Because you do, ███! You do!" Matthew snapped at me. "How many times have I asked you to do something around this trailer? How many times have I asked you to go to the fucking dollar store to get us something. The dollar store, ███, it's literally a minute drive from here."

"I get busy, Matt." I said it softly.

"Busy doing what, ███? Jerking off? Playing games? Writing?" He listed things off. "We're roommates, goddammit, not your fucking caretakers. Sure, you help with rent, but you need to start helping with groceries, chores, and everything else."

I bit my lower lip and took a deep breath.

Matthew shook his head and walked away from me as he took a few deep breaths. An awkward silence fell over us as he regained his composure and finally turned back to me. "Look, man," my brother said. "I love you. I do. Though you're getting on my fucking nerves." He growled and fell silent for a moment before shaking his head and taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry; I don't know what shit you got going on."

Damn right, you don't.

"But you need to start getting your shit together. We need to work together; you can talk to me. Come out of your room every once in a while."

"I'll think about it," I said softly.

Matthew shook his head. "That's what you always say. I'll think about it. Well, you've been thinking long and hard, ███, you don't need to do this alone. Okay?"

"Sure." I turned away from him and began to walk back to my room.

"███." I heard him call out to me, and I stopped. "Mom said she misses you; she wanted to know if you ever want to go and see her and Dad again."

I glanced over my shoulder back at him and said, "I'll think about it." Before shuffling back into my room.

 

---

 

The sound of trumpets stirred me from my rest. I whined and shifted around on the hard ground, whining as I rolled to my side and curled up.

What was that? I thought to myself groggily. Why, of all times, am I having dreams about them?

I groaned as the trumpet continued to sound off, and I finally opened my eyes. The sun's golden rays streamed through the canvas fabric and beamed directly into my face. With a small sigh, I sat up and glanced over to see that Isa was surprisingly still asleep.

Well, I'm still in this life. I took a deep breath and debated if I should let Isa sleep in. I recalled the meeting we had with the Colonel this morning and decided it'd be best to wake her.

So, I crawled over to her, placed my hand gently on her shoulder, and gave her a little shake. "Isa, it's time to wake up." I said as the feline woman groaned softly, her fuzzy ears twitching as her tail unwound from her leg and swatted my side.

"Give me more time…" She grumbled, and I giggled.

"Were you the one saying you'd be waking me up?" I reminded her as I gently shook her again, and she meowed softly in protest before rolling onto her back.

Her green eyes opened halfway as she glared at me before yawning or really yowling, as she rubbed the crustiness from them and sat up.

"Unfortunately." She replied sleepily. "I feel like I slept on a rock."

I glanced down at where she had laid and pointed to the notable large rock. "I think that's because you did." I snickered.

She glanced back at it and blinked. "Uhuh…"

I smirked. "Well, I think we should get ready and stop back at the Colonel's house." I said it with a smile. I could feel the butterflies in my tummy forming at the prospect of possibly gaining a lead as to where Mother, or anyone else in my family, could be.

I just hoped it would be a good lead.

After taking the time to find the latrine area to tend to my personal matters along with Isa and clean up, I found a large barrel of water to splash my face with and rinse it down, and as the ripples of the water calmed, I saw my reflection. I blinked as I gazed down at myself.

Holy cow, I look… different.

The once innocent blue eyes and the girl in the cute dress I remember admiring all those weeks ago back home were gone. Instead, those blue eyes were lifeless, sunken, and carried large rings around them. The once flowing, dark hair was gone, save for the few sparse patches like islands amongst the skin of my head, yet I do see some coloring in my skin along my scalp, signifying that my hair does appear to be gradually returning. My eyes drifted downward to my dress, which was stained with blood, mud, and other things I was unaware of, not to mention riddled with holes and tears.

It's only been a little over a week. Just a week ago, I was at home, wondering what I'd look like when I grew up and what life would be like in this new world in this fresh body. Yet here I was, in some refugee camp, surrounded by people whose lives were uprooted like mine. I wonder how many of them are missing loved ones as well. I wonder if things will ever go back to being how they were… I frowned.

"Within time, if we continue to work together, we can right the wrongs brought on by the Rusimians and those who wish to set this world ablaze." I heard the voice in my head.

"Why me, though?" I asked the voice as I watched Isa come out of the latrine and wash her face and hands off in a similar barrel.

"I had answered this once before when we met." The voice replied.

So, we met before? I thought to him.

"Yes. I have made sure to wipe your memories away due to my inability to fully trust you."

Oh wow, you're being very forthcoming all of a sudden. I thought.

"That is because I've done some reconsidering. There are bits I still believe are best left unsaid, yet I've started to think that you might be more useful if we started to establish a bridge of trust between us."

It took you this long to consider this. I thought as Isa scrubbed herself down with the cold water and sighed.

"I'll be honest and say that I have always had a hard time trusting people. Even those I deem close." The voice admitted it in a monotonous tone.

For once, I can kind of relate to that. I replied.

"When you get to the city, seek me out. I'll guide you to where you need to go and there. I'll be more open to what needs to happen," said the Master.

Are you just going to wipe my memories again, like you said you had done once before? I thought as I began to walk towards Isa.

"It depends. If you are willing to accept my offer of trust, then perhaps not," he said as I stopped beside Isa and smiled at her.

Isa turned to me and smiled back before patting me on the head. "Ready to go speak to Hass?" She asked me, and I nodded as Isa kept her hand on my head and said, "Oh, it looks like your hair is coming back." Her smile widened.

I blushed a little. "Y-Yeah! Though, honestly, I want to shave off all the non-burnt bits, just so it comes back evenly."

Isa nodded. "Well, maybe if the soldiers have some clippers here, I can do your hair before we set off to the city." She took my hand in hers as we began to walk towards the soldier's camp.

"That would be nice," I said with a hum as we went.

 

---

 

We arrived at the farmhouse headquarters partway through the morning. The smell of roasting food and the sound of soldiers laughing as they ate their breakfast permeated the site, along with another group nearby doing their morning workouts. The camp was bustling with activity.

The farmhouse itself was filled with well-dressed officers and older individuals streaming in and out of the building with folders and paperwork, and nearby on the front lawn were about twelve or so men and women. Normal soldiers in fatigue are idly sitting on some benches.

As we neared the front door, we noticed one of Hass's maids step forward. A beautiful serelli woman with long, silvery hair with bangs that covered the left side of her face. Her matching silver eye that I could see scanned us up and down as I wracked my mind for her name.

Liro I think? I thought.

"He-Hello, Liro!" I waved at the feline woman, whose single eye widened, and a tiny smile appeared on her lips as she nodded.

"Hello, my lady, and lady Isa." She greeted us with a curtsey. "Madam Elin is currently having breakfast; would you like me to notify her of your arrival?" She asked as she straightened up and crossed her arms beneath her bountiful bosom.

Isa nodded. "If you could, please."

Liro smiled, and her fluffy silver tail flicked gently as she nodded, spun around, and stepped inside. It wouldn't take long before the beautiful girl returned and gestured for us to come inside.

"Madam Elin would like for you both to join her for breakfast," she purred eloquently.

Upon hearing this, my stomach audibly growled along with Isa's, and the two of us blushed faintly as the maid smirked slightly, and we nodded. Without a word, we both entered the farmhouse, where inside we saw more high-ranking officers and officials, along with their aids, moving about.

The place was a tad crowded, yet as we were led to the dining room, which was sealed off and guarded from the rest of the house, the soldiers greeted us with a curt nod, opened the door, and allowed us inside. The dining room was beautifully decorated with its white plaster walls and beautiful, contrasting embellishments painted on them that resembled vines. Three large windows facing the rolling fields of Heinmarr and the distant Urd tree allowed for bright natural light to fill the room, as in the center of it beneath the chandelier was a long family table where Colonel Hass and a few of her colleagues sat, partaking in what resembled a large breakfast-style feast.

Flanking Colonel Hass at the edge of the table were her other two servants, Shilia and Iru, which I think were their names. On Hass's right-hand side were two gentlemen, an older-looking human who was balding and sported a fancy pencil mustache and monocle, along with a race I had never seen before. Beside him was a wolf-like man, his fur coat was a thick gray and white, his eyes a bright blue, and I could see a gnarly scar going along his snout. Both men wore similar high-ranking uniforms to Colonel Hass, who at this point smiled at us and gestured for us to take a seat at the chairs on her left-hand side.

"Thank you for coming here as per my request," she said softly. "Please take a seat and help yourself to the numerous dishes on display. My personal chef always seems to overdo it."

I gulped as my mouth watered as I looked over the various scores of bacon, some sort of ham, grok steaks, eggs, fruits, and veggies. Without waiting on Isa, I quickly moved over to my chosen seat and sat down.

"Thank you," I said quickly as I hesitantly reached over to grab a plate of bacon and eggs.

"Yes, thank you, Colonel," Isa said softly, and she glanced at the two men across from us who were quietly eating as well.

"Oh." Hass said as she made a small O with her mouth. "Allow me to introduce you to my deputy commanders." She gestured to the older human. "This is Colonel Pitz, and here," she gestured to the wolfman. "This is Lieutenant Colonel Brenner."

Both Isa and I bowed our heads towards the two men. "I am Isa Soza." Isa introduced herself and then glanced at me.

I licked my lips nervously and bowed again. "I am Luna Ashflow. Pleasure to meet you."

"Ashflow?" The older human muttered. "That name sounds awfully familiar." He said it gruffly as he brought his hand up to his chin.

I nodded. "My father once served many years ago. He was a lieutenant, if I recall; Slyran Ashflow was his name."

The human's eyes lit up as if a light bulb went off in his head, and he smiled widely. "Slyran Asfhflow!" He chuckled. "A name I hadn't heard in years. I worked on a base with him in Branoria back when I was just a captain. How is he doing?"

My mouth dropped open for a second as I let out a sigh and shook my head. Though before I could say anything, Isa answered for me, "He's currently missing in action."

The old colonel's eyes widened a bit before he closed them and nodded. "I see, my apologies."

Colonel Hass nodded and said, "That's partly why I brought these two here." She gestured to us. "If you hadn't noticed, I rounded up a number of men who were there during the attack on Kassel and witnessed the Moonweaver in action. They're currently out front, once we finish here. You can speak to them directly, though for the sake of time I have already questioned a number of them."

My eyes widened, and I looked at her and asked, "What did they see? Did they see what happened to my mother?"

Hass grabbed her glass of water and took a sip from it before setting it down and lacing her fingers together. She closed her eyes and thought for a second, as I could see she was preparing her words carefully.

My heart began to ram against my ribs as I twitched anxiously, and the few seconds it took her to answer felt like an eternity. Slowly, she opened her eyes and glanced at me. "I've received a few conflicting reports. Though none of which I can assure you are good."

My eyes widened as my thumping heart tripped and plummeted along with my stomach. "What do you mean?" I asked softly as Isa reached over and gripped my shoulder tightly.

"The majority of my men state that the Moonweaver during the retreat had been flanked by numerous Rusivite fighting machines while falling back with a few unknown refugees. A few who claim to have witnessed this say they saw her get gunned down, while a handful of others state that while she was shot, she did not fall. Instead, they told me she was taken."

Then there's a chance! She might still be alive. I bit my lower lip and gripped the tablecloth tightly as Isa squeezed my shoulder.

"I-If she was taken, and those people with her…" Those might've been Dad and Varis. "They were probably taken to one of those bases, as Oscar mentioned yesterday!" I said this through gritted teeth as my anger and fear began to stir within.

Colonel Hass slowly nodded her head. "Most likely, and the closest one to here is the one in Dredsten. If she was taken, that's where they most likely are."

I bit my lip once more, hard enough that I began to taste blood as my hand gripped the cloth tighter. "We need to go save them," I said softly.

"Luna," Isa started, and I glared back at her and scowled, yet my eyes met her look of pity. "I told you we can't—"

"That's bullshit!" I snapped. "If they're alive, that's where they'd be; we have to save them!"

"Luna, I know, but look at us—"

"We have to try!" I said, my voice cracking as tears began to form. "We have to at least try!"

"And we will," Colonel Hass said calmly, yet as I looked back, I saw her eyes were stern and filled with her rage. "For the sake of the Heinmaran people, I will not stand by while these butchers roam my country."

At this point, the wolfman leaned forward. "With all due respect, Colonel, before we act, we must seek approval from General—"

"Damn the General." She quipped, and the two men's eyes widened. "Hossler is stuck in the days of old; his tactics are unable to keep up with our enemy, and it's cost us greatly. Yet since I've taken command, we've already had three successful probes. Speed and magic are what we need, not lines of infantry. I do not have the time nor patience for a telegram or magical message."

Fuck yeah. I smiled upon hearing this. This is someone I can get behind. Then she looked at me.

"However, I will also not have a civilian, let alone a child, on the frontlines." She stared down at me.

I felt my heart lurch, and I gritted my teeth. "I-I'm not a child," I squeaked out. "I know magic. I have spells; I-I can help! I can help save my family and others!"

"Luna." Isa said it more firmly. "You heard her, and I agree. War is no place for children."

"But I need to help them." I sniffed. "I want to fight. I need to do something!"

"No, you don't," Isa said. "This is no place for children. I promised Cailynn, I'd get you somewhere safe. Think about how she'll react if you run out onto the battlefield. Please, do this for her, for us."

I pounded the table with my small fist and choked back a sob. I clenched my eyes shut. Dammit! God fucking dammit! Why am I so fucking useless?!

Then an idea came to me. I quickly wiped my eyes and looked at Hass, who still looked at me sternly, her face unchanged as I said, "I know healing magics. I can cast rejuvenation without a scroll. I've healed Isa; I saved Oscar's niece. I-I can be useful. Maybe not on the frontlines, bu-but I can heal your men."

"Luna, no," Isa muttered, though it seemed my offer piqued the interest of the colonel and her subordinates.

Her eyebrow arched up a bit, and she unlaced her fingers and stroked her chin. "You can cast rejuvenation without a scroll?" She asked me, and I nodded my head rapidly as I wiped my eyes with my arm.

Reaching down, Hass gripped the bottom of her right glove and slid it off, revealing her beautiful, dainty hand.

"Colonel, what are you doing?" Colonel Pitz asked as she grabbed a sharp knife off the table with her left hand.

What're you doing? I thought as I brought my arm back to my side and watched her bring the knife to her palm, my eyes widened. Oh, you're actually going to do it, I thought as I sniffed, and a huge smirk appeared on my face. I can respect this. I'll show you what I can do.

Suddenly, in a flash, she slashed the palm of her hand with a slight wince as hot blood began to drip down her palm and onto the table.

Immediately, her advisors gasped, and her maids yelled as I and Isa watched her. Hass grimaced a little, but then gave me a devious smirk as she held her gashed hand out to me.

"Prove it."

"By the gods, Luna," Isa muttered as I yanked my shoulder from her hand and looked back at her before turning back to Hass.

I shifted my chair around and got up as I came over to her. As badass as the woman looked right now, I could see the pain in her face from slashing herself. With a deep breath, I smiled at her gently and closed my eyes as I gently reached out and took her hand.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, I began to concentrate on her wounded hand. Stilling my mind, I felt the well within me swell as magic began to pour out of me. I sighed softly as the pleasurable sensations sent tingles throughout my body as I began to recall and speak the incantation.

"Slyondra, goddess of life's gentle flow, grant us your healing in our time of woe. From your realm of birth, where the Current sways, send forth your blessings to light our way. With your touch, let the wounds dissolve and fade. In your embrace, let pain be gently swayed. Heal this one with your loving grace and restore their body and spirit in your sacred space. Rejuvenate!"

Around me, the men and maids gasped as even Hass's eyes widened as the green pixies began to form around me the magical aura radiated out from me as my eyes flashed a bright green glow as my hands gripped onto Hass's as I muttered the last word. The surge of magic shot out from my core, through my arms, and directly into Hass's hand and body.

She and I both gasped and sighed as my power surged through her, and I opened my eyes and watched while her wound began to magically stitch itself back together as my energy radiated through her.

After a few seconds, the magic faded and the flying green particles dissipated as everyone, even Isa, watched with awe. I released Hass's hand and she smiled at me as she opened and closed it. Not only that, but she also got up, stretched shifted her body around, and looked at me with astonishment.

"You have not only healed my hand, yet… The rest of me feels livelier." She chuckled. "I don't feel any small aches in my back or knees." She smirked. "That's impressive." She was almost speechless. "You truly did it with no scroll."

"Is that not common?" I asked her.

Colonel Pitz leaned forward and said, "Are you kidding me? Such magic is normally reserved for powerful clerics, of which few exist. Where did you learn this?"

I gulped. "I uh…"

Suddenly, the voice returned to me. "This is one of those moments. I demand you do not speak of me. People of power cannot be trusted with the knowledge of my existence."

I gulped. "I-I learned it from my mother," I lied. "She taught me with the scroll, but afterwards, I just picked up on it without needing one."

Isa looked at me confused for a second but thankfully decided to play along and nodded.

The older man's eyes widened. "May I… ask that you use it on me?"

Hass held a hand up to Pitz. "Colonel, we can tend to such matters once we're done here." She smiled as she continued to roll her shoulders and shake her legs.

What exactly does this spell heal other than wounds? I thought.

"A number of things," the voice said. "It quite literally rejuvenates the body. Restoring cells and tissue back to their prime. A sort of anti-aging in a sense, but with restrictions, depending on the caster. The spell cannot keep you living indefinitely, as that is not its purpose, but it can perform a variety of miracles."

Fascinating. I thought.

"Indeed. For instance, you've cured Hass's chronic back pain and knees. Essentially restoring her to her prime. Very much like you did to your friend Isa."

How strong is this spell? I thought it was like a mote or a whisper.

The voice laughed briefly to my surprise. "No. Luna, Rejuvenate is a radiant-tier spell."

My eyes widened briefly. Mother had briefly gone over the tiers of magic in this world with me during our handful of training days, and radiant spells, if I recall, landed on the fifth tier of magic out of a total of ten. Which would classify it as an adept spell that most astral sorcerers, clerics, and above can only cast.

The older man sat back, a bit bummed but still amazed, as Hass sat back down and smiled widely. "This is truly incredible." She leaned in towards me. "Are there any more healing magics, you know? Perhaps a mass rejuvenation, or maybe even a restoration? Or better yet, resilience."

I gulped. Voice man, Master, are you able to teach me those spells like you did the last?

"I could, but not exactly on a whim. Part of the reason I disappeared before was due to my reaching beyond my limit to teach you. If I overstretched my bounds, I could vanish once more."

I gulped. "Not currently, but I'm a fast learner," I said with a shake of my head. "If you have any magisters or clerics around, I can maybe learn from them."

"How fast of a learner?" Hass asked, and I gulped.

"I-I don't know." I mumbled.

Isa stood up and placed both palms on the table. "I object to this, Colonel Hass; please, you must understand that while Luna is very strong and reliable, she's merely a child. Not only that, but she also isn't even a soldier."

Hass looked at Isa and nodded. "Indeed, she isn't a soldier. Though the girl is volunteering her services, she's shown to have talent that already almost surpasses some of my best medics."

"This is absurd." Isa gasped.

Even Brenner leaned forward and said, "I agree with Miss Soza, as useful as Luna is. Morally, it doesn't justify it." The wolfman stroked his chin as I glared at him. "I do not foresee the response from the top brass taking too kindly to this either."

"She will not serve directly on the front. She'll hang back at the field hospital."

"That's still too close!" Isa said her expression was one of pleading.

"Isa!" I said, looking at her. "Please. Let me do this."

"It isn't worth it, Luna! You've seen those monsters. If they break the line, you'll be in mortal danger."

"They won't," Hass said firmly as she planted both hands on the table. "I've made it very clear that the Rusivite's will not break through my wall."

Isa glared at her. "You speak tough, Colonel, but how strong of a bite does your bark carry?"

Hass frowned and growled, "Strong enough."