Twice betrayed by three.

For me, it’s not uncommon to trust too much.

And it’s not uncommon to give second chances.

But this is the third. Then it will be the fourth, then the fifth.

Too much time to sing the same song, hm?

Unfortunately, I’ll never learn when to quit.

Fueled by my hatred and my optimism.

Now that I have this with me here, what do I call it? The fake name would be unsuitable…

And finally…

…everything’s over…

***

“So, we’ll take them in this time?”

“No. It wouldn’t work that way.”

Rhine’s face scrunches up in confusion. “Hm? I thought that was the plan. Why switch it up?”

“I’ve already thought about this. Quite a few times, actually.”

She sighs. “You’re afraid again?”

“Of course!” QD swishes right back around to her, hair flying everywhere in anger. “I didn’t think it through! This was one of the only times I’ve been happy about something, but was completely wrong!”

She sulks.

“This whole thing was just a countdown. And I only verified it. There was nothing good about it.”

Rhine scratches the back of her head. “Nothing? You were really excited for this. I think we all had at least some fun.”

Shaking her head slowly, QD stares blankly into the hologram. “No. …I should’ve known. I was never a great leader, no matter what. You’re way better, but we both know it doesn’t work that way.”

Silence.

“What makes you think this time will be any better?”

“Because I can do whatever I want now. It’s mine.”

“Before it wasn’t?”

“…”

“Why are you continuing?

“I think I care… at least a little bit more. And plus, I think I’m probably entitled to giving answers. Though, at this point, it’s just making me even more depressed.”

“You can stop… why won’t you?”

“Well, now it’s for me, too.”

***

“Okay. We’ve all noticed the Rip. Haven’t we?”

Kindle nods excitedly. Hiraeth turns around, clearly in shock.

“…?”

“It’s been there for a while.” Kindle assures him.

Hiraeth raises an eyebrow uncomfortably. “Oh… did any one tell me?”

A collective, agreeing murmur spreads throughout the six.

“Oh…” Hiraeth looks down.

Vera messes with Hiraeth’s hair. “It's not our fault you don’t listen. You tune everyone out, with the exception of Juno!”

“No,” he shakes his head. “not all the time.”

Rhine clears her throat to catch everyone’s bygone attention. “Rip? Anyone wanna get back to that?”

“Mhm. We can’t have a repeat of last time.” Myst chimes.

Everyone shutters.

Last time.

“Uhmmm… do we have to…?” Kindle’s squeaky voice becomes even squeakier.

In one note, QD informs Kindle. “Yes. Yes we do.”

“Last time was pretty… hm. I have a few choice words about last time.” Rhine rolls her eyes. “THIS time, everyone’s playing their part. No FAKING INJURIES, SUDDEN ABANDONMENT OF PLANS,”

Kindle interjects. “Anyone else feeling a little called out? Or is it just me?” She’s clearly angry.

“Well, admittedly, it was all our faults.” Myst stirs.

Rhine projects her cough.

He jolts. “Everyone but Rhine’s fault.”

Vera is clearly offended. “Oh, come on! You’re her slave now? Just bec—

QD flicks a concentrated wind at Vera’s forehead. “Let’s get this straight. First, Rhine did pull through. Congratulate her. Secondly, yes, we all did kinda stray from the plan. No excuses. Third, Vera, you could’ve actually done more. Considering you wouldn’t have been affected. And lastly… my injury WAS 100% REAL!” She spits over at Rhine.

“OKAY! Okay! Everyone but me and QD are exempt from the blame of last time.” Rhine settles.

Kindle flails around in astonishment. “NUH-UH!!”

In quick succession, Hiraeth silences Kindle in the bundle of his wings. Forgetting his strength, he accidentally pushes Kindle onto him, causing a chemical reaction in his brain to trigger the auto-idiot response. Hiraeth is instantaneously embarrassed, and thus joins Kindle on her journey to the ground.

They fell.

Rhine smiles with contained aggression, as Kindle wobbles upright. “Good. We all agree. Now, onto QD’s much belated news.”

QD straightens out everything she’s wearing. Clothes, hair, skin… and begins.

“Since we should be able to evenly divide our work now, I’ve devised and programmed a genius algorithm to design the most mathematically efficient groups for our missions!” This is QD for, ‘I’ve made a spinning wheel to decide what our groups will be.’

And of course, as translated, QD wheels in a spinner. The disturbing fact is that it isn’t a hologram. She actually bought one from some store online… Maybe. Who knows?

Beaming like regular, QD gives the wheel four thrusting spins, coming up with group names everytime she gets an anticipating look.

“Cool! Cool, cool, cool!”

Vera thinks this has all been very anticlimactic. “You gonna tell us the groups or not?”

“Ugh.” QD deflates. “I’m gettin’ to it! Relax…” she clears her throat. “Alright! Lacelia-25, that’s Rhine and Kindle!”

Rhine and Kindle share looks. Unfortunately, they’re polar opposites of the same child prodigy trope. This’ll be interesting.

“Lydea-12… Hira…”

Hiraeth perks up. He never picked himself up from the floor.

“And then Litoros-9! Me and Myst! Yayy!”

Myst nods. “Good. What about Ammi and Vera?”

“Yeah. You didn’t forget about me, did you?” Vera bitterly inquires.

QD thinks for a moment. “No. Hira’s job is pretty simple. He’ll be going into the memories after he gets some Resonance he’s been stocked with in Aeronia, so he won’t need much help. Ammi is working on some stuff in the Locket. Hira’s gonna meet her there, then finish up.”

Vera’s face reads disappointment. “You didn’t say what I get to do.”

“Oh yeah. Um… you stay behind to monitor the Rip and take care of this place. Also, you can go back to Remnant Fleet, or just play video games. If we need you, we’ll call.”

Now Vera is pleased. He wears an air of dignity and snooty-ness. “Ah… didn’t know you knew how to tend to my talents.” Vera is practically sparkling now…

Everyone else is obviously jealous. But none of them will say it to his face. There’s simply no time! Also, Vera would fistfight anyone to prove a point. And only fistfight. It’s not a very wise decision to go against him.

QD nods away, reading the room. “No more questions?” No comments. QD is now very proud of her discussion leading skills. “Alright! Let’s go get out some Glass.”

***

“Hey… is this Aeronia?” Myst examines a Glass. It’s like a rounded yellow diamond, sparkling brighter than physically possible and in a way that is 100% not normal.

Rhine sweeps over, examines it, then provides her answer. “No. That’s the stupid sulfur land. Aeronia’s a bit more orange.” She grabs the Glass of stupid sulfur land out of his hand to place back on the shelf.

Face burning, Myst stammers. “Oh—ah… hm… sorry…” He searches the shelves.

“It’s no big deal.” Rhine watches him hover over the shelves, then finds Aeronia a few paces left. She carefully takes it out of its velvet casing and places it in Myst’s hands. “Here.”

The room gets hotter. “Thank you,” Myst scratches the back of his head.

Kindle sports two Glasses in her tiny, balled up fists. “Hey! QD said no being too hot in here. Stop blushing, Myst!!”

Myst is not doing so well. He slowly turns back to Rhine as the room gets even hotter.

“MYST!!!” Kindle shoves him out the room, fists still clenched around the precious little gems.

Rhine watches as she turns back toward the room, successfully exterminating the Myst. “Why does he always burn up when stuff like that happens?”

Kindle strokes her chin with her knuckles, processing the question. “Hm… maybe ‘cuz he’s married.”

Still puzzled, Rhine quints in her confusion. “What does that mean?”

“You’re no doubtly very pretty.”

“Wh—AT. That—that doesn’t explain… a-anything!”

Shrugging, as she takes Arcane’s Glass in her already stuffed hands, Kindle then spins towards and out the room with her signature smug smile.

Rhine, bewildered, watches her leave with her jaw unhinged. Attempting to put together the hints with a fried brain, she yells after Kindle in desperation. “So—? So, like, he doesn’t want his wife to be— jealous??? Or… he’s— awkward!? Kin—Kindle!”

Kindle is long gone. There’s silence.

“Yes? No? KINDLE!”

***

QD entered the Glasses each in their own respective slots, then entered the start up command. The portal whirred alive.

“Alright. Hira, go find your Resonance. Rhine and Kindle, track down your world. Vera, monitor the stability when me and Myst enter Verdant Moon. Then quickly close it up, ‘kay? And everyone, check your bands regularly. Remember to be resourceful and take lots of photos, Lacelia. Anything goes wrong, just use the back door on the bands.” QD nodded with a great look of determination for everyone. “Stay safe! Let’s head out!”

With QD’s mark, Hiraeth entered the portal. Vera took the controls, Rhine and Kindle worked together to track their world, then Myst stood back for QD to prep herself to swap forms. The moment buzzed with excitement, but one by one, as everyone left, there was simply silence.

Vera, being the only one left, shut off the portals, taking each Glass carefully in his hands. As he walked into their storage room and put each back carefully in their velvet cases, Freckle, the mischievous little silly (cat), appeared from thin air to follow him along.

Thus began Vera’s grind on rewatching Jojo.

***

Uhm… where’d I leave it…

Hiraeth stood in his room. The other room. Other bedroom.

Maybe I left it… in Complete Guide to Terra and AstraTime, Everything You Need to Know…

Hiraeth waltzed over to his second bedroom to search for this most treasured and favorite book of all time. Being able to easily spot it, even among his thousands of books, he opened it up. He was sure he hid it in here. However…

There was a note. It read:

This is Hiraeth! Hello, Hiraeth! I moved the Resonance to another location. I felt too bad to cut into this book. Reread it once you get the chance!

Rereads: ||||\ ||||\ ||||\ ||||\ ||

P.S. I put the resonance behind the massive bookshelf in my first bedroom. Thank me later, Hiraeth!

Hiraeth nodded. Yes. This was the right thing to do. What a great book!

But now was the time to walk over to his other room, to his other book shelf. He remembered exactly where this secret door of his was! However, it would take him lots of time to carefully remove each book in its exact order and then tend to them gently so as to not disturb their quality. And then possibly dust out the shelf, too.

Hmm… maybe I could pick out some more books to reread. That’d be fun!

That is not a thought you should be having right now, Hiraeth. Refrain. REFRAIN.

Anyways, he spent the next five hours rereading his books. Afterwards, he made sure to pull the bookcase and open the door behind it and whatever. He decided he’d just probably go in and look for the Resonance probably maybe not really sure. As he entered his extremely freezing cold secret room, he noticed a note on a table.

Hiraeth! It’s too cold here. Did you spend hours removing the books from the shelf so you could come into this room? Lesson learnt. Don’t store Resonance in here! Too cold! Also, now you have perfect books to read! Have fun reading and organizing!

-Hiraeth

P.S. I put the Resonance in my secret spot. If you are not Hiraeth, you won’t be able to find my Resonance! Beat that!

P.P.S, sorry if you’re on a wild goose chase. But what’s mine is mine!

Nodding to himself, agreeing that this was a smart idea, Hiraeth sauntered out of the room, closed the door, pushed the bookshelf back, then picked up a book to read.

Unfortunately, he was cut short by one of his favorite people in the whoolleeee widdeee worrlddd wwwowwww

“Ade-Hiraeth?” It was that Warren kid! He was such a cutie. Although they barely held conversations— thanks to Hiraeth— there was still a strong connection between the two. And curiously, an intense, uncommon connection, like they were soulmates. In some ways, Hiraeth thought he saw himself in Warren. Therefore, he took it upon himself to protect him. Albeit that was actually Warren’s job. He was the guard outside Hiraeth’s room. Upon his arrival, Hiraeth perked up from his shrimpy position of reading the piles of books.

“…?”

“Um. Kade-Cara… she needs you. Uhm— requests your presence. At. Somewhere. Something like that.” Warren’s eyes flicked back and forth to the piles of books surrounding Hiraeth. “Do you need me to clean this up for you?”

“…” Hiraeth slowly shook his head. He stood up and walked out of the room. When passing Warren, he attempted to give him a pat on the shoulder in a hearty thanks, but instead gave his arm a high-five.

He skipped out of this room, into the main space of his room, then actually skipped out of his room and into the hallway. Unfortunately, Cara was waiting for him.

“Ade-Hiraeth. Pleasure to have you here. The council wishes to discuss something with you. Come along.” Once again, emotionless as ever. And like everyone else. The guards seemed to be bubblier, because no one cared about them or really spoke to them at all. They were probably exempt from monitoring… they probably are the monitoring…

Still, with Cara’s lack of emotion (meanwhile she was somehow managing to be terrifying), Hiraeth could tell there was something behind it all. Maybe his cameras were renewed, like Rhine warned. In Cara’s wait for his response, he took a quick glance at the boxy technology that was bolted next to his doorknob. Of course, it was flashing its little green light again.

Which meant nothing good.

Which meant Hiraeth had to act quickly.

“Apologies. I currently have something critically important toward my research to tend to. I must ask to have this rescheduled for a later day. Thank you for stopping by.”

No. Not a good lie. She KNOWS. SHE’S GOT TABS ON YOU!! 

Surprisingly, Cara nodded. “Understood. Carry on.”

Oh. That WORKED!?

“Thank you.”

I’m freeee!!! Uhm, now to get wh——

Unfortunately, it had not worked. The ground below the two shifted and Hiraeth was grasped and tied in by the beams in the floor.

MY REPUTATION HAS FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO ME!!!

Returning to his naturally resistant nature, Hiraeth decided he’d hit Cara with some of his own tricks. He gestured to the floor, then picked up the dust that was left behind from the holes his opponent created when she tore out the beams to bind Hiraeth. Hiraeth then pulled apart the beams that connected him and the floor, stepping back and creating a larger gesture to disturb the dust and procure a cover. Hiraeth had to ditch any idea of combat with weaponry, as all of his weapons glowed. In fact, every weapon glowed, so neither him nor Cara would be able to use them. Both would simply disclose their location.

With all of these factors, Hiraeth decided to RUN.

(Flying would risk being attacked easily, as the ceiling wasn’t so high.)

His heart was beating profusely out of his chest and had the bright idea to slip up his throat in the form of a lump. Hiraeth broke into the beautifully glazed ceramic and marble tilting with his boots to conjure a larger dust cover, but with much disgrace and shame. Those tiles were, no doubt, someone’s masterpiece… but no time to cry about it now!!! He sweeped corners and dug his boots into each step.

There wasn’t any sign of Cara behind him. He couldn’t hear her steps, or coughing from the dust. It was worrying. But if she wasn’t really following him, there must’ve been only three options. She was being very silent, she sent guards to detain him, or she was simply not following. Well, maybe there was even more options… oh, of course, there must’ve been! The real question now was if Hiraeth should still be practically leading Cara to him with his dusty cover. If he had a cover, then he’d be traceable. If he didn’t have a cover, then the security cameras would surely find him. The sound of his heartbeat exploded in his ears, his feet started to burn, his muscles started to ache, and he began to break down into a ball of nerves. He needed a moment to clearly think, so he skirted to a stop, decimating the tiles he landed on. He pulled up the cover of dust, pulled his shirt over his nose, and pounced on the floor surrounded by the cover. The ghostly white powder started to stick to his sweaty face and cling onto his hair. Next came his clothes, which were now coated in his dust, then his glasses. Simply put, the powdery ghost of Hiraeth appeared. Now he had time to catch his breath (even though it was in his shirt) and to think about his options.

Inside of the Palace, he’d be reduced to hiding and then instantly subjected to his punishment. Which, by the way, was probably increased by his actions.

Now, outside of the Palace…

Well… the thing is…

Hiraeth had never been outside!!!

But was it worth a shot!?

If he stays, there’ll be extreme consequence, as he’s on his second life…

Okay. So, this escalated quicker than it should’ve.

Ugh, QD said we should use the back door on our bands when we’re in trouble!! But then that’d just call someone over! Like Vera! He’d be super mad… and plus, I don’t want to disturb him…

There was a flash in the dust.

MaYBE ON SECOND THOUGHT I’LL USE THAT.

Hiraeth held onto the bottom of his left wrist, realizing that it was the wrong arm. Panicked, he fumbled for his right wrist, his shirt falling off his nose bridge which allowed him to breathe in the fresh, powdery air. Fumbling and suddenly coughing, Hiraeth had instead disabled the band. There was a disturbance in the dust around the flash.

ACK!!!!

The chemicals administered through his left wrist was in a dosage he hadn’t expected because of his hold onto it. Maybe, just maybe, he should’ve taken the damned thing off. It’d surely would’ve helped. He didn’t know which injection he’d actually pressed, however. The loud, dry coughing didn’t help his thoughts.

A glowing arrow fizzed straight above his head.

SHE’S TRYING TO KILL ME!!

Was it the motivator? The focuser? Was it both? Surely, it couldn’t have been none.

Another flash caused an instantaneous reaction. Hiraeth rolled to the side as another glowing arrow wedged itself into a tile, breaking it. He took this as an opportunity to raise what little dust came from it. (Maybe he injected himself with the focuser?)

But it still wouldn’t be enough.

Let’s go for the original plan. RUN FOR IT!!

Hiraeth wobbled to his feet, searched his senses for beams in the floor, then locked onto them. He sent them flying to wherever the flash was, then bolted.

Sadly, there was a clang. They hadn’t hit.

It’s fine! It’s fine! You can do this! Ah, but still, what a shame that it came to this…

Hiraeth, once again on the run, came to the stairs. He flattened them out to slide down, catching onto the railing by mistake. Suddenly fueled with rage, he grabbed onto it and ripped it out of its holding. Suddenly again but stupidly, he flung it away instead of bending it to slow down his perpetrator. Whatever— it was a split second decision! It will NOT affect anything. So anyways, he started sliding again.

He came to the lecture halls. What a place to be! Hit by nostalgia with the sights of his old classrooms… whose glass he immediately crushed slid onto the floor. In some sort of attempt to make Cara slip on them. If she wasn’t using her wings.

And this continued for the next four floors of the halls.

No doubt Hiraeth was being extremely disruptive and tempting to be followed up by guards. But to his surprise, none of them came.

Will they really just let me go like this?

This was not the case. He was spotted ages ago, obviously, and they came prepared.

In the humongous common hall, Hiraeth was greeted by glowing weaponry. He never had such a big audience before.

Uh-oh.

At least all guards were first lives. Maybe he could fly above them? Oh, but their arrows would totally nick him!! It all felt like too much! So, once more, stupidly, he froze up. Sweaty and caked in powder of his ideas that never lasted long.

“…”

The guards aimed at him. All was unsettlingly still. As if they were waiting for him to make a move.

“H—hey! If you— I’ll guarantee your second lives! If you just——Don’t. Hurt me?…”

Some guards shared their gazes.

Smiling and totally pleased, Hiraeth beamed. “Yes! I’ll give all of you a second life. How does that so——-

Cara tackled him to the ground.

MAYBE THAT WAS WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT!!

Hiraeth could perfectly envision this!!

The two second lives tangled themselves in this purely rabid fight, each attacking mercilessly. This still escalated quickly.

Now the guards were acting, too!!!

ACT QUICK! GET OUT OF HERE!!

Hiraeth scrambled out of Cara’s grip, pulling out his spear, waving it back at the guards. Once he had his space, he stretched out his wings and reached for the sky. He dared not look back.

Good thing was that he was close to the exit he’d only heard of. Everyone knew the red carpet meant you were there. Just two staircases that spiraled to the floor, then you’d be met with the main entrance and lobby. With it in view now, Hiraeth could tell the ceiling was most definitely four or three stories tall. What a shame he wouldn’t be able to admire it.

Here! Just here! I can get out without being held responsible for any of my actions! I knew I could do it!

Maybe he injected himself with the motivator?

Dive for the exit! Yes!!! Consequences of my actions my AAAAA——-

A sharp pain ran through his neck.

He realized two things;

He probably looked like a total idiot, being hunted down—how embarrassing.

And also,

that he’d been hit.

***

“Damn. Who leaves their room like this?”

Vera picked up a book titled Complete Guide to Terra and AstraTime, Everything You Need to Know. It was quite heavy.

“Then again… this was probably part of the problem.”

Hiraeth’s band suddenly had logged out. He would never do that as a joke— nor would he have done it by accident. He was generally a serious person, Vera thought. While he was playing boredly with the pages of the book, a small note flew out. Upon reading it, his eyes flicked toward the bookshelf beside him.

“Hm? This one?” He questioned the note as if it was alive. There was, of course, no answer. So he simply pulled the bookshelf away from the wall. And there was a door. Simple enough. Even simpler— opening the door. To be met with an eerie, frosty air. A small room with a rounded wooden table and another note on top.

Vera’s eyes darted across this next note. “…I take it back. He’s still an idiot.” Hiraeth was generally a serious for research. Other than that, he was an odd specimen himself.

“Secret spot? If I were Hira, where would I hide something important… a series of either no thought or an intense session of reverse psychology would ultimately lead to the same spot… and I bet Hira’s thought process was either one of those.” Under the bed was the stupidest place to hide something.

Which is why an intellect would expect nothing. And also why an intellect would hide something important under there. Along with a total idiot. Since Hiraeth, who’s actions have recently enlightened Vera, somehow managed to pull off both, he checked under his bed in this very room.

“Tada!” Resonance acquired! It should’ve been in the book that said: ‘Resonance In Here 🩷’.

“And now to go find that idiot.” Vera teased.

A sudden loud thud echoed from outside of Hiraeth’s room. The one Vera was in.

“!…”

…Must be him? Maybe he’s hitting his wings into stuff again. Although, this place seems a bit too wide open for that… hmm. Better keep my guard up, then.

Under his breath, Vera recited an old hymn of Flamecharm, releasing the Azure Flame… just to make sure. He walked out of Hiraeth’s room, then saw a heaving mass of muddied red at his door. Definitely not the oddest thing he’d seen. But still, he advised himself with caution. He’d caught one too many parasites during his journeys. Seriously, why were there so many parasites? All the same, he stood on his toes as he bounced over to this mass.

With the increased cover of distance, it was clear what this mass was, as each color separated from the red.

“…hey? HEY!”

Vera rushed down to him.

Okay, so this was worth pausing Stardust Crusaders for.

“Dude! What the actual FUCK??”

Hiraeth was too busy hiding in his tattered wings to say much.

“Is this what you meant by those fucking cameras??? I didn’t think that it’d be THIS bad!”

Now, Vera had no idea what he was meant to do.

“Hey— hey, you can move, hm? ‘You hurt just a bit?”

Small, pathetic sobs came from the now unidentifiable mass; nothing more, nothing less.

“Hira?” Vera’s face started to burn. “Oh—Gods below! Can’t you say at least SOMETHING?! Little bastard!” He left off on an infuriated note that rang through the air.

The mass started to shake.

Vera’s Flame chimed beside them.

“Oh, for fuck’s SAKE! Shut the hell up! Now is NOT the time!”

Once more, it chimed. Aggressively.

Idiot! Use my flame to heal him!

Groaning in sudden annoyance of being proved an idiot, Vera prayed the blue flame into the air within a good distance of him and Hiraeth.

“You good now? All good? Hira?”

Shifting and still shaky, the mass slowly turned its crushed face towards Vera.

“No— no, you don’t need to— aaaaghhhh— Hira— hm.— Hira.” He pulled the mass’s right hand out of its bloody mess. It seemed completely nonexistent until then. He wrapped his fingers around the bloody wrist, then was met with his tears, a terrible wince of pain, and a passcode. And everyone knew it was Juno’s birthday. Only, Vera didn’t know what it was. “Ah— um, Juno—- Juno’s birthday.” The band had luckily unlocked with simply that. Vera navigated himself to the transportation tab.

“Okay. There. There you go. Got it? Stay close to the flame. I won’t be too long.”

The mass tucked its head back into its ball shape. Close to a yes, Vera assumed.

The flame should be able to take care of him. Vera already had every physical item he needed. The Resonance (though the actual physical existence of it remained questionable), Hiraeth, and himself. However, he was lacking in a few other things. Revenge and a good fight.

Really, these last two were the most unnecessary items. But hey! Vera was a man with absolutely nothing to lose. That includes his winning streak.

But let’s go back to that first part. Vera’s basically a meat sack of testosterone. He’s bound to make the worst decisions known to all of humanity. (Well, he’s actually not a human, technically… I guess a subvariant of one? Eh, let’s get into the details later.)

Vera stared down the door. Then over to the small, boxy technology he couldn’t mistake for anything else. He wound up his left arm, then crushed the box between his fist and the wall. (Strong Left!? Strong Left!??!) Now then!! That should be good enough to proceed. With his hand on the doorknob, Vera couldn’t help but think; It’s literally only been 8 hours. How did Hira manage to mess this up THAT fast? And he didn’t even get the Resonance. I wonder what he was doing for half that time. As you could see, Vera had instantly gone back to his ‘Hiraeth is the stupidest smartest person ever’ mentality. He twisted the doorknob and swung the door open.

Someone’s here. Indeed, there was a strange presence right next to the door which he had yet to step out from.

He took one step. The presence next to him was just some guard guy. Vera and this guard guy stared at each other for about ten seconds.

“…?”

Oh, so this guy’s an idiot. He reminds me so much of Hira.

“Hey.”

“…hi”

Ooookkaaayy. I guess I’ll just interrogate him.

Vera sent his hand towards the guard’s collar, then spun him around, thrusting him into Hiraeth’s comically large room(s). He jolted to grab the doorknob once more, then slammed both knob and door shut.

The guard flew down instantly, with a squeaky little scream.

Wow. Really, this pathetic?

Vera pulled out his greatsword, pushed his knee onto the fallen guard’s chest, pinned his hand onto the guard’s shoulder, then held the sword inches away from his neck.

The guard yet again made a frightened squeak.

“I don’t have time for this. What’d you do with Hira?”

Blinking furiously, the guard stammered. “Who—who’s that?”

“DO NOT PLAY WITH ME.”

“AAAAAAHHHAHAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

“WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?”

“HIRAETH!!!”

“OHhh. Um—- I know him!! I just—I just kinda guard— his room…?”

“WHY IS THERE A QUESTION MARK AT THE END OF YOUR SENTENCE?!”

“HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT!?”

Vera wasn’t getting anywhere. Then he realized… yes. He actually can see what was being said. In fact, every word. He’s hearing this right now.

Gods below!? Who said that? SHIT! THEY’VE GOT MY INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, THEN!

It’s okay. We’ve taken it into our responsibility that none of those are shared unless they move the story forward.

Wait. So what really happened with Hira? And why do you keep calling him ‘Hiraeth’? Just use his nickname. It’s faster.

I prefer his nicolasname.

I’d be able to tell who you actually were if my internal voice actor wasn’t giving you a voice for me. Then I’d come to beat the shit out of you.

“Uhm— Ma’am?”

“I’M A MAN!!!”

“OKAY WELL BE GLAD I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR BLUE SKIN”

“GODS!!! SHUT UP FOR A SECOND!!!”

“EEP sorry”

What’d you say happened to Hira?

I never said anything. You just have to go back up and look for it yourself.

Go back up? What do you mean—ohhhh. Ohhhh. Oh. Wow. Uhm… so…

So…?

Some lady named Cara?

Yeah. Pretty much.

HIRA READ FOR FIVE HOURS?!

I don’t think he could resist it.

“Is there something going on that I can’t see?” The guard asks nervously.

Crap. You have to indicate his tone?

Yeah. Tough job. And I also have to describe every action but a little differently from the last using larger and more varying fancy words. The only thing that really sucks is that I can’t be super subtle like you would with just an image. Environmental storytelling says a lot! It’s like—the better form of foreshadowing.

That’s why the book with the Resonance said something along the lines of ‘should’ve been in here’?

Yeah. By making sure you weren’t aware of this until now, no one really questioned the value of that sentence. Well, maybe they did, but it was quickly brushed off when there was no reaction. Have you even opened up the Resonance book yet?

No? Oh, shit. You’re fucking SERIOUS, aren’t you?

Yeah. Cara has it.

All the more reason to beat her ass?

Yup! I justified it for you. Knock yourself out! But not this guard here.

“Hello?”

Why not?

He’s pretty important later on.

What do you mean?

You’ll see.

I have the feeling someone REALLY hates that phrase.

More than one person, actually.

Two people?

I think three.

I’m starting to hate it, too.

“You okay, sir?”

Hey. Guard boy is talking to you.

I don’t wanna talk to HIM.

If your thoughts didn’t fizz by and click within seconds, then he’d have been waiting for hours. You’re lucky my research on it has granted you some free talking time. But that’s besides the point. I need you to find a way to bring him back to the Train.

Why would I do that? I don’t know if I can trust you.

I’ll make you make weird faces. Also, we can troll him.

You can do that?

Yes. Now, don’t make me say ‘troll’ in that context again. I’m already regretting it. There wasn’t a better enough word, though…

Uhm. Cool. How do we ‘troll’ him?

Start spewing personal information? I’ve got his whole backstory. You can recite it to him!

Backstory?

It’s too early to explain. Anyways, his name is Warren. He hated history as a kid, even though we both know Aeronia is all about history. Uhm, blah blah blah, he gets in trouble, his parents send him some stupid guard academy where they think he’ll hate it and start studying, he likes it, whatever, he meets you… then the rest is classified.

His backstory goes into the future?

Yeah. It’s not really your typical understanding of backstory, but he’s already dead.

You’re not making much sense.

Tell him his stupid life already

Fine

Vera tilted his head to the side, narrowing his eyes and examining Warren. “Your name is Warren, isn’t it? And you’ve always hated history. Blah blah blah, you get in trouble—

Dude, the blah blah blah is NOT mandatory

—and your parents send you to some stupid guard academy—

“Hey! It’s not stupid.”

“QUIET.”

Yeah, that stupid part was also not mandatory.

“AHEM. Then you really liked it. And now you’re here. Guarding Hiraeth’s door.”

The guard blinked. “That’s a little freaky. I’d be scared if I hadn’t already had an idea of who you were, though.”

“Really? Who am I?”

Warren smuggly scrunched his face up. “Hhmmhmhmn. I dunno. The reckless type? Who barely brushes their hair? And spends their time training for fangirling over some piece of media?”

This is not normal. There is no entertainment in Aeronia.

Oh, sweet! Aeronia autocorrects into Aeronia now.

What?

Shut up and continue

Okay, but how does he know what media is?

Ask him, not me!

You’re really getting my fucking nerves.

“How do you know what media is?”

“Aha, how do you know who I am?”

“You can’t answer a question with a question, dumbass.”

Warren should not know the word dumbass, but he does.

Thanks for that insight.

You’re welcome!

Vera became increasingly suspicious of this Warren character.

Isn’t it obvious?

We’re past that point. Stop talking.

“Who are you, really?”

Warren slyly smiled. “I’m just a guard. There’s nothing to me.”

Something’s up.

Totally.

“You seemed so on edge at first. Why are you relaxed now?”

“Well, I found this book…”

I mentioned this earlier, a long time ago. You never heard it.

A book? When was this mentioned?

I literally just said you never heard it.

Can you tell me who you are?

The Narrator?

That’s a question mark.

Yeah. But, what else do you expect??

Ah, the double question marks indicate your intended tone easier.

Thought so. Anyways, I can’t actually tell you who I am. Not yet, at least.

Why not? And why do I seem to be the only one who can talk to you?

First, you’re the only one here who didn’t come from the Locket.

Hm, thought so.

However, you were used in it.

Then how about Cory—or Suns as a whole? Or Juno and Danann?

They’ve all come from the Locket.

Really?

“…and with it, I could see my name on the first page inside…”

Can everyone else read these words? Like, their… ‘dialogue’? If I were to say something with a tone indicating a question mark, it’d appear in my dialogue, right?

Yes. A question is indicated by a higher pitch at the end of your sentence.

Right. So can everyone else see that question mark?

They’ll simply know that through your tone. It’s not like they can read it. However, I think there’s a difference between exclaiming something you see and something you hear. Y’know.

Right. So, when Warren asked me how I knew a question mark was at the end of his sentence…

Mhm, it’s clear he saw it rather than heard it.

Gosh. You owe me answers.

Hm. And this is when we tune back into the real world.

Real world? Huh, you mad?

“…then the next pages were a story. I meet someone like you, who’s aggressive towards me at first. I have to warn you about something, then we both leave. From here? I think? The Palace? Maybe Aeronia, and towards the Outside. Everything after that is blank. I’m assuming that bit of Time isn’t recorded.”

Vera recognized the use of Time. Personally, it makes it much less confusing to just use ‘history’. Why do they have to go ‘AstraTime’ and ‘TerraTime’ and ‘AeroTime’ and ‘NatuaTime’?

That’s not what I thought.

You were cussing me out! I frankly don’t appreciate that.

You’re just mad everything I was saying was true.

Okay, shut up.

“Hey, what was that first part?” Vera leaned in threateningly.

Warren pressed himself as hard as he could against the ground. “Agh, um, can books be wrong? I thought I was leaving here with you! Don’t get so close… and can’t you move that sword away?”

“I’m THIS CLOSE to pounding your face into my fist.”

“Okay, rela—-

“DO NOT FINISH THAT SENTENCE. I’ve had ENOUGH of you. Tell me what I want to know.”

Don’t hurt the pretty boy! You’ve gotta listen to what he says.

What, take him home? No th…aa…anks. Wait a second. You wanted me to take him back to the Train? Is that damn book yours?

I lost that thing a while ago.

I’ll kill you.

BACK TO WORK.

WORK!?

SHUSH!

“Ah—fine. I think that stupid Cara woman is coming back over here. I was eavesdropping. She thinks I can do her bidding, following her around like everyone else… taking the stupid injections…”

Vera flinched back. “I thought all guards were just bubbly all the time.”  I read back to that point. That’s what Hira said, right?

Hiraeth has LITERALLY only come in contact with one guard until today.

HOLY SHIT!

“Well, I just figured out that the injections slowly need more and more to get everyone to act quiet and obedient. The little needle always scared me, so when I found out I had to take more, I really didn’t like it. At first, I felt abnormal, and weird feeling. Like… a sort of deep hole in my stomach. I started to take it again, then I heard Ade-Hiraeth from inside of his room.”

Vera nodded on and on as if he’d heard the story thousands of times. Of course, not the case, as he’s heard it just once. “Then you found out about what an emotion is?” He eased his hand off of Warren’s shoulder.

“If that’s what you call them. My head hurts from them and my stomach always goes crazy. It’s like every bit of me is put tirelessly into these things!”

Now, Vera took his knee off of Warren’s chest, then stepped up and back. He held out his hand to him. “Get up.”

Warren blinked into a smile. “Thanks. All I needed to do was tell you about this?”

Vera put his sword away with a snap. “I guess so.”

“You’re very strong… you held that greatsword with just one hand!” He laughed his way into awakening chest pain from Vera’s knee. “…ouchie.”

A sudden pang of realization came to Vera.

They’re more alike than I thought.

“So. That Cara is coming over?”

Warren snapped, then flashed an innocent, golden grin. “Yes! I didn’t hear why, though. Maybe to check up on Ade?”

What a fucking idiot. “You saw how he was hurt?”

“Uhm— yeah. I heard punishments are stronger for second lives, since it’s believed they already know how to not make the same mistakes twice. But I don’t think any second life keeps their memories. I mean, if they did, they’d totally move onto their third! Hey, how did Ade become friends with you?”

It’s like a second Hira. “Okay. Let’s ignore that last part. It’s off-topic.”

Something only you know, off-topic…

We’re ignoring my previous actions.

Look who’s pretending the both of us can’t look back at them word for word?

Now YOU’RE off-topic!

“Did they exile Hira? Or something like that?”

Warren looked down. “Not sure. But that’s probably just as bad.”

Shit. He’s been doing this for a long time. They totally would’ve found out. Maybe they were looking for the right time to hand his ass to him… “Okay, that means Cara’s probably coming over here to investigate this place.”

“Why? Was Ade doing something wrong?”

“He wouldn’t. They just don’t like outsiders… do they?”

“Ah…” it finally clicked for Warren. “Outside, there’s people like you?”

“Aeronia has nothing outside. This is the only place where life is.”

Liar!

I’m making a point.

“Did you, by chance, have anything to do with the book, then?”

“I certainly think so.”

Because of YOU.

I’m gonna keep going back to the off-topic topic if you keep responding to all my rhetoricals.

Warren stared down at his feet for a while. He opened his mouth to speak, but instead, his head thrust up when hearing a soft clacking. “Hear that?”

Puzzled, Vera tensed up. “Heels? Is that Cara?”

“If she’s actually coming, then we gotta go hide!” His eyes flicked towards the boxy technology next to Hiraeth’s door, as his thought was to break it to avoid cameras finding them before Cara did. Only to find it was crushed. Terribly confused, he turned over to Vera. He pointed back and forth between the box and Vera, as if asking, ‘you?’.

Rolling his eyes, Vera aggressively nodded, as if screaming, ‘YES COME ON.’

Warren’s hand was grasped by Vera’s, who sprinted away from the door. Warren flailed around as if wailing, ‘gosh! Okay, sorry!’ or something more like ‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!’.

Warren couldn’t keep up with Vera, so he simply flew around like one of those cute little smiley blow up Gogurt-looking tube guys. They’re not creepy. They just need a friend.

“Okay. I thought about it. We’re gonna hide under the bed. She’ll never look for us here.”

“Huh? The bed?! That’s the first place I’d look!”

Vera scrunched up his face in disappointment. “That’s because you’re an idiot.”

Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.

“Everything seems to be fine here. Should I proceed?”

Vera narrowed his eyes. Or squinted. What was she doing?

“Go ahead.”

Cara poured something on the floor, then lit a match.

THIS BITCH CRAZY!!!

Vera rolled out from under the bed, then thrust himself onto his feet. “HEY!”

“Ah, so you must be the outsider?”

To spite Cara, Vera simply ignored her. “Do you like fire that much?” He motioned to the match in her hand and what he presumed was gasoline on the floor.

Cara scoffed. “Insolent outsider. We do not tolerate this behavior.” She put her nose up in the air, dropping the match. Vera barely managed to hear Warren’s tiny gasp.

Seems like the chemicals are wearing off. She must be furious right now.

“You think that’s fire? Let me educate you.” Vera took his stance, his strings appearing above him.

Cara’s eye twitched. Then she burst out into manic laughter. “You’ll meet the same fate as your little Ade. Insolent! I’ll crush you into POWDER!”

Already imagining the therapeutic blood on his hands, Vera’s grin widened. With a snap, he summoned his Contractor’s strings and wrapped them around Cara’s limbs.

At the same time, Cara took the beams from inside of the floor, sticking Vera in between them. She then trust the chains from the flooring around him.

“Already a tied up puppet, aren’t you? I’m only adding to your confinement.”

Vera wrapped his fingers around the chains that held him. “HAH! You cocky bitch. Speak afterwards— when you BEG for your LIFE!!!” He lit the chains up, slowly turning them from red to white hot. He shook off the now melting chains, protected by his own aura of flame, then snapped again to rise Cara in the air and pull her apart with his strings.

Cara wouldn’t give up that easily, however, so she retracted her beams and cut through Vera’s strings. She glided down to the ground for a safe landing, then raced towards Vera as the ground still burnt.

“Hey! Blue guy! What do I do!?”

Vera and Cara both took out their weapons, Cara wielding a blinding railblade. She spun to swing at Vera, who blocked with a flaming parry, then caught her lacking by stabbing a Contractor’s swing when he was given a window. Cara bounced back by flourishing her wings to create a burst of wind that blew Vera back.

“SHUT UP AND STICK CLOSE!” He yelled when he was blown a good distance away.

Cara tried to sweep Vera off his feet by half-circling towards him with a boost from her wings, but Vera rolled to the side, then leaped off a step of fire and aimed at her from the air.

Cara swung at him as he did, resulting in a parry from both. Vera stomped to create a floor of ice, then flourished, sending Cara slipping back onto a wall. Unfortunately, she blocked his attacks with her own flourish.

Vera swept low with his blade, creating a wind of fire. Cara broke up the ground below them and blocked the flames.

This isn’t good— I’ve seen too much of Verdant to know that!

Of course, this meant Vera saw Cara’s opportunity with the pieces of literal floor. So he dashed to the side to try and escape, but Cara’s broken ground left more unexposed chains for her to use and pull Vera back into range. She then sent a stab for Vera’s chest, which he barely blocked. He followed her hit up with an uppercut, allowing them a few feet off the hair as he surrounded them with a whirl of flames. As if there wasn’t enough on the floor already.

Cara was able to glide down, even with her burnt wings, but Vera needed some help. He used his ice skate technique to send thin spikes of ice that turned into platforms upon hitting his feet, then lowered himself to the floor.

Cara quickly sent shards of broken tiles towards Vera, who parried them. Dust and smoke clouded his vision.

I need to end this quickly…

With a lunge boosted by her wings, Cara sent herself toward Vera, who spun out of the way with flames. This left a huge window for Cara.

Crap!

Vera stumbled with this realization. Cara jumped toward Vera, slashing him clean. Stinging pain and the only blood being his own caused Vera an intense amount of anger. He gathered Frostdraw in one hand and Flamecharm in the other, then charged them into his greatsword. He sent a blast of steam to keep Cara within his desired range, then spun around his flames and into a step in the air.

She’s cooked.

He swept his sword down at her with a sudden explosive burst, holding her in place with his strings. A bright white flash blinded the both.

The flames raged around them in a circle still…

Vera found himself choked by Cara’s infuriating chains that she held onto like her life depended on it. (It did.) Cara seemed pretty blown herself, wings slowly sparking.

“Now,” she heaved. “let’s see who’ll beg.”

The fiery floor rose and shrunk to Vera’s heartbeat— slow and painful. He clutched the chains around his neck, forcing his eyes open through the crushing pain.

Warren stepped closer and closer as the flames slowly closed in. He was already coughing his lungs out from the smoke, quietly wishing he wouldn’t have to fight the rest of the battle for Vera.

Flames—if I— could— 

His world started to spin. He needed air before he shut down. Also known as dying.

In a last fit of rage, he sent flames from his hands to Cara’s— both holding onto the chains.

Cara still held on. That is, until the fire crawled up on her then danced on her face.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”

Her flaming hands instinctively flew onto her eyes, dropping the chains and Vera onto the floor.

Gasping for air when there was absolutely none left, Vera had instead coughed his heart out, messily shaking and wiping away at his tears.

“Oh!!—“ Warren cut his sleeve with his dagger, wet it with his canteen, then wrapped it around Vera’s nose and mouth. An idea he thought of only now. “Breathe through this! I—EHK—think it sssssh—LOUD COUGHING.—should work!” He held onto Vera’s hands, clasping them around the cloth. Warren repeated the same technique for himself, holding onto his cloth with one hand and supporting Vera with the other.

Muffled, Warren advised Vera. “We—-should totally—COUGH.— kill her. But— take it easy!”

Vera was still very woozy, shakily pulling his shirt over his mouth, then breathing in whatever filtered air was in that damn thing. He simply responded with large gasps.

“Do you wanna— take the honors?” Warren copied Vera’s other idea. Now he had two ideas!

Slowly and still shakily, Vera nodded. He turned back to the busted Cara, wrapped her around with his Contractor strings, rose her up…

Then sent a circle of whatever the hell it was. It was red and black— inscribed with runes. Like a magic circle. It surrounded Cara.

Snap.

Cara was strung apart, limbs dangling from the strings— until they were annihilated and devoured by the circle.

Warren really didn’t want to vomit in his shirt. His naturally resistant nature was kicking in very nicely, however. “Gosh—please tell me you have a way to get us out of here,” he winced, trusting his head away from the sight of Cara and trusting the memory into his deepest, darkest, hellish mind pit.

Vera’s hands scrambled to hold onto Warren’s, as he opened his band to pull up the transportation tab.

“that book—…”

“Yes?”

The corners of Vera’s eyes crinkled.

“…it’s—right.”

***

Snowy. Snowy and cold. And like, lots of agony, I guess. The first time you go into a world, there’s all sorts of emotion— or physical feeling… well, anything could technically happen— but it’s all part of the experience. The beginning. And, after all, you’re totally fine.

“Kindle? You here?”

“Ughhmmm… yeah…”

“Here’s my hand.”

Snatch. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

“Where does it look like we are?”

Rhine looked around. Kindle also had her fair share of looks.

“Um. A forest. The woods.”

Kindle screamed.

“WHAT!?”

“OH MY GOD RHINE LOOK.”

“GODDAMNIT KINDLE I THOUGHT YOU FUCKING DIED!!!”

“NO LOOK IT'S MOUNT EVEREST PART TWO!!”

Her finger jolted up to an extremely tall mountain. The mountain was, yes, covered in snow and pines… put this peak was capped with a menacing ink that also floated around the mountain like the plague.

Rhine’s confusion and slight disgust wasn’t at all attempted to be hidden on her face. “God. What is that thing?”

Cocking her head to the side, Kindle squinted and stared at the mountain with intense curiosity. “Dunno. What’s the mission for this world?”

“Lemme check.” Rhine turned on her band and navigated to the… well, missions tab. She read through QD’s notes. “Fix this.”

Kindle turned to Rhine. “Eh? Fix? Is the mountain nasty?”

Turning off the band and scratching her head, Rhine ran through every trope and stereotype she’d ever remembered. “Maybe. Y’know, light and dark? Dark loses? Light wins…? That’s probably rooted in racism.”

Both Rhine and Kindle had racism of the same type in their worlds.

“Yeah. Probably another truth? Last time, we did a bunch of those. That stuff on the mountain may be related to some to Rip… or some other words that start with r. Like rift. Or ribbit. Man, I already miss the frogs! They can’t live in the snow.”

Rhine snapped to get Kindle’s attention. “C’mon, if we’re here, we’re gonna get this done quickly.” Something deep down inside of her— deeper than her efficiency based routine and perfections— told her to. It wasn’t even because she had to take matters into her own hands if the others slacked off again. No, she could do that as many times as she wanted to. She’d do it over and over again. Now, it was different. Now she’s scared. “‘Seen the mood QD’s been in? I have a feeling everything’s gonna be a lot worse this time.”

Kindle opened her band, taking a few shots of the mountain for future reference. “What? Does her mood affect this typ’a stuff?”

“I assume not, but you know who it does affect. They’re practically mirrored images.”

“…ahhh. Let’s stay on our guard, then!”

Rhine turned to the woods. “Mhm.” She thought she’d noticed something shifting in there.

Kindle screamed.

“Nile River part two?” Rhine was already done with this.

“NO!”

Okay, now Rhine turned around. And she was met with some sort of— MONSTER THING HOLY SHIT. SHE STEPPED BACK.

Ink from the mountain? Blades for hands? Humanoid… must be a sort of minion.

The monster swung at Rhine, who dodged swiftly, then cracked her hand at the monster’s neck. The monster instantly crumbled into ink and died.

“Shit! What is that…? Kindle?”

Kindle was lying on the floor now.

“owww… ugh, Barbatos… —wha—AAAAAAAAAAAAGHH!!!!” Kindle stared down at her chest, slashed and inky.

Rhine stumbled down to her side. “Oh— ohh— ohhhh, Kindle! That damn thing!” Her hands fumbled over the wound. New worlds were always unpredictable. They had to find a local— someone human…

“RHINE THEY GOT MEEE!!!!!AREYAJUSTGONNASTANDTHERE!?!?”

There’s no doubt I’ll be able to find a human of some sort here. Those monsters are just humans covered in ink.

“Here, into my arms. Quickly.” Rhine beckoned Kindle to come closer as she wrapped her arms around the little stinky. Having successfully locked in the Kindle, Rhine stood up, holding her onto her head. “Don’t worry— we’re getting our asses out of here NOW.”

With a new enemy to watch for and a new wound to tend to, this would surely get interesting.

Kindle bobbed up and down. “HEY— GO SLOW! B—but not so—slow. Also, they’re tail—ing us.” She weakly jabbed Rhine’s shoulder.

“Can’t we ever catch a break on these jobs!?”

“Nah—oh— they’re fast RUN”

“Wait, you’re saying THEY?” Rhine nearly stopped in her tracks.

Flailing around to get her moving again, Kindle confirmed. “I’d use—‘it’, but now—there’s multiple.”

“Ah, shit! I hope no one else is having as much trouble as us!”

I hope so too, Rhine. I hope so.

“I’d be—okay with it if…” Kindle sounded like she was bound to puke. “…you stopped to fight—them off?”

Rhine only picked up speed. “Who knows what they can do? We need someone else here!”

Kindle groaned. “What I meant by that—was—GO KILL THEM!!!!”

“AAAGHH, FINE!!!” Rhine broke her pace, sliding her way into stopping. “Just—stay close, got it!?”

“Yeah—!”

Kindle lowered herself onto the ground, then took this opportunity to search the ground for any suitable life. Like, I dunno, maybe grass. At the same time, she was diligently watching the snowy shadows for any signs of enemies or friends.

Grumbling to herself, Rhine ejected the band from her wrist, swapped modes, then had two metal plates secured and sunk into her arms. “Get ready!”

“Mhm!”

With the first wave of these inky monsters, Rhine decided to run her own tests on them. Just to see what makes and breaks these things. She parried off multiple swings, then returned their energies right back to the damn things. To her surprise, they all died with that simple hit.

Huh? Are these things that weak? Or am I just getting too strong? Let’s test this out…

“Kindle! Send a small current towards one of these monsters!”

“Are you—CRAZY!?”

“Would it justify the favor if I said yes!?”

“FINE!!!”

Kindle looked like she was about to convert into an automobile, struggling to conjure a small little zap between her two fingers. Finally, she let go. A tiny string of lightning found its way towards Rhine.

“What the—KINDLE!”

“SSSORRRRYYY” and thus, Kindle had to repeat the action. Unfortunately, the string of lightning zapped Rhine about four times before it finally hit a monster.

The tiny little zap instantly exploded a monster into ink, to Rhine’s total amazement. “It’s like you can touch to kill these things!”

Kindle was not as amused. “But they— do pack a punch.”

“Yeah, how’s that wound holding up?”

“Um…” the cut was now mending itself with… some of the ink? “Maybe— I might— die.”

“HUH!?”

Kindle was just as bewildered. “Maybe! Let’s—go SUPER FAST.”

Sweeping the floor with a kick, Rhine cleared the way of several monsters. She dashed to Kindle, snatched her like a baton, then they were on their way again. Running. Because that’s the only thing they can do right about now.

“Are we just— gonna— look for some—one?”

“That’s our best bet! Can you see any smoke in the air?”

“—no.”

“Shit. Maybe no one’s here! Try to see if your band has connection!”

“Nope—again—

“NO TELEPORTATION!??!”

“NO!!— FIX— YOUR DAMN TECH!!”

Rhine gritted her teeth. “KEEP THE SPEAKING TO A BARE MINIMUM.”

Rhine’s thoughts raced and burnt faster than her feet.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit, shit, shit shit shit SHIT. Fucking SHIT. If Kindle dies here, what am I gonna do? How can I say this to her parents!? They don’t even know she’s doing this whole thing! How’d this go so wrong so easily? Last time, there wasn’t any problem like this…

…oh, God. Last time— we nearly all paid the price! If it’s this bad now— if I have no control now—then we’re all dead! Everyone!

Rhine is a control freak.

I don’t know if you noticed.

Kinda just by that last sentence.

Yeah, pretty hard to spot.

The fate of everything rests on us— and we’re only beginning to drop like flies! I should just go home and spend time with my family until we meet our end… I’ve been such a terrible, terrible person!

Of course, Rhine knew that humanity tended to worry too much. Worrying— precisely what she was doing right now. But she couldn’t help herself. It was simply human nature. Lots of things clouded humanity’s views when thinking about what would happen, otherwise known as the future. Why else do you think you’re failing your probability unit in math class?

Meanwhile, Kindle was thinking of only the most important and rational things.

What should I have for dinner? Oh, if I were a snowy rabbit, what would I eat? Grass…? Uhoh. That’s cannibalism for me. Wait, why did I eat that fruit salad with QD the other day!? Yikes!!!

“Uh— Rhine— we’re being— surrounded!!”

“Don’t worry, I have a plan.”

She was lying, as this was not the plan Kindle would’ve hoped to hear. Instead, she spent too much time planning her last vacation, then maybe blowing some of her millions on a house in Boca Raton.

“Better—do that quickly!”

Rhine lowered Kindle to the ground, then stood in a battle-ready stance.

I should probably make this worth my while…

The monsters charged at the two, but quickly retreated soon after. This left both Kindle and Rhine utterly confused. Then, a strong, bitter scent wafted through the air.

“Sniff sniff is that cyanide?” Kindle’s head spun like crazy, trying to find the source of this awful odor.

“Ugh,” Rhine held her nose. “No, that zsmells like bidder almends.” Haha now she sounds stupid because she’s holding onto her nose haha

“Hey! Heeeyy! Hiya! Hello!” A voice echoed from the distance.

“oh fucking amazing it’s someone with the same personality as you”

“is that supposed to be an insult? I would personally like a Kindle Mini…”

It was… some girl, waving to the two from the distance. Now, why would I describe her to you? I think it’d be better if you gave her an image yourself. Why? Because I’m a little lazy, terrible at character description, and it would be fun to hit you with the realization that character doesn’t look like that and now you have to adjust to my will.

It became clearer and clearer the nasty odor was coming from this girl.

When’s the last time she showered!? Thought Kindle, very rudely.

A purple powder was coming from a small satchel attached to the girl’s hip, and when she had made it towards Rhine and Kindle, it became clear that she had showered. The odor was coming from the satchel. “Heya! You two! You new?”

New? “Yes. We’re not from around here.” Rhine calculated some possible outcomes. Even if she leads us astray, I bet I can take her.

“Cool! Are you like our other friends, from the techy place?”

“No. We simply found our way here. I’m not sure how. Those monsters attacked me and my daughter, though. Could you help her?”

Kindle glanced at Rhine lovingly, like her actual daughter. But it was still pretty clear she meant, ‘I’m gonna remember this.’

Rhine returned the same glance. ‘You’re grounded when we get home.’

“It— hurts a lot— please help!” Kindle’s lips quivered, her eyes sparkling with innocence.

“Oh no! Okay— let’s get going then. Trust me, this’ll only hurt for a second.” The girl took out a match, then started to light it.

Rhine nodded. “Getting a fire started?”

“Yup!” The girl cupped her hand around the quickly burning match, then tapped it onto the ink covering Kindle’s wound.

Kindle did not like this. “AAAAAAGHHH!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” She squirmed as a fire slowly lit on her skin.

“Hey! Hey!” The girl held Kindle in place and bat Rhine away. “The fire burns— STOP SMACKING ME— the ink away!— STOP IT—-GOSHDAMNIT IT STOP!!!”

Rhine blinked, hand in the air. Then she scrunched up her face suspiciously, slowly returning her hand to her side.

“Thank you.” The girl smiled as if nothing ever happened. “See, like I said, it’ll only hurt for a bit. Now, I’ll just apply some of this medicine…” she pulled out a bottle of thin paste, then poured some onto the wound. It had a surreal, floral scent. However, mixing in with the stupid bitter odor, it wasn’t as amazing as it should’ve been… “…here… and now, just patch it up with some bandages…”

“Okay! Done! In a bit from now, you’ll be a little weak, but you’ll make it out alive.” She beamed. “When I was little, I got hit once. Luckily, my brother was there, so I didn’t die, but I almost did! Hehe, all that matters is that I’m here now! I look back at it like a fond memory, but back then, it hurt real bad and I totally wouldn’t have laughed like I do now!”

When she was done, Rhine blinked back into reality from the void. “Huh?” She zoned and tuned the girl out.

“By the way, I’m Ismurl! What are your names?”

“Oh— I’m Kindle! And my mom is named mom. But our—family calls her Mushy.” Kindle gave Rhine a look of satisfied revenge.

Rhine was very disappointed. “Yes, and we call you our little smelly. Ever since that time when you were a baby! Anyways, you, Ismurl, can call me Rhine. Your name is lovely, by the way.”

Ismurl giggled. “I like yours, too! So, you guys have a plan to go anywhere?” She smiled smugly and nudged Rhine. “Preferably outta here?”

“Yes. You read my mind,” Rhine put a hand on her chest, giving a lovely little ‘I’m the girl who’s lived in a cottage her whole life who likes to wear fluffy dresses and pick flowers. If there was a story about me, it’d be set in the 1900’s or 1800’s. There would be galas and balls and those who are my love interests (as in, those interested in my love,) are two distinguished men, one being gentle and kind, and the other being just that— after you get past his cold side. (he’s tall with jet black hair. Half the audience probably thinks he’s a vampire. He’s actually just a doctor.) Please read this story. You will understand how Rhine smiled better.’ vibe. “at the same time… what about that black substance on the mountain? I noticed it’s the same as those monsters that attacked us. Maybe we could try and help?”

“Oh? That mountain? Hehe, you’re not allowed! But it would be your exit if you were.”

Rhine and Kindle turned to each other, exchanging looks.

‘She’s bad— not here to help us at ALL. She’s just here to trap us.’

‘Hey! You don’t know that!’

‘You’re my daughter. You listen to me. She GIGGLED and said nuh uh.’

Kindle innocently (because now she’ll do everything innocently,) turned her head to the side with a little curious face. “Why aren’t we allowed to go up? Is it a reserved area?— National park? Someone found a dead body there a week ago and they’re still investigating the crime scene?”

Beaming with praise, Ismurl enthusiastically nodded. “Yeah! Only that last part, but different.”

“oh crap.”

“The mountain is pretty dangerous, then there’s this whole thing with it… it gets worse as you climb, the usual…Plus, lots of people get attacked by those shadow monsters… then turn into them!! Like an INFECTION… Well, it’s not as frequent anymore. We’ve got medicine and stuff. Also, we’ve learnt how the monsters behave!”

Rhine perked up. “Oh, really?”

“Yuh-huh!”

In response to this, Rhine wore her evil smile of curiosity. “Hmm, do you mind telling me what those behaviors are? And the medicine to heal the wounds, too? Then, if it’s not too much trouble, the stages, if any at all, of that infection you mentioned? I’ll also need an estimate of what their ink is made of and where it comes from…”

She’s acting NOT LIKE A MOM AT ALL!! Kindle’s thoughts were only fixed on preserving whatever dynamic they’d made up for themselves… but it’s pretty clear that was a lie. Plus, there’s no stopping Rhine’s search for knowledge once she has a lead.

“Ohh, yeah! I can tell you all about everything! Which brings up a story from when I was a kid. Me and my dad were looking for some more coal…”

Now, Ismurl was looking like a better, more mature (but more yapping) version of Kindle…

…AND KINDLE WANTED NONE OF IT!!!

***

“…so we had to use a different jar afterwards. And it took some time gettin’ used to, because I kept using the old one—off of my memory, y’know— but we never had another storage problem again!”

“Oh, yeah. Interesting.” Rhine nodded (off to snork mimimi land).

“Hey, what’d you do with the other flowers, then?” Proved wrong, Kindle was starting to enjoy this mini version of herself. Even though Ismurl was obviously older.

Ismurl gave Kindle a cheeky smile. “Now, that is a secret. Ooh, hey— you guys want some hot cocoa?”

Kindle became jittery. “Oooh!!! I’d love some! Mom would like a cup, too! She LOVES hot cocoa.”

Now, here’s the thing.

Kindle has been able to stomach tons of foods from different worlds. She gets all the diversity in the food category she likes! Now, she can’t wait to taste some Ismurl melted chocolate milk…

Rhine is a different story.

Every world she goes to, she’s always full of curiosity. Which leads to her experimenting with different things. Unfortunately for her, in her pursuit of knowledge, she also has brought herself to eat different cuisine. It all tastes as it should, but it’s what happens afterward that makes it terrible. Thus, there is a never ending cycle of Rhine trying different foods simply to learn more about… well, literally everything.

Now, the cycle repeats. And Kindle knows this.

“Ah… hot cocoa! Sure.”

There’s never been a world where I can eat food without harm… maybe it’ll be different this time? But what if it comes back to bite me when I’m needed most!? I’m just gonna have to bear it.

“Alright! Coming right up, hehe~!”

A short period of silence.

Rhine whipped her head over to Kindle, suddenly furious. “You knew. We only came here to grab some supplies… but you knew.”

“Sorry, Mushy. But Lil’ Smelly doesn’t play fair.”

“We’re also just wasting our time. Who knows which world we’ll lose next? ‘Might even be YOURS.” Rhine teased, but in a way that was more of a threat than just plain fun. Schools would call this bullying. So, instead, Rhine bullied.

Kindle is not subject to bullying. She is quite immune. “Unlikely. Plus, we need at least some time to get used to this world before we do anything reckless.”

Slightly hating the way Kindle was right, Rhine turned back around. She couldn’t believe she was having beef with this stupid fifteen year old. Who let fifteen year olds save the world, anyways? Well, this fifteen year old was definitely different. Humans don’t grow as quickly as Kindle, whatever she was, did. Rhine is now extremely jealous that they’re on the same wavelength.

Maybe it’s the trauma? That’s probably why I’m being immature right now… but I still bring up way better points than she does!

“Back!! With the flowers and the cocoa!” Ismurl burst in, somehow managing to balance two bundles of flowers, two satchels of powder, and three piping cups of hot cocoa filled to the brim. “Tada~ isn’t it lovely?”

“Wowee! Thanks, Izzy!” Kindle bounced up to grab her designated items, then bounced right back down to where she was sitting to start burning her tongue.

Ismurl beamed, glad someone was excited about what she had to offer. Also, she really liked her nickname. “I’ve never been called Izzy before! That’s a cute name.” She placed a cup into Rhine’s hands, then put the rest of the items down at a table.

“Thank you, Ismurl. Now, after this, we should really get going. But thanks for having us here and giving us all we need.” Rhine nodded as she anxiously took a sip of the reaLLY HOT DRINK MAYBE SHE SHOULD’VE LET IT COOL DOWN FOR A BIT.

“Of course! I’d like to help anyone in need. If you’d like, I can escort you some of the way up the mountain. I’d invite my brother, but he’s outside. Somewhere. He likes to adventure.” Ismurl downed her hot cocoa.

Kindle could now only imagine what Ismurl’s brother looked like. She was always talking about him, in the six stories she told them along their way to her village.

Maybe he’s hot!! Or maybe he’s nice. Ah, men can’t be that good… or maybe they’re stupid, like Zachy-boy!

Kindle remembers the fun times she had bullying Zachary. If only they could see each other again… maybe after they clear up this Rip. Hmm, something good to look forward to.

While Kindle was daydreaming about who she’d ever come to love future feverently, Rhine’s jealousy of everyone’s good traits returned as she wished she could down the burning hot cocoa the way Ismurl could.

“Hm, an escort would be nice.” What would be nicer is a higher tolerance for heat…

Ismurl cheekily smiled. “Hehe~ I love escorting people up the mountain~! I have faith you two will make it up there alive!”

What happened to not being able to get up the mountain…? Both Kindle and Rhine collectively thought.

“‘Course, you gotta stick close! There’s lots of things you’re gonna learn from me, and you’re gonna need ‘em all!”

Alright, now cue the montage where Ismurl explains what they need to do playing over them venturing the mountain along with several scenes of ruins and crypts hinting at the cultural and religious importance of the mountain that you’ll have to figure out the translations to once you’ve passed the runes through several cryptographic online translators and through Arabic after you’re done then unscramble the words because they’re in the wrong order but you have to know Arabic in order to do so meaning you’ll have to spend three years in Saudi-Arabia with a host family while keeping up with this story as you slowly forget how to speak English movie trailer style.

Ahem

“The mountain was full of pretty flowers during the spring, became green during the summer, browned and orange’d (if that’s even a word?) during the fall, and laid quietly but beautifully in the winter. Then, the cycle repeats. I’m told it was very beautiful.

“Of course, that was hundreds of years ago. It’s said a fight between the fae broke out in the Okapi, causing a permanent split between the balance of nature. No one knows why it started anymore, so we’ve been living with this nonsense for quite a while. The fae became so ashamed with themselves that they hid themselves inside of the flowers in the Okapi, which caused the weather to worsen. Slowly, every plant that couldn’t live in this snow died out. All except for the ones in the Okapi, where the fae can keep the nice weather and flowers to themselves.

“It wasn’t before long until we started to fight amongst ourselves, too. Another argument no one knows the start of… Now, we have our village, and the city to the north. The fae didn’t want anyone to know of their mistakes, so they started to eliminate humans by creating those inky monsters, placing their homes everywhere throughout this world… especially surrounding the Rosetta-Cypress on the top of the mountain. The Rosetta-Cypress is said to be the one thing that would make the fae resolve their conflict, but they refuse to acknowledge its existence in order to make sure we never found out they made a mistake in the first place. Of course, that didn’t work. We know about nearly everything that happened!

“Along with the monsters, the fae slowly started to take over our own land, too. We stopped using names for our races and places on our maps, otherwise the fae would steal their names, claiming us all and our lands. That’s why we don’t have names for lots of things— except all that belongs to the fae. They obviously can’t take what’s already theirs.

We started to climb the mountain in attempt to bring the Rosetta-Cypress back to the fae, mining rest spots in every corner of the mountain. The mountain is said to belong to both the fae and us, as the inside is full of ancient ruins and tricky puzzles from the fae, while the outside… humans have used for centuries. We grew flowers and treasured the mountain because of how beautiful we thought it was. Unfortunately, we have little to no control over the mountain anymore. All we have left is calling it a mountain— otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to walk up there anymore. The fae made it even more difficult to go up there, by sending these drowning rushes of ink down the mountain to kill us off. However, the fae have stayed in hiding so long, they don’t know we have rest spots on the mountain. All they know is that we’ve been walking on it! Their ink monsters can’t see either, because they go off of the vision the fae have. Anyways… the ink won’t touch the rest spots at all! It’s like a wall of ink. Super cool!! We can go check it out sometime…

“Some say that the Rosetta-Cypress is more than just a tool for the fae to stop fighting. Some believe it lets you travel into any world beyond our own. To many of us, that’s a better life than living here, where the fae are unpredictable and unforgivable.

…

“For all you need to know… there are red crystals covering the mountain. When the crystals are in contact with each other, they can trigger reactions in inventions. Both ours and the fae’s. When the crystals lose their shine, and a low rumbling can be heard… that’s when you should get to a rest spot. The rushes can last from seconds to a day. Be resourceful when you arrive at puzzles. The path up to the mountain can swerve inside, where you’ll be met with the fae’s deadly traps. Some runes and answers can be the fake ones, some information can be of no use at all… follow your heart, hehe. Finally, if you see anyone in a stage of infection, decide if they’re salvageable, then cure them with my technique. If not, leave them to die. But beware… their souls will try their best to damn you afterwards. I personally think it’s better to be cursed than to be attacked and killed.

“Any questions?”

Kindle shook her head enthusiastically. “Nuh-uh! I’m super-duper-duper ready!”

Rhine turned off the recording on her band. “Oh, yeah. Nothing. Let’s go.”

The three stood at the base of the mountain. Now all that was left to do was to go up it.

***

Myst and QD stood quietly in the Grey Gardens. QD had changed her form to match this world and her old memories.

For Myst, the experience was certainly new. He felt only a deep melancholy the moment he stood up. Now, that feeling lingered and sickened him.

“What did this place mean to you?” He turned to QD.

She stared off into the distance, like she was hoping she’d find something. “Everything. I remember all of it. But now that I’m here again… it’s nothing like it was before.”

Myst nodded slowly. “I think I can feel it too. Like a book you’ve loved and read, but you wish you could forget. Just so you can read it like it’s new again.”

“Exactly,” QD turned over to him suddenly. “I’ve been trying to figure it out—why that is— for myself. I’m so close, every time… but nothing will ever be the same as this world.”

Now, Myst decided to join her in the search for something in the air around them.

“…I hope that when I make something, it’ll be memorable. Like this was to me.”

“Hm. About that…”

She knew what he was about to say. “I can tell you about it later. For now, let’s get this over with.” QD turned to him with a smile.

“Yeah. What’s the truth here?”

“Oh, I can’t let you figure it out by just saying it! Plus, that’d take the purpose out of this whole thing. Here, there are many paths available to fixing anomalies. Ammi decided which one would be the best with me.” She opened her band. “Our mission is to find all of the shrines. That’s probably our key to know what life was like before the Song. Then, we go ahead and fix it!”

Myst’s face was written with a contemplating confusion. “So, people were super religious? Or very worshipful? I assume from ‘shrines’…”

“No, not really. That was simply the past. But the amount of insight you get from those things! And we get to visit different moralities!”

“Wait. Are there more than two? and also what’s the Song.”

“I kinda meant two… but I guess some people are morally grey!”

QD and her confusing worlds… “So, what are these two moralities?”

Smiling slyly, as if she knew he’d ask, QD started to walk towards the Garden’s exit. She motioned Myst to follow her. “Of course, Sin and Virtue. You can guess what those two are. To each, you must make a sacrifice of insight, but their morals will stay with you forever. Oh, and by the way… this is a Puddle world— you remember that analogy, don’t you?”

Myst thought it would be helpful if you knew about it, too. “That’s like having five glasses of water, then overflowing them to create the puddle, right?”

“Pretty much. Each glass would represent a world, and the water in them is their ideas. If I had a glass of red and a glass of yellow, they’d create an orange puddle.”

The two slowly waltzed around the Gardens, marveling at the city taken back by nature.

“Now, I’d have my conflict from the red world, and my plot from the yellow. They mix together to make the orange. In the end, the orange world is its own world— it can have its own orange ideas. But there are still some things from red and yellow.”

Myst sighed. “Then there’s the legal trouble?”

“Hey— we don’t talk about the legal trouble.”

“Yeah. Best if we didn’t touch up on that subject yet. So, these shrines… how many are there? And what are they of?”

QD thought for a bit. “Uhm… I usually used the Dancer… I knew about Wrathful, because it was obviously Vera’s favorite… but there’s One Trick, Stoic, Scholar and Accursed. Then the other two. They’re just of, like, maybe gods. I dunno.”

“Okay. And I’m assuming you know where they’re all located?”

“Of course! I used to travel to them for fun. I had nothing else to do but stare at them… they have pretty colors…”

Hm, so this should be easy. “Alright! Sounds good. We’ll get to learn about this world’s story, right? That way, we can find the truth.” Myst connected the dots with a warm smile.

QD stopped to think for a moment. Her eyes darted side to side, as if someone was watching. “To be honest… I don’t really think there’s any here.”

Myst’s smile faded. “No truth here? What do you mean? Every world we’ve gone to has one.”

“Well… The truth of this world was made by some scholar nerd who people jumped all the time. No one knows the exact answers.” Her face scrunched up with a disbelieving melancholy. “This world is dying anyway. Good thing it’s not because of the Rip, though. I’d never be able to get it back.”

“Wait, then why are we here?”

“Oh,” QD perked up suddenly. “this world is great for dealing with anomalies! If we ever need to get rid of them quickly, I’ll just give you my Light Shot so you can easily repeat what we’ll do here!”

Myst nodded slowly. “I don’t know what a Light Shot is.”

QD smiled suspiciously, like she was a salesman about to advertise snake oil. “The Cheese String— the Spider-Man— the—Shinobu… thing…? I—don’t know who Shinobu is. It’s just like a grappling hook but way funnier.”

“So, just like flying?”

“Yeah. Pretty much.”

I can deal with flying! Although, I admittedly haven’t done it in a long time… that could end badly for Myst.

QD pumped the air. “Alright! We got this! Let’s go visit some of the closer ones, so we don’t have to run all over the place. First stop: the Scholar’s Shrine!!” She snatched Myst’s hand and started to run out of the overgrown city.

Nearly tripping and obviously quite terrified of QD’s sudden nature, Myst flailed along beside her. “Ah— um— slow down!? Where is this shrine, anyways!?”

“In the Lunarian Reservoir! It’s super pretty, I’ll show ya!”

Myst toppled over everything, still being dragged on by QD. “Woah— slow down!! Where do we have to pass through?”

QD did not slow down. “The Abyssal Heights, Silver Woods— it’s not much! The Heights are right in front of us! If you fall, you’ll die! Unless I give you Light Shot. Oh! I can’t do that actually… hehe, could’ve ended badly! Let’s go get your Dissonant name!” QD spun right around and picked up her usual pace.

Are we gonna run halfway across this world…?

Proved wrong, QD and Myst made a slight left turn right at the entrance of the Abyssal Heights, into a crawl space, down a mossy tunnel… then a person dressed in all black— nearly melding in with the shadows around them turned their head to Myst. They were completely darkened.

“Dissonant… what brings you here?”

“Um. My name.”

“Ah, yes… your name… Fallaci…”

if this isn’t the weirdest and most escalated scenario I’ve ever put myself through, then I’m not sure I can live anymore.

“Yayy!” QD enthusiastically clapped for Myst, quite the contrast to the area surrounding them. “Cool! Now, don’t tell your name to anyone else! I could go… Fallaci, sleep!”

And Myst promptly blacked out.

QD chuckled. The shadow paid no attention.

“Okay, Fallaci, wake up!”

Myst’s eyes fluttered open. “Woah. That’s… hypnotization… without some parts and most of the training…”

“Seeee? That’s why you can’t ever tell you name to someone you don’t trust. Mine is Vaktausti!”

“Uh-huh. I don’t think I’ll remember that.”

“Awh, don’t worry, I’ll remind you.” QD grabbed onto Myst’s hand, then dragged him right back out the little crevice beneath the city. “Let’s get going! To the Heights!!”

The Grey Gardens led out to a sliver of land supported only by rocky stilts, then slowly flared out to a large but thin pair of doors that were already opened. Inside, Myst assumed, was the Woods. But now they were walking across the tiny strip. Falling down would obviously kill you. There was nothing but the… well, abyss. Down deep below. One could only imagine why this place is called the Abyssal Heights. Only now did QD start to slow down, gripping tighter and tighter onto Myst’s hand.

“Sometimes, people like to throw others off here. I got thrown off once. Actually, a few times. Now, I don’t have to worry.” She led on carefully. “I have something called Mind’s Eye. Basically, it lets you see through walls and stuff. But everything gets a LOT darker.”

With this information, Myst cautioned himself even more than he probably had earlier. “See anything, then?”

QD shook her head dangerously, wobbling herself and Myst around. “Nope! There’s no one to be afraid of anymore. Like I said, this Puddle world is dying. In the good type of death.”

There will always be someone to pick up the shards, then make the mirror.

The two slowly navigated to the flare in the strip. “I guess there aren't any worlds like that left, huh? All of them are being destroyed by the Rip.”

“Yeah. That’s why we do what we do! So that our worlds have the time they need to grow, then when they have to die, they’ll be converted into memories instead of being actually forgotten! After that, we can always go back.” They arrived at the door. “Who knows? Sometimes, these worlds will come back again. As long as someone out there remembers them!”

“But… you never do. What if we all die, then you’re still here? There’d be no one to revive all the worlds.”

QD and Myst took their first steps into the Silver Woods. “Um… who knows! There’s probably a way it’ll all be resolved. Plus, that’s only if the Rip doesn’t take those worlds. Otherwise, there’d most likely be not a single way out for them.

Optimism… you told us once that you sometimes get so lost in it, nothing feels real. Myst stayed quiet.

“Now, to get to the Reservoir! It’s just up this hill…”

***

Myst and QD arrived at the Reservoir, thankfully in one piece.

“It’s a good thing we didn’t run into any Twigs on the way. That would’ve taken more time than I’d liked.” QD climbed up a hidden rocky hill. It was lined with all sorts of beautiful crystals. “Come up here! The Shrine is this way!”

Marveling at the beauty of the Reservoir and taking his sweet time, Myst slowly sauntered after her. “Wow… a Reservoir in a cave like this?”

“Sure! Caves are usually behind waterfalls like this! Look, statueee!!!”

The Reservoir ended off abruptly, creating a small cliff inside of it. This was what made it a Reservoir, however, as the cliff led off into an abyss full of water. On the other side, a statue of someone. It was, obviously, way beyond reach. (a visual for some of you casuals)

“There’s a secret path that goes up this right side, here.” QD pointed to it as they climbed the rocks. “It might seem like that little cliff is all that’s there, but there’s a pathway behind it! Look!” Yes. There was a pathway. Admittedly, it was very thin (a throwback to the heights) and seemingly impossible to walk on.

Myst sighed. “More narrow passages? I’m starting to fear heights more than water.” He let his eyes sink deeper into the water, dragging down like a weight.

“You’ll be fine! Just hug the wall!”

The wall… “okay… if you say so…”

QD clutched onto the wall for dear life.

EEP!!! And she’s been through this path a million times! Myst sunk his fingers into the wall like a predator sinks their teeth into their prey.

(That’s the first simile here in, like… maybe ever. Am I really that bad at this? Whoops.)

What would make this even worse would be if some pebbles below our feet fell into the water… and took their time to make the drop. That’s like a moving picture telling you that the pathway is really dangerous…

A few pebbles from below QD and Myst’s feet fell into the water, taking their time to drop. Like a movie telling you that the pathway is really dangerous.

OKAY MAYBE THAT'S BAD. I COULD’VE JUST STAYED IN THE OFFICE. I NEVER HAD TO DO ANY OF THIS.

“Hey, the path cuts off here! It’s a long jump!”

“JUMP!?”

“Oh. Um… I’ll catch you!” QD hopped down onto the platform. Luckily, it was a bit wider than the one they had just been on. “Into my arms! Like a bride!” She beamed up at him, stretching her arms outward.

Myst shifted uncomfortably from the narrow passage high up. “Into your arms? You, who can barely lift a—

“Heeeyy!” QD barked. “I’ve. Been. WORKING ON IT!!! Don’t you trust me!?”

“When we met, no.”

“You were sulking in your 9 to 5… I think you’d trust anyone, let’s be honest. You’d even trust your schizophrenic hallucinations.”

Myst stayed very quiet.

Uh oh. Was that offensive?

“I CAAAAN’TT!!!!!”

Oh. He’s just terrified. “Fine, I’ll bestow my Light Shot to you. Ahem.”

Aaaaahh… I wish I had my cape!!

“No— you don’t need to do that! I think… I can do it.” Myst swallowed hard.

QD raised an eyebrow, uncertainty in her voice. “Hmmm… are you sure?”

Myst nodded rapidly. “Positive!” It’s just like flying. With the water. Without your cape. …

He started to push off with one foot, but immediately STOPPED. Then he tried it with the other… and yet again, his weight shifted back towards the narrow passage.

QD waited patiently.

Then FINALLY, Myst jumped off, and 100% totally missed QD… at least he broke into a roll.

QD jumped. Not, like, off… Y’know. “EEK!!”

“Oh damn. I did that!” Myst turned to QD, all smiley. Then he frowned. “I knew you wouldn’t catch me.”

“Hey! That was for encouragement. We both had the feeling I wouldn’t be able to.” She sneaked up behind him with a smug grin. “But… at-least-ya-made-it-through!” She poked him with each word.

Myst bat her hand away with a small, unexpected squeak. “You’re tickling me! Stop that! Let’s just go forward…”

“Hehe,” QD stuck her tongue out. “you’re just like a middle school boy.”

“Not exactly. Everyone knows I’m ticklish.”

QD doubted this. Well, she knew, but she doubted this. Just because. “Hmm, okay~!”

“ugh.”

“Anyyywhooo… from here, the path way starts to get a little tighter. Kinda like the Abyssal Heights… still on stilts… still water below, so you shouldn’t look down…”

Myst instinctively clung onto QD. “Ohhhhh, don’t you dare say that…”

They took increasingly cautious steps toward the Shrine. Myst could see…

A ghostly, translucent and glowing white outline of a person hugging onto their knees. Surrounding them was another ghostly, glowing and translucent outline of a royal blue circle, cut horizontally in half. A square of the same color and properties as the half circle was at the bottom of the lower half. At each point where the circles didn’t touch, two spheres of, once more, the same color and property. The circles closer to the circle were larger than those next to, but, further away. Finally, another sphere at the top. You can only guess how I’ll describe it. The shrine floated above a pure black pedestal with two thin levels, resembling a human in some way.

(Now, I dare one of you to draw your artist’s rendition of the shrine. Hahaha)

“The Shrine of the Scholar! In return for health, your mastery over your magic greatly increases. Oh, fun fact,” QD tapped the Shrine. “the source of magic in this world is mana. Pretty unoriginal, hm?”

Myst copied QD’s action, touching the Shrine and receiving a wave of knowledge. Only… he didn’t know what of.

“Interesting…” Myst still took to mind the small pathway they stood on. “…um, do you know what we just learnt?”

QD sighed, scratching the back of her head. “No… the information should supposedly come to us when we need it, or see something like it. Y’know that nerd I told you about?”

“Hm?”

“The one everyone jumped?”

“Ahh, yes. That nerd. You call lots of people nerds.”

Face flushing, QD embarrassingly sputtered. “Shush. Sheesh. Anyways… he wracked his brains out to try and make sense of this information! He was the only one who even had an idea about the Shrines and this world.” She looked back to the Scholar’s Shrine. “So, everyone that was left just kinda… accepted it. Now that this world is finally at an end, everyone that comes here is just like me. Melancholic and nostalgic, but that’ll end soon.”

Myst let her have her own little silent moment. He figured she knew better than anyone about the worlds, and he’d never been particularly interested or crazy about them. He knew the basics… but spending too much time with this little goober made him wonder much more about everything they were fighting for. Plus, it could help. “So… care to explain why this world won’t be affected by the Rip? And what do you mean by ‘end soon’?”

QD gave him a good look, subtly narrowing her eyes. “You’d like an answer?”

Myst realized the topic he’d accidentally touched up on. “Oh, sorry. I don’t mean it like that.”

“Hehe, don’t worry!” She put a hand on his shoulder, causing him to stabilize himself as he scarily wobbled. “Oops, sorry. Anyways… I can tell you. Hmm… where to start? …ah, yes. This world won’t be affected because it isn’t located directly in the Sea. It’s in the middle… anything that happens in this world isn’t decided by the Sea, but also it is. Y’know? Whatever the Sea wants from it is all that will show. And when I say that this world is ending soon… I mean that this world will die and be reduced to the memories naturally— like all other worlds if not for the rip. Now, if you’re referring to my melancholy ending or the world ending…”

Myst held his breath. He didn’t know why.

“I’ve got two answers for you! First, like I said, this world is dying naturally. Secondly, this world is already in the process of renewing itself! The first of its kind in the Sea! Soon, this place won’t be on pause, and I finally get to spend my time in one of my worlds all over again!!” QD beamed. “Now… let’s go back, shall we? Next stop… the Shrine of the Stoic!!!”

There was a problem.

Y’know how you walk in a tight hallway, with only one person being able to walk through at a time?

Basically, forced single file? See what I mean?

Well, if person A walked in first, then person B next…

When they try to walk the way back, person B will then be in the front.

Same thing as staying in single file and simply turning around. The order changes.

See, that’s the thing going on here.

Now Myst has to lead.

And now, QD has to follow.

We all know who hates water… and is now developing a fear of falling into it, along with heights, here.

The leader! Myst!

I mean, someone can’t lead if they’re scared like that, right?

A leader must be courageous!!!

…right?

Well, I’m sure I could give you examples of a cowardly leader right now!

But you didn’t ask for that…

And you didn’t ask for this whole lecture-speech-monologue…soliloquy…?…, either. I’m just gonna go eat a burger. I’ll tell you how it goes.

The burger was good.

So… um… yeah. That thing. Remember what I was talking about? Not the burger… the line. Narrow passageway. For lack of a better word. I’ve been saying this multiple times. That’s happening now.

Sorry, when I think I’m gonna spend more than five minutes trying to describe something like that but also be elegant and book-writerly at the same time…

Well, just expect this type of interference. Interjection. Any ‘inter’ word. That means to cut into something. Cut off? That’s probably better. Interject the cake… okay that sounds weird and I’m gonna stop now and just hand you the dialogue.

“Ah… next Shrine… let’s go…” Myst and QD both noticed this thing I poorly told you about earlier. They shared looks.

“Um… you’re not gonna move from there, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Well… it flares out…? so…? I guess I could tell you it gets better from here.”

Myst took in all the air around him. “Ohhh, you should’ve warned me…”

QD’s face scrunched up in disappointment. “Well, if I did, guess what? You wouldn’t want to go. And we both gotta die after this.”

“Die?”

“Huh? What? Oh. Die. Yes.” QD was a master at accidental segways into the next topic while also giving these segways double meaning. “Hehe, what I meant by that was that usually, I used to just jump off here. Since I could basically revive myself at a rest spot soon after! Unfortunately, you cannot. But, fortunately, with Light Shot, you can get back up to that spot we jumped down from! Also unfortunately, that spot is a little hard to get to. But fortunately twice, you’ve had experience with flying and also I’m pretty sure you can shoot past the passageway and kinda just go to the start!!!”

Myst blinked twice. “So. I’m going to use your cheese string right now?”

“Yeah, pretty much. I just gotta say a few words. Then you gotta say them back!”

Ugh, where was this… wait, was it even possible to use in the first place? Hm…

“Cool. What are the words, then?”

“It’s just your Dissonant name plus ‘I bestow upon you’ plus the name of my relic, aka Light Shot, in the form of ‘the blank relic’.” She beamed. “Simple! Lemme try it right now! Then you can go ahead and get outta here!!”

Myst nodded slowly. Okay… this wasn’t so bad.

QD braced herself, like she was about to fight someone instead of say a bunch of words. “Hehe…

Ready?”

“Mhm.”

QD cleared her throat unnecessarily. “Fallaci, I bestow upon you the Light Shot relic.”

bling

Myst pat himself down. “Anything change…?”

“No. You kinda just have the relic now.”

“Oh, how simple.”

“Hehe, just like I said~!”

Hm… so… now I just shoot? Ah, what if I embed my own light into this? Would that be a bad idea?

As Myst stood with his thoughts, QD had a slight reason to believe he was scared again. Just an inkling. “Do you need encouragement?”

Myst turned over to her slowly. “No, just thinking. But, um… how do you use this?”

“Aahh, that’s rigghhtt… I forgot to tell you how to use it. Just kinda… swing your arm out and look at the spot you wanna grapple onto. Then ease into it? I guess?” She shrugged. What a great explanation! Marvelous! Splendid!

“Uh-huh…” Myst burnt and glued his eyes onto the wall he was aiming for. “Okay… a grappling hook…”

QD hummed in agreement. “Yeah! Then just bestow it upon me once you’re done.”

“Sure…” Myst squinted to get a clearer view of the spot he was aiming at, to be sure he wouldn’t miss. Then fall into the water. Then die. Whoops… maybe he shouldn’t think of things like that. However, the fate of all worlds was at stake here! There was no time to waste!!! Myst swung his arm out and open, then saw a flash of light appear as a string connected right where he was looking at. In an instant, he sped towards the point. At breakneck speeds.

“Yayyy! You’re doing it!!!”

“AAAAGHH!!—

He smacked himself against the wall, then fell down.

“Oooooh…” QD winced. “Um…”

Myst’s head slowly poked out from where he had fallen. “I’m good… did I scream too loud?”

QD’s face went blank. “No. That was wonderful!” She suddenly beamed. “You did amazingly!!!”

“Ahh… good. Do you think I got the hang of it?” He felt his face, realizing it was dripping with wax.

“maybe next time don’t use your face as a shield.”

“…oh…”

“So, not like flying at all?”

“No…”

“Maybe we should’ve tried it on the grass first.”

***

“Ugh… now it looks weird.”

“Well, I think it makes you look pretty!”

Myst frowned at her, white cracks from different colors of wax scarred his face.

“I don’t like it…”

“You look like me!” QD’s face, as of now, was porcelain white with black cracks. “Just… reverse colors!”

Myst analyzed her. “It looks better on you. Mine just looks like it’s my hair, glued onto my face.” He sighed, standing upright, turning away from the river. “But I guess this is all I have. Better a face with white cracks than a deflated face without any.” He turned back to the river suddenly. “At least I still have my color and my smile!”

QD found herself staring at his smile. “Yes. Your smile. What a wonderful smile.”

Indeed, his smile. A great smile.

(semantic satiation for the world smile haha)

“Alright, let’s get going. The Shrine of the Stoic next, right?” Myst had to pull away from his reflection.

“Yeah!!! That’s in the undergrowth! Which is full of Twigs!” QD’s face sunk with her immeasurable disappointment. “Oh gods below. Twigs. They’re so annoying, Myst— you don’t even know!”

Myst raised an eyebrow and heard a small crack. He held onto his jawline. Ouch. “Twigs? You’ve mentioned them. But… what are they, exactly?”

“Ummm… a buncha branches or twigs or roots entangled into the shape of a person. They have really round heads, sharp blade arms, and a few leaves here and there.” QD shrugged. “They’re very fast and appear anywhere. But I’d take them over a visage or a Daemon.”

Myst thought for a moment. “Are they very smart?”

“No. All they know is how to hit. They’re too dumb to block anything.”

Myst’s lips slowly curled into a smile, but regrettably, as he heard small cracks. Maybe I should stop making faces. “Think I can use Visionshaper on them?”

QD thought for a moment. “Yeah! That’d totally work! I wouldn’t have to worry about being swiped the moment I pull out my sword.”

Good! This could be a great opportunity to strengthen my endurance…

“Alright, sounds like a plan. I’ve been practicing a few moves…”

***

They arrived at the undergrowth. It’s… basically just a wide cave. With a really low ceiling. And all the stalag-types. And a bad rotting smell. Because this is the undergrowth, and things are rotting away slowly.

“I never get used to the smell…” QD pulled her shirt over nose. “Never…”

Myst had unfortunately caught the scent. “Ugh— that’s terrible! Where is it even coming from? There’s nothing but rocks down here.

“Rotting stuff. Like plants or animals. It’s the worst…” QD pulled down her shirt to sniff the air (regrettably) and sourly nodded, pulling her shirt over her nose again. “Yup— we’re getting close—

She grabbed onto Myst’s sleeve, pulling him through a narrow crack in the cave. They had to step side to side to proceed forward. The putrid odor was getting even stronger.

“Oh stars— that is really strong…” Myst’s collar was too tight and too short to pull over his nose. This is the part of the story where he suffers tremendously.

They came into a small, open part of the cave. There was grass and bushes, all sorts of life (not rotting this time!!!) and a small arch in the rocky wall ahead of them. Inside, there was a strange blue light on four pillars that got taller as they surrounded an elegant stone throne (haha rhymes) with a stone table in front of it. Both were donned and decorated with a luscious blue fabric, and all sorts of trinkets and valuable items were scattered in the room. The putrid, rotting odor thickened.

“I’m assuming that’s where the Shrine is?” Myst turned to QD slowly.

QD shook her head, but not enough to shake off her collar’s cover over her nose. “Nope! That’s where the King of Nothing lays… or lies? Whatever. No one cares about him.”

“Oh. So we’re not here for him?”

“Yeah.”

Hm. There’s more to this world than I thought. “So, what about those Twigs you were speaking about? I thought we’d see some.”

“Well, we saw one.”

Flashback

“OKAY I DISTRACT IT ALRIGHT”

“noOoooOOOO MYST MOVE OUT OF THE WAAAAYYY”

“WHAT WHY SHOULDNT I DISTRACT IT?!?”

“BECAUSE YOURE IN MY WAYYY!!!!”

“I THOUGHT WE AGREED IT WAS PART OF THE PLAN?????”

“NOT NOWWWWWWWWUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

End of flashback.

“Yes. That didn’t go as planned.”

QD stared at him like it was still all this fault. “I agree. Anywhoooo… this place is supposed to be one of the most concentrated areas where Twigs lay.”

Myst’s eyes widened, forming small cracks around them. Maybe he was getting old? Or maybe the original crack wasn’t completely healed yet… (they did fix it up with another world’s wax…) oh well, it’d be fixed pretty soon. They were making good progress already!

“Okay,” QD dipped her head and bounced it right back up again— the one nod. (Like how you greet your friends in the hallways when you’re both introverts or jus real chill) “now we can distract them. Lead the Twigs into that corner, so I can hit them from behind. But whatever you make in the corner has to be CONSTANTLY agitating them, so they don’t come and hit me!”

Myst frowned. Crack. “Well that was anticlimactic. I thought we’d engage in a much worse battle.”

“Yeah. This world doesn’t really… need any of that. Also, there’s limitations here. Just like how you wouldn’t be able to even use your cape here!”

“Wait— you never mentioned I couldn’t fly here!! I mean, we touched up on that topic, but we never said that!!!”

“Less talking, more making-a-slapping-machine-in-that-corner-GO!!!!!!!” QD pulled her shirt off her nose and dashed into the middle of the cave, causing a multitude of Twigs to appear from the bushes and grass.

Myst jumped, then created an illusion off to the side of QD, that waved around in front of a Twig. It started to swing at the illusion— which would make it disappear. Myst had to constantly move its position, while also being mindful of how he’d attract other Twigs and slowly dodge the collection of ones he’d already agitated. This is a lot harder than I thought it’d be… he scrunched up his face in the intense moment, causing more cracks to appear in his face.

QD looked from the Twigs to Myst, then back a thousand times again. She skillfully created her own illusions, distracting the Twigs into running in a circle as Myst’s own illusion faded. “Hey, you good there?” She asked without turning.

Myst held onto his face. “Yeah, sorry— I think I might’ve messed up just now…” a piercing headache started to seep in.

“I mean, you can rest, if you’d like. I can manage this!” QD beamed towards him, then, in realization, scrambled back to keep up her illusions.

Ugh… maybe I shouldn’t have gone on with this whole idea yet…  it’s important that I heal up, and quickly, too…  he felt a piece of his face fall into his hands, which prompted him to stick it back on in quick succession. “Okay, you’re right. I’ll take it a little easier.”

QD was making lots of noise, summoning illusions to aggravate the Twigs and let them hit the illusions, then repeating the process while swinging and hitting at the monsters. “Good! Just watch me do it all!”

Myst dully watched QD finish off the Twigs, sticking falling pieces of his face back on, then scooping the melty wax underneath it back up into its shape. Finally, QD completed her unofficial duties. “Done! Let— oh gods below what happened to your face.”

“Um, it’s starting to fall apart. I think I should probably dry it up before it melts me to the ground.”

“Yeah, no doubt about that… we need something cold, hm? I can call Vera! Of course, if he’s not busy.” QD opened up her band. “Hmm… Hira accidentally disabled his band an hour ago, hehe. I take it he’s not used to it yet… ah, here we go, Vera…”

QD started to call him. Meaning she just kinda stood there, fanning away the rotting fumes, and stared at Myst, who stared back through two yellow lights amidst melted wax and its hardened pieces.

A small dinging sound was heard.

“Hey, Vera!… oh, uh-huh… hm, that’s new… I don’t recall that… … what? I am sensitive, I dunno what you’re talking about… no, you’re worse—!”

Myst would’ve frowned if his face showed it. “QD? My face?”

She swung her head over to Myst. “Oh! Hey— hey—Vera— shut up— SHUT UP—…thank you. So, can you come over quickly? Myst’s face is getting a little melty. … yeah, it just sorta happened. …what do you mean!? Not everything is my— y’know what, just come over or I’ll FIRE YOU!!! WE’RE NEAR KON. BYE.” QD shut off her band, turning to Myst as if the conversation went fairly well. “Okay, he should be here soon.” She pulled her shirt over her nose again.

Myst and QD played 20 Questions while they waited for Vera. Somehow, Myst was winning.

Something flashed a bloody red, then tackled QD and flung her across the cave. “WHO THE FU—

It was Vera, who turned to cough away from her face. “Hey.” He turned back.

“Ew!! I told you, STOP DOING THAT!!!” QD’s shirt had long flown off her nose (for the thousandth time).

Myst pushed his hands onto his face, in an attempt to keep it intact. “Hey, Vera. Can you help out real quick?”

“Hm?” Vera turned to him, and examined his face. “Yeah, I can help out. Gimme those pieces.” He held out one hand, then coughed into the other.

Myst felt for the hardened pieces of his face, then placed them into Vera’s hand.

Vera promptly slapped them back onto Myst’s face, lighting his face up and freezing it seconds later. Then, just for funnies, he trapped Myst’s head into a solid block of ice.

“DUDE!!!!” QD’s jaw was wide open in disbelief, focus switching between Vera and Ice Block Myst a million times a second. “UNDO THAT!!!!”

Vera scoffed, which devolved into a cough. “Relax, it’s nothing bad. Skykids don’t need oxygen, do they?”

QD clasped her hands over her mouth. Then she burst out. “YES THEY DO!!!”

“Ohp— shit— my bad.” Vera grabbed onto Myst’s iced in head and smashed it against his knee.

“VERA YOU BARBARIAN!!!” QD smacked him upside the back of his head.

Myst blinked twice, feeling his face. “Ohhh… wow… that cracked my back nicely.” He surprisingly grinned towards Vera.

“See?” Vera coughed into the abyss. “He liked it.”

“I DID NOT. PLEASE DON’T DO THAT TO HIM EVER AGAIN.”

“Whatever. Also, don’t call me back here again. It smells like shit. Bye.” Vera opened his band and teleported away.

QD frowned, then quickly turned to Myst. “Is your face good now?”

Myst slowly nodded, tapping around it. “Should be. Do you mind checking it out?”

“Not at all! Lemme see…” QD noticed a small crack. “There’s still a crack. Ugh, Vera never does anything with any heart… (I’m still not entirely sure he has one…) But, it won’t get any worse as long as you keep a straight, relaxed face!” She gave his face a gentle pat.

“That’s a relief. So, where’s this Shrine? All I see is the entrance to that king’s stuff.”

QD snapped, beaming. This made Myst a tad bit jealous. “Oh! See, here’s the thing… it’s very hidden and reaaaaallllyyyy hard to get to. Worse than the Scholar, but way less water!”

“Oh. Way less, or none at all?”

“None, actually… I should’ve been clearer with my words, hehe.” QD scratched the back of her head.

Myst once more nodded. The lack of emotion in this nodding moment was totally unnecessary, but understandable. “Good, as long as it’s not water, I think I can handle it. Water just makes me nervous…”

“Ice is technically water, though. That means you were just drowning!”

Myst would’ve frowned. However, the disappointment in his voice sufficed. “That’s different. I like snow and ice. I perform in the Valley, if you’ve forgotten already.” He sounded serious and agitated, but it was obvious he would’ve teased with a smile if he could.

“Okay, okay~! Anywhooo, the entrance to the Shrine is through this bush.” She pointed to a scruffy bush, to the right side of the cave. “Be careful, there’s a drop right there.”

The pair squeezed themselves through the spikey, petrified twigs of the bush, then into a musty, caved in valley within the ground with an even worse smell. The ceiling and ground seemed endless, both leading to an abyss. There were two extremely tiny ledges at each side of the valley.

“Alright—obviously—choose one, if you’re not afraid~!” QD teased.

Myst scoffed uncomfortably. “Please, as if. This is nothing!”

“If it was water, it’d be something.” QD’s tone was suddenly eerily serious. She took the right path.

Now, all that was left to do was hug onto the wall and side step their way through life, the way they always had.

There was a corner that opened out to a wider space. Just more places to fall through.

“Careful! This corner cuts off, so you have to step over to another ledge! Turn to me quickly!”

Myst carefully turned his head to QD. “‘Watching.”

QD hugged onto the corner, then carefully placed her foot somewhere. She disappeared behind the corner. Her voice rang out in an unexpected echo. “I made it~! Just be careful, okay? It’s a far reach. Hehe. Far reach. I’ll tell you about that later.”

Myst eyed down the suspicious corner. “Okay. Here I go.” He scooted up to the corner, then reached out a foot to the next ledge. He made the mistake of shifting his weight to his outstretched foot before he felt the ledge beneath it, spiking his heart out of his throat. His eyes widened in absolute terror as he pulled his foot all the way back to the original ledge. Crack. “Oh, stars! Did you hear that, QD?! The rocks— I think a part of the ledge fell!”

QD turned to his side of the valley. “Nope, the ledge is fine. You’re good! Just try to feel for it first. You got that, right?”

“Yeah… yeah, I think I got it… whew. Is this whole world gonna be like this?”

“Yup. Pretty much. There was a reeeaaaaaaaaaalllllllll big earthquake. Anyways, you get used to it quite quickly, hehe. Slowly, you’ll get better and better at traversing this broken world. Well, it’s geographically broken. Well, actually, everything about this thing is broken. The guns are also broken.” QD sounded really disappointed by this, strangely. (I mean, what were guns good for, anyways? QD never used them. Maybe it was for that America place QD always spoke about with Vera. Who knows? Well, I certainly do, but I don’t think I’ll tell you.)

“Uh-huh,” Myst tried once more to land on the ledge, this time being successful. “…okay, got it!” He smiled at the wall he was still hugging.

Crack.

“Oops… the ledge.”

“Did it break?”

Myst hummed. “Uhhhm,” he sounded like he was examining the ledge. “I think just a small bit off the corner. That’s okay, though. I didn’t need to step on that to get here.”

“Yay! Good! Now, we just go ahead. Ready?”

“Yup!”

The two continued their side steps, until they made it to the Shrine. Since I will sound like I’m describing a terrible symbol from a certain world war, I will give you an artist’s rendition.

(It’s terrible. But bear with me. We’re on a budget.)

This Shrine was a healthy green, yet somewhat electric at the same time. It had the same materialistic properties as the last, with the same two layered pedestal it floated above. QD and Myst both touched it, just as they did before. Once again, there was a wave of knowledge that washed through them. Still, no one knew what it meant.

“Oh, also… the next Shrine we go to, don’t stand on the pedestal as you touch the Shrine.”

“Hm? Why not?”

“The Shrine will kill you.” She smiled.

Myst rolled his eyes and returned the smile.

QD blinked in confusion. “Oh, your face! Was that supposed to be the cracking you heard before?”

***

“Gods below… that took so much out of me…” Vera stretched out in all places. “Shit… ‘you done with exploring around for now?”

Warren beamed. “Yup! I even checked up on Hira!”

Surprisingly, Vera managed to get Warren to drop all the formalities of his culture. He even managed to get Warren in here in the first place! Warren was probably just a huge hater on his home town and a big stan of destiny.

Well, it wasn’t hard. Also, never say ‘stan’ again.

I don’t need to listen to him. Anyways.

“Good.” Vera snatched up one of QD’s pre-blended, pre-glassed drinks ‘of the immediate future’, then started to chug down on it. “Wow. This is really good. You want a glass?”

Warren examined the drink in Vera’s hand. “What is it?”

“Food. ‘Sustenance’, but it makes you feel things. Try some. I think you’ll like it.” Vera grabbed a glass and handed it over to Warren.

Warren stared deeply into it. “It’s moving around inside this receptacle. Like blood. Only slower. How is this made?”

“Uhm. Maybe fruits. I don’t know.” Vera sipped, smacking his lips to define the taste, then immediately coughing his lungs out.

Warren shook it horizontally. “Doesn’t move it around like this… now, how do I get energy from the food?”

“Swallow.”

“Hm?”

“When there’s wet in your mouth, you push it down into your tummy-wummy. Got it?” Vera recited slowly.

Warren watched the drink uncomfortably. “How can I put it in my mouth without spilling it out? Would that be bad, if I spilt it?”

“Yes. This drink makes stuff sticky.”

“Oh, not a lot of things are sticky. Is all of this food sticky?”

Vera rolled his eyes. “Not all of it, but most of it. Don’t put food all over yourself. It’s gross. Also, food keeps you from shrinking into bones. So it’s very important for me and people who actually eat instead of getting shots for it to never waste it. Eat everything you’re given for a meal.”

“A meal, what’s that?”

“WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND EAT FOOD.”

“Oh, you have to spend time eating food?”

“Yeah, dude— look. If you get to eat, you’ll know why we have to make time for eating. It’s very VERY important. So drink it.”

“Drink? Is that how you call eating food?”

“ONLY LIQUID FOOD.”

“Drinkkk. Drin-drin-drink?” Warren motioned through the word.

“Gods below— YOU ARE JUST LIKE HIRA. PLEASE STOP. WE DO NOT NEED TWO.”

“Hira is a good guy. I think we should have at least two people like him, one being himself. So we’ve filled the requirements.”

“Do you need me to teach you how to swallow and drink? Should I shove my fingers into your mouth?”

“No…?” Warren shrunk. He knew those fingers were literally just covered in blood. Crazy how they’d actually come along from killing Cara to learning what a food is.

“Look. It’s simple. Please. I will call Yun’Shul to KILL YOU if you don’t get this right. Gods, please, if Warren messes this up, you can eat him.”

“What? How come they get to eat before I can?”

“DRINK THE DAMN SMOOTHIE.”

“HOW!?”

“OKAY DO THIS TO THE CUP.” Vera regretfully pursed his lips onto the cup, then turned his eyes to Warren.

I look so fucking stupid, don’t I?

Yes! You look like you’re about to film a TikTok.

Hopefully this idiot learns as quickly as Hira did.

Don’t worry, he’ll get it down.

Good.

“So, like this?” Warren copied Vera and did it way worse than he had.

“Um. Sure. Let’s go with that. Now tip the cup higher and let the drink go into your mouth. Like this.” Vera… drank. I’m not sure what to tell you.

Warren stared at him like he had said something incredibly inappropriate. “What. Like. I put my lips around it like this but leave my top lip open like— lyke dhis?” Warren pointed to his lips.

“Yeah, now try and put the smoothie in like that. Tip the cup.”

Warren tipped the cup.

“You—you can move your head up.”

Warren tipped the cup and moved his head with it.

“That’s it! Is the smoothie in your mouth?”

Warren closed his mouth, leveled his head, and placed the cup on the kitchen counter. He opened his mouth up. “Ah, eh eh her.” (Translation: yeah, it’s in here.)

“WARREN YOU CLOSE YOUR MOUTH IT'S VERY RUDE TO SHOW PEOPLE FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH. YOU COULD HAVE NODDED.”

“Oh eh-eh ou jh e-eh a hh!” (Translation: so many rules for eating and food!)

“PUSH IT DOWN YOUR THROAT CLOSE YOUR MOUTH”

“EYN AAAAR!!!” (Translation: I’M SCARED!!!)

Vera shut Warren’s mouth and poked his throat.

Warren jerked back, holding onto his throat like he was just stabbed. “AAAAAAGGHHH!!! VERA!!!” He had successfully swallowed!!

“Good! Try it again!”

Warren sniffled. “Ohkayyy…” He picked up the cup to get the smoothie into his mouth, poking his throat to get it down.

“WARREN YOU DO NOT NEED TO POKE YOUR THROAT TO SWALLOW JUST COPY YOUR THROAT AND MOUTH REACTION TO BEING POKED THERE.”

Warren nodded through tears. Freckle appeared out of nowhere, silently judging Warren’s eating-learning time.

Warren finally got himself to swallow again after many tries. “I did it!” He beamed and hugged Vera, sliding an empty glass and arms around Vera’s waist.

“you have to learn how to not hug me like this next”

“Hm? Why not?” Warren looked up at Vera with innocent little eyes.

“They’re gonna think we fuck.”

“What does that mean?”

“Holy shit.”

Vera is not in the mood to explain the birds and the bees to a kid who just learnt how to drink smoothies.

Damn right I’m not.

“That smoothie felt really weird. It made my tongue very tingly. But I thought it was really interesting! It felt like my brain started to vibrate.”

Vera blinked. “Is that how you describe emotions…? All of you? All of you idiots from Aeronia?”

“I think you’re used to it. I like this, though. It’ll never get old.” He tightened his hug.

“Gods below, Warren… please let go of me.”

“Mmh-mmh.” This is Warren for ‘no’.

Vera sighed, rolling his eyes and wrapping up Warren in his arms. “Okay. You drank a smoothie. That’s a big accomplishment. Now you have to eat. You swallow the same, but your jaw will get really tired…”

Freckle yawned and curled up into sleep.

“Hey, why did you come to Aeronia?” Warren finally let go of Vera.”

Vera coughed into his arm, then turned back. “Umm, there was this thing Hira kept over there. It was important, and everyone else here loses everything except for him. Also, everything gets broken because of this stupid cat.” Vera jerked his head towards Freckle.

Warren made silly faces at Freckle. “It’s a cat! What a cute name. I like this.”

“Freckle. Cats are not all called cats. That would be weird.”

“There’s MORE!?”

“Yes.”

“Wow! My favorite thing is a cat.”

Vera cupped his hands around his face. “It’s. It’s an animal. I have to teach you so, SO much damned stuff.”

Warren touched Freckle’s eye, which blinked like a toad’s. (Second simile!!) “What a destructive nature for something awfully protectable. I would do anything for this cat. Is that why you hid the thing, too? Because it was dangerous?”

“No. It was just too important.”

“Did you ever get it?”

“Yeah, I found out Cara had it on her.”

Warren’s eyes widened. “But she left nothing behind! How did you get it?”

Vera summoned the same red and black circle that swallowed up the remains of Cara on the desk. A small, glowing golden string appeared, along with lots of bloodied feathers. Vera snatched the string before Freckle could. Freckle, however, was perfectly content to knock off all the feathers from the counter instead. (Freckle is plotting to take the funny shiny things later.)

“Oh…” Warren’s gross memories of Cara’s death returned upon the sight of the inscribed circle. The feathers were an even worse reminder. “…at least you have your strings.” Was it worth the strings? “What are the strings used for?”

“They let us make special objects that help save lives.”

Oh, worth it! Cara hurt people, anyways.

Warren’s eyes suddenly widened. “Can— can I save lives with you? Is that my purpose?”

“Your… destiny?”

“Is that it?”

Vera thought for a minute. “Sure. I mean, QD says she— hmm.” Vera took a sip of his unfinished, and now, lukewarm smoothie. “—QD says she doesn’t  know anything about that book you found. I think she just needs to see it first. She’s always like that. But, you don’t have the book, don’t you?”

Warren shook his head. “Will she know it’s me that the book asked for?”

“Maybe not. She tends to forget things quite easily. But, maybe her friends will know. There’s one, who I’m quite close with. I’ll ask her.”

“Yay!” Warren elbowed Vera playfully. “Now, teach me everything!”

***

“Right! So, when I said up, I meant, like, three feet off the ground.”

“Well, that’s understandable.” Rhine shrugged. “If you don’t wanna get hurt,” or drag around like dead weight, “it’s best you stay here.” She gently smiled her cottagecore smile I described in LITERALLY WAY TOO MUCH DETAIL I DO NOT WANNA DO IT AGAIN.

Kindle nodded. “Yeah! I’m feeling better already, too! So you don’t have to worry about any of us. I heal up pretty quickly, and momma’s got the brains!” Kindle playfully stuck out her tongue, in an attempt to be charming and cute.

“Yay! With all that said… you two, I wish you the best of luck! Everyone that falls from the sky has proven themselves worthy!” Ismurl saluted them.

“Thanks, Izzy! I’ll visit when I get the chance!”

Ismurl’s eyes twinkled with wonder, like the snow on the ground when met with the rare sun. (SMILIE NUMBER THREE BAEBAAAYYYY) “Sounds like a plan! See you guys! Don’t die!”

Rhine waved, and Kindle added a whole jumping spring wave craze to hers. “Alright.” Rhine nodded to Kindle. “Let’s go and get up this damn thing…”

“So, ‘you glad we don’t have to pretend to be related anymore~?” Kindle bumped into Rhine multiple times and very much on purpose for every single one.

Rhine scoffed, shooing Kindle away. “Please, I doubt she believed it.”

Kindle wore the smug smile of absolute disbelief. She poked at Rhine. “Are you surrreeee?”

“Positive. No one is that much of an idiot.”

Narrator’s Note: she totally believed it.

“Meh,” Kindle shrugged. “if you say so.”

The two walked up the pathway on the mountain as it led them inside of the mountain itself. There, they were met with a cavernous space dotted with ice and red crystals and a stone tablet, three tunnels giving them an undetermined pathway. Inscribed on the tablet was a single sentence. ‘Only one leads out’. The rest of the tablet…

…was a word search puzzle.

Kindle and Rhine exchanged shared looks. Just like trading a Kit-Kat for someone’s Kit-Kat. (I guess this is the fourth simile!?)

“…they want us to do a stupid word search NOW???”

Kindle went straight to work. “The fae act like children! We studied lots of literature and A Midsummer Night’s Dream! I think you of all people should know this.”

Obviously disappointed and frowning, Rhine shook her head in disbelief. “Yeah, but we have so many other things to do. We can’t be mulling over some stupid elementary.”

“Hm, I dunno. I really like word searches. Oh, one time, we had a word search in class, and the teacher printed out a copy for everyone but somehow she gave me a copy of the answer key to me so the whole time I sat there with a finished puzzle and I kinda just helped everyone around me but needless to say it was a little boring.”

Where did she get all that air…? I should take a look at her diaphragm. “Interesting.” Rhine opened her band to take a few photos of their surroundings and the tablet.

“Um, did you add any features onto the bands that would help us instantly find the right words for a puzzle like thisssss???” Kindle flopped down on the dusty tablet in defeat, but hopped right back up coughing away the irritation in her lungs. “Pltllehhh! Since when did someone last use these?”

Rhine swiped a finger across the tablet. “Since the fourth of Neveruary. They must’ve already memorized the pathway ahead.”

Kindle perked up, continuing to look. “Awh. Maybe the stupid fae swap the tunnel exits!”

“Hey, don’t say that about the fae! We studied the plays and the weird poems. You know the fae won’t take that kindly.”

Suddenly spinning around in boredom, defeat, and a terribly painful dislike for word searches, Kindle groaned. “Uggghh! That just makes it even MORE annoying. I need something to take my anger ou—-uuu—UCH!!!” Kindle wrapped her arms around her stomach.

“Kindle? Did the wound reopen?” Rhine stepped to her side.

She shook her head. “No… it healed quite a while ago… I just got the WORST stomach ache in my WHOLE LIFE!!!”

Rhine frowned. “Oh. I thought you were dying. You can’t keep yelling for— not—hingggHHHHHOLYYYYSHITTTTT.” Rhine copied Kindle in the act of clutching onto her stomach. “It’s the goddamn— UGHHH.”

“The hot cocoa…?”

“EXACTLY. It hurts like hell. Your body is trying to— Rhine spun off to the side as if she was fighting a battle between vomiting her guts out and not vomiting her guts out. “—it’s trying to process the—the stupid stuff— THE FOOD. AND IT JUST HURTS. BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT USED TO IT.” She made an extremely pained expression. “And you’ll never get used to it,” she finished off weakly and queasily.

Kindle blinked twice. “Oh, mine’s gone.”

“Pfft— I bet— you’ll live easy, then. —Because you’re already used to— to— other—foods.” Rhine shook her head. “I swear, curiosity killed— the cat… but it’ll be— the— stomach ulcers for me.”

“how do people even get stomach ul—

“sshhhh just appreciate —the joke.”

“Okay!” Kindle beamed brighter than a star (METAPHOR?), then immediately whizzed back to work. “Haaaahhaaa! I actually found it this time! There’s a ‘right’ here! Hehe, I guess right is always right!”

Rhine examined the answer. “Okay—, true, but what if this isn’t —the right way? What if there’s more to this answer?” She looked back to Kin— oh my god where’s kindle.

“Kindle?”

Kindle was already dashing for the right tunnel.

“KINDLE!!! —YOU DON’T GO TO THE STUPI—-

Rhine blazed after her.

Both were completely unaware of the rune on the wall.

“Haha, look! We’re completely fine!” Kindle beamed, breathing in the crisp and cold fresh air as the pathway led outside.

The red crystals became abundant around the pathway now. Rhine wasn’t sure how to feel about this. “You never —know. What if— what if this was a trap?”

“Well, we always could’ve checked for light at the ends of each tunnel.”

“But what if the— correct tunnel wasn’t outside?”

“Uhm, I think you worry too much. At this point, it’s not even being a healthy amount of cautious! You’re a worry-wart.”

Rhine frowned. “I would —not describe myself like that, for one. Secondly, who would take any of our places if we died here?— If— you died, what would your parents think?”

Kindle grinned slyly. “Oh, so you’ve thought about this before, huh?” She paced up the mountain’s path.

“Are you —serious?” (I show speed)

“Yeah! Moms worry all the time. I like to call it Mom Instincts! Anyways… it’s nothing bad, just don’t be super pushy. Plus, somewhere down the line, you’ll be too focused on safety and efficiency that you’ll be a whole mess of your own contradictory points. You get what I’m sayin’?”

Rolling her eyes, Rhine sighed. “I do, —but that was still pretty reckless.”

“Meh. I think that if I don’t take risks, I’ll die without a memorable life! To me, I’d rather die now than have a boring life.” Kindle reasoned.

Rhine watched her silently as the two kept their trudge up the mountain.

Kindle turned to Rhine, walking backwards. “I mean, this whole… job?—I guess— is supposed to be risk taking and unordinary!” She turned back. “A dangerous job, with so many friends in places you never knew existed… it’d be okay to lay my life on the line, especially if it meant that I could help people who don’t even know my name!” Kindle’s eyes sparkled. “Like an interdimensional superhero! Wait, then… what would my superhero name be…”

How selfless. Still, I was probably right. Rhine picked up her pace to walk by Kindle’s side.

“Super Kindle would be cliche…”

I wonder…

“But what about Kindle-Wo-man?”

…if there truly is…

“That sounds like blatant copyright. Nevermind.”

…people who a

“DOOORRR!!!”

Rhine froze in her tracks. Haha cold pun “WHAT!?”

“A door. That’s what I said!”

“You NEED to— work on saying things QUIETLY.”

Kindle shrugged. “Sorry! I think doors are pretty exciting.”

“No. No you don’t.”

“Well, puzzle doors, at least! Let’s see…” Kindle examined the door thoroughly. “It looks like copper… there’s some numbers here… and, um… yeah. Nothing much.”

Rhine took a few steps back from the door, mindful of the path’s end that would lead her spiraling down. She opened up her band, taking a photo. “I think I might —know what these numbers say.”

“Ooohh! Tell me! Tell me tell me tell me!”

Rhine got close to them. “Um, it’s ASCII. Quick run down— basically, computer file stuff. Only… I just don’t know how this would be here. This place obviously has zero computers. And I —might be getting ahead of myself… these numbers could mean anything.”

“Well, I think it’s worth a shot! This could be a puddle world, for all we know.”

“Hm…” Rhine nodded, then gave Kindle a grin. “I never would’ve thought Earth would have some of its ideas in a puddle. I mean, sure, humans and a common language…”

“Wait, why do we all speak the same language? I always thought other worlds would speak differently.”

Silence hung in the air.

“No clue.”

“Yeah, me neither.”

“Well, then. Let’s see… what do we have here…”

Rhine rubbed off some frost from the door’s inscribed numbers. “74, 117, 109, 112, 32, 111, 102… hm… it says ‘Jump off to the right’.”

The two instantaneously turned to the right side of the pathway. The path ended there, as it turned to the door instead.

“Yeah. I don’t know about you…” Kindle walked to the edge and loomed over. “…but I’m not going down there.”

Following her, Rhine saw a lot of jet black spikes. Why were there spikes on a mountain the way these spikes were? “Okay, it’s pretty obvious this was a stupid trick.”

Kindle turned back to the door. “Why would there be a door here if the spikes were the solution? Is it some sort of invisible bridge puzzle? Should we try walking over that?”

“If the bridge was invisible, there’d be snow on it…” Rhine held out a hand, catching a snowflake or two before they melted. “…and I’ve never trusted bridges that form once you start to believe in yourself.”

“Yuh-huh. This is a perfect example of a risk I won't take.” Kindle put her hands on her hips defiantly, radiating pride. “See?” She blinked and broke out of the mature facade. “I’m not always looking to kill myself!”

“I never said you were…” Rhine took another look at the door. “There’s gotta be something we’re missing. Are you sure you checked everywhere?”

Kindle thought for a moment. “I’ve never been good at Where’s Waldo... I don’t think I can help with Where’s Clues. Hey, remember how everyone always checked the sides?”

Rhine rolled her eyes. “Focus.” But, everyone did look at the sides. Probably because those things were always so cluttered… your eyes wouldn’t be able to find a focal point…

“Aw, alright. I’ll look around then.”

…so, me personally, I wouldn’t have checked the sides first… there’s also some psychological factors that come into play…

“Have you checked the sides?” Rhine piped up.

Kindle frowned. “You stole my idea that I didn’t say!!!”

“Y—yeah.” Rhine’s hands wrapped around her stomach again. “Sure—whatever.”

“AAAAAAGGHH!!!!!!” Kindle jumped around shrieking.

“OH—OH MY GOD W—

“I FOUND ANOTHER CLUE~~!!!”

“WHY —DO I —FUCKING B—BOTHER ANYMORE!?”

“Look! There’s a small red crystal at the bottom here!” And indeed there was.

Rhine narrowed her eyes. “S—so?”

“Welllll,” Kindle spun around Rhine with neatly folded hands. “remember Izzy’s jar story?”

“God— I zoned out for ha—lf of those.”

“I’ll give you a summary! So, like, her brother kept eating her little honey biscuits—

“Sk—skip the family—drama.”

“These red crystals interact with each other! That’s how she was able to close off her jars from her brother and the squirrel she named Joshua. Also, it really helped her with tidying up the house.”

Rhine chipped off a bit of the nearby crystals. “You—couldn’t—cut off the first part—could you?”

“I just thought that would explain the conclusion of breakthrough in her inventions and jars. Y’know. Oh, she made her daggers herself! With the red crystals! Unfortunately, the jars and her daggers are the only inventions that have worked for her.”

“Mhm.” Rhine opened her band to take a photo of the crystal.

Kindle grinned, taking the crystal out of Rhine’s hands (to her offense) to put next to the crystal on the door at their feet. “You two both make inventions!” She tossed the crystal back to the fuming Rhine once the door opened. “That’s something you have in common.” Kindle waltzed into the door that led them back inside the mountain. Rhine, terribly annoyed, followed.

“Oooh! Take a photo!” Kindle pointed every which way. “A panorama!”

This bit of cave was normal, like the last. Until it wasn’t normal. The floor beneath their feet was blue ice, and within it, blood and bones trapped. Four stoney circles—or pedestals— covered in runes and blood that one would have the temptation to stand on lined up in a half circle. When I said normal, by the way, I mean there’s still red crystals and ice and all different kinds of stalag-types. There you go great description give me five stars on Yelp

“Hm. Didn’t— Ismurl— say—say people get— infected by those —monsters?”

Kindle thought for a moment. “Yeah…?” She slowly nodded.

Rhine took a knee to read the runes covered in blood. “Some—Something else killed—these people. …sacrifice.” She turned to Kindle. “These say ‘sacrifice’.”

“Yeah, and the backside says ‘durum fuit hoc dicere alicui tam diu nota’. Classic runes, always in Latin!”

“You— know languages—. Wh—what does it— it say?”

“‘It was hard enough to say it to someone I’ve known for so long.’ Hm. Is this a puzzle some lovers made? It doesn’t seem in the loop with what Izzy said was going on in this world.”

Rhine shook her head. “Didn’t she say— that the fae— made these— these puzzles?”

“Oh yeah. Speaking of fae, where are their little inky monsters?”

Ask and you shall receive. That’s a little thing that introverts know about but they don’t want to do.

Suddenly, ink spewed out from every crevice and corner of the cave.

“Kindle!—WORK ON THE PUZZLE!” Rhine swapped her band into its second mode, clashing her forearms together to test if the sink into her skin was successful.

Kindle froze up, but as Rhine’s command left her mouth, she jerked back into motion. “G—got it! Got it!” She examined the floor and the runes, head racing.

Rhine got to work on finishing off the monsters that collected into their forms before their eyes.

Uhm— it was hard to say this— and the blood—- sacrifice— it’s obvious it didn’t work— I remember— with QD—- how— how we couldn’t use some mechanisms because we weren’t from that world… maybe even if we did cut off a limb—

“HELP!!!”

Kindle swished her head over to Rhine, who was perfectly fine and perfectly battling as always.

“Kindle?” Rhine called out to her.

“HELP!!!!”

“Kindle!?”

“No— Rhine, I’m fine— is that you?”

“HELP ME!!!!”

“Not me!”

Kindle looked in the crowd of shadowy monsters. “Oh! It’s a dude! I think he got hurt by them! Hey! Mister! We’ll help ya!”

“HELP!!!”

Someone can’t hear me…

“Kindle, puzzle —first! We can deal with th—this later!”

Shoot! Um— sacrifice— same… atoms? Kindle’s head started to spin. Uh—uh-oh. She held onto it, cradling her head in her arms. “Rhine! I need a break!”

“Shit!”

“HELP!!!”

“Just —try! Please!”

Kindle knocked on her head. “LEAD THOSE MONSTERS ONTO THE RUNES!” She spat out.

“On it!” Rhine stepped back, and once she had covered enough distance, she spun around to drag Kindle by the collar and away from the wave of monsters, letting them step on the plates.

The ground began to shake, and the ice everywhere but beneath their feet broke and fell into the abyss under it.

“Oh—shit!” Rhine looked down, watching the pieces and bones gleam as they entered a point of no return.

Kindle took her head out of her arms upon hearing this, then looked up. She saw the floor gone… but across the cave, someone else… covered in ink… on their own little island, much like Rhine and Kindle were.

Stepping stones appeared out of the void, leading from the entrance, to Kindle and Rhine, to the person who was covered in ink, then to an exit that had suddenly appeared.

“Let’s go help!” Kindle pointed to the person.

Rhine let go of Kindle’s collar and hopped across the stones to the person. Kindle followed.

The person was shaking quite violently, donning dark eye bags and skin that slowly melted into ink.

Rhine ejected the bands from her skin, clashing them together to create sparks that landed onto the person. Soon, they lit into flame, burning away only the ink. To the surprise of Kindle and Rhine, of course. Ismurl really wasn’t lying…

Once the ink had burnt away, Kindle reached into her pockets to use the antidote Ismurl had given them correctly. Applying it onto all wounds, eyes…

“Got bandages, Rhine?”

Rhine nodded. Of course she carried bandages! She wrapped them around the person’s wounds carefully.

Kindle stared deeply into the person’s eyes, slowly returning to their normal color, eye bags darkening. Oh, yeah. This is a hot boy. We just saved a hot boy! Let’s save a hot girl next… then a hot enby… then a hot—

“Do— you understand us?” Rhine waved her hands in front of the person’s eyes, cutting off the connection between Kindle and them.

Kindle rolled her eyes, frowning at Rhine.

The person, blinking in and out of terror, nodded to Rhine. “Mhm…”

“What’s your name?”

“Lyric.”

“Hey, Lyric~!”

Rhine shoved her palm into Kindle’s mouth. “Hello, Lyric. Do you— mind telling us what happened?”

“Uhm… I just got attacked.” He felt his face. “I’m all good, though. It hasn’t been the first time this happened to me!”

hm he’s giving Izzy vibes

“Great. …Do you have to scream for help that loudly every time?”

Lyric shrugged. “I can’t control that. For some reason, I scream that no matter what once I’ve reached the third stage.” He reached into his bag. “You guys want some candy?” He smiled as if nothing had ever happened to him.

“Hey, do you know anyone named Ismurl?” Kindle ignores the question and smiled at him with big, round eyes.

“Oh, yeah. Is something wrong?”

Kindle turned to Rhine with her smuggiest of smiles. A face that said, ‘I’m gonna do it’, but what was she going to do?

Either way, Rhine shook her head to let her know it was probably a bad idea.

“Nothing, you two just act similar. And have a similar face shape. I can tell there’s a similarity in your voice, too. Are you… reeeelaaaateeeddd?”

Rhine bit her lips, turning away from Kindle as if she didn’t know her.

“Yeah! She’s my sister!” Lyric beamed, popping a piece of candy into his mouth.

Kindle looked like she was about to explode. “We just met her!! Hey, she said that she hasn’t seen you for a while. How long have you been here?”

Lyric counted to twenty on his fingers. “Like, three days.”

“Oh.”

“I got lost. Anyways… I really should get down. There’s a rest spot after this place, though… so we can relax there for a bit.” Lyric handed Kindle a small green candy wrapped in transparent flower petals against her will.

Kindle ate it anyways.

“A rest spot?”

“Mhm! I got stuck here because there was a rush, so I ran back into this cave. That’s only because this cave was closer than the spot, though.” He outstretched his arms. “Anyone mind helping me up?”

Rhine ignored his arms, picking him up by the chest, and slinging him over his shoulder.

“WOW. You’re strong.” Lyric poked her back.

“I will drop you.”

“Sorry.”

“Can I get a piggyback ride, too!?”

“No.”

“Awwwww…”

They exited the cave, back on the outside path.

Kindle spun around. “Yay! We made it!! How high up are we?” She leaned over the edge dangerously. “Ooh. We’re…” she looked up. “Maybe a third of the way through? Awesome!!”

Lyric gave her the motion for a high five, which she promptly took. “See? This mountain’s awesome! But I won’t be back here for a while.” He frowned. “I need to heal myself back up… ugh, that process is always so annoying.”

Rhine’s mind flashed back to her good old training days, where she almost always had a problem like a bruise, or terrible sores. Which, both weren’t much of a problem. They simply took some annoying time to go away. Even then, she grinned at the warm little memories.

“Ah, there’s the spot!” Lyric pointed at it awkwardly. It’s not always easy, pointing when you’re being carried like a dead body.

“Wow! It looks kinda cozy.” Kindle unnecessarily commented. The spot was covered by a maroon blanket, keeping the snow out. She couldn’t see anything inside. Kindle was a liar.

Rhine nudged Kindle along, then they all got into the spot and got comfortable.

“There’s always some food in these places… unless they’re at the top. Barely any food or spots. Well, there’d be food if someone went up there but never used it… there wouldn’t be if someone didn’t… y’know, the untouched stuff…” Lyric yapped on and on. Kindle started to tap with him.

For one day… not bad progress. Rhine closed her eyes. Good thing Kindle fixes herself easily. We’d still be stuck there.

Ugh, I should rest…

***

“The Lake of Eden should be past the place you exit the stupid Shadow Covenant from… it’s another one of those ‘oh no! I’m on a ledge and the ledge is tiny and there’s also jumps!’ but way easier than the ones we’ve seen so far.” QD explained. “We can enter the Fragmented Chasm, ignore our fears and not face them… get it?”

Myst stared at her.

“Ohh. My bad. Stupid inside joke.” She scratched the back of her neck in embarrassment. “Uhhm, then we can go to the One Trick Shrine. I’ve actually never been. I was lying when I said the way to all of them.”

“That’ll just require some time, won’t it?”

QD opened her band. “No, me and Vera were experts about everything this world had to offer. He usually went to One Trick… we, along with others, discussed and spoke about this place.” She went onto a tab Myst had never seen before. “Well, me, not so much, but me and Vera held good conversations. Lemme see…”

A little hologram flashed in front of QD, as she scrubbed forward and backward, mumbling to herself.

“…aha! Here.” She grinned. Okay, now we can go. C’mon!” She snatched Myst’s hand, and they were off.

Climbing the hills, running past the Shadow Covenant, skipping past surprisingly easy jumps over a NON-WATERY abyss, and finding the Lake of Eden.

“It’s not really a lake.” Myst squinted. “But there is water. I think this place is really cute, actually!” He turned to QD, his eyes expressing his excitement for him.

QD giggled. “Yeah, I think so too. The water isn’t high enough… it’ll just go to your shoes.”

She fixated on the huge, beautiful tree in the middle, with glowing baby blue flowers that were closer to white. The tree was pale, yet somehow vibrant grey and green, roots twisting around a glowing crystal the same colors as the flowers. The tree, barely touching the ground, created a space to walk under the roots. A wide waterfall calmly lapsed to their right, the roots of the tree, also covered by flowers, spiraling around the area they were in. Lots of trinkets were lying around the tree, sparkling in the water, too.

“Anyways… this isn’t what we came here for.” QD shrugged it off with a gentle sigh and smile. “But I did like to climb this tree, and quite often, too.” She motioned Myst to follow her as they walked toward and then past it. “Although, I did break my legs a lot of times.” She wore an uncomfortably straight face. “A lot of times.”

Myst shrugged. “I don’t think I’d climb this tree, even with my cape. I think I’d just like to relax here, like how me and Rhine find beautiful worlds to clear our minds in.” His eyes sparkled with the reflection of the flowers.

“I prefer the view from up high. Those leaves are really comfortable!” They walked up the small hill that led down to the lake. “Bye-bye, tree!” QD waved.

“Now, this is the somewhat scary part.” The hill they climbed half-circled down steeply over the widest abyss Myst had seen so far. It probably stretched for miles before it hit land again. QD pointed to this land. “We’re going there.” It climbed up into an enormous hill, and a wall blocked by an equally large door.

Myst slowly turned to QD. “Why… why don’t they just build a bridge from here to there…? Why do we have to go…” he traced his finger through the air, pointing at the rocky path that went in a half circle to the land. (Why are there a lot of half circles in this world) “…like that?”

“Honestly,” QD blinked. “I dunno.”

“Ah.”

“Let’s go down this little hill! Surrounded by the void! Carefully!”

“Alright,” Myst and QD initiated in a butterfly grip as they merrily hopped down the hill, around a corner, and onto the path.

“Look! Broken castle? Maybe? That goes off into the abyss!” QD pointed out all the lovely sights. “Another castle that doesn’t go into the abyss this time but will make you hallucinate and kill you! This is why we don’t face our fears.” They walked past the castle. Now, there was a huge void breaking the path. The only way to continue forth was to dangerously jump onto some more small, rocky stilts.

“Are we really going there?” Myst slowly turned to QD.

“Uhhhhhaaahhhh no.” She smiled. “We’re going there.” She turned to her left, where there was more rocky stilts that lowered down into a small island of rock. A dark, blocky monster clunked around on it.

Myst would’ve frowned. “Oh. Is that a sort of boss monster? Will we have to fight that to get to the Shrine?”

QD thought. “Nnneeehhh not reaaallly. I mean, we could fight it, but it wouldn’t be hard. Also, it’s like Twigs in the fact that they’re both huge idiots. We can kinda just…” QD walked her fingers along her arm. “Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo! Walk past it!” She beamed, elbowing Myst to follow. “Don’t break your legs!” She hopped down to the stilts.

Myst hopped down after her, watching how she moved around. Often, QD jumped around like a sugar glider, outstretching her arms to grapple onto the thin poles. Other times, she carefully placed her feet onto thin platforms that grew on the stilts like mushrooms on trees. That is, if trees were really long toothpicks and mushrooms were large and wide discs. Finally, QD leapt off of the final stilt, whacking her face onto a large mass of stone, like a pillar, that resided on the corner of the island. It stretched far up into the ceiling (which Myst hadn’t noticed there was; it was like they were in a cave, yet with spots above where sun shone through.) and down into the abyss below.

“I don’t know if I can make this jump without breaking my legs.”

QD, getting up from her fallen state, eyed Myst and the platform he was on repeatedly. “You can go down a bit. There’s a few more levels.”

Myst uncomfortably leaned over the edge of his platform on the stilts. There were a few more, just as QD said. But he’d need to move like an interpretive dancer to even try to get down to them. He got onto his knees to attempt to get hold of the platform below, then slide down onto it, and repeat this for another three times.

“I… I don’t think I can get any closer to your ground than this.” Myst measured the distance mentally.

“Okay, you can try! I’ll catch you!”

In place of frowning in immeasurable disappointment, Myst sighed very loudly, until the point where he started to wheeze.

“Just jump, Myst.”

“Sure…”

Myst leaped from the platform, and attempted to transition into a roll to soften the jump. However, he only did this slightly correctly, but it didn’t cause much problem. This paragraph was solely to tell you that Myst is an old man.

QD clapped away. “Yay! You did it! And you didn’t break your legs! That’s good.” She smiled. “Now, we simply just… sneak behind the golem. There should be a small cavern right under us. Let’s go!”

The two hopped down the pillar, onto the island, then slid into the cavern. There was a small ramp that led down into a… square abyss, with squares on the sides of the squares. Like, a plus shape combined with a square. Get it? You have to. Anyways, there’s a straight ledge all around this. It seems like it was built, rather than natural. Trinkets laid all around the ledge.

“We just simply walk around, then stare into the deeeeep darkness at every corner to see the One Trick shrine. There should be a small platform we can jump down on.” QD pointed to some locations as an example.

Following her from the ramp onto the ledge, Myst began to wonder. “Does the location change? Is that the trick in ‘One Trick’?”

“Nope. This Shrine simply disables mana for whoever decides to use it. I guess it’s a good thing, though! Mana’s bad for humans.”

“Oh.” Myst blinked. “I thought there’d be more to this.”

QD shook her head as they rounded their first corner. “Not really.”

Myst and QD walked around for a few more corners, leaning over, the familiar nauseating, rotting stench tearing away at them. Until, finally, QD found the ledge.

“Here!” QD pointed down into the abyss. “I can see it. It’s distinct but still hidden, yeah?” She looked up at Myst.

He nodded. “Mhm. No doubt, it’s there.”

“Great!” She beamed. “I’m not seeing things then, hehe. Let’s GOOOOOO!” She dropped down.

whhhhhhooooooooooooooTHUD

“ow”

Myst blinked for lack of surprise in his eyes. “You good?”

“you’re gonna have to break your legs for this one Myst”

“Ahhh. Can’t you just catch me?”

“we’ve tried two other times Myst. we both know this ends poorly. are you sure you trust me?”

“Sure. And if you don’t end up catching me, I don’t think I’ll break my legs like my face.” He examined the depth. Yup. Deeper than the pillar drop. “There’s a difference between maximum velocity speed or whatever Rhine could explain better and just jumping. I could even break my fall with this wall.” He liked the fact that he rhymed.

“okay! only if you’re sure. are we trying the catch?”

“Sure.”

“three… two… one!”

Myst dropped down.

“OOFH!”

Myst awkwardly fell into QD’s arms. She barely stood up afterwards.

“Sorry.”

She shook herself out after letting go of Myst. “Ha! Nahh, it’s all good!” Smiling, she pointed ahead to an eerie hallway. “Hold your nose again.”

They walked through the hall, the rotting stench growing like it always had. Slowly, the One Trick Shine came into view.

(I’ll hand you causals some more visuals. Maybe I’m the casual here? I fear explaining it incorrectly. Maybe that’s what holds me back. Oh, fine. Then I’ll explain it this time.)

Much like the properties of all the other Shrines, this one was no different in its transparency and ghost-like appearance. Imagine a star. Now imagine its points. Now, imagine all those points are arrow heads. The part that sticks into the arrow’s stick (shaft? God, I’m not an archer) is simply pointed and medium in width. Nothing crazy. The actual arrow part is also medium in length, but I guess it’s thinner than normal… there’s an X in the middle, points in every gap of this arrow-headed star. The points of the X are rounded out. The whole X looks sharp and yet not so sharp. Ya feeel me? Finally, have you ever looked at an atom? The electron paths? The little thin lines that go around in the circle to make another X? That’s around the same figure in the middle, hugging onto its knees. And this whole star X s crazy business going on in the back is white. You're welcome. Draw it if you’re not afraid.

“Now, the same old routine.” QD gave Myst a somewhat soft and bittersweet smile.

They touched the Shrine, then promptly exited in silence as they both pondered their wave of indecipherable knowledge.

Until they got back to the ledge. Another problem with exiting the Shrines emerges! Scholar was one…

“The ledge…” Myst looked up. “Do you really think Light Shot is precise enough to land us on the ledge?”

“Yeah. I do. The problem is that it’s too powerful. It’ll crush our skulls to the top of this… underground castle? I think this is one of those. Lots of buildings sunk, there was a big earthquake.” QD waved the topic away. “I’m afraid I’ll break your face again. I can heal here—in fact— it’s a passive. Obviously, not for you.”

Myst thought of solutions. Ofcoursehedidwhywouldnthe “Can you do it upside down?”

“No.”

“Can we go together?”

“Yes! Hey, that’ll strain the shot just enough, I think. Unless your star is dense.” She teased.

Myst sighed loudly once more with the same energy as before. “I’m not conscious about my weight. I don’t know why that’s a thing on Earth…”

QD shrugged. “Meh, it’s fine. Now, you never bestowed my relic back to me~”

“Oh, yes. What was your name again?”

Blanking before she remembered, QD produced the name. “Vaktausti.”

Myst also took some time to remember what to say. “Vaktausti, I bestow upon you the Light Shot relic.”

QD snapped into a stylish point, wink, and cheat out to Myst. “Thanks. Hold on!” She wrapped an arm around Myst, who did the same but used an extra arm this time.

QD lowered into a squat (not because she’s pooping but because it’ll be easier to carry Myst) and shot a beam up to the ledge they were planning on landing on.

Indeed, they went up much slower than when Myst had gone. At a somewhat… leisurely pace.

“You’re FAT.”

“Wh—what? I just have a dense core!” Myst found himself getting defensive for no reason.

They landed perfectly on the ledge.

“Woo-hoo! We did it!” QD beamed.

Myst could only return a gentle high-five.

“Now, to the ACCURSED!!!!”

“What?” Myst’s face would’ve sunk. “Accursed? Did I hear that one the first time?”

QD thought back. Actually, she read back. “Uhm, yeah. But I said One Trick right after, so the attention was shifted away from ‘Accursed’.”

Myst blinked in substitute for facial confusion. “Oh. You remember all of that?”

“Yup.” She patted his shoulder. “Now, let’s go get that Shine!”

Montage!

They walk up the ramp

Light Shot their way back up from the pillar

Light Shot their way across a wide gap accompanied by nothing but another stoney pillar stilt stretching from the abyss to the sky

Run and jump their way through broken land with hidden gaps

Climb their way up the damn hill because it’s really rocky

And reach the door!

Huge and wooden, covered in its exposed gears. That’s kinda it. Oh, and, like, a level on the right side.

“Usually, you’d need a key to open this. Because… it’s a door. But I came prepared! We start and end our journey at only the toughest places here— and this is nothing yet.” She pulled a key out from the inside of her shoe. Ew. “But… still, be on your best guard. Daemons. They’re crazy smart.” She shuttered, turning the key into the slot below the level, pulling it out and pulling down.

The door slowly opened. Much like the doors on the train, residing away in its frame.

“The Hidden Land!”

Void spaces created a natural strip of land— well enough in size— to walk towards the land. Tall, thin trees with mundane colors and high-up leaves with the occasional vine from them already sported either petrification or rot. The smell and look was already terrible enough. It wouldn’t be wise to check which.

“Okay. Quick. To Fortune. I hate it here.” QD pushed Myst along. “Daemon.” She warned as they walked across the bridge of land. “They teleport thrice, each time behind you. They will push you off into these voids,” she pointed to each beside them. “and they will break any blocks you try.”

Myst blinked. “Sure. I can do that.” He braced himself.

QD suddenly stopped. “Oh, we’ve got other means of killing these idiots! Stand back!” She took a stance summoning a beam of light into a bush.

“…?”

The beam exploded into a massive column.

“!”

“Hehe, that should’ve done it.”

A daemon came running from the bush.

“OH GODS BELOW GET OUT OF HERE MYST” QD shot a string of light to the top frame of the door they’d just gone through, and swung her way out.

“QD!!!” Crack. “HEY!!”

“WAIT YOU CAN’T FOLLOW Me can you” Her voice slowly faded away.

Myst’s head snapped behind him. MAYBE THE ILLUSION WILL TRICK IT

He attempted an illusion.

The Daemon ignored it.

“QD YOU LITTLE BI—

…

“Gods, I AM SO SORRY.” She endlessly patted Myst’s face together, who bore the same unimpressed look for the past three minutes as they sat next to Daemon Remains. “I always do this— Vera KILLS me for it. Literally. I always leave him behind… so far he can’t even yell at me, even with all his fury…”

Myst took her hand to slowly pull away. “It’s fine. I guess it’s a learning experience. But do we really have to climb this hill again?”

They turned to the hill.

“Hey. Sometimes I run farther than this. The Daemons always overestimate their jumping skills. They always fall into those gaps we went over earlier.” She shook her head. “Ugh, I haven’t killed one of these things in a while…” QD turned to the Remains. “I’m glad I didn’t forget how to. I had to learn for hours…”

“Well,” Myst stood up, eyes still glued to the hill. “We shouldn’t be wasting our time here. There’s still, what, three more Shrines and two moralities to go through? It’ll take a bit.”

QD nodded, humming in agreement. “Yeah! Still, there’s a Shrine and morality in the Hidden Land… then the rest is in the Far Reach, two being in The Embrace…”

Myst shook his head in disbelief and blinked in astonishment. “Will I have to remember all those names?

“If you want a gold star!”

Myst irritably sighed. He did not have a praise kink. “Anyway we could Light Shot up the hill? It took us some time to just walk up it.”

QD shook her head wildly. “Unless you want to break your face again. It’s too rocky, so we’d just be dragged the way up if we both held on.” She broke into a smug little smile. “I don’t think I could carry someone your weight for that long.”

“Back to not caring about how I feel then?”

She blinked, jumping back. “Huh?! I’m not a bad person!”

Myst waved her off in a manner to tell her he was teasing just as she was.

QD cocked her head to the side, only realizing after three seconds what it meant. “Ah!”

She picked up the Remains and hopped on after Myst as he walked back up the hill.

…

“Okay. There should be another Daemon waiting for us after this bridge.”

This bridge was broken in many places, leading to the watery river below. It was in the small valley of two waterfalls on each side, leading out to an arch that lead to the inside of a cave. With lights and stuff at the bottom. Well, it was getting dark. How do you expect them to see anything else?

However, the water that surrounded them, of course, shook Myst to his core. Especially this broken bridge. That led to water (If you fell, obviously).

He shuttered. “Ugh. Places to fall. Places to fall with water below. How does anyone survive this?”

“Not a lot of people did.” QD shrugged.

Myst stared at her for a good while.

“Oh, you won’t like this next place. I forgot.”

Myst perked up!! “Didn’t you say we were going to Fortune? Is that a village where they do watery and places to fall things?”

QD kept to herself.

“QD.”

“Daemon!” She pointed at a figure that appeared out of thin air— which burst into feathery shadows that melted away into it. QD drew her rapier out. “Watch me again!”

The Daemon blinked out of sight, then appeared right before her eyes. It swung at QD, who parried it and rolled back. The Daemon then responded by teleporting behind her as she waltzed to the edge— repeating this two times as QD swung right back to face it. Until the last teleport, QD managed to make the Daemon teeter on the edge. She kicked it off and into the water.

“Come, listen!” QD beckoned Myst over.

Must was still having a hard time getting over the bridge.

“Eh, whatever.” She smiled, going quiet. Her fingers fidgeted around her rapier and its case.

Plop

“Ten seconds! That’s how much time you have until you hit the water. If I… Bestow upon you, Fallci, the Light Shot relic…”

Myst felt a tingle in his fingers. It kinda just scared him, to be honest.

“…then you’d have ten seconds to shoot yourself back up! And I’d catch you that time, swearzies!”

“You realize that did nothing but make me feel much worse, right?”

QD rapid-fire blinked away her smile. “Ah. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I was only teasing.” He pointed to his face. “It’s making everything harder.”

QD walked over to Myst, back onto the bridge. She held onto his hand as they walked towards the arch. “Next time, I’ll warn any skykid about what Light Shot did to my good buddy!” She pat him on the shoulder and the back and literally everywhere APPROPRIATE to pat someone. I don’t know why I made that weird. But I’m not deleting it.

Myst was met. With. Bridges. That looked very beautiful, to be honest. With either quartz or marble and some sort of cobalt colored mineral or gem. Maybe it was just cobalt itself. At the start and end, they each had their own thin arches and warmly glowing lanterns on each side— left and right— of the arch. The bridges were stylized and gorgeous… so gorgeous… leading to more stoney pillars (like I said, they’re not really pillars, just those types of rock formations you’d find… somewhere I don’t know) and even more stoney pillars after that. All the way down to the back of whatever cave this was, where there was a village of the same style as the bridges. It was all so beautiful. Oh also the bridges are over WATER.

“Did I mention it before? Fortune? Fortune… the Silent Sea? That’s— that’s the whole name.”

Myst, wide-eyed, stared at her with the most frightened look she’d ever seen him wear.

QD shared the same expression upon seeing this. “Your face. It’s— it’s cracking. Again. Again.” She pushed fragments of it back onto him. “Look… There’s lots of candles— so many—at Fortune! And it’s right there! This is technically the Lunar Passage. No ‘Silent Sea’, eh?”

Nothing from Myst.

“Okay, so technically we’re still above it. But it’s nothing bad! I swung from those arches with Light Shot so many times! Mostly because this is just a pain to walk past…”

Still no change in Myst’s face… or feet. He was kinda just not moving.

“…?”

Myst barely moved a muscle.

“I’ll carry you with Light Shot if you don’t move your butt!” QD puffed up her face. “I promise you.”

…?

“Alright! But you asked for this!” She picked up Myst again, and IMMEDIATELY swung on the arches.

She was surprised they didn’t break!

They swung and ran, burning through the amount of bridges like it was nothing. (Bet you didn’t think ‘burning bridges’ would be so close yet so far…) Finally, the two made their way to Fortune, greeted by the Lunarians living there.

“Made it! You can move now!” QD looked down at the Myst in her hands.

He fainted. Somewhere along the way.

QD shrugged, carrying him over to a house. Just, like, a house. It was probably hers? I mean, when she changed her form, she became Lunarian. And Fortune is a Lunarian settlement, also a port of trade… even though there’s no boats… the water is in the abyss below… whatever! You get it. Fortune the Silent Sea.

It’s a good thing I didn’t just buy a… um… a… whatever-size-is-smaller-than-queen bed. QD thought. Finally, now she could use the large amount of space for something!!! (She sleeps like a woodlouse)

She tucked Myst into the bed, then hopped in right after because she’s a menace. But it was alright, she thought. A large enough bed for her and her bestest buddy. They were closer than two peas in a pod! Now also PHYSICALLY HEHEHE—…? I’m sorry. That was weirder of me. Still… It's society!!! It’s society’s fault that that could also mean different things!!! Different, weirder, things. People still put sex scenes in their books, though. HOWEVER! Here at SCStudios (Working title), I’d HATE to have one of those. Look, this has just been me ranting. Just know— two dudes. Chillin’ in a king sized bed. Three feet apart cuz THEY’RE NOT LOVERS!!! (Nor wanting to be.)

Anyways, QD had nearly forgotten to do Myst a little favor…

***

Myst woke up with dark vision. Did he die? He felt around for his face, still broken. He gave a tiny gasp, further cracking it. He’d really died like this? But nothing mattered anymore. It was the end. He could cry for everything and feel himself melt away into a pile of his own.

“Myst!? I’ve lost my Mystie!!!” The sound of QD throwing pillows and blankets rang out from somewhere.

So that was it, hm? He was lost. Forever. Life is fragile, isn’t it? He’d probably dropped into the water, and QD, poor little QD, had to fish him out. Only to realize his flame had already gone out. Ah, that was it, then. Wasn’t it? They were certainly doomed from the start…

“THERE YOU ARE! Hiding under the bed like that?”

Oh.

“Mhhhm.” Myst was dragged out by the arm from under the bed.

“Why would you hide!? You scared me!! I thought the Lunarians had broken in— and— like—- broken in and TAKEN you away!!! I didn’t realize it! You look like a Daemon!”

Myst was met with the red hot, tired from sifting mercilessly through thick and SUPER heavy blankets, face of an irritated QD. “OH.”

I wish I had DIED.

“Sorry! Sorry, sorry! I— I used to…” his face was burning up, wax swirling around in his cheeks. He gave QD the look of a small child who’d been caught, embarrassingly, in an act. “…I used to fall off the bed. Like, FIVE YEARS AGO. IT HASN’T HAPPENED IN A WHILE.” He flailed his arms around saying ‘no’.

“Oh, pfft. I forgot.”

“I already told you?”

“Yeah! ‘Cuz, like, your nightmares, and stuffs.” She laughed it off, helping him up. “My sister fell off our bed once. It was a bunk bed. She was sleeping on the top and—she just— completely ignored the railings, hahaha!” She elbowed Myst to get him in on the laugh. “But, yeah, she probably fell six feet. And stayed asleep the whole time. What fun, hm?”

Myst could only nod. He was grateful that QD still understood, too. Everything this little idiot had done for him was real, and he’d been living what he thought was his best life since. Ah, that’s too much. If he’d said it out loud, it’d bring the mood to a steady awkward.

Maybe he was glad he hadn’t died…

But he’ll pass out if they have to cross those bridges any time soon.

“Oh, and I told you that you looked like a Daemon, yeah?”

Myst recalled that. Quite clearly. It happened a few seconds ago. “Why is that?”

“Lunarians, when in contact with humans for too long, get black cracks in their face.” She pointed to hers. “That’s the process of turning into a Daemon. Lunarite, a common gem here, is black instead of white. At first, I wondered why. But now I know.” She shrugged. “It looks like you’re reverting back to a Lunarian, though. I think that’s a little neat.” QD smiled, pointing to his face.

Myst felt it once more. “Hmm?”

“Ouch. You broke it here…” She pointed under his eye. “And there, too!” She pushed back a fragment around his jaw. “I fixed it last night for you. While you were sleeping/fainting/shortest-comatose-I’ve-ever-seen. To be fair, I’ve never seen anyone in a coma.”

“Ah, all that aside…” Myst shook his head, putting a pin in the topic. “…we still have the Accursed Shrine.”

QD brightened up. “Yay! Expl—!” In a flash, she frowned horrifically. “Terra’s Song. There’s water everywhere there.”

Myst’s audible sigh rang out.

“And it’s ELECTRIFYING!”

“Worse,” Myst stared off into the distance. Verdant Moon to Myst? Hello?

“And also extremely hard to get to.”

“Even worse,”

“And also Light Shot would NOT work for us there.”

“Much worse,”

“And we’d have to

They found themselves at the Wolves’ Den, after almost falling through a void space as a Daemon chased after them.

“…uhm. Fun fact. There’s a merchant inside there.” QD pointed to the cabin. “She runs the place. Basically, it’s a place to rest and sell wares. People call her the Super Merchant… and stuff. She—she takes things that other merchants won’t take. But only that. Not your average merchant stuff. She won’t take those.” She gave Myst a cheesy smile that asked if it was working. Her attempt at lightening the mood. “Her name is Lady Ivy. I told Vera once, no, she cannot be your girlfriend. I think everyone wants to date the first woman they see in this world, actually. I don’t know why.”

Myst only stared at her. Disturbed.

“okay whatever.” She pointed at the same rocky structure they kept seeing. A stony pillar. It was a little bent at the top, pointing out sharply. “Look. If you squint… it’s pointing at a ledge.”

Myst shook his head. “No. No more ledges, QD. Please, no more ledges. No more stony pillars. No more islands. No more water. No more void spaces.”

QD derped up her face, widened her eyes and slowly moved them towards Myst. “Yes. All of those still. More and more.”

She had to drag Myst to the pillar.

“Okay. Now we climb. CLIMB!!!” She pointed to the rocks at the sides, just like how every other pillar had.

Myst and QD painstakingly climbed the pillar.

QD, breathing heavily, lying down on a rock she’d just climbed, was far below Myst, who had climbed quite high up. “Fun… fact… 2…” QD paused like she’d just died. “…this…pillar…doesn’t look… like… it’s climbable… but it’s… it’s climbable…… it was… to… hide… stuff…” She threw her hands up. “I DUNNO WHAT thouGH.” She wheezed out her final words on the matter.

“Get… get up here. Lazy.” Myst yelled down to her.

“AAAAAGHHH CARRY MEEE!!!” QD whined. “I HATE THIS! I’VE FALLEN DOWN IT SO MANY DAMN TIMES!”

After several whining and breathing minutes later, the two finally made it up to the point.

“Aha! Done. GOOD.” QD gave Myst a big ol’ thumbs up. “Now we just have to impossibly jump.”

The point was far from the ledge.

“You’ve got me fucked up if you think I’m going to jump that.” Myst had lost his whole soul.

“We can’t Light Shot. The wall is too far away. The ledge is downwards. You can’t Light Shot downwards.”

“Then WHY DID WE GO UP HERE.”

“…to get to the Accursed Shrine.” QD innocently gazed at him. “…oh, we actually could’ve avoided this.” She started to hysterically laugh. “WE HAVE LIGHT SHOT.”

“Oh, yeah? Is that so?”

“HehehehehYEAH”

“Ahahahah!” Myst started to slowly smile, cracking his face further. “You’re fucking dead. I’m going to fucking murder you.”

“Hahahahah, not if I kill you first!”

The two laughed until they thought it was way too uncomfortable for both of them. Then they cried for about three minutes.

“I FORGOT ALL ABOUT— ABOUT THAT!” QD pointed all the way across the Hidden Land. “WE COULD’VE LIGHT SHOT OUR WAY UP THERE. I’M NOT VERY SMART, MYST, I’M REALLY NOT.”

“It’shoktayyyy” Myst sniffled, patting her head. “We’re—we’re sh—saving the—the world…” He wiped away a few tears. “…dat’s all dat madders.”

“Uh-huh! Uh-huh!” QD hugged him as he stretched out his arms for her embrace. “That’s it! Now let’s jump this damn thing! Show it who’s boss!”

“Yeah—yeah, that’s— that’s how it works. Yes. That’s good.”

QD straight up JUMPED. There was no running. She just jumped. And she didn’t make it.

“OH STARS QD!!!”

She barely made it, actually. She was hanging on by one hand. “HURRY MYST PULL ME UP I HAVEN’T DONE ARMS IN A LONG TIME”

Myst panicked, but at least he ran back to get a running start. Three. Two. One. He jumped like DAMN ISUNO. Freaking ballerina style. He was fabulous. And he made it! Yay! Maybe because he had longer legs than QD. Speaking of QD, Myst stomped on her hand by accident.

“MYST!!!”

“AAGGH!!!” He panicked again, then realized he had to pull her up. At least he did arms. “SORRY!!”

QD was dragged up like a fish. “aaaaaugghhhh.”

“Stars! Are you okay?” Myst took the hand he crushed, slowly opening it up. “Yikes. Sorry.” He gently closed it.

“Man— it’s fine. I just have to hold onto it. Otherwise it’ll go blue.” She shook her head with a little smile. “It’s payback time, anyways.”

Myst forgot about this.

They walked on the ledge, above everything. In the Silver Woods, the trees touched the skies. In the Hidden Land, they weren’t quite as tall. But still, this ledge was high up nonetheless.

Like a tour guide, (SIMILE FIVE!?) QD pointed out a small crack in the wall they walked beside. “There’s Vellity Peak. Or park. I’m not sure anymore. Some say that’s where Terra practiced the cello. That’ll be something I’ll tell you about later!” She smiled.

They walked until they came across a little land bridge that they’d walked until earlier. It connected them to the other side of the Land, with ledges unreachable to the regular visitor. Now, they were met with lots of bushes along the wall.

“Vera wouldn’t tell me where a photo of Peter Griffin was here. He and some other friends of his were the only three to have found it, besides the god of this world. She removed it right after.”

“Oh. The creator isn’t…”

“Mh-mh. Anyways…” she walked along a few bushes, counting them. “I was close to finding it. I gave up at around… here. The last bush over there was where it was. “ QD stopped. “This is where the Shrine is.”

Myst swallowed his fear. “Where’s the water?”

QD dragged him into the bush by his hand.

There was a small hole. They fell through it.

“SHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII—-!” Myst had landed on the squishy body of a QD.

A QD who gave him a weak thumbs up.

“My bad! Ssssorrrryyy!” Myst lifted her back onto her feet.

“It’s fine…” she shook herself out.

Taking a few glances around, they were in a cave. Again. Caves and void spots and ledges and water. Those seemed to be most frequent. However, this cave didn’t have void spaces. It was illuminated with some small yellow squares. Maybe rocks of some sort? All of them had a bit of black attached to them. They sorta looked like mini lanterns! Very small. Petite. But so, so cute! Wow. I would like to eat one.

They illuminated the walls and path quite clearly. The rocks were a nice brown color. Like a tan. But also a bit yellow. And not so harsh. It was quite a nice contrast to the previous caves, all grey and dark.

“Let’s go!” QD brought Myst along. “Don’t be too scared.”

The path led up to a large and long hallway. The walls started straight, but broke into a slant suddenly. On both sides. They led a waterfall as long as each wall down to the floor, shimmering with an electric teal every now and then. There were stepping stones, thick and dark grey, just as the walls slowly faded to a lighter grey. The stones were clustered quite close, but there was still a chance to fall through. At the end of it, the stepping stones broke off, and the floor became solid again. There lay the Accursed Shrine.

The same knee-hugging figure was pictured, but the design, as it has always varied from Shrine to Shrine, was… unlike the others. Various weaponry pointed to the figure in the shape of wings. Wings that were sharp on each side, curling up almost in a circle. They were not completely wings, but they sure did look like it. Of course, this was for a lack of better explanation. The weaponry was opaque and the lightest shade of blue. Their shine and glow was stronger than other Shrines’ decorations, making them nearly white. Okay goobers. Now draw it.

Instead of being frightened like he thought he’d be, Myst was… uhm. Mystified. There was something so chilling and unsettling about the Shrine, yet something so profoundly beautiful about it. Sentimental and heartfelt, gut wrenching and lamentable. Like thousands of sorrowful cries, screaming and wailing in pain and despair. (SIMILE 6??!!) All banging loudly, louder in his ears. But he could hear none of it. Melancholy. Grief. What curse was this? Who was this, the Shrine? Who was it of? What happened to them?

“Touch it!”

“I’m afraid of what’ll happen if I do.”

“You’ll only get Insight.”

“Fine.”

Knowledge again. It must’ve held the key to the tragedy, but who knew what the shape of it was?

“Did that nerd say anything about this Shrine?”

“I dunno. He was probably just cursed. I think all these gods are men, actually. Even the Dancer. Stereotypically, that would be incorrect.” QD shrugged. “Hey, but, you handled this well!” She clapped him on the back. “I thought it’d be worse.”

Myst stiffly put his arms out. “Uhm. Not really. The water isn’t that deep.”

“Pfft, oh. It’s deep. It’s REALLY deep.” She waltzed back down the path as Myst suddenly froze.

“Stars.”

Once finally managing to get Myst out of the Shrine, the two breathed in some freshly rotting air that they’d forgotten had existed during their stay at the Accursed Shrine.

“Now… SIN…” QD taunted Myst. Giggling evilly, she skipped back up the path they’d come. At about halfway, she paused to wait for Myst to come.

Myst had made it with some difficulty that came along in a nice little package of nausea. “Where now?”

“Down!” QD pointed. It was still quite high up. The land bridge wasn’t too far away, but it was far enough. Still, the Land had slowly steeped up to it, making it seem closer to the ground that thought. When QD and Myst walked under it, QD tapped the ceiling with joyful pride of her height, fell down the steep, rocky steps it rested on, and promptly had been attacked by a Daemon awaiting them at the top. They were far from that point. Where QD had been looking, the wide ledge was still far from the ground.

Myst slowly nodded. “Uh-huh. So. We’re going down? There?”

“Yeah.”

“Looks like a dead end.”

“Yeah.”

“Sin is right under Accursed?”

“Kinda.”

“I think I know why it’s cursed, then.” Myst hadn’t expected the two other locations to be so close to each other.

QD shrugged. “Don’t break your legs!” She sat at the end, then slowly let herself fall down, like she was belly flopping.

“Catch me,” Myst stepped off right after.

He landed right in QD’s hands. “Hehe! I thought you’d like me to catch you. I got ready for you.” She carried him like a bride. Or princess. Or a princess-bride. If you get what I mean.

“More cracks in the wall!” She hopped along like a cheerful Boy Scout. “There’s a path ‘round here,” she sung in a little tune as she entered the crack. “that leads ya’ to basically hell,” she played hopscotch on an extremely broken path over a void space that was on stilts. Like. There’s, basically, a wooden board on a tiny stick in the middle. That’s not stable. “we’re goin’ straight to it,” QD hummed along, as Myst swore he saw a Lunarian relaxing against the stilt, close to the void space. “it’ll be… swell!” She finished. “Good rhyme!”

Bride Myst, carried by his groom, led out onto a thick, light grey path. There was another tree, just like the others in the Hidden Land, but much taller and with beautifully mundane royal blue leaves and vines. The tree’s bark was also darker and richer brown. Myst slowly realized the path wasn’t an actual path. It was a large hand. But stone, of course. The tree was in its palm, along with what Myst thought to be Sin, as QD lowered him back onto the not so solid, dangling and hanging over another void space, ground. A deeply glowing red crystal of four points with two little shapes— like oversimplified bug pincers— on the bottom half, pointing down into the earth. Behind it and slightly surrounding the sides, a sort of disfigured hand of black mass. It simply looked like a point coming out of the ground, but with five ugly and long points with sharp angles, some stemming out from others.

Draw it. If you dare face the challenge…

“Touch it,” QD gave Myst a smug smile of anticipation, like watching a friend play into your prank.

Myst gave out his, by now, classic sigh. “We’re touching it together.”

QD scoffed away, as if this was highly offensive. “Fine.” She lifted her nose in the air. “Three. Two…”

Myst slowly reached his hand closer to Sin, like he had anticipated QD to say something next. Because he did.

Instead, she nearly broke into laughter. “Pfft, why are you so eager?”

“TOUCH IT.”

“Yeah. Whatever. One.”

They touched it both at the same time.

“Ah, children, you seem so—

“Goodbye.” QD announced, shutting the Sin up quite quickly. She then turned to Myst. “Fun Fact 3: this is called Serpent’s Chosen. I had to look back on this one.” She stuck out her tongue with a lazy little face. “It’s some sort of vessel to bring Sin power. Anyways…”

She princess-bride carried Myst again. “Ah, everything that has to do with morally evil, like sins, people has, like, a snake. Fifty percent chance. I’m telling you— these are real numbers.”

***

“Ohhhhhhh. Ohhhh, shhittttt. Shit, dude! Say shit!”

“Shit? What’s that?”

Vera felt like breaking down into a million tiny pieces. A million, itty-bitty-teeny-weeny terribly tortured pieces as he held back tears.

“Man— this is REALLY BAD. REALLY FUCKING BAD.”

“I don’t know what Teyvat is.” Warren raised an eyebrow. “How important is it?”

Vera grasped his hair, ready to tear it out at any moment, banging his head straight down onto the table.

“Hey!” Warren jumped at the loud thud. “What’s going on? You can say it, can’t you? Or is this some secret information?”

Vera groaned. “I’m so fucking useless, man. So fucking— I—…” He made a pitiful noise. “I’m dead. I’m— I’m going to DIE.”

“Oh! That’s what this means!? You’re going to die?”

“NOT ME! YOU CLUELESS BASTARD!” He buried his face in his hands, on the table, sobbing away. “She’s just… she’s so little… we…”

Warren was taken back. He didn’t know what to do. “Vera? Who is?” He tapped Vera’s back. This was something Hiraeth had done to his own hand when they spoke last. Maybe he was doing it wrong? It was more like… a pat. Pat? Hiraeth pat his hand. Warren pat Vera’s back. “You’re sad.”

“No—shit, Sherlock.” Vera choked.

“Can I read?”

Vera’s shoulders heaved up and down between gasps of air.

“Okay, I’ll read it.” Warren’s eyes reluctantly flicked to the hologram Vera was viewing. “This is that Teyvat circle. And there’s this other circle? And these circles are going into that circle. This Teyvat circle is right next to this big, important circle.” He traced his fingers along the screen, slowly turning down to Vera afterwards. “What’s the big circle?” He touched it. “Oh, the screen changed.” Warren read the words.

“I don’t understand.” His gaze pierced the words as he wore an expression of terrible confusion. “What’s a rip? It’s important, hm? Because it’s capitalized. Like, the Rip?” He stared at the word. “Yeah, like Rip. Rip.”

***

“Damn. This one’s pretty easy.” Kindle pointed to each box. “Karukos! Me and Vera were doing some the other day.” She smiled.

Rhine sighed. “That’s nice. But how do we enter the numbers?”

Rhine and Kindle had woken up to a nice thank-you note written on a raggedy piece of paper, and some of those petal-covered candies from Lyric. That and a rush of the ink that Ismurl had told them about. Hopefully, Lyric had made it through safely. Or they spent some good resources for nothing… that’s what Rhine thought, at least. Now they were back inside the mountain, met with two tablets. Karukos, as Kindle explained. There were red crystalline boxes for each answer. One of the Karukos was a 2 by 2, the other a 3 by 3, therefore much more annoying and complex.

Kindle examined the boxes, shrugging. When she’d woken up, she was met with her own varying surprises. A terribly piercing headache, along with the terrorizing stomach ache that came from the hot cocoa. All the aches for Kindle! And weak legs! Yay! All this meant that Kindle naturally wanted to take a break. Especially the headache. Often, when she tries to use even a fraction of what she normally thinks with, she’ll come to conclusions about problems in mere seconds that would usually take quite a while to get. That comes with its cons, however, which is the terrible headaches and brain fog. She supposed that her headache from the earlier morning was from another dream that wracked her brain up with thoughts, and her weak legs were probably soreness from walking up a freaking mountain all day.

Rhine, on the other hand, felt nothing. She was used to not being used to new foods, and she jogged everyday to make sure she could still run faster than her son. She was a total winner.

“Look,” she said, taking the small chip of the red crystal that they’d used to open the door earlier. “The answers, Kindle?”

Kindle nodded. “7, 8, 6… then 1, 5, and 2. Lastly, 4, 3, 9.” She giggled. “All the numbers are different. It sounds like sudoku! Hehe, doesn’t it?”

Rhine looked off to the side, breaking into a little smirk. “Yeah, guess so.” She grinned, scratching in the answers with the crystal. “Next one?”

“3, 7. Next line, 6 and 8.”

The door in front of them slowly opened, hiding away in its frame. Just like the doors at the train, thought the two standing before it. Albeit one had much more enthusiasm.

“Yay! See? All that practicing with Vera wasn’t for nothing, hehe~!”

“I’d never put down any challenging math games. When did you think I said it was for nothing?” Rhine opened her band to take a picture.

“Uhm,” Kindle tapped her lips charmingly. “I don’t know. I just wanted to prove you wrong for something.” She cheekily smiled.

I guess I can let loose. “Oh, I’m never wrong.” She returned a cheeky smile right back to the sender.

“Well, then! I think I’ll be the first to touch the door.”

“Hm, I think not. Who’s got weak legs?”

“Who’s got electro powers?”

“Better question— who’ll count to three?”

“Hm~ three, two…” Kindle smirked, readying herself, eyeing Rhine in anticipation. “twwwoooo~?”

Rhine stood very still, like she was intending to give Kindle a head start. “Go on. One?”

“One!”

Kindle sped to the door, Rhine following right next to her.

In the end, Rhine tapped the door seconds earlier.

“I’m never wrong! See?” She copied Kindle’s tone from earlier.

Kindle, in response, rolled her eyes. “I think you were cheating!”

“Who tried to speed up with her shoes?”

Kindle looked down at them, the blue lightning bolts perfectly visible. She sulked. “I didn’t know they turned on all of a sudden…”

Rhine broke into laughter. “Of course. I’ll let you off the hook this time.”

Oh, I see where he gets it from. Kindle’s eyes sparkled upon hearing her laughter. “Durin’s laugh is just like yours! You never hear it, but when you do, it’s cute~!”

“Ugh, everyone says things like that. It’s always, ‘Rhine, your son has your face’, or this.” She put her hands on her hips, extending a hand out. “That we sound the same, or have the same personality.” She shook her head with a little smile. “When this is over, I’ll probably take him out somewhere.” She shrugged. “For fun. We haven’t done something like that in a while.”

“Oh, can I come?”

“No. Strictly mother and son bonding time. No losers of races allowed.” This was contradictory. Durin lost every race with Rhine.

“Eh, whatever.” Kindle pointed to the pathway that led outside. “Let’s head on out, then!”

I think everything will be just fine. Rhine felt warmer than usual. Yeah… I don’t know why I was worrying earlier. I knew I was just being dramatic and paranoid.

She was led outside with Kindle.

Either that, or it’s simply just the sudden mood lightening. Ah, humans can never be sure… we’re so bad at predicting outcomes.

Kindle and Rhine must’ve walked on for hours. Well, it certainly felt like it. They walked up the mountain, very slowly.

“We haven’t ran into any inky monsters yet.” Kindle commented. “I wonder if they’ll show up.”

They rounded the corner and were met with a sudden attack of monsters.

“EEEK!”

Rhine kicked away the monster going for Kindle, splattering its ink all over the side of the mountain they walked along. She had to multitask this and switching her band’s mode, then testing to see if the metal had sunk into her skin. Once she’d confirmed, she fought her way through the only monsters.

“Oh— wowie! Thanks, Rhine! I thought I’d get hit there for sure!”

Plowing through the monsters like hay (SIMILE SIX!?!), Rhine nodded her head back to accept the gratitude. “Get out the incense!”

Kindle blinked in confusion, then quickly snapped to her senses. “Oh! Yeah!” She let the satchel on her side loose, allowing a flowery purple powder to float around in the air. Kindle bounced after Rhine afterwards, watching as the monsters backed away— some even falling off the mountain and arriving to their deaths.

“Nice,” Rhine let the band’s metal reappear right out of her skin, swapping the modes again.

Kindle beamed at this compliment. “Hehee~ I have the skills, don’t I?”

Rhine nodded. “Yeah. I guess this can make up for your earlier failure.”

“Oh, you guess?” Kindle marveled at the dying monsters. “I think you should be sure. And don’t be wrong~!”

“Sure— this makes up for your earlier, poorly-executed and well-deserved failure.”

“Heyyyy!” Kindle scoffed. “You didn’t have to add the rest.”

Rhine broke out into her laughter again, turning around and walking backwards to poke Kindle’s arm. “But I did!”

Sighing playfully, Kindle followed properly behind Rhine for the next few minutes.

The monsters’ numbers slowly dried up. Kindle and Rhine trudged up the mountain for the next few thousands of hours. (Says Kindle) In reality, it was only about an hour or two.

Things started to get interesting when the crystals that had always surrounded their path started to shake.

Kindle jumped, but Rhine took the initiative.

“Come on! Rest spot!” She grabbed onto Kindle’s hand, dragging her right up the mountain. “I saw one quite a while back, so there should be one up here somewhere!”

“Wuuaahh?!” Kindle flailed around behind her, barely keeping up. “Were you counting how many we saw or something!?”

“What else?”

“No wonder you weren’t bored!!! I totally forgot about these rushes! I’d be dead on the spot!!!!”

They bolted up the hill with fiery determination.

The crystals slowly increased in their intensity and tendency to vibrate.

We’re running out of time…

Finally, Rhine managed to find a rest spot in the close distance. “Almost there!”

The low rumbling sound rang out like tearing metal.

“HURRY!!!”

Rhine slid straight into the spot once she came close enough.

They were safe, watching the marvel of the rush unfold from their own secret little safe spot.

“Ugh. Close one.” Kindle held onto her head. “We almost could’ve died! That felt like a movie scene, y’know? ‘We’re almost there!!’ And they get it at the last second!” She smiled up at Rhine, out of breath suddenly. “Ouch… let’s never do that again.”

Rhine examined her silently. “Did you get hurt?”

“Nope, my head just hurts. Must be the higher altitude… I shouldn’t forget to breathe, hehe.”

Hm. The altitude, that could be it. Maybe I should start being aware of this, too.

Kindle hugged onto her knees and stared into the flame of the lantern that burnt quietly, saying nothing else.

Shit… Rhine was a jumbled bag of trail mix, if trail mix was thoughts. (yo is this METAPHOR 2) It’s really obvious there’s something else, but I can’t think of it. God, this is important.

The two waited in silence in the rest spot. Finally, the ink rush started to die out.

“It’s safe to go. Come on.” Rhine held out a hand for Kindle.

She grabbed onto it as the two made their way out.

“Uhm,” Kindle’s attention was brought to the ink sinking into the ground as she pondered asking her question. “can you carry me the rest of the way?”

Rhine raised an eyebrow as she turned around. Oh, do her legs feel weak again…? Hm, normally, I’d be a bitch about this. But… “Sure. Piggyback ride?”

And thus, Kindle and her steedRHINE went up the mountain.

We should pick up the pace. Rhine looked up the mountain. We have about thirty more minutes left to go. How close, hm? She brought herself to a fast walk.

This had gone on for about ten minutes, until they reached a gap in the path. A slippery gap that lead to a straight tumble down the mountain.

“We can’t climb this, no?” Rhine asked a sleepy Kindle, examining a small cliff that covered the gap. With that in the way, Rhine wasn’t sure she’d be able to climb it. She’d have to revert to bug. Taking a good look, she noticed a tiny bit of snow floating on nothing.

In every world, there’s an invisible bridge, right? Rhine took another look at the cliff above. That’s probably preventing any snow from falling on it and revealing its location.

The crystals around them started to shake.

Shit! Rhine kicked some snow towards the gap, and surely enough, it remained in the air. Okay—okay. Let’s go. She ran for the gap. Luckily, she was walking on solid ground she couldn’t see. Good! Good, let’s get out of here! Rhine burnt her feet from a sudden burst of speed. Rest spot, rest spot—rest spottttt!!!

Kindle held onto Rhine tighter. “What’s… happening?” It was obvious she was suddenly plagued by pain and fatigue.

“Another rush. Don’t worry, there’s a rest spot nearby.” Rhine lied.

“Hurry,” Kindle whispered.

Oh, God.

Burning away, burning everything. A fiery passion in a desolate and cold world— so close.

“Rest spot!” Rhine heard the rumble again. No, please—just another—-another movie scene, right? I’m a lucky person— A lucky person thought.

Rhine, without any consideration for anything, dove for the spot, thrusting Kindle off and rolling.

“Owwwchhhhh…” Kindle groaned.

Rhine picked herself off from the floor, a sharp pain in her knee and elbows. She turned right back to Kindle. She was safe inside. “Oh, I’m so sorry— I’m so sorry…” Rhine pat Kindle’s head.

We’re going to die, aren’t we? We have too much more to go.

“There’s something wrong.” Kindle whispered. “Everything…” She closed her eyes. “…hurts. I can’t scream.”

Rhine’s heart skipped a few beats, then raged. “What?”

The rush outside stopped. Rhine picked up Kindle again, running straight for the top.

Shit, shit, shit. If it’s—- it shouldn’t be. I’m overreacting again. I’m worrying too much. No.

The denier felt luckier and glad she’d never skipped leg day.

Please, just give it a break. No more rushes— please…

Maybe it was about ten more minutes left. That didn’t mean Rhine could stop. That only meant she should go even faster.

They burnt away, burning through the time.

Come on, I’ve never stopped. I can’t stop now. It needs to be perfect.

The crystals started to shake.

The top was in view.

No. No. No. No. No, no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no.

Please.

Just a little bit more.

So far,

so far.

WE’RE SO CLOSE!!!

“COME ON!!!” Rhine screamed.

A low rumble rang out.

Ten feet. Nine feet. Five. Eight feet. Seven feet. Four. Six feet. Five feet. Three. Four feet. Three feet. Two. Two feet. One foot. One.

Enveloped.

In the light of the Rosetta-Cypress. Everything surrounding it was grey and hazy. Like a blizzard. Blowing violently in a calm and tranquil way.

“We made it,” Rhine whispered. “we made it.” It hit her like a bullet. “WE MADE IT!!” She yelled in victory, turning to Kindle, safely secure on her back.

The little girl’s lips barely curled into a smile. Her face was otherwise pained. “Go.”

“We just— we just touch it?” Rhine hovered a shaky hand over the Rosetta-Cypress.  “Now? Really? And think of going back to the Train?”

“I would.”

Rhine let Kindle down, who fell to her knees.

“Three. Two. One.”

They saw a blinding light.

***

“That building-apartment there. Climb up the movie generic ladders at the side!” QD pointed to the movie generic ladders at the side.

Now, QD and Myst were climbing up movie generic ladders at the side of an apartment-looking building. Once on the roof, Myst noticed a piece of wood that led to the area behind the roof. The Grey Gardens was surrounded by natural stone walls— and on this side, it led to the possibly worst smell of rot he’d ever encountered in this world. All sorts of stone pillars they kept seeing everywhere rose from it. He saw a huge tree, without any leaves, rotting away in the distance. The pathway that led from the Gardens to this area was a point that led to the tree— until it got cut off, presumably into a void space below.

“That’s the Far Reach. It smells terrible, by the way.” QD snarkily commented. Suddenly, she perked up. “Oh, call from Vera~ he seems to want all the attention, showing up earlier today and calling now.” She piped away, her tone making it obvious that she was just messing around. She cleared her throat. “Hey baby girl~… oh, damn. What’s got you so worked up?…uhm.”

Myst cocked his head to the side to make up for facial confusion.

QD threw her wrist around her neck, with an expression that said ‘do NOT say anything right now Myst no matter what he’s going crazy’. “Hey…?…dude, can you say it straight?…calm down.” She stared off into the Far Reach, awaiting a response. “…it’s okay, I’ll listen. Just take your time……yeah, what about her?…she…?…she what?…yessss?…” QD stood still for a little bit. Then she slowly turned to Myst with a blank expression that hid her terror. “Thanks. See you soon.”

Myst folded his arms. “So?”

“Kindle’s dying.”

“What.”

“Her world. It’s next. It’s dying right now.”

“Where do we have to go?”

“Dancer. Wrathful. Virtue.” QD made strict hand motions. “Sync with me.” She bolted to the Far Reach.

And Myst followed right after.

“Hand!” QD threw her hand back like she was passing a baton once they reached the point. She walked to the edge, then slid on a rope that suspended a whole makeshift village under the point-cliff. “Jump down to me once you see me shoot!”

They landed on the village, running on the wooden boards that connected wooden islands of houses and their small, thin wooden porches. QD jumped straight off once she reached the end.

Myst saw a whole void space under the tree, but where QD was going, there was rock.

She fell for a while, then snapped her head back up and shot a string— Light Shot again— to the wooden board Myst was under.

Myst, without any hesitation, jumped down to her.

QD caught him, holding onto a single arm. Locked in the good ol’ butterfly grip. Light Shot, since QD hadn’t flicked it, suspended them down to the ground safely, where QD led a hand-in-hand straight run towards a maze of stone pillars. She shot towards many pillars, using them to her advantage to take both her and Myst further and further—faster and faster.

They got to a thick congregation of pillars, where QD snapped to the right. A small crack that led to a spacious cave. More caves!

She turned on a lantern that had been at her hip this entire time. Myst took a second to see it was lit by purple bugs.

The cave led out into a massive wooden bridge, made with the classic rope and boards. It led to stone steps into what seemed like an altar. QD tightened her grip on Myst as she shot upwards, skipping past the stairs, landing at the top with a roll, laying flat for Myst to safely land on. Once that was done, Myst took the lead, still holding on, until QD got herself back up with Myst’s pull and help. They ran side-by-side.

“Dancer!”

There was a great hallway that led to the Shrine.

The Shrine’s surroundings were much more complex and complete than others. The Shrine was circled by eight actual, unnatural (as in, not occurring by nature)—man made stone pillars. It had the same figure hugging onto its knees. Unlike Accursed, the properties of the surrounding decor were the same as the rest of the Shrines. On the left, an upside-down wing a little higher than the middle. On the right, the same thing, reflected in X and Y. A ribbon twirled around the figure in the middle. All the color pink.

QD slid into her touch of the Shrine, turning right back around to speed away. Myst stretched out to tap the Shrine successfully.

Noticing this, QD shot to the arch that led to the hallway, and sped through it once she flicked her hand away. They flew past the stairs and bridge.

“On me!”

QD took the risk to roll down into her mat form so that Myst could land safely again. He helped her up, leading for a few seconds, just like last time.

They ran out of the Dancer Shrine, once again flying through the pillars, running past the village.

“Fun Fact 4: Etrae, the Hanging Village.” QD mentioned to lighten the mood as they passed by.

They ran across, coming close to the void space with the island of the tree in the middle.

“There!”

At the base of the stone pillar (that they’d seen everywhere) that held up the tree, there was a small land bridge, like the point that Etrae was suspended on. It led into a hole.

“I’ll tell you to jump with me.” QD picked up her pace.

They had to squeeze themselves between large stone pillars and the ground that led straight to the void if a single step was misplaced. Eventually, they got over the land bridge. It was connected from where they were at, but probably a mile below their point.

QD summoned a curvy purple dagger at her feet that stabbed into the earth. Where it was stuck into, a small, white, magic circle appeared. A glowing link that was also white connected QD and the dagger. She hopped straight down, then disappeared into white and purple triangles, reappearing at the dagger.

“Hop on!” She squatted.

Myst obviously took this as an invite to piggyback ride.

Once he was on, QD jumped off, letting them both soar for a mile. The ground came closer and closer, and QD simply put her feet down. Everything shook, but she stood her ground with a terrified Myst relying totally on her. She ran on the land bridge, hopping over gaps and tree roots. She made it into the hole that seemed so small from where they were just on. It led into a tiny cave, covered in white ash. The rotting smell started to become terribly nauseating.

QD hopped over a gap, onto the other side of it, skidding in white ash. “I’ll catch you.”

She jumped straight into the gap, cut by the jagged rocks reaching out on all sides.

When Myst heard a thud, he followed right after— hands hugging onto himself, legs straight down. He was, as promised, caught by QD.

She put her hands together quickly, as both of them were choked by the white ash creating a foggy atmosphere. A bright light emerged, and QD held a halo decorated with four-pointed stars and a beautifully complicated design.

“Follow me,” she gasped for the clean air made by the halo. “quickly behind.”

QD trudged through thick ash with Myst. They hopped over void spaces and tiny spaces. Getting lost in a maze of ashy plains and towering, metal-if-it-was-smooth red crosses that emanated very little light. QD muttered to Myst. “Don’t look, don’t touch. If you’re lucky, you won’t get influenced.”

They traversed through the foggy, ashy, winding, and maddening landscape.

Myst felt like he was made of needles, being overtaken by vision of a bloody red, falling to his knees into the ash. “Agh—!”

Unknowingly having walked ahead, QD whipped her head back to Myst, who was choking on the ash. She had to slowly trudge to him.

“Sorry—.” She held her closed palms right under his chin. “If I run too fast, the prayer goes away.”

Myst nodded in understanding.

They kept walking after the situation was averted.

“Even though it’s Virtue, it still decides to swallow you up. To take you whole— like you rely and need it. Like you’ll give up everything for it.” She looked down at her hands. “Sometimes we get influenced anyway.”

They made their way to a desolate plain. There was a Shrine.

“Wrathful.” Myst and QD commented at the same time.

It looked like this, because there’s no way I can describe the design.

(There ya go, casuals)

QD and Myst both tapped it.

“Good. Virtue. Come on.” QD led the way once more.

They traversed through the ash again. Myst could barely see his way, but QD seemed to know where they were going. Making their way to a narrow strip of land with gaps, they walked to a pit. Steep. Far down.

QD nodded to Myst. “We’ll be choking for a while.” She stabbed her purple dagger into the ground, flailing her hands around to remove the prayer like one would dry hands with sanitizer on them.

Myst covered his mouth and nose quickly, searching his pockets for a handkerchief, if possible. Finally, he found one, and held it to his mouth and nose.

QD jumped, appeared in the triangles, then motioned for Myst to follow her down.

Once again, QD became the literal floor mat trampoline for Myst. She probably broke her back several times, but had it healed straight away. World rules were weird.

In the deep pit, there was another one of those crosses.

“Touch.” QD pulled her shirt over her nose again.

“AH, CHILDREN. YOU ARE IMPUR—

“GOODBYE.” QD spat. She then jerked her head upwards, telling Myst they would Light Shot back up. She held onto his hand, flicking up her shot.

Now, they were back on track. This time, QD didn’t take out her little prayer. Instead, she led straight ahead.

The two once more traversed through red crosses and stomped through thick layers of ash. Finally, the ash got thinner and thinner. Myst remembered the jumps they had took to get here. Then, they were back at the beginning.

QD took out the prayer this time, allowing both of them to get clean and fresh air. “The Embrace.” She looked back to where they just were. “What a hug, hm?” She ended the prayer and shot upwards.

They made it out. The smell, if they had breathed any of it in The Embrace, had gotten somewhat bearable. Now they were back to running. QD shot her string of light to the great height above them—where she’d first used her dagger— in a throw that looked like she’d just dislocated her shoulder. Instead of going through the pillars like they’d done before, they started to use Light Shot to get up to them.

Before they knew it, they were on another little island. There were houses made of wood, and as all wood in this world (well, most of it), they were rotting. This place was very close to the huge tree in the middle, and one could walk to it with ease, as there was a land bridge that towered over the void space below it.

Myst was led by QD into a small house. There was a painting decorated in a sturdy and stylish frame. The painting itself was probably abstract… It was just a blank canvas but with blue, red, white and black splatters. Whatever that meant.

“I don’t know if this’ll work for you.” QD jumped into the painting, and luckily, Myst followed.

They made it into a rounded hall, surrounded by different paintings, with a single painter at a work desk. He waved to QD, who waved back. She turned to Myst. “We’re in the Hidden Land again.”

Myst had noticed the same small yellow and black rocks that glowed.  

QD hopped into another painting, tall. One of a forest that was just beginning autumn, tree leaves oranging, and grass still their summer green.

They appeared in a room with a single bed and many weaponry on the walls, as well as the painting.

Running out, Myst had noticed the room was in a very large tree.

“Back in the Silver Woods!” QD shot from tree to tree, and over to the place where the two had entered the Undergrowth— where the Stoic Shrine was located. Turning back, the Lunarian Reservoir, still hidden behind the three little waterfalls that QD had to lie to Myst about. He still couldn’t believe he did everything he had just done… all the water parts, at least.

Now they were running past Twigs and entering the Undergrowth. They ran past the cracks in the narrow and short cave, then rounded to a wide void space, jumping over gaps and from rock to rock. Making their way to a hallway and seeing a stone door with a light blue hue. Lines of glowing light blue overlapping each other for the walls— and the actual doors had the same glowing light blue, but with a design of four overlapping circles’ outlines. Through the door, they then made their way into a lush and (dare I say) verdant area. The rocks here also had a blue hue to them, tiny streams of glowing water that carried the essence of the Lake of Eden, flowers, twisting trees that for once weren’t rotting, crystals, and another blue-stone temple ahead. (Think of the freaking Thomas Jefferson memorial. I’m sorry.) oh, and also there was a large golem lying dormant in the temple but it looked pretty crazy because it was wearing a cape of moss and also its face was like a sort of white glowing rune with a huge axe it was pretty sick lol

“Ivory Remains. Keep track of the golem’s attack patterns.” QD let go of Myst, running up to it.

The golem slowly stood up, then lifted its foot to stomp on the little QD that ran up to it. QD dodged, pulled out her sword, and swiped.

In return, the golem swung its axe backwards, then thrust it forward with a shaking slam. QD spun out of the way.

Myst made his way towards the fight. “Any weapons for me?”

QD summoned thick, golden chains of magic at the golem, searching her pockets. “Uhm, push daggers?” She tossed them back to him, once more dodging the golem as it wound up an axe spin.

Catching and sliding them on, Myst quickly adapted to the weight and speed. He ran close to QD, who had started to swing at the golem that took its time to recover from the tiring move.

The golem raised its foot once again, prompting Myst to summon an illusion of himself and QD. They stood back and waited for the golem to hit the illusions. Once that was done, Myst sent rapid jabs towards the golem and QD summoned a small beam of light that soon imploded into the towering move she’d used on their very first Daemon encounter.

The golem reeled back, threw its axe back, and charged up an attack to smash it onto the ground.

Myst dodged out of the way. There was, without a shadow of a doubt, no chance he would be able to block the attack with daggers, though he figured that it could be perfectly possible—and quite the power move. Maybe he could communicate the idea to QD somehow.

The axe smashed straight into the ground, cracking the stone and releasing its splinters and fragments everywhere.

“Hey! Face!” QD yelled out to him, pointing at his face. (yeah would she point at his feet? I don’t think so)

Myst’s arms immediately flew to guarding his face. Soon after, he felt a sharp pain in his forearm. Lowering his arms and guard, he checked the pain out— and sure enough, a piece of stone had lodged itself into his arm.

The golem took this opportunity to wind up its axe again, aiming for the distracted Myst.

“Uh—?”

QD shot out a little stream of purple that moved through the air like lightning, grabbing onto Myst and pulling him back. “You can stand by,” She motioned to his arm. “I think I got this.”

Myst looked after her as she dashed to the golem, spamming her spells. Dashing into the golem by summoning blue wings, jabbing into it with her rapier, then assaulting it with her beams and chains between throwing dark ink. He let out a small sigh, removing the chip of stone from his cracked arm. Taking out his handkerchief again, wrapping it around the wound to prevent his wax from spilling out, then deciding it was good enough, he stood up to help QD out by bringing some illusions into play.

Summoning a little spinning cheese seemed to do the trick. A cheese was all Myst could think of at this point. It also helped if he was naturally thinking of something, rather than conjuring something he wasn’t. So, a small cheese distracted a large golem. He thought that maybe it would be a little smarter than this.

Slowly but surely, QD and Myst had disabled the golem.

“Hurry! Attack!” QD waved to Myst.

The golem lay there, whirring and running for a little while, before the two funnies started to beat the daylights out of it. This is battery.

Finally, the golem fell and disappeared into little white blocks that faded out like a ghost.

“Temple?”

“Yeah.”

They ran to the temple, instantly teleported to a… uhm. A place. There was the same blue hued stones that built the walls around. A blue carpet, long and still fluffy, stretched out into a broken wall that led into darkness ahead. The window on the left was broken, letting light in through small cracks.

QD nodded to Myst. “Go there. Find a statue. Meet back here.”

Myst ran into a hall and up some steps. There, he was met with more void spaces and ledges. He jumped from ledge to ledge, into a library of some sort, which he traversed through to find a praying statue with a sorry excuse for wings. It was just a block that went out with three more blocks evenly spaced under it. Due to prior experience, he knew he had to touch it. So he did. The statue glimmered with white sparkles. His job was pretty easy…

He sped back to the meeting place, where he found QD running back, out of breath.

She grabbed onto Myst’s hand, bolting over the carpet and into the whole in the wall, surrounded by broken stones. “I had to run through a minefield lltwice,” she commented.

“Glad you’re still here,” Myst responded.

“That was Curia, the Lost Temple.” QD said as she entered an enormous maze with the same pattern of glowing lines on the ceiling as the door had, but on a much larger scale. “We’re in the Derelict Halls now.” She led him through the maze, punching her chest to summon lines of a disfigured and deflated circle that revolved around her and disappeared. “Stand behind me, always.”

They ran until a laser of teal glued itself to QD. Myst saw it was from a circle connected to a stone pillar (manmade) on the ceiling.

QD dashed through each wall, letting the lasers connect to her without any fear of the beeping that occurred with more frequency as time went on.

Finally, they made it behind a safe cover of a wall. A sound of breaking glass came from QD, and little triangles of light came off of her. “That’s just my Runic Shield.” She smiled, then pointed to a pit of void ahead of them. “Hurry.”

She ran to the side of it, where a small, hidden ledge was. By now, they both had experience with small ledges over large void spaces. They ran across it with ease.

It led down to stairs, which led down to an open area. It had more light seeping through cracks, and more lines of light etched all over walls and ceilings.

“Careful.” QD led them down the steps. Both of them suddenly started to be pricked away by something— who knows what— that made them flinch terribly.

The room ended with an image of a leafless tree and its roots that another blue carpet led to. There were white circles and arrows pointing various ways along each root and branch, with some circles a deep red. QD started to move each arrow, prompting Myst to do the same. It was like a pipe puzzle. Finally, all the circles were white, and they entered the room the puzzle opened up to. The room contained nothing but a statue— the same  they had seen earlier. Both Myst and QD touched it.

QD made a small prayer, allowing her and Myst to relieve themselves of the pain brought upon the sudden pricks. (take what you will with this.) “Back out,” She breathed, grabbing onto Myst’s hand again.

They ran out at full speed, up the steps, then back to the ledge.

Leading them between the maze’s walls again, and being targeted by the teal laser lights, QD pumped a fist to her chest, surrounded by Runic Shield’s effect. She swapped the hands she was holding onto Myst with, according to the direction of the lasers that pointed to her. They passed through wall by wall, the beeping filling the halls and their ears. Shortly after, a laser fired its shot at QD. Her shield blasted off into purple hexagons in a circular shape. She had to quickly hide her and Myst behind a wall to avoid another laser that had been on them for quite a while. Afterwards, she led them behind a few more walls.

Once they finally stopped, Myst saw a few (MANMADEEE) stone pillars on their breaking points.

QD was busy catching her breath. “We’re not out yet. We still have so much.” She led Myst on.

They hid behind each pillar, avoiding a purple stream that looked exactly like what QD used to pull Myst away from the golem’s attack before this fever dream hit them.

“Is someone shooting at us!?” Myst gasped.

Busy fighting a grey version of Twigs with a blue hue (much like everything else here), QD grunted to respond. She kicked away a grey Twig, then led Myst behind another pillar as they got closer to their ranged opposer.

Myst distracted some other grey Twigs with illusions, being dragged carelessly away by QD.

They soon made it to a point where they could walk up broken steps, to where whoever was aiming at them was. QD made it a clear effort to sneak attack and kick off the hooded figure with a fiery passion.

“RUN!” QD pointed to twisted stones over a large void space.

Once again, they engaged in jumping over gaps, stepping on ledges, and running on uneven ground.

Turning back for a split second, Myst saw the grey Twigs falling through gaps. Grey or not, they were still stupid. Haha.

They were met with a tall cliff, which QD got to the top of with Light Shot, skipping whatever they had to have done if they did this properly. Then, all there was left was a thin strip of land over the second largest void space they’d seen. (Because it was way too dark to see anything else) As the two ran on it for quite some time, they saw a large figure hovering over the ledge emerge from the darkness. Simply the torso up of those statues— the same color and properties of the Shrines they’d seen so many times prior. Its hands were looming over the ledge, like it was about to grab whoever walked on the ledge.

“Here’s the thing— we might die.” QD turned to Myst. “And I can’t do this alone. So, I might lose you. But, there’s a chance it’ll work.”

Ice shot through Myst’s veins. “Have you tested this out?”

QD became quiet and still. “Stick super close to me. Like we’re the same person.”

“What.” Myst had no choice but to hold onto QD. “QD. Did you think this through? QD!”

They walked through the figure.

Safe and sound!

Myst breathed out. Violently. “Oh— stars—!”

QD simply smiled. “You’ve been a great help. Thanks for, y’know, trusting me and not arguing. And being quiet. After this, we might have a chance of saving Kindle. This is the Dreamspiral.” They stepped out onto a small platform that hovered over an open room with a bottomless abyss. Large windows illuminated the room with something that looked like a simply decorated magic circle below.

In the middle, a ghostly image of… uhm. Was it QD, or was it Myst?

“Angelic Reflection. Let’s kill it.” QD jumped down, instantly recognized by the Reflection.

This meant Myst had a small window to be caught before the Reflection covered enough distance to attack. It was now or never.

He jumped into QD’s arms, who flashed out her weapon. Myst gripped onto his push daggers.

They started to fight away.

“It’s smart enough to only fall for some illusions!” QD yelled, as she parried the Reflection’s first attack, swiping thrice. “You’ll need to concentrate harder!”

Myst stood back to summon more illusions as QD and the Reflection exchanged exact replicas of attacks.

Maybe I could confuse the Reflection with flashes of another QD feinting attacks…?

Surely enough, that’s what Myst did. Now, it looked like QD was doubling with each move.

Dodging the Reflection and sending a light chain once she spun 180, the illusionary QD sent another attack that led the Reflection to block absolutely nothing.

“Nice going!” QD took the window of the Reflection reeling back from a surprising block of air to jab it in the chest.

Myst felt loved. That’s kinda all I gotta say on the matter. He concentrated his illusions to be perfect— adding in more smudge to make it look like QD’s attacks were impossibly fast. This allowed many feints and left the Reflection guessing which attack it should block.

Finally, QD showed off her dexterity and cartwheeled back while sending beams and chains to the Reflection, simply watching the blinding spectacle unfold as she rested her elbow on Myst’s shoulder.

All that was left after the attack was a pure ball of white light.

Damn. Myst blinked to believe what he was seeing.

QD ran to the ball and picked it up. “Shwoop,” she whispered to herself as the ball split into two. She handed one to Myst. “That was the fastest Reflection fight I’ve been in.” She motioned Myst to run to the figure that had just appeared at the edge of the circle— the same that had ‘judged’ them on the ledge.

Myst and QD held onto the orbs like schoolgirls eager to present their latest (and horrifying) creations from ceramics class.

“Hey, Aeon.” QD responded to the figure.

“Ah, Cecilia.” Aeon’s whisky voice rang out and echoed through the Dreamspiral. “You’re back once more. I haven’t seen you in many phases.”

“Mhm.” QD nodded, turning to Myst. “Another Dissonant, too. Maybe we’ll come back another time.”

Myst tried his best to smile without cracking his face further.

“It would be nice for you two to see the world further, and once it’s healed again. Thanks to your efforts.” Aeon opened his hands to accept the orbs of light.

QD presented hers while Myst copied the response the best he could. “Of course. See you.” She nodded, disappearing once she’d given the orb.

Myst saw her fade away, nearly letting go of his.

“An Angel’s Heart. Do you truly wish to give it away? You’ll lose everything.”

Only now, amidst all the rush of the past— maybe an hour or less— did Myst realize everything that had just happened. This world was so beautiful, even when it was broken. There was much, much more that they’d passed by, or never seen because of their path. And QD had seen all of it. But not him.

It was a world of her own, and of another's own.

How deep did the rabbit hole go?

He handed Aeon the Angel’s Heart.

And he faded away.

***

The origins of everything and all my troubles.

Everything changed.

If you looked back at the girl who seemed so little when she thought that there was no more room left to grow,

what would you say to her?

If she knew that we would be here, then she wouldn’t have known how much everything was bound to change.

There was simply no way she would know.

There is simply no way this could’ve been predicted and cleverly planned out.

So, here it is.

Cut plain and clean,

before all the tables turned.

Her very first truth.

***

“Don’t look so distraught.” QD held her hand to Vera’s face, as his eyes slowly lost his passion. “We’ve just eliminated some anomalies. Right, Myst?”

Myst anxiously stood still. “Yeah. It’ll be alright, Vera. We won’t let anything happen to her. And it’s not your fault.”

Vera turned to him slowly. He shook his head.

QD embraced Vera to bring his attention away from possible murderous thoughts. “We just have to wait for Rhine and Kindle. Then, it’ll all be forgiven.”

Warren, who was fairly new to Myst, piped up. “Yeah! Good times are ahead.”

“Well, I’m going to see Hira. Then, I’d be able to fix up my face…?” He looked at QD as if she had something to say on the matter.

QD shook her head. “Your world is too close to the Rip. No going there yet.” She waved a finger while she pat Vera’s cheek in consolation. “…Just give it a bit more time. There’s no doubt we’ve made a big reversal, and Rhine and Kindle finishing will make it even more… reversed!” She smiled.

Myst nodded, walking to the Medbay to see Hiraeth.

He noticed the door—occupied. That was his sign that Hira was there. He opened it, then was met with a completely dark room.

“Hey, how is it? Vera told us what happened.” In a speech broken with gasps, yes. “Are you feeling better?”

Hiraeth laid there, still. Very unsettling. “Yeah,” He whispered. “better.”

Myst gazed into his eyes. “Good. That’s good. Did Vera bandage you well?”

“mh,”

Nodding his head once, Myst tried his best to put on a great smile for Hiraeth. “Very good.” He felt his forehead.

“oh, your… hand is… warm.” Hiraeth closed his eyes and turned his head to Myst’s hand.

“Are you too cold?”

Hiraeth opened his eyes. “…no.”

Myst stood there looking at Hiraeth for quite a while. They appreciated each other’s presence in silence.

“…well,” Myst lifted his hand off of Hiraeth’s forehead. “Rhine should be here soon. She’ll take a look, then you can properly heal.” He gave it his all, smiling to his regular extent and cracking his face further. It didn’t matter, he’d soon be able to fix it with some wax from his own world. He just wanted to see Hiraeth smile. “Bye-bye for now. Take it easy.”

Hiraeth closed his eyes. “mhhm,” He quietly responded.

Myst walked out of the room, letting the door close behind him. He stood there for a moment, then leaned back on the door. He wasn’t sure where to start his thoughts. The massive headache from conducting the illusions to defeat the Angelic Reflection didn’t help, either… Myst sighed, staring at the ground.

“I wouldn’t see it as a mistake. I mean, you were busy with other things! You had lots of responsibilities, y’know.”

“Still… I don’t— I don’t know how… I could’ve forgotten.”

“Hey, if I’ll be honest, I forget about lots of important things too.”

“…I know that.”

“Aw, c’mon. That’s just rude. I’m trying to cheer you up!”

“You’re a little… bad at it.”

“Is this your way of coping!? Being rude to me!?”

“It’s—funny to see you get angry…”

“Okay. Fine. Do whatever you want, then. I don’t care.”

Myst watched Vera and QD banter back and forth (It lacked the essence of an old couple’s.), because he had nothing better to do now. They just had to wait for Kindle and Rhine. Also, where did that Warren kid run off to…?

Speaking of the devil and the smaller version of a devil, Kindle and Rhine appeared.

“Hey. Is there something going on?” Rhine held the hand of a shaken Kindle. She passed her over to QD, who patted Kindle’s head. Rhine went on to open a few holograms.

Vera stayed quiet. He turned to QD.

QD held her breath. “Ah,” she sighed. “nothing we can’t fix.” She turned to Rhine with a smile.

“So there’s something wrong?”

“For now.”

“What is it?” Rhine checked a few holograms.

“Uhm…” QD’s stomach started to knot. “You can ask Vera.”

Vera hid his face away in his hands. “No.”

“You can ask me!”

“QD. What’s going on?”

QD smiled. “It’s. Uhm. Not. A big deal.”

Rhine rolled her eyes. “Okay, well that doesn’t answer…”

It became quiet for a little while.

“…got it now?”

“Yeah. Thanks for letting me know in advance.” Rhine’s fists trembled. “Hoooollllyyyy shit. Whaaaattt the fuck. WHAT IN THE EVERLIVING FUCKS.”

QD wondered how doctors told patients they had six months left to live. “It’s nothing bad! We can fix it! We just removed some anomalies!”

“No, this is REALLLLY FUCKING BAD. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO.”

Kindle finally spoke up. “What’s going on?”

“Kindle. Your world is dying.”

Kindle’s face became blank, and her heart dragged down like a weight in the water. “…can I see?”

Rhine mercilessly slid the hologram to Kindle.

Who read it over. A thousand times.

“No.”

“Yes, unfortunately.” Rhine shook her head.

QD took a step back. “We can fix it! I know we can! We can fix anything!”

Kindle screamed. “NO!!! NO!!! WE CAN’T!!!” She banged her head on the table, then reduced herself to sobs.

Myst cowered away into the hallway of the medbay. He didn’t want to hear anything else.

QD and Rhine shared confused looks that scrambled for answers. They didn’t know what to do.

“Maybe Ammi has an idea? We could call… uhm… others! Like Trillix, Juno, Suns, Danann…?” She gave an uneasy smile to a Kindle who didn’t bother to look.

Rhine sighed. “No. I haven’t seen them anywhere. Also, the Sea’s been locked off, for some reason… I haven’t been able to tell why yet.”

“There was— so much—…” Kindle whispered. “…I wanted to see so much…”

Vera patted her back in silence. He seemed to believe this was all still his fault. If only he’d checked the progress sooner…

“Uhhhm…” QD thought. “We can go visit some worlds! Think of it like a last minute vacation!”

“No, that’d just cause anomalies. It’s too dangerous.”

“I know you’d do the same.” QD turned to Rhine with an expression she’d never worn before. “Don’t you remember? Your world is just a little younger than Kindle’s. You’re next.”

Rhine raised an eyebrow. “Huh?” She went to check the hologram that Kindle left unattended. “…shit. You’re right.”

Kindle kicked her feet, increasingly getting louder. “PLEASE! PLEASE, CAN I JUST GO WITH QD!?” She begged Rhine. “IT CAN’T HURT! IT CAN’T BE SO BAD!!!” Kindle turned to Vera, sobbing into his shoulder while he hugged her, shaking wildly.

“No. I wouldn’t go anywhere, even if my world was dying. Which it is.” This was a total lie. Rhine was a mess on the inside, and she would scream quite loudly if she didn’t want to be right. “We just have to stay here.”

“And just— JUST WAIT FOR DEATH!?” Kindle screamed.

Rhine shrugged. “Maybe. Whoever is in our worlds don’t have the slightest clue they’re all about to die. It’s better that way, I think.” Rhine could think of only one other person on Earth who knew. It was the only person she’d want to spend her last bit of time with, too. What a shame.

QD opened her band. “Where did Ammi say she was going? She should be reachable, right?”

She received no answer.

“Alright… she’s…” QD waited. “Not picking up. I’ll leave a message. Kindle, do you want to come—,”

“Nope, you can’t.” Rhine stared QD down. “It’s for everyone else’s fate, too. If you cause anymore anomal—

“YOU’RE JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE!” Kindle whipped her head to Rhine, pointing in accusation. “YOU NEVER THINK OF ANYONE BUT YOURSELF!!! YOU’RE— YOU’RE SUCH A BITCH!!!”

Vera held Kindle closer to him, to prevent her from probably ripping off Rhine’s face.

“Hey!” QD put her hands out to try and calm Kindle down. “It’s fine, she doesn’t get to command us.”

Rhine gave QD the death stare. “I’m just trying to do the rational thing.”

“Rationality!? RATIONALITY!?! YOU— EMOTIONLESS ROBOT!! YOU EVEN COMPLAIN ABOUT BEING HUMAN, SO WHY DON’T YOU JUST— DOWNLOAD YOUR DAMN PERSONALITY ONTO A USB OR SOMETHING!? I HOPE YOU ROT IN HELL!!!”

“Rotting away? You’re going to die. You’ll be the one who rots aw—

“HOLY SHIT, RHINE.” Vera snapped back at her. “WHAT THE FUCK. YOU DID NOT JUST SAY THAT.”

Rhine narrowed her eyes, gazing at Vera. “You’re not part of this conversation.”

QD clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. “STOP. EVERYONE. STOP. WE NEED TO COOPERATE IF WE WANT TO—

Kindle’s head exploded.

…

“OH GODS BELOW!!!” Vera stared at his hands, covered in her blood that slowly disappeared, along with the rest of Kindle.

Rhine’s eyes slowly widened. “…what the fuck.”

Innocently staring at both of them, QD cocked her head to the side. “What?” She felt her chest. “I feel like I just sprinted a mile.”

Vera shook QD. “KINDLE JUST FUCKING EXPLODED!!!!”

“Uhm. The… the e-book… thing? We can always get another one.” She twirled her hair between her fingers. “I didn’t know we had one, actually.”

Rhine’s hand went up to her mouth. “Shit. I’m… I’m a terrible person.” She turned to Vera. “Why did…”

“It’s okay, it’s just an e-book. I’ve always liked the regular old paper books, anyways.” QD smiled. “How’d it blow up? Did you try to alter… the wiring, or something?” She gave Rhine a sunshine grin.

Vera’s face was once again covered by his hands. “It’s all my fault.”

“Oh, I can see that.” QD shrugged. “But, don’t beat yourself up over it!”

Vera started to cry.

“Guys, c’mon. It was just a machine! Machines don’t have feelings.”

The words bit Rhine. “That’s what she said, too…”

“‘That’s what she said’ jokes are starting to get old. I didn’t know you were into them.” The piece of hair QD was twirling… was cut short. A clump fell off. “Maybe I’m using the wrong conditioner.” QD stared at the clump on the floor.

Vera stood up, then slowly walked to his room.

“Am I missing something here?”

Rhine turned to QD. “Yes. Kindle is not a fucking e-book. She is a person.”

“Are you gaslighting me?”

“NO, I AM NOT FUCKING GASLIGHTING YOU.” Rhine slammed her hand on the table. “SHE JUST EXPLODED.”

QD looked disappointed. “If someone exploded, don’t you think we would see their body parts everywhere?”

“THEY JUST FUCKING DISAPPEARED!!!!”

“Unlikely.” QD shook her head.

“HOLY SHIT YOU ARE SO DUMB.”

“Whatever. Shouldn’t you be much more worried about your world? It’s next.” QD pointed out.

Rhine had forgotten about this. Now, it all came back, and everything hit her right in the face. “God.” Then, she was reminded of… presumably how Kindle died because her world had. Did everyone really explode like that…? “…ohhhhh whhhaaatttt theeeee fuccckkk. We’re all gonna die.”

Vera came back.

QD looked Rhine up and down. Then, at her bandaged arm. “Maybe not you. When you opened your first portal, you got your own little taste of death by Rip.” She pointed to her arm. “That’ll confuse the Rip into thinking you’re already dead, so you’ll outlive your world.”

There was nothing that Rhine wanted more than the release of death right about now. “HOW DO YOU SUDDENLY KNOW THIS!?”

“I always have.” QD shrugged. “I just… never figured I’d need to tell you. But, now we need to assess the situation. I was also thinking of changing up the groups…”

“CAN WE TALK ABOUT LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW!?”

“Uhm… why would we? We’ve still got things to do! So, Rhine, you can stay by yourself, and Vera, go team up with Warren!” QD snapped, giving Vera a beaming smile.

Vera did not appreciate this.

Rhine put a hand to her head, and breathed out. “Oh, no. Ohhhh no. No, no, no.”

“Are you still worried about dying?” QD looked at Rhine like she had a solution. “Don’t worry! You’re our most powerful teammate, so we gotta keep you alive! Last time, you fixed everything up for us, so I think that this time, you’ll do just the same. Although, if we didn’t kill you once your world died, that would cause a few more anomalies…”

“Then why don’t we just kill her now?” Vera turned to QD.

QD shook her head. “Nope, I don’t think that’d work out.”

Vera pulled out a flame. “Why don’t we just kill her now?”

“Uhm. No. I already said so.”

Rhine nodded. “Yeah, kill me.”

“Are you being sarcastic right now?” Vera was very offended. “You do have a robotic personality, don’t you?”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yeah, right.”

QD pulled Vera back. “Maybe let’s not kill each other.”

“YOU’RE FUCKING DEAD!!” Vera shot a flame at Rhine, who turned out of the way just in time. The window is now slightly burnt.

“Oh, I’m dead? Do you WANT to fight!?” Rhine was now set on proving Vera was a total idiot.

“Isn’t Hira kinda LYING IN A BED WITH SEVERAL INJURIES?” QD hinted to Rhine. “Maybe someone with medical skills could go tend to him instead of being a useless hothead!”

Rhine gritted her teeth. “Right. I’ll get on that.” She glared at Vera. “This was pointless and immature, anyways.”

“IMMAT—

QD clasped her hand over Vera’s mouth. “Since when did you two start fighting…? Is that because of the Kindle?”

Vera frowned again. “Don’t you remember anything?”

QD stared at Vera with a blank face. “Rhine said that Kindle was a person, but… I’ve never heard of them. Is it just me who forgot?”

Vera groaned. “It’s too much now…”

Silence.

“I’m sorry I forgot. But, don’t worry! I’ll never forget about you!” She patted his shoulder. “Or anyone else! You’re all my best friends. And… maybe you’re my bestest.”

Mind flickering back to Cory, Vera wished he could at least talk to him right about now. But Rhine had said the Sea… did some locking thing? Who knows. He just had to worry about everything.

AAAAGGHHH!!! KINDLE JUST FUCKING EXPLODED!!!!!!!

Well, yes. We know about that…

Can’t you think of anything else right now?

NO! I CAN’T. SOMEONE JUST EXPLODED. SOMEONE I KNEW. AND SHE CAN’T COME BACK.

That IS how death works, though…

And Rhine was being such a bitch! I don’t know how she had the heart to….

Rhine’s probably regretting it terribly right about now. You know how she is, always getting caught up in the moment. Plus, everything just dropped on you guys. I wouldn’t have taken any of the yelling to heart.

Kindle is DEAD.

And you’ll fall apart because of it?

It was my fault, anyways. I should’ve checked the Rip’s progress way sooner.

Things will be alright. There’s always a solution to every problem.

Right now, you should start with preventing another useless death. Once everyone’s done with what they need to do here, you can get started on your next anomaly fix.

But I can’t just leave this behind! I can’t move on from THIS. Kindle was…

And you’re at a loss for words, hm?

…yeah.

I understand. You’ve always been strong, though. And you’ve always helped everyone else get through their troubles.

I just wish someone would do that for me.

Well, here I am.

…I guess you’re right. But… I can’t forget about this so easily.

Life always has to move forward, no matter what. No one is waiting for you.

How should that help me?

Use it as a motivator to not make the same mistake?

So Kindle was just motivation, wasn’t she?

The memory of her is. This world might not remember she existed, but you and everyone else does. Don’t let it forget what happened.

Are you just trying several different pep talks to make me feel better?

I’ve never been good with making people feel better.

You’re not answering my question.

Yes. Yes I was. Did you find one that worked?

Ugh…

Fine, if you don’t want to answer, that’s alright with me. At least go eat something, or rest up a bit. …You can ask Myst how he’s doing! He avoided your whole conversation, you know.

Alright then. He did nothing wrong anyways…

Vera takes my advice (yay!), and looks around to find Myst. Knowing him, he should probably be in his room. So, Vera walked over to it. What else was he supposed to do?

He opened the door. “Hey.”

Myst was sitting on the floor. That’s literally all he was doing.

“Hey?” Vera walked over, giving him a pat on the head. “Hey, Myst.”

Myst blinked his eyes open. “Hello.”

“Uhm. You weren’t in our conversation.”

“Oh, yeah. I didn’t want to be there.” He mumbled.

Vera looked off to the side. “Are you hungry?”

“Not really. What about you?”

“No.”

 It suddenly became quite awkward.

“Is everything fixed up now?”

A pause. Vera didn’t want to answer this. But he felt it was the right thing to do. “No.”

Myst closed his eyes. “Oh. Did it get worse?”

“Yes.”

“Of course it did.”

“…do you think we’re doomed?”

“To die?”

“Yeah. For everything else to die.”

“I don’t know.” Myst’s usual techniques couldn't calm him down, or help organize his thoughts. For anything, he now had an unclear answer. “Sorry, Vera. You shouldn’t feel terrible about this. After all, you’ve helped out quite a bit. I think that outweighs anything.” He took a deep breath, then let it out. “Control the controllables. That would be exactly what you did.”

Vera likes Myst better than he likes me. He took Myst’s advice to heart, even though it was something that I literally gave him. I’m the advice giver. Whatever.

Vera hid away in his hands again. “I know, I know… I just feel so terrible…”

Myst pulled his hand down from his face, patting the spot on the floor next to him. “I do too. I feel like I could’ve been faster. …We’re all murderers here, aren’t we? We’ve all failed her.”

Vera’s eyes burnt up again. “We did.”

“I can’t make it better. I don’t know how. But, I’m here if you want someone to lean on.” Myst turned his cracked face to Vera, who rested his head on Myst’s shoulder.

***

Terrible. Terrible. Terrible. She was right, I am a robot. Why did I do that? Why am I so bad at just being a decent person? Why can’t I be good for one second? “This is interesting. Your eyes…”

“Yeah?”

“And also, your wings…”

“Mhm?”

“And your hands…”

“Is it bad?”

“Depends on how you look at it.” Rhine examined the back of his hand. “Silica is naturally in your skin. Silica forms opal. Why do you have this on your hand?”

Hiraeth looked down at it. A four-pointed star made of opal, embedded into his skin. Maybe his whole hand? “I don’t know. I like it!” He admired the shine.

“Does Aeronia turn people into gems or something?”

“No. But there are lots of gemstones! Maybe a bit too much for my comfort, now.”

Rhine removed some more unnecessary fluff from his wings. Why did he have so much? “Did you remember having that as a kid?”

“Nope.”

“Funny,” Rhine frowned. “your gloves covered it perfectly.”

Hiraeth looked at them, from across the room. “I… didn’t notice.” He seemed puzzled. “This is probably bad, isn’t it?”

“What it implies, yes.” Rhine kicked away some down from her feet. “You’ve got shards of opal in your wings.” She stepped back. “It looks… a little pretty.”

Hiraeth’s head snapped to see his wings. “Pretty?” He gave Rhine a broken smile. “That’s cool! It’s okay to be extra pretty, isn’t it?”

“Sure.”

Tugging on the bandages in extreme boredom, Hiraeth sighed. “Will my wings be okay, though?”

“Yeah. Your bones there are literally sapphire.”

“Woah! I’m a gem!” He felt even prettier. “But, wouldn’t that be way too heavy to carry? Usually, birds have hollow bones, so they can fly…”

Rhine shook her head. “Your wings are incredibly powerful. I always questioned how you could sit on a chair with zero backing and lift your wings up, folding neatly.”

“They just taught us it was good manners.” Hiraeth rubbed his eyes. “It was hard at first… oh, yeah. What did you say about my eyes?” He looked down at his hands, as if he just rubbed away his vision.

“They used to be really dark. Now they’re… so glittery. Your vision will be terrible for a while.”

“Oh. I just assumed that I’ve been wearing my glasses for so long, I didn’t remember how blurry everything was without them. But, now that you mention it…” Hiraeth’s eyes scanned the room. It was low light— because he still responded to the brighter lights negatively— yet overall, he noticed everything was much blurrier.

Rhine cleared away some last few feathers, then continued to splint and wrap up his wings.

Noticing a change in her usual behavior had made Hiraeth a little uneasy. He wanted to ask her what had happened, if anything at all. “Hey, Rhine? Did something happen?”

She looked like she was going off the edge, her eyes slightly twitching at the comment. “No. Everything is okay.”

Hiraeth obviously doubted this. But he felt it wasn’t his job to pry into it. “Okay.” He looked at his reflection in the back of his hand.

“Thanks for all your help, too. I think I owe you one.” He smiled at her.

“Yeah.” She paused. “Even if you wouldn’t give me anything in return, I’d help you.”

Rhine bitterly chewed on her final thought.

“I’m not a bad person.”

***

QD nodded. “Alright, we’re all good here, aren’t we?”

“Yup!” Warren smiled. He was just happy to be part of the group.

Vera was stuck with him.

Rhine gave a thumbs up.

“I’m ready.” Myst dipped his head.

“Good!” She handed Myst the Glass they’d use. “Careful in the memories, you two.” She turned to Vera and Warren. “And, Rhine,”

She looked up at QD.

“I liked what you did with the pictures in Rosetta-Cypress! Could you try that again?”

“Sure.” She smiled. If only she’d stopped being so technical.

“Alright! Cool! Let’s go ahead and fix this!”

And just like before, they were off.

And just like before, they were off.

***

Vera and Warren entered the first memory.

“Be careful. Memories can collapse at any moment.”

Warren nodded. “Hehe, I still can’t believe it! It’s like this was my destiny!” He beamed. “Hira taught me that word.”

“That’s nice.” Vera thought for a moment. “Where were you earlier today?”

“Uhm, the cat. I followed it. It’s so cute!” He hugged himself like he was hugging onto Freckle. “I did get a little lost, though. But I came across this place with a big glass dome! I could see darkness and small little lights and all these cool colors! Is that the sky?”

Vera looked down. “Mhm.”

“Oh, I like it. The sky is also different here!” He looked around.

Everything was a fluffy… light red. There’s a difference between pink and light red. In the distance, there was the song of a music box, and a black jacket of a person sitting down.

“Let’s go. I think that’s one of my friends.”

Excited for the mission, Warren happily followed.

“Hey, Ammi.”

Turning around, Warren expected a really cool look… but… it was the boring look brown hair and eyes. And glasses. Glasses reminded him of Hira, and Hira was cool. But lots of people looked like this in Aeronia. So… this was quite average.

“Hi. Help me out here.”

Vera walked closer. “What are you doing?”

“A… little… game?” A few rounded blocks. “I’m trying to make an arch out of this. You like arches, yeah?”

Warren sat right down. “I like them! What about you, Vera?”

“Yeah, Vera. You like arches?”

“Sure.” Vera sat down.

“That’s the tally! We all like arches.” A smile. “Warren, what do you like about arches?”

Warren was surprised. THE GIRL KNOWS MY NAME!!! “Oh— they’re round. How do they stand up?!”

“I know, right?” Warren was handed a piece of the small arch that was being built. It had the decal of a rainbow on it. “Hold this right there. We’re making a rainbow arch.”

Vera rolled his eyes, being handed a piece of the arch. Along with the decal, it was a soft blue foam chunk. “What’s the point in this…?”

“We’re building an arch.”

Yikes. Why did she get so mad?

Speaking bad about arches…? Sheesh, I honestly expected better from you, Vera. You lied! You said you like arches!

I just said ‘sure’. You know what— whatever.

“Here…” Slowly, the arch was built. “There we go. Done. Thanks for helping me build.”

Vera stood up and sighed. “Are you taking your whole ‘construction role’ too seriously?”

“Uhm, no. I was just rebuilding this memory. It was almost gone! Luckily, it was sparked back up, so I came in to help it.”

“That still makes it sound like you’re taking your job too seriously.”

“Eh, whatever. At least I got to meet Warren!”

Warren beamed. “Yay! You’re Ammi?”

“Sure am! Who else would I be? Someone in disguise? Hehe.”

Smiling and holding out his hand for a handshake (yeah what else), Warren felt it would be best to properly introduce himself. “Well, I’m still Warren. Still from Aeronia. Always have been!” He winked.

“Hehe. I have a feeling no one really likes you.”

Warren’s face dropped.

“Not like that! I like you.”

He smiled, a bit embarrassed. “Oh, I see what you mean. Hehe.”

Vera frowned. “Are you two done flirting?”

This is not flirting, Vera.

WHATEVER!!!

“Uhm. What’s flirting?” Warren asked.

You’ve got bigger problems, anyways.

Ugh. “You don’t really need to know that. You’ll never get anyone chasing after you, anyways.”

“So… is this a concept we’re going to talk about later?”

Vera sighed.

“I don’t think so, Warry.”

Warren blushed!!! “Is that a new nickname!?”

“Sure!”

“Okay. I’m not going to use that. Be glad Ammi does.” Vera shook his head. “Now what? We just…built a foam arch.”

“Ohhh, I forgot.” Snap. A large, towering quartz and gold rainbow arch appeared before them, colored with gems and stained glass that shined all sorts of colors when the light hit it. “There we go!”

“WwwwooowaaagghhhAAGHHH!!!!” Warren screamed. “THAT WAS SO COOL!!! Do it again!!!”

Vera sighed, covering his face with his hands.

“Sure.” The arch expanded into a large castle, much with the same style. Then, a moat and garden was created, with flowers of all sorts in rainbow order.

Gay Castle.

Okay, sure. Call it whatever.

“Anyone got any names for it?”

Vera’s intrusive thoughts got the best of him. “Gay Castle.” He blurted out.

Silence.

“What’s gay?” Warren raised an eyebrow.

“Warren? You got any names?”

“Uhm… Lots of Colors Castle!” Warren stretched his arms out to the massive Lots of Colors Castle.

Grumbling to himself, Vera was totally done with this. “That’s the same thing as ‘rainbow’.”

Warren turned to Vera, looking a bit offended. “I don’t know what that is. So… Rainbow Castle?”

“Rainbow Castle…? I feel like we can do better than that, guys!” A playfully teasing smile.

Vera and Warren had to combine their limited brain cells.

Warren piped up again. “Castle of Cool?”

“Eh…?”

“Castle of Awesome?!”

“No…”

“Castle of Hira?”

“…?”

“Palace of Hira!”

“No.”

“Oh, Vera, what about that place I went to earlier with the glass dome?”

Vera blinked back into reality. “Huh?”

Whispered quietly, “A glass dome… I should add that…” A glass dome was added. Somewhere.

“That glass dome! On the train we were on!”

“Yeah?”

Renovations were being made in the background.

“What were the lights in the sky?”

Is it going to be like this always? Do I have to explain everything? “Stars.”

Warren nodded enthusiastically. “Stars! I had a view of the stars… and that was special to me. The small arch we just built all together must’ve been special to someone… so, Starview… Palace?” He looked off to the side to innocently think about it. “Yeah! I think that sounds good!”

“I agree. At least somebody gets it.”

Vera rolled his eyes at the comment obviously directed at him. “Okay. I’ve never been good at philosophy or whatever. You shouldn’t expect me to come up with a crazy, meaningful name.”

“Oh, everything should be done with meaning. Otherwise, you’d be… picking up the phone, just to pick it up. Or walking just to walk.”

“It… probably doesn’t go that deep.” Vera frowned. He was probably suppressing every emotion he’s having right now. Maybe it does go that deep.

NO IT DOES NOT!!!

Maybe it does go that deep.

Whatever, man.

Warren’s eyes sparkled. “I like to think that it does.”

And now we are back on the iceberg topic.

“Okay, it does or it doesn't, who cares. We’re off that topic now.” Vera waved it all away. “What do we do now?”

A pause. “Hmm. We… go inside! I’ve always liked interior design, but I’ve never tried it…”

Now, Vera and Warren were being led into the newly built Starview Palace. Probably as honorary guests.

Only the gods below know what Ammi’s doing right now… ugh, she’s always like this. Vera is still trying to figure out everything, so he’s being ruder and angrier than normal.

On the other hand, Warren was just admiring the architecture. “Wow! Ammi, how did you make everything so pretty so quickly?”

“With the power of imagination!”

“Ah, what’s imagination?”

Vera wanted to cry again.

A pause. “It’s like… your mind’s eye. You think of things using other things! Like… I can think of a horse, but if I also thought of magic, I could think of a magic horse! Now that magic horse is from imagination.”

Warren was very excited. “That sounds like quite the power to have. Anything you think of, suddenly happening or appearing because you said so!”

“Heheh.” A smile. “Yes, quite the power.”

I have a feeling this could end terribly.

Well, if you imagine it, it could come true.

Oh, come on. That’s just Ammi being Ammi. She’s always been too optimistic—

That often, she wholeheartedly believes that things would be truly alright, even when they wouldn’t be in reality?

Yeah. You know?

You thought of it some time ago.

The three continued to walk through the palace. Vera and Warren were a little unsure of exactly what they were doing inside.

“Ah, here’s the room!” A large and empty room lay behind closed— now opened— doors. “Think of things you’d like me to add.”

“A small place where you could hide in a fluffy cave!” Warren piped out. “And a view of some stars! It wouldn’t be Starview Palace if there weren't stars. And also, add a nice place to lay in the sun. As well as a… a cold box. Of those liquids in the receptacles. Cold box.”

Vera mumbled through gritted teeth. “Refrigerator,”

“Refrigerator!” Warren snapped. “Can there be a place to just lay when you feel like there’s something wrong, too? With things you find you like?”

As Warren wished and commanded, the items and furniture appeared. “What’s your favorite color, Vera?”

He frowned. “Red.”

“For blood?”

“I like blue too, you know.”

Warren nodded. “I also like blue and red! And also my…favorite… is orange.” He’d pieced together the meaning of favorite successfully!!

“Orange is an ass color.”

“Uhm, you could say ‘bad’. That’s easier to remember the meaning to!” Advised Warren.

I will kill him.

He’s just trying to learn about new things in his new world! Be a little nicer.

I will KILL HIM.

You should probably stop saying things like that before you regret it.

When would I? It’s just an expression. Stop trying to best me all the time.

Hm, fair point. Still, I do find it fun when you get angry.

What happened to making me feel better about Kindle? Being nice? That happened not that long ago.

…one day, you’ll have to pay for everything you’ve done. You can’t get away with it, y’know…?

For doing WHAT!?

…you…murder…people…?

Not unless they try to fight me first????

I’m just trying to justify my actions here.

I thought so.

And anyways, I’m not your friend.

Okay, then who are you? Better question, WHERE are you, so I can beat your ass?

I’m closer than you think.

ARE YOU FUCKING WARREN!?

No! Do I act like Warren?

YOU’RE BOTH PRETTY FUCKING ANNOYING, SO I’D SAY SO.

“…favorite…”

Maybe you’re just trying to cope.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YOU BRAIN DEAD MORON

Vera attempted to cope by getting angry and trying to be right about everything.

YOU JUST ADMITTED TO WANTING TO BE RI—

Vera was cut off for the sake of your time. Hopefully he never opens his big fat mouth to spew dog water ever again.

I hope so, too.

Thank you, Vera!

“I DIDN’T SAY THAT!!!” Vera fumed out loud.

Because I only silenced his thoughts, he had no other form of communication other than verbal and or physical. Maybe emotional? Spiritual? Whatever. This is an embarrassing moment for Vera. He just yelled something out of the blue.

Warren raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t say what?”

“You blanked out for a little.”

Thinking too hard, Warren started imaginationing. “Maybe he’s scared of something.”

Vera’s face burned. “I’m not scared of anything.”

Except for himself.

“SHUT UP!!!”

“Ah… he’s broken.” A tease.

“Oh, no!” Warren was heavily disheartened. “Can we fix him?”

“Hmhm…” A chuckle. “We can fix him. Just…”

Vera’s head was knocked on like a door.

“All better!”

Warren raised an eyebrow. “Is that really how it works?”

“Yes.”

For any confused readers; no. But Vera wishes it did.

Vera held his tongue. This time.

“NO I DID NOT!!!!!!”

“It didn’t work.” Warren’s lips curled into a tiny frown.

“Ah, worth a try. It seems like Vera’s finally gone insane… or schizophrenic… or… something.”

Warren cocked his head to the side. “It’s amazing how much more there is to… everything!”

“Yes,” a smile. “and I’ll teach you all about everything.”

“That was my job.” Vera finally snapped out of it.

“You don’t like it! I’m doing you a favor.”

Vera needed to murder someone badly. “Can you just stop for a second? Please and thank you?”

“ehehehhehhhhhhhhhh”

Vera threw a punch.

“Ow. Meanie.”

“YOU WERE LITERALLY ASKING FOR IT.”

Warren watched the bickering for a little while longer, until he finally decided to stop it. “It’s okay, guys! Let’s just go back to designing. We were asking Vera what he’d add?”

“Ah, yes. Your favorite… furnitures…? Like, a conversation pit from the 70’s? A bay window? Oh, I’m adding those…”

Vera had secretly decided to put some thought here.

“No, I didn’t.” He mumbled.

His anger had slowly fizzled out from him and now all he wanted to do was go back to depression.

“I think we could add a few bookshelves and a fireplace.” He slowly turned away. “That’d be nice.”

Behind Vera’s back, looks of smiling golden rays of sunshine were exchanged, as well as the occasional whisper of ‘he’s cute’. Vera decided to not notice it.

“Okay, what’s said is done!” And just like that, a small nook for Vera was built. There were a few blue and red accents.

Vera’s face burned at the gesture. He asked for it, but whatever. “Thanks.”

“Yeah! It’s got some books you like, too.”

Despite being a pain in the everywhere, there were good moments, like these.

Moments where Ammi isn’t so bad.

“You guys can rest up here. Time stopped moving for a while.” A glance at a grandiose clock that had just appeared. “Everyone wants time to stop at least once. I figure, why not grant it?”

Vera watched Warren run off to his requested nook. He was immediately having fun drawing whatever he saw. Vera walked over to his own.

At least once. If time stopped, what would I do?

“Warren.” Vera called out to him. “Can I have a piece of paper and, like, a pen?”

Warren perked up. “Oh! Yeah!” He sifted through a little cup, full of pens and other colorful tools. Then, he ran over to Vera, and handed him three pens and a nice sheet of paper. “I got you a red one, a blue one, and an orange.” Warren smiled. “Just to try it out. I think orange is a lovely color.”

Vera looked down at the pens in his hands. “Thanks.”

“Anytime!”

…if time stopped for me…

…what would I do?…

Vera picked up a book. One that he’d read with QD.

Does Ammi read this, too…?

Maybe I’d relax. Or… train. That’s always fun.

Play some video games? Rhine and Hira are surprisingly good at them.

Watching some more shows is fun, especially when Myst recommends some.

He paused.

Why am I thinking about them? That’s just gonna make me think about…

Kindle.

…that’s no way to spend… no time.

He flipped through a few pages.

Komi and Tadano. He thought as he reread a scene. Makeru… she’s a little… competitive. And Najimi. They’re always so bright. And social.

He set the book aside, and picked up another one. This, he had his own copy of. The pages were gilded at the sides. Vera felt a smile coming through. He looked out the window, conveniently placed to have a great view. Half of the sky was a sunset, and the other was already turning night. He remembered how QD would go on and on about all sorts of activities in the skies. Looking back at the first book, he had a little idea. He placed it closed on his lap. Vera then took hold of the paper and pens Warren had given him. He tried to doodle down a little Komi, but he kinda hated the way she looked.

Before he knew it, the paper was soaked with his tears.

What am I doing?

***

Rhine appeared on a sidewalk. In a bustling city. An extremely futuristic city. Covered in billboards, lights, and advertisements. Wait. Why’d they need sidewalks…? She looked behind her. A small park. Oh, okay, maybe that’s why there’s a sidewalk here. Up ahead, to her left, there were hovering vehicles flying through the sky. Just like cars. She simply blinked— and she heard a crash. Multiple of these cars crushed into each other.

Note to self: hovering cars will be a bad idea.

Rhine suddenly spotted a flying person. In… a blue, white and black mech suit.

“Heyyy, you! New guy!” The flying person landed down to Rhine.

“What?”

The person turned off their… like… holographic glasses. “Which planet are you from?”

“No comment.”

“Why not~?” They leaned in.

“It’s my choice whether I share that information or not.”

They smirked. “Oh, you’re a little smart, aren’t you? Still, I can tell you’re quite powerful. And a little like me! Why don’t I show you around? We could be good friends.”

Rhine’s eyes flicked over to the crash, which the person had covered her view of almost entirely. “No, thanks. I’ll be on my way.”

“You sure you won’t get lost? Home is big.” They prodded her with more of their words.

Whatever, I can take care of myself. “Sure then. Why not?”

They grew a cute little grin. “Great! Now, it’d be improper to continue on without a proper introduction!” They held out an armored hand that opened up to… well, their unarmored hand. “I’m V. It’s a pleasure.”

Rhine took V’s hand and shook it. “Dawn. Thanks for showing me around.” She held her hands behind her back sweetly.

“Anytime!” V chuckled. “Hmm, I don’t know where to start…” They walked in front, eyeing the skyscrapers. Just as they opened their mouth to speak, they swished back to Rhine and attempted to blast her head off with a beam on her suit’s hand.

Rhine already knew what V was trying from the moment they spoke. She dodged out of the way.

V grinned sinisterly. “When I said you were smart, I was only joking. I see it now, though.”

“Cut the crap. What do you want?”

“Well, before…” They thought. “…to kill you. Why not? You outsider!”

Rhine shifted her feet subtly.

“But now, I’d like something else. I’d like you to join me.” They put their glasses back on. “I’ve told you, I can see myself in you. We’d make a great team. How do you feel about… a thrilling life of crime?”

Hah. “I’d rather not.” Rhine pulled her fists up.

V’s eyes directed themselves to Rhine’s fists. “You— wanna fight? —-HAHAHAAH!!” They laughed their heart out. “WITH YOUR FISTS? I feel that you and I both know humanity is weak! Why don’t you have a perfect machine to do it for you?”

Rhine narrowed her eyes, eyeing V’s suit up and down.

“Ahahaah! So, we’re more alike than I’d realized! But, what, you’re a goodie two-shoes?”

Sounds of wailing sirens rang out. A voice over a megaphone called out to V.

“Surrender now! We’ve got you surrounded, LynX!”

As they’d now been identified, LynX’s grin grew as they turned to the hovering cars. “Don’t you idiots know you shouldn’t interrupt a conversation?”

Rhine’s wrists flew to LynX’s… ‘beam shooter’ on their hand. There was a sound of a break— and a small fizz from the shooter. Something metal dropped to the floor.

“Guess I’ll have to deal with YOU, first!” LynX’s hands flew up, then they suddenly took out two real glowing machetes in each hand, with holes the shape of hearts on the blades near the handles, swinging at Rhine.

Rhine parried each hit perfectly.

LynX’s smile was turned upside down, bearing their teeth— some like fangs. “I should’ve cut you!”

The… probably police aimed guns at LynX. “Surrender NOW!”

LynX flew high up— to a point where Rhine couldn’t reach— and charged up another shooter on their other hand. They multi-shot the hovering cars.

Watching the scene unfold, Rhine realized a shot from one of those beams would probably melt her skin off. As it had done for the people inside the cars.

Doubtedly oblivious to their actions, LynX’s maniacal laughter echoed through the destruction.

“Oh, see why I just love doing this? No rules! No—!” LynX shot her final rounds. “—-NO LIMITATIONS!” Their grin and eyes were as wide as ever. “Too bad you couldn’t feel it with me! I’LL KILL YOU!” They flew straight down to Rhine.

Rhine blocked their glide that had transitioned into a push kick, then parried the rest of their attacks.

LynX grit their teeth, putting their hands up in a specialized sort of formation and then putting them down in the manner of a light switch. This allowed them to pull out a greatsword with the same style as the machetes. They swung this at Rhine.

Ugh— no more blocking. Rhine dodged out of the way of LynX’s swings.

“COME HERE! WHY DON’T YOU JUST DIE!?” LynX swung and aimed for Rhine’s head.

Rhine took a step back, then as the sword rushed down, she stomped her foot on the top’s edge, pushing it to the side.

This move twisted LynX’s grip like a wheel, and they dropped their sword. “GAH—!”

With a clear window now opened, Rhine damaged their suit with clear punches in obvious weak spots.

“STOP THAT!” LynX formed their hands together again, flicking them upwards to get their new weapons.

Idiot. Another window was opened for Rhine, which she used to disable LynX’s headset with her fists. Then she forced a crystal-clear uppercut towards LynX’s jaw.

“URGH—!” Blood splurted out of LynX’s mouth.

Creating enough distance, Rhine and LynX were now in their stances— but ready to have mid-battle conversation as screams of the injured echoed.

LynX’s shoulders heaved as they gasped for air, enraged. “YOU! PUNY! I SHOULD’VE KILLED YOU WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE!” They lunged for Rhine, who blocked and pushed them back.

“You take too much time speaking.” Rhine gritted her teeth. “Why don’t you shut the fuck up for once?”

LynX was infuriated. “YOU!!!”

Rhine smirked. “May I propose something before we continue?”

“Why would I let you?”

“My proposition is…”

LynX opened their mouth to object, yet allowed Rhine to keep going anyways.

“…if you killed me now, who would rival you?”

LynX's face simply scrunched into confusion. Then into their (by now) signature sinister grin. “I was right— you are pretty smart.” They fueled up their rockets. “Well, then! Dawn— PREPARE YOURSELF!” They flew off with maniacal laughter.

…

Who gave the attention-seeker a hyped up computer? Seriously though. What was that? Their plan wasn’t even that well thought out. And why did they talk for half of the time?

Rhine had realized lots of things quite quickly. She had also decided to shut up and let LynX rant their heart out because it benefitted her (also it was a little funny).

That was weird. Maybe that’s the key to getting out of this world? That interaction was quite sudden, so I feel it must be it.

A classic story of hero versus villain?

Confusing— Rhine didn’t know who she was.

She turned to the crashes that LynX had created.

People were now being carried away in some more hovering cars.

This world seems advanced enough. They should be fine.

And not hope.

Well, now, what do I do? I should prepare. But I can’t trust anyone here… so I don’t know where to start. If I tried to learn myself, it would take a while. In fact, too long.

Maybe a partner would’ve helped.

“Excuse me.”

Rhine turned to a… (probably) man that looked like a futuristic police officer. “Yes?”

“We need you to come with us.” He showed her a hologram of an ID— something like a police officer showing a citizen their badge for credibility. “We have a few questions.”

Kill him or no? “Of course.” Nodded Rhine with a smile.

***

“Ah, I see. Well, then. Have a good rest of your day, ma’am.” He handed her what she’d asked for.

Rhine walked out of the room, then the building… and into the unfamiliar city again.

God. I don’t have time for any of that.

She’d been asked to join the task force for exterminating LynX. Apparently, she was the only person who got quite as far in a battle with them. LynX just liked to blow up people and things, murder innocents with terrible methods… and Rhine had somehow managed to get out alive and unharmed.

Which seemed terribly… strange. Wasn’t anyone else smart enough to see through LynX’s plans? I mean, they had all this technology. Maybe Rhine had just gotten lucky. She was referred to as an outsider… that could’ve piqued LynX’s interest in her.

Still— everything was out of sorts. Some villain tried to attack her, but failed (when they really shouldn’t have), she got called in to be part of a task force (without any background checks???) and now… she didn’t know what to do.

But she did look at what that police guy (whatever he did) had given her. She’d simply asked for a small device that had some access to whatever internet they had.

How do I use this…

Rhine eyed the little device. It was a small box.

Ugh, I look like an idiot.

Standing right outside of the building, having difficulties with basically a modern phone. Babies probably knew how to use these.

Whatever… no one knows who I am. I can fail for a bit. Just until I find out how to use this… who cares if people think I’m an idiot…

Billboards everywhere lit up with a new headline.

Rhine squinted to read them. She didn’t have her reading glasses. (Whoops, she’s old) (well she’s actually just nearsighted)

Squinting to see the billboards, Rhine had also realized she was the only person on the ground. Everyone else was in the hovering cars.

The cars that she probably should find out the name of… or at least make one up herself.

Ugh.

She decided to stop trying to read the billboards.

However, now she had a little bit more of a problem.

The hovering cars in the sky seemingly slowed down as they passed by her. Some even took to a full stop.

“HI!!!” A voice called out from a hovering car’s open window.

Rhine was now confused. And terribly saddened. She had just reminded herself that everyone back on Earth had died. She looked up and behind her, like maybe something was there.

Ah, yes. The news. With. The news. That’s the news. That’s what it does. What the news was newsing was new news. About a new person who had survived an attack by LynX. All new stuff, on every new day, on the news.

No.

Rhine read the headlines, close enough for her to see. A very enhanced photo of her.

Ugh…

What she really needed was a good long sit in an extremely dark room.

Not… doing whatever a celebrity would do out in the open, spotted by a population of possibly trillions. No joke.

I mean, she didn’t even know where to begin! Those guys, with their square boxes, closing in, had cars. Cars that flew. And she had her legs. With terrible fatigue. Maybe she should’ve taken a nap??? She didn’t want to deal with any of this now. She had to try and get away.

So, she broke into a full on sprint, then weaved her way into the alleyways of the huge skyscrapers.

If one of these fell on me, I’d surely be dead.

I guess that would be better than living on.

Knowing everything she’d known was gone.

Maybe I could just quit now.

Still, people were counting on her. She couldn’t quit now. No matter how much she wanted to rest, no matter how tired she was. Rhine had to keep working.

She ran until she was brought to a stop that had been conducted by a woman in a sparkly and fashionable orange dress, with dark shades that were burnt by brown. It reminded her of the sun.

Oh. Great. Is this Oprah 2.0?

The woman tilted her glasses down. “Hello. You’re on the news.” She smiled.

“Yes.”

“Chased down?” She asked with a heard-it-a-thousand-times voice.

“Yes.”

What else was she supposed to say?

The woman nodded. “Do you think you can trust me?”

“Sure.” Fuck it. I won’t mind if I die.

“Come with me.” She turned around with a wave of her hand.

Rhine followed Oprah 2.0.

The woman, in heels, ran to a hover car at the end of the alleyway. “Hop in!” She smiled gracefully.

Damn. “Thanks. …Why are you doing this? Where are we going?”

“I remember my first experience with paparazzi.” The woman chuckled as the car ascended, then sped into the air. “It was not fun.” She shook her head as her laughter became sweeter. “I simply noticed the hover cars following something— the headlines— and I knew I could help. As for where we’re going…” the woman checked behind them with a hologram. “…to my estate. Just to take a break.”

Sighing and confused, Rhine knew that people had to come up with elaborate lies in order to get what they wanted. This was just another scenario she had to escape. “Thank you.”

“Sure! Now, what’s your name?”

Rhine’s last introduction didn’t go well. “Dawn. You?”

“The public knows me by Golden Hour.”

SHIT. The name stabbed Rhine, now choking on her heart.

“Hm? You alright?”

“Yes.” Rhine composed herself.

Golden Hour chuckled again. “Ah, you’re not a person of many words, them?”

“Woman,” Rhine commented. “and I only feel I need to speak when necessary.”

Which was a total lie.

And Rhine knew it.

She had to correct that one way or another, so might as well start now.

“Like I was saying… Golden Hour.”

Rhine was again stabbed.

“…some of my closer colleagues call me Gold…”

Rhine was now pooling metaphoric blood.

“…but my friends, like you are, call me by my real name. Era.”

“What pretty names. It sounds like something I would use for a fake name.”

Era blushed as she hit the gas, with a smile Rhine would wear. “Thank you! Hey—! Dawn sounds a little like Golden Hour. Dawn and Dusk, hm?” She nodded like it rolled off her tongue. “I think we’ll be great friends!”

Rhine nodded in return. She turned to the window of the car, watching the skyscrapers and buildings as they flew by. Her thoughts occupied any and all space in her mind, so she simply hummed in agreement.

Era’s eyes flicked towards Rhine for a moment, then back onto the road in the sky. “Hey, you planning on fighting LynX? The public won’t stop bothering you until you try again.”

“Yeah. I intend to.”

“Ah, I like your spirit!”

…hm…

The car stopped once they reached a beautifully decorated and modern island with a gorgeous low standing house.

“The island is artificial,” Era chimed as she exited the hover car, pressing a button to open her door and Rhine’s. “I had it commissioned. A bit greedy of me, but I made that up by making it the most eco-friendly place in the world.” She smiled.

Rhine exited the car after a thought.

A very jealous thought.

“It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Era raised an eyebrow as she rounded the hover car, leading Rhine up a lit stairway as the sun set. “No?”

“No.”

“So, you are from another world.”

Rhine nodded as if this wasn’t anything new. Because it wasn’t. “Yeah. It’s obvious. I stick out.”

Once they reached the door, Era nodded slowly. “Undoubtedly a great point.” The door opened as they walked in. “You’re here for a purpose, hm?”

They were led into a huge open room, with two staircases that spiraled up to another level, decorated with an extravagant chandelier with a little garden and fountain in the middle of the stairs. Everything was very white and modern.

“Yes.”

Era smirked. “Defeat LynX?”

“I hope so.”

The lights went out.

Shit. Rhine swapped the mode on her bands and readied herself by knocking on her wrists instead of clanging them together.

Orange light started to emanate from the stairs that started to fold in on themselves mechanically, revealing a pathway down.

“Maybe I should’ve warned you.” Era’s casual grin was illuminated by the mysterious path. “…yes, if you need to defeat LynX… you should do it with at least a few pointers.” She walked down the pathway, heels clicking rhymically.

God. The mode stayed the same.

They led themselves through hallways lighted with orange. With, like, guns behind glass that were in the walls. Rhine remained jealous. Her jealousy increased as they were led into a door, a small hallway that sanitized the two, and into a lab with the same orange lighting.

Era now seemed to be wearing a lab coat.

“Ever heard that celebrities were stupid?”

“Yes.”

“Ah. I didn’t think so!” Era shrugged, but nonetheless was glad she didn’t have to explain. “See, Golden Hour is great at singing and dancing. Catering to the fans and appearing gorgeously on talk-shows. Era has several PhDs, some including statistics, biomedical engineering, physics, engineering, physical chemistry, electrical engineering, computer science, organic chemistry, chemical engineering… lots of engineering… a lot more, too.” She nodded with pride. “All of these have allowed me to have what I have. Unfortunately, Golden Hour gets more than Era.” She shook her head.

Rhine was screaming inside.

“Sorry for bragging.” Era smiled apologetically. “What I mean is… Era knows how to defeat LynX.”

What. “Why doesn’t she just defeat LynX herself, then?”

Era sighed. “Ah, it’s fear. I’m scared. I have everything but freedom in this way. Unless I have planned everything out to the last calculation, I can’t do anything. And my studies of LynX’s behavior have told me they are very unpredictable.” She frowned. “That’s why I can’t do anything with the passion I’d like. Even being an idol, where all you have to do is practice and practice your lines and predict everyone’s movements.”

Oh.

“That’s who I am. Paranoid. But you…” she smiled. “You are unafraid. Willing to learn, are you not? Just like me?”

Rhine locked herself away in a quick thought process session.

LynX said they were just like me. Era says they are just like me. I see myself in both of them, too. Have I stretched myself too thin? I am everything but nothing like they are. According to our entire existence, I shouldn’t be here. My home is destroyed. And yet I continue. Will I ever allow myself a rest? Will I ever end my relentless pursuit of

“Yes. Give me everything you’ve got on them.”

***

“No. No. No. No. NO.” Myst panicked.

QD, who had again matched the world with her form, scratched the back of her neck. “Maybe I should’ve thought about your hydrophobia before spinning a wheel.”

Myst was going CRAZY. “THIS— OCEAN!?!” He raged.

They were on an island.

There was ocean everywhere.

And the only land was various other islands.

“I CAN’T. DO WE EVEN HAVE A BOAT!?”

QD paused.

“QD!!!!!”

“Look! I’m sorry! I forgot… about a lot of the water stuff.”

Myst stopped to take deep breaths.

“Um…” QD ran to some grass, picking up a banana underneath a tree. “Banana! For you!” She beamed.

“I DON’T WANT A FREAKING BANANA!!!! I WANT— I WANT—-!” He shut himself up.

QD cocked her head to the side. “Hm?”

They stared at each other, Myst completely drained.

“…I really am sorry. Don’t worry, though! Really! I have water magic!” She smiled as she turned to the waves, pulling them in and out to her command. “See?”

Myst exhaled. “Okay. I guess life is all about taking risks!” He chimed uncomfortably.

“Yay! See? Not so bad!” QD patted his head.

He stayed silent as the two explored the small island.

“…sorry. I feel on edge after what happened to Kindle.” Confessed Myst.

“Uhm, it’s okay. Did it really mean that much to you guys, though?”

Myst perked up. “Huh?”

“The Kindle. Didn’t Vera destroy it or something?”

…what? “What are you talking about? Vera wouldn’t kill anyone.” He paused. “Any of his friends.”

QD scoffed, smirking to her heart’s content. “Sure,” she shook her head to get back onto the topic. “The book? E-book?”

Frowning in total confusion, Myst slowed down. “No?”

“Boat!” QD hopped over to a small row-boat on the shore. “Let’s go to Redwake! It’s over there!” She pointed to… a very recognizable figure. Stone pillars. This time, they were straight up, and commonly larger than the ones in Verdant. Like small yet steep mountains.

Myst turned to the area. His heart skipped thousands of beats. “Oh…” he hummed with nausea. “…that’s a place, alright…”

“It’ll be okay! I’m an experienced sailor! Have you forgotten?”

“No.”

“Yay! Good! Don’t forget the water magic, either!”

“I won’t.”

How can she tell me to not forget when she clearly seems like she’s the one who’s forgotten all about Kindle?

They entered the boat (of course, with Myst’s hesitations), sailing to Redwake.

Myst shuddered at the gentle waves that splashed against the small vessel.

“‘Know any sea shanties?”

“I’m not a sailor…”

QD shrugged. “I am! But I don’t know any.”

“Oh.” Myst sighed. “That would probably have made this a lot more annoying… pleasingly distracting, in a sense…”

Racking her brain for anything BUT the damn Wellerman song, QD tried to grant Myst’s wishes. “I can tell you a story…?”

“Go ahead.”

“Uhm… me and Vera… once we tried to go loot farming in the Depths! And he told me that we’d be totally fine. It kinda reminds me of this situation right now! I was terrified.” She giggled. “All we had to do was run away if we saw an Enforcer or Dark Owl. So, we entered the Depths, took a few steps, then Vera SCREAMED at the top of his lungs for me to run!” She started to laugh harder, rowing a little more aggressively.

Myst’s eyes widened, cracking his face. “What.”

“Yeah, turns out, a Dark Owl was right where we sank down to! It killed me.” QD sighed with a memorable smile. “That’s why I don’t go to the Depths on purpose anymore!”

The boat shook. “THAT HELPED.” Myst commented.

“Oh— AHH!!!” QD blinked wildly. “SORRY!! I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT THE STORY MIGHT’VE RATIFIED A FEW FEARS!!”

Myst’s heart felt like it was leaping out of his chest. “Do. NOT. Scream like that. Unless there’s a SHARK.”

QD held her screams of realization again. “Whhhooops!! Sorry, Myst! Agghh…” She shook her head so as to not make the same mistake again, rowing through the waves. “Don’t worry! Our boat is way too small… sharks won’t be able to attack us! We’re undetectable! No cargo also means no pirates!”

Myst felt safer in the small little boat.

“The waves are gentle here, but harsher way out. We’ll still buy a bigger boat! That way, no more water being too close for comfort!” QD redirected a splash moving in on Myst. She smiled.

Sighing with relief, Myst hugged his knees. “Why are we going to this Redwake place?”

“Every journey starts somewhere, so I figured we could head on over there and see what we can find out. Maybe there’s a greater problem we have to fix! Those’ll be our anomalies, done!”

I need to go home. I should’ve never even met QD. I should’ve just died when I had the chance. It was right in front of me. “Good! We’ll start there. Then we can LEAVE.” He shuddered again.

QD nodded happily. “Yeah! I guess being surrounded by all this water could also help you face your fears too, hm?”

“Yeah.” Myst agreed. “…every world is special, so I should just… enjoy the process. Not the ending.” He inhaled and exhaled.

QD patted her leg with one hand, making an alternate to clapping, as she turned her rowing to the pillars. “I like that! I think it’s the experience that matters, too!”

They slowly made their way to a village… port…? Whatever. It was a whole town on wooden planks, so, an artificial island.

Myst’s fears were (mostly) quelled when he stepped on the island without a creaking noise. He sighed some more in some more relief.

Slowly, their ears tuned to the sound of attacks.

“Ooh, sounds like we’ve got our first bit of trouble! Let’s go!” QD turned to a barrel, a sword leaning against it. She handed it to Myst.

The two ran to the scene, where bandits had been plundering the village.

Smiling with mischievous (???) intent, QD brought the attention of the bandits towards her. “Hey! You guys! You wanna plunder a village!? You gotta get through me fi—!”

She was instantly lunged at.

“AGH MYST HELP ME”

Myst gripped the sword, then leapt into action. He knew how to fight… mostly. But the thing he was best at was making people believe things using only their eyes. What I mean by that was he was good with illusions. As we have seen. I just wanted to remind you… in case you’ve forgotten… …yeah…

Anyways. Myst stopped fighting, then started to illusioning. That’s a word, yes. Distracting the bandits and cowering away with them as QD lifted water from under their feet.

Easily, the bandits were swept into the ocean and far away.

“Yay!” QD fist bumped Myst as the people in the village cheered. “Problem part one solved!”

Stretching out his wrists, Myst nodded. “Mhm,”

A few people came up to them and started to thank them for their help. Obviously.

“Thank you so much! Our warriors have gone out to hunt and eliminate some of those bandits, but the others had snuck in somehow.”

“We owe you one, ma’am!!”

“I like your shirt.”

“Is there anything we can do to thank you?”

QD smirked towards Myst, with a face that told him she had expected such praise after her years of exploring worlds. “No thanking at all required!” She smiled. “We just saw the opportunity to help out. If we could… we’d help you again!”

“Oh! Well, there are a few things.”

While waiting for the warriors to come back, Myst and QD had located three boxes of lost cargo, returned a hat, a necklace, some work papers, and had bought some ingredients for a cook and learnt a few recipes themselves.

Myst was exhausted.

QD was not.

“Anything else?”

“Ah, see… the warriors had all left, because the hunt has been scarce. We’ve had to sail further out each day, because something’s been killing the fish.”

QD slowly nodded, turning to Myst with a weak smile. “Yeah. Anything else…?”

“Yes. If the warriors don’t beat the bandits, then we’ll need help from you two!” They smiled.

Myst’s eye twitched.

Just as he was about to suggest a different job for himself, the warrior’s boats sailed in.

Three minutes later, QD and Myst found themselves in a crazy menacing hallway and a burly man wearing a battle-hardened smile.

“Thank you two for defending our village!” The man grinned. “The problem with those bandits is their numbers… with the fish dying, it’s hard to ward off the lot of them and try to hunt at the same time, too.”

“…we could fix that.” QD slowly grew a little smile, turning to Myst.

“Really? Thank you once again! We’ll provide you a better boat than the wreck you sailed in with!” He heartily laughed.

Myst was a little glad that they didn’t have to deal with that leg-cramping abomination. But, he still didn’t want to sail out into the ocean…

“Yay! We’ll get on that! Thanks, sir!” QD sprang up with immense passion.

The man stared Myst down.

“Uhm— yes.” He fumbled under the sharp gaze. “Thank you.” Myst dipped his head.

The man laughed again. “Alright then, best be on your ways!”

QD (excited) and Myst (scared) exited the… town hall thing.

“A new boat!? Isn’t that cool!?”

“Yeah. It would certainly eradicate some fears…”

Nodding away in agreement, QD led their way to the docks, as Myst picked up the sword he was given (that was lying on a barrel). “I doubt they’ll give us a big enough boat to be spotted by sharks, though.”

A few minutes later, QD and Myst were sailing in a boat big enough for sharks to see.

“I… didn’t expect such generosity.” QD let the sails out. “Hey, at least we’ll get out of places quicker! And sail much safer. Higher up from the water.” She smiled awkwardly as she held onto Myst’s hand, leading him up the boat.

He was obviously weighing the pros and the cons in his mind. “How likely are attacks by sharks?”

QD adjusted the sails as they luffed in the wind. “Ah— let’s count the different types of sharks…”

“NO. LET’S NOT.”

She shrugged. “Sorry… I’m… I’m guessing about as frequent as… a shard hits Isle.”

Myst told himself to be calmed by this answer— he wasn’t sure shards could even propel themselves as far as Isle. However, as much as he trusted QD, he also did not trust her. Weird. Too Long, Didn’t Read; Myst is not calm.

“That’s good.” He LIED. “Something to worry about less.”

“Hehe, I knew you’d adapt just fine!” QD fixed up the sails, nodding to herself as they no longer flogged in the wind. “Alright! We’ve got this map…” She picked up a map that a small backpack rested on, then sifted through the backpack itself to find a compass. Once she had the two items, she located their position, then the ‘X’ for where the bandits were. “Ah! See!” She ran to Myst, waving the map in the air.

“Hm?” Myst watched as QD ran without fear towards him, nearly knocking him off his little safe seat of a low-standing barrel.

QD proudly displayed the map as if Myst could understand it. “Jaw Isle! And we were just on the topic of the Isle!” She beamed at her connection. “I guess we can call those bandits ‘Jaw Bandits’, ‘cuz of where they are… wouldn’t that be a good name?”

Myst shrugged. “You’re good with making names. You tell me if it’s good enough.”

“True… only, I didn’t put much meaning into this… usually, you should do things with meaning— ESPECIALLY names.” She nodded to herself. “These bandits are pretty annoying… meaning that less thought into their name will make it seem like they weren’t worth the thought— making it seem like they’re bad guys! Which they are!” She lodged her hands onto her hips. “Tada! Meaning added!”

Myst applauded her. “Can we start going? I’m nervous above all this water.”

“Yeah! Anything for you~!” QD lifted the anchor, then skipped to the helm, turning them away from the port, close hauled to starboard. “Yay~! Heading up!”

A few people in the village waved goodbye. Of course, QD signed off with a name— Abbey Rust— and with glorious goodbyes and ‘you’re all so amazing oh the gods below thank you thank you thank you I’ll give you all free autographs after I kill the king of Ravenna’. Myst shyly waved. He lost his stage personality when he wasn’t in the Valley (If you couldn’t tell).

QD took off her hair tie, letting the wind they were riding against carry it gracefully. “Myst! Myst! Look at my hair!”

“what?”

She threw her hands around in her hair, pretending like she was a model. “I like long hair when it doesn’t become a nuisance.” She beamed.

Myst nodded to the obvious. “Yeah. You like it because it’s not bothering you…”

“Hehe~!” QD put her hands back on the helm. “Do you see that tiny island? If I read the map correctly, then we should be headed there!” She pointed to, as she’d said, tiny island. “So… defeat the bandits, then figure out what’s polluting and killing the fish!”

“Bandits sound easy… I think the second task will take a while.” Myst burned his eyes onto the view of the waves splashing below.

QD hummed in agreement. “Yeah. I think we’ll find out soon, though!”

Slowly, the two made it closer to the island.

“See any blind spots?”

“What are we looking for, exactly?”

“If we’re trying to attack the bandits without destroying our ship in the process, we better find a spot where we can hide it. Preferably behind a large rock pillar. This island has a few.”

Myst tore his vision from the waves, then placed it onto the island. Scanning the shore for a while, he eventually pointed to a nice place to leave the boat. “If it comes to it, I could use an illusion to hide the boat. That would be easier… rather than trying to…” He looked back down at the waves. “Trying to dock without a port.”

The boat sailed to the spot Myst had laid out.

“Yeah, but I think it’ll be better for us if we didn’t have to concentrate on it. I’d like to defeat the bandits quickly, y’know?”

“Mhm…”

Finally, QD trimmed the sails as they reached the spot. She hopped over to the anchor to lower it. “Cool! Now, let’s head on over!” Taking a wooden plank previously invisible to Myst, she hopped over and lowered it down to the shore that had seemed so far away before.

The board was just enough to reach.

“Hehe, how lucky!” QD turned to Myst, grabbing onto the hand he hadn’t used to just pick up the sword. “Careful,” she led them onto the board and then to the shore.

“Yeah… why wouldn’t I be?” Myst muttered.

They finally stepped onshore.

“It doesn’t feel like land, yeah? Kinda… just like a floating piece of rock.” QD dug her feet into the hot sand.

Myst stared at it. Sand… he hated sand. It was coarse, rough, irritating… and it got everywhere. Something along those lines… “Isn’t every world we go to just a floating piece of rock?”

QD shrugged, but beamed at the connection. “Yeah! Still, this feels much more like something that’s floating. I just don’t see the whole… concept, I guess— of it being a small dot of land.” She clapped her hands. “No clue— but! Now we get to fight bandits!”

“At least be a little more quiet about that when the bandits are right there.” Myst pointed to a few bandits with tents and a campfire that was covering and dispersing the smoke that came from it.

QD’s hands flew to her mouth. “Right— sorry.” She examined the fire. “Hey, how genius! They’ve been hiding their fires this whole time. That’s probably why it took Redwake’s warriors a while to fend these guys off.”

Myst opened his band to portray a hologram of a notepad. There, he and QD wrote out a plan. (With some of QD’s doodling at the side)

They would sneak behind the bandits in front of them a—-

“HYAH!!” A bandit threw a machete for Myst.

Alerted, Myst dodged out of the way. Looks like that plan was going to waste.

QD picked up the waves behind them, directing it towards the machete and the bandit. The water holding onto the machete dropped it right in front of Myst. “Grab it! There’s only—!” She washed the bandit out with water as more ran over. “—a few drops of water!”

It was alright. Myst had gloves on. He grabbed onto the machete and dual wielded the sword with it. Clanging them together out of pure instinctual imitation, he ran to the bandits that were coming towards them.

Because the bandits are stupid, it was easy to wash them away in the water and let them drown. But… it did take a while. After they started to fight the first few bandits, more came from the crevices of the Isle.

“Should we spare at least the ones who probably didn’t want to come out and fight…?” Myst looked around the island, in disbelief that this was that easy and that the bandits had all consented to… y’know… being a bandit.

QD looked around with Myst, slicing through bushes with water, trying to find a ‘last bandit’. “Eh, probably not. I— I mean— we wouldn’t find any good bandits. It’s…” she waved her hand in the air after confirming the island was empty. “…it’s— this whole thing?” Her tone suggested it was a little hard to explain.

Myst shrugged. Truthfully, he couldn’t be bothered to hear the answer. “Alright,”

“Well! That was pretty easy, hm? Now, we just go find out what’s polluting the water!” QD guided Myst to the shore.

“That must take some time. As far as I can see, the water’s fine.”

“…hmm… you should consider that if we’ve got a seemingly demanding task at hand right now, then that means it should be a pretty easy fix.”

Myst raised an eyebrow, forgetting his face would crack again. “I don’t get what you mean by that. What’s the whole… thought process?”

“We’re just starting out! It should be really easy to fix this. Think of a video game!” QD snapped with a smile.

Myst shook his head. “That’ll make it even more confusing.”

“No it won’t! Just listen— the people who designed the game want you to play the beginning, then get interested to play more! If the beginning is too difficult or confusing, players will lack motivation and interest to continue. Puddle worlds have the same logic.” She turned to the waves, and pulled a huge orb of water from them. “If you’re just starting off, there should be an easy fix.”

“Oh, that would’ve helped to know earlier… I thought we’d be stuck here.” Myst sighed. “Are video games easy?”

QD smiled at Myst teasingly as she walked over to the bandit camps they’d just cleared out. “Hira thinks so! He’s really good. So is Rhine! Danann— I think he’s good— Trillix would probably try and gamble her life’s savings on everything she played, Juno is old, and Suns… well, it depends with them.” QD found a bucket next to a campfire, then dumped the water inside.

“Nice chat.” Myst frowned without a care for the cracks in his face. “What are you doing with that bucket?”

“There could be some sort of substance in the water. If I bend the water in a concentrated manner… I could find the little bits that would make up whatever substance there could be!” QD took strings of water from the bucket, splashing them on trees and grass.

Myst stood at a good distance. “Okay…”

Slowly, the bucket was emptied, and all that remained was thin, green liquid.

“Acid!” QD smiled.

Perking up at the conclusion, Myst pushed a fragment of his face back on. “Acid? That’s… green liquid. Is it the classic stereotype of acid?”

Shrugging, QD thought. “Um… pretty much.”

Myst stared at the liquid. “Looks like tears.”

“Hm?”

They exchanged glances.

“Let’s head back to the boat!” QD tossed the bucket behind her.

Myst nodded. “Yeah.”

Either way, the bucket was back in QD’s hands, because she had thrown it and then had quickly realized she could use it later on. So… she went back.

They sailed through the sea, as QD tested the waters a few times. Also, there were some close calls with jagged rocks peeking from the water… which didn’t help Myst’s nerves.

Eventually, their acid searching had led them to an island!!!

An island that was raining.

Suddenly…?

Oh, acid raining.

QD quickly washed out the bucket and tossed it to Myst so he could hold it over his head. “Not much— but here!”

He quickly put it over, groaning. “Hopefully it doesn’t rain anymore…” Myst squished himself together to make sure the bucket covered all of his skin that hadn’t been covered by his clothes. Luckily, that was only his arms…

“Sorry… I’ll go check out the island. You stay here!”

Sounds of footsteps. Wood against wood, then something falling onto the sand. More footsteps on wood, then footsteps on sand. Then they were heard no more— covered by the rain that littered them when they had at least been audible.

It was just Myst and his thoughts.

Will the sails it’s going to be the sburn up in the acid…? That better not hapame thing over and over agapen maybe this type of acid rain is different. Like Rhinein, won’t it? I need to get out osays…f here.

He hid away his repeated thoughts… to the best of his ability (he doesn’t have very good abilities in this department, sadly).

Watching the rain fall and making the same noise again and again— and watching the waves splash against the boat again and again— then the sails gliding with the wind again and again— and the rain washing and pooling into the boat little by little, again and again.

Myst winced, like he’d been stabbed.

There was a new noise, but he couldn’t tell what it was now. He didn’t mind. He had a bigger task at hand— finally realizing that this wasn’t okay. That everything wasn’t okay. And then letting that sink in. Slowly sink into his skin. Myst’s cracking skin. The skin that kept cracking— as he could feel it trickle down his neck, to his shoulders, then his arms, barely up to his elbows. Cracking with every move he made with the same sound.

The same sounds and the same sights. With patterns— everything repeated, and yet he expected everything to be different each time.

Could something just change? He expected the glowing green tears from his eyes to be different, but he’d seen it already. Even as it burnt his gloves when he caught them.

Now that new noise became old. And everything was the same again. The same thing over and over again. And as a whole, the same as last time.

Louder— louder, louder, louder, louder, louder, louder, and yet— it never changed— beating noises into his ears— like the sea was crying— the rain was shrieking— the wind was howling— speaking to him— speaking to himself—he was speaking to himself—

“Myst!”

“Hm?”

“Guess what!?!”

“Yeah, what is it?” He asked from under the bucket, muffled.

“I found out what happened to the water!”

Footsteps back to the boat, then everything subsided.

“Oh, how quick! What happened?”

QD swapped out Myst’s bucket for a large hat. “Turns out, the acid came from an acid magic user. Hehe. He just wanted a quiet place to practice his magic, but he ended up hurting the environment without realizing.” She shrugged. “Anywho!— Ooh, when did your gloves get like this?”

A rhythmic sound beat into Myst’s ears. “Hm, I didn’t realize. I’ll get them fixed when we get back.”

QD smiled, as she lifted the board back on the ship along with the anchor, then fixed up the sails. “Great! Now, we can report this back to Redwake! Then, we can see where this string of problem-solving takes us… and hopefully, it leads us to a fix for the anomaly. I was thinking it might.” QD finally went up to the helm, then steered their way out of the rain and back to Redwake.

***

“Remember that climate change thing? That Rhine was talking about? It, like, melts icebergs, and stuff.” Explained QD as they sailed far from Redwake.

They’d just spoken to the warriors, and had gotten a pretty good reward from their deeds. Rewards… yes… they’re mandatory from side quests… now, they’ve been told that another island, Frostmill, has been… melting.

An iceberg that drifted into the Bronze Sea long ago and found its stopping point, Frostmill was under the Ravenna Realm’s protection. It was a prime location for cargo— but frost brigands often lurked in the ice mines inside of the iceberg. Who would’ve thought? It was also home to a powerful wizard who had come to study the iceberg.

Ravenna protected most of the islands in the Bronze Sea, with the exception of Redwake, which was owned by the Sameria Province in the north. Fun fact, hehe.

“Yeah. Hopefully Earth bounces back from that.” Myst’s lips cracked into a smile. “Is the island melting?”

QD nodded as she turned the helm and broke away from the wind. “Exactly! Frostmill is the coldest place in the Bronze Sea, so that’s a little surprising. I suspect we might have to deal with another magic user, since this world doesn’t have any ways of heating up the atmosphere effectively. Unless you count crazy fire magic users.” She shrugged. “But they’d have to be really good at it! Otherwise, they’ve probably picked up some old magic.”

Slowly, the sun started to set.

“Hey!!! Let’s dock at Frostmill then take a nap!!!!!” QD beamed.

Myst remembered the last time they fell asleep in another world together. No. “…do you like to sleep, or something?”

QD nodded. “Yeah! I like it when I have dreams.”

Oh, her dreams… “uhm…” well, there’s always been a pattern in them… maybe it’ll be useful to the others if I told them about any dream she may have tonight. “Okay, but one thing. At least one of us should have a bed. You probably pushed me off last time.”

“Wha? It’s not weird! We’re just snuggled under a blanket!” She

“No, QD. You pushed me off the bed. That’s… annoying.”

“Uhm, but you told me that you used to—

Myst cut her off with a shush. “Used to what?”

She stared at him with another new expression. “Nothing.”

Resting his head on his hands, Myst’s eyes widened as he watched the waves again.

I should start now. I can’t look suspicious right away.

They made their way to Frostmill Island as the sun was nearly gone under the horizon and the rain subsided.

From the silence, Myst had decided on a few things. “Y’know, I’m not that tired.” He turned to QD, who had pulled up the sails and dropped the anchor. Myst hesitated for a moment. “Do you think we can… just solve this melting issue right now, or…?”

QD thought for a moment as she watched him from the helm. After a pause, she walked over to him with a blank expression, her eyes fixed on and tracking him until she stood in front of him. “Sure!” QD beamed suddenly. “I don’t think it’ll take that long… plus, I kinda do like staying up late.” She picked up the board and connected their boat to the dock.

“Good.” Myst smiled, taking off the hat QD had given him and resting it on the barrel he was sitting on while he grabbed the machete and sword. “We’ll go figure that out, then!”

Asking around town and introducing themselves, Myst and QD gained some intel about the melting iceberg. This prompted QD to give their mission a nickname— ‘Operation Fiasco of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Global Warming!’—which has lots of meaning if you think about it. I appreciate that.

“So, the iceberg is getting shorter…?” Myst examined some water running down the iceberg from somewhere above. “It’s melting from the top.” He looked up, hearing a crack in his neck.

Following his gaze, QD’s eyes ran up the small stream of water to the top, where Myst had been precisely looking. “That means we go up!” She jolted her finger to point at the tip. “Then, we’ll be done— easy-peasy!”

Myst looked back at QD, nodding even though his eyes felt lost. “Yup. Then… more things to fix, hm? What about that curse they were talking about?”

“Maybe that’s what they think is melting the ice…?” QD shrugged.

Myst took the information and processed it. “Maybe we can defeat some of those frost brigands the mayor was talking about. They could hold a clue.”

After a quick beat-and-interrogate montage, a clue had surely been found.

“A girl with long scarlet hair…” Myst turned to QD. “If my stereotypes serve me well, then this girl must be a user of some sort of fire magic.”

QD agreed. “Yeah. Surely, someone would’ve spotted her in the village… which is why she’s been melting the top. We can ask the local wizard about how she could’ve done this… like I said, she’d need some powerful magic.”

Another quick montage of meeting up with the wizard!

“It is flare magic— a type of lost magic. The girl is named Iris…”

“How does he know her name? And her magic?” QD leaned to Myst.

“Honestly, I don’t know.” Myst frowned, cracking again.

Montage OVER!!!

“So, we fight this girl?”

“Yeah. That’s the best solution. Good thing I’ll be immune to her magic!” Beamed Myst.

QD clapped enthusiastically. “Yay!!! Let’s go beat up this kid!!!”

Another montage of climbing the stupidly tall Frostmill! Maybe it SHOULD’VE melted!

“HHHHOOOOOOHHHH!!!!!” Gasped QD, pointing wildly to a red figure melting ice. “Let’s go get her!!” She sprung from their hiding spot, then launched a burst of water for Iris.

“Hey!” Iris returned the favor with sparking embers— like fireworks.

Myst ran for the attack, shielding QD. He turned to her with a cracking smile. Then, he took his weaponry to arms, clinking them together in instinct once more. “Hey,” he replied to Iris smugly.

“You two think you’re gonna stop me?” Iris narrowed her eyes, then blasted powerful blows of her sparks towards Myst and QD. “Go away! Scum of Ravenna!”

Able to run through the flames, Myst quickly took Iris hostage under his blades.

“Feeling nervous?” He smiled with his cracks, chipping them with each gesture only further.

Iris had completely stopped her magic under the threat Myst had given her, back against the ice. “Hey— you can’t just run through my magic like that!” She gritted her teeth. “It’s supposed to be really strong!”

QD took some water, splashing Iris’s destruction on some banners with Ravenna’s symbol on them. “Not unless you practice!” She called back, then proceeded to walk over to them. “Anyways, do you remind explaining yourself like every villain does once they’ve found out they’ve been handled?”

“What do you MEAN!?” She snapped. “You’re the real villains! Doing Ravenna’s bidding— you imprisoned my father for no reason!” Iris slowly came to her realization. She roared suddenly. “UGH—!!”

QD and Myst had received their necessary telling of the villain origin story.

“Are you just melting this island to get revenge on Ravenna for what they did to your father?”

Iris gave Myst the death stare. “Shut up, you cripple.” She examined his mutilated face. “What are you, some type of monster?”

Myst responded with an unamused expression.

“Hey, we’re not with Ravenna.” QD waved her hands to calm the situation. “We’re just trying to keep the citizens of Frostmill safe. You were melting their home!” She reasoned.

Iris scoffed. “They’re all Ravennan scum. They deserve it.”

“They don’t directly represent Ravenna! This island is just under their protection!”

“Ravenna just calls it protection. They’re not just some noble kingdom everyone thinks they are.”

QD gave Myst a look, telling him to ease the swords. Of course, he took them from Iris’s throat.

Iris stared them down as she rubbed her throat, taking this as her victory. “You’ll see. They’re hiding something— I’ll find it out.” Then, Iris ran off.

Myst and QD watched her dash away.

“A secret? Do you think she’s lying?”

QD stared off into the fog that shrouded and hid Iris away. “Maybe not. If there’s something going on with Ravenna… that could be another fix. A huge anomaly!” She turned to Myst quite excitedly. “We’re following her. I need to learn what she knows!!” QD snatched Myst’s hand, pulling it away to follow her.

Hearing a crack (that didn’t disturb him at this point, honestly), Myst flailed along with QD. “Okay— sure— but slow down!”

***

It’s okay… even though your world’s fate is uncertain, and I had to give you one myself… I’m sure you’ll live on. With me, or when your fate is officially sealed the way it was supposed to be.

Vera and Warren found themselves in space. Something like the view outside of the Train, but they walked around like there was a floor. There also wasn’t their usual magnificent view of the Rip and the worlds, and the colors were less varied and more purple. All there was in this area was a door, a couch, TV and table with a notebook.

“I don’t think you’re familiar with the Sea.”

Warren shook his head. “Nope. Is that where we were before?” He turned to Vera, implying the Train.

Vera nodded. “Yeah.” Vera… was still very shaken. After realizing he had been crying, he decided to drop everything he was doing and take a nap— which he found easier after tiring his eyes out. The nap proved to be a terrible decision, as he woke himself from a nightmare where his stomach was ripped open, his throat was burning, his head was throbbing, and he was pooling blood on the floor.

Not fun.

Oh, Warren was fine, by the way. He made a statue out of M&Ms (not sponsored) and searched up how people could get diabetes while casting their statue in resin with their wonderful guide, speaking right about now.

“Well, none of you know that the Sea— The Primordial Sea, officially— is not, in fact, primordial at all. It’s the second Sea.”

Vera raised an eyebrow, though the expression wasn’t enough to display his surprise. “Wh—what. What? Does that—…” He slowly turned to Warren.

Warren, confused, straight up asked what it was. “What does Vera think it is, Ammi?”

A shrug. “Well, he thinks that the Rip destroyed the actual Primordial Sea. But, no, the Primordial Sea didn’t have a Rip. It was very small, with no worlds. This was because it’s only world lost any fuel, though there were plans to build it up again… which never happened. Thus, the Primoridal Sea… enveloped itself into a memory, and until the Sea as we know it sparked up, there was nothing at all.”

“So… no Sea… meaning, it was just… blank space…?” Warren scratched the back of his head.

“Pretty much.”

“Then, how did the memory of the…Pirmodial… Sea appear in the Sea outside of that train?” Warren scrunched up his face in confusion.

“Ah… I guess you could say that the actual Primordial Sea wasn’t the exactly like the Sea we have now… but was just an idea… and the creator of these worlds…”

Vera’s hands hid his face again. “You’re bad at explaining things. Just leave it to Rhine when she finds out.” He muffled.

“Rude...” A tease.

Piecing it together, Warren turned to Vera. “Were you scared that the Rip we’re fighting against swallowed up the worlds we’re trying to save but, like, in the first Sea?”

Vera had to use more brain power than necessary to understand this. “Yes. I was afraid that the Rip succeeded last time.”

“Ah— it’s okay… um… thinking about it, the Sea we have now is probably Primordial… sorry.”

“Oh. You’re just trying to scare us?” Vera snapped angrily.

“No. I was just thinking it over.”

Warren smiled. “Yay! That’s good! No one was hurt, yeah?”

A bittersweet nod and smile. “Yeah. Wanna take a look into what the world was?”

“Yeah!!! That sounds like fun!” Warren scooped up Vera’s arm, hugging onto it. “Let’s go, Vera!”

They descended and sunk into another world— a memory— whatever it was.

Somewhere, near hills, was a little house. It was little to at least everyone that lived in that house. All nine of them. It was a big house. But it barely fit everyone. But, if it was a little house, they would say I'm moving out. All nine of them. Yes, they were a big family, but they didn't care. At least their small was our huge. So, don't complain that the house is huge, because you cannot break nine sticks with one. Because tying up nine sticks together is a complete massive mess. Just do that and try to karate chop it. You can't. In words, that make you understand, please do not try to mess with nine people.

As we go in to the house all you can hear is:

"BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!"

"THEN THAT MEANS YOUR DEAF! LEX IS DEAF! LEX IS DEAF!"

"STOP IT MAX! IM NOT DEAF!!!"

“IF YOU CAN HEAR ME THEN DON'T E-"

"BLAH BLAH BLAH I CAN'T HEAR YOU!! BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH"

"LEX!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Vera blinked. “What the fuck. I couldn’t understand half of that. Why was half of that screaming?” Also, wrong ‘you’re’.

“It sounds like what a little kid would say when they try to explain something.” Warren let the idea roll around in his head before confirming that, yes, it was like that. “Some of the kids had to present their projects to their parents, but as you know, most of them had none.” He turned to Vera as if he wanted to hear the story. “Of course, it was only the very little kids. The ones who were a little older made lots of sense… so, the little kids read these nonsense reports and writings to me. It was very nice of them to do so! This just reminds me of that.” He smiled.

“You’re not so far off… I guess I should explain the context of this memory, then.”

“Please do.” Vera frowned.

“It was from the only world in the first, conceptual Sea. This was the first developed and recorded world. Of course, young minds create incomprehensible things… but not as young as you think, Warren. Aeronia tends to push learning further than they should.”

Warren perked up. “You know about Aeronia, too? Did Hira tell you?”

A smirk.

“Ammi just happens to know literally everything for absolutely no reason.” Vera sighed.

“Uhm… so, an older kid wrote this?” Warren got back on topic.

“Yes. Writing was always her passion… during this time, it was probably her coping mechanism for what had been going on, even if she didn’t know it.”

Warren whispered the word. “Copling mechanism? Is that a machine?”

“No, a coping mechanism is a way of dealing with being sad or disturbed by something. You at least understand being disturbed, yes?”

Agreeing with a hum, Warren continued his questioning. “So, sad is when something is disturbing you? Then your stomach flies around a little bit more than it usually does?”

Vera was confused. “You get nervous when you’re happy?”

Warren understood none of those words. “My stomach always feels like it’s flying. When I feel disturbed, it makes it go crazy, and I get colder, too. It’s been like this since I stopped taking my injections. I got… I didn’t know what it was, so… I felt like…” He pulled on his fingers, flailing them out. “Uhm. I wasn’t sure if that was good to do, and I didn’t know what would happen to me.”

“Fear? You were scared something bad would happen.”

Warren hummed again. “Yeah. Fear is… the unknown future?”

“Sometimes. You could just be fearful— or scared— of all sorts of things. Something that disturbs you and makes you jump, making your heart stop or beat faster. Something unexpected, or something that just makes you cold or your stomach fly.”

“Mhm. So… fear can be a lot of things, and a coping mechanism helps you not be so scared and fearful, which is bad… but maybe they can be good… ah, I see. Thanks for teaching me!”

A nod. “Yup.”

How is she so patient with him? “Okay, now that that’s out of the way… let’s continue.”

“Yeah. Ahem… after the world died, or rather, fizzled out, there was nothing until the Sea as we know it came along… we’re in the memory of the moments before the previous idea of the Sea went out along with its world.”

Another glance around.

“It’s really stupid.” Vera tapped his foot against the couch. “What’s in that notebook?”

Warren took it as his place to grab the said notebook and flip through the pages (which he was surprisingly phenomenal at). “Nothing. The pages are all blank.”

“Does that TV even work?” Vera looked around for a remote. Then, he walked behind it, searching for something to turn it on. In fact, it wasn’t even plugged in. The cord was just lying there.

What’s she doing? Vera turned around. Ammi’s just standing there watching us.

Need me to help?

HOLY SHIT— mothERFUCKER WAS THAT YOU?

A smile.

Yeah, it was me.

That was really creepy. She just looked over and SMILED.

You said she was just standing there. I figured you wanted me to move her. Want me to make her wave?

That’s not necessa—

A wave.

—Please stop.

Why?

It’s just making me… uncomfortable at this point. That’s hella creepy.

Sorry, I’ll stop.

For once, thank you.

For once? That’s a little rude.

A sudden death stare.

If you make her murder me, I swear I’ll come looking for you later.

Not that that offends and scares me, but okay.

Back to a normal stare. “Why are you looking at me?” Confusion.

“Sorry, Ammi.”

Warren appeared from under the couch, shriveled. “Nothing— down there…” He wheezed.

“How on God’s green earth did you get under there?” Vera is now afraid again.

Warren now sat on the very couch that had imprisoned him, winded. “I… I don’t know…” He felt his forehead.

“So. There’s nothing here? What about behind this door?” Vera walked over to the door they hadn’t yet opened.

Inside, there was just a bucket. It was like a very small walk-in closet.

“Oh.”

“Yup. This is where everything ended.”

Warren took another look around— yet not in the aim to find anything— but to remember it before they had left, and create a memory of it of his own. “When you say it like that, I feel like I’m sinking.” He looked over at Vera, expecting an answer from him this time.

Vera looked down, then back up. As if he was preparing himself to answer. “Sadness. Lots of things can make you sad, like fear, or being scared. Sometimes, sadness lasts for a very long time, to a much intenser degree. You can call that depression.” He shrugged. “Coping mechanisms can help with that, I guess. Being sad can be because of problems. Or because something disturbs you. When you’re full of lots of sadness, all of it wells up in your eyes, and your face gets hot… then your eyes start to let all of the sadness out. That’s called crying. Sadness is water.” Vera took a long look into Warren’s eyes.

Warren looked even sadder now.

“Your eyes get really tired from it. And dry. It’s just annoying.” Vera turned away, as if he was too tough to cry.

“It’s okay to cry. No one will ever say anything bad about you crying.” A reassuring hand patted Warren’s back.

He turned around. “Oh— thanks, Ammi.” Warren grinned.

A nod. “Yup.”

“So… will we be leaving?” Warren asked.

Vera looked at him as if it wasn’t his decision to make.

“If you’d like.”

Warren took one last good look around, then nodded. “Sure. We’ve got lots more to do!”

“Where are we going next, Ammi? It seems like you’ve already planned everything out for us… since you’ve been dragging and leading me and Warren around to different places all on your own accord.” Vera inquired.

“Are you trying to be sarcastic…? I don’t really understand.”

Vera groaned. “I don’t— I don’t know! You just… you’ve been taking us from place to place— it just seems like you have a plan. To be honest, it bothers me a bit.” And he didn’t know why.

“I’ve just been going to memories that should be rebuilt, and I simply take you along with me. That’s all.” A smile.

Warren interjected. “Astute observation, Vera. But we really need to get going.” He teased.

“Fine.” She’s probably hiding something… why do I get that feeling only now?

***

…by paved fountain, or by rushy brook, or in the beached margent of the sea…

A stage. With grey seats.

Vera and Warren found themselves sitting next to each other.

“Ammi?” Warren whispered.

“To your left,”

“Oh— hi!”

A gentle smile and wave. The show was about to start.

Vera was a little confused. The seats around them were full only in the middle section, first three rows— excluding row number one.

Shouldn’t a stage be… fuller?

The only seat around them empty was one to the right of Vera, a seat over.

Ugh… and I only get a premonition now? That would’ve been helpful earlier…

Lights illuminated a figure who was on the stage, about to perform.

I know her! She’s… Vera lacked the words to describe his view. …she’s one of my friends… who is she…?

A little frightened, Vera tried to make out the face of the performer. The lights were too bright, the face was clear and unclear— like he was dreaming.

She’s one of my friends…

The lights around them dimmed, and all eyes were on the performer.

These are the forgeries of jealousy…

These are the forgeries of jealousy…

And never, since the middle summer’s spring…

And never, since the middle summer’s spring…

“Funny how you can forget everything according to what you’d want to.”

“Hm? What does that mean?”

Met we on hill, on dale…

Met we on hill, on dale…

By paved fountain or by rushing brook, or in the beached margent of the sea…

By paved fountain, or by rushy brook, or in the beached margent of the sea…

…they’re tearing me apart…

To… dance our ringlets to the whistling winds…

…and I’m stuck in the middle…

…but with thy brawls… thou… hath disturbed our sport…

…I can’t do anything about it… nothing at all…

…therefore, the winds, piping to us in vain, have sucked up from the sea…

…I just have to sit and wait…

…contagious fogs, which, in falling the land, hath every pelting river made so proud that they have overborne their continents…

…HELPLESSLY!

………

Wait.

No.

I’m—

I’m sorry.

I can’t do that again! I’m too far in—

They’re watching…

Oh…

I messed this up…

I messed this up again!

…don’t…

…don’t cry…

…remember— tongue to the roof… of your mouth…

…in and out…

…deep breaths…

…forget about it…

—That— they have… over…

Forget… about it…

Don’t cry!

—born… h—hck…

Continue! Continue! Don’t cry…

…it’ll be okay…

…just hear from them later…

…they’re…

…they’re…

…TEARING ME APART!!!!!

…their continents…

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This same progeny of evils comes from our debate. From our dissensions. We are their parents and original.

The audience around them clapped.

Vera was a little unimpressed. This person probably should’ve remembered their lines, or at least prepared themselves.

The person stormed off the stage, down the steps, and into the only empty seat in the row, sobbing.

It’s okay! We all forget lines sometimes!

You did great!

You’re okay, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM

Yeah! I loved your performance!

No… we didn’t take any roses or thorns… he… took pity on me…

You did amazing. Don’t worry!

Hey, don’t cry AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMyou can hold my hand.

NO! I—

I never forgot my lines!

IT’S EVERYTHING ELSE!

Everything… everything… everything… everything else…!

I would’ve forgotten!

If I never wrote it down…

I forgot all of it!

Everything!

I looked away for one second,

And I forgot everything.

Everything that had happened.

Now, I’ll never forget.

Never…

I wrote it down…

I’ll torment myself…

I’ll never forget!

I’LL NEVER FORGET

HOW THEY TORE ME APART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Uh-oh. Looks like this memory is collapsing.”

Warren jumped. “Yikes! None of them ever played out like this! Is that what’s wrong?!”

Vera stood up, grabbing onto Warren’s hand. “We need to get out of here! NOW!”

What the hell was that!? Why is Ammi taking us to these places? Where—

“Ammi’s— GONE!?” Vera gritted his teeth. “SHE LEFT US! SHE’S NOT THERE ANYMORE!! SHE DISAPPEARED!!!”

Hugging onto Vera’s hand now, Warren felt uneasy. “Hey— you said we need to go! Hurry!”

Vera opened his mouth to protest— but realized that was what they should be doing. So, he bolted out of the rows of seats, trying to look for an exit as the memory around them collapsed as if an earthquake violently shook it. “Hang on!”

The roof caved in, and Vera led Warren to a door. When they exited, the world around them was blank and red. Cracks appeared in the floor, leading to absolutely nothing but a bottomless pit. The sky started to fall onto them, revealing a dark void that erupted into weird patterns— an x-ray green. What was left of the sky that was falling were shards and cracks.

“I’m—!” Warren stumbled as he and Vera searched for an exit. “—I think— I’m— I’M SCARED!!!” He stepped over a forming crack.

Those words somehow shook Vera, freezing his veins. “Don’t worry! I’ll get us out! Have faith in me!”

Warren thought faith was the responsibility of the future. If fear was what you felt for the future in their case… and he was supposed to have faith in Vera… he had to leave the future up to Vera.

“Okay! Get us out of here!” He swallowed the lump in his throat.

Vera jumped over the increasingly difficult to traverse terrain, making sure Warren followed his moves carefully.

Beams of metal— from who knows where, shot out from the ground and pointed to the sky.

Instinctually, Vera sent chains to immobilize the beam, and stopped in place. He could already feel his throat burning.

“VERA!” Warren bumped into him from behind.

Agh— Vera came back to his senses, but stayed frozen. “I’m— I’m sorry!” His feet started to burn, like the air around them. It was like he’d run for an eternity because of the way his nerves fried. “Get— get—!”

A crack appeared beneath them, and just as it appeared, it crumbled down into the abyss, taking Warren.

“SHIT!” Vera stumbled back, with Warren nowhere to be found. “WARREN!!!”

He returned the call. “Vera—!”

Vera looked around wildly— then realized Warren was hanging onto the edge of the crack. “NO—!” Vera quickly reached for Warren’s hand. “PUSH UP!”

Warren grasped onto Vera’s hand tightly with a butterfly grip, the other that had been flailing down had gone up to the edge, attempting to push him up. The edge only crumbled further under his palm.

“It’s— it’s not— working!”

Vera’s heartbeat pounded his ears. “No— no, just—!” He pulled Warren up, but the best sign of progress was a pop that sounded from Warren’s arm.

“AGH!!” Warren screamed in pain.

I’m trying— I’m trying— I’m trying! “I— I’ve got you—!!!”

The edge crumbled, and Vera struggled to keep pulling Warren up as he kept falling back onto each newly created-by-crumbling edge.

“Just— Leave me!” Warren let his hand go. Now, it was up to Vera.

Vera’s heart skipped too many beats to count. “NO! I CAN’T!” He reached his other arm out for Warren.

“You’ll die! Just go!”

“NO!!!”

“If that book— is still right, this could be my destiny!” He gave Vera a saddened smile. “Have you ever seen what— that void is?”

Shaking his head wildly, Vera refused. “NO— And I’m not prepared— to find OUT!” He tugged onto Warren with a sudden burst of strength, to no avail.

“Maybe— it’s destiny!”

“THAT IS NOT YOUR DAMN DESTINY! HOLD ON!”

“JUST— LET GO!”

“NO!!!”

“You’re more— CAPABLE! I’LL JUST DRAG YOU DOWN!”

The world’s red was slowly fading away into darkness, shard by shard.

Ammi! AMMI!!! LITTLE BITCH!!!

“I CAN’T LET YOU DIE!”

“IT’S OKAY! WHATEVER THIS HOLDS FOR ME—-!” Warren gasped as the edge withered off suddenly. “—I CAN HANDLE IT!” He smiled through it.

Stupid! Stupid! “DO YOU WANT TO DIE!?”

Warren closed his eyes, making a pained expression. “—GHH—

To Vera’s horror, beams shot out from the abyss and right through Warren’s stomach.

“YOU— FUCKING IDIOT!” Don’t cry, don’t cry—

“MY LEG WAS ALREADY TORN, ANYWAYS! JUST GO!”

WHAT!? Vera leaned over the edge, spotting Warren’s leg, mutilated. Now, Vera had several questions. One stood out— HOW THE FUCK DID THAT HAPPEN?! Even though Vera himself was somehow uninjured, his legs and stomach felt weak.

“YOU COULD’VE SAID SOMETHING!!”

Warren gasped again, coughing out blood. “I— I DIDN’T THINK Y—!”

The beam crumbled, and all that kept Vera on the ground slowly crumbled— seemingly in zero gravity.

“GO!”

Vera again tried to pull Warren up.

“I’M PRACTICALLY DEAD ALREADY!”

“SHUT UP!” Vera spat at him. “PLEASE, JUST—-!” He choked on his words— something hit him in the back of the throat. His head throbbed with intense pain, like it was about to burst. Vera found himself struggling for air.

I failed— I failed I failed I failed I FAILED!!!

He tore at his throat, like that’d help him breathe.

Get up get up get up go go go go go

His hands— they had gone to his throat.

Both of them.

“WARREN!” Vera sobbed.

The memory around him continued to fall. If that time-stop he and Warren experienced earlier could be used at any time— this would be it.

JUST RUN!

Somehow, Vera’s legs let him run. He was telling himself to stay here, to look for Warren— but his legs said otherwise. His eyes betrayed him too. They darted around for the exit.

A small square of light— like a door frame, only thicker. That was the exit he wanted to leave through with Warren.

He had to leave.

It was what Warren had wanted him to do.

Warren— was he really dead?

What happened to you when you were swallowed up by a memory being forgotten?

Were you also swallowed?

When Warren returned from his journey through destiny…

…because he would return…

…he would tell Vera.

***

With a swift knock from the pool noodle, her first task was done.

It was this easy…?

Rhine had knocked down the first soda tower LynX had placed. Apparently, it was how she gained power. Soda seemed prominent in this world… half the ads Rhine saw everywhere were about either soda or energy drinks. To be honest… the stacks LynX had made were very nice. Rhine had seen too many stereotyped overworked teenagers in a grocery store stacking them and wallowing in their disappointment as the main character destroys them with a simple maneuver… she felt a little bad.

“HEY! You’re not supposed to know this!” LynX appeared as if they had been summoned. “Who told you?!”

Rhine shrugged. “Intuition.”

“THAT WAS NOT INTUITION! You’ve got an insider.” LynX hovered down to level their height to Rhine. “Only, I don’t work with anyone… therefore no liabilities...” They paused for a moment to think. “What the hell— just fight me!”

Rhine held onto the pool noodle in a defensive stance, prepared to deal more damage with it… even though it didn’t seem like it would work. This whole thing felt like a fever dream.

LynX brought out a holographic keyboard, pressing a few buttons to charge it up. Then, they shot another beam for Rhine.

Rhine blocked it with the pool noodle without needing to move an inch.

LynX, angrily and in response, shot more beams.

Rhine continued to block all of them.

“CAN YOU STOP THAT!?” They roared. “DROP THAT STUPID NOODLE!!”

Rhine smirked. She was having fun.

LynX has a significant power difference from what they used to have. This shouldn’t be difficult at all.

Now, Rhine had to prioritize disabling LynX’s battle suit features. One of them was the piano, which had the ability to shock and charge up the soda stacks and convert them into power. There were three stacks, hidden in various locations. She had just disabled one.

Better remove that piano before it causes me any trouble.

LynX narrowed their eyes. “Dude! Drop the noodle! It’s not FAIR!” They focused a laser on Rhine, forcing her to keep blocking and stay in place. “DIE ALREADY!”

This hadn’t bothered Rhine in the slightest. All she had to do was sit there while LynX screamed about stuff and stuff.

It’s like fighting a child. There’s no real terror…

Rhine pushed her make-shift sword against the laser, then dashed to the side without it.

LynX, upon seeing her target had moved, decided to annihilate Rhine instead of the pool noodle she so detested. So, the laser was turned off, and had to be charged and aimed again.

This window of time gave Rhine the opportunity to grab the noodle again, then run for the piano and crush it with the flimsy piece of hollowed child-safe water-proof foam. Thus, LynX’s masterpieces of hard work had been destroyed quickly.

“RRAAAAGGGHHH!!! YOU—!! YOU ABSOLUTE—-!!” LynX started to rapid fire beams at Rhine, in their final childish attempt to kill her.

Perfectly parrying each beam away, Rhine made it to the end of the secluded alleyway where Era was waiting for her. The door opened before Rhine slid into the car and seat with grace.

“Let’s go!” Era grinned as she hit the gas.

In the rear view mirror, LynX was already charging up their first attack.

“I don’t have anything to block it! Honestly, I didn’t think LynX would be firing a laser at the back of my car.” Era shrugged. “Mind heading out and blocking that?”

Rhine was already on it, rolling down the window and making her way to the top of the car with the pool noodle. She held onto the hood and displayed the pool noodle like an animal crossing character showing off whatever the hell they found from the woods. Rhine successfully blocked LynX’s laser again. “Do you really have only beams and lasers for your attacks?” She mocked.

LynX’s face was undoubtedly scrunched in fury, even if her glasses and hair— that was assaulting her face as it blew violently in the wind— covered all visible emotion. “I LEFT THEM AT HOME!!!”

The sincerity in LynX’s voice made Rhine believe the excuse. “Oh,” Rhine piped up. “—well, you should’ve known I wouldn’t be such an easy target!”

“Thanks for letting me KNOW!” LynX fired a quick shot with her last stressed word. “I’ll remember to bring them next time!”

Soon, news drones flew in to get all the action. Era had to hide her face inside of the hover car, no doubt.

LynX focused their attention on destroying every drone that flew in.

“What’s the matter? Can’t have everyone in on your second latest failure?”

“No— I just don’t like anyone to know of the humiliation I bring to my enemies!” The shots were focused on Rhine once all the drones were gone, but the process kept repeating due to the fact that those drones collected like dust in an abandoned shack in the High Plains during 1934.

They’ll be too obsessed with their image to keep fighting. With all these drones flying in, it’ll be too distracting to continue this fight. I’d leave if I were them…

As if they’d read her mind, LynX snarled. “THIS DOESN’T END HERE! I’LL FIND YOU!” And with that, they fled.

Rhine smirked, swinging back into the car through the window, rolling it back up again.

“Nice! That was close. Now… let’s get out of here, quickly. I’ll enable a field that glitches out those drone cameras.” Era nodded with pride.

“I expected you to have something like that. Y’know, being a celebrity and all.”

“Yup. I figured the drones would be useful in this battle. I’m sure you figured that out too.”

Rhine nodded and smiled, much like Era did.

“Hehe, great minds think alike!”

With a few more miles of distance, Era enabled the field. Soon, the drones around them either hovered mid-air or flew aimlessly. A good sign the field had done its work.

That was… fun… slowly, Rhine forgot all about her troubles. “Where to next?” She opened up the cube, revealing a 3D hologram of the city. When a few locations lit up, she had answered her own question.

“Well, two more places. One is in a theatre-library… don’t think about it too much… and another is inside a deep apartment complex. Be careful, though. With both of them. You can choose which you want to go to, but they’ll both be difficult to destroy. LynX has… security measures.”

Hm. Destroying a stack of soda cans in a theatre-library place is bound to end terribly… you’re supposed to be quiet in both. An abandoned apartment lot seems like the best place as of now, but since it is abandoned, that must mean LynX has had enough time and no distractions in order to make it the perfect trap for me.

If what LynX says is true, I’m just like them. And I’m just like Era, too. That means we’ll probably think of the same things… of course, blinded by ego or by modesty.

As helpful as this whole connection of us is… I can’t stop feeling a little jealous that I’m the one being compared to them.

We’re our own people…

“That theatre-library sounds good.” Rhine nodded.

Era shared the look of determination. “Let’s go!”

Hey, how does Era know so much about LynX?

A shiver ran down Rhine’s back.

Ugh… I can’t believe I didn’t think of this!!!

I just— figured that since she was a scientist, she’d be able to figure out what LynX uses for their tech!

But even full-time scientists here haven’t said anything! They don’t understand ANY OF IT!

Is she— She’s gonna double cross me, isn’t she?

The hover car rounded to a large building. It was very, very tall.

“Alright. I bet you have a plan, don’t you? So, I’m dropping you off here.” Era stopped the car in a fairly hidden spot. “I’ll be waiting here. Do what you can!” She balled a fist in determination.

Rhine returned her own optimistic gesture. Using her band to disguise her face, she entered the theatre.

People were already walking from place to place, up glass elevators and checking into reception devices.

Rhine spotted a large screen with an icon of a lowercase “I”. Must’ve stood for “info”… she walked over and spoke to the screen.

“Where’s the library?”

Thankfully, the screen responded, and Rhine was not embarrassed by talking to it.

“Follow the directions on your Cube.”

The small cube Rhine had been given at the beginning of her journey buzzed, leading her with a hologram that traced the floor.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, Jerry.”

Ah. The Cube already had someone else’s personal information on it.

Well.

How suspicious…

The hologram led Rhine downwards through three elevators.

Suddenly, the elevator stopped.

Damn.

A loud voice with a hint of artificial intelligence rang out.

“We apologize for any inconvenience, but the library has been closed for inspection. Please make your way to the elevators and exit.”

The elevator continued moving down.

When it opened, Rhine was met by several people waiting to get it. She had to push herself to try and get out.

“The library is closed! Where are you going?”

Rhine was somewhat surprised at the interjection being made by a real person. “I left my Cube here. Do you think they’ll have the elevators wait for me?”

“A new one, maybe. You should leave quickly after you find it… this library has some strict surveillance, if you’re unfamiliar with the risk you’re taking.” The person frowned sarcastically. “Bye!”

A little confused, Rhine waved bye. “Bye.”

Okay. Let’s do this.

Rhine sped through the halls, using the Cube to summon her pool noodle and track the density of bioelectricity. Slowly, she was led through tables and chairs— places to study between the wavy shelves of holograms. Probably book-like items. The lights shut off.

As if this place wasn’t giving her the creeps already.

It was practically midnight, so Rhine turned on the light on the Cube, then swapped modes on her band quietly. The pool noodle was helpful, but only when dealing with the tech LynX had. She’d need daggers to do actual damage.

LynX could be anywhere. They’ve probably already noticed me.

“Jerry, this area is under inspection. Please leave for your own safety.” The lights flickered back on. It didn’t sound like LynX’s voice.

Rhine looked at the Cube in her hand.

Oh, the building… it was about to go under inspection… the Cube is giving me away. But how will I find the location of the stack without it? Maybe, if I pull a stunt like in the labyrinth… but I don’t have any rope…

“Jerry, this area is under inspection. Please leave for your own safety.”

My bandages. They’re not long enough, but I could tear them up and leave a trail.

Rhine cleared her voice. “Sorry. I’ll be out.” She tore up her bandages as the Cube’s application was overridden and replaced by instructions to go back to the elevators.

Ripping up the bandages into tiny pieces proved to be useful, albeit hard on the hands. Rhine still had a little bit left to wrap around her arm. It wasn’t enough… though it was better than nothing.

The elevator door Rhine had now stood in front of opened.

“Please enter the elevator. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Rhine tossed the Cube into the elevator.

To her surprise, the elevator ascended. The lights went off.

Hm. I thought it would scan me for my face. Maybe privacy laws have already been passed here…

To make up for the lack of light, Rhine had to swap modes on her band again and use its own flashlight. It was obviously stronger than the Cube’s… the bands were designed for missions. Her bands. She made them. Of course they were great!

The trail of ripped bandages took Rhine back where she left off at. Now, she simply had to recall the radar’s track.

Ugh. Too taxing… I probably should’ve marked the direction. It’ll be too easy to get lost if I have to keep making turns.

Rhine turned off the light to stand in the darkness for a little, trying to modify the band to look for bioelectricity. She soon realized it would probably be pointless.

Just… keep going. The stack’s gonna be around here somewhere.

Spending extra time, Rhine clutched onto the pool noodle in her increasing fear. Soon, the library around her got dustier and dustier. It reminded her of the backrooms… that thing QD and Vera were obsessed with.

Continuing her search for the stack with, she spent less than a few seconds until it came into view.

Rhine shone the band’s light onto the stack. It was taller than the others… she had to be careful when knocking off a single can.

C’mon…

The pool noodle gently tapped up the stack, until it touched the top can and whacked it far off.

Other than that, the stack was normal.

“YOU!” LynX suddenly screamed.

Rhine turned off her band’s light in a panic, swapping modes as she ran off into the dark.

LynX’s suit told her where to not go. “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU! YOU LITTLE BASTARD!”

Rhine slowly let her eyes adjust to the darkness, trying to run away before LynX had her location and the upper hand. Of course, the cards were already dealt… LynX had night vision for sure. The halls were so similar to her. It looked like they were morphing. It didn’t feel real. It made her sick. It made her head throb in pain. It made her fall over suddenly.

Oh… halfway through, we stopped talking about her surroundings!

An excruciating pain ran through Rhine, following her rapidly spiking heartbeat. Fear tagged along.

She knew it was the effects of the Rip. She knew Earth was done for. And she knew she’d outlive it all, just to continue to work away for everyone else. While being the problem herself.

Lying on the floor, trying not to scream, Rhine noticed her arm. The one that was supposed to be fully bandaged. Her first taste of the Rip, the same thing that would allow her to live on. The colors on the wound started to change— popping from greens to pinks, blues and purples and reds and yellows. She gritted her teeth, groaning quietly at the stabbing in her stomach. The same feeling of skin burning away tingled up to her neck. With this, she knew the wound was only growing.

What she didn’t know was what would exactly become of her once Earth was swallowed up by the Rip. Would she be covered in the Rip itself? Would she just be a glowing shadow?

Everyone she loved was dying.

Well, not everyone, but the majority of them.

The vast majority.

Also, everything she loved. And everything she worked for. Her goals and life plans. All she had wanted to do. What was it worth?

The boredom and revenge took everything away from her.

Even her own existence.

She wanted to scream.

She wanted to hug onto him for one last time.

Her sole confidant.

He was dead now.

Experiencing the same fate as her.

Probably watering their plants, the roses reminding him of her.

Would Durin also be there?

How would her son feel?

Maybe he knew what was happening.

Maybe they knew.

Maybe

This wasn’t

Really happening?

Had she lost touch with reality, or had she never felt anything quite like it before?

She wasn’t allowed to cry.

For everyone else who still had their chance.

Rhine stood up, the Rip’s colors reaching her neck, covering her chest and touching her right arm. There was a bit crawling up her face.

She breathed in and out, slowly returning back to the ground as she crawled behind a shelf.

Death was interesting.

Her hands clasped over her mouth, realizing her pain probably gave away her location.

A low, humming sound of machinery hovering behind her alerted LynX’s location, too.

“I knew you wouldn’t last long.” It was evident they smiled through their words. “There’s no way you’ll survive this time.”

Rhine collapsed again as her hands clutching her skull were the only thing from keeping her head from exploding.

She gasped between tears.

But, nonetheless, every blast LynX sent was dodged.

Rhine lunged herself forward as LynX crushed the bookshelf with her mechsuit’s hands. The shattering sound of glass.

“THIS IS MY LIBRARY! I’M TAKING IT NOW!”

Instruments that LynX had placed during Rhine’s breakdown started to play their music as LynX shot a beam through the shelves, spinning the aim in circles and hoping to hit Rhine.

The beam hit a shelf Rhine had just passed, the glass shattering onto her and the shelves surrounding her. Her cuts started to bleed. Gritting her teeth, not allowed to get hurt, Rhine held the pool noodle defensively.

Once it came around again, the beam hit the noodle and ricocheted back around the library. It bounced around each shelf, causing mass destruction and a potential death for Rhine.

LynX cut off the beam. What had been blocked still bounced around the library. “Just stop struggling! How close to death even are you? You withering fossil.” They shut off their lights and glasses, attracting the beam towards them to absorb its power along with the instruments LynX no longer needed. It was once again pitch dark. “I spared you— purely out of curiosity just now. What even WAS that!? Are you some sort of star girl?”

They fired a surprise blast shot where they’d seen Rhine block the beam.

“I hope it hurt. I hope it reaaallly hurt.”

Rhine ran over the shattered shelves with ragged breath. Her footsteps and breathing were obviously audible… but humans were terrible with hearing.

LynX shot through the darkness with maniacal laughter. They were a villain, after all. “I told you, this is where it ends. If it doesn’t end now—“ another shot through the dark. “—I swear—living on will cause you PAIN. I hope it causes you PAIN!”

In, out. In, out. In, out. In, out. What’s the worst possible situation here? I die. The best? I live. The most likely?

A shot that landed right beside Rhine illuminated her figure and the glass around her.

I die.

Rhine ran even faster, as LynX closed in behind her. She nearly hit her face into a shelf that had survived the attacks. Did she really run that far? Running around the shelf with powdered glass infiltrating her lungs, she started to think of the possibility of stairs being built here. She hadn’t seen them when she came down…

“Let me help you!” LynX cheered as they shot more shelves down, all crumbling down on Rhine.

She hated being human.

LynX’s armored hand reached into the pile of glass with a body underneath. It squished the body, cutting glass deeper into it. “Awwwh,” LynX cooed. “you’re like a little rat. Trying to run off, yeah?” They turned on their lights again, illuminating Rhine’s face with teal.

Rhine felt her skin tear again. She narrowed her eyes, surrounded by cuts.

“I have nothing to say to you.” Rhine groaned with difficulty.

LynX wore a toothy grin. “Oh, yeah? How funny! I’ve got quite a bit to say myself!” They turned their suit off, stuck in its position that gripped onto Rhine. It made a sound of steam, and LynX leaned out to face Rhine.

What an embarrassing way to die.

I’d rather be torn apart by the Rip.

…the same thing that hindered my ability to fight against this bitch in the first place.

“I’d kill you now. I really, really would!” They pulled Rhine’s bangs, making her face them.

Rhine’s eyes lowered.

LynX was now fueled by their fury. “You’re not as strong as I thought you’d be! I even brought my best equipment— guess I didn’t need to~!” They descended into a madness of laughter. LynX was so done with trying to chase this puny rat. “No, no, no! I’d find so much more satisfaction in torturing you, or in speaking my mind to you, who would have to listen! I could test weapons on you! After all, the human body can take much more than we think.” LynX grabbed Rhine’s chin, making her face them.

Rhine bit down onto her tongue.

“Ah, what’s this?” LynX rotated Rhine’s head to get a better look at her neck. “Already a freakish experiment?” They snarled.

It’d be better if I held my tongue. Literally.

LynX now examined Rhine carefully. “You’ll be fun to deal with. So, so, so fun.” They entered their suit again, opening up a small box from thin air and shoving Rhine into it.

Yeah, that space was really cramped.

A voice over a radio spoke to Rhine.

“Enjoy your stay, little lab rat!”

Rhine gasped— then realized the air around her wasn’t air, but water. Or… some sort of substance. She could breathe… until she drifted off into sleep.

***

“Are you alright?”

Someone patted her cheeks over and over again.

“Dawn!”

Her cuts burned.

“Dawn, sweetie!”

Her eyes opened to a blurry view. A really blurry view.

She crunched up, coughing into her hands.

“Dawn!” Era held onto her. “No… are you okay?” She hugged onto Rhine like a child. “What’d LynX do to you?”

Rhine felt like she was covered in the wet substance. I can’t say “Rhine felt wet” because that’s weird. I hate the internet.

Rubbing her eyes, fearful when the blurriness hadn’t been blinked away, Rhine whispered her response. “I don’t know…”

Era took Rhine’s hands off her eyes, then wiped them off for her. “Do you remember anything?”

Rhine blinked, back to normal vision. She scanned the area. They were still in the library. The only light came from Era… who was fully equipped for battle holy crap

“LynX is gone now.” Era held Rhine’s hands down to their sides as Rhine started to freak out.

Rhine was held closer to Era. “You—-?”

Patting Rhine’s head, Era nodded. “I had to fight them off. I got really worried when it took you longer than usual— then even more worried when people started to evacuate the theatre because the library sounded like it was being completely decimated…” she grinned nervously. “Turns out, LynX had actually managed to capture you. I don’t know what they were planning to do…”

Rhine was completely appalled.

“…did they hit you anywhere?”

“…no…” Rhine held onto her left hand. “…no… they just crushed me with the shelves…”

Era’s eyes gleamed with tears. “Dawn…! Your face! Your hand!! Clearly— they did something to you!”

Oh…

“This has been here for the longest time.” Rhine regained her senses entirely. “It just got worse. That’s the only reason I failed.”

Swapping roles, Era was now the confused one. “Woah— Dawn, is this what you hid under those bandages? I thought it was just style… now I realize how stupid that assumption was.”

Era…

She had to save me…

She couldn’t take the risk, but she did anyway.

She…

…she’s strong enough to defeat LynX.

Or at least send them running.

With an advantage like this…

Why…

“You— you saved me.”

“Yeah…” Era nodded. “…I’ve gotta admit, I was really scared of facing LynX again.”

Rhine slowly curled her lips into a grin. “I know it took a lot for you to…”

She frowned.

Era’s eyes widened. “What?”

“What do you mean? What do you mean, ‘again’?”

Era’s face washed into blankness— fear. “What?”

“You’ve fought LynX before?”

“No.”