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"Naiad... Wake up, my dear."
Early in the morning, while everyone slept soundly, even Maria, who allowed herself to sleep deeply to rest her mind and let her new powers settle, Celes began to hear strange whispers.
"It’s ti for you to return to your throne in the high seas."
"Co back, sister."
"Naiad!"
They called for soone else yet sohow referred to him. These whispers ca not from the outside world but from within his soul.
"Hm?"
He woke slowly, sitting on the bed and feeling strange. The more these voices echoed in his soul, the more he felt drawn to the light streaming through the window.
The hotel Maria had chosen was luxurious. Celes slept comfortably in his own room with his mother, whom he had cuddled with.
He slipped out of bed, noticing his mother was fast asleep, exhausted from everything. He didn’t want to wake her.
"Who is it?"
The boy peered through the window, noticing bright azure and golden light in the sky.
A surge of "familiar" spiritual energy, which he couldn’t quite place, felt strangely compelling.
"My daughter, you’ve finally returned."
"You’ve slept enough, don’t you think?"
"Co with us!"
"We’ve co in person just for you!"
Four voices echoed in Celes’ soul as he opened the window and stepped out, floating in midair within a water bubble.
He looked up.
Four giants, each over thirty ters tall, lood above.
"Waow..."
They were majestic rfolk, imnse yet radiating divine spiritual energy.
Their presence exuded this essence, creating the bright light that drew him outside like a moth to a fla.
The most imposing was a muscular, bearded king.
"Who are you people? Why do you feel so familiar...? Wow, you’re so big."
The four giants studied Celes, their gentle smiles shifting to confusion as they exchanged glances.
anwhile, commotion erupted in the city. Hundreds flocked to witness the four giants in the sky.
It was a rare event; their divine rulers almost never appeared publicly like this.
The crowd’s awe and disbelief created noise, waking soone else.
"Is this... Naiad? Why do you look so different?" the King asked, puzzled.
"Is that a human child’s body? Is this so vessel for you?" the Queen wondered.
"No, it’s not a vessel. She’s taken that form for so reason," the young lady beside them said.
"Perhaps she’s hiding among mortals?" the young man added.
"Ummm... Who’s Naiad?" Celes asked, vaguely recalling the na but not fully. "Wait... Ah, I sohow know you... this is weird. Is this a dream? You’re the king, queen, prince, and princess... of Atlantis! Right?"
"Y-Yes... dear, do you not rember us?" the Queen asked. "How could this happen? Are you joking, you rascal?"
"It would be like her to joke..." the King laughed. "Co on, Naiad, no ti for gas! It’s , your father! How can you forget ? I know last ti we t; I treated you harshly, but I’m here to make ands and sincerely ask your forgiveness... I was wrong. I admit it."
"Eh?" Celes tilted his head, still confused.
"She doesn’t seem to rember. Look at her face, she’s confused," the prince said.
"She clearly recognizes us, though!" the princess said. "She’s taken a new identity and forgotten her past."
"Um..." Celes scratched his head. "The big old man... is King Oceanus, right? And the motherly lady... Queen Thalassa? And then big brother? Wait, I had a brother? Prince Brontys and... big sister? That doesn’t make sense... Princess Coraleia! Yes."
"She rembers our nas!" Thalassa said. "This is no coincidence. Perhaps she lost her mories in an accident, and her body took this shape to adapt?"
"We are Spirits, so while we take these forms, our true forms are shapeless," Coraleia said.
"Then it’s our duty to help her rember, right?" Brontys asked.
"Hm," Oceanus nodded. "Co, Naiad, let’s return to your room. I’m sure you’ll recall more once you see it and the things you left behind."
"Huh?" Celes floated higher, his bubble manipulated by divine spiritual power, reaching the giants’ massive eyes.
"Oh, sister, you’re still so small!" Coraleia sighed. "What happened to you?"
"At your age, you should be our height..." Brontys said. "But you’re back, so let’s go!"
"I’m sure you’ll rember everything once you taste your mother’s fish pie!" Thalassa said with a gentle, motherly smile, caressing Celes as the bubble popped. He landed softly in her palm. "Aw, this body is strange... but you’re still my adorable daughter."
"Eh? Ah... Wait... Eh?!" Celes gasped, realizing he was being carried away. "W-Wait! Is this really a dream?"
"You could say it’s a dream for us that you’re back," the King said gently. "Welco back, Naiad... You don’t know how much we’ve missed you."
"..."
Celes gazed at the city below, gasping.
He wanted to tell them they were mistaken, that he wasn’t their Naiad.
But their happiness stopped him. He didn’t want to disappoint them.
So he decided to play along for now and return to his mother later.
"Celes! Where are you going? Are they your new friends? I didn’t see them! Who are you? Where are you taking him!"
Nyx’s voice echoed behind, but the giants ignored her.
rfolk soldiers appeared, blocking her path.
"Don’t interfere with the four rulers and their daughter!"
"They’re having a special mont!"
"Child or not, we’ll use force if you persist in approaching their divine presences!"
"What? Daughter?! Celes is a boy! He’s not a girl, dummies! Ugh! Get out!"
Nyx turned into shadows, evading them and leaving the guards confused, searching for her.
Her shadows traveled far, reaching Celes’ shadow, accompanying him undetected by the giants.
"Celes! Pssh! Celes!"
"Hm? Ah, Nyx!"
"Shhh! Let’s talk telepathically!"
"Oh, okay."
Celes nodded as Nyx noticed the King’s concerned glance, but she was too well-hidden for him to spot.
"What’s wrong, Naiad? Do you feel sick?" the King asked.
"Huh?" Celes said, confused. "I’m not Naiad... though..."
"You’ll rember soon and leave that form, don’t worry," the King smiled. "You’ll be back in no ti."
"..."
Celes fell silent, feeling guilty as he began to understand.
"Celes, you’re being kidnapped!" Nyx said.
"It’s not that, Nyx, don’t worry!" Celes replied. "These people think I’m their daughter, and I think I know why."
"What?!" Nyx said, confused.
"Rember when you and your mom arrived in my town? It’s blurry, but they said sothing about being soone’s reincarnation... or sothing. It’s weird," Celes said. "Maybe they think I’m that person, even though I’m not..."
"...Ah!" Nyx’s eyes widened. "So much ti has passed, I forgot, but you’re right! The Oasis Spirit, right? But... I don’t recall her being part of a divine family of giant gods! This is strange!"
" neither, but did we learn about her past? I’m supposed to be her reincarnation, but I don’t have her mories... I’m just , Celes..." the boy sighed. "Am I, Nyx?"
"You are! You’re Celes, my best friend!" Nyx nodded. "But these people... aren’t they creepy?"
"No... I feel sorry for them. They’ve waited for Naiad to return, maybe for hundreds of years!" Celes said. "She died, and I ca back, so they think I’m her... I can’t imagine how devastated they’d be if they knew the truth."
"Celes..." Nyx sighed. "You’re right, they look so happy... but I see lingering sorrow in their eyes. They were probably very sad before eting you."
"Yeah... see? I can’t just say no to them now," Celes sighed. "Ugh, what do I do?"
"I’ll watch over you for now!" Nyx said. "Then we can solve this slowly and tell them the truth."
Celes nodded, though he felt bad keeping Nyx in a shadow.
"Um, can I show you my friend?" Celes asked. "She’s a friend I made back ho."
"Back ho?" Thalassa asked. "You an the world you were in before?"
"Friend?" Brontys asked. "Who is it?"
"She’s a dragon!" Celes said with a smile. "Nyx, co!"
"Um... hi?" Nyx erged from Celes’ shadows, startling them briefly.
"A dragon...? But she’s just a child..." the King said. "Is she really your friend, Naiad?"
"Yeah! And my na is Celes, sir," the boy nodded.
"Celes... Is this the identity Naiad took to hide from an enemy?" Coraleia wondered.
"It’s the na his mother gave him," Nyx said.
"Hahaha! Dear, I’m Naiad’s only mother here!" Thalassa laughed. "Anyway, you’re cute... If you’re my daughter’s friend, you must be good-natured and kind. You can co with us if she insists."
"Thanks!" Nyx nodded.
"She’s kind of cute," Brontys said.
"Can you turn into a big dragon, Nyx?" Coraleia asked.
"I can! But it’s too dangerous now," Nyx said. "It makes a big boom! I don’t want to hurt you."
"Hurt us? Hahahahah!" the King laughed. "Oh, Naiad, you’ve brought quite the jokester! Dear Nyx, don’t worry about hurting us. We’ll be fine."
"Still, it’s better if I stay like this," Nyx said, glancing around.
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