Finding my Parents in Another World-Chapter 66: (Zoe) Return to Normalcy

The journey back to the entrance of the Caves of Bloodfell was much faster than the entry had been. Maybe because all of the enemies guarding the Holder were destroyed and the path was clear. But most importantly, because Zoe’s mind was preoccupied by a thousand thoughts.

Secret Library? Champion of the Goddess? Apocalypse?

She felt like she had been thrust into a conflict, the scale of which she couldn’t grasp yet. Zoe had been moderately religious back home, but before this Cave, she hadn’t actually considered the possibility of a living, breathing Goddess existing on this world.

But now the possibility had turned into a certainty.

Waking back absentmindedly, she looked again at the two objects in her hand. In her left hand was the key. A wholly unexpected object, which led to some Secret Library she knew nothing about.

"AD, tell me again about the Secret Library." Zoe tried again.

The object in her right hand began to glow. The Spear of the Goddess sported a golden aura around it as the answer came back from within, "A mythical library said to be located in the Capital. Nothing is known about its precise location in the city, or what is contained inside. Just that it requires five of these golden keys to open the door."

"And this is one of the five keys?"

"Affirmative."

Zoe fell silent and then so did AD inside the Spear. Zoe remembered how she had been shocked when AD had assimilated herself inside the Spear shortly after presenting her with the key.

"What are you doing?" She had asked horrified as the robot cloud seemed to be slowly merging with the Spear in her hand.

"A Treasure requires a Guardian. The previous Guardian of this Treasure is no longer present. Therefore, I have to take the responsibility of Guardian."

Zoe remembered the fading Zoltran, the repeated insistence in her status as the Champion of the Goddess.

So he was the Guardian of the Spear.

And now, AD had merged completely with the Spear. It was helpful to have a walking encyclopedia as a weapon, but Zoe still wondered how much she could trust AD. Or any of the artificial beings created by the Goddess for that matter.

Or the Goddess herself for that matter.

Zoe bit her lip. She had to make sure she didn’t say her doubts out loud to Famina. The latter would be devastated.

When the opening of the Caves came into view, Zoe was almost surprised. The journey had gone much quicker than she was expecting. Outside it seemed to be nighttime, and Zoe realized with a groan how exhausted she was. She had been fighting almost since the day began, and now all she wanted was to lie down in bed and sleep. Recover. Zoe was feeling her age in full now.

Tiredly, Zoe emerged into the darkness of the Tal forest. She looked around at the carnage of the battle against Exi, which seemed so long ago now. The corpse of General Fridt lay where she had left him, and besides it was the molten remains of the great Chianti Hunter.

Sitting behind both of them was another figure.

"So you did come back, Midir." Zoe said cheerfully as she walked towards him. Even though she had developed a sort of camaraderie with the guide in the previous fight, she still didn’t trust him enough to believe for sure that he would return.

"Took your money for the round trip didn’t I?" He answered gruffly. As Zoe looked closer, Midir seemed exhausted as well, not to mention his right arm which was bandaged up. The guide wasn’t going to be using his Inito in the near future, that was for sure.

"Is Famina all right?"

Midir nodded. "She’s in the biggest hospital in Satoky. She was injured, but nothing life threatening. They will discharge her by tomorrow."

Zoe breathed a sigh of relief. Then she noticed Midir staring warily at the Spear in her hands.

"Is that....?" He began hesitantly.

"The treasure we came here for." Zoe said affirmatively. She shared the guide’s wariness towards it though.

"And that?" Midir nodded towards the key.

Zoe hesitated. Something told her that this was one item she shouldn’t divulge too many details about.

"Just a random key I found in there. Nothing important." Zoe shoved it in the pockets of her leggings.

Midir nodded and accepted her explanation, although it was clear to Zoe that he didn’t believe it one iota. He turned back, looking towards the forest. In the darkness, the Tal appeared even more ominous.

"We should return the way we came from. I used that path to return here, and there are no obstacles there for the moment. The Tal at night is not a place we should stay long in." He said gravely.

Zoe nodded vigorously. The faster they were out of this ominous forest, the better. Zoe couldn’t wait to relax and sleep at the Inn.

Midir motioned for her to follow him, and then he set off lithely moving through the dense undergrowth.

Zoe sighed, and followed, dreaming of the warm bed that would follow.

.XX.

As Midir had promised, the journey out of the Tal was uneventful. No hordes of Clackers, no attack by armored soldiers, no threats of any kind. There were ominous sounds though, and more than once Zoe felt some sort of creature watching them, but they were not attacked. Zoe thought about asking Midir about the sounds, but then reconsidered. She had had enough conflicts for one day.

When she saw the main gate of Satoky come up, she almost started celebrating. She had been in the city a short time, but already it felt like home to her.

There were a lot fewer people around the main city gate this late at night, so Midir and Zoe were able to quickly pass the gate and enter the city. Inside though, it was different. A lot of people were out in the streets, cheerfully greeting each other, going in bars, restaurants and enjoying themselves.

"Where is the hospital Famina is at?" Zoe asked as soon as they were in.

"This way. Come, I’ll show you."

The hospital turned out to be near the city center. It was a big nondescript building, a lot different from the big sprawling hospitals Zoe was used to back on Earth. In front of the building was a simple sign reading "Gtyin Hospital".

"This is the biggest hospital in this city?" Zoe asked incredously.

Midir shrugged. "It may not be the flashiest, but it is the best."

Inside the hospital, there was a flurry of activity. There were nurses running between rooms, doctors consulting one another in hushed tones. The only thing missing from back home was the incessant beeping of machines. Instead there were brief flashes of magik - a tray transported to a desk, a flicker of light as a IV bag refilled itself, and the soft hum of some sort of healing magik being cast.

Zoe was overwhelmed, and probably would have stayed there longer, if not for Midir beckoning towards her. Reluctantly, tearing her eyes away from this majestic marvel of magik being used, she turned and followed Midir as he led her deeper into the hospital. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Eventually they came in front of a small room, identical to the patient rooms before. However there was much less chaos in this side of the building. A single nurse came out of the room, bowed slightly to both of them and left. Midir opened the door, and then went in, Zoe behind him.

As Zoe had surmised, this was a patient room. It was a small room, with a single bed in the middle of it taking up most of the space inside.

On top of that bed was Famina.

She was unconscious, and had what looked to be a IVF attached to her arm. A doctor stood beside her, taking some notes on a piece of paper. On noticing them standing at the door, he beckoned for them to come closer.

"I believe we spoke earlier Midir. And this is?" The doctor looked questioningly at Zoe.

"A friend." She said simply.

"She is with the kid." Midir confirmed gruffly.

The doctor nodded and then continued, "As I told you earlier, there is no fatal injury to Ms Famina, so she should be good to discharge tomorrow morning."

"Why have you kept her unconscious then?" Zoe asked anxiously.

The doctor looked at her and smiled. "Not to worry, just a precaution. She has been through a lot today, both physical and mental. The unconsciousness is to allow her to rest, to allow her to recover."

Zoe looked over at Famina. She looked peaceful in her sleep, if a bit pale. The doctor provided a few more details regarding her injury, but nothing more of note. After giving his report, the doctor nodded at both of them and left.

Once he had gone, Zoe approached the bed of Famina, and gently placed a hand on her head.

"You really care about the kid don’t you?" Midir said from a corner.

"Yes. " And it was true. In the beginning Zoe felt it was her way of coping with not being able to find her own son in this new world. But now, Zoe realized that she truly cared for Famina as a daughter. It was as if she had acquired a whole new child in this world.

"Well all I can really tell you is to be careful. You don’t seem like one of them."

Zoe turned sharply towards Midir. "What do you mean by ’one of them’?" She asked coldly.

Midir raised his hands apologetically. "Look, I care about Famina as well. I know her since she was a kid, and God knows she has suffered a lot in her life already. All I am saying is that you don’t seem like a member of the Goddess Cult yet. And if you stay around that Father Andrews or even Famina herself long enough, be prepared to know what that means."

"Why do you think I am not a member?"

Midir smiled deprecatingly. "No member of the Goddess Cult would ever prioritize a human life, like you did, over getting their hands on a Treasure of the Goddess."