Cela immediately assisted Chanaia. A little further away, Teo was carrying Zenon, who had a deep cut on his arm and was bleeding profusely.
Chanaia weakly shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts with the gesture. Everything had happened so fast. Chanon... Ilia...Oh dear…Then she saw Armin, assisted by Mak, busy reviving Amir.
"We have to get out of here. The enemy might have called for reinforcements." Chanaia heard Cela whisper through trembling, color-drained lips. And although she was instantly ashamed of her instincts, she couldn't help but feeling to punching her. No way... However, she knew Cela was right. In fact, Chanaia herself had already thought the same thing. Nevertheless, she said:
"Just a minute… wait a minute, and we'll circle around to set a course for The Base. Go to the navigation systems, turn on the searchlight, and scan the nearby waters."
Cela nodded and, after having Chans lean against the balustrade, walked toward the control cabin.
For Chanaia, standing was a torment, but she remained there until she heard the engine purr. The ladder was immediately pulled out, and Mak, Keniak, and Atalaya climbed up, shivering due to the cold air against their dripping bodies. Meanwhile, Chanaia, horrified and feeling numb, still insisted on staring at the waters, where The Seeker's beacon illuminated the sea. Two minutes passed before the boat moved with a firm tug.
"Oh, Chanon…" Chanaia moaned, unable to contain herself, and then she slid down the edge until she hit the ground. The pain exploded in her body; however, her body's senses felt as if they were on a second plane. Her thoughts were overflowing, desperately and more painful than her wounds. Chanaia felt mostly in disbelief, unable to accept that she had lost him, especially since she had always considered her brother almost an all-powerful being. Chanon… lost… impossible. Simply impossible. Crying was just too painful. It was a physical and mental suffering. And on the other hand, the tortured Ilia, after a horrible life, had also… Chanaia didn't allow herself to say the word in her mind.
"I'll check the damage." - She heard Mak say, standing close, and Chans nodded vaguely. Then Amir's shout made her shudder: "No! Chanon? Stop, we can't leave him…!"
So now he had woken up, and someone had told him the news. At least Amir had recovered... Chanaia thought absently, still unable to regain an ounce of composure.
"It's too late, Amir. He's been underwater too long… at this point…" Teo was saying, his face obviously sad and grim.
Hearing his words, Chanaia whimpered again softly. Then suddenly Teo screamed, just before he threw himself over the ship's left side: "Stop! Stop the ship! I see them!! It's Chanon nd...! It's the new girl and Chanon! It's definitely them!!" He was followed immediately by Keniak and Atalaya.
With her heart thundering, Chanaia stood up, stifling a cry of pain. Oh God!! The tears were blinding her. But they were oh! so welcome. They were tears of happiness and hope.
"Stop the Seeker! Now!!" The boatswain shouted, feeling as though she was going to lose consciousness from the pain her own actions caused her. However, Cela obeyed her immediately, stopping the engines and dropping the anchor.
Then Amir was immediately at Chanaia's side to support her, getting under her shoulder and carefully putting an arm around her waist. After looking at each other, both with tears in their eyes, they searched the water again. Quite close to the boat, Ilia could barely stay afloat, and against all odds, she had Chanon, who seemed unconscious. A trickle of blood ran down his temple, but the strange thing was that the water didn't seem to touch the captain's head.
Teo quickly swam up to them with a swift stroke and grabbed Chanon, while Atalaya did the same with Ilia. After touching the thin Ilia, Atalaya made her levitate over the water with her power until the young woman fell into Mak and Cela's reach. A few seconds later, Atalaya did the same with Chanon, and soon they were all safely back on deck.
"He created an air bubble, so he didn't… he didn't drown," Chanaia said, once she was near her brother. Then something erupted around the young captain, as if to confirm her words. The wounded were taken to a cabin designated as the infirmary under Armin's care. Ilia shivered beside the convalescing young captain as she looked at him with her striking eyes. They had brought her several blankets, but she didn't lose her cool. Both women, the sister and the emaciated young woman, leaned on the wounded man's bed.
"He's breathing."
Chanaia reassured her sadly, remembering the girl's high fever. She looked at her. Ilia had risked a lot on that adventure. Thank you, Ilia...Chans thought.
Now Chanaia was concentrating on slowly healing her ribs. Most Infinites were capable of healing wounds and mending bones, while the most skilled ones could mend such injuries in others; that was also one of her brother's powers.
"Ilia... I..." Chanaia couldn't help but wonder how Ilia had reached Chanon. "How are you feeling?" She asked, and Ilia simply nodded in response. "How did you do it, Ilia? How did you find Chanon? It was dark down there, and…" Chanaia couldn't help but ask.
In response, Ilia sighed softly and looked lost for a few seconds, as if searching for an explanation. Finally, she gave in to a tremor so that her teeth chattered again, and she answered:
"I just knew… I went straight to him… he was sinking…" And then Ilia fainted.
Chanaia went to reach Ilia. However, moving fast as a light, Chanon got her first.
He received a hug from his sister as he placed Ilia down on the bed where he had previously lain.
"When did you wake up? Oh! I was so worried… I can't put into words how much… I thought you were lost. Oh, Chanon…"
Chanon returned the hug with the same vehemence. Then, after a few seconds, he replied:
"I heard your question and her answer. It's a skill. She saved my life thanks to that. And, Chans, I'm sorry, Chans. I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm sorry for putting you in danger. For leaving you all in danger. I should have… I should have been stronger…" Here he paused to look at the gaunt girl sleeping on the bed. Chanon brushed away some light brown hair that had fallen on her cheek. Then he looked up at his sister before continuing: "Ilia saved my life. And yours too, Chans. We owe her big time. Before…" Saying this, Chanon stopped, and a shudder ran through him. "Before, I thought I really was going to lose you. That was a piece of shit…"
Without hesitation, Chanaia rushed to her brother and hugged him again, crying violently. He had a nasty cut stuck to his hairline above his right eyebrow, but it didn't seem recent; Chanon was healing really fast.
Taking advantage of his sister's hug, Chanon finished healing her ribs, and then he took care of his own wounds, sealing his face cut without even leaving a mark.
"I love you, little sister." He said to Chanaia and heard her cry and squeeze him tighter, her head buried in his neck.
"And I love you so much, silly!" — She replied, taking a breath and sniffling, and Chanon smiled. When they separated, he looked at the thin, sleeping girl, wishing he could heal her as well. But he had no remedy for the girl. He couldn't find what was wrong with her in the first place.
Ilia... Chanon thought. I really felt lost. Then I felt you... You were like light itself...Thank you...