Legends of Amacia Rise of the Caverias
Chapter 8: Call of the Red Tower Part 1

At the same moment the mega-quake hit central North America, the caverns of Amacia shuddered and rocked gently. Hanna was asleep, deep in another dream. She flew in her nightgown over land and sea to the Isle of Antilla and the Red Tower. Landing on top of the tower as she did the last time, she looked to the east and saw the dull red clouds of ash and dust over Tartarus, flashing with yellow and orange lightning. She looked around and saw that she was alone. “Enoch, Kida!” Hanna called out as a terrible feeling of dread sank into the pit of her stomach as she watched the clouds over Tartarus. Walking around the Crystal Pyramid, she called several times as the terrible feeling refused to abate. The entrance to the pyramid suddenly opened as she approached, so she went in, calling for Enoch and Kida. Hanna followed the passages until she found himself once again standing in entrance to their living area. She looked around and saw Enoch sitting in one of the chairs asleep with Kida sitting with him, also asleep, curled up in his lap, laying her head on his chest. He had one arm around her.

Hanna was suddenly self-conscious and turned to leave when Enoch stirred and saw her in the doorway. He yawned and called out softly, “Hanna, come in, sister. Glad to see again.” Hanna slowly walked in, unsure whether she should or not. “Come in and have a seat,” Enoch reassured her.

Hanna was puzzled as she sat down. “Why am I here again?” she asked Enoch who stroked his wife’s hair gently.

“Do not underestimate Ahriaman, sister. He’s a very dangerous foe, almost as dangerous as the Emperor. Watch him closely. Do not turn your back on him. He and the Emperor are moving in concert. The Earth shakes and rends as they move to take Acheron and the people taking refuge there.”

Hanna clasped her hands in her lap and sighed. “What do you mean?” she asked.

Enoch looked at Hanna’s chest, and then at her face. “You know what I mean,” he answered. “They know where you are. You must come to me and soon. Time is running out.”

Kida stirred and woke, seeing Hanna. “Ah, you have returned to us. Excellent! The thing didn’t destroy you,” she said in a sleepy, but pleased manner. “Come to us, my friend. Time is short. Bring a friend, but only one.”

Hanna became increasingly puzzled, asking bluntly, “What’s going on here? Am I dreaming again?”

Kida smiled and replied, “Always so inquisitive and seeking answers; come and see us and all your questions will be answered.”

Enoch then added, “Be careful. The Emperor and Ahriaman can be a lethal combination. Do not underestimate them. The Rakshasar are coming. Beware.”

The dream ended as quickly as it started. Hanna’s mind reeled from the strangeness of the dream and about an hour later, she began to dream again. This time Hanna found herself on a rolling plain with knee-deep grass and no trees anywhere. The plain seemed to go on forever to the west and to the east and south, the plain rose into formidable mountains capped with snows and fire. Volcanic mountains belched fire and ash in the mountains to the south and east. Hanna looked to the east and saw the ruins of a great city in the distance where three tributaries of a river joined, flowing westward. Scanning the horizon, she found that she was alone on this desolate plain. A feeling of dread and foreboding came from the south and east as she gazed at the mountains, seeing the ash clouds flash with lightning. “What am I doing here? What is this place?” she asked aloud to no one.

To her shock and surprise, a soft but authoritative voice responded to her question from behind. “These are the plains of Elar, little sister,” the voice replied. The voice so startled her that Hanna spun around in fear, coming face to face with the angel Caverias that she’d seen in her dream of the Emperor and the Old Ones just before coming out of her coma. In this dream, Caverias stood about seven feet in height and ruggedly handsome. His skin was bronzed and his hair was white and curly with a closely cropped beard with a bone structure that reminded Hanna of Enoch. He wore shining armor: a gold breastplate, shin, and arm guards along with an electronium chain-mail shirt. A pure white tunic he wore underneath the armor. Power emanated from the great angel who had a massive angelic blade hanging at his side. His appearance so startled Hanna when she spun around to confront the voice, the presence of the angel literally knocked her down on her face like a dead woman. Caverias reached down, took Hanna by the hand, and gently raised her up to her feet, strengthening her. “Do not fear little sister. You know who I am,” Caverias said pleasantly.

Hanna looked in the face of one of Michael’s most elite of warring angels and marveled. “Yes, I do know you. I have always known you somehow. I must thank you for your help. You helped me when I was tortured and mutated, and then you saved my butt when the Emperor and the Old Ones came for me in the ruined city. That was you wrapped up in the cloak when I was mutated, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was,” Caverias replied. “At the time, I wasn’t allowed to fully reveal myself, but only enough to help you in your time of need. But I can see that you are still unsure of who I am.”

Hanna looked at the war angel, saying, “You’re right. I am unsure of who you are. I know you, yet I don’t know you. Who are you really?”

Caverias took up a serious demeanor and said, “I am Caverias, the guardian of Thoth and Ariel Caverias, king and Queen of Amacia. I was assigned to them and now I am assigned to you as your special guardian in addition to Gideon, Jarret, and Bannon. The Lord Himself assigned me to you from the moment of your birth. I have been with you your whole life. The Lord has instructed me to stay hidden until now. Since the Black Prince has attacked you directly now, I can finally reveal myself to you. Together, we shall fulfill your task. With the Lord’s instruction and strength, we shall overcome the Black Prince and his demon sorcerer Ahriaman. In the power of the Lord our God shall we overcome these demons.”

“Why are you showing yourself now?” Hanna asked, looking up into the face of the great angel.

“I was forbidden to show myself until you were ready,” Caverias replied. “You had to be purged and cleansed for this confrontation with the Emperor. Your flesh and will had to be subdued, and the Lord allowed the Emperor to do it with the mutation you now endure. I was only allowed to guide you in a very limited way before now. Your finding the scepter of Shadizar Kahn was my influence, as was the finding of the Archives of Arionath along with helping you deal with the mutation into a woman. But it was only with the direct attack on you by the Emperor and the Old Ones in old Caveria that I was given the go ahead to fully show myself. The final act is already in motion.”

“So it was you that nearly overwhelmed me when I found the scepter. You really caused me some problems when I touched that thing,” Hanna said as she began to understand who this ancient being was.

“I am truly sorry if I caused you any problems, but it was for your good that everything that has happened to you has been allowed to happen. You had to be toughened up and shown your weaknesses,” Caverias explained sincerely.

“Even the being mutated into a woman?” Hanna asked pointedly.

“Especially that,” Caverias stated. “You don’t seem to grasp the big picture here, Hanna. You’re not just any ordinary soul. You’re very special and have seen and done things most people can’t comprehend. Furthermore, you have done them in this lifetime without having remembered that you did them.”

“What are you talking about?” Hanna demanded. “What things?”

“The lost time in Bolivia,” Caverias stated bluntly, “It hides your true fate and destiny as prescribed by the Lord.”

Hanna’s face paled at the mention of Bolivia. “Just what are you saying?” she demanded. “What does that have to do with the cost of tea in China?”

“It has everything to do with it,” Caverias replied patiently. “The key to your identity and destiny lies in the temporal anomaly you encountered in Bolivia twenty-five years ago. You must trust me on this, Hanna. I cannot tell you everything now. You’re not ready for that truth.”

“Then can you tell me why I had to be turned into a woman?” Hanna asked bluntly. “Furthermore, why did all this shit have to happen to Selina? Why was she brought into this? I never wanted her to see this depth of evil. She’s such an innocent and pure soul. By her being forced into this, she may become tainted by the same darkness that continually seeks my destruction.”

Caverias took Hanna by the hand and looked her in the eye. “A fair question to be sure,” Caverias stated. “As I told you before, this mutation was part of your chastisement for the sacrifices you failed to repent of.”

“But that’s not the whole story, is it?” Hanna queried.

“It’s not,” Caverias admitted, “Your mutation was allowed so that you could unlock your past: your genetic past and your power.”

“You keep dodging the question,” Hanna stated, her anger starting to boil slowly. “What past and what power? What does my now being a woman have to do with anything?”

“Let me ask you a question before I answer,” Caverias answered, “If you can answer my question, then I will answer yours.”

“This sounds fishy,” Hanna stated, “But okay; what’s your question?”

“My question is this,” Caverias stated, “Deep down in your heart of hearts, do you truly know who and what you are? You have always been different from other people and you know it. You have abilities no one else has and you have uncanny knowledge about many things, even before your exposure to Tiamat and its mysterious ancient machines. It’s something that has dogged you since you were a child and has caused you great misery. Please think about this carefully before you answer.”

Hanna’s face fell because she had been grappling with this very question since her birth as Hannibal Smith. A deeply puzzled look crossed her face as Caverias added, “Tell me, can you explain why you were drawn to the strange amulet you found in the Scythian burial mound when you were a child helping your father? Alternatively, how you could move things by thinking about it before that? What about your uncanny ability to sense danger? On the other hand, let’s take something even more recent. How can you account for your surviving the Black Fortress’ Arena? What about those devastating assaults that many people see as magical or elemental attacks? Do I need to go on citing examples? Have I made my point? Do you truly know who and what you are?”

Hanna’s legs suddenly gave way and she dropped to her knees in the tall grass. Caverias caught her and gently sat her down, kneeling in front of her, holding her hands as she trembled with fear. “Don’t be afraid to admit the truth,” Caverias cooed softly, “Only by admitting to the truth will you be able to come to terms with it.”

“No,” Hanna whispered, “My life has been filled with many unexplainable actions and events that even I cannot figure out. To be completely honest, I have no idea who or what I am beyond my present identity as Hanna, who used to be Hannibal before the mutation.” She looked up into Caverias’s eyes and pleaded, “What am I, Caverias? I know I am not a normal human. I’ve always been different and never known why. What am I?”

“You must discover that for yourself,” Caverias replied softly, “...but you don’t have to do it alone. I will always be with you, helping you find your way as the Lord instructs me. However, I can tell you this at this point: your mutation is the key in your finding your true identity. As Nathanael so aptly put, you have been given a unique opportunity to see life from the female vantage point. You’re seeing and experiencing things concerning women that no man has ever dreamed of experiencing. As Izanami so eloquently told you, every soul is part male and part female. The Lord made it so. Only when the male and female parts of the soul unite as one can the soul be complete and know its destiny. You’re being given this unique opportunity to see the world as it truly is. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Hanna shook her head solemnly. “I can’t honestly say that I do,” she admitted. “But I must trust the Lord in this. I’m obviously not going to get the answers I seek now, am I?”

“No,” Caverias declared, “Not yet. The Lord forbade it because He knew you were not ready to accept and use it. But it doesn’t mean you will never get the answer. You must grow first and uncover your true identity. When the time is right, the answers you wish for will become plain.”

A sigh escaped Hanna’s lips. “In that case, can you answer why Selina had to be dragged into this mess? I never wanted her to be exposed to the depths of depravity and evil embodied in the Emperor. She’s just too kind and sensitive a soul to be assaulted by such evil.”

“I’m afraid it did have to happen to her as well,” Caverias replied solemnly, “Understand this, Hanna. You and Selina are soul mates destined for each other by the Lord Himself. You and she are two sides of the same coin. He knew that you needed her and she needed you. Together in the strength of the Lord, both of you will destroy the Emperor. It is the love that the Lord gave you for each other and for the Lord’s remnant that will be the undoing of the Emperor. The Emperor knows this. You actually saw a physical representation of how the love shared by you and Selina could challenge and destroy the Emperor on the sex floor when he forced you two into that despicable lesbian bondage mating. You and Selina used your love for one another as a weapon against the Emperor; a weapon that he now seeks to destroy. That’s why he seeks to turn her and make her his queen. He knows that the love you two have will be his undoing.” Caverias turned and looked to the southeast toward the mountains and said, “You have to be tried and so must she. When the trial is done, the Emperor’s fate will be sealed. You will go back and retrieve her and the rest of the remnant of Amacia and I will be there with you every step of the way.”

Hanna sighed as she looked toward the burning mountains and asked, “I know you speak the truth. My spirit burns within me at your words. May I ask this: am I really the descendant of Thoth Caverias and Ariel? Am I really the bloodline of that great king and queen as this Enoch suggests?”

Caverias smile knowingly, asking, “Does it really matter? Our God does not deal in the flesh. But if you must know, go to them and find your answers.”

Hanna looked at Caverias in a puzzled manner and asked, “You mean Enoch and Kida? Am I supposed to go to them?”

Caverias nodded cryptically and smiled, saying, “Seek your answers. You may be surprised at what you find. Just remember, I will be there with Gideon, Jarret, and Bannon to help guide you and give you the strength and abilities you will need to finish this. When we are done, there will be no doubt who is God.” Just then, a wind with a terrible sulfurous stench blew across the plain from the southeast and Caverias said as he touched Hanna’s chest, “Prepare yourself, sister. The Emperor knows your location and is coming with all his might to destroy you.”

Hanna began to cough and gag on the terrible wind and everything went dark. She woke suddenly, coughing and gasping for air. Harry was half-asleep when Hanna awoke coughing and gasping. Harry immediately snapped to attention and went to the bed as Hanna wheezed for air. “Are you all right?” Harry asked with great concern.

Hanna’s lungs gurgled slightly as her chest burned like fire from the coughing. When she finally stopped coughing, she just looked down at the blankets as she wiped blood that oozed from her mouth with her hand. Hanna looked up at Harry as he gently patted her on the back. “Yeah; I’m all right,” Hanna wheezed. “Just another crazy dream; man, that sulfurous wind was so real.” She coughed a couple of more times, and then laid back down as Harry looked down at her. “How long have I been out this time?” she asked Harry.

“Two days,” Harry said bluntly. “We have been taking turns keeping you company because Nathanael said you were afraid to be alone.”

Hanna grasped Harry’s hand, saying, “Thanks bud. You don’t know what that means to me even though I didn’t know what was going on around me. Can you do me a favor?” Harry nodded and Hanna said, “Go get Nathanael. I need to talk to him.”

“Sure,” Harry replied. “You want anything to eat or drink?”

Hanna rubbed the side of her face and grimaced as the pain of her damaged ribs throbbed like a hammer. “Yes, some water would be nice. I’m really thirsty.”

Harry nodded and went out of the room. Hanna wanted to get up so she slowly kicked the blankets off and tried to sit up. Her ribs flamed with pain and her back ached as she tried to move. Slowly, she rolled on her side, tears flowing from the pain of her ribs. “Must get up,” she moaned in desperation. “Must go to Enoch; must find him.”

Relax, little sister, the Holy Spirit ordered Hanna; the first time since she escaped Amacia that she’d heard His still small voice. I will get you to your brother. Have faith.

The voice murmuring in her mind and heart startled Hanna momentarily, causing her to stop moving. The tears of pain became tears of joy as she realized who had spoken to her. “Oh, my Lord and my God,” she sobbed softly, “You really haven’t abandoned me to this fate.”

Oh, you of little faith, the Holy Spirit scolded softly, Do you still not understand what Caverias tried to tell you? I never abandoned you, but have been carrying you in this time of great trial. What you have endured is all part of my Father’s glorious plan for you, even your present state. You needed to know what your sisters need and experience so that you may be able to help them, as you should.

“Forgive me, Lord,” Hanna whimpered, “I am undone by my own sin and ignorance. I still don’t understand what’s really happening, but I know it is somehow for my good.”

You don’t need to understand it, the Holy Spirit replied, just trust my Father and you will see His wonders. And don’t be troubled by what you endured on the sex floor. It was part of your scourging and in no way was a sin since it was the Lord’s will.

“But I came to enjoy it,” Hanna declared with shame, “I enjoyed the sensations and moreover, I really enjoyed the intimacy I had with Selina, even though it was in a lesbian context that was forced on us. I loved it and her; connecting with Selina in a way I never believed possible. How could I enjoy such a perverse act?”

Be at peace, little sister, the Holy Spirit cooed, the joy and pleasure you experience in that situation is nothing to worry about. You acted appropriately for that situation and in no way was a perversion, even though your mind was locked in a clone woman. You acted as a man and Selina acted as your wife and mate in that situation. It helped to unlock a new level of being for you and Selina, proving to the Black Prince that even in the midst of the most depraved of situations love and life can overcome any obstacle. So don’t let it torment you. You acted righteously in that situation. If anything, the Emperor will have to pay for putting you and Selina in that position. He will definitely reap what he’s sown.

A great peace settled on Hanna when it finally occurred to her that the Lord did not attribute the pleasure she felt on the sex floor with Selina as a sin. “Thank you, Lord,” she murmured, “I finally feel free of that demon. It is okay for me to enjoy this form, isn’t it?”

Yes, little sister, the Holy Spirit declared, The Lord willed you to have this form as part of your scourging. By forcing you into this form, it has forced you to face your deepest sins and your forgotten past. Feel free to enjoy the body given you. The Lord delights in seeing his people enjoy what He’s provided to them. Enjoy the new body and learn what it means to be a sister in the Lord so that you may take the lessons learned from this form back to your original form when you are ready.

Hanna’s heart skipped a beat. “You mean I won’t be a woman for the rest of my life?” she asked; hope exploding in her heart.

No, the Holy Spirit stated, it’s the Lord’s will that you suffer this form for a set time before He returns you to your male form. When you return to that form, merge your female essence with your male essence, and become the complete soul you were destined to become. Only then will the Lord allow you to discover your true fate...the fate that made you the Beowulf.

“That’s what Bannon and Caverias told me,” Hanna stated with a smile. “But like a stubborn jackass, I refused to accept it. Please forgive me for my stubbornness and stupidity. I’m your humble servant, Lord, no matter what form you put me into. Please smack some sense into me when I start to stray. I don’t want to lose my way again or lose hope.”

Well said, little sister, the Holy Spirit replied, you are indeed forgiven. Now you must do the hardest thing any soul has to do: forgive yourself for your failure.

“That’s indeed the hardest thing anyone can do,” Hanna whispered, “To forgive myself is just as important as getting forgiveness from you, Lord. I must do it if I am to keep the peace of forgiveness you bestowed on me. Thank you for showing me the way out of this dark abyss. I love you so much. I pray I never fail you again.” Suddenly in her mind’s eye, Hanna saw a mysterious face appear; a smiling face filled with such love that she wept. “Oh, thank you, Lord for giving me a glimpse of your precious face. Thank you! What would you have me do now?”

The face faded away and the Holy Spirit spoke audibly to her, saying, “You must go to Enoch now in your present state. Only when you find your brother will you receive the complete healing your body needs. It’s why I had the healing kit stop prematurely. But never fear...I will give you the strength to make the journey, starting now.” Hanna felt her pain lessen significantly, but the strength in her arms and legs remained amorphous. “Now, sit up, little sister,” the Holy Spirit ordered, “I have summoned Nathanael to assist you.”

Hanna struggled with her weak arms to push up to a sitting position. A brief surge of strength entered her arms and she heaved herself to a sitting position. “Thank you, Lord,” she whispered, amazed that the pain in her chest had ebbed significantly. “Will I be able to walk again?”

Not yet, the Holy Spirit stated, your battered body and bones are still too weak to support your weight. Only when your faith rises above your weakness will you walk again. For now, just follow my will and go to Enoch. Nathanael will go with you as your guardian and strength. This is a trial of faith you both must undergo; a trial that will show you that you need not carry this burden alone; that asking for help is okay.

“You are so right,” Hanna replied with a bit more strength. “Thank you, Lord. I trust you to help me walk when the time is right. Thank you.”

You’re most welcome, little sister, the Holy Spirit replied pleasantly. At that, the door rattled and Nathanael entered with a cup of water.

Seeing Hanna sitting up in the bed with a drained, but peaceful look on her face, Nathanael quickly covered the distance between them. “Hanna...you’re sitting up by yourself,” he said with amazement.

“So I am,” Hanna murmured, “Isn’t the Lord wonderful?”

“That He is,” Nathanael agreed, sitting on the bed next to Hanna. “Harry said you wanted some water. Would you like it now?”

“Yes,” Hanna replied, reaching out for the glass, “Just help me with the glass until we’re sure I can hold it.”

Sure, Hanna,” Nathanael replied, helping her hold the cup as she drank from it. “Your arms and hands aren’t shaking like before. This is a very good sign. Can you hold the cup by yourself?”

“Let’s find out,” Hanna said after sipping on the cup, which now lay half-full. “Let it go slowly.” Nathanael slowly released the cup, watching closely in case the cup was to slip. When Hanna managed to keep the cup firmly in her grip, she smiled warmly. “Now, doesn’t that beat all; I’m holding the cup by myself now,” she chimed. “Let’s make sure I can handle it.” With that, she slowly lifted the cup to her lips and drank from it, draining half of what was left in it.

“A miracle indeed,” Nathanael declared with a broad smile. “It seems you’re getting the strength back into your hands again. I’m so glad.”

“Me too,” Hanna replied with a broad smile. “At least I can hold and drink from a cup now. That means I should be able to feed myself now too.” She sighed and sober look fell across her face as she gazed into Nathanael’s eyes, remembering the dreams.

“What’s wrong?” Nathanael asked, noticing the sudden change in her temperament.

“I had another dream, Nathanael,” Hanna murmured as she nursed on the cup of water. “Enoch called to me again and warned that we are compromised. That thing they put in me was tracked. The Emperor knows we’re here. What did you do with it?”

Nathanael’s face became very stern and serious as he replied, “I knew it. Somehow, I knew you were going to say that. I showed the little beast to Argus and he disposed of it. But we figured that the Emperor knew of our location. Between what Amelia, Magnus, and Argus said about the shebat, it is a forgone conclusion that they know where we are now.”

“We must be very careful,” Hanna said sternly. “Ahriaman is just as dangerous as the Emperor. Together, they are lethal. He may be sending scouts to make sure we are here.” Hanna paused and said, “We have to go to Antilla now and you need to come with me. We have no more time to delay. Our time runs very short. The Emperor is moving.”

Nathanael looked her in the eye and said, “Nicodemus needs to know.”

“And so he will,” Hanna said, “But first, I need to be seen. The people need to see me.”

Nathanael admired the strength and courage that Hanna was displaying. “You mean to leave today, don’t you?” he surmised.

“Yes,” Hanna replied, “We have to go as quickly as possible.”

Nathanael saw the steel in Hanna’s eyes. “In that case, let me help you get dressed so we can get moving,” he stated. “You know, Arabella isn’t going to like this.”

“I know,” Hanna replied after finishing her water and handing the cup to Nathanael, “But we are out of time and options. If I don’t move to unravel this mystery about Enoch right now, everyone will be at risk.”

“You really think we’re in big trouble this time, don’t you?” Nathanael asked as he sat the cup on the dresser.

“I don’t think; I know,” Hanna declared, “Ever since I was mutated, my instincts and intuition have become right down scary in their accuracy. It’s like something has awakened in me. We have to go now.”

“Very well, little sister,” Nathanael stated. “Let me find you some suitable clothes for the trip first.”

“Don’t take too long,” Hanna answered. Nathanael nodded and darted out of the room on a mission. Hanna looked down at her arms and hands, slowly working the fingers on each hand. “It feels so strange being a woman,” Hanna murmured, “But it has its advantages. I just hope I don’t forget what it’s like to be a man.”

“You’ll not forget that, sister,” Amelia called out as she walked in carrying some clothes with Nathanael right behind her. “It seems that we had the same idea because I was just bringing you some of my spare clothes when I met Nathanael in the hall. Is it true that you’re going to try to find Antilla?”

“Yes,” Hanna replied, “Enoch visited my dreams again and warned me that the Emperor knows where we are because of that little monster he put in me. I have to find him before the Emperor attacks again.”

“Is that so,” Amelia replied softly, “In that case, you should not delay; let’s get you dressed. Are you still too weak to walk?”

“Yeah,” Hanna admitted, “but I can now hold a cup of water and drink it without dropping it, which is major progress according to Nathanael.”

“I should say so,” Amelia replied with a smile, “Will he be going with you?”

“Yes,” Hanna stated, “He’s my bodyguard, friend, and father. I wouldn’t dare go without him. Besides, I need someone to help me move around because of my useless legs.”

“It’s my pleasure and duty to go wherever you go, Hanna,” Nathanael declared, “We are family and I will protect you to my dying breath.”

“I know you will,” Hanna stated.

“That’s good,” Amelia returned pleasantly, “He should be more than capable of taking care of you on such a perilous trip. Now, let’s get you dressed, sister.”

Within minutes, Amelia and Nathanael had dressed Hanna in a modest pair of trousers and a long, dress-like shirt that reached to her knees with long sleeves that came to her wrists. Both pieces of clothing were made of fur-lined leather that was incredibly soft and supple. They put leather boots on her feet that reached to her knees. Next, Amelia began to put armor on Hanna in the form of clasp-on arm and leg guards along with a sleeveless chain-mail dress that reached just past her waist. The chain mail dress was also lined with the same strange shimmering armor fabric Hannibal found at Skull Pass in Bolthor Sai Keleb’s armory. Amelia fitted the armor carefully to make it snug, but not too tight...cinching it with a leather belt at Hanna’s waist. Once she buckled the belt while Hanna sat on the edge of the bed, Amelia asked, “So Hanna, how does everything feel?”

Hanna embraced Amelia, smiling ear to ear. “It’s perfect, Amelia. Everything fits so well and is so soft. I had no idea that leather could feel this good.”

“It’s all in how it’s prepared,” Amelia admitted. “Is anything too tight?”

“Not at all,” Hanna replied, “In fact, I actually feel pretty good right now; like I’ve finally become a real person again. Moreover, this outfit is so extraordinary. I’m actually surprised how close our measurements are, Amelia.”

“That is a surprise,” Amelia agreed, “I figured I’d have to do a little tailoring for the clothes, but they just fit you so perfectly I didn’t have to do a thing. Feels good to finally have some real clothes on again, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Hanna stated pleasantly, “I was getting tired of not having any clothes on. I guess it must be a residue of my stay in the Emperor’s domain where clothes are a means of control and humiliation. I can truly understand what you must have felt when you were a prisoner there.”

“I know you can,” Amelia returned with a sober smile. “It’s one reason I feel so comfortable with you now. We truly are sisters because of the Emperor’s actions.”

“Amen to that,” Hanna chimed. Turning to Nathanael as he admired the outfit, Hanna asked, “Well Nathanael, what do you think of these clothes? Are they boss or what?”

“They suit you perfectly,” Nathanael replied with a smile, “enhancing your rugged beauty. In fact, I don’t find it that much of a stretch to see you dressed in a similar style in your male form. It’s like this style of clothing has your DNA stamped on it. I find it strange and exciting that you seem to be finally finding your true identity now. These clothes are part of it.”

“That’s a strange insight,” Amelia said, “but oddly true. I can see it too now that you mention it, Nathanael. It’s like Hanna was one of us all along, only she’d forgotten; strange indeed.”

“Who am I to argue with two of my closest friends,” Hanna answered pleasantly. “I do feel strangely energized by being dressed like this. You may have put your finger on something profound that I’m still just coming to terms with. But figuring it out will have to wait. We need to get to Enoch.”

“And so you shall,” Nathanael stated, “But you should first eat something before we go. By the way, how do you suggest that we get to the fabled mysterious island?”

Hanna smiled wryly, asking, “Who do you think would know the way to such a fabled place?”

Nathanael thought a moment and smiled, knowing whom she was speaking about, saying, “Yes. Argus would know the way.”

“That he would,” Hanna said confidently. “Come, we have much to do before we leave. Amelia, can you find some weapons for me? I lost all my gear when I was captured.”

“Of course,” Amelia stated, “I’ll find you something appropriate and bring it to you in the cafeteria.”

“Thank you, Amelia,” Hanna replied as Nathanael scooped her up as if she were a little girl. “I appreciate that. Let’s go get something to eat, Nathanael. Just having the clothes on has given me an appetite.”

“That’s a good sign that you’re getting better,” Nathanael replied, heading out the door, “Next stop; the cafeteria.”

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