We all eventually moved inside once Kharie was able to get ahold of herself. Delphia was currently brushing through Kharie's hair with a fine brush while the woman in question had a blush on her face. We were all in the living room, with my ladies and I sitting on a couch across from the two women. I sat with Clarissa and Sheila on either side of me, while Cici of course took my open lap, which I didn't mind at all.
We all watched with amusement as Delphia fussed over Kharie, who was also now dressed in not torn to shit and bloody clothing. A simple tan tunic and cream colored pants. Her hair was still damp from her bath she had just recently gotten out of. Delphia had practically dragged her that way when we got inside, and Kharie put up no resistance at all. It was funny seeing her all flustered over being pampered, which Delphia did with a smile on her lips.
"I'm sorry that you are doing all of this for me... and for everything else earlier." Kharie mumbled to Delphia.
"There's nothing to apologize for, sweetheart. I want to do this for you, so just let me." Delphia said softly, using her fingers to comb although Kharie's hair after using ths brush.
Moisture pricked at Kharie's eyes, but she held it in.
"You don't have to-" Kharie began, but Delphia cut her off.
"I. Want. To." Delphia said, her tone stern, before her voice softened, "You know... back when I was... around your brother... he often spoke about you three."
That caused Vikoss and Rory, who were sitting in very comfy looking chairs to our left, to pay even more attention than they were. Delphia was clearly speaking to all of them anyways.
"He often talked about... well, why he thought you three were foolish. Your "weak ideals" and nonsense like that. How you believed that everyone could exist together in your village peacefully, how you, Kharie, valued everyone's opinion in this village no matter who they were or what rank they were. About how you, Vikoss, and Rory used your Classes to improve people's lifestyles and wellbeings in the village rather then seeking more strength."
Kharie turned around to face Delphia, the tears now dangerously close to falling. Delphia smiled and brushed a locke of hair out of her face that had fallen from the turn of her head.
"Everything he said, he said it with venom in his voice, and clear distaste. However, the words he spoke hit me much differently. I thought you all sounded wonderful. I didn't even know any of you, but hearing about you three... I wanted to. Three incredible sounding people that, despite the tragedies in their lives, pushed through it, and stuck to what they believed in. You all stayed true to your hearts, to who you are, who you wanted to be, and that's something to take pride in. I'm not sure how much it will mean to you three, but I'm very proud of you all."
That apparently seemed to be what Kharie needed, as once again, her tears fell. Delphia pulled her into her chest and gently stroked her hair. Vikoss and Rory stayed stoic for the most part, but their eyes shone with both unshed tears and a grateful acceptance of Delphia's words.
"It does mean something. More than I can properly express. Thank you, Delphia." Vikoss said, his voice steady.
"Yes. Thank you, ma'am." Rory said, his voice a little weak from holding himself back.
"It means... more than you know... thank you..." Kharie managed through her tears, and Delphia only smiled warmly down at her.
"That's what I'm here for, sweetheart. After what you said earlier, I feel like I have to live up to the title you gave me." Delphia said.
Kharie looked like she was about to say something, but as Delphia kept rubbing her back and stroking her hair, whatever she looked like she was going to say died on her lips, and she just closed her eyes and accepted the treatment. The smile that made it's way onto her face almost got me, I won't lie. I knew this would get emotional, but I felt like I needed a break. The girls around me watched with smiles and tears in their eyes too, which wasn't helping matters.
It didn't take as long this time for everyone to settle down. Kharie now sat upright again, her back against the couch as she looked between everyone, her guilt seeming to come back to her. Everyone waited for her, as they knew what was coming, but everyone was patient with her, clearly seeing all of her troubled emotions both inwardly and outwards.
"I can't say this enough... I am truly sorry. I'm sorry for worrying you, I'm sorry for not telling you what I was doing... I'm sorry I almost..." She said, but she had to stop and close her eyes, taking a deep breath.
Delphia's hand found hers, and she gave it a gentle squeeze.
"It's okay, Kharie. Don't think about what could have happened." She said softly, and Kharie nodded, her hand slowly tightening around Delphia's.
"As you probably know by now, I went to the Dead Lands. I needed something to focus on... I needed to clear my mind. I can't throw myself into my craft like you two can to do that," Kharie said, addressing her brothers, "The way I can focus and clear my mind is the same way mother used to. By fighting. By hunting."
"So, to do that, you went to one on the most dangerous places we know of to do that?" Vikoss asked, his voice rising, "A place so dangerous that we always went in groups to fight there? A place that we've barely even scratched the surface of exploring because of the strength of those creatures? The place that ended up killing our mother and father? The two strongest people we had ever known?"
Kharie's ears drooped and her tail coiled up in her lap. Meanwhile, Delphia said nothing, but she was observing. Vikoss's anger this time was justified in a way, and she understood that whatever he needed to say, he had to get it out. He then turned to Rory, who flinched at his gaze.
"And you. You knew she was doing this. You said you followed her and observed her, yet you said nothing to me. You never confronted Kharie about her foolishness! You just let her put herself in danger! You-"
"VIK, STOP!" Kharie shouted, everyone now turning back to her to see both anger and tears in her eyes, "This was my mistake, not Rory's! Don't you dare yell at him like that! I did this many times, and never had any problems. I overextended myself, and I lost sight of where I was! By the time I realized I had went too far, it was already too late! Yes, I almost died! I lost my arm and my leg, and I thought I was done for! And the whole time, all I could think about is how much it would hurt you both! How much I loved you both! I would have died... if not for Elias."
Vikoss didn't speak, nor did he look like he could find the right words to say. He just sat there and listened as Kharie spoke, her tears drenching her cheeks. Delphia's hand went to her back, rubbing it in smooth and gentle circles as Kharie kept speaking.
"I didn't want to worry you. I didn't want to worry either of you... I know how you both can get. You especially, Vik. I knew you'd stop me, or try to stop me from going, so I just decided I would go by myself when no one was watching." She said, her eyes finding Rory's, "Or at least... that's what I had assumed. I don't know what else to do when my brain becomes a tangled mess like that! I needed to do something, or else I know I'll break down!" She said, then her voice cracked as she sobbed through her next words, "But... in the end, I just made you both worry even more... and I... I almost..."
Vikoss, who was sitting down listening to his sister, immediately stood. I saw honest to goodness tears in his eyes, and a realization forming behind them. He crossed the distance in only a few steps, knelt down, and wrapped her in a fierce hug. Kharie's arms instinctively went around his back, returning the gesture as she cried into his shoulder.
"You understand, don't you Vikoss?" Delphia asked softly, her own eyes shimmering with moisture, and he nodded stiffly as he brought his hand behind her head, and held her tightly.
"This is just as much our fault." Vikoss said, his voice rough with his emotions.
Rory, who's head had been downcast, rose to his feet, and made his way over to them in a few short strides. He sat next to Kharie on her open side, and put his arm around her, leaning his body into her shoulder.
"All of us... whenever something like this happens... we all curl in on ourselves. I lose myself in my work, as does Vik." Rory said, his voice soft as he hugged his sister, "We get so focused on ourselves that we have neglected your feelings."
"Not just hers. I shut down... and I don't talk to anyone... even when we are all hurting." Vikoss said, then turned his head to rest his cheek against the top of Kharie's head, "When what we all really need is each other."
This had to be the character development of the century. Vikoss had gotten a lot better since I returned here before I had to go and save Kharie. The man in front of me right now barely resembled the man I met the other day, which was even more impressive. While yes, it was good to take time to yourself to process your internal feelings and emotions, it also helps to have loved ones around you. You can help each other, support each other, and let each other know everything will be okay because you all have one another.
"You three have been through so much that it hurts me. My heart aches for all that you've been through, and all that you've lost." Delphia said, smiling at the 3 who now looked at her, "You three are amazing, and all of you try to keep so much to yourselves because you think it will trouble the others, but that's far from the case. I see how much you three care about each other. I know any of you would drop what you are doing for each other if they needed help, or in this case... to simply let everything out. You three have each other to lean on. Never forget that. This is what family is for. To comfort each other, to give each each other strength, and to make the others feel loved and supported."
Her words caused all 3 of them to react in various ways. Kharie smiled as more tears tracked down her cheeks. Vikoss's eyes became glassy as he looked at Delphia with the utmost respect I've seen on his face as he tightened his hold on Kharie. And Rory looked as if he was seeing something in Delphia that he hadn't seen in a long time as moisture gathered in his eyes.
The arms closest to her opened invitingly, and Delphia smiled brightly, her own eyes wet as she leaned into them was pulled into the embrace. The women next to me leaned into me even more, their happy smiles and teary eyes evidence of how they felt about the scene unfolding.
"This is so sweet." Clarissa said, hugging my arm to her chest.
"I honestly think I've cried more in my time around you than I ever have in my life." Sheila said, my other arm being suffocated by her very sizable and squishy breasts.
"I'm sorry. That's not my goal. I'm just trying to help people." I said with a light chuckle.
"It's not a bad thing. Not at all. I admire you for who you are, Eli. Happy tears are much more acceptable to me than sad ones." She said, and I smiled as I brought my hand up and began running my hands through her soft black hair, scratching one of her fuzzy ears in the process.
"That's my darling. From the very moment I met him, he dropped everything to help me. Even with what he had going on in his own life, he did everything he could for me. This is just who he is." Cici said, turning her head to gaze at me affectionately.
I smiled, my love for her almost causing my chest to burst as I leaned in and stole her lips in a gentle kiss. She sighed happily into my mouth before we parted. I looked down at Clarissa, who stared at me with equal affection as our lips locked as well, her tongue briefly meeting mine before we disengaged. Her cheeks were a bit rosy after that, but she smiled lovingly at me, making my insides melt. I turned to Sheila, gazed into her eyes next, and we soon met in a softer kiss before we parted soon after. While I couldn't say I loved her yet, I knew it was only a matter of time, and with the most crucial step of our new relationship already taken, I felt like the rest wouldn't be hard to find.
We stayed like that for a little while longer, giving the other four their time to show each other their affection, happy to see how well Delphia fit in with them like she belonged. After a little while longer, they broke their hug, and Kharie settled back onto the couch while her brothers reclaimed their previous spots.
"I... apologize for that..." Vikoss said, using his thumb and pointer finger on his right hand to rub at his eyes.
"No need. You never have to apologize for something like that. I get it." I said, which made him smile gratefully at me.
A content silence filled the room for a minute or so, everyone happy to just be around each other, before someone spoke again.
"So, now that everyone is okay now," Delphia said, turning to smile warmly at Kharie before her gaze shifted to me, "I am very curious about what exactly happened. Will you two tell us?"
Kharie's eyes met mine in that moment, and I smiled and nodded at her, giving her the chance to speak first. The smiled she gave me in return made my chest bloom with warmth. She truly was beautiful.
"Yes. I'll start from the beginning." She said, and then her eyes locked back on mine with purpose, "By the end of this, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who will demand the answers you promised me."