Chapter Text
Chapter 1 Rebirth
“Ferdinand!!” Myne screams from her space between her parents.
“Wake up honey it is just a bad dream.” Effa her mother says while stroking her back. “You had a horrible fever and now these dreams. I don’t know what we can do. You have always been sick but never like this!” Holding her daughter close and rubbing her back Effa holds back her tears. Myne has been screaming and crying in her sleep for the last bell and they were not able to wake her up until now. A strange yellow glow came off her for most of it and she was very cold. We almost lost her!
“I’m not going to work my daughter needs me here.” Gunter her father says. He loves his daughter and is very much afraid that she will die if he steps away from her for even a moment. He has never seen her like this. Her dreams are normally her escape and happy. She even said before she never wanted to wake up because her dreams were so much fun! What could have caused them to turn so bad so fast.
“But dad what if you lose your job!” Cries Tuuli. Gunter has already missed too many days because he refused to leave during her fever. Tuuli loves her sister even if she is not able to do anything. Fear comes over this little girl who had to grow up fast. Seeing her sister so sick and on the verge of death every day is a struggle. Tuuli has had to mature more than other children her age who have to grow up quickly anyways because life is hard for everyone. But even she doesn’t want to leave her sister after what they just witnessed. She knows though that without Gunter’s job they will not have enough money to make it through the winter and then Myne would die.
“Tuuli is right dad you should go to work. If I am awake it will be ok. Right? I can’t have bad dreams if I’m not sleeping.” Myne says. Her family looks at her strangely.
“Where is that coming from and how are you so calm now?” Tuuli asks. Her sister has always been odd especially when talking about her dreams but now she is acting even more odd.
“I don’t know, I just know?” Myne replies. A soft yellow light drifts through the open window and lands on her. “I feel like I need to go to the gate with Daddy today. That there is something there to help me.” Myne has always been strange and a cry baby. Seeing her act mature is very confusing to her family, but if there is something that might make her better than it is worth looking into. Strange colored dust comes in through the window landing on everyone. Gunter thinks it looks like the blessing light a noble give, but he doesn’t know why it would come in their house.
Yesterday she woke up as Urano/Myne. Her memories in another world have been unlocked. But she doesn’t know who Ferdinand is and why she was having a bad dream or what the dream was of. “Dad if I go with you to the gate, then everyone can work, right? And I will be close if something happens?” Myne asks knowing her dad will not go to work without her. Her father is very overprotective of her. I need to go to the gate! Myne thinks.
“Great idea! I can stay by your side too. If there is something to help you then we should go. But are you well enough?” Tuuli asks, worried about their dad’s job as much as she is worried about her sister’s health. She wants to know what could be at the gate to help her sister.
“I think so I rested all day yesterday and if Dad carries me, I won’t be walking around anyway. I can rest while dad works. What’s the difference if it is here or there. And then you can go to the forest and mom can work. Tuuli you should go to the forest. I will be ok at the gate it is inside and there are a lot of people who can protect me.” Myne says. Knowing that she has always been strange her family decides to go with this newly mature Myne.
So, it was decided that Myne and Gunter would go to the gate, while Tuuli and Effa would gather and work.
The gods watching the family give a little help to them to ease their worries, give them the information and go along with what Myne has said.
Meanwhile…
Ferdinand wakes from his own disturbing dream but he remembers EVERYTHING. All of the memories from the previous weave and the conversation with the gods that followed. “Those damn gods trying to take my goddess from me. No never again.” Getting up and looking around he creates a plan, and he knows just who to call for it. Ewigeliebe has possessed him. Myne would call it PTSD. A completely natural reaction to seeing the only person who you love more than anything else be taken from you and after searching for a year finding her broken and crying at the foot of your enemy. The main thing he knows is that she is alive and needs to be with him as soon as possible. He cannot trust anyone with her until he gets his own mana under control. He will not admit it to others, but she needs to be with him for himself more than her right now. He does not know if he can go more than half a day without retrieving her.
“Karstedt, I need to you come to my room at the temple at once” as the message flies he calls Fran and tells him to let him get Karstedt from the gate. Knowing that he will be with Sylvester and be allowed to come because Sylvester is too curious otherwise. He goes into the hidden room to make the concealing amulets that will be needed. The Gods let him know before waking up that Gunter would be at the south gate with Myne today. He also sent messages to Justus to get clothing and to the other retainers so they can prepare themselves.
“Brother Ferdinand, Lord Karstedt is here.” Fran says through the contact stone. The timing was perfect. Ferdinand has just completed 3 amulets that conceal a person and their mana. He remembered the way to make them from the time before. Once he has his everything, and a certain someone, secured, he will make all the protective charms for Myne. She will need to be encased in his ice. He will not let her be taken again.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice.” Ferdinand inclines his head to the chairs and passes the anti-eavesdropping tool to Karstedt. Not wanting to waste any time he starts, “You will take on a daughter for me and baptize her as Elvira’s daughter. She will be my first and only wife.” Karstedt drops his noble barring upon hearing this and looks absolutely shocked. “We need to go to the south gate to talk to her father who is a soldier there. We will then bring her to my house, and I will keep her safe. I will explain more after she is safe with me.” Ferdinand states. His normal noble ways are being corroded at the moment, by the need he is possessed with.
“But how do you know all of this?” Karstedt questions him. His cousin is always ahead of knowing everything, but this is more than normal. How could anyone get this kind of information suddenly. Karstedt is very confused by these developments.
“The gods sent me back to this point after removing the previous weave and we made some … agreements.” Is the reply in the most demon lord manner that Karstedt has ever seen. Does this mean he challenged the gods and forced them to do things his way? Of everyone this man is the one person I can see doing that. Karstedt thinks to himself. “Do you mean you have lived this before? I didn’t realize the gods were even real!”
“Yes,” comes the reply “I have lived to see the country turn to dust. I will not fail her this time.” Ferdinand left out that he turned it to dust to force the gods to do as he demanded.
Karstedt has never seen his cousin so determined before. Taking a moment to really look at Ferdinand, Karstedt sees something that he has only seen a few times before. Ferdinand is fighting something inside. He saw something very traumatic to have that look in his eyes. It is a mix of possession for someone in addition to terror. The sooner that they retrieve the girl the better to calm Ferdinand down. I can find out more after we get him calm. If I try to talk to him now nothing good will happen.
***
At the gate the solders are getting ready for the shift change and the children are going out to the forest. Myne is bundled up in her dad’s arms and he is hesitant to put her down especially where he can’t see her. Having her wake up screaming some random man’s name and crying is making his protective instincts go on full alert.
Seeing his commander not wanting to get to work Otto offers, “Gunter, I have reports to do so I can keep an eye on her.” Myne perks up at this Does that mean books “Reports? You can read!!” Myne shouts right in Gunter’s ear. “Sure can. Would you like to learn? You are young enough and if you are weak this will give you a job you can do without hurting yourself” Otto responds. He has had to listen to his boss bemoan this girl’s poor health. If she is willing to learn I can pay him back for giving me a job and help his daughter have a chance at life, Otto thinks to himself. He only has this job because of Gunter and has wanted to pay him back for a long time.
“I will gather near the gate so have someone call me if something happens, OK?” Tuuli says to her dad before heading into the forest.
“Defiantly, I will shout the loudest if something happens.” Gunter says to Tuuli. Turning to Otto he says,“Are you sure Otto? You have to be very careful with her and keep her close to the fire and don’t let her get to hot but not too cold. And don’t let her be alone.” Gunter starts to rant as they walk to the office. As always Gunter cannot be contained when it comes to his family.
“Dad, calm down I will be fine.” Myne says stroking his hair. “Daddy sure does love me lots. Hehehe” Myne says quietly into Gunter’s ear making him smile wide. Myne hugs him tight before getting him to put her down near the fire. The room is bare, with just a big table and a few benches. There are many documents on the table.
Gunter is glad to see a little color back in her face. It seems like she has forgotten what the nightmare was about.
After getting settled in the office Otto pulls out a slate from storage and starts to go over the basics of letters and words. He is shocked at how quickly she picks up everything. When suddenly one of the guards run in the room. “Otto the Knight Commander is here!! He has demanded Gunter and his daughter be brought to him and you are needed there too!” the guard shouts into the room startling the two occupants.
“We are on our way!” Otto says to the guard, turning to Myne he adds, “I am going to carry you there and you will not protest.” When they enter the room, they feel it get colder for some reason then it gets warm again after Myne shivers. “Please excuse us Knight commander.” Otto says and sets Myne down on a chair in the corner.
“Stop, Put her here at the table. Everyone else leave.” The knight commander says. Everyone but the knight commander and the three commoners depart. “Hello there young lady what might your name be.” Karstedt says to Myne trying to ease the tension. Knowing that this will be more shocking for these commoners then it was for him, and that was plenty shocking.
Ferdinand however is not having it and comes into sight immediately activating a range anti-eavesdropping tool. “Bwahhhh!” Myne shouts, “Where did you come from!” “Close your mouth fool and come here” Ferdinand tells her. He is holding back as much as he can but with her in front of him, he is about ready to snap.
“No, you can’t touch my daughter!” Gunter yells at him scooping up Myne and holding her tightly. The air in the room drops and the chill sends shivers down everyone’s spines.
Ferdinand is vibrating with unleashed tension, “I recommend you let your daughter come to me willingly Gunter. I do not want to hurt you as she loves you, but I will not let anyone stand in my way. I will explain, but she needs to come to me.” Ferdinand is trying everything he can to stay seated and not take her by force. Seeing something familiar in the blue haired man in front of her she pats her dad and tells him to let her down. After a short back and forth of “let me down its ok.” And “I don’t wanna” Gunter finally sets her down reluctantly, and she goes to Ferdinand who picks her up and holds her close. “You may not remember me, but my name is Ferdinand, and I will be your husband.” He whispers to her. Upon hearing the name, she feels her heart is healed from the horrible dreams and she clings to him. Her head is hurting a little like it did the day before but then she heard a soft, “It’s not time yet.” And the pain left.
“What do you mean you are going to be her husband!” Gunter shouts. He does not like seeing his 5-year-old baby cling to an adult man. Then the name registers as the one she was yelling in her sleep, and Gunter is furious.
“I understand your concern, but the gods have made this so. Your daughter has mana and needs to be baptized and Karstedt ’s daughter to keep your whole family safe. I will do what I can to facilitate your contact with her, but this is so she does not die. I hope you understand that I am prioritizing her safety above all” Ferdinand says stroking Myne’s hair. Now that she is in his arms some of the tension dissipates and he is able to relax somewhat.
Gunter can tell there is love there but his daughter is 5 this does not seem right to him. He doesn’t understand why the gods keep getting mentioned. “Gunter the gods have unwoven the fabric. That means they have sent Myne and myself back in time to fix life. Everything was destroyed and turned to white sand. That means the mana was removed from the land and all life ended. I must make sure that doesn’t happen, and I need Myne by my side to do it. Also, we were married before and she lived into her 20’s. That means she is not actually five although she looks like she is two. I can promise that nothing untoward will happen to her. I will not fully be her husband until after she is of age. The wedding now is for her safety.” Ferdinand says in the simplest way he can knowing that Gunter will not understand noble speak. It is also so that Myne can understand. She is now burrowing into his chest as she takes in what he said. He is also a bit disjointed in what he is saying because he is still reeling from what happened himself. Trying to organize his thoughts to be better understood he strokes her hair. We will need to get her clean and her hair shining again. Focusing on ways to make her happy and safe is keeping the terror at bay.
“I don’t remember what you are talking about but I feel like I care about you a lot but I don’t remember what happened.” Myne says. She feels somewhat broken. She has had this feeling since waking up.
“Yes, I asked the gods to clear your mind from the pain of what happened. It was difficult for you, and you are so pure and loving that you do not need that pain in your mind.” Ferdinand tells her softly. He remembers everything especially how she died and what lead up to that. He will not let them touch her. He will not have that time of torment and separation again; he will not fail her. Holding her tighter he tries to calm down. Finally, his breathing and mana stabilize.
“Is that why she had the nightmares screaming your name?” Gunter asks. Ferdinand and Karstedt look at him shocked, and Myne just hides further into Ferdinand’s armor that he made soft, so it doesn’t hurt her. She is embarrassed and blushes. Ferdinand strokes her hair lovingly and holds her tighter with his other arm.
“That could be I tried to get to her before any memories could resurface and put you all at risk. She has a lot of mana, and it could be dangerous if it goes out of control. I know she would never want to hurt any of you, so I am here for her.” Ferdinand tells him hoping to get the point across that Myne will be going home with him.
Karstedt speaks up finally “I think it is best if we take her with us now. We can protect her better from herself and outside forces and keep others from knowing about you, and your family, if we take her now.” Trying to speed this up because the longer that he is gone the more Sylvester will bother him about this.
“Myne what do you want to do.” Gunter looks at his daughter heartbroken. His baby girl is already being taken by a man and he is over three times her age! This does not sit right with him at all, but he does not want her to die. The only thing he really understands is that they are saying she has mana, so she must go with them. Typical nobles not caring about anything else. He does not understand all the talk about the gods but it is something nobles talk about all the time.
“Well, I think I do need to go with them, but Ferdinand has a way to be invisible so that means there is a way for me to visit you right? We will not be separated forever but I won’t be able to live with you? Don’t worry though you will always be my Daddy!” Myne says smiling at Gunter. Ferdinand hands her over knowing that she needs to reassure Gunter for this to work right. After some back and forth he finally agrees. The gods had to work overtime to get him to agree though.
Otto goes and calls for Tuuli so she can say goodbye to her sister. Gunter is too busy crying into his daughter to notice anything else. Myne is hugging him and petting his hair. Tuuli joins in and when she is told the nobles are taking her sister to make her better, she gets upset.
“Myne, you said something was here to get you better not that you would leave us.” Tears streak down her face. She joins in the hug with her dad and it takes all of the years of training Ferdinand has to not grab Myne himself.
After a tearful goodbye Ferdinand tells them to not tell anyone other than her Effa and act like she died of fever in a few days. They are not happy about this, but he wraps Myne in blankets and then removes the soundproofing tool and with Myne became invisible and took off back to his home. Although she did not have time to say goodbye to her mother, she is informed she will be staying with them again before the season changes so that she will have a proper goodbye. While riding on his highbeast Myne relaxes into Ferdinand and finally feels at ease since she woke up from the nightmare. As long as you are by his side, you will be safe. She hears in her mind. It is the same soft voice as before. Ferdinand brings her back to his estate to prepare for the next steps.