Chapter 39: Lost Mother [Illustration]

For Viviane, it was always the same hell, over and over again.

She would stare into a basket washed onto her shores. These were grey waters that she could not escape from, but worse, she could not escape the cries of a long-lost child in the misty air.

She was lost as well.

The cries haunted her, but their meaning had deteriorated ages ago. Her dead eyes could only watch the basket row slightly as it tried to reach land, only to be pulled back by the small recedes of the lake's shore.

No matter where she looked, the child she desperately wanted to save never came. Only its cries for its mother echoed through — one she may have failed to be.

Regardless of her effort, nothing changed. She'd always end up at the same lake. The emptied basket of an abandoned child would always be there by the shore even after taking it. It would disappear from her hand when she wasn't looking and then return to its place on the water.

Was it a child she failed to protect? She didn't know anymore, but that didn't stop its cries for her ignorance. No matter what, it always caused her grief.

But something changed one day. The cries ceased, and the basket was gone. After living in a repeated cycle of maternal torment, this silence was arguably worse. At least somewhere out there, her child was alive. Now, the calm just fermented her failure as a mother.

But she could not wallow in suffering over this loss because a green fire burned on the surface in the lake's center. Defying any odds of dying, Viviane allowed the flame to reflect in her eyes and return some light to them.

As she watched the flame crackle, whispers full of heart but unknown words drove her near. She could hardly pay heed to them as her feet grazed the water's surface like a feather, unwilling to sink into its depths.

Her cold body absorbed the warmth she had long forgotten as the green fire flared higher to her approach. After basking in its heat, she reached out to touch the surface of its energy.

To her surprise, the flame was cool to the touch. How could a fire provide heat and seem alive yet remain cold?

If she could remember the past, there might've been an explanation, but she lost such knowledge; however, knowing that this punishing prison had taken a turn, she had to make the most of it.

Lifting her arm, she reverted to her silver malleable nature and allowed some of her mass to drip down along her arm, building a silver ball into her hand. Once enough was accumulated, she let it separate from herself and threw it into the fire. Given the cool temperature, she expected nothing to happen with her little test, but only a moment later, the fire grew brighter. She could not believe her eyes as the piece of herself changed colors within. There's no mistake to its freedom as she felt that mass severed from her psyche and a slight sting to her body.

"Wha-"

Before she could fully express herself, the flame shot upward and roared into the sky while the water beneath began to boil, causing her to step back in haste. She returned her gaze to the fire, only to see that the mass she had thrown in was gone. Did it burn away?

She hesitated in throwing herself in, but the flame stretched outward in her direction before she could decide. Unable to react fast enough, she gasped as the fire engulfed her and sucked her to its center with unnatural wind force. She had no time to digest the flame's intent as her world shook. Everything then crumbled as the energy snuffed itself into the depths of the waters and her along with it.

"...after that, I thought I was reborn as your mother. I did my best to raise you, but all of that ended up being a beautiful lie. However...everything's fine now! I'm finally able talk to you and hold you like this."

"Mmh..."

"Hehe, were you even listening? Mommy's milk is good, isn't it?"

'It's so...wait.'

Daniel snap-opens his eyes to see soft, pale valleys while sweet milk flows into his mouth, unlike anything he had tasted before. With his upper body gently held against the silver-haired beauty as she nurses him, he eventually comes to his senses and unlatches, tilting his head at the wanting mother's warm gaze.

'How did I end up here?!'

As his mind reels from the sudden change, Viviane giggles once more, then draws her thumb to the corner of his lips to wipe some lingering sweetness. "Is something the matter, child?"

Daniel breathes in, flushing red. "N-no, wait just a minute!"

Recovering his voice after her milk finishes traveling down his throat, Daniel hastily retreats from the silver beauty, much to her chagrin. He manages to realign himself back against the fine grains of the sand until he's sitting on his knees, facing his unexpected nurturer.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand for good measure in case there's any milk left. The sweetness of Viviane's breastmilk still lingers on his tongue, maintaining his temperature at the thought of having suckled her ample chest. "U-um...w-why were you nursing me?"

Viviane blinks, cocking her head. "Why, you say? Isn't it a mother's responsibility to feed her child? Besides, you're the one who drew to me while you were resting on my lap."

Daniel holds his breath and covers his mouth. He last recalls her playful 'mommy' suggestion. Of course, he didn't think she was serious and dismissed it, but then...

"Well, I understand that it may seem sudden to you. Then, in return to telling you what I remember, will you lie on my lap?"

It was a strange request, but he complied. If he really did subconsciously latch on during the silver slime's story, he might have allowed Anne's nursing routine to affect him more than he thought...or was it something due to this woman's maternal aura?

"Hehe, child, you are too cute! It's no big deal, you know?"

Daniel remains flushed for a little longer before he tries to put it past. "A-anyways, I heard your story. Are you saying you were...summoned?"

Viviane's grin fades. She twists her lips to the side before humming. "It does sound like it since this place differs from my prison before, but it's hard to know. After all, I'm here within Anne instead of out there where I should be with you."

Daniel blinks a few times, then lowers his gaze, unsure how to feel about her affection. From what it sounds like, she endured the same assimilation of Amy's memories as Anne. Further, the piece of herself that she sent into the green flames must be...

"And that piece of yourself...became Anne?"

Viviane lowers her gaze with a bitter smile. "Yes, it seems that way, doesn't it? Anne and I are connected. I don't even need to observe from her lake to know what's happening. Everything she feels and sees gets relayed to me all the time."

Her hands grip her knees as she struggles to keep her lips up. "Her love for you, the fun you two have experienced thus far, and her development is truly wonderful. I...I'm happy to see that a part of me is there for my child, even when I'm not able to be there myself."

Daniel breathes slightly, seeing the growing pain in her eyes. "Viviane..."

She could've stopped there, but cracks within the silver beauty appear as her smile falters, unable to reign in her emotions. She covers her face, trying to hold out as she had before for ages, but she can't hold back with her child finally in front of her.

"...But isn't this...unfair? When I died as Amy, I thought I had abandoned you, just as I had abandoned myself and a child I no longer remember. Even though a part of me was there for you, why...can't I be with you too? Why am I always trapped? Maybe Anne exists because I've done something-"

"Viviane, stop!"

Daniel reaches over to grab her shoulders, unwilling to listen anymore. His shake loosens her hands from her face as she stares at her son with wide-contracted eyes. Such expression mirrors the only time he can remember Amy broke down in front of him, having to confess that her cancer was terminal.

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I've...failed you, sweetie. I didn't want to worry you! I was certain that I could fight the spread. Please, I..."

He could never forget that helpless expression from his usually strong mother, and worse, he couldn't suppress his anger at her for trying so damn hard alone. Now, this silver girl is showing the same, but she never had anyone for ages to help her, unlike Amy. Regardless of her past and how she is connected to Anne and Amy, he can't allow such a sight to continue in front of him.

"Viviane, aren't you here with me now?"

"I..."

Daniel shuts his eyes and forces himself to pull her closer, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as her head presses against his chest. He can feel her shaking slowly diminishing.

Although there's much to know and this girl is new to him, he can't ignore that Viviane has been with him through Anne this whole time. She carries the same burdens and memories of his astronomer mother as his blue slime mother does.

"Viviane, even if it was an accident, you changed my life with Anne! As I understand now, you're also my mother. It'd be wrong to say otherwise."

The silver beauty breathes in and slowly wraps her arms around his waist, squeezing him. Daniel looks up to the sky with a crooked smile as she recovers.

'How am I going to even explain this to Anne?'

After some time, Viviane loosens her grip, and Daniel does the same. She looks away, ashamed.

"Child, I'm supposed to be stronger than this. I didn't mean to show you such an ugly side."

Daniel snorts. "It's alright, but I'm not calling you 'mommy', understand?"

Viviane's face brightens with a tiny smirk. "I expected as such, but I still find the term endearing. If Anne can call herself mama, I'll certainly be your mommy~"

"That's um...well, I can't stop you if that's how you want to go about it."

The silver girl raises her brow and drags her finger across his chest with a smooth hum. "Such a flexible child! Now, you'll let me hold you again, won't you? We have much to catch up."

Later, Daniel finds himself returning to suckle Viviane's breasts. More aware, he indulges himself into her soft membrane, sliding his tongue across her dripping nipple while his cock grows erect. There's no reaction from his second mother, making him wonder if she lacks the same senses as Anne. That's less important, remembering another mystery near them.

"What are these lakes, by the way?" he asks, unlatching to look up at her for a moment.

Viviane's warm gaze moves away to face the lake she had been listening to. With a hum, she takes her time to explain.

"Pools...of knowledge, I suppose."

"Huh?"

Returning her attention, Viviane brushes through his hair and presses his face back into her chest to feed before continuing. "This whole realm can be thought of as Anne's inner space. While it's unknown why I ended up here as part of my lesser half, I've learned these waters represent memories and knowledge that she has consumed."

Daniel widens his eyes. He wants to say something, but the silver mother already knows his thoughts. "Hehe, as you might have heard, this new lake appeared after Anne merged with Mary. It's chaotic right now compared to Anne's lake which extends from Amy, but with enough time, Mary's lake should calm. I'm eager to submerge myself into your girlfriend to learn more about her."

'That's uh...'

The artist has no idea how to respond. Taking her word, he wonders why Anne mentioned Mary's memories are fuzzy to her? Shouldn't it be as transparent as Amy's memories?

His line of thinking breaks when he feels a hand brush over his member. He's not entirely surprised by the progress, but when his eyes travel down his body, he nearly chokes on the silver mother's tit.

Instead of Viviane's hand, he sees a clone of her staring at him mischievously. The clone speaks as his hair is brushed through by the original. "Don't be alarmed, child. Since you're here, I may as well show you something special~"

"Mmgh?!"

He blinks a few times to ensure he's not crazy, but the clone is still there, enjoying his reaction. He then snaps his sight back to the mother above, who closes her eyes with a teeter. "It's okay, child. I've told you I can separate myself, haven't I?"

'Not like this!' Daniel screams in his head.

"But," the clone continues, "Splitting once and maintaining two separated forms is my limit. Since this is a special occasion and we're currently limited in seeing each other, I have to do my best to bring our own unique set of memories together."

Too stunned to keep suckling, milk leaks from the corner of Daniel's lips. Only when he feels the silver mother's hand urge him on, he resumes nursing with a large gulp while Viviane's clone lowers herself on to his crotch. His body twitches as she slides her tongue from his tightened balls up to the tip of his member.

While holding out against this envelopment, the Viviane above him hums a tune into his ears — a comforting song he can remember from Amy when he was young. Such warm love clashes against the lewd, slurping noise of the clone as she engulfs his shaft, letting her face melt into his crotch to suck his member as deeply as she can.

"Vi...I...ungh...!?"

Daniel's mind melts like the clone on his crotch, failing to tell Viviane to slow down against the wave of pleasure overcoming him. His mouth eventually pops off her nipple, unable to keep suckling with the intense charge of his member sending shocks to his system.

Shlurp! Shlurp!

While in his daze, Viviane lifts his head closer to her face and hums, gliding her hand across his cheek. "I love you so much, child. You've given me so much hope...mmm~"

The silver slime locks her mouth against his, twirling her tongue around his lips to absorb any leftover milk around. Meanwhile, the artist can only focus on breathing as he fails to muster strength to defend from being eaten up. His pupils eventually lift up as he quivers to the double engagement to his body. Such stimulation proves impossible for him to hold out against as he ejaculates into the clone's face, who jiggles with delight.

Slurp, Slurp!

The clone continues to clean up, and after sensing little cum to receive, she reforms her face, snapping off from her son's crotch. With a low chuckle, her body melts before Daniel's eyes, receding into a metallic puddle that sneaks back around. Although her son couldn't see, the mass that sucked him off returned to the original, easily slipping into her back and returning to its pale skin color.

"That was delicious, child," she says, breaking away with a draw of saliva between them.

Daniel can hardly respond, breathing hard. With his libido falling, his eyes close. A cool breeze brushes through his hair as Viviane lightly massages the back of his head.

A few more kisses are exchanged before Daniel falls into a deep slumber. His body grows faded as he leaves the realm to return to his first mother. As much as it pains her to see him go, Viviane feels better now, knowing their time together will return.

"Sweet awakenings, my child," she whispers into his ear before his presence completely empties off her lap.

His leaving is still bitter, but Viviane feels lighter than ever before. Standing up, she faces the lake and raises her hand out. Now, she feels more determined than ever to continue her examination of her son's girlfriend.

The memories of Mary start to echo out of the lake, but within, she knows there's something more to the female artist's engagements.

'Uncle Marlin, what's this strange language near your drawings?'

'Just aesthetics. They hold very little meaning but to draw you in.'

"Lies."

She recalls a book, something she avoided telling her sweet artist. It's all because she didn't want him to become too involved. Although many things are vague, what's clear to her is that Mary's interactions with her uncle reveal much about a language of forbidden power.

One of which may have sealed her. One of which may have betrayed her.