Eating Your Weight: Aftercare
[Aftercare]
“You did well.”
I stared at the immense, scaled head of Nidhogg, gazing into his burning eyes with a lidded expression. The silence stretched before I broke it with a dry chuckle.
“Heh. Coming from you, that might as well be a five-star review,” I tilted my head back, staring up at the twisted branches reaching high into the multicolored sky above. My body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder and then set on fire, and my throat felt like I’d just swallowed a handful of dry sand.
Still… “Considering I’m here… I guess I’m not dead?”
Nidhogg shifted, scales the size of my torso scraping against one another as he angled his massive head closer. “You are not, though it was a near thing. You wielded an absurd amount of my power for longer than most could ever hope to. Only your natural resilience ensured your survival, though even that was not without consequence.”
I chuckled again, though it sounded more like a cough, and raised one of my hands in front of my face.
“Yeah,” I said hoarsely. “I figured.”
Because these definitely weren’t there before.
Glittering black scales crawled along the length of my arm, reflecting the light. Just like the patches on my stomach, they blended seamlessly into my skin where they ended just above the knuckles on the back of my hand.
The other arm was the same, and I had a feeling if I took my shirt off, I'd see even more. I didn't feel like moving though, so I just laid back down and heaved a sigh.
This is gonna make school harder. I thought, while out loud I spoke, “So how'd this happen?”
“I told you that taking in that much of my magic would have consequences. You are seeing them now.” Nidhogg replied. “Before your transformation, I would have generously placed you among dragonkin and descendants of their ilk… now you and I have more in common than you do with the ones who spawned you.”
I gave him a look. “Seriously? I get I've got more scales now but is it really that deep?”
Nidhogg let out a huff of laughter so harsh that I half expected a puff of smoke to come out of his nostrils. “You wouldn't notice. Your soul has already acclimated to the changes. I imagine that once you return to the waking world, things will seem different.”
I ran a thumb over the scales on my forearm. “I’m assuming there’s no fixing this?”
“No. Even the devil's reincarnation would only burn away what's left of your humanity,” his chest rumbled with a somewhat pleased sound. “That being said, with the change to your biology comes a vast amount of power. It will be far easier to transform again. And not nearly as dangerous.”
Silver lining’s, I suppose. I wasn't exactly happy to chew through what was left of my human side like that, but considering the alternative… I'd take what I could get.
“Kuroka said that wasn't my Balance Breaker,” I said, recalling the woman's words regarding the form.
“She was correct. The form you activated was a facsimile of Balance Breaker: an Overbooster,” Nidhogg nodded his massive head, “In your human terms, you essentially used my power to ‘jailbreak’ Abyss Eater, granting you access to an incomplete version of what you might one day unlock. It was crude, and had a high chance of backfiring, but it worked.”
“I'll say,” I muttered, remembering the feeling of being encased in that armor. It felt like a thousand suns were burning through my body, scorching my soul and empowering me far beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
If that was the incomplete version, what would the full Balance Breaker be like? Just how strong could I get?
“Don’t get a big head, Naomi,” Nidhogg’s eyes narrowed as he seemingly read my thoughts, “You’ve taken your first steps to actually being worth something, but if you rush headlong into your own power, you'll burn out long before you unlock the secrets held within. You must acclimate to your new strength before seeking more.”
I blinked, the static in my head clearing just enough for my brain to process what he’d just said.
“Wait,” I said, squinting up at the mountain of scales. “Did you just call me Naomi?”
Nidhogg paused, and a wide grin spread across my face, “You did! You called me Naomi!”
In response to my enthusiasm, Nidhogg let out a low growl and his burning eyes fixed me with a look that made my breath hitch.
“As much as it pains me to say it, you are worthy of it,” he huffed. “You have spent months as a thief, a scavenger picking at the edges of a power you did not understand. But on that hill, you ceased being a parasite, if for just a moment.”
I sat up, staring at him intently, “And what did I become?”
“A dragon,” Nidhogg stated. The pride in his voice was begrudging, buried under layers of annoyance, but it was there. “You stood against a powerful foe, a being that should have ended you in a single strike. Yet you did not flee or cower. You bared your fangs and fought for your hoard, just as all dragons do. And though you needed my power to accomplish it, your efforts were nonetheless… adequate.”
I felt a massive, stupid grin spreading across my face. I couldn't help it. The big, grumpy bastard actually respected me.
“Adequate? Wow, Nidhogg, I’m blushing. I don't know what to say,” I teased. “So what you’re saying is, I’m officially a badass?”
Nidhogg’s eyes narrowed into slits, and he let out a sharp snarl that sent a blast of hot air over me. “Do not get a big head. You managed to survive through a mix of reckless desperation and the fact that I allowed you to access my mantle. You are still a hatchling, barely capable of opening your eyes in the grand scheme of the supernatural world.”
“But I’m your hatchling,” I chirped, feeling a strange sense of victory.
“You are a nuisance,” he countered, pulling his head away. “A nuisance with potential, but a nuisance nonetheless. Now, go. The waking world demands your attention, and your companions have spent far too long keeping you alive.”
With that, the tranquil world of my soul began to dissolve, the multicolored sky bleeding into a hazy, warm white.
~~~
The first thing I registered was the softness.
I was pressed against something warm and plush, and my head was pressed in something incredibly soft and incredibly familiar. I shifted my head and the pillow behind me squishing in a way that only one thing could.
“Miyo…” the name slipped out of my lips unconsciously.
A familiar giggle drifted over me, followed by a voice. “Yes, she’s definitely awake.”
I forced my eyes open, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the light. And as my vision cleared, I blinked again. This definitely wasn't my bedroom.
The room was vast and covered in the kind of luxury that made my head spin. Deep maroon and royal purple were on full display, from the heavy silk curtains to the thick, plush carpet that looked like it had never even heard of the word dirt. I was lying on a bed that probably cost more than both my parents made in a month, covered in sheets that felt like someone had spun the air itself into a thin silk.
I sniffed, nose twitching at the strange scent in the air, but before I could analyze it, my attention was completely overridden by the sight surrounding me.
Is this heaven? I wondered, my mouth falling open.
Naked flesh surrounded me in every direction, smooth skin and soft curves drawing my attention and keeping me trapped. Miyo, Aika, and Mittelt were all sitting around me on the oversized bed, leaning in close enough that I could smell Miyo's perfume wafting toward me.
The former were staring at me with expressions of varying relief and exhaustion. Mittelt, on the other hand, was sitting a bit further back, scowling with her arms crossed over her bare chest. Though compared to what I was used to, there was barely any actual heat behind her glare.
But wait, if they were sitting in front of me, then who…?
I turned my head slowly to find a smiling face and sparkling violet eyes. Serafall Leviathan was lounging right next to me wearing nothing but a grin and a pair of panties, her dark pigtails splayed out across the pillows
“Hiya!” she chirped brightly as our eyes met.
I stared at her for a beat, nonplussed, before returning her greeting. “Hey there.”
Serafall let out a delighted laugh, clapping her hands. “Ooh, look at that! She just woke up in a bed full of naked women and a Satan, and she isn't phased at all! So-tan was right, you really are a handful!”
Miyo let out a soft huff, her fingers running through my hair which I noticed for the first time was much longer, cascading down my back instead of settling around my shoulders like usual.
“She isn’t phased because she’s currently busy comparing your bust size to mine,” the woman said dryly.
I remained silent, neither confirming nor denying the accusation, though my eyes may have lingered on the woman's cleavage for a second longer than was strictly necessary. It wasn't every day you got to see a Satan’s boobs after all. You have to savor moments like these.
After making sure to properly appreciate the sight in front of me, I finally turned my attention away and to the women waiting around me.
“Where are we?” I asked, my voice still a bit rough. “I’m pretty sure my parents didn’t do a complete overhaul of the house while I was out.”
“We’re in the Sitri estate, in the Underworld,” Miyo explained, looking harried. “Nothing we were doing to heal you was working. It was like your body was tearing itself apart from the inside out, so Sona suggested we come here. Their territory is home to several advanced medical facilities that are much more thorough than anything on earth.”
That made sense. But…
I frowned, looking down at my body. I was naked too, every inch of skin visible above the waist, and below it as well, from what I could feel.
“So why is everyone naked? Was it necessary for the healing?”
“Yes, actually,” Serafall nodded, her tone becoming slightly more serious. “Since your magic was destabilized, your body needed an outside source to draw from. Your harem decided to offer their magic and use the Bedroom Method to do just that.”
“Unfortunately, we were already drained from the battle and it is not an easy technique to keep up for more than a few hours,” Miyo added. “Serafall offered to help, and our combined energy helped anchor yours while you slept for the past two days.”
My eyes widened. “Two days!?”
“Yep,” Serafall said, popping the last letter cheerfully. “So you better thank them. They’ve been working super-hard, barely leaving this bed to make sure you didn’t croak in your sleep. We only got you stable yesterday afternoon.”
I went quiet, the weight of the situation finally hitting me. I hadn’t realized it was that bad. I looked up at them, my gaze lingering on Aika’s tired smile and the bags under Miyo's eyes.
“Thank you,” I said, and for once, there was nothing but gratitude in my voice. “Seriously. Thank all of you so much.”
Miyo leaned down, kissing my forehead. “Of course, Naomi. You know there isn't much I wouldn't do for you.”
Aika stretched her arms over her head, her breasts swaying with the movement. “I wasn’t gonna miss a chance to see the Underworld without actually having to die first.”
Mittelt, for her part, let out a loud huff and hopped off the bed, drawing all our eyes. She stood there in all her naked glory, looking down at me with her hands on her hips. “You saved my life, so this is just me returning the favor. Don't think it means anything else or i’ll cut your balls off.”
Her piece said, Mittelt headed for the door, apparently deciding she was no longer needed. As she reached it, she lingered for a moment, before looking back with narrowed eyes. “Since we’re square, I expect an actual paycheck too. I may not be human, but I'd still like to have a life.”
Bemused by the fact she was apparently content to continue being our maid, I glanced at Miyo who just shrugged. “I guess that's fair. I'll discuss it with my mom.”
A satisfied smirk broke out on Mittelt's face and she nodded. “Good. Now I'm going to take a bath to get your stink off me.”
The woman walked down the hall, her shapely rear disappearing from sight. I watched her go, before looking to Serafall who was watching the whole thing with an amused smirk. “Is a naked Fallen Angel walking around a Devil’s estate going to be a problem?”.
Serafall just winked at me, “Not as much as you’d think. Besides, she has my parents’ blessing to be here, as well as mine. And who's going to argue with Leviathan?”
I hummed, leaning back into the plush bed with a small laugh. “Good point.”
Miyo frowned, staring at me with an unreadable expression as the silence lingered. The easy air suddenly became heavy, an unidentified tension settling around us as the woman's gaze remained locked in my own
Serafall’s violet eyes flickered between us, clearly catching the sudden shift in atmosphere. She shared a look with Miyo, an unspoken conversation passing between them in a blink.
“Well!” The last woman chirped, popping up from the bed with an enthusiasm that made her body move in interesting ways. “I’m going to tell everyone that you finally woke up. So-tan’s been worried about you.”
“Why isn't she in here then,” I asked, mostly to lighten the suddenly dour mood. Serafall surprised me with an answer.
“Oh, our parents wouldn't let her,” she said. Then, with a wink, she turned and skipped out of the room, leaving me staring after her, dumbfounded.
Aika stayed for a moment, her gaze lingering on me, before she glanced at Miyo and sighed tiredly.
“I’m gonna go find a robe or something,” she slipped out of bed, stretching. “I'm starving, and if I stay in that bed any longer, I’m going to fall back asleep. Good luck.”
With a wave over her shoulder, she followed Serafall out of the room. Leaving Miyo and I alone in silence.
Miyo didn't move for a long moment, staying as still as a statue as we stared at each other.
A spark of something passed through her gaze, and my eyes widened as those beautiful brown orbs began to water.
“Naomi,” she whispered, her voice soft. Usually, Miyo was the epitome of composure, practically unflappable in the face of everything. But now, as she looked at me, her eyes were swimming with a vulnerability that made my chest ache.
Instinct took over and I reached out and gently took her hand. It was warm but clammy – covered in sweat. “Hey. I’m okay, Miyo. I’m right here.”
“You weren't,” she said, her grip on my hand tightening until it almost hurt. “For an hour, you weren't here at all. We watched your heart stop three times, Naomi. Three times the doctors told us that your body was rejecting its own life force because of the strain you put on it.”
She looked down at my arm, her fingers tracing the edges of the scales. “Every time we thought we had you stable, your magic would flare again, and more of these would appear. There was nothing we could do but watch and hope that what we were doing was working and I… I’ve never been so utterly helpless.”
I pulled her closer, ignoring the protests of my stiff muscles until she was leaning against my chest.
“Nidhogg said I burned a good portion of my humanity away by taking his power like I did,” I said softly, causing her to stiffen, “The reason I was falling apart was because I wasn't able to contain it all; it was devouring me – or at least trying to. You guys stopped it and my body acclimated to it eventually.”
“You…” Miyo stared at me, at a loss for words. I sighed.
“I had to do it, Miyo. I wouldn't have been able to win otherwise,” I murmured, “She would have killed all of you. I had to stop her.’
“I know,” Miyo said, a single tear finally escaping and tracing a path down her cheek. “It just hurts to know that you had to in the first place. I am your maid, Naomi. I am supposed to be the one protecting you.”
I chuckled softly, the sound vibrating in my chest. “Pretty sure we moved past that kind of relationship a while ago. You’re more than that, and I'll be damned if I let anyone take you from me without raising hell fjrst.”
Miyo pulled back just enough to look me in the eye. “Just… promise me you won't do that again unless you absolutely have to. I'm not sure I could take it – hanging on the edge, not knowing whether you're going to live or die in my arms. I’m afraid I'd lose my mind.”
I looked at her, then down at my scaled hands. I knew, deep down, that I’d do it again in a heartbeat. If it meant keeping Miyo and everyone else I loved safe from the cult, I’d burn every last scrap of my humanity until I was nothing but scales and fire.
But I couldn't tell her that.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said instead, my voice firm. I leaned in, my forehead resting against hers. “I’ve already died once and I have no intention of doing it again. Not to some stray cat.”
Miyo’s breath hitched, and she finally let out a long, shuddering exhale, the tension that had been keeping her upright for two days finally beginning to bleed away.
“You are the most reckless and infuriating woman I have ever met,” she murmured.
“That’s the charm,” I replied, and closed the remaining distance between us. Miyo sighed, relaxing into the kiss as I did my best to reassure her that I was going to be alright with my lips alone.
When we finally pulled apart, Miyo’s eyes were no longer misty, though she still looked exhausted. She leaned her head against my shoulder, her fingers interlaced with mine.
“We should probably get dressed,” she said after a moment, though she made no move to get up. “Sona’s parents are probably expecting us soon.”
“Let them wait,” I said, closing my eyes and just enjoying the warmth. “I've been asleep and apparently dying for two days. What's a couple more minutes?”