Restoring the city!

[Eternal Mage, Aether.]

The nurses don't give me any sort of answer except, silence. I stand there looking at them expecting them to break the silence, but I get nothing. I'm starting to feel awkward and self-conscious about it. Maybe I'm wearing too much red for their taste? I don't know, but I do like the red jacket personally. However, to actually not get any answer from them. Maybe I don't wear it really well and they're trying to polite?

I haven't come across any mirrors since I've been here so I can't check for myself. Before I can say anything else, an owl comes into the room and lands on top of my head. I know this, it's Riley long time pet, Atlas. Riley comes sprinting in the room and is trying to get Atlas from my head. This is the first time Atlas has ever got this close to me, let alone to touch me. I lean my head over for Riley to take him back.

Riley scolds Atlas for some reason, I just nod to her. I study Riley profile, but I quickly dart my eyes elsewhere before I start blushing. My heart beat pounds inside my chest harder and I find myself smiling at her. She's the only one who can make me smile just being herself and enjoy company. Due to my anxiety, I have a hard time around others without feeling uncomfortable, so I always just stayed inside. However, as long as I am around her, I can even be in front of a crowd and restore a city.

If Riley looks around, she will see that this is the same room I've been in for the past few days. On the door is a paper slip saying it's my room. Even the nurses are the same, but they seem stunned to see me young and looking like a different person. Though, I'm unaware of this fact myself.

“It's no problem at all, Riley. All pets are a bit rebellious in some way and you think that age would change them out of it, but it only makes it worse.”

[Merc]

Luckily, the man didn't appear to be too upset over the fact that a random bird had chosen to nest on his head, and was gracious enough to bend down enough for her to scoop the owl into her arms. Shifting Atlas to her shoulder with a bit of a frown, she returned her gaze to the man, who apparently knew her name, and bowed respectfully towards him.

"Thank you for excusing him. I'm sorry he bothered you, nonetheless." Uprighting herself, she looked carefully at the man for a few long moments before glancing around the room, which was undeniably the room that Aether had been in, and frowned to herself, brow furrowed slightly. "Would you... Happen to know what happened to the man that was in this room?" She slowly asked, bringing her hands together in front of her and lacing the fingers together as she waited for a response.

This man didn't appear to be sick or injured, was he a relative of Aether, come to visit him? Pondering this, Riley awaited a reply.

[Eternal Mage, Aether.]

I'm perplex as Riley doesn't recognize me. I have the distinct feeling that I'm being left out of a loop of something. I like to think everyone is playing a joke on me. Maybe Riley is getting back at me for my jokes, but I think that's uncharacteristic of her. [Alright, this is our chance to have some fun with her. Is everyone here for the meeting to fuck with her] Without giving Joker a chance to even talk about it or somehow bring back voices I cut them off.

I've never been able to do that before, maybe it's because I'm calm? Well, I'm confuse about this situation, but I'm calm. If I keep joking around with Riley without ever being serious I fear I will only push her away and she won't ever like. So, what can I gather from this situation? Hm, since I've gotten out of bed the nurses haven't spoken to me and have this confuse look on their faces and Riley doesn't know who I am. If I was still old and gray, then the nurses be taking care of me and Riley wouldn't be asking where I went.

This means there is something abnormal about me that is shocking and confusing to everyone around me. When I cast that large spell, I was hurting all over and even in my eyes. Growing old for a few a while is nothing new, but pain is different. I'm not in the shape as I used to be so there must have been repercussions. So let's line this up, overused magic that my body is not used to doing, growing extremely old with additional drawbacks of me being in pain. Nurses and Riley are simultaneously confused about me.

“I understand now, I must look different compare to my old appearance. This explains why the nurses and you don't recognize me. I am Aether and I thank you for looking over me for the past days. I'm sorry that my spell has more repercussions than I had thought and cause your confusion”

[Merc]

Blinking stupidly as the man claimed himself to be Aether, Riley stared at him in disbelief for a few long moments before realizing that his voice at least sounded familiar. It would also explain why Atlas had brought her to the man in the first place.

Still, it was a bit difficult to take in.

Moving forwards, she stalked around him, looking him up and down carefully before coming to stand in front of him again, her green eyes filled with wonder as they danced to get a better look at his face.

"Even your eyes and hair are a different color..." She mused, tilting her head to one side as she thought. She was still searching his face when she realized she was staring and looked away with a soft 'ah' sound. "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare, but you look like an entirely different person... It'll take a while to get used to." Raising a hand, she rubbed lightly at the back of her neck. She was also more curious about his magic now, but this was hardly the time for such things.

"Anyways, how are you feeling?" Bringing her hands to rest on her hips, she brought his eyes to him again, this time watching him more casually despite her curiosities. "Eager to get out of here?"

[Eternal Mage, Aether.]

Riley has a disbelief on her face as she stares at me. This entire ordeal and drawback is incomprehensible to her apparently as she looks all around me. Riley looks at me up and down, walks behind, and back staring at my face. Her face and eyes are open wide with curiosity as she examines. Of course, I don't mind any of it from her as I'm enjoying the attention.

However, I am beginning to mind when the nurses come over to me and begin poking. I just stand there with a deadpan expression and let it get out of their system and I'm Riley even comments on my hair and my eyes. Huh, I've changed that much? Well shit, this is not good. How the hell do I convince everyone at home that I am me and don't even get me started with trying to convince this with Sakura. “I'm feeling alright. I've been ready to leave, and ladies... please stop poking me” The nurses finally realize how rude they're being and back off as I make my way out of the hospital.