My body feels extremely light; my head feels heavy. I want to sleep. Everything is pitch black. Is this the afterlife? How sad, so I will be by myself for eternity…
A butterfly appears once again, appearing as a specter of light. The closer it got, the larger and brighter it became. A butterfly glowing with such beauty and elegance, causing the entire void to shake.
Iris raises her hand, but there is nothing; she has no physical body; she is just a soul roaming in a void-like world.
The butterfly looked like Iris, its pitch-black eyes staring deep into Iris's soul. Looking at Iris with pitiful eyes. It flew to where Iris' nose would be located, flapping its wings and creating more and more of the indigo dust.
Boom!
Iris begins to see the world change from a void to a world filled with butterflies.
Butterflies of many different colors, all looking at Iris. The different smells of the butterflies, the smell of flowers, mint, honey, oud, and cherry overstimulated Iris's nose.
The constant movement of the butterflies and their vibrant colors nauseated Iris. Her train of thought stopped; her mind couldn't think; her entire brain was focusing on trying to see and smell the different sensory inputs.
The world suddenly turns off, bringing back Iris and the butterfly to the void. The butterfly begins to circle Iris, its dust creating a silhouette.
"You aren't strong enough."
Iris' mind returned, confused after hearing the voice of the butterfly, a soothing voice.
What does that mean? Where am I? Can you even hear me?
"Are you sure you are going to follow through and accept the butterfly blood?"
Where is Apatura!! Tell me she is fine!!
"I said, are you going to accept the butterfly blood?"
What will happen if I reject it or accept it?
"If you reject it, then you will be paralyzed for the rest of your life."
What…
"If you accept, then you will become a butterfly but will not be able to learn any of the other movements aside from your natural genetics."
Natural genetics?
"Natural genetics are the natural traits you have. You are a Rose Angel, which gives you the natural abilities of an angel and a rose."
So—how would choosing to become a butterfly affect it?
"An angel has the ability to learn any movement at an extremely fast rate besides its own. However, for you, you can only learn those three styles. The roses' defense, an angel's leadership, and our movement. That is all and nothing else."
I will not be able to learn any of the other movements. Even the stronger ones, I will be stuck with these three.
"Correct, as you may know, all angels have many different styles to create their own and become the strongest beings, and you have the strongest defense in all the movements, but you will be refusing the one thing of an angel that raises them to a higher level."
But why do I have to decide? Where is Apatura!! Please don't tell me something bad happened to her!!
"She is fine; decide if you will agree. You will lose a lot of your potential, but you will survive. However, you will be a full butterfly."
Wasn't my dad only strong with the butterfly movement by itself?
"Obviously not; his movement incorporated at least twenty different other movements, which allowed him to create the perfect movement, and you will not be able to do that."
But why do I have to decide? Why can't I just accept being a butterfly while having all of the benefits of an angel?
The butterfly starts flying around Iris. "Because in this world there has to be a balance; everything you do for power will have an equal opposite response."
"You have a deep power inside you, a power that saves you from everything; however, that power will ruin you."
A-A power? Is that the reason why my parents died!!?
"I don't know; that is for you to figure out. So do you accept it? Remember, you will never fly as freely as your father. You will always be bound to us and that power, forever."
The words forever instilled fear in Iris, but she realizes she has no other choice.
Will I be able to achieve my goals?
"That is for you to decide. We will only support you as long as you keep watering and feeding us."
I accept.
Zap!
"AH!!!!!" Iris's body feels an intense pain, the pain of something moving inside her, trying to kill her from the inside.
Iris feels her body now recovered; she falls in pain. Her body is twitching in pain, her insides are burning, and her mind is being overwritten.
After an excruciating hour, losing and regaining consciousness, the pain stopped.
"Iris, you have such beautiful blood. An angel rose and a royal butterfly." After the butterfly muttered those words, the world began to collapse.
Iris opened her eyes, the sunlight hitting her on her right side. She sits up, stretches her hand, and stands up, her body feeling more alive than ever.
She turns around… Her heart drops.
"T-thats Apatura…" She looks down, seeing the remaining part of Apautra's arm and a cloth beside where Iris was lying down.
Iris quickly runs to where Apaturas's cocoon is located. She begins touching it, trying to figure out if Apatura is alive.
The cocoon feels warm; hopefully, she is alive.
Iris falls; she begins taking deep breaths, trying to make sense of the situation. What should I do now? Is my life still endangered? Are they going to attack us again? Will I be strong enough to defend myself and Apatura? Will Apatura ever come out?
Tears begin swelling; she quickly shakes her head; she wants to stop herself from crying. However, all she can think about is how everything is her fault. With the confirmation of the butterfly, everything is starting to get to her.
"I am sorry!!"