《Aria-Cherishment》


 Chapter 1: Catalyst Dreamer

    Warm sea breezes are thrust into the atmosphere, lost in the endless daze of a summer¡¯s sapphire skies as waves lap at the shoreline, hungry for another greedy gulp of sand. Frothy, white seafoam curls under the crash of each wave before emerging at the crest of another. Imprinted in the sand, footprints trapeze the delicate boundary between the ocean and shoreline, littered with seashells and beached driftwood. Gradually, the waves erode the prints as the wet sand returns to its prior, glossy state.


    The footprints belonged to a girl; she seemed somewhat malnourished despite her sun-kissed skin, but her complexion was flawless, akin to that of a diamond. Her hair resembled a mixture of ivory and frosty blue. A ruffled sundress donned her body, billowing in waves of turquoise and cloud-white with each meticulous step. Her eyes resembled the sky above, an endless expanse of blue, brimming with beauty; soft, pink lips arced into a smile. Ignoring the tempestuous waves, she continued her trek along the beach. Aside from the monotony of the waves, it was quiet¡ªa paradise undisturbed by humans.


    A small tear suddenly caressed her cheek as it fell to the ground, swallowed by the greedy lap of the waves gnawing at her feet. If she could scoop the tear up and put it back, she would, but it seemed not even her own sorrows were immune to the forces of gravity. She gazed out over the watery swathe before her, wondering if the ocean would be kind enough to wash the rest of her problems away. Crouching down, she began to draw with her finger: ¡°Lacia¡± is read in fancy letters emboldened in the sand.


    ¡°It seems this will be my final performance.¡±


    ***


    Riing! The bell for 5th period blared through the student-filled hallways. To everyone¡¯s dismay, lunch was officially over.


    It was a lazy afternoon in April. As per usual, it had been raining all day, forcing everyone to savor their midday meal indoors. The occasional rumble of thunder boomed through the school, barreling down the hallways like a runway train as it rattled the lockers. The outer walls were made entirely of glass, normally offering marvelous views of the college-like campus: white blossoms adorning the budding cherry trees, verdant hedges along the sidewalks, and towering mountains against the horizon. Instead, today, the sky was a blanket of emotionless grey. Wet petals stuck to the sidewalks like glue¡ªnot even the mountains could be seen through the rainy daze.


    Lacia glanced at the clock on the cafeteria wall: 12:25pm. Class started at 12:30. She¡¯d arrived at lunch late, promptly devouring her food, nearly choking several times in her haste.


    ¡°Late to lunch, late to class,¡± she sighed. The cafeteria was on the opposite side of campus, and, with the rain, the stairs would be a slippery nightmare. Unfortunately, class was on the third floor, only adding to her dismay. ¡°Oh, how much I love this school sometimes,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Can¡¯t things just go my way today?¡±


    Despite her disdain, she found comfort in the simplicity of the uniforms. Spring dress-code was relatively unrestrictive: students were allowed their choice in socks and legwear, but white button-ups were mandatory. It wasn¡¯t much to work with, but she could make do. In fact, today¡¯s outfit included a red and black pleated skirt she tucked her shirt into. An accompanying black bow around the collar and over-ankle socks completed her outfit, excluding the white raincoat stuffed into her backpack.


    Cold air poured from the vents above her head. She shivered, displeased, as she cleaned her place at the lunch table. Tossing her trash, she slung her bag over her shoulder and began the long trek to class.


    "You¡¯re late,¡± Mr. Krone said, looking at the clock.


    She was only two minutes late, but attendance was attendance¡ªbeing prompt to class was important. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Krone. I didn¡¯t plan for the weather. I should¡¯ve left earlier,¡± Lacia said, apologizing to the class as well.


    The day¡¯s lecture continued as Lacia took her seat. Today¡¯s lesson was Alurian History and the beginning of a new unit, which meant lots of note taking. It kept her mind occupied, though and she enjoyed the class despite Mr. Krone¡¯s unforgiving attention to the time. Unfortunately, today just sucked.


    A soft whisper crept towards Lacia¡¯s ears, but she shrugged it off, chalking it up to the patter of rain on the windows.


    It came again, forcefully this time:


    ¡°Lacia!¡±


    ¡°Yes?!¡± she replied, shooting up from her seat, panicked.


    Mr. Krone sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t call you, Lacia. I understand the rain is distracting, but please try to focus.¡±


    ¡°S-sorry sir.¡± Lacia returned to her seat as Mr. Krone continued the lecture.


    ¡°Lacia, it¡¯s me,¡± the whisper-y voice said. ¡°Relax. What has you so up in arms today, anyways?¡±


    ¡°Geez, Mana. You scared me half-to-death,¡± Lacia said, placing a hand on her chest in relief. ¡°What¡¯s so important?¡± Lacia hissed.


    ¡°You just don¡¯t seem like yourself today. I know when something¡¯s up¡ªI¡¯ve known you long enough to tell,¡± Mana reasoned.


    Mr. Krone stopped lecturing again, tapping the plastic marker cap in his hand against the whiteboard. ¡°Would you two like to have that conversation in the Principal¡¯s Office?¡±


    Mana glanced at Mr. Krone, then back to Lacia. ¡°We¡¯ll talk after school. Meet me in the locker room,¡± she whispered.


    Class seemed to drag on without end. Mr. Krone had managed to spend the last ten minutes of class ranting about being punctual and how being late won¡¯t fly in the ¡°real world¡±; Alurian history felt like an after-thought, and English was about as entertaining as plucking weeds from a garden.


    To Lacia¡¯s dismay, there was still Biology to attend, and they were going to be dissecting frogs. She wasn¡¯t one for grotesque things, but she could handle a little blood. Unfortunately, her poor, amphibious specimen held a little more blood than she would have liked.


    ¡°Good work today, everyone. Class dismissed!¡± the biology teacher said.


    ¡°Thank god,¡± Lacia thought, washing her hands from the dissection disaster. She fumbled around in her bag for her phone and sent a quick text to Mana: ¡°I¡¯m going to be a little late. Plz don¡¯t wait for me. I¡¯ll change when I get there.¡±


    She stuffed her phone back into her bag and headed for the gym¡ªa little down-time after class was always a blessing, especially on days like what she¡¯d just had. Even though it wasn¡¯t the best, it wasn¡¯t the worst either, she decided. ¡°Life sucks sometimes, and I know wasting time on being sad is useless, but¡­¡±


    The scent of wood floors, sports balls, and air conditioning rushed her as she pushed the doors to the gym open, sluggishly venturing into the girls¡¯ locker room. She placed her bag on the bench behind her as she slipped into a pair of sneakers. Rummaging around in her locker for a change of clothes, a small note floated to the floor at her feet¡ªit was from Mana: ¡°I¡¯m in the back row of bleachers gym. Come find me¡ªI¡¯m worried about you.¡±


    ¡°This girl never knows when to quit, but I guess that¡¯s why I love her,¡± Lacia giggled. I don¡¯t know why you care so much sometimes, so much so I can¡¯t even go five minutes without you wondering where I am,¡± Lacia said to herself as she finished changing.


    The gym had emptied significantly by the time she made her way to the bleachers. Only a few remaining students dotted the bleachers here and there since after-school activities had been cancelled due to the weather. The damp air from outside in combination with the air conditioning made for a chilly afternoon, but it was whatever. She needed to find Mana so they could begin the trek home.


    As if on cue, she stood up, hidden in the back row, and waved Lacia over. ¡°We need to talk,¡± Mana started. Her face was full of pride¡ªone hand on her chest, another on her hip. ¡°Seriously, girly-pop. What¡¯s up? You know you can tell me anything, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Lacia said, leaning back against the wall. ¡°I¡¯m just having a bad d¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Girl, we aren¡¯t playing this game. Tell me what¡¯s up,¡± Mana interrupted.


    Lacia¡¯s mouth twisted into an aslant frown. She knew there was no getting anything past Mana, but she wasn¡¯t ready to divulge into what she was feeling, much less have an entire therapeutic session about it with someone else. Unfortunately, there was no getting out of this one. She sighed.


    ¡°Fine. I was having really severe growing pains again last night, and I ended up passing out in the hall outside my bedroom,¡± she paused upon finishing her explanation. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want to worry you with this. I¡¯ll be fine. I promise¡­¡±


    She stared into her green eyes, lost in the sea of emerald irises, as a cool breeze suddenly crept under her shirt, up her chest. Lacia¡¯s own eyes promptly grew to the size of golf balls as she blushed from embarrassment; Mana had lifted her shirt to expose a small, but apparent, area of deep purple bruising.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to see that,¡± she said, pulling her shirt down, face still flushed.


    ¡°Lacia!¡± Mana hissed, ¡°is there a situation at home? Where did that come from?¡±


    Her secret was out, and to Mana, of all people. At this point, she figured she might as well come clean. ¡°There¡¯s something else I need to tell you,¡± she said reluctantly. ¡°The pain always begins after I have this one dream. Really, I should call it a nightmare, but it starts off with me standing on a beach and, for some reason, I feel like I¡¯m always smiling,¡± she explained. ¡°I walk down the shoreline for a while until I¡¯m dragged into the water, but I can¡¯t swim. As I¡¯m drowning, this voice pops into my head, telling me it¡¯s too soon¡ªit¡¯s not my time, and I¡¯m the catalyst for something.¡±


    ¡°Lacia, I¨C¡±


    ¡°Let me finish,¡± she said, cutting Mana off. ¡°After the voice stops, I get hit with these super intense waves of excruciating pain. I wake up and my bedding and clothes are soaked from sweat.¡± Lacia began to cry as she finished.


    Her emotions were high. Not only did she just divulge her biggest secret to her best friend, she was certain that if word got out, people would think she was diseased or had some strange medical problem; most students would shy away from her under the guise of giving her ¡°space¡± as she worked through whatever ailed her. The school would call her parents who would find the bruising, then refer her to a psychiatrist because they thought she was harming herself.


    ¡°And maybe I¡¯m just overacting,¡± she thought, but she didn¡¯t need someone who knew nothing about her to tell her something she knew wasn¡¯t true.


    ¡°You¡¯re going through a hormonal stage right now. It¡¯s normal for young adults to feel confused about themselves,¡± the therapist would say.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try medication, and if that doesn¡¯t help, we¡¯ll take a different approach. How¡¯s that sound?¡± the psychiatrist would say.


    She knew better than to think Mana would spill her secret, but her head was a minefield. Someone would eventually ask why she changed her bedding so often, or why she always changed right after school let out. Even worse, she was terrified of someone accidentally seeing her bruises; she was even more worried about becoming the source of new, abhorrent rumors.


    Lacia shook her head. ¡°The pain is so intense at first, I want to cry, but I can¡¯t even make a sound or call for help¡ªit''s that bad. I even threw up straight blood last night for the first time ever. By the time I knew what had happened, I was curled up in the corner, soaked with blood,¡± she finished.


    ¡°And you thought it was a good idea to keep this from everyone? I know what you¡¯re thinking¡ªno one is going to think you¡¯re crazy. Still, though,¡± Mana interrogated.


    Most other students in the gym had excused themselves, ready to call it a day and head home. Lacia and Mana remained huddled in the bleachers as Lacia broke into tears¡ªit had been a long day.


    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be your support system, but I really don¡¯t know what to do right now,¡± Mana whispered to herself.


    ¡°Just hold me for a moment,¡± Lacia said through tears.


    Mana¡¯s embrace was warm and comforting, bringing Lacia a bout of relief. Her skin glowed in the yellow lights that hung from the rafters of the gymnasium, a far healthier glow than Lacia¡¯s ghostly appearance.


    Her hair smelled like lavender. Its silky, black appearance reminded Lacia of onyx, sleek and polished as it reflected the light above. Something about Mana¡¯s hair calmed her down; it was always perfectly brushed and so soft. When asked what products she uses in it, she was met with a lackluster ¡°Nothing special. Just a shampoo and conditioner from the store.¡± She loved that about her, always so carefree but so attentive to the world around her.


    Mana released Lacia from her hold, checking her wristwatch as she spun the face around. The band was light pink, scattered with imprints of white flower petals; the watch face itself was a similar shade to the band, but the clock hands were a contrasting black.


    ¡°Is that new?¡± Lacia asked, regaining her composure. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you wear it before.¡±


    Mana stared into her eyes before replying, though she could care less about the watch. She could tell Lacia was troubled by her nightmares, and she wished there was more she could do for her, but she didn¡¯t have the slightest clue what she could even offer. Was it enough to just hold her like she asked? Should she push her for more answers? If so, at what point would she be crossing the line?


    ¡°Mm. Yeah, it¡¯s new¡ªan early graduation gift, but enough about that. How do you really feel, Lacia? What else can I do to help? With a little luck, I might be able to get you on my health insu¡ª¡±


    ¡°No. Don¡¯t. I¡¯m just stressed, is all. With graduation coming up and all plus my nineteenth birthday¡­¡± She tipped her head back. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay once things calm down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll believe it when I see it,¡± Mana thought. ¡°For now, let¡¯s just head home. Campus closes for the day soon; it¡¯s already almost twenty to four, anyways.¡± She stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. ¡°Oh! And I called your mom¡¯s cell and left a voicemail, by the way. I told her you weren¡¯t feeling well, and I¡¯d watch you for a few days. Sorry I didn¡¯t ask first,¡± she said, clasping her hands.


    Lacia waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s ok. I appreciate the sentiment. It¡¯ll be nice having you around for a while, anyways.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled! Do you have everything you need from your locker? Also, definitely don¡¯t forget your umbrella¡ªit¡¯s a torrent out there!¡± Mana turned to face Lacia. ¡°Still, I wish there was more I could do to help you. I kind of feel like I broke a promise to myself in some way. I just want you to be ok.¡±


    ¡°I know, and I really appreciate it,¡± Lacia said, drying the last of her tears.


    Mana was thorough. Over time, however, Lacia had discovered what she deemed ¡°loopholes¡± in her surveillance. Simply putting on a brave face and acting the part was all it took to convince her, though Lacia had become increasingly aware that she was having to work a lot harder than usual, trying to keep her from worrying.


    ¡°Mana¡ª Thank you¡ªfor all of this. There have been times I wouldn¡¯t have been able to support myself, alone,¡± she said. ¡°When I say this is not one of those times, though, I mean it. This isn¡¯t like those bullies in middle school who used to stick gum in my hair, and it¡¯s not like I¡¯m depressed or anything, you know? I just¡­ need time to relax right now.¡±


    She pulled her backpack towards her, removing her raincoat from between the straps as she slipped the polyester fabric on. With a ziiip and unraveling of an umbrella, she was ready to go.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long day, and I know you¡¯re probably tired, considering everything you¡¯ve told me, and all.¡± Mana walked over to the gym doors, holding them open for Lacia. ¡°Shall we take our leave?¡±


    Either someone had prayed for rain, too much rain, or the sky had turned into an ocean¡ªit was coming down so hard Lacia feared she¡¯d be washed away like the sand in her nightmares. They¡¯d decided upon Lacia¡¯s house as she was currently living alone, but at this rate, they were better off jumping into a nearby river; the swift pace of the water would be faster than a full-on sprint through the torrent. Besides, they¡¯d get just as wet, anyways.


    ¡°It seems that, regardless of what we do, we¡¯re going to get wet,¡± Lacia sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if we can even make it to my house, Mana. How close is your apartment?¡±


    ¡°Not, like, real far, but¡­ We¡¯re not going to my apartment. Lol. Ok? We already decided.¡±


    Lacia lowered her head, defeated. ¡°Fine, but I don¡¯t have much food right now. Kinda waiting on my monthly allowance to hit and all.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Once the rain stops, we can run by my apartment or the convenience store and get some stuff! Just wait until you feast your eyes, and, I guess, stomach, upon my marvelous culinary skills!¡± Mana beamed with pride. ¡°Oh? Now where did you get this?¡± She snatched Lacia¡¯s umbrella from her hands.


    ¡°Mana!¡±


    ¡°Sorry! Your umbrella is just so cute! I¡¯m especially fond of these little clouds. What other cute little things are you hiding?¡± she teased.


    Lacia frowned. ¡°Can we, uhh, just go? I am kinda tired.¡±


    ¡°Mm. Sorry. We¡¯re gonna get so wet, though. Umm¡­¡± Mana looked around, spotting a couple extra towels for emergencies in her locker. ¡°Wrap one around the stuff inside your bag. It¡¯ll keep it drier than throwing over the outside.¡±


    By the time they arrived at Lacia¡¯s house, they were soaked: pruned fingers, dripping hair, and clinging clothes.


    ¡°Hachoo! I-I think I got¡ªachoo¡ªwater up my nose,¡± Lacia said, sniffling. ¡°Today was just fantastic, wasn¡¯t it?¡± she said rhetorically, keying into the house.


    The interior was dark as night; there were no lights on, the blinds were closed, and drapes drawn; the deep gray clouds similarly blocked any sunlight from reaching the lonely home. Even so, as soon as the door swung open, the air conditioner kicked on slamming the girls with an icy blast. Goosebumps stood like miniature mountains on their skin as they shivered.


    ¡°God, it¡¯s so dark in here,¡± Lcia said, rubbing her hand across the wall, finally flipping the overhead light on. She placed her bag on the mat by the door where it began to form a puddle. ¡°I¡¯ll, uhh, run the bath upstairs. You can go first. I need to remake my bed, anyways,¡± Lacia trailed off, recalling the soaked sheets and horrific nightmares.


    Mana shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll help you with the bed, but how about you take the first bath? You need some time to relax, and the rain is lightening up,¡± she said. ¡°Go¡ª Get in the bath. I¡¯ll be back by the time you¡¯re done but call me immediately if something happens.¡±


    ¡°Ok, mom,¡± Lacia rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to eat my vegetables and brush my teeth, too. While I¡¯m at it, I¡¯ll make sure I¡¯m in bed by bedtime, as well.¡±


    She stared into Mana¡¯s eyes for a moment before the girls broke out into a fit of laughter. In that moment, she felt better than she had in months. ¡°I¡¯ll go first then, I guess. There¡¯ll be plenty of hot water by the time you get back since it takes a lot to fill the tub and all.¡±


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Mana said, wringing her hair out with the towel from her bag. ¡°I need to grab some changes of clothes, too.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that tracks,¡± Lacia laughed. ¡°See you in a bit, then?¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡±


    Mana waved bye from the doorway as Lacia handed her a spare key. She watched from the kitchen window until Mana turned the corner, disappearing from sight. ¡°The least I can do before she gets back is take everything out of our bags to dry,¡± she said, clearing the dining room table. ¡°And now, for that bath.¡±


    ¡°Ahhh¡­ Yeah, this is going to feel sublime.¡±


    Water splashed from the tub as Lacia carefully slid into the porcelain fixture, reverberating off the tile walls of the bathroom. She placed her phone on the countertop in the event she¡¯d need it, purposefully turning the ringer on, though she didn¡¯t anticipate any trouble. Leaning against the back of the tub, her shoulder blades connected with the top edge of the tub, sending a chilly shockwave down her spine as she slid further into the water.


    ¡°How did I ever manage to get myself in so much trouble, much less inconvenience my bestie?¡± she said, heaving a sigh.


    The nightmares began around the start of the new year, their recurrent nature leading to innumerable sleepless nights, but the excruciating pain was a recent addition¡ªand the most concerning.


    She moved her hand through the bath. The drag created by the water felt eerily representative of life as of late: weighted down, dragged along, and ambiguous. Tenderly rubbing her side, she winced at the pain. Much of her abdomen had grown sore and her muscles felt stiff¡ªeven bending over was painful, and she had no idea why. For now, she figured she¡¯d wrap it with gauze, forget about it, and continue with her life. After all, graduation was fast-approaching, there were entrance exams still to take, and application fees to pay if she wanted into a specialty-school of her choice.


    Still, though. If her pain and suffering were meant to be catalysts, what were they catalysts for? Out of approximately eight-billion people, she was supposed to be the one to suffer? She didn¡¯t even know who or what she was meant to suffer for.


    She shook her head. Her ¡°symptoms¡± weren¡¯t severe enough to run up countless medical bills that would send her spiraling into debt¡ªshe decided she liked soaking in the bath more as the steam filled her nostrils. Right now, there wasn¡¯t a thing in Heaven or on Earth that could disrupt her moment of bliss. The warm water had managed to unravel the knots in her muscles and warm her rain-chilled bones. She was surprised to find she could even think clearly for the first time in what felt like forever. Although, realizing just a few a medical tests could probably cure her, the idea of ensuing medical debt wasn¡¯t exactly comforting.


    A couple knocks at the bathroom door pulled Lacia from her steamy daze. ¡°Lacia, I¡¯m back. I brought enough food for the weekend, so don¡¯t worry. ¡®K?¡± It was Mana. She¡¯d probably want the bath before long. Water splashed onto the tile floor as Lacia began to lift herself out.


    ¡°No, no. Stay in there as long as you need. Besides, there¡¯s a couple things I want to ask you,¡± Mana said, pressing her back to the bathroom door.


    ¡°Umm, ok then. Sure,¡± Lacia responded. ¡°I guess you¡¯re going to sit against the door until you get your answers, though, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Mana gave a soft chuckle. ¡°Here¡¯s my first question: who exactly found you last night? I saw the note on the counter from your parents explaining that they¡¯d be away for business and all the emergency numbers they listed for you.¡± She paused for a second, thinking about how to word her next question. ¡°Who else knows about these ¡°episodes¡± besides you, me, and your parents? Wait. How much do they know?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking to one of the only four people who know right now¡ªthere¡¯s two in this house. We¡ª My parents explained to our neighbors that I¡¯ve been incredibly ill lately, but it comes in waves which is why I go to school on days I feel well enough to attend. We have to play the entire ordeal off as a chronic condition, though,¡± she explained.


    It was the truth. Her parents spent several days crafting as believable a story as they could upon learning of Lacia¡¯s condition. Their intuition was to rush her straight to the Emergency Room, but she¡¯d managed to convince them that wasn¡¯t necessary, and she¡¯d be fine with a little rest. Of course, no one wanted to involve the neighbors, but someone had to keep an eye on Lacia in her parents¡¯ absence.


    ¡°It honestly kills me inside that I have to be portrayed as the poor, sick girl. I was perfectly fine up until this year!¡± she cried out. ¡°As for who found me, though¡­ It was the neighbor''s son¡ªthe one who goes to the art school. I turn the lights on when I feel bad and back off when I feel like I can sleep again, though I should note these episodes usually only happen at night for some reason¡­ Either way, he must have been up late one night, saw the lights go on and off, and used the other spare key to come check on me,¡± she finished.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Being found precariously draped half across the foot the bed and the floor wasn¡¯t ideal, and it was embarrassing to think someone had seen her in such a state. Her face was plastered to the bed in a puddle of drool, hair matted and tangled. At the time, she didn¡¯t care; her mind was blank; her legs felt like deadweights; her head pounded like a drum, and her stomach felt as if it were being prodded by thousands of tiny needles. Had the neighbor boy not shown up, things could have gone a lot worse. She knew it was extreme, but¡­


    ¡°What if I¡¯d died? No, that¡¯s ridiculous,¡± she thought.


    ¡°Hey, Mana? Can I, um, get out of the bath now?¡± Lacia asked. ¡°What am I even doing? Asking for permission to get out of my own bath in my own house. Lol. Life has me all kinds of cooked, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Yeah, sorry. We can talk more later if you want,¡± Mana said. She¡¯d completely forgotten she was still wearing her rain-soaked clothes, shivering as she moved away from the door. ¡°I just needed to know how you¡¯d managed to deal with so much, alone.¡±


    The sound of sloshing water and tapping of wet feet reverberated through the bathroom once more. ¡°You had every right to ask, but¡­¡± she paused. ¡°What did you think I was doing in here? There can really only be a handful of things a girl can do in the bath for,¡± she checked the time on her phone, a bit surprised, ¡°nearly an hour and I assure you it wasn¡¯t that,¡± she laughed awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ll draw your bath after I get dressed, because, ya know, the water has to drain and all first. Do you like bubbles?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine with just a plain bath, thanks, though,¡± Mana replied. She was amazed how Lacia could be so selfless at a time when she should be spending time focusing on herself. ¡°Still thinking about other people at a time like this¡­ You¡¯re incredible,¡± she whispered to herself.


    ¡°Huh? Did you say something?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just, uh, talking to myself,¡± she said as Lacia stepped out into the hall, towel around her body and in her hair.


    ¡°The tub should be drained in about another minute¡ªjust turn the knob left for hot water and right for cold or to turn it off. I¡¯m going to put some sheets on my bed¡ªI can at least do that much for myself,¡± Lacia said, easing the worry on Mana¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll make some tea once I¡¯m done. Any particular favorite flavors you¡¯d prefer?¡±


    A week had passed since the incident and Lacia¡¯s confession of the situation to Mana. Surprisingly, though, she looked, and felt, better. The morning grass shimmered with dew, and the air was damp yet pleasantly cool, nothing a hoodie couldn¡¯t fix, as she made her morning trek to school.


    Cherry trees had started to bloom within the last few days, but the spring rains were relentless, nearly drowning the marvelous displays of pink and white. The rain was a bummer, but she wasn¡¯t about to let a little water ruin her newfound splendor.


    To further enhance her mood, there was a well-known bakery by the school that baked the best croissants her tastebuds ever had the pleasure of savoring. She was giddy with excitement, each step bringing her closer to soft, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.


    Walking up, she couldn¡¯t help but overhear a nearby infotainment center. The weather was on: ¡°If you thought it¡¯s been a rainy month so far, just wait. The atmosphere is primed for more excessive rainfall. Unfortunately, many of the same areas that are currently dealing with the impacts of flooding won¡¯t be finding much relief with this forecast.¡±


    Lacia knew spring was wet, but she had to agree¡ªit seemed like it had been an especially wet season thus far, even the sidewalks along the riverbank were beginning to flood and more rain was forecast yet. Maybe she was just overreacting, but it seemed like the seasonal floods were early this year, by nearly a year, at that.


    ¡°It¡¯s whatever,¡± she thought.


    The glow from the bakery¡¯s sign reflected in the sidewalk puddles like mirrors, and the smell of fresh baked goods was irresistible. ¡°Good morning,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯d like two croissant rolls, please.¡± She placed her order and stepped off to the side to wait.


    ¡°These are literally the best thing ever. Mana is going to love these,¡± she said, checking her phone while she waited, ¡°but not if I¡¯m late. I should really spend time on time management¡­. Class starts in ten minutes and I¡¯m at least another five minutes from campus.¡±


    The morning-duty teachers were strict: gates were closed and locked by 8:30am, and class started as soon as the bell rang. Tardiness would not be a good way to start the school day unless she wanted an earful about being punctual and ¡°a responsible adult¡± first thing in the morning. If she ran, she could still make it to class on time.


    ¡°Yeah, sounds like a pain,¡± she thought to herself, thanking the bakery staff as she grabbed her order. The bag was warm and smelled of freshly baked bread.


    Pushing open the door, she noticed tiny ripples in the surface of the puddles¡ªtt seemed rain was already on the way. The sidewalks weren¡¯t in bad shape, but the sides of the roads were covered in ankle-deep water still¡ªone wrong move and she¡¯d find herself with sopping wet clothes and a ruined breakfast. Suddenly, a car engine revved behind her as it tore down the road, luckily only soaking her shoes and socks; she¡¯d managed to jump out of the way just in time, avoiding a fully soaked uniform and hair.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± She threw her hands up, but the driver continued on without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Ugh. Can¡¯t stop now¡­ Wet socks and shoes will be the least of my worries if I¡¯m late,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°I have dry socks, but that¡¯s if I can even make it to campus without getting the rest of my uniform wet, first,¡± she said. ¡°Surely I can do that, right?¡±


    BOOOOM! Thunder roared overhead. Lacia nearly jumped into a passing car as lightning struck a nearby tree; the air fizzled with electricity. For a moment, she wondered if it would have been better to have been struck. Not only was she now soaked from head to toe, she was for sure going to be late.


    ¡°ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Rain? Now?¡± she shouted at the sky. ¡°I swear¡ª If I don¡¯t get an excused absence so I can go home and change, I can¡¯t guarantee someone makes it through the day without getting punched in the mouth.¡±


    Huddling under the awning, Principal Leery impatiently awaited the arrival of the final stragglers as they were handed tardy slips, umbrellas velcroing and rustling as they hurried to class. Lacia brought up the rear, drenched.


    ¡°Principal Leery,¡± she paused, giving him time to assess the situation, ¡°I¡¯m just going to assume you understand,¡± she said, a puddle forming where she stood.


    Principal Leery wasn¡¯t an unreasonable man and always went above and beyond for his students but, like most of the school¡¯s teachers, drew the line when it came to attendance.


    ¡°Your tardiness will be excused this time,¡± he sighed. ¡°More importantly, what happened? You look like you dove straight into the river. You¡¯ll need a set of dry clothes before I can release you to class,¡± he said, scribbling something down on a clipboard. ¡°I¡¯ll let Coach Elaise know you¡¯ll need her showers. I¡¯ll send a spare uniform down as well. Unfortunately, you¡¯ll have to manage with wet shoes.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Principal Leery. Considering I was almost hit by a car and struck by lightning, all in the span of five minutes, I think I¡¯ll take my time¡­ Thank you, again, for the excused absence. I just need first period¡­¡±


    She was thankful Principal Leery was so understanding, but she still felt frazzled by the near-miss of the lighting strike. The faint stench of burning hair wafted into her nostrils, realizing the bolt must have been close enough to singe several hairs on her head. Being late to school, would have been the least of her worries if she were even a few closer to strike.


    Slogging off towards the gym, she remembered the croissants, swinging her bag around to ensure their safety. The bag itself was a little damp, but the croissants were still warm and undamaged. Thank goodness.


    By the time Lacia finished getting ready, first period had just ended. Her shoes were still slightly damp, but a thicker pair of socks made them a little more comfortable. While she appreciated the dry uniform, she still had to redo her makeup, dry and brush her hair, and figure out what to do with her wet uniform. It wasn¡¯t that she despised the rain, in fact, she loved it; cloudy, rainy days gave her energy, and they were infinitely more relaxing. It was a difficult feeling to explain, but the sun always seemed so harsh on her skin and if she squinted too much, she¡¯d get forehead wrinkles.


    ¡°No thanks,¡± she said to herself, waving a hand across her face. ¡°Cloudy days are just easier.¡± She leaned against the wall, taking a moment to catch her breath. ¡°There¡¯s nothing quite like getting ready twice in one day.¡±


    Without warning, Mana suddenly called out. ¡°Lacia! You were late again?¡± she said accusingly, pushing through the crowd of students.


    ¡°No,¡± Lacia reassured her, making room for her against the wall. ¡°You know that bakery just around the corner from here? I stopped by this morning to grab breakfast, but it¡¯s like someone stood over top of me and doused me with a bucket of water. It started pouring out of nowhere and I was literally almost struck by lightning!¡± Lacia foraged around in her bag, removing the croissant roles. ¡°Here. You¡¯d better eat it since I went through all the trouble to get these,¡± she joked.


    Without hesitation, she graciously accepted the delicacy. ¡°Mmm! This is delicious! The dough practically melts in your mouth, and you can taste the love the baker put into making these,¡± she squealed with delight. ¡°What other secret places do you know?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not really a secre¡ª¡± Harsh whispers and a growing crowd near the windows abruptly cut her off.


    ¡°Where did those come from?¡± a girl asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. They weren¡¯t there yesterday,¡± another replied.


    Two small fishing boats had washed ashore and were obstructing the railroad tracks that cut through the center of town. Lacia surmised the recent floods must have run them aground, though she realized that still didn¡¯t make a whole lot of sense. The floodwaters hadn¡¯t been that high. Right?


    ¡°Ok, well, that¡¯s definitely weird,¡± Mana said. ¡°Those are usually miles out to sea. I suppose it¡¯s possible they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the middle of town?¡± She trailed off into thought.


    Lacia took a different approach. ¡°What if something put them there, as crazy as that sounds? I mean, think about it. Whatever¡¯s been happening with me isn¡¯t normal, right? Who¡¯s to say this isn¡¯t somehow related?¡±


    She knew it was a long shot, but something didn¡¯t sit right with her. Two fishing boats don¡¯t just appear in the middle of town, blocking an important route that transportation services use. Not only that, they¡¯d effectively sealed the most direct route in and out of town. Her suspicions continued to grow.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves yet, ok?¡± Mana said encouragingly.


    Lacia¡¯s phone chimed with a flurry of notifications, local news headlines glaring across the LED display:


    Town of Azalea Struck by Mysterious Appearance of Fishing Vessels.


    Sailors of Mysterious Fishing Vessels Sickened. Samples Sent for Testing.


    ¡°Mana, look at this,¡± she said, flashing her phone. ¡°Tell me these aren¡¯t weird headlines. Words like ¡®mysterious¡¯ and ¡®sickened¡¯? I don¡¯t know¡­¡± She turned to assess the room. ¡°Think about everything that¡¯s happened in the last week,¡± she said, addressing Mana.


    The rain had picked up in intensity, yet Emergency Response crews were still trying to clear the vessels from the tracks. Maybe she was getting too conspiracy-like, but there was no sense in trying to remove the fishing vessels right now; the rain was so heavy the roads were flooded, and visibility was nonexistent. The pounding rain against the glass reminded Lacia of road trips she would take in the summer, just to have to pull over because the rain was too heavy to see.


    Granted, this was an important route used for commercial and public transport, and she didn¡¯t know what constituted ¡°bad weather¡± delays, but couldn¡¯t they just reroute any transport? The new route would take them miles to the north, a small price to pay, though she doubted anyone would want to pay the extra fare. It was a lose-lose situation, unfortunately.


    Mana moved closer to the window, squinting through the torrent, hoping for even the tiniest view of something, but it was no good. ¡°Wanna know what makes this even weirder?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ready,¡± Lacia groaned.


    ¡°Oh, just look at my phone for a sec.¡± She directed Lacia¡¯s eyes to a local broadcast. Apparently, the rain wasn¡¯t as bad on the other side of town. ¡°Look at the name on one of the boats.¡±


    ¡°The Wisher?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. It was reported missing three months ago, last seen off the coast of the Aviid Isles. What makes this even weirder is nobody reported seeing it either, so why is it here, in Azalea, of all places?¡±


    ¡°If I remember correctly, no one on the islands reported seeing it again after it disappeared. So, I¡¯m thinking, maybe this is some really dumb joke? I mean, come on. This is getting a little too real,¡± Lacia tacked on.


    ¡°So, did it magically just appear here, or did it pull a crack-in-the-sky wormhole thing? Oh! Maybe it was aliens,¡± Mana joked.


    ¡°Sometimes I have to wonder if you¡¯re the one who needs help, Mana,¡± Lacia said, concerned. ¡°In other news, it looks like the Student Council is about to make an announcement.¡±


    Students were filing into the cafeteria where a semi-circle had begun to form around a projector screen, anxiously awaiting whatever it was the Student Council had to say. It was rare they made such sudden school-wide announcements as the president usually had his face buried in a book, and the rest of the staff were normally tasked with other duties such as honor societies and class projects. For some odd reason, today was different.


    The projector screen flared to life as the President began to speak: ¡°My fellow classmates, due to the increasing threat of life-threatening adverse weather and obstruction of a widely used route many of you use to get to and from campus, the school¡¯s board has come to the conclusion that it is safer to end classes early for the day.¡±


    Hushed whispers and silent cheers crept through the crowd of students as Mana and Lacia entered the room. Large rain droplets pelted the window wall behind them as the President continued.


    ¡°The forecast calls for more rain and the Budding River is set to breach it¡¯s banks later today. Seeing as the school faces the river, the decision was also made to suspend classes for the foreseeable future. This is subject to change as conditions warrant, so please stay tuned to your school emails,¡± he explained. A bright flash of lightning illuminated the cafeteria as the ensuing thunder rattled the windows. ¡°We want you all to continue your education, so we ask that if you are able to attend virtually via the Holo-system while you are home to please do so.¡±


    The storm outside had intensified, dropping hailstones the size of tennis balls, threatening to break the glass at any time. A metal shade was promptly drawn overtop the windows, cracks forming in the glass from the repeated flurry of wind and hail.


    The President cleared his throat. ¡°If you are unable to attend, we understand and will not penalize you for lack of attendance. All supplemental materials and lessons will be available through the Holo-System as well. Your instructors will be frequenting their classes and answering any questions you may have. You will be notified later this afternoon when you can be dismissed from campus grounds.¡±


    He swapped the facecam to an open document on his desktop, though it remained blank. ¡°Wrapping up, I ask that you limit travel to other classrooms so that we can determine all students are accounted for. Please check your school Holo accounts for future updates.¡± The screen stayed lit, but the broadcast had concluded.


    Confused chatter filled the room. There was little semblance of what exactly was happening. To be dismissed so early in the day was uncommon and usually only reserved for finals weeks at the end of each semester. After all, second period hadn¡¯t even started yet and now everyone was to be sent home indefinitely?


    ¡°They¡¯re sending us home over a freak rainstorm?¡± a male student asked.


    ¡°Did you hear about the two boats that appeared on the railroad tracks? Maybe that¡¯s part of why we¡¯re getting dismissed early.¡± a girl pondered.


    The Student Council President¡¯s voice came over the speakers again, a new list of names also appearing alongside an active radar loop. Judging from the radar, what looked like a coming break in the weather would allow the school to dismiss the first set of qualifying students. The noise in the cafeteria devolved into an uproar, too noisy for conversation as Lacia tried to grab Mana, attempting to pull her back into the hallway, but she was too distracted, finding herself with tangled feet and face to the floor.


    ¡°Owwie,¡± she groaned before realizing she¡¯d tripped someone else up in her rush. ¡°Oh my gosh. I am so sorry! I wasn¡¯t paying attention and¡­¡± Her heart momentarily skipped a beat. ¡°You¡¯re cute¡ª Err, no, I¡¯m cute¡ª No, no, no. Wait!¡± She couldn¡¯t find the words to say.


    ¡°Of course, I had to go and make an idiot out of myself in front of an upperclassman,¡± Lacia thought. ¡°Especially a cute boy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± the mysterious student chuckled. ¡°Honestly, I should¡¯ve paid more attention, myself. With everything going on right now, I got a little too absorbed,¡± he said, apologizing. ¡°My name is Brendan. Brendan Greyriter. From the looks of things, I¡¯ll be here a while,¡± he said, glancing at the list on the projector. ¡°You?¡±


    He seemed to have great manners and was exceptionally polite. Most other boys would have just sneered at her and walked off. Perhaps some might have apologized and genuinely meant it, but it was truthfully her fault this time for not watching where she was going. Still though, this guy seemed to be the exception.


    His hair was fluffy and covered his ears; his eyes were a shade lighter than hers, like endless windows into a life other than her own; his smile was a bit goofy, too, but something about the way dimples formed in his cheeks when he did smile warmed her heart.


    ¡°I¡ª I¡¯m Lacia, Lacia Amana. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you,¡± she said, blushing. ¡°My name isn¡¯t on the list either. I guess they wanted to use the last names of every letter and not just A through H or something,¡± she said, meeting Brendan¡¯s eyes.


    The life in them was astounding. They were like vast oceans, vibrant and reflective. It took everything she had not to stare. He radiated such carefree vibes, as if there wasn¡¯t a thing in the world that could phase him; he was immune¡ªimpervious to the frightful world that existed beyond the walls of school and home.


    ¡°Compared to him, I must look so dead inside,¡± she thought.


    ¡°You know, our eyes are almost similar in color¡ªthey¡¯re so pretty,¡± he said, ¡°but I can tell you¡¯ve been through a lot, too.¡± Lacia was completely caught off-guard. ¡°Anyways, you were in the middle of something before we got tangled feet, right? I¡¯d better leave you to it.¡±


    Before averting her gaze, she noticed a small mark above his left eye, like a misshapen star. She recognized it immediately: the Greyriter family birthmark¡ªa family with a long history of persecution, but incredibly gifted. Regardless, the mark was proof of inheritance into a prominent family, one she¡¯d have to do a little digging on later.


    ¡°Actually, I think you¡¯d be an amazing person to get to know.¡± The words fell out of her mouth before she knew what she¡¯d said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you of all people probably understands more about what¡¯s happening than I do.¡± Her tone shifted, more serious, as she tried to bring her hormones under control.


    If Brendan was from the Greyriter family, like he said, she preferred to have him on her side. Considering her crazy nightmares, the weird weather, and now the mysterious fishing boats and sick fishermen, she figured it was better to be safe than sorry.


    ¡°Lacia? Are you done being hormonal?¡± Mana teased.


    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s not a very nice thing to say,¡± she hissed. ¡°Actually, you know what? Brendan, Mana, could you follow me into the hall? It¡¯s too noisy here. I can¡¯t even hear myself think,¡± Lacia said, leading the way. ¡°I, uh, think we might have a lot more in common than we realize.¡±


    Just as she¡¯d hoped, the hallway was quieter and far less crowded¡ªperfect. The rain had slowed to a light shower as students occasionally rushed by, clearly anxious to get home. Even so, the hallway remained a far better venue for impromptu introductions.


    ¡°First, Mana,¡± Lacia said, shifting her weight to lean against the wall, ¡°this is Brendan Greyriter¡ªpart of a family of prominent mages. But I have a feeling you already knew that.¡±


    ¡°How¡ª¡± Lacia cut Mana off.


    ¡°I could tell by your reactions to the headlines about the fishing vessels, almost as if you knew I¡¯d react the way I did. Anyways,¡± she said, ¡°I thought the Greyriter family was also just a myth but look at the mark above his left eye. Notice how he hasn¡¯t corrected me, though. That means I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    She looked at Brendan and smiled. ¡°I promised Mana I wouldn¡¯t keep any more secrets from her, but there¡¯s one more thing I need to mention¡­¡± She left the conversation open-ended on purpose.


    Brendan spoke up first. ¡°You deduced all that just from my last name and birthmark? Wow. I¡¯m surprised you figured me out so quick, but you aren¡¯t the first to make that deduction.¡± Curiosity crept into his voice. ¡°I¡¯m more interested in you now. What else were you going to say?¡±


    ¡°Well, I can, quote-un-quote, see things most people can¡¯t, but I¡¯m not really sure why. It all just started mostly within the last few months, but I¡¯ve always seen these ¡°things¡± here and there.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I did a little research, stumbled across the same cult-like websites most people do when they claim they can see things others can¡¯t, and came across a group of people called Mitera."


    ¡°I can tell you people like that do exist, but they don¡¯t have any official designated name like that,¡± he laughed. ¡°However, what you read was likely true. Most are born with the ability to see things that don¡¯t normally exist in this world, but those ¡°things¡± are few and far between. Can you remember any specific instances and what one might have looked like?¡±


    ¡°No, unfortunately. It¡¯s usually a hazy image and is gone almost as soon as I blink. I¡¯m not really very privy to the whole magic conversation, but I know everything that¡¯s gone on recently isn¡¯t normal.¡± Her breathing began to grow heavy. ¡°Any instances of these ¡°things¡± usually drain me to the point I¡¯m exhausted,¡± she said, sliding to the floor. ¡°Mana is better at this magic stuff than I am.¡±


    ¡°Does this have anything to do with your nightmares and the pains?¡± Mana questioned as she stooped down to help Lacia to her feet. ¡°What I can do isn¡¯t important right now. Are you feeling okay?¡±


    If there were a connection between the pain she¡¯d been in, the bruises on her side, and the nightmares, she¡¯d have to figure it out later. ¡°If it does, I¡¯ll have to figure it out later,¡± Lacia replied. ¡°And, I¡¯m fine. Just tired from the morning is all. I don¡¯t have much practice with anything related to magic. Even so, it¡¯s something I¡¯ve kept hidden my whole life.¡±


    ¡°Today sure turned into an interesting set of events, didn¡¯t it? I¡¯m from the Greyriter family, that much is true, but my magic is woefully inadequate,¡± Brendan said, scoffing at the thought. ¡°However, Lacia, because you are seeing these other ¡°things¡±, there¡¯s enough reason for me to believe that whatever is going on with you, it¡¯s for a reason.¡±


    Without warning, Mana dropped to the floor. She¡¯d exhausted herself taking care of Lacia the week prior; she must have been more stressed out than Lacia had realized¡ªsomething she felt guilty for missing considering Mana¡¯s benevolence.


    Brendan stooped down to help her up, but a thin, black haze had enveloped Mana¡¯s body, before it promptly vanished almost as soon as it had appeared. He stooped down once more, grabbing her hand as he imbued a trace amount of magic into her palm. Analyzing its reaction, he was surprised to find the magic react so negatively, almost as if it were angrily attacking a foreign energy that didn¡¯t belong. Likewise, Mana¡¯s own magical energy seemed to be chasing something out.


    ¡°You saw that too, right?¡± Lacia asked, frightened by the sudden appearance of the strange mist.


    ¡°Yeah, but she isn¡¯t just exhausted. That dark mist¡ª It was imbued with a type of magic known to absorb life energy. It¡¯s incredibly hard to cast and control, but where it came from¡­ That¡¯s what¡¯s important,¡± he said concerned. ¡°She¡¯ll be alright, but there¡¯s a very marginal chance this was just an accident.¡±


    Noticing the confusion on Lacia¡¯s face, he gave her a simplified version: ¡°Everything is made of matter, correct? Well, someone can only cast this type of spell if they¡¯re nearby or had previously ¡°marked¡± her. That is, another type of magic that clings to its victim and allows for long-range casting.¡± He looked back at Lacia. ¡°But this is only possible if the caster can manipulate matter¡ªwhatever that was, was not matter. Too much information?¡±


    ¡°Umm, for now, maybe it¡¯s best we stick together¡­ and get Mana off the floor,¡± Lacia said. ¡°She¡¯s totally out of it. Let¡¯s take her to the nurse¡¯s office.¡±


    ¡°Good idea. We¡¯ll continue the conversation later.¡±


    ***


    Groups of students continued to leave school grounds as the day grew progressively later. Dismissal had started before noon, but lunch was now quickly approaching, leaving the remaining students to wonder if lunch would be served or not. The anticipated break in the rain was short-lived but precipitation remained light, making for continued easy dismissal.


    As Mana slept, Lacia and Brendan held an anxious conversation, hoping to uncover any additional information they might be able to glean; Lacia¡¯s nightmares were first on the itinerary, but the only thing of particular use was the setting. She explained the beach, subsequent drowning, and voice telling her it¡¯s not her time.


    In exchange, Brendan offered to let her drill him: family history, abilities¡ªeven his favorite foods. She was both slightly disgusted and surprised that anyone could ever love black licorice as much as he did.


    ¡°Ok, so we have zero idea who or what attacked Mana and why, we¡¯re no closer to solving the mystery of my nightmares, and we¡¯ve determined you have an unhealthy obsession with black licorice. Are we missing anything?¡± Lacia summarized.


    Brendan laughed. ¡°What gets me, though, is whatever that haze was. I didn¡¯t sense malevolence from it, but it certainly wasn¡¯t benevolent. And to top things off, it was almost matter-less. Like,¡± he scratched his eyebrow, ¡°it¡¯s hard to explain. It¡¯s like it was something from another world, almost. It¡¯s not a curse, either, though, as there are no markings anywhere on her body, right?¡±


    Lacia nodded, having done a full examination herself. ¡°Hey, do you think, maybe¡­ Maybe this all has something to do with me? I mean, it¡¯s no secret I¡¯m next to useless at the moment,¡± she sighed, planting herself in a nearby chair. ¡°I still don¡¯t know why I¡¯m having these nightmares or what they even mean. Like, if someone is trying to go through Mana to get to me,¡± she gestured toward herself, ¡°I think they¡¯re going to be sorely disappointed.¡±


    She looked over at Mana, resting peacefully. It didn¡¯t take a genius to tell she was exhausted, but she looked so at-peace it was difficult to tell whether she was just that at-peace or if she had slipped into a coma instead.


    ¡°Wish I could sleep like that,¡± she grumbled.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get your chance, I¡¯m sure,¡± Brendan said in response. ¡°C¡¯mere for a minute. There¡¯s something I want to try.¡±


    Normally, she¡¯d be reluctant to offer herself to a stranger she just met, but this was different. If Brendan was just as much an inconsiderate, dumbed-down guy, he would have proved it by now; he¡¯d shown his intellect, charisma, and willingness to help, instead. As hesitant as she was, she realized she stood at the precipice of something she didn¡¯t understand in the slightest¡ªeither she stepped up to the plate or watched as her life continued to devolve into chaos.


    Brendan studied her over for a moment. ¡°Your bandages¡ª What are they for?¡± He noticed the apprehension in her face as he tried to quell her doubts. ¡°I understand if you don¡¯t want to tell me¡ªI¡¯m not going to force you to disclose anything that makes you uncomfortable. Like you said earlier, it¡¯s probably best that we stick together, but I need your trust.¡±


    Lacia briefly wondered if maybe she should remove the bandages. For all she knew, they were the missing piece to the puzzle they were missing. ¡°He asked me to trust him,¡± she thought. ¡°I can¡¯t be the innocent girl everyone pities¡ªtime to make a choice.¡±


    She looked Brendan in the eyes. ¡°It isn¡¯t that I don¡¯t trust you, it¡¯s that I¡¯ve been thrust into something I know nothing about. I do trust you, but I need a little more time to figure myself out, I think,¡± she replied. ¡°I¡¯ll take the bandages off, but how did you even see them through my uniform?¡± she asked, untucking her shirt.


    ¡°Your shirt came untucked a little which revealed the gauze,¡± he explained. ¡°I swear that¡¯s the only thing I saw.¡±


    Her cheeks flushed a little. ¡°How long did he know my shirt was untucked? I really should be more careful next time.¡±


    ¡°Not that it matters anymore, but it¡¯s still really embarrassing for a girl when you tell her you saw something you shouldn¡¯t have, ok? I swear I¡¯m not mad, though.¡± She unraveled the bandages to expose the bruising. ¡°They¡¯ve actually started to heal a bit. These look a lot better than they did this time last week,¡± she said, surprised.


    ¡°Are you sure? I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before,¡± Brendan said, worried. ¡°Look at the pattern of the bruising, does that not stand out to you? Look in the mirror.¡±


    Now thoroughly confused, she looked in the mirror; the color drained from her face. There were darker patches, sure, and the coloring wasn¡¯t consistent, but the strange, spiraling pattern that wrapped around her side was startling.


    ¡°Was it always like that?¡± she wondered.


    ¡°Big question: does it hurt?¡± Brendan¡¯s face was full of surprise.


    ¡°N-not as much as it did a week ago,¡± she stuttered, ¡°but, yes. It¡¯s super tender, and if I press on them too hard, it pretty knocks the breath out of me.¡±


    Brendan stood up, attempting to ease her nerves. He grabbed her shoulders, settling her back into the chair. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯re gonna do,¡± he said. ¡°First, from what I can tell, your life is not in danger. However, this is definitely something we need to look into as it could offer a vital clue into what¡¯s happening with you. Second, logic: you said they were better than they were this time last week, right? That¡¯s good. It means your body isn¡¯t impervious to its own healing abilities.¡±


    Crackle. It was the Student Council President again. ¡°Attention students, those with last names A through L, you are now dismissed. This is the last of the large groups. All other students please prepare for dismissal after the current group has exited campus. Thank you.¡± The intercom fell silent once more.


    Lacia slapped herself across the face. ¡°Get a grip, girl. This isn¡¯t the time to completely lose it.¡±


    ¡°Glad to have you back,¡± Brendan smiled. ¡°We should get going, though. We¡¯re in the current group of dismissals,¡± he said. ¡°Err¡­ What¡¯s Mana¡¯s last name?¡±


    ¡°Lhumin. Pretty, isn¡¯t it?¡± Mana said, now sitting up in the bed.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re awake! When did that happen?¡± Lacia laughed, ¡°but how long were you listening to our conversation? You could have said something, you know?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but you two were just so in the moment, I couldn¡¯t help but lay here and listen to you two for a while,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°That¡¯s so evil,¡± Lacia pouted. ¡°I really feel like, sometimes, you¡¯re out to get me, and you¡¯re actually trying to sabotage me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true! I promise, so please stop pouting like that. You know I hate it when you do that.¡±


    ¡°Oh. So, like this?¡± Lacia¡¯s face became even more animated.


    ¡°I might as well be in the presence of royalty because you two are quite the drama queens,¡± Brendan joked. ¡°It¡¯s time to go, anyways.¡± He turned to look at Mana. ¡°I can¡¯t explain everything right now, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. We can all talk about it later, but if you¡¯re about to offer to carry me, please don¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°Besides, what good am I if I can¡¯t support myself through all of this?¡± she asked. ¡°Either way, let¡¯s go home. It¡¯s been a long day¡ªfor all of us.¡±

 Chapter 2: A Place to Call Home

    Dusk had fallen over the town after what seemed like a whirlwind of a day. The trio had managed to exit campus without issue¡ªeven the rain had remained intermittent which only irked Lacia considering she¡¯d been caught in the morning deluge.


    Unfortunately, the school day seemed to have one more surprise; Mana had forgotten her bag in the Nurse¡¯s Office. The school gates squealed to close just as she realized, but with a little luck, she was able to run back in to retrieve her bag.


    ¡°See? The teachers aren¡¯t all bad, Lacia,¡± Mana said triumphantly.


    Lacia sighed, throwing her hands up. While she appreciated something other than doom and gloom for the first time all day, she remained unsettled. What would happen now that classes weren¡¯t effectively paused for the foreseeable future? A week of relative peace had been a blessing¡ªno more nightmares, or night-sweats, but another, less frequent, dream she¡¯d had bothered her. What did she mean by ¡°final performance¡± and why did every dream or nightmare involve water in some way?


    ¡°So, uhh, priorities. We could use shelter from the weather and someplace to use as a hub,¡± Brendan said, snapping Lacia out of her daze. ¡°We definitely can¡¯t stand here and wait to get soaked.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Lacia piped, ¡°Mana doesn¡¯t have anyone in her apartment right now, so why don¡¯t we use that as a meeting hub? I mean, we can use my house, too, but her apartment is closer.¡± She looked to the sky as fresh, dark clouds swirled overhead. ¡°I don¡¯t care where we go, but I¡¯m tired of being rained on.¡± A stark wind caused her to shiver.


    Mana nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s use my apartment for the night and, in the morning, we can head over to Lacia¡¯s house. Sound good?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that works for me. I have spare bedrooms and bathrooms, too,¡± she noted. She turned to Brendan and smiled. ¡°There¡¯s no time like the present,¡± she thought.


    ¡°Brendan,¡± Mana said, ¡°I think maybe you should pack the stuff you need and bunk with us. There¡¯s no telling what¡¯s going to happen from here. Besides, there¡¯s safety in numbers, after all.¡±


    She expected at least some level of opposition but, to her surprise, he was more open to the idea than she thought. ¡°Alright. I don¡¯t have much to grab, anyways.¡± He rummaged through his pants pockets, pulling a crumpled piece of paper covered in pocket lint from the fabric. ¡°This is my address and phone number. Think of it as a sort of emergency contact type thing. Also, it¡¯s probably not a bad idea to have at least a general idea of where we all live, in relation to each other.¡±


    Mana frowned. ¡°I have another idea.¡± She pulled her phone out, made a few swipes, and held it out. ¡°Here¡¯s my contact card. Just take a picture and then text me. I¡¯m not real confident I¡¯d be able to find a small piece of paper in this bottomless thing,¡± she said, referring to the absurd amount of junk contained within.


    ¡°I keep telling you to clean that out,¡± Lacia said, frustrated. ¡°Why do you have old movie tickets in here?¡± Lacia swiped her bag. ¡°Candy wrappers, socks, hand sanitizers¡ª What is this?¡± she questioned, holding up a suspicious foil wrapper.


    Mana swiped her bag back, subsequently unwrapping the foil. ¡°It¡¯s a gummy candy,¡± she said, popping it in her mouth. ¡°Now, how about we give Brendan your contact card?¡± A devilish smile crept across her face.


    Lacia¡¯s face reddened. ¡°I¡ª I¡¯ll give it to him myself, thank you very much!¡±


    Mana¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Ohh, I get it. This is about that little incident earlier, in the Nurse¡¯s Office. It¡¯s ok to be a little flustered. In fact, flustered is a good look on you!¡± she teased.


    ¡°Wh¡ª what are you talking about? I thought you were asleep,¡± she said accusingly.


    Brendan laughed. ¡°You two tease each other and bicker like old women.¡±


    ¡°We do not!¡± the girls exclaimed in unison.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say,¡± he teased. He waved a hand over his shoulder, already several paces down the sidewalk.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Mana shouted. ¡°You still don¡¯t have Lacia¡¯s phone number!¡±


    ¡°Mana! I said I¡¯d do it!¡±


    She winked. ¡°Better hurry, then,¡± she said, chasing after Brendan.


    Having successfully given Lacia¡¯s contact card away, the girls parted ways with Brendan once they reached the center of town, waving bye as they promised to meet up with him later. Despite the ominous swirl of clouds overhead, precipitation remained light, a foggy drizzle incomparable to the earlier torrents.


    The streets were wet as tire tracks demarcated the divide between wet and dry pavement. Earlier rainfall trickled into the sewers beneath their feet, the gurgling sound reminiscent of a bathtub drain. Foot traffic was limited due to the uncertainty of rain, but street shops remained well lit, ready to welcome any customers daring enough to brave the weather.


    Captions rolled across the screens of infotainment centers and televisions placed in the windows¡ªbusiness as usual, it seemed. Headlines ranged from political discussions to stock markets, but one headline in particular struck Lacia as odd.


    ¡°Extreme Heatwaves Grip Southern Hemisphere.¡±


    ¡°Now that¡¯s odd. Shouldn¡¯t it be winter down there, right now?¡± she wondered.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± Mana asked, noticing the distant look on Lacia¡¯s face.


    ¡°Huh? Oh. No, no. It¡¯s just¡­ It¡¯s winter in the southern hemisphere right now, right?¡±


    ¡°I think so, yeah. Why?¡±


    Lacia grabbed Mana¡¯s wrist, dragging her over to a live newscast. ¡°Then, why doesn¡¯t this make any sense? I mean, with all of the crazy weather here recently, do you think it¡¯s just a coincidence?¡±


    ¡°This is a record-breaking heatwave,¡± the broadcast started. ¡°Temperatures have easily exceeded record highs today. The highest recorded temperature for this day in any part of the southern hemisphere is a whopping thirty degrees cooler¡­¡±


    Lacia remained glued to the screen, unaware of Mana¡¯s efforts to drag her away. ¡°Look, Lacia. You and I both know something feels off¡ªwe agree on that. What I don¡¯t get is,¡± she rubbed the foundation from a small spot under her eye, ¡°this.¡±


    A small, pointed star appeared where Mana rubbed the makeup away; it resembled a middle school child¡¯s attempt at face paint, but it was so symmetrical and looked completely natural. It was barely noticeable if someone wasn¡¯t paying attention. However, upon further inspection, a faint orange tint could be made out.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt or anything, but I just noticed it a few days ago,¡± Lacia said, trying to deflect the questions she knew Mana would ask. ¡°It kind of throbs a teeny bit every once in a while, but don¡¯t worry! It only seems to react to certain things.¡±


    ¡°How long have you known that was there, and why did you glob foundation all over it? I literally wouldn¡¯t have noticed except that your makeup wasn¡¯t as well blended as it usually is.¡±


    ¡°In my defense, I got rained on this morning, okay?¡± she pouted. ¡°It appeared a month or two ago, I think? I don¡¯t really remember exactly when, though.¡± She seemed just as puzzled as Mana.


    Something didn¡¯t add up about the mark, despite Lacia¡¯s explanation. There was no doubt she was being honest, but that only confused her further. Why did its orange tint seem to pulsate like it was twinkling?


    ¡°Look in the window,¡± Mana instructed. ¡°Is this the first time it¡¯s done that?¡±


    Lacia examined her reflection in the window, paying special attention to the mark under her eye. Panicked, she took a quick step back before, slowly, reexamining her reflection once more.


    ¡°This is crazy,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s kind of pretty though.¡±


    ¡°And that answers my question, Mana said. Craning her head out from under the awning, she gazed up at the clouds, their gray hues like that of a monochrome painter¡¯s canvas. ¡°Hey, maybe we should head over to Brendan¡¯s early. It would be rude of us to keep him waiting.¡± Truthfully, she just didn¡¯t want to get rained on, like Lacia.


    ¡°I,¡± Lacia said, turning to face Mana, ¡°am a lady of class, and I will not tarnish my reputation by being late.¡± She placed a hand on her chest, imitating a dainty princess.


    Mana stifled a laugh. ¡°Only you would talk like that. When you find the card that says you¡¯re related to a 12th century noble family, do let me know. Until then, let¡¯s hurry,¡± she said, dragging Lacia along.


    The walk wasn¡¯t far. They passed a familiar toy shop along the way. They would secretly buy Christmas gifts for each other when they were little girls, though neither of them knew. A sign posted on the inside of the door read:


    ¡°Temporarily closed. Sorry for any inconvenience.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too bad,¡± Mana thought.


    It was her favorite toy store. Every year, it was her go-to place for a Christmas gift for Lacia¡ªseeing it closed was painful. It was the last tiny semblance of a childhood she had left. The realization that those days were long-gone was a subtle reminder that, while still a child at heart, she would be turning twenty at the end of the year; she had to act like an adult now, not just for her sake, but for Lacia¡¯s.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, and I¡¯m just as upset. This place means a lot to me, too. I mean, it¡¯s the last little bit of joy Azalea has right now,¡± Lacia said. ¡°In a way, I guess its closure is kind of a reflection of our¡ª¡± She stopped. ¡°Of my life, lately. I go from perfectly healthy to nearly bed-ridden and, honestly, I just miss when life was easier.¡±


    Like Mana, Lacia resented the idea of adulthood. Her final year before her twenties and she was spending it toiling in the depths of an unknown darkness she couldn¡¯t escape.


    ¡°What a pitiful reality,¡± she muttered, turning away. ¡°Sorry to hold us up. I didn¡¯t mean to turn this into some kind of therapy session.¡±


    Mana looked confused. ¡°You¡¯re fine, but what do you mean ¡®therapy session¡¯?¡± She narrowed her gaze. ¡°Lacia¡ª"


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going,¡± Lacia said, grabbing Mana¡¯s hand. ¡°Besides, it looks like it¡¯s about to rain again. Also, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just a little freaked out that we¡¯ll be twenty next year, and all. The toy shop just, kind of, hit different.¡±


    ¡°No, I get it. It seems like nineteen has been two totally different worlds, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Mana held her hands behind her back and smiled at Lacia. ¡°It¡¯s going to get better. Trust me.¡±


    Raindrops sprinkled the girls as they looked to the sky. Clutching their school bags, they sprinted the rest of the way to Mana¡¯s apartment. Hopefully Brendan wasn¡¯t waiting in the rain. Since Mana had the only key, he would be forced to wait at the gate as his things got wet; she¡¯d feel terrible if her and Lacia¡¯s dawdling caused him any trouble.


    Arriving at the front gate of the apartment complex, Brendan was nowhere to be seen. Mana heaved a sigh of relief. She held the keycard up to the scanner as the gate creaked open.


    ¡°After you, milady,¡± Mana teased.


    Lacia gave her a sideways look. ¡°I¡¯m not living that down, am I?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    The apartment was fully furnished, yet, for some reason, it felt empty. In the center room, a large couch lay opposite an LED television, placed atop a dark, oak entertainment center where a handheld video game console and games sat. Canvas print photos hung on the opposite wall. Some depicted aerial views of the town, likely taken from a drone. Other prints highlighted the beauty of winter: snow-covered trees, frozen lakes, and even miniature snowmen with tiny hairclips¡ªMana¡¯s pride and joy photography.


    ¡°All of this rain has my bladder swollen like a balloon,¡± Mana said, closing the door behind her, ¡°so I¡¯m going to use the bathroom really quick. Make yourself at home!¡± She disappeared down the hall, humming all the way to the bathroom.


    ¡°This is such a cute little place,¡± Lacia thought, ¡°but it feels so¡­ lonely.¡±


    The apartment was bathed in shallow daylight, but with the thick clouds, it felt cold and lonely. Searching for the overhead light switch, a sudden buzz on the intercom startled Lacia: it was Brendan. She¡¯d completely forgotten about him once she entered the apartment.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she said, answering the call. ¡°Mana¡¯s in the restroom, but I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t mind if I let you in. Haha. Take a step back when the gate opens.¡± She ended the call, rushing to open the door for Brendan. ¡°Is that all you brought?¡± she asked, staring at the two boxes next to him.


    ¡°Yeahhh¡­ I don¡¯t really have a whole lot of stuff, but I¡¯m pretty happy with what I have, honestly,¡± he replied. ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no telling what we¡¯re getting into, so the less stuff the better. Mana¡¯s apartment seems to understand that fairly well.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Uh, let me help you!¡±


    Brendan pulled back. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. Don¡¯t worry. Besides, I can¡¯t let a girl lift these heavy boxes. That would seem kind of insensitive.¡±


    ¡°Really, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°No arguments,¡± he smiled.


    ¡°What a gentleman!¡± she thought. ¡°Though, I just wanted to be helpful¡­¡±


    Finally, after what seemed like an hour-long bathroom break, Mana reappeared. ¡°Oh? The two love-birds are back at it again, are they?¡± she teased, grinning.


    ¡°We are NOT lovers!¡± Lacia and Brendan shouted in unison.


    ¡°Sure, whatever you say,¡± Mana smiled. Growl. ¡°I swear that was NOT my stomach,¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°Um, it¡¯s getting kinda late and I know I¡¯m hungry, too, so why don¡¯t we get started on dinner?¡± Lacia asked. ¡°Any ideas?¡±


    ¡°Curry?¡± Mana suggested.


    ¡°I actually have a pretty good curry recipe if you two want to try that,¡± Brendan offered.


    ¡°Curry it is then,¡± Lacia said.


    Three days had passed since the school sent everyone home, though the weather hadn¡¯t improved much since. The only notable changes were Lacia''s dreams. Now, instead of standing on an empty beach, she stood in the center of a crowded room, full of people she didn¡¯t know.


    There was a party-like atmosphere to the place, but something felt... off. No one seemed to notice, or acknowledge, her, for starters. With such a striking, red dress, surely, she¡¯d draw at least a little attention, yet everyone continued on. Some people stood around a table lined with champagne glasses¡ªlost in discussion¡ªothers hastily signed cards, attaching them to gifts before placing them on a table.


    She leaned over the shoulder of one of the guests, catching a glimpse of the card in their hand: ¡°Happy 19th Birthday, Lacia!¡±


    Several thoughts crossed her mind: the birthday, the oversized celebration, and the lucidity of the dream. Her nineteenth birthday had already passed, so why it was being celebrated again puzzled her. Not only that, she didn¡¯t know enough people to fill an auditorium-sized room. There had to be more than a hundred people in the room alone, not to mention the small group that was huddled outside. What baffled her most, however, was the lucidity of the dream: she could feel the soft leather of her flats, the way her garters pinned her stockings to her thighs, and she could smell the helium used to air the balloons. Why?


    Exiting the party room, she ventured towards a wall of windows, away from the crowd. Gazing across the snowy landscape, a chill ran through her body. She crossed her arms across her chest for warmth as she continued to gaze into the dimly lit night.


    A mangled sign at the edge of the road caught her attention, illuminated by a flickering streetlight. She mouthed the letters plastered to the face of the sign like a haphazard art project: ¡°A Z A L E A.¡±


    Her confusion quickly devolved into panic. She inhaled sharply. The letters began to melt, contorting into an unreadable sentence as the streetlight erupted into a flurry of smoke. She spun on her heels, hoping to relay what she¡¯d just seen, but everyone had vanished¡ªgifts and birthday cards included. She closed her eyes and pinched herself, trying to end the dream. Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself standing in the center of a snowy crater, confused and unable to speak.


    Panic turned to terror as shadows danced before her, creeping ever closer. She bit her lip, trying to scream, shout¡ªanything¡ªbut all she could do was stand there and cry. There was no logical explanation for the crater, or why she stood in the center of it. Her heart hammered against her ribs; her legs were stiffer than boards; her knees gave out as she collapsed, crashing into the snow as she shook with fear.


    She attempted to stand, trembling as a violent wave of pain struck her. Not that she¡¯d ever wanted to know, but she assumed this is what it felt like to be run through with a sword: her mouth filled with the bitter taste of blood, each breath took more effort than the last, and her stomach felt like it had been torn open.


    Blood poured from her mouth as she clutched her abdomen. Unable to even sit up, she curled into a ball. Crimson puddles stained the white canvas of snow as she continued to bleed; nausea swept through her like waves on the ocean, unrelenting. She could feel her consciousness slipping, but what would happen if she blacked out? Would she die? Was she dying? With what little strength she could muster, she looked up, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever lay beyond the shadows, an answer to her plight, only to be greeted by nothingness.


    Maybe it was from the extensive loss of blood, but her head buzzed as if anesthesia had flooded her veins, forcing her into a slumber she didn¡¯t know if she¡¯d wake from. Moments later, she blacked out, snow slowly turning her red dress white.


    ¡°Lacia¡­¡±


    Someone was calling her name, but they sounded hollow and distant. She felt caught between a dream and reality, opening her eyes only for her vision to swim as she fought back the grogginess of sleep.


    ¡°Lacia,¡± the voice came, louder.


    She squeezed her eyes tight, trying to rid her body of sleep¡¯s slumbering hold. Her eyes shot open as she squinted from the glow of the bedside lamp light. She looked around, recognizing the familiar layout of her bedroom: plushies lined the top of a bookshelf, nestled against the back wall, a television sat atop a dresser at the foot of her bed, and her was desk pushed against the window, curtains drawn.


    ¡°Lacia~ Heyy.¡± It was Brendan, but why was he in her bedroom? She took a deep breath, shifting beneath her sheets, trying to sit up. She was in her bedroom¡ªnot Mana¡¯s apartment, which explained why they were both there, but the last thing she could recall was dinner¡ªeverything after that was blank.


    ¡°What are you doing in here?¡± she said hoarsely.


    Brendan shushed her. ¡°You have no idea what¡¯s going on, do you?¡± The panic on his face didn''t help her confusion. ¡°Hang on. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± He disappeared down the hallway.


    A small thud and scurrying feet later, Mana appeared in the doorway, a mixture of relief and worry on her face, but she looked as if she might be sick.


    ¡°Lacia¡­ How¡ª What happened in here?¡± Mana looked to Brendan for an answer, but he shook his head.


    ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯re gonna do,¡± Brendan said, re-addressing Lacia. ¡°Try not to move around too much or speak. Your body will need the energy so it can heal¡ªtrust me.¡± He turned to Mana. ¡°Can you see if there¡¯s any handheld mirrors in the bathroom we can use?¡±


    Without hesitation, she stumbled back through the doorway and into the bathroom; the sound of drawers opening and closing carried up the hall and into the bedroom. Brendan remained by Lacia¡¯s bedside, gently grasping her hand, cold and clammy. She looked like death, but he would leave the final decision on that to her.


    Moments later, Mana returned with a small, round portable mirror, placing it in Brendan¡¯s hand. ¡°Ok. So, this might shock you a bit, but take it easy. Alright? Just nod your head your head if you understand,¡± he eased.


    She nodded.


    ¡°Good. Then, I¡¯m going to hand this to you. Again, you might not want to hold the mirror out too far right away,¡± he said, handing it to Lacia.


    She held the mirror several inches from her face, off to the side¡ªjust enough to see her reflection from the corner of her eye; what she saw terrified her. Dried blood crusted the sides of her mouth where it had dripped down her chin and splattered onto her neck; her eyes had gone from sapphire-blue to a hazy grey-blue, mired by purple under-eye bruises; matted hair stuck to her forehead from dried sweat, blonde waves now tangled and knotted from relentless tossing and turning.


    As she began to understand the extent of Brendan and Mana¡¯s own shock, her heart began to race, pounding against her chest, screaming for someone to put it out of its misery. Filled with anxiety, she attempted to steady her heart, but it was no use. She lifted a hand to remove the hair from her face; the sight of her vein-riddled hand and pale skin prompted a wave of terror-induced nausea. She placed her hand back at her side before realizing things were far more serious than she thought.


    Fresh crimson stains soaked into the bedsheets, unabated as blood began to drip from the sides of the bed. If she didn¡¯t know better, she would have believed the sheets came such a vibrant red, but she did; internally, she knew something was amiss. There was no reason for such an onslaught of blood, yet there remained no semblance of why she was bleeding in the first place.


    Without thinking, Brendan pulled the blood-soaked bedding back to reveal an unusual wound in her side and torn pajamas. Her bruises were gone; in their place was an open gash that spanned several inches in length, parallel to her belly button. What had been a cottony-white pair of pajamas were now a strange reddish pink. The color reminded him of red food dye¡ªnever truly red but somewhere in between.


    It took Lacia several minutes to fully process what was happening; she looked as if someone had dumped a bucket of red paint across her body. A new, dry cough only seemed to aggravate her precarious condition, red bubbles forming at her lips as she sputtered fresh blood. She moved a hand to her mouth just to find it painted red like her bloody sheets.


    Mana promptly tore the tattered pajama top from Lacia¡¯s body for easier access to the wound, but it was almost impossible to find; the entirety of her abdomen was a sticky, slimy mixture of sweat of blood. She swallowed her stomach.


    As embarrassed as she was to be left only a bra and pajama bottoms, Lacia quickly forgot her shame. Mana¡¯s face was startling, filling her with a new kind of fear: the eventual beratement from her best friend, seeking answers to why this was happening. She knew and hated that face, but she hated it even more, now, knowing she didn¡¯t have an answer for her.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she thought. ¡°The dream I just had¡­ Did it¡ª?¡± She leaned over the edge of the bed and became ill. ¡°At this rate,¡± she huffed, ¡°I¡¯m going to die from blood loss, but my stomach¡ª¡± A furious stomach cramp interrupted her.


    ¡°I¡¯m no doctor, but you have lost a lot of blood,¡± Brendan said. ¡°Stop moving around for a while so the bleeding will slow.¡±


    ¡°Brendan,¡± Mana said. ¡°Rather than have an active conversation, I think it would be better if we just had her text us. But we can¡¯t wait for the bleeding to ¡®slow¡¯. Use the bedsheets and make a torniquet.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ve lost too much as is, and if we take you to the hospital, you could bleed out.¡± He pulled the sheets from the bed, wringing them out before tightly wrapping them around Lacia¡¯s body.


    She screamed in agony as he tied the knot, squeezing the open wound. Beads of sweat formed across her forehead; her breathing became ragged. Her head felt like someone had taken an electric massager and placed it on her scalp; she was beginning to lose consciousness.


    ¡°Fu¡ª Ok, new plan,¡± Mana said. ¡°Your blood type is A. Since I¡¯m O negative, I¡¯m a universal donor. Brendan,¡± she said firmly, ¡°this is going to be super unorthodox, but find some rubbing alcohol, two butterfly needles, and rubber tubing. I don¡¯t care if you have to run to the nearest drugstore for some. Just¡ª Please.¡±


    ¡°Mana,¡± he started, ¡°a blood transfusion could put both of your lives at risk. Are you absolutely certain about this?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°We have no other choice, Brendan.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± He ran out of the room, scurrying around the house for several minutes before returning to Lacia¡¯s bedroom. ¡°This is as good as it gets, ok?¡± He placed a half-empty bottle of rubbing alcohol and clear, rubber next to her before disinfecting a pair of butterfly needles.


    ¡°Puncture a hole on either end of the tubing so the blood can move freely, then stick us.¡± She gestured towards Lacia then herself. ¡°Lacia, if you can hear me, I need you to stay still so we can do a blood transfusion on you.¡± She looked at Brendan and nodded.


    Carefully, he inserted the needles into Lacia and Mana¡¯s arms. ¡°You must know an awful lot about her if you even know her blood type,¡± he said. ¡°By the way, how did you know she even had this stuff laying around?¡±


    Mana¡¯s gaze was transfixed on the exchange of blood from her arm to Lacia¡¯s. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that, based upon what she¡¯s told me, her parents prepared for anything. It was pure luck you were able to find it all.¡±


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    ¡°That¡¯s fair, I suppose, but I¡¯m pulling the needles as soon as she gets a little color back, ok? I don¡¯t need two people bleeding out on me at the same time,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll get her side of the story after she wakes up.¡±


    Mana and Brendan took turns watching Lacia for the next several hours, though Mana was a little woozy, having given more blood than she expected. Still, Lacia seemed to be resting¡ªpeacefully. The earlier commotion seemed like a world away now; Brendan had taken the blood-soaked bedding and tossed it into a trash bag, Mana had scrounged Lacia¡¯s room for a blanket¡ªto keep her warm¡ªand, finally, had dinner. The silence was bliss: no screaming, no crying, no shouting¡ªjust silence.


    Unfortunately, as nice as the stillness was, there remained a glaring problem: neither Mana nor Brendan knew why she¡¯d started gushing blood, or where the gaping gash on her side came from. What¡¯s more, her bruises had seemingly been replaced by the new wound.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Mana whispered. ¡°Are you just as lost as I am right now? Like, things like that don¡¯t just happen for no reason. Actually, they don¡¯t happen at all!¡± She fanned herself with her hands.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it. You gave a lot of blood, you know.¡± Brendan sat against the wall. ¡°That torniquet¡­ Under normal circumstances, that would never have been enough to stop the bleeding, but minutes after we walked in, it stopped. Is that not weird? It worries me.¡±


    ¡°Worried?¡±


    Brendan nodded. ¡°Look, if all goes well, I should be able to close the wound with my magic. I can at least shrink it. If I can¡¯t, well, then we have a bigger problem on our hands.¡± He fixed his gaze on the ceiling. ¡°Are you familiar with cytokine storms? Where the body¡¯s own immune system produces an excessive, pro-inflammatory response to pathogens? It¡¯s only a theory and doesn¡¯t explain many of her other symptoms, but perhaps this is an extreme example of that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Brendan. Maybe, but you said we¡¯d have a bigger problem if you couldn¡¯t shrink or close the wound. What did you mean by that?¡±


    He scratched his nose. ¡°I have two leading theories. That was the first one and, arguably, the best-case scenario. The other theory is hella complex, but I¡¯ll give you the short version. Basically, her body could be rejecting a gift of sorts, something much bigger than me or you.¡±


    Mana stared at him, eager for him to explain further. Brendan lifted himself off the floor, taking a seat in the chair he¡¯d placed by Lacia¡¯s bed. ¡°You see, my family has passed down an old folk tale that bears hallmarks to just what is happening now,¡± he said, attempting to close Lacia¡¯s wound.


    A faint, green light emanated from his hands as he held them inches from the open wound. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, but the gash had started to shrink. He continued his explanation, still focused on healing.


    ¡°The tale says something about a tremendous power that will be bestowed upon a young maiden, something the likes of which the world has never seen. If she¡¯s deemed worthy, she will be granted vast troves of knowledge and exceptional knowledge,¡± he said. ¡°However, if she is deemed unworthy, there is the chance her body rejects the gift, resulting in, uhh¡­ death.¡±


    Mana was poker-faced. ¡°Maybe it is a tale, and maybe it¡¯s not. Either way, I feel like there¡¯s a part of me that¡¯s not all here,¡± she said, staring at the floor, "and that part of me feels useless. Either way, that all sounds eerily similar to a story I was told as a child, but it¡¯s it been so long, so the details aren¡¯t all there at the moment.¡±


    ¡°Two different families and one, similar, story. Now that¡¯s interesting,¡± Brendan said. ¡°Ok. Good news: I was able to close the wound completely. With some rest, she¡¯ll be fine, but there¡¯s more we need to discuss, too.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I need to come clean about something to you. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re aware, but my family has a long history of indentured servitude to families that were more magically gifted than us. At some point, however, one of our members, the Lhumin family, married into one of those families,¡± she explained. ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s all I can offer you¡ªmy head is splitting.¡±


    She leaned against the side of Lacia¡¯s bed, pushing her hair up with her hand. The combined effects of exhaustion, worry, and blood transfusion had taken their toll on her body; her face had drained of color.


    Brendan walked over, placing his own hand to her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re running a fever. It¡¯s low-grade, but you definitely need to get some rest, so let¡¯s wrap this up. Do you recall ever hearing about an event known as the ¡®Searing Wounds¡¯ at all?¡±


    ¡°Maybe super vaguely. I mean, it sounds familiar, but I can¡¯t really offer any specific details right now,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°Let me take a rain check and get back to you in the morning. My head is trying to make me commit not-alive.¡±


    ¡°No worries. Go get some sleep. I¡¯ll watch Lacia for the night, and if she wakes up, I¡¯ll be sure to come and get you,¡± he said. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve got some stuff to think about, so this works out perfectly.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. I really appreciate you taking the lead on this tonight. Seriously.¡±


    ¡°No problem. You¡¯ve been super helpful, though I realize that might sound odd coming from a near-stranger like me,¡± he laughed awkwardly.


    Mana giggled. ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯ll have plenty of time to get to know each other, but later. Still, I should thank you for all of your help, too,¡± she said. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m off. Thanks again for this.¡± She stumbled out of the bedroom, hand on her head. A soft ploof and rustling of bed sheets later, she was fast asleep.


    The night passed slowly as Brendan mulled over what little information Mana had been able to provide. If what she¡¯d said was true, the implications could be massive, but that was dependent upon which family she was talking about. On the one hand, the whole story could be just that: a story. On the other, they could be slow-walking into something that was way over their heads; there just wasn¡¯t enough information to make any definitive claims, and there was no use in speculating, either. However, he was nearly certain she was telling the truth about her family¡¯s servitude, though it seemed strange she¡¯d only just remembered. Lacia had claimed Mana could use magic, but he¡¯d yet to see, or feel, anything of the sort from her. He walked himself through what he did know.


    Unbeknownst to Mana, his family was one of the few that had any sort of relations with the Lhumin family. While the Greyriters were known for their exceptional magecraft and cunning, only very few ever rose through the ranks to truly hone their craft, but records were few and far between, making it difficult to piece together much of the family¡¯s history.


    The Lhumin family, however, were a bit of different story. Mostly commoners, they were frequently looked down upon, and many did marry into other magically-gifted families in the hope that their children might have a future. Many families were split apart, and many children were forced into rigorous, magical training; the Greyriter family would eventually become a much larger piece to the puzzle, however.


    Because of the servitude the Lhumin family was expected to provide to the Greyriter and other families, tensions were always high, but after an accident involving a small Lhumin child and a Greyriter mage, their relationship fell to new lows. This would eventually be dubbed the ¡°Searing Wounds¡± conflict due to the burns suffered by the Lhumin child.


    Later investigations revealed the burns to be an accident, not an intentional provocation by a member of the Greyriter family, but not before full-scale war broke out. Many lives were lost, including over half of the Lhumin family; an eventual ceasefire and end to hostilities were agreed upon, marking the end of the last great era of magic.


    Brendan began to think aloud. ¡°But if I remember correctly, the Lhumin family smudged the whole ordeal from their family record, considering those records are public. Maybe they didn¡¯t want that kind of information in the hands of a public audience, though.¡± He wracked his brain. ¡°That means, only the family elders were tasked with preserving the memory of the conflict, yet I don¡¯t sense any magic from Mana at all, and commoners aren¡¯t normally privy to such information¡­¡±


    He plopped down on a nearby futon as he continued his reasoning. ¡°The problem isn¡¯t that she knows about the conflict. Rather, it¡¯s that she has to have mana, but it¡¯s so incredibly weak, if so. There¡¯s literally no other reason she would be attacked out of the blue like that if she didn¡¯t.¡± He kicked his feet up, laying his head against a pillow. ¡°Just because relations between the two families ended over two-hundred years ago doesn¡¯t mean there wasn¡¯t still some intermingling between them. If she was birthed by a Lhumin mother but the father was a Greyriter mage, there¡¯s a fifty-fifty chance she can use magic, like Lacia said.¡±


    Having exhausted enough brain power for the night, he unlocked his phone, hoping to catch up on any missed notifications. The time on his phone glared back: 6:00am.


    At the very least, over the course of an entire night, he¡¯d been able to conclude that both Lacia and Mana had a role to play in whatever was happening. What those roles were, however, remained a mystery, one he¡¯d have to solve later.


    He turned his attention back to Lacia, still sound asleep. Quietly, he got up from the futon and opened the bedroom door a crack, surprised to find Mana awake¡ªwith a half-eaten bagel hanging out of her mouth. Brendan slipped out of the bedroom, deciding to check on her now that she was awake.


    ¡°Hey, bagel thief. Good to see you¡¯re awake,¡± he said.


    ¡°Mmm?¡±


    ¡°Okay¡ª Half awake,¡± he said awkwardly. ¡°I have a proposal for you. After much deliberation, I¡¯ve come to the conclusion that you can, indeed, use magic, but the reason I can¡¯t sense it from you is because you haven¡¯t been taught how to use it.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Brendan. I was just hungry. I wanna go back to sleep,¡± she whined.


    ¡°Hear me out. Every mage has magical ¡°circuits¡± that they use to channel magic through their bodies and from the environment around them. When these circuits don¡¯t function properly, one of two things happens: either that mage leaks magical energy, or¡± he said, ¡°their magic gets trapped like a clogged artery.¡±


    ¡°You have thirty seconds before I stop listening.¡± She began to count.


    ¡°Ok, ok! I think your circuits just haven¡¯t been set, so, if you let me do this, you¡¯ll have the best sleep of your life. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Yeah? And what do you need from me?¡±


    ¡°Lend me your arm for a sec. I can use my magic to create a map of your circuits to see if they¡¯re functioning or not.¡± Mana handed Brendan her non-bagel arm. A faint white glow began to emanate from his palms as they pulsed from white to green then blue. ¡°I was right,¡± he beamed. ¡°I just have to send a magical pulse through your body, and that should set your circuits.¡±


    ¡°Well, I have nothing to lose,¡± she laughed. ¡°Let¡¯s do it. I want that sleep you promised me.¡±


    Brendan placed his hands on her back. ¡°You might feel a little something like a shock, but you might not feel anything, either, so just a fair warning.¡±


    ¡°Your hands are so warm; I can feel them through my shirt. Or is that your magic I¡¯m feeling?¡± Her eyes began to grow heavy. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you think of this sooner? This feels great.¡±


    ¡°It took a lot of thought,¡± he said, ¡°but I¡¯ll have to tell you what else I came up with when you¡¯re awake next.¡±


    Mana was asleep again, but his job was done. He could sense the mana that flooded her veins¡ªpeaceful and serene. He took the half-eaten bagel from her hand and placed it on the nightstand.


    ¡°Problem number one, solved. Now, just to solve the other twenty,¡± he exaggerated.


    After what had been an unsettling night, he decided to finally get some rest himself. Settling back into the futon from earlier, he grabbed a blanket and stretched out; sleep came quickly.


    Seagulls soared overhead, wailing as they circled the wave-battered docks; the smell of salt lingered in the air. Several small boats were moored in their bays, gently bobbing in the wake of each passing craft.


    One boat in particular towered above the rest, though it remained mostly empty aside from the unlit lower deck. The daylight found itself in a losing battle as it struggled to illuminate the compartments below, out of reach of the sun¡¯s comforting warmth.


    Several monitors lined the back wall of one of the many cabins, illuminating the interior in a pale, artificial glow. One monitor seemed to be monitoring global stock markets¡ªanother was trawling the archives of a since-terminated conspiracy site, housing debunked theories, threats, and discarded user data.


    A small chiink emanated from one of the monitors, indicating the completion of a downloaded dataset; the search parameters involved an array of unreadable jumbles of words and numbers. It was nonsense, until two names appeared on the screen: Lhumin and Greyriter, yet there was no mention of the Amana family.


    Seated in front of the computers was a lanky man of average build; greasy, black hair stuck to his forehead with sweat as the air conditioning struggled to keep up with the tropical climate. Using a hand to push his hair back, he leaned into his chair, an eerie grin of satisfaction plastered across his face.


    ¡°This should be fun, real fun indeed, Greyriter,¡± the man said, satisfactorily. ¡°I hope you¡¯re ready for what¡¯s next, boy.¡±


    He leaned forward, hunched over the keyboard. His fingers flew at light-speed banging away on each key with pinpoint accuracy. Suddenly, a third monitor flickered to life. The man turned his attention to the newly lit monitor where a world map filled the screen. Large slashes crossed out several countries and island chains; another browser window opened alongside the current window.


    ¡°The world is a big place, but there are only so many places you can hide. Run all you like, I will find you,¡± he sneered.


    In the newly opened window, a website displayed a chilling amount of information regarding the Amana family, but the page was pixelated, and an occasional word here and there looked as if had redacted, covered by a black box. The website itself looked like it had been built by an amateur web designer¡ªheaders were misaligned, there was little consistency in text size, and certain pages on the site failed to load altogether¡ªall except one.


    Unlike the rest of the site, the page loaded instantly as the man scrolled the page straight to the bottom, not even reading the header, only pausing to examine the picture of a girl. Though it was pixelated and blurry, honey-blonde locks and dazzling blue eyes could still be made out; she looked well-kept, and her skin retained a healthy glow, smiling.


    The man leaned in closer, comparing the image on-screen to one he pulled from thin air. His eyes darted between the photo on the screen and the one in his hand. An advertisement suddenly plastered the screen, adding just enough light to make out the person in the photo.


    The man¡¯s voice filled with glee. ¡°Found you¡­ Lacia Amana.¡±


    Brendan jolted awake, disturbed by the mysterious man and subsequent web-trawling. He rubbed his eyes as he sat up before turning his attention to Lacia who¡¯d also woken up.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said softly. ¡°How are you feeling? Did you¡­¡± He trailed off. ¡°Why the sour look?¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Lacia said, pressing her hand to her forehead, ¡°don¡¯t bombard me with questions first thing in the morning.¡± She closed her eyes for a moment before addressing the latter question. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ kind of awkward, you know?¡± Her cheeks flushed.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Yeah¡­ I would have asked Mana to keep watch over you, but she was exhausted and said her head was killing her. I didn¡¯t mean to make things awkward, sleeping in the same room as you, but someone had to watch you,¡± he reasoned.


    She turned an even brighter shade of red. ¡°N-n-no, wait¡ªit¡¯s not like that, sorry. I, uh, should have thanked you first before getting suspicious.¡± She held her hands to her face, trying to hide her embarrassment. ¡°Sorry, Brendan, I know I was a handful last night.¡±


    ¡°No need for apologies,¡± he smiled. ¡°On another note, how long have you been awake or¡­ Wait. Were you having a nightmare, too? About some creepy dude on a boat and all those monitors?¡±


    ¡°Did you see what was on the monitors?¡± She shuddered.


    ¡°Yeah, and¡ª¡± He stopped. ¡°Lacia?¡± His face was stern.


    ¡°Y-yeah? Why are you making that face?¡± She pulled her blanket up to her chest.


    ¡°Did the man have greasy, black hair? In a dark room?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°Did we¡­ have the same nightmare? What was he looking for, and why was he so obsessed with me? He even had an actual photo of me.¡± Lacia was visibly shaken.


    The strange mark on her cheek began to glow, outshining the filtered sunlight beaming through the curtains. She laid back down, not knowing what to think anymore.


    ¡°That¡¯s new,¡± Brendan said. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know what that mark on your cheek is, do you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah¡ªno makeup,¡± she thought. ¡°Of course he would ask.¡± She rubbed the mark with her finger. ¡°I have no idea, and neither does Mana. It just, kinda, appeared there one day, but it doesn¡¯t hurt, and I don¡¯t feel anything when it glows.¡±


    ¡°I have a couple ideas what it might be.¡± He recalled the conversation he had with Mana. ¡°For now, you¡¯re probably fine, but we can have a whole conversation about it later.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Thank you, again.¡±


    Without thinking, she tenderly rubbed her side before pulling her hand away, remembering that, twelve hours ago, she was on the precipice of bleeding out. She white-knuckled the side of her bed, mentally preparing herself for the sight of the previous night¡¯s agony. With a quick pull, she lifted the side of her shirt only to find a small scar where Brendan had closed the wound.


    ¡°Did you...?¡± She pointed to the scar.


    Brendan nodded in affirmation, giving her a rundown on the conversation he had with Mana, the history of the Lhumin and Greyriter families, and what had been the gaping gash in her side. He concluded with Mana¡¯s improperly-set magic circuits.


    ¡°So, she collapsed because her magic was blocked off or something? That¡¯s a relief,¡± she said. ¡°I thought it was something more serious. I swear, without you, we¡¯d be dead or something by now.¡±


    ¡°Thank for the flattery,¡± she chuckled, ¡°but you¡¯re only half right. That mist was definitely made to absorb life energy. Under normal circumstances, she should have been able to dispel the attack, but because her magic circuits were blocked, she couldn¡¯t. Also, there¡¯s something else you should know,¡± he said. ¡°How do I put this? Umm¡­ There¡¯s this sort of ¡°gift¡±, but we don¡¯t know what it is yet or, really, how it¡¯s even acquired. Either way, you¡¯re part of a complex puzzle that we need to find the pieces to, asap.¡±


    ¡°What is this so-called gift?¡± she asked.


    Brendan bit his lip, thinking about the best way to word what he was about to say. ¡°Let¡¯s just say it¡¯s in this room, wrapped up in a blanket at the moment.¡±


    Lacia pointed at herself. ¡°You¡¯re not talking about me, are you?¡±


    ¡°Do you want the short answer of the long answer?¡±


    She threw her pillow at him. ¡°Stop playing! Just tell me.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°You are the gift. Better yet, it¡¯s inside of you,¡± he said. ¡°I think, with a little research, I can figure out what this ¡°gift¡± is. Right now, solely based upon last night, it¡¯s a safe bet to say it grants either extensive knowledge or tremendous power¡ªpossibly both. I don¡¯t suppose you feel a new, profound sense of intelligence or surge of magic, do you?¡± He looked her in the eyes. ¡°If you want my opinion, your abilities aren¡¯t developed enough, so whatever this gift or thing is, it tried to test you, but you weren¡¯t strong enough, mentally or physically, to receive it.¡±


    ¡°Ok, well, first off, I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯ve gained any kind of ultra powerful magic, and I don¡¯t feel any, uhhh¡­ Smarter?¡± She frowned. ¡°What I do know is that I feel like I just insulted myself¡­¡±


    Without warning, the bedroom door creaked open as Mana poked her head in. From the looks of things, she¡¯d just woken up: bedhead, bagel crumbs stuck to the side of her mouth, and dried saliva in tow.


    Lacia held her hand to her mouth, snickering.


    ¡°Laugh all you want!¡± Mana fired, ¡°but I think you two should come see this.¡±


    Lacia and Brendan stepped out onto the front porch where Mana stood, waiting. The sun was out, working overtime to dry lingering puddles and flooded roads. What seemed even more unusual, other than seeing the sun for the first time in weeks, was the striking lack of people.


    What were normally busy streets were silent, filled only with the sound of birds and blowing leaves. There were no cars or people, many homes had closed their blinds, and muddy tire tracks littered the streets.


    Lacia walked up to the front gate, removing the padlock before swinging it open. She stepped out into the street, shielding her eyes from the sun, before abruptly slapping herself across the face.


    ¡°Well, that proves this is real and I¡¯m not still dreaming, but where is everyone? Something about this feels¡­ wrong,¡± she thought. ¡°It¡¯s waaay too quiet and there¡¯s no one else out here. Like, would people not want to get out for the first time in weeks?¡±


    The sound of approaching tires averted her attention; a white car was barreling down the street, straight for her, but instead of moving out of the way, she stood her ground. She didn¡¯t care if the car hit her. Instinctively, she knew it wouldn¡¯t, but she wanted answers, and she was determined to get them, even if it meant getting run over. She waved her arms in the air, signaling for the driver to slow down and, to her surprise, they did.


    ¡°Hey~,¡± the driver shouted, hanging from the window, waving back.


    It was a man. He pulled over, parking the car at the curb as he stepped out; he looked to be in his early twenties, average build, and pleasant smile.


    ¡°Have any of you seen the news, lately?¡± he asked as Brendan and Mana joined Lacia at the street. ¡°Some crazy stuff has been going on. You might want to check it out.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll keep that in mind, but, uh¡ª Who are you, and where is everyone?¡±


    ¡°Oops. Totally forgot to introduce myself first,¡± he said awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m Ryan. It¡¯s nice to meet you!¡±


    Lacia smiled. ¡°Likewise. My name¡¯s Lacia, and that¡¯s Mana,¡± she said gesturing, ¡°and Brendan. We¡¯re a bit rag-tag at the moment,¡± she laughed. ¡°Umm, how about we all go inside? It¡¯s terribly humid out here, and we could use a little time getting ready.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not exactly real pleasant today, is it? I think I¡¯ll take you up on that offer,¡± Ryan obliged.


    Brendan finished getting ready first, joining Ryan in the living room. The clock on the television flashed three o¡¯clock; the temperature gauge read eighty-six and climbing, but it was the humidity that was so unfathomable¡ªeven the air conditioner was struggling to keep up.


    Mana appeared from the guest bathroom next, offering Brendan and Ryan a bottle of water, of which they both accepted. She turned her attention to the TV screen, but it was all commercials for the moment. ¡°Sheesh¡­ You¡¯d think that, when important things actually happen, they¡¯d find a way not to waste our time with endless commercials,¡± she said, annoyed. ¡°Lacia shouldn¡¯t be much longer, by the way.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Ryan said. ¡°I feel you on the whole commercials thing, though.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Lacia shouted from somewhere down the hall, ¡°those ¡°endless commercials¡± are how I found the makeup brand you like so much,¡± she said defensively.


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯d join us, maybe I wouldn¡¯t be tease you so much,¡± Mana said.


    The commercials continued to drone on, advertising everything from pet food to various new medical treatments for dermatitis rashes. Swiping the remote, Mana pushed the mute button, effectively silencing the same commercial about retirement homes she¡¯d seen at least a hundred times. The rush of cold air from the vents added a level of static calm; she¡¯d always had a fondness for white noise.


    She couldn¡¯t help but let her mind wander. Just two weeks ago, life had been totally normal; she¡¯d meet up with Lacia outside her house each morning for school, talk about boys, and watch the same predictable TV shows about vampires and other, over-exaggerated, fantasies. Everything changed when she learned Lacia had been keeping secrets from her¡ªimportant ones, at that. She would have figured it out eventually, but she couldn¡¯t help but wonder what would have happened if the events from last night happened while in broad daylight¡ªworse yet, what if she¡¯d started bleeding out in the middle of class?


    ¡°They¡¯re saying there was a leak at the power plant? At Teaken? The one just up the road?¡± Lacia asked. Startled, Mana whipped her head around, colliding with Lacia¡¯s. ¡°Oww! Stop spacing out,¡± she whined. ¡°That really hurt. Had I known you were going to bash me in the head, I would have sat across from you.¡± She pressed a cold bottle of water to her head, a preemptive attempt to subdue any headaches.


    Mana groaned. ¡°Sorry, Lacia. I got lost in thought and didn¡¯t even see you walk in,¡± she said rubbing her own head. ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful next time,¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Lacia said, fixing her bangs, ¡°but more importantly¡­ Ryan, what were you saying about the power plant leak?¡±


    Ryan looked to Brendan who just shrugged. ¡°I have to wonder if the radiation already leaked into your brain, Mana,¡± he joked. ¡°But real talk, though¡ª The nuclear power plant a few towns up the road apparently suffered some kind of power failure and radiation is leaking into the air and water supply.¡± Ryan refocused their attention towards the TV, headlines anything but reassuring.


    ¡°Nuclear accident at Teaken power plant.¡±


    ¡°Residents from Teaken to Azalea south ordered to evacuate.¡±


    Live drone footage displayed an area of extensive damage, resembling that of a major earthquake except there had been no recorded quakes in recent months. Rubble lay strewn about the ground; any structures that remained upright were riddled with cracks, threatening to tumble down at a moment¡¯s notice. If an earthquake really had caused such devastation, why wasn¡¯t that also being talked about? Someone wasn¡¯t telling the whole truth as was evident by reporters¡¯ dodgy answers when asked about the cause of the accident.


    ¡°The place is just rubble,¡± Brendan said, shocked.


    ¡°They¡¯re saying the radiation cloud is set to drift this way around sunset,¡± Ryan explained, ¡°so most everyone has left town, but if you three need someplace to go, I¡¯m headed straight south to the Okina islands. If we leave now, we can be there by midday tomorrow.¡±


    The room fell silent as everyone mulled over their options. Ryan had offered to give them a lift to the Okina islands, a tropical paradise that drew thousands of tourists every year. On the one hand, Lacia half-wanted to take him up on the offer; beaches and tropical paradises were kind of her thing. On the other, she didn¡¯t want to drag someone else into her current mess-of-a-life drama.


    Brendan seemed to understand. ¡°Unfortunately, we¡¯re going to have to decline your offer, but let me give you my number, in any event. It¡¯s good to have alibis in times like these, right?¡± He watched the tension in Lacia¡¯s shoulders ease.


    ¡°Right you are. Here!¡± Ryan handed the girls a business card upon exchanging contact information with Brendan. ¡°On the back is the address to my villa. If you decide to make your way down, I¡¯ll be there. It¡¯s kind of my ¡°doomsday¡± getaway,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s stocked with everything you¡¯d need.¡± He seemed exceptionally proud of himself.


    ¡°A villa?!¡± the girls exclaimed in unison.


    Ryan chuckled. ¡°I figured you¡¯d like the sound of that. Anyways, it¡¯s almost thirty after, so I better get going¡ªI¡¯d like to make it by midday tomorrow.¡± He leaned onto his knees. ¡°if you want my advice, I think you should pack what you can and leave town by seven, if what they said on the news is true. There¡¯s even an abandoned four-door SUV just up the street¡ªthe way I came in.¡± He turned to Lacia. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality¡ªit was greatly appreciated. I¡¯m gonna head out, but make sure you three get somewhere safe.¡±


    Ryan sped off as quickly as he¡¯d arrived, thanking Lacia again, even offering Mana a couple of pain relievers from an unopened bottle. She graciously accepted. Brendan shook his hand, waving him off.


    ¡°He seemed really nice,¡± Mana said, watching as the car faded into the horizon, ¡°but I do have my reservations about getting into a car with someone we just met.¡± She looked at Lacia, still staring down the road.


    ¡°I mean, yeah. He offered us a safe place to stay and warned us about the radiation cloud. He even gave you some pain relievers from a brand-new bottle¡ª Can he really be that bad? Like, he knew we were wary and did everything he could to prove his humility.¡±


    ¡°You are pretty cute, after all, Lacia. Who wouldn¡¯t want to drive away with you?¡±


    ¡°Did you just nonchalantly say I¡¯m kidnap-able¡­? I¡¯m not the only one some random stranger would want to pick up, you know?¡± she said, narrowing her eyes.


    Brendan pulled the SUV up, windows down. ¡°I could hear you two from way up the road. Let¡¯s be clear: no one is getting kidnapped,¡± he laughed.


    A warm breeze rustled his messy hair; Lacia¡¯s heart melted. He had no right being so cute, and his fluffy hair was just begging to be played with. ¡°In another life, girl. In another life,¡± she whispered to herself.


    ¡°Lacia, if you¡¯re done having the hots for Brendan, can you help me load these boxes? They¡¯re pretty light, mostly just clothes, bedding, and bathroom stuff,¡± Mana said.


    Embarrassed, she ran over to help. ¡°J-just to be clear, Brendan,¡± she said, red-faced, ¡°I do not have feelings for you, ok? S-so don¡¯t think about anymore!¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± he laughed. ¡°How about you two do a once-over on the house and I¡¯ll load the boxes and whatever else that¡¯s left?¡±


    Lacia¡¯s blonde tresses turned into a marvelous platinum hue in the sunlight as she ran into the house, still embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯ll start in the back, Mana,¡± she shouted.


    ¡°You know she totally likes you, right? That girl literally never knows what she wants,¡± Mana explained. ¡°Like, did you notice she changed from flats to a low-heel boot? She also changed the ribbon in her hair to match her¡ª Actually, I¡¯ll leave that to your imagination. Also, her favorite color is light blue¡ªsame color as the hair ribbon,¡± she winked.


    ¡°Mana!¡± Lacia yelled.


    ¡°Coming!¡± she shouted back. ¡°See what I mean? She¡¯s still a child at heart, but all of the recent craziness has really transformed into a young woman I¡¯m kinda jealous of. Anyways, I better go help.¡± She ran into the house after Lacia.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Brendan nudged. ¡°Have you grown a little taller or is it the heels? I feel like maybe you grew an inch or two, seriously. You¡¯re the perfect height,¡± he said, addressing Lacia.


    She let out a breathy gasp. Compliments from boys were rare. ¡°Actually, I guess I have grown a little. My world has been absolutely insane lately, though I¡¯m not sure why I couldn¡¯t grow there of all places,¡± she mumbled, looking at her chest. ¡°Brendan, this hasn¡¯t been easy on me, so thank you for being there for me¡ªMana too.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I think you¡¯re just fine the way you are, so don¡¯t go changing for anyone other than yourself. Come on, let¡¯s finish getting these boxes loaded,¡± he smiled.


    Half an hour later and the car was packed, but Lacia wasn¡¯t ready to leave just yet. ¡°I want to leave a note in case mom and dad somehow make it home, you know? No matter how unlikely,¡± she said. ¡°I just need a few minutes, and I¡¯ll be ready.¡±


    The car idled as Lacia ran back into the house. It felt lonely despite her choosing to leave much of the house¡¯s contents where they were. Even so, she would miss the familiar scent of the furniture, the cold blast of air when she closed the fridge, and the smooth linoleum under her feet. She stood in the center of the living room for a moment before walking into her bedroom.


    ¡°I almost forgot about you,¡± she said excitedly.


    A beautiful, red and black dress hung on the closet rack; she¡¯d planned to wear it to her twentieth birthday party next month. Although, considering recent events, she wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d get the chance to wear it. A pair of black, stiletto pumps glinted in the dim room light as she stooped down to pick them up¡ªher choice of shoes for the party. She zipped the dress inside its garment bag, carrying her heels by their straps.


    ¡°Lacia,¡± Mana called. ¡°Can we help with anything?¡±


    ¡°Oh, um, yes actually,¡± she answered. Mana¡¯s voice pulled her from her daze as she walked into the room. ¡°Could you take these and place them in the car for me?¡± she said, handing the dress and shoes over to Mana. ¡°I want to pack my plushies real quick. I¡¯d really like to have them.¡±


    ¡°Sure. Join us when you¡¯re ready,¡± Mana said, watching as Lacia took her bed-full of stuffed animals and placed them in a left-over empty box. ¡°I¡¯ll let Brendan know you¡¯ll be a little longer.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, bestie. You are so appreciated!¡±


    Another five minutes passed as Lacia finished grabbing a few other last-minute items: extra bath towels, makeup brushes and wipes¡ªeven an extra set of batteries. A jumbled shoebox-full later and she finally got around to writing the note she planned to leave for her parents. Black ink trawled across the white printer paper as she weighted the note down with an empty glass from the cabinet.


    ¡°Ok,¡± she said, choked up as tears began to stream down her face.


    ¡°I¡¯ve lived here my whole life ,and I¡¯m about to leave everything I¡¯ve ever known behind, but I¡¯m ok¡ªI can do this. Mom and dad are still out there somewhere, and I have you guys,¡± she said, referencing Mana and Brendan. ¡°They¡¯re good people, I promise.¡± A single tear left a tiny imprint on the paper.


    She walked out, shoebox in her arms, gently placing it inside a larger, half-empty box in the trunk, making sure it was secure. The road ahead was rugged, and it would be full of challenges¡ªshe knew that, but if the last couple of weeks alone had taught her anything, it was that she was braver than she realized.


    Brendan gave her a hug, noticing the uncertain look on her face. ¡°You can be as brave as you need to be, but don¡¯t forget we¡¯re here to support you, too.¡±


    His face was full of uncertainty, but his eyes were fierce and determined. Ryan had thrown him for a bit of a loop, and the addition of the nuclear disaster didn¡¯t help. Even so, he wanted to be someone the girls could rely on, but he knew he had to follow his own advice, as well.


    Lacia quickly dried her eyes, regaining her composure as she embraced Brendan¡¯s hug; he smelled like vanilla¡ªone of her favorite scents. She appreciated that he could be vulnerable with her, noticing his staggered breathing. Maybe he was trying to hold back tears of his own.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she sniffled. ¡°I need to be strong for you guys, too¡ªnot just for myself. Brendan?¡± she said sweetly, ¡°if there¡¯s ever a time you need a shoulder to cry on, too, you can have mine.¡± Her voice was quiet; she wanted this moment to herself.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said softly. ¡°Should we get going?¡± He released the hug.


    ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s a left we need to figure out. We can¡¯t stand around, crying, all the time now, can we?¡± she laughed.


    Imparting her final goodbyes, she locked the front door, placed the lock back on the gate, and awkwardly hugged her childhood home before turning the gate key. With a brave face, she looked back on her childhood home¡ªone final time; she was ready to embrace the young woman she had become. Stepping into the vehicle, she closed not just the car door, but the door to an entire chapter of her life. Realizing this could be the last time she¡¯d ever see the home she grew up in, she snapped several last-minute photos.


    ¡°Goodbyes are hard, but we can¡¯t hold on to our past forever. I believe in you, Lacia. We believe in you,¡± Brendan said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what the future holds, but I know that, as long as I have you, we¡¯ll be ok.¡±


    Mana smiled, as she turned to face the window. ¡°He says all the right things at exactly the right time. Lucky girl,¡± she mouthed.


    Lacia blushed again, but, for some reason, she was happy she could experience this new journey with such wonderful people. Reciting the note she¡¯d left on the kitchen counter in her head, she wondered just where their journey would take her:


    Mom, Dad. If you find this note, I¡¯m ok. In fact, I¡¯m better than ok. I made a new friend, and he¡¯s helped me put the pieces of my life back together. His name is Brendan.


    I lost myself, but I had my friends by my side to help bring me back. Mana is just like you, mom¡ªbossy, but she cares. You always told me to find people who show they care, and I did just that.


    We packed a little bit of everything, and I took pictures of our family photos, too. For now, we¡¯re headed south towards the Okina islands. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s where we¡¯ll end up, but please go to the address on the business card¡ªwe¡¯ll try to meet you there if we can.


    Your little girl isn¡¯t so little anymore. She¡¯s all grown up now, but that little girl is still with me in my heart, walking alongside me.


    I love you guys. We¡¯ll see each other again soon¡ªI can feel it in my heart. My phone works for now, but there''s no telling for how much <u>longer</u>. Call me when you see this, if you can.


    Your little girl, Lacia.

 Chapter 3: Wish Me Back

    Four days had passed since Lacia and the others left town. The days blurred together; the nights became sleepless. The passing headlights from other vehicles were gentle reminders that she wasn¡¯t alone, but her mind had become a prison. She missed her parents, school, and the carefree attitude she used to have, but, from the time that classes had been cancelled to now, not a single person had reached out to her: no text messages, DMs, or even phone calls. The loneliness was all encompassing, encapsulating the frayed threads that still bound her to reality.


    To make matters worse, what Brendan had said as they pulled away from the house only confused her heart and mind further. She didn¡¯t know what to say, how to react, and, worst of all, how to feel. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t put words to her feelings, or words to reciprocate the kindness he¡¯d shown her.


    ¡°This boy really has a way with words,¡± she thought. ¡°I want to tell him how I feel, but I don''t know what to do¡­¡±


    Mana hardly even reacted, leading Lacia to wonder if there was something she wasn¡¯t being told, but then again, if Brendan did like her, she could see why he was confiding in Mana. What reason did she have to expect a straightforward confession, anyways? Leading with her heart instead of her head would only cause more trouble¡ªshe was damaged goods at this point. Sure, she was confident in her looks, and she had a great personality, but in what world would a guy like Brendan want someone like her¡ªsomeone who only causes problems?


    ¡°Wait, but what if Mana has feelings for him that I don¡¯t know about? Would it be alright for me to just sweep the guy she likes away from her? That would be like rubbing it in her face, and I can¡¯t do something like that to her.¡±


    She could feel the sting of salty tears on dry eyes; crying wouldn¡¯t solve anything, it would only hold her back¡ªshe knew that, but still. The time had come to embrace the young woman she was, and the young woman she needed to be¡ªthere was no time to sit around and wonder what happens next.


    Brendan was right, she couldn¡¯t hold on to the past forever; the past didn¡¯t frighten her¡ªthe future did. She was toeing the line between reality and nostalgia, and if she wasn¡¯t careful, she would sacrifice what she knew for what she didn¡¯t.


    ¡°Maybe I could just tuck myself into a hidden, little corner of the world where no one can find me. Nobody will need me, and I can just live peacefully. No expectations, no responsibilities¡ªjust peace,¡± she pondered.


    She was fine with that. Besides, her life had shattered like glass, tiny pieces scattered in places she couldn¡¯t find, still connected by the same thread of hope she so desperately clung to. While that single thread of hope kept her going, it was that very same thread that had thrown her into a mad world, full of confusion, doubt, and loneliness. What more was there to lose?


    She peered out the window, cheek pressed against her hand. Orange skies cast a deep, purple hue over the clouds as the sun began to set. The final fringes of daylight would soon turn to night, empowered by the moon¡¯s heavenly glow. Tomorrow, the same hellish cycle would begin again: she¡¯d wake up, worry about what the next day would bring, and wish she was anyone but herself.


    She¡¯d had enough. Things were optimistic enough when they left Azalea; she had Mana and Brendan by her side, but things devolved from then on. She grew depressed, worried that whatever was going on with her would return. If her gift required her to burden the expectations of the world, how was she supposed to meet the expectations of people she¡¯d never even met? Moreover, why should that be her sole responsibility alone? Her thoughts had become an all-consuming vortex of negativity that threatened to pull her under; she¡¯d drown, dragged down by the undertow, where no one would ever find her.


    Ding, ding!


    The car was low on fuel and dusk was beginning to settle in. ¡°We¡¯re probably about fifty miles to empty if we¡¯re lucky¡ªrealistically, more like thirty. Lucky for us, I saw a small refueling station when we came over the top of the hill back there, so we¡¯d better go ahead and stop. That ok with you two?¡± Brendan asked.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Mana replied. ¡°I need to get out and stretch, anyways.¡±


    ¡°Uhh, yeah. That¡¯s fine,¡± Lacia muttered.


    Brendan took the nearest exit, veering off the highway and onto a narrow side street. A few minutes later, the station came into view, but it looked sketchy: grass had grown through the pavement and rust covered most of the pumps. The place looked as if it hadn¡¯t been used in years¡ªeven the numbers on the station¡¯s sign were yellowed and cracked from excess exposure to the sun.


    Fortunately, the place was abandoned, though it looked as if the convenience store portion had been looted. Brendan circled the parking lot, ensuring they were alone, but someone had set the pumps, voiding the requirement for payment to fill up.


    ¡°That¡¯s a little too convenient,¡± he thought. ¡°Why would an old station like this even have fuel to begin with, regardless of whether the pumps still required payment or not?¡± He quickly filled the tank before replacing the nozzle. ¡°Would you two mind going in to see if there¡¯s any food or bottles of water left?¡± he asked Lacia and Mana. ¡°I¡¯m gonna try to get a cell signal so we can navigate back to the highway. It¡¯s been spotty ever since yesterday¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ll see what we can find. Right, Lacia?¡± Mana said.


    ¡°Ok,¡± she said. A strange odor had captured her attention, but she couldn¡¯t place the smell¡­ or figure out why it seemed so familiar. ¡°Strange,¡± she mumbled, brushing it off for the time being.


    Walking in, Lacia stuck her head inside one of the freezers, but the power had been shut off some time ago. She checked the shelves and window displays next. Luckily, not everything had been looted: bags of chips, snack cakes, and several warm cases of water were littered between the floor and shelves. Delighted, she filled her arms until they were full.


    ¡°Mana,¡± she called. ¡°You find anything? There¡¯s a little stuff still left over here, but my arms are full.¡±


    ¡°Actually, yeah.¡± She laid her haul out on the counter as Lacia walked up. ¡°Some candy bars, canned goods, and microwaveable meals,¡± she said. ¡°Those would probably have to be eaten cold since we don¡¯t have a way to heat them, but I¡¯d say we were successful!¡±


    A light breeze drifted through the open door, carrying the same scent Lacia had noticed from earlier, a mixture of scented cleaning supplies and fresh citrus. She took a couple deep breaths, trying to identify the strange odor, but she just couldn¡¯t place why she knew it; the source was close, though.


    ¡°Do you smell that?¡± she asked, looking at Mana.


    ¡°No? Do you smell something?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ It¡¯s super familiar to me, but I don¡¯t know why¡­¡± She snuck around the perimeter of the store, leaving her stash of snacks inside. ¡°Is that¡­ a rock?¡±


    There, in the tall grass, a faint, amber-colored stone glistened as it reflected the final rays of evening twilight. Curiosity got the better of her as she picked it up, small enough to fit in the palm of her hand, yet larger than most of the surrounding rocks. She examined the mysterious stone closer. Without warning, what appeared to be a human eye appeared on the surface. Startled, she dropped the stone in a panic as the odor continued to grow stronger, quickly becoming the only thing she could focus on. Waves of nausea overwhelmed her like a strong perfume.


    ¡°What is this?¡± she groaned. ¡°Why do I feel so sick? Why¡­ Why won¡¯t the spinning stop?¡±


    The world around her began to fall away, swirls of amber, green, and white filling her vision. Lost in the vertigo, she stumbled back as she lost her balance. Mana¡¯s voice was caught up in the vortex of colors; a rush of wind shoved one final plume of the strange odor into Lacia¡¯s nostrils; the disorienting whoosh of blood in her ears sealed the outside world away. Trapezing to the ground, her shoulder struck the hardened soil. Rocks dug into her arm as she cried out before everything fell mute, but there was no pain¡ªonly an increasing sense of numbness that took over her body. The colors faded to black; her head struck the back wall of the fueling station with a sickening craaack, a malevolent laughter reverberating through her head as she lost consciousness.


    ¡°Oh? Finally awake, are we? It¡¯s good to see you, Lacia,¡± a new voice echoed. ¡°Looks like we can finally begin.¡±


    She opened her eyes, groggy. ¡°Four walls, a low ceiling, and no windows¡ªjust where am I?¡±


    The only light that filled the room came from an open, steel door. Looking around, she determined the walls were made of some kind of cement, though they were barren of decoration or pictures. The stench of bleach and the familiar, citrusy scent from before filled her nose again, sending her brain into a whirlwind of mixed emotions. How could the odor have followed her here, of all places? No¡­ It was different, more profound, but not as overpowering. She wondered if she¡¯d been transported to a nearby hospital, judging by the inclusion of bleach.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be right. Medical staff wouldn¡¯t say that we can finally begin something without explaining what that something is.¡± The yellow, artificial light from the hallway and heavy, steel door should have been dead giveaways. ¡°I remember hitting my head, so maybe if I sit up¡­¡±


    She expected the thin, scraggily blanket and sheets used to keep her warm to slide off as she attempted to sit up. A confused grunt escaped her lips as she was promptly forced back onto the bed¡ªthe covers hadn¡¯t moved an inch. The sudden influx of light illuminated the compact space, instantly blinding her. Instinctually, she moved a hand to shield her eyes but not even her arms would move¡ªit was then she realized she was pinned to the bed.


    ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± she thought, panicked.


    Suddenly, the bed rotated into an upright position as she came face to face with a full-length mirror; the reality of the situation set in¡ªshe was in serious trouble. Stripped of everything but a thin hoodie and her underwear, terror spread across her face; she had been strapped to a steel table. She squirmed, trying to free even an arm.


    ¡°Struggle all you want, but you¡¯re not doing yourself any favors. See, you collapsed beside this stone,¡± the same unknown voice said. A dark-haired man appeared from a small room somewhere behind her, holding the same stone she¡¯d discovered prior to losing consciousness.


    ¡°We¡¯ve met before¡ªin your dreams,¡± he explained. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I didn¡¯t look my best at that moment, but that is unimportant. ¡°This stone here,¡± he said, holding the same one from earlier up, ¡°is called neriolite. We don¡¯t know much about it yet, or even where it came from, but it only seems to react to certain people.¡± His eyes bore holes into her soul.


    She was growing tired, trying to free herself, but she refused to give up. It didn¡¯t matter if this was some ¡°It¡¯s for your own good¡± crap or to do her some kind of ¡°favor¡±. She wanted out¡ªanswers could come later.


    ¡°Look,¡± the man said, pushing his hair back, ¡°You¡¯re in the middle of the ocean, on a boat that no one will be able to find. You¡¯re going to stay right here until I have what I need. Understand?¡±


    Lacia narrowed her eyes in defiance. ¡°No, I do not understand,¡± she thought to herself. ¡°And how did I even get here?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a part of something much bigger than you or me, and this stone,¡± he said, holding the neriolite up to her face, ¡°is obviously important to all of this.¡±


    The closer the strange man brought the stone, the more her head swam. Whatever was going on, it scared the hell out of her, and it was clear she had been poked with more than a few needles¡ªa chilling thought.


    ¡°Just a couple more tests, and then I¡¯ll be done poking and prodding,¡± the man said. ¡°I do still need a blood sample to run a few tests on. I¡¯m sure you won''t mind.¡±


    Empty plastic tubes lay in a tray near the side of the table; she imagined them filled with dark, red blood. Other than being strapped to a random table on a boat in the middle of nowhere, everything else was in order: medical graphics were plastered to cabinet doors, counters were cleaned off¡ªfree of unnecessary clutter, and fresh paper covered the chair normally reserved for patients. The only thing, other than herself, that seemed out of place were the used medical tools that lay in a nearby sink: a pair of prongs, an endoscope, and a few scalpels.


    The windowless, surgical-like room felt more like a prison than anything else. Slate floors, concrete walls, and artificial light¡­ Even the ship itself was a metaphorical prison. While the idea of involuntary medical tests wasn¡¯t something she was real fond of, if what the man said was true, and she really was stranded on a ship in the middle of nowhere, what other choice did she have than to comply?


    ¡°Yeah¡­ If only it worked like that,¡± she muttered under her breath.


    Using the mirror as a guide, she tracked every finger curl, footstep, and muscle contraction the man made, watching as he rummaged around inside one of the cabinets. She watched as he approached, scrutinizing the new devices he¡¯d taken from the cabinet, one in each hand.


    ¡°This may be a bit uncomfortable,¡± he warned, connecting an IV drip. ¡°Apologies in advance.¡±


    He placed an alcohol wipe and fresh set of rubber tubes on the tray next to her, wheeling it to the other side of the table. With a small tear, he pulled the wipe from the pouch, using it to disinfect her arm before inserting a new needle for blood draws. She flinched, feeling the cold metal dig into her arm.


    ¡°Judging by the number of tubes and IV drip, you¡¯re planning on keeping me here for a while¡­ Why?¡± she asked coldly.


    ¡°I think my earlier explanation was plenty enough reasoning for now,¡± he said, filling the tubes with blood.


    ¡°How long, then?¡±


    ¡°Long enough.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not an answer!¡± she cried.


    The man halted the blood draws. ¡°You¡¯re rather annoying. I think, for now, it¡¯s better if you just sleep for a while,¡± he said, grabbing a filled syringe. Injecting the contents into the IV tube, he chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re a smart girl. You¡¯ll figure out what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re just not going to answer me, then,¡± she said as her eyes grew heavy. ¡°Promise me that, when I wake up, you let me get one, good punch in for this.¡± Her breathing slowed.


    ¡°How crass,¡± he said, adding a dramatic flair to his words. ¡°You¡¯re definitely an interesting one, Miss Amana.¡± He leaned over, whispering in her ear. ¡°There are things in this universe that are beyond your comprehension.¡±


    The final tinges of evening twilight faded into nighttime, an evening symphony of nightlife filling the air. Mana and Brendan sprinted over to the site of Lacia¡¯s disappearance only to miss her by mere seconds. Shouting over the cacophony of crickets and cicadas, they traded arguments.


    ¡°What do you mean she¡¯s gone?!¡±


    ¡°You saw what I saw. Keep a level head, Mana,¡± Brendan warned. ¡°She isn¡¯t gone, gone, but if you keep yelling at me, I won¡¯t be able to trace her mana. It¡¯s faint, but it¡¯s there.¡±


    ¡°I¨C¡±


    ¡°Mana, let me focus.¡±


    With a deep sigh, Mana dropped the argument, now coming to terms with the fact that arguing wouldn¡¯t bring Lacia back; she continued to question what exactly she¡¯d witnessed. Lacia had complained of a familiar odor before passing out and slamming her head into the ground, but the sudden appearance of a strange portal-like rift and man were game-changers. Something was happening behind the scenes she knew nothing about. Whatever it was, it involved Lacia in more ways than what she could wrap her head around.


    Life felt like a mystery game. She had to gather the clues, make a hypothesis, and subsequently attempt to defend her theory. Unfortunately, the game board was the world itself and, if she were to save Lacia, she was going to have to step out of her comfort zone. The clock was ticking, but just how much time could she afford to spend gathering clues?


    She was so bothered by the fact she¡¯d been so useless that, as she watched the man step out from the strange rift, sweeping Lacia up as if she were lighter than a feather, that she wanted to curl up into a ball and forget everything. She shook her head. No¡ª There was a way to make things right, but she needed to figure her own role out, first.


    ¡°Ok,¡± Brendan said. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. I don¡¯t know where exactly she is, but the more we follow the trail of mana, the more we¡¯ll figure out. The whole world is our playing field and there may be many players, but that just means we have to be smarter than they are, right?¡±


    Mana smiled. ¡°It¡¯s like you knew what I was thinking.¡± Without hesitation, she jumped into the car. ¡°You have driver duty for now,¡± she said, patting the driver¡¯s seat.


    Brendan shrugged, giving a hearty laugh as he loaded the back seat with the snacks and water the girls had scrounged from earlier. He pointed the car north as they sped off. He was just as concerned as she was, but there was still so much they didn¡¯t know: there was more to learn about the Searing Wounds, Lacia¡¯s family history, and now, the sudden appearance of rifts that led to random places. There was no doubt Lacia was connected to something, but that very something remained elusive, an unknown variable in an unsupervised science experiment.


    ¡°There has to be more we can do, though, you know? Let¡¯s say we do find her. Then what? What¡¯s waiting for us?¡± Mana questioned. ¡°The last thing I expected to do was form a search and rescue team.¡±


    ¡°Look. I know you might feel like you failed her as her friend, but there was nothing we could have done to prevent what happened tonight. We will find her, and we will get this figured out, ok?¡± Brendan¡¯s voice was full of optimism, but most importantly¡ªcertainty. ¡°Whoever or whatever is waiting for us at the end of all this, we¡¯ll tackle it head-on, together.¡±


    The night dragged on as the mysterious man swapped between microscopes and computer monitors; a strange, complex genomic analysis was displayed across the screens. Letters and numbers were woven into genomic pairs, each computer sequencing random probabilities for genetic predispositions and abnormal readings.


    ¡°Lacia¡­ Lacia!¡± Someone was calling her name, but it felt like a dream.


    ¡°Over here! Lacia?¡± The voice came again.


    She opened her eyes, but there was a strange haze around everything as if she was looking through a glass bottle. Midday sunlight streamed through a window-filled wall. Squinting, Lacia looked around the room.


    ¡°Where¡­ am I?¡± she thought to herself. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I just¡­ No¡­ Where was I just now?¡±


    ¡°LACIA!¡± Someone kept shouting her name, this time more forceful.


    ¡°What?! What is happening?!¡± she yelled back, annoyed.


    A girl about her age ran up, out of breath. She seemed familiar somehow, but Lacia couldn¡¯t put her finger on why. Was it her hair and the way the light reflected off its black tresses? Perhaps it was her emerald-green eyes?


    ¡°Lacia! Thank god,¡± she panted. ¡°What are you doing here? We have to go¡ªnow,¡± she said. ¡°Some weird monster-creature-thing kinda has us pinned, but no one has seen anything like it before. I mean,¡± she hesitated, ¡°it just appeared suddenly. We¡¯ve barricaded the entrance to this floor, but it might not last.¡±


    Lacia¡¯s first thought was to slip out unnoticed, but her feet felt as if they were stuck in wet cement. Here she was, in the middle of the hallway in a school she¡¯d never attended, left only with fuzzy memories of a life that may or may not be real. To make matters worse, there was some supposed creature that had trapped an unknown number of people inside.


    ¡°Umm¡­ Who are you, exactly, and where am I? Where are we?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the girl asked, confused. ¡°Lacia, this isn¡¯t the time for¡­ games. Wait¡­ You really don¡¯t know? Are you okay?¡±


    The mysterious creature had found its way up the stairs and was now banging on the doors, but Lacia stood her ground, still cemented to the floor. She watched as several students sprinted past her towards a makeshift barricade.


    ¡°Ok, listen to me carefully. I don¡¯t know what happened when you hit your head earlier, but I guess you have amnesia or something now? I don¡¯t know, but uhhh¡­ Here,¡± she said, pulling out a plastic card. ¡°It¡¯s my student ID. Does the name ring any bells? Mana, Mana Lhumin?¡±


    ¡°Everything about her is so familiar, but I just can¡¯t think of why,¡± Lacia thought. The sound of her name triggered something in the back of her mind, like a long-forgotten memory, but it was more than that. She felt like they shared a deeper connection somehow, but the synapses just wouldn¡¯t fire.


    A series of deafening screeches came from the doors as the creature raked its claws against the steel frame. Was it trying to get in, or was it taunting them, fully capable of breaking through at any moment? Something about the whole situation felt off. Maybe it was the girl in front of her, but she placed subsequent blame on her own inability to remember anything: people, names, faces¡ªit was all just a blur, like an out-of-focus camera.


    Without warning, Mana pulled her into a nearby classroom as she attempted to yank her arm away. ¡°Okay,¡± she said, trying not to lose her temper, ¡°You¡¯re going to explain everything to me¡ªright now.¡± She didn¡¯t appreciate being dragged around like some plaything.


    Mana squeezed her arm tighter, as she stared into her eyes. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? I¡¯ve never seen you this dense,¡± she said in a hushed whisper. ¡°This is Miruna High School and you¡¯re in class 3A. I get that this is stressful, but stop freaking out on me, ok?¡±


    Lacia still couldn¡¯t place why she felt like she knew her. That soft voice, overly polite mannerisms, even her face¡­ ¡°Who are you?¡± she thought, as she stared into her eyes. ¡°Why can¡¯t I remember¡ª No, wait¡­ You¡¯re¡ª¡±


    BOOM! The sound of a shotgun blast echoed through the building as cheers erupted down the hallway.


    ¡°Nice shot, Cilan!¡± a male student cheered.


    ¡°Is it dead?¡± another asked.


    ¡°Yeah, we got it,¡± the first student said.


    Lacia and Mana joined the handful of other students as they rushed into the hall, greeted by the carcass of the slain creature. They reeled for a moment before examining its corpse, flickering as if it were refracting light.


    Several students were dismissed to survey the damage to the school, simultaneously tasked with searching for survivors. To no one¡¯s surprise, hallways and classrooms on the other two floors had been trashed.


    ¡°Tell me that this isn¡¯t normal,¡± Lacia said, unsteadily.


    Lockers hung open by their hinges; tattered gym clothes, shredded papers, and backpacks lined the hallways. Ceiling lights swung from their cords, flickering as they swung back and forth. Sharp plastic and glass littered the floor alongside a myriad of other random school supplies, transforming the school into an apocalyptic hellscape. Wondering just what she¡¯d managed to get herself mixed up in, Lacia jumped as a ceiling tile crashed to the floor.


    ¡°How did that one thing cause so much destruction? It looks like a hurricane tore through the place,¡± she said, standing atop the stairs. ¡°Someone has answers, right?¡±


    Suddenly, excited shouts bounded up the stairway; a survivor had been found, a male student and a member of the student council, only adding to the mystery. Student council members should have been on a school-related trip, absent from campus, according to one of the other students¡ªan off-campus meeting regarding proposed changes to club budgets.


    Lacia watched as Mana ducked into a nearby classroom, re-emerging with a sheet of paper; the entire front of the page was covered in school announcements. Flipping through the pages, she finally came across an attendance record, confirming that StuCo members were supposed to be off campus.


    Confusion crossed her face. ¡°That¡¯s the Treasurer,¡± she said, cross-referencing his student ID number pinned to the badge on his chest. ¡°Like the rest of the council members, he was marked as excused, so why is he here?¡± Mana asked. ¡°He¡¯s not even wearing the StuCo armband.¡±


    ¡°Ok, so why was he the only survivor and what did we just kill?¡± Lacia asked as she descended the stairs. She looked Mana in the eyes. ¡°This is so not normal.¡±


    ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on either, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°Heyy! He¡¯s waking up,¡± one of the students shouted from another nearby classroom. ¡°You two might want to hear what he has to say, too,¡± they said, addressing Lacia and Mana. ¡°He just started mumbling about Lacia and a photo for some reason.¡±


    Turning to look at each other, Mana shrugged, leaving Lacia with less answers than she had questions to. ¡°Yeah, because that makes me feel better,¡± she mumbled, following Mana¡¯s lead.


    The Treasurer shot up like he¡¯d been pinched, rubbing his head, as the girls entered the classroom. Sliding off a de-cluttered desk, he moved to meet them halfway, but Mana shook her hands, dissuading him from moving around.


    ¡°Stay there. Don¡¯t put yourself in danger for our sake,¡± she said.


    He nodded. ¡°That thing, though¡­ It was hunting you,¡± he said, pointing at Lacia. ¡°When it saw your photo, it went berserk and started rampaging.¡±


    ¡°My photo?¡± Lacia echoed, pointing to herself.


    ¡°Mm. The one on the pinboard, just past the shoe lockers. You know, the student of the week showcase?¡±


    She gave him a blank stare. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Uhh, she¡¯s had a long day,¡± Mana chimed in.


    When asked about why he returned to campus, the boy simply shook his head. ¡°I remember I was standing in the hallway, but I felt like I was half-asleep,¡± he said, wracking his brain. ¡°It looked at the photos of all the students on the pin board, but when it found yours, it seemed like it knew exactly who it was searching for.¡±


    Lacia¡¯s face had grown pale as one of the other students settled her into a nearby chair, afraid she was going to pass out. The school in of itself felt strangely artificial to her; to have some kind of beast attempt to hunt her down, however, only affirmed her worries that something wasn¡¯t quite right. She felt woozy, drained of energy. Hazy images flooded her mind of the mysterious lab and its dim lights, but that was as much as she could make out; she felt like she was trying to recall a dream.


    ¡°Let¡¯s pretend this is all actually for real for a moment,¡± she said, shakily. ¡°Why did that thing want me, and why go to such lengths to totally wreck the place? And no casualties? Either this is a super elaborate prank or I¡¯m missing something.¡±


    The Treasurer cleared his throat. ¡°So that we¡¯re all on a first name-basis here, instead of everyone calling me Mr. Treasurer, just use my name¡ªKaden. As for your previous statement, Lacia,¡± he said, ¡°That thing was not an elaborate hoax. It barreled into me like a damn freight train and shoved me into the lockers. Honestly, I¡¯m fortunate you guys dug me out.¡±


    The abrupt striking sound of leather shoes on tile pierced the hallway, averting everyone¡¯s attention to the doorway. A girl, about Lacia¡¯s age, stood in the frame, breathing heavily as she attempted to catch her breath.


    Her hair looked as if it had been wind blown, uneven bangs of caramel brown hair revealing her forehead. Big, brown eyes reminded Lacia of a dog begging for a treat, but she admired how vibrant they were¡ªa perfect chocolate brown. A sweet scent wafted into the classroom, sending Lacia¡¯s brain into overdrive as she attempted to identify the girl¡¯s perfume.


    ¡°She¡¯s so pretty,¡± Lacia thought. ¡°Slim figure, great face, and a butt I wish I had.¡±


    ¡°Kaden,¡± the girl cried out, ¡°I¡ª¡± She stumbled over her words, eyes wide as she made eye contact with Lacia. She shook her head, collecting herself. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re okay!¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡± Lacia thought. ¡°She acted like she knew me or something, but I have no idea who this girl is¡­¡±


    As she walked into the classroom, it became apparent she¡¯d been through quite an ordeal; dust caked her skin, giving her an almost emaciated appearance. Clouds of dust and flakes of foam ceiling tile emanated from her clothes as she brushed herself off. Wincing, a fresh puncture wound brimmed with fresh crimson; she squeezed her arm, blood seeping through her fingers.


    ¡°Lyra?¡± Kaden replied. ¡°Where did you come from?¡±


    ¡°I was home sick today,¡± she said, ¡°but I got a text from the school telling everyone to shelter in place, so I came as quickly as I could. I was worried, ok?¡±


    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Do I even have to explain to you how awful a decision that was and what ¡°shelter in place¡± means?¡±


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Lyra puffed out her cheeks, not happy about the reprimand. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know,¡± she started, placing a very animated hand on her hip, ¡°while I was making my way through all the debris, I found this phone on the floor.¡± She placed her hand back at her side. ¡°I¡­ know whose it is, but I don¡¯t think they¡¯re with us anymore.¡± She held the phone out, unlocking it with a few quick taps. ¡°Just what happened here, though? There¡¯s a video on here that gives me a pretty good idea, but¡­¡±


    Kaden answered first. ¡°For starters, we were attacked by some strange creature. Where it came from, hell if I know. Regardless, it was merciless.¡±


    A shiver crept down Lacia¡¯s spine. ¡°Lyra¡­ that video¡­ Can we see it?¡± she asked, unseating herself from the chair.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t recommend it if you have a weak stomach,¡± she warned. ¡°I haven¡¯t watched all of it myself, but what I did watch¡­ It¡¯s not pretty.¡± She placed the phone on a nearby desk for everyone to see, angling the phone against a textbook.


    The camera was shaky, periodically pointed at the floor, down at the shoes of a female student, or waving around the room; it was apparent the video was placed in one of the classrooms. Gasps shook the silence as the first images danced across the screen of the thing that had nearly killed them. It was one thing seeing its carcass, it was another to see it up and about, prowling every square inch of the classroom.


    It was difficult to make out at first, refracting light with every step it took. Somewhere off-camera, a loud crash erupted before the phone abruptly turned toward the source of the disturbance: the classroom door had been torn from its hinges as it flew through the window, narrowly avoiding a group of students huddled together in fear, followed by the sickening crunch of bones and shrieks of agony.


    The video continued for a few more seconds, capturing the exact moment a student was caught by the beast, dangling upside down, caught by an invisible tendril of sorts. Moments later, they dissipated into a pile of ash. The remainder of the video was filled with the sound of ripping flesh, splattering blood, and screams as students attempted to flee via the broken window, only to wind up with broken legs as they hit the ground¡ªfodder for the beast.


    The camera was thrown into the air, landing on the floor atop a pile of clothes¡ªlikely the uniform of the student who¡¯d been filming. As the phone continued to record, more terrified shrieks and cries could be heard from further up the hallway; a bloody hand fell over the camera as the video ended.


    Kaden spoke up first. ¡°Everything that happened before that thing hit me is a blur,¡± he said, rubbing his head, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not even sure if I just tripped or if it knocked me out the way. I mean, it was so focused on finding you it ignored me, I guess.¡± He looked to Lacia.


    ¡°I¡ª I don¡¯t know, Kaden,¡± she said. ¡°I think I need some air, though¡­ The room is spinning¡­¡± Her palms grew sweaty as she gripped the corner of the desk, growing increasingly nauseated. She closed her eyes. ¡°Oh my god¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey! Lacia?¡± a faint voice called. She opened one eye to find Lyra crouched in front of her. ¡°Hey, stay with me,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡ª"


    The fall was inevitable. Lacia tried to stand, feeling like she was about to vomit, as she stumbled around the classroom. Banging her knee on a desk, she fell over the edge, unable to stop her descent. Her head slammed against another desk as her foot caught the underside of yet another, twisting around, causing it to fall over her as her head finally hit the floor.


    Lyra¡¯s voice faded into the black. ¡°Fuck. I lost her already¡­¡±


    A small groan escaped Lacia¡¯s throat. She tried to stretch but was promptly greeted with sore muscles and a pounding headache. Inconvenient, but at least the nausea was gone, and her head wasn¡¯t spinning like she was stuck on a merry-go-round. Realizing the same ache from before had returned, she moved to rub her side, wincing.


    Looking around, she realized what had once been a warmly lit school classroom was now an empty room, cage-like walls towering before her, void of d¨¦cor and cold. a sharp pain surfacing from the same side as always. She had a feeling she was back on the same ship of the man who¡¯d kidnapped her, but even if that were true, it didn¡¯t explain why the dream she¡¯d just had felt so real.  Realizing she wasn¡¯t strapped down this time, she sat up¡­ and was greeted with the same swimmy feeling from before.


    ¡°Oh god,¡± she moaned, ¡°I¡¯m going to be sick. Hate me for this later.¡± She leaned over the edge of the bed but didn¡¯t make it in time.


    Not a minute later, angry footsteps paraded down the hall as the door to her room was thrown open. It was a woman, but she didn¡¯t have time to ask for a towel or something to settle her stomach as she was promptly stripped down, sweat and vomit-covered clothes and all.


    She was half-led, half-dragged down the hall and thrown into a spacious shower room. The strange new woman barked orders at her.


    ¡°Clean yourself up, and if you get sick in there too, you¡¯ll be the one cleaning it up next time. Understand?¡± she growled as she walked away.


    Startled, Lacia examined the shower room as the door slammed shut behind her, sending a whirl of cherry blossom and summer rain-scented soaps into the air¡ªa luxurious aroma, but it didn¡¯t take long for curiosity to take over. Did the woman lock the door behind her? If not, could she just¡­ run away? She stood up and was met with a searing ache in her side again. Using the wall for support, she inched her way towards the door, jingling the handle. To her dismay, although unsurprising, the door was locked.


    ¡°Oh well,¡± she sighed. ¡°They have running here, right?¡± she wondered aloud. ¡°A hot shower would be massive W right now. I feel disgusting, and being covered in puke is so not fun.¡± She turned away from the door.


    The bathroom was spacious, shower stalls running the length of the left wall; several smaller toilet stalls and sinks lined the opposite wall, separated by a large wall-length mirror on each side. Like every other room on the ship, the bathroom was also devoid of windows, only illuminated by dim LED lights that reflected off the glassy floor. Dark tiles and low light made the bathroom feel like something out of a movie; it was exceptionally clean, aromatic, and so quiet her ears rang.


    She stepped into the shower stall furthest from the door¡ªGod only knew if the woman was eavesdropping by the door or not. She wanted privacy¡ªnot someone who monitored her every move.


    With a small squeak, she turned the shower handle, surprised by the instant hot water. Looking around, she noticed a small table adorned with several bottles of shampoo and body soaps that had been left in a nearby stall. What she really wanted, however, was a toothbrush and some toothpaste. She allowed the steam from the shower to fill the bathroom as she rummaged around inside an unlocked cabinet, successfully acquiring a package of toothbrushes and a small tube of toothpaste.


    ¡°Technically, since I¡¯m the one being held captive, I have a right to whatever I want in here,¡± she mumbled. ¡°I mean, don¡¯t I deserve at least a little compensation?¡±


    Walking into the other stall, she grabbed the table, undressed, and stepped into the water; the steam helped to relax her muscles. The sound of the shower water filled the bathroom, blanketing her pained grunts as she slid down the shower wall and onto the floor. She pulled her knees up to her chest and closed her eyes; warm water plastered her hair against her wet skin.


    ¡°Fuck¡­ What did I get myself into?¡± she said, exasperated. ¡°And¡­ what was that dream? It felt so real, but that girl¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. I had to be imagining it. Strangers don¡¯t just look at each other like they¡¯re old friends.¡±


    She recalled everything that happened up to that point: the bleeding and bruising, the dream she¡¯d had with Brendan, leaving home, and, finally, the neriolite and mysterious man. Was there something they all had in common? Something that linked everything together into one single narrative? Mana was in the most recent dream she¡¯d had. Could there be a connection between her and the strange man?


    ¡°Ahh! There¡¯s too many questions and not enough answers,¡± she said, squeezing her fingertips against her scalp. ¡°There¡¯s a reason I¡¯m here, but what¡¯s the reason Mana and Brendan are involved?¡±


    All else aside, there was still the hyper-realistic dream she¡¯d just had. The problem with calling it a dream, however, was that it felt too real to be something the chemicals in her brain conjured up while she was asleep. Calling it a dream felt like a grave misrepresentation of whatever it really was; it was like a strange, alternate reality¡ªan entire world hidden somewhere in the folds of time and space.


    She leaned her head against the shower wall, allowing the water to run down her face. ¡°Get a grip, Lacia. Or¡­ as much of one as you can get considering you¡¯re being held captive on some strange ship in the middle of the ocean,¡± she retorted. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I mean, this is super freaky, but, so far, I don¡¯t really feel like I¡¯m in danger, if that makes sense.¡±


    Worrying over things outside of her control wasn¡¯t going to help anyone, certainly not herself. She pushed the thoughts from her mind for the moment and began washing her hair; the shampoo smelled like summer rainwater, reminding her of the days she¡¯d stomp around in puddles as a little girl after a heavy rain. The scent made her miss home and all the late nights she¡¯d spend texting Mana, nestled comfortably beneath her bed covers.


    She rinsed her hair before grabbing a toothbrush as she applied a glob of toothpaste to the bristles; she was determined to purge the foul taste of vomit from her mouth. One vigorous dental care session later, her mouth was so minty she was convinced she¡¯d stripped her taste buds of their ability to recognize anything other than mint.


    ¡°All that thought about my bed, though¡­ It really makes me want one right about now, but I don¡¯t have any pajamas, much less actual clothes anymore. Some clean underwear at the very least would be wonderful,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Actually, I really could use some towels, too.¡±


    Stumbling around the steamy bathroom, she dug through another unlocked cabinet, her wet feet slapping the tile floor. A moment later, she procured a set of cotton towels, softer than sheep¡¯s wool; they were incredibly absorbent. She walked back to the shower stall, turned the water off, and walked back to the main door.


    ¡°Hey~! Would it kill someone to treat their poor little prisoner with some compassion? She could really use a fresh set of clothes.¡± The approach of angry footsteps and unlatching of the door lock caused her to step back; the door swung open, missing her face by inches. A set of freshly laundered clothes promptly sailed through the open door, nailing her in the face.


    She sorted through the pile. ¡°What? No socks? Not that I really need them, though, I guess¡­¡±


    ¡°What about a pair of socks,¡± the woman mocked. ¡°How about you wear what you¡¯re given and stop complaining? You have no rights here.¡±


    Lacia stared at her for a moment. ¡°Alright. No socks. Got it. So, what about a br¡ª¡± She was interrupted by a stare from hell.


    ¡°You¡¯re too flat to need one,¡± the woman said, insultingly. ¡°You have five minutes. Knock when you¡¯re finished.¡±


    Lacia frowned but decided to keep her thoughts to herself. The perfect fit of her new clothes was not reassuring. Someone had taken her measurements without her knowledge¡ªor consent. Was it the strange man, or was it the woman? Either way, she shuddered at the thought.


    ¡°Creepy¡­¡±


    She finished dressing as she gave the door a couple quick knocks. The door swung open again, missing her by less than an inch this time as the woman stood in the doorway. She looked Lacia up and down, examining every square inch of her body.


    ¡°Hands,¡± she commanded.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Give me your hands.¡±


    Confused, Lacia held her hands out as the woman bound them together with extra rope on the end as a sort of makeshift leash. "Oh, this should be real exciting. This woman would totally hit me if she could hear the sarcasm oozing into my thoughts right now.¡±


    Lacia willingly followed the woman, allowing several feet of slack in the rope as she followed behind. Everything had happened so fast earlier; all she could remember was the churning ache in her stomach.


    Now that she could focus, she understood just how big the ship was, despite its narrow, cramped halls. Numbered rooms lined the hall on either side, but they remained empty, the smell of citrus and bleach once again swirling around inside her nose. The tile floors seemed like an odd design choice whereas most of the furniture was built with a wooden frame, though things had been anything but normal lately.


    After what seemed like ages, the woman finally stopped in front of a closed door; the number 9 was painted onto a steel card, anchored to the wall. Beneath the room number was another, smaller card¡ªa name was etched into it. The door swung upon with a loud whoosh before Lacia could read the name as she was yanked into the room, bombarded by the same overwhelming stench of citrus and bleach¡ªtwice as strong as out in the hall.


    The woman stood at the foot of a small bed, motioning for Lacia to lay down. She considered yanking on the rope herself, hoping she might catch the woman off guard; she¡¯d make a run for it, find a life raft, and escape the confines of the hellhole she¡¯d found herself in.


    ¡°And where would I go? There¡¯s nothing but open water out there, I¡¯m sure. I¡¯d probably just die from dehydration,¡± she thought.


    Reluctantly, she decided to oblige the strange woman. Her only other alternative was to attempt a grand escape, but that was dependent on the availability of a way to get off the ship to begin with. With an inaudible sigh, she dragged her feet through the doorway; the icy floor robbed her of every morsel of body heat as she traversed the dark floor on her tiptoes. She glanced at her reflection, fractured like ripples in water. Was the disheveled appearance of her refection a metaphor for the chaos her life had become or was it foreshadowing something else, entirely¡ªsomething dark?


    ¡°You know, socks of some sort would be nice. I¡¯m freezing and so is this floor,¡± she said, seating herself against the headboard of the bed. ¡°I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s socks, tights, or if you just want to turn the air conditioning off. It¡¯s cold in here, and I feel like I¡¯m going to freeze to death.¡±


    Ignoring Lacia¡¯s request, the woman tied her end of the rope to the footrails of the bed as she rummaged through a small cabinet on the other side of the room. A moment later, she emerged with a thin, metallic wristband; an LED screen flickered to life. Her name, room number, and random string of numbers scrolled across the screen.


    ¡°Hold out your arm,¡± the woman demanded.


    ¡°No thanks.¡± She sat on her hands, determined to win this new game of chicken, but alarm bells rang in the back of her mind.


    One resounding slap later and she was rubbing her cheek; a red handprint sweltered against her skin. Stunned by the sheer force of the slap, Lacia stared into space, mouth agape. The woman seized the opportunity, fastening the wristband to her arm as it locked with a soft click. New numbers appeared across the display, registering everything from blood oxygen level to body temperature and heart rate. A brief message appeared onscreen: Lacia Amana¡ªGuest No. 09 Registered.


    ¡°What is this thing and why did you put it on me?!¡± Lacia demanded, staring at the wristband. "Not very flashy," she mumbled, still rubbing her cheek.


    Without warning, another red handprint stung her other cheek. ¡°You are a nuisance,¡± the woman said, ¡°and I¡¯m tired of dealing with you already. I wish I were assigned to one of the other guests,¡± the woman whined. ¡°I don¡¯t see why you¡¯re so special, to be honest.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, the feeling¡¯s mutual,¡± Lacia retorted. ¡°I¡¯m sure you guys get an absolute kick out of holding me captive and treating me like some research subject.¡±


    The woman raised her hand again, ready to strike. ¡°Just stop talking.¡±


    ¡°I swear to god if you hit me one more time, it won¡¯t be me who¡¯s stuck in a room with nowhere to go,¡± Lacia said, ignoring the warning.


    The woman sneered. ¡°Oh, is that so? Well, I think you need to learn some manners and proper, lady-like etiquette.¡± She dug around in the same cabinet from earlier, procuring a large syringe filled with a clear liquid; the needle alone was menacing enough as it glinted in the light from the doorway. ¡°I¡¯ll give you five seconds to take back what you just said.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ll give you five seconds to put that syringe back. I am not letting you put that in my body. In fact,¡± she said, raising her voice, ¡°you people are absolutely insane! I¡ª¡±


    The woman moved the length of the room faster than Lacia could blink, catching her off guard. She felt a small pinch in her arm.


    ¡°What was in there?¡± she said slowly. Her gaze was fixated on the now-empty syringe.


    ¡°Nothing you¡¯ll ever hear me talk about. Really, it makes no difference,¡± the woman said in a lofty voice. ¡°My name is Cherri, and I¡¯m going to make sure you learn to hate my visits.¡±


    ¡°What are you? My registered nurse or something?¡± Lacia said saracastically.


    ¡°Perhaps, though I don¡¯t think that term is all-encompassing enough,¡± Cherri bragged.


    Lacia¡¯s eyes had already started to grow heavy. The room spun each time she tried to fight the ensuing sleep as it stripped her of lucidity. The line between reality and dream-like blurred; she wasn¡¯t sure if the conversations she was having were real or just the chemicals in her brain playing tricks on her.


    ¡°Aww, look at you. Can¡¯t even keep your eyes open anymore. Well, I suppose this is goodnight for now, then.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Lacia tried to reply but consciousness was fleeting as she fell victim to sleep.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even get paid to do this,¡± Cherri mumbled. ¡°Ungrateful little pests¡­¡± She locked the door to Lacia¡¯s room, a faint click bouncing off the cold, concrete walls.


    To Mana¡¯s surprise, Brendan had mentioned someone he thought might be of help in their search for Lacia. While she¡¯d have preferred to continue their trek north, she trusted Brendan¡¯s judgement. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t realize the drive to southern Alura would be so grueling. Easily carsick, she spent much of the trip hanging her head out of the passenger window, or bent over on the side of the road, feeling like she could vomit at any moment.


    Brendan had been forced to detour, in hopes of finding an easier route, only to end up lost in the thick forests of southern Alura. By the time they navigated back to the main roads, two days had passed. Mana knew she was partially to blame for the delay, but she hadn¡¯t expected to get so sick. On the bright side, they were only a handful of miles from their destination¡ªa small port town located off the southern tip of the country.


    The remainder of the drive wasn¡¯t bad, but it felt like another world entirely: willow trees hung over the road like curtains; the humid air felt like a wet blanket. Once they broke through the thick overhang of branches and shrubbery, a glistening ocean filled the surrounding area.


    Mana¡¯s jaw dropped. She was mesmerized, watching as the sun¡¯s reflection on the water¡¯s surface traveled alongside the car. Pieces of driftwood and clumps of seaweed lashed the shoreline, carried in by the waves. She imagined southern Alura must have once been home to pirates and thieves. These days, however, it was nothing more than a run-down dump. Despite the natural beauty of the landscape itself, trash had been tossed onto the road, and weeds grew through the asphalt. Many of the homes that lined the shoreline had either collapsed or were flooded; it seemed no one had bothered to remove their belongings either, seeing as children¡¯s toys, wooden furniture, and other miscellaneous junk floated just offshore.


    Several minutes later, the town came into view; Mana doubled down on her conviction of pirates and thieves. It looked identical to the shanty towns she¡¯d seen in pirate movies. Yellowed, wooden buildings dotted the landscape, secluded beneath the branches of the willow trees. A badly damaged dock at the edge of town looked like it was ready to fall into the ocean at any moment. Frayed ropes held the boards together, but some were so rotted, any unsuspecting person would likely fall straight through.


    An old street sign pointed towards the town, though the words had been faded by years of sun exposure. She¡¯d expected cobblestone streets and barrels overflowing with sweet rum. Instead, the streets were mostly dirt as rats scurried through the filth, digging their noses into empty glass bottles and other trash.


    Truthfully, she wanted to get out and explore the town, investigating every alley as she searched for any clues to its past¡ªa strong sense of adventure. On the other hand, her brain told her there was a good chance she¡¯d find herself on the receiving end of some drunken pirate, eager for someone to mug. If Brendan hadn¡¯t literally dragged her out of the car, she would have been just fine watching him from the windshield; she vowed to handcuff herself to the door next time.


    ¡°So, who is this ¡®friend¡¯ you¡¯re looking for?¡± she asked. ¡°I mean, how are they going to help us get Lacia back?¡±


    ¡°His name is Licht. He knows the seas like the back of his hand and is really good around maps,¡± Brendan replied.


    ¡°Ok, but Lacia is in the middle of the ocean, right¡ªfrom what we can tell. Not the sea.¡±


    Brendan rolled his eyes. ¡°I know that¡¯s a genuine question, but I think you¡¯ve seen too many pirate movies. There is a difference between an ocean and a sea.¡± The last week had been pure chaos; Mana¡¯s lack of terminology was a welcome reprieve. ¡°I should warn you, though,¡± he continued, ¡°he¡¯s had a bit of a past with the law. Nothing major, but you know how people get when they¡¯re drunk.¡±


    ¡°Oh, great. Just what I need. An alcoholic who loves to make noise. My two favorite kinds of people.¡± Brendan gave her a sour look. ¡°Sorry¡­ Bad joke.¡±


    They ventured over to an old bar that stood on the outskirts of town; it was likely a popular place in its prime. Brendan walked inside without hesitation, and, to Mana¡¯s dismay, he dragged her in with him. Grey floorboards were covered in dust as cobwebs made their homes in the corners of the ceiling. Tables and chairs were neatly aligned throughout the bar, equidistant from one another; they looked as if they¡¯d been cleaned off recently, free from the same dust that caked the floor. Still, the place looked like it¡¯d seen better days. Dusty, web-covered bottles of alcohol glinted on the wooden shelves behind the counter; tinted, amber-colored mugs longed to be filled again, placed inside a glass case¡ªforgotten about.


    ¡°Brendan!¡± Mana whispered. ¡°There, on the corner of the bar¡ª What is that?¡±


    The corner of an old, paper napkin rustled beneath a large rock; someone had placed it there purposefully¡ªa makeshift paperweight. Carefully, Brendan lifted the rock and grabbed the napkin, leaving a dust-free corner on the bar. He opened the napkin. It was a note, addressed to him.


    ¡°I knew you¡¯d come looking eventually, my friend. If you¡¯re reading this note, that means I¡¯m currently out. If this note is more than 2 weeks old, I just forgot to remove it and I¡¯m probably downstairs napping or at the docks on the southern end of town trying to catch my next meal.¡± ¨CLicht


    ¡°Considering how clean this corner is, I bet he¡¯s at the docks, like the note said,¡± Brendan concluded. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Ok, but I¡¯m not eating fish for dinner. I still have road snacks, I think¡­¡± Mana said, rummaging around in her bag. ¡°Or not¡­¡±


    ¡°Fish it is!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather starve,¡± she moaned, ¡°but I¡¯m so hungry¡­¡±


    Licht was exactly where the note said he would be. He was thin but he didn¡¯t look a day over twenty-one¡ªnot even his scraggly beard and shaggy hair could age him a day. Though his clothes were stained with dirt and ragged, he looked like he was living his best life. A fishing net had been tied to the pier as he tossed it into the water, humming the whole time.


    ¡°He really seems to be enjoying himself,¡± Mana whispered. ¡°Like, he looks totally happy where he is. Do we really want to disturb him?¡±


    ¡°Hey, he could be your next best, uhh¡ª Never mind.¡± Brendan put a hand on Mana¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s a great guy. Trust me.¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s as great as you say he is, then I have no complaints, I guess,¡± she sighed. Considering this guy lived way out in the middle of nowhere, she couldn¡¯t fault herself for her apprehension.


    Brendan smiled. ¡°Licht!¡± he called.


    He temporarily lost his balance, startled by Brendan¡¯s voice. His face lit up as he turned around and waved. ¡°Brendan! How are you?¡± he shouted, placing the remainder of the fishing net in the water. ¡°How long has it been since we last saw each other?


    Brendan nodded. ¡°I,¡± he paused, bringing Mana into the conversation. ¡°We¡¯re doing pretty good, despite all the crazy shit as of late.¡±


    He turned to introduce Mana as Licht walked up, but she was gone. Panic set in, thinking she¡¯d fallen into the water, but the water¡¯s surface was calm; she couldn¡¯t have fallen in¡ªhe¡¯d heave heard the splash.


    ¡°If you¡¯re looking for your friend, she¡¯s right next to you,¡± Licht laughed.


    ¡°Huh? Oh,¡± she mumbled, embarrassed. She¡¯d crouched down to admire her reflection in the water. ¡°Sorry, let me, uh, introduce myself,¡± she said, standing up. ¡°My name is Mana, it¡¯s nice to meet you.¡±


    Licht grinned. ¡°A fine young woman, Brendan, and she has excellent manners. Quite the catch!¡±


    Mana¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Oh, um¡ª No. We¡¯re not like that, sorry. I don¡¯t think I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Aaanyways,¡± Brendan interjected, changing the subject, ¡°we actually have a problem, and we really need your expertise. You know just about every craft that sail these waters, and with your knowledge of the oceans around Alura, we thought you be able to help us out.¡±


    ¡°I can do my best, but I don¡¯t think that thing¡¯s gonna be of much help if you¡¯re needin¡¯ a boat,¡± Licht said, pointing to a small wooden boat.


    ¡°That¡¯s not quite it,¡± Brendan laughed. ¡°Have you seen any strange craft around here lately or seen anything out of the ordinary?¡±


    Licht paused for a moment. ¡°No, not that I can think of.¡±


    Brendan¡¯s smile turned into an aslant frown.


    ¡°However,¡± Licht said, continuing, ¡°I think I might have somethin¡¯ you¡¯d find interesting. Here. Somethin¡¯ tells me this is important to you.¡± He handed a small, sky-blue ribbon to Mana.


    It was stiff and had lost much of its elasticity. The heavy stench of salt filled her nose as she turned the fabric around in her hands, rubbing the roughed-up ribbon over her palm. Though it had lost much of its color from the salt and sun, there was no doubt it had originally been the same color as Lacia¡¯s hair ribbon.


    ¡°Thar ain¡¯t somethin¡¯ that washes up on my shores all the time. When I found it, there was still a hair stuck to it,¡± he explained. ¡°It looked as if it had been tangled in the wind or somethin¡¯, but the hair definitely ain¡¯t mine,¡± Licht said.


    Mana held the ribbon up to her chest. ¡°You see, our friend was taken from us about two weeks ago now, and we don¡¯t know who took her or where they went. She means the world to me; I¡¯m her best friend, and I let her down,¡± she said, fighting back tears. ¡°This ribbon is hers. It has to be.¡±


    Brendan turned to Licht. ¡°Will you come with us? We could really use your knowledge and analytical skills. You¡¯d know more about the oceans than we do.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Why not? This little place doesn¡¯t have much left for me, anyways. Givin¡¯ you two a hand sounds like it could be an adventure!¡±


    ¡°Great!¡± Brendan replied. ¡°This was as far as I could trace her mana trail, but it seemed just as strong while we were driving north. I don¡¯t know. It seems strange, but the trail has been growing weaker by the day. Fortunately for us, though, you happened to be along the same route.¡± He stared out across the horizon; a sea breeze blew his hair back. ¡°She¡¯s out there somewhere. Finding her will be the hard part.¡±


    He took a step back, steadying himself. Maybe it was just the roll of the waves, but he swore he felt a small shake¡ªstronger than he¡¯d expect from the battering of the waves against the pier. An earthquake? There weren''t any signs of structural damage, though, and the shaking had stopped. Even so, it was still¡ªtoo still. The sound of the waves had stopped, the wind in the trees was barely noticeable¡ªeven the familiar squawking of seagulls had come to an abrupt end.


    ¡°Hey, guys,¡± Mana said, ¡°I think we should get going¡ªsomething isn¡¯t right. I¡­ can¡¯t really say why, but we should go.¡± She shifted her weight from foot to foot.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be the last to argue with your intuition, especially after all we¡¯ve been through lately,¡± Brendan said.


    ¡°Hold on a second you two,¡± Licht said. ¡°I have this little radio here. If the Misses said something wasn''t right, then¡­¡± He pulled a small hand-crank radio from his tacklebox.


    ¡°...Warning¡­ All¡­ Evacuate¡­¡± The radio promptly died upon issuing its warning, but it was enough.


    A large flock of seagulls scattered from the docks, taking the group by surprise as the water began to retreat. The sea breezes grew warm and dry, absent the usual humid blast of moisture. A white line appeared on the horizon as the trees began to sway again, but not from the sea breeze. It was faint, but the ground seemed to vibrate.


    ¡°Get off the docks,¡± Mana said, staring at her feet. ¡°That¡­ was an earthquake, and it was a big one.¡± She looked at Brendan and Licht. ¡°We need to leave!¡±


    The trees began to sway with violent fervor. Brendan and Licht dove for the shoreline just as the pier broke off into the muddy bed below. Without warning, a cloud of salt blasted the group. Mana lost her balance, the salt stinging her eyes, before she slammed into the trunk of a nearby tree.


    ¡°Brace yourselves,¡± she shouted.


    Not a moment after the words left her mouth, the ground erupted into a chaotic frenzy of shaking and rolling. Seismic waves leveled the town in an instant, reducing the decaying buildings into nothing more than piles of rubble.


    Mana struggled to stand, but the ground rolled like waves on the ocean. It was too dangerous to stand, even if she could. Tree branches began to break as she watched on in horror. Between the approaching wall of water and dodging falling tree branches, she let her mind wander, debating which was quicker: death by water or crushed by a falling branch?


    She shook her head. ¡°This isn¡¯t a normal earthquake. It looks like I¡¯m the closest to the car, but we¡¯re going to have literal minutes to get as far away from here as possible,¡± she thought.


    Brendan and Licht were just as caught as she was, pinned to the ground underneath another nearby tree. Her eyes grew wide as the sound of uprooting trees added to the cacophony of sounds. The roar of the approaching tsunami was creeping closer; combined with the rumbling from the quake itself, she wondered if the ground would swallow them instead.


    After another couple of terrifying minutes, the shaking stopped. Mana bolted for the car; Brendan and Licht followed her lead. The car was the only way out of town, but the roads had been torn to shreds and littered with debris. Was there a way out of town?


    Frantically, she climbed into the car. ¡°Thank God, you left the keys in the ignition, Brendan, and thank God you parked it away from the trees.¡± Licht and Brendan climbed into the backseat seconds later. ¡°Is there high ground anywhere? High enough to survive the water?¡± She asked, putting the car in drive.


    Licht shook his head. ¡°The land around here is flatter than flat. You won¡¯t find high ground.¡±


    ¡°Which means floor it, Mana!¡± Brendan exclaimed.


    Mana was way ahead of him. She slammed her foot on the gas pedal. If there was a way out of town, she¡¯d find it, even if it meant forgetting the concept of roads entirely.


    ¡°Hope you buckled up,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re going to fly around the car if not.¡±


    She bit her tongue as she ran over a large hole. The bitter taste of blood filled her mouth, but it was a small price to pay if it meant they could avoid getting washed out to sea.


    ¡°Thank god Ryan found the one car with four-wheel drive and off-road capabilities,¡± she thought, white knuckling the steering wheel. ¡°If we make it, I swear I¡¯m never visiting another shanty town in my life.¡±


    The tsunami had leveled everything. Uprooted trees blocked the road behind them, though the road itself had been washed out. If they¡¯d left even ten seconds later, there was a chance they wouldn¡¯t have made it. Water lapped at the road, brown and muddy. It was as if it were trying to reach out, hoping to drag them in.


    Instinct or not, Mana thanked her lucky stars they were uninjured, not to mention alive. She commended her veteran racing game skills, weaving in and out of fallen trees, drifting around corners, and shifting gears over dirt roads; if she¡¯d lost even a second, it would have been game over. She¡¯d managed to stay ahead of the water, or, at least, the deepest parts. She¡¯d panicked once the water reached the tires, but quickly fell away a minute later once the car hit the highway.


    Her eyes were practically glued to the rearview mirror as she watched pieces of metal bend around the trunks of trees, submitting to the force of the water. She¡¯d never forget the mind-numbing screech it made, like nails on a chalkboard. The look of terror on Licht and Brendan¡¯s faces reminded her of horror movie jump scares; they were whiter than a ghost, beads of sweat dripping down their foreheads.


    After making sure they were safe, she pulled off to the side and looked out over what was once dry land. The trio watched as entire sections of the highway crumbled away, falling into the ocean. Mother Nature was powerful, but this seemed excessive. Either way, no one would be travelling south for a while.


    ¡°I wonder if that guy, Ryan, is okay. Maybe it wasn¡¯t as bad where he is,¡± she thought. ¡°Honestly, if you were to ask me what the difference was between a bomb and a tsunami in terms of damage, I don¡¯t think I could tell you.¡±


    She pulled her phone from her bag, hoping for even the faintest cell signal¡­ and she got one. The internet and news media were ablaze with disaster coverage. A drone relayed footage of the devastation; the water was so full of debris there was a strong chance it could support a person¡¯s weight if they were to walk across it.


    ¡°Are you guys watching thi¡ª¡± She jumped. Brendan and Licht had been peering over her shoulder, eyes affixed to the phone screen. ¡°Ok. New rule,¡± she said. ¡°No creeping over my shoulder without my permission.¡±


    ¡°My bad,¡± Brendan said, ¡°but, yeah. I can¡¯t believe it. Where is the footage from?¡±


    ¡°The broadcast says it¡¯s out of West Cove. That¡¯s about four hours southwest of Azalea,¡± she explained. ¡°So¡ª"


    ¡°Approximately fifteen minutes north of Oldbreak,¡± Brendan piped up. ¡°We¡¯re probably about half an hour out if we want to head there, but anything on the west coast may not be a good idea right now.¡±


    The broadcast changed. A map appeared on-screen, a tiny circle estimating the epicenter of the earthquake; estimates on the loss of life, property, and overall damages scrolled across the bottom of the screen. As if the earthquake and tsunami weren¡¯t enough, the broadcast pivoted to another breaking news story: ¡°Mystery Illness Strikes Town of Azalea.¡±


    ¡°Okay, now that¡¯s odd,¡± Mana thought. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be some cloud of radiation from the nuclear plant north of town? What gives?¡±


    New drone footage showed extensive damage to the nuclear plant Ryan had warned them of before leaving, but the reports she was expecting to hear and images she was expecting to see didn¡¯t line up. Breaking headlines warned of some mysterious illness; Ryan had said it was a cloud of radiation they should be afraid of. There was a nuclear powerplant to the north of Azalea, but it hadn¡¯t been in operation since before Mana was born. If there was such a leak as Ryan suggested, wouldn¡¯t there be some kind of emergency response? Where were the workers and hazmat suits?


    To make matters worse, the current news broadcast told yet another story: The parking lots were barren, faded parking stripes adding tinges of white to what had become a desolate wasteland of grey concrete. Even the perimeter fences were rusted over and full of holes. If there truly was a leak, the reactor¡¯s cores would have to be in place still¡ªbut they weren¡¯t. In fact, there were no cores.


    ¡°None of this actually makes any sense,¡± Mana said under her breath.


    A news anchor broke in: ¡°Officials are confirming positive tests of a mystery illness in Azalea. We¡¯re told the positive tests include the sailors from the missing vessels that appeared two weeks ago. They are now under quarantine and constant surveillance.¡±


    Mana turned around. ¡°Brendan, are you hearing this? They¡¯re talking about the two boats that showed up in the middle of town the same day we met.¡± She paused. ¡°Brendan?¡±


    ¡°You might want to see this first, little miss,¡± Licht said.


    Brendan stood directly behind her, but his gaze was glued to the horizon. At first, she thought it was some kind of lame joke¡ªuntil he pointed at the sky. Something in her peripheral vision shimmered as it raced across the blue plane, arcing like lightning. It was faint; if she looked directly at it, it would blend into the sky, and she¡¯d lose it. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as a strange fissure appeared on the horizon.


    ¡°Ok,¡± Mana said, addressing Brendan, ¡°let me make this even weirder since I guess there¡¯s no limit now... Brendan, you remember that supposed cloud of radiation that Ryan warned us about, right?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Yeah. What about it?¡±


    ¡°Take a look at this broadcast. The plant looks like it hasn¡¯t been operational for years, and the fence is completely rusted out. What¡¯s even stranger is there¡¯s no emergency response. Weird, right? Why do you think that is?¡± she asked rhetorically.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d say that¡¯s definitely weird, but I can¡¯t really say why that is, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking.¡± His answer didn¡¯t satisfy her. ¡°There¡¯s more, isn¡¯t there?¡±


    ¡°The same day we met, there were two fishing vessels that had washed up in the center of town, right? Ryan warned us about a cloud of radiation, but here¡¯s the weird part: This drone footage is of the power plant, but the headline is talking about something else entirely.¡± She took a breath. ¡°The sailors of the two vessels are alive, but apparently, they tested positive for this mystery illness. Why are we being told one thing and shown another?¡±


    Brendan ran his hands through his hair. ¡°You¡¯re right. That doesn¡¯t make any sense at all¡­¡± He turned to Licht. ¡°Can you make any sense of all that?¡±


    He put his hand to his chin, still fixated on the fissure in the sky. ¡°Well, it sure sounds like your little group got mixed up in some pretty wild stuff. What I can tell you, you already know. We ain¡¯t getting the full story.¡±


    Brendan gave him an aslant frown. ¡°You know, you don¡¯t have to keep using that accent. Like, where did you even pick that up from? There was no one else in town, and I doubt someone coerced you into talking like that. Besides,¡± he added, ¡°it doesn¡¯t suit that massive brain of yours. You sound so dumb, bro.¡±


    Licht laughed. ¡°Eh. It¡¯s whatever, though I suppose you have a point. On that note, I don¡¯t suppose you have a razor, do you? If I¡¯m gonna drop the accent, the beard goes with it.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t actually have a use for one, so, no,¡± Brendan replied.


    Mana inserted herself into the conversation, abruptly changing the topic. ¡°Where¡¯s the nearest town from here, Licht?¡±


    He stood in silence for a moment. ¡°Hmm¡­ Technically, Oldbreak, but Seria is one of the most popular hubs on the east coast. It would have more accommodations.¡±


    ¡°Great, I¡¯m famished,¡± she said, ¡°you need to shave, and I¡¯m sure Brendan would like a little time to refocus on Lacia¡¯s mana trail.¡±


    The sun had begun to set in the western sky, and she didn¡¯t want to arrive in a city that was likely already beginning to fill with refugees¡ªnot in the dark. The city would be busy regardless, but with any luck, they could avoid any nighttime traffic hassles and, hopefully, find lodging before the hotels filled up.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving with or without you guys,¡± she shouted, ¡°so let¡¯s go.¡± She was already climbing into the car as Brendan and Licht scrambled into the backseat once more.


    The flood water gradually faded into the distance the further she drove. While she was happy to add an additional member to the group, she remained steadfast on her quest to find Lacia.


    ¡°We¡¯re doing everything we can to find you, I promise,¡± she thought to herself.


    Without warning, an eerie voice popped into her head¡ªsoft and sweet, but straight to the point: ¡°What would you sacrifice to bring her back?¡±


    She checked the rearview mirror to see if maybe Brendan or Licht were messing with her, but they were deep in conversation, hushed whispers barely audible over the sound of the air conditioning. She glanced at the radio next, but it was off, and her phone was set to silent.


    ¡°What the hell? Am I losing my mind?¡± she mumbled.


    The voice came again, more forceful: ¡°What would you sacrifice to bring your friend back? Will you leave her?¡± it interrogated. ¡°What if you could wish her back? Wish all of this to be¡­ over?¡±


    She gave a breathy reply. ¡°Yeah¡­ If it was that easy, I would have done it by now, but someone has to be realistic¡­¡±


    The voice riddled back. ¡°Under a bed of water, I lay in waiting. I can be seen twice a day. Find what you cherish most and unlock the door to the grand maze.¡±


    ¡°Oh boy¡­ Convoluted riddles¡ªjust what I need.¡±

 Chapter 4: Crossing Shifting Parallels

    Cold air crept its way around the room as Lacia slept; it wrapped her body in tendrils of iciness like climbing vines on a wall. The room was as silent as snow, pierced only by the steady hiss of air from a ceiling vent¡ªa white noise paradise.


    A nearby thermostat taunted her as she shivered in her sleep; she tossed and turned in the bitingly-cold, cage-like room. The thermostat had been set and forgotten about; it seemed the wall-mount was controlled externally¡ªthere were no buttons.


    Dim light squeezed its way under the door, illuminating a haphazard pile of sheets and blankets that hung from the side of the bed. Uncovered, Lacia¡¯s leg dangled off the edge, twisted in between the array of bedding and blankets. Goosebumps lined her skin; fresh waves of cold air swept over her, lips a faint shade of blue as she lay unconscious.


    An armband attached to her wrist chirped, warning that her body temperature was approaching dangerous territory as footsteps clattered somewhere outside her room¡ªsomeone must have heard the chirp. A small click came from the door, now unlocked. A silhouette stood with their back to the door, slowly turning Lacia¡¯s arm over to check the band¡¯s display.


    ¡°Any lower and we risk hypothermia,¡± a deep voice trailed off. ¡°This will work, then. We¡¯ll take her back to the lab and warm her up after blood draws.¡±


    A wheelchair appeared in the doorway from out in the hall, accompanied by another, smaller, silhouette as Lacia was hoisted from the bed and into the chair. Her armband beeped a second time¡ªa warning that her body temperature was still falling. An inaudible murmur rose from her lips, but she showed no signs of waking as she was wheeled down the hall toward the medical labs.


    The second silhouette turned to face the doorway, illuminated by the orange glow of the hallway lights¡ªa young woman. She looked to be about Lacia¡¯s age. A gold-chain necklace dangled from her neck, promptly hidden by locks of brunette hair.


    ¡°Just place her on the table and disinfect the injection site,¡± the first silhouette said. ¡°I¡¯ve discovered something quite interesting. I¡¯ll join you in the lab in a few minutes.¡± The new woman nodded as she wheeled Lacia out of the room.


    The LED display of a phone dimly lit the figure¡¯s face¡ªit was the man from before. He placed the phone on the bed, sitting down as he hit record.


    ¡°I¡¯ve discovered an anomaly in DNA samples taken from subject 009. It seems, with the inclusion of the neriolite, a peculiar energy is produced within the body, but only when she¡¯s cold.¡±


    He continued. ¡°This is atypical energy, but it seems to cause the stone to react, as well. More research will have to be done regarding the relationship between subject 009 and neriolite,¡± he concluded. ¡°No further tests needed at this time. Aria will proceed with blood draws.¡±


    Lacia struggled to open her eyes, aroused by the harsh sunlight¡ªnot the most welcome sight after being asleep for god knows how long. She lifted a hand to shield her face from the sun as a warm breeze blew over her. Eyes finally adjusting to the sunlight, she looked down, first examining the wheelchair, then the open ocean before her¡ªher heart sank. The tiny sliver of hope she¡¯d so desperately clung to shattered before her eyes, dissolving like salt in water. She had hoped there was a small chance it was all just a bad dream, that she wasn¡¯t stranded on a boat in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately, she had to face the reality that she wasn¡¯t dreaming. From here on, her freedom would have to come by her own hands.


    She wondered why she¡¯d been left all alone, though. There was trusting, then there was neglecting your job. Surely someone had been assigned to watch her? Unless there was a specific reason they¡¯d left her unsupervised, it seemed strange she would be hanging out in a wheelchair. Either way, she appreciated the alone time, even if she was stuck on some boat. The open air filled her lungs as she inhaled the salty tinge of the humid atmosphere.


    ¡°Finally,¡± she thought. ¡°No more bleach. What I¡¯d give for a¡ª¡± The salty spray from the boat¡¯s wake interrupted her as she wiped the water from her face. ¡°Ugh! It still beats being stuck inside that windowless room, though,¡± she muttered.


    Regardless, there seemed no escape from the water: no land, no other boats¡ªjust an endless blue horizon dotted by the occasional white puff of cloud. She felt hopeless, looking at something so infinite yet so full of life.


    ¡°What would it be like to be a fish or a whale or something?¡± she wondered aloud, staring into the distance. ¡°Would it be better than captivity as some human lab rat? No school, no job, no creepy experiments¡ªjust glub, like a fish.¡± Her eyes were full of longing.


    She understood all life faced challenges in the fight for survival, and she truly considered herself privileged, living a life that held so many different experiences: bad jokes at sleepovers, the savory aroma of her favorite foods, the pounding of her heartbeat¡­


    Even if these people did get what they wanted, she had no reason to believe they would just let her go. Sure, she could try to reason or cut a deal with the strange man, but would he even be open to negotiations for her freedom? What did she have that she could even offer in return? There was no way they¡¯d risk her reaching out to Law Enforcement and detailing her experience. Maybe they never get caught¡­ She shook her head. She¡¯d seen too much. At this point, if she wanted to escape this hellhole, there was only one thing left to do.


    ¡°No one will know if I go overboard, not until it¡¯s too late, at least. I¡¯ll just swim until I get tired and slowly sink beneath the waves.¡± She shook at the thought. ¡°This is really it. I have to keep whatever it is they want from me from them. Maybe I¡¯m overthinking things, but what other options do I have? A watery coffin beats being used for experiments that could turn me into a mindless zombie or something.¡±


    It seemed strange no one had come to retrieve her in the time she¡¯d been outside, though, and why was she wheeled to port, of all places? Did they really think she wouldn''t try to jump over the railing or wave for help if another boat appeared?


    ¡°None of this makes any sense, so why should my lack of supervision be any different?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Their mistake, I guess.¡±


    She took a long, deep breath. Jumping was a crazy idea, but it was all she could do. The chances she¡¯d be able to bring anyone to the negotiating table were slim, and even if she could negotiate for her freedom, there were no guarantees these people would keep their word. As much as she feared deep, open water, she feared being a human test subject more.


    She willed herself to get it over with, gripping the side of her wheelchair as she hoisted herself out, but, to her surprise, she fell back into the leather seat.


    ¡°Um, ok¡­ Maybe I¡¯m just not fully awake yet?¡±


    She gripped the chair, harder this time, and took another breath, lifting herself from the chair once more. A weary smile crept onto her face.


    ¡°This is it. No turning back now¡­ If there¡¯s a God out there somewhere, please let my friends and family know I¡¯m ok. I know this seems totally crazy, but I don¡¯t want to be used to bring about something that may or may not hurt someone else.¡±


    She began to count. ¡°One¡­ Two¡­¡±


    Her legs gave out before she made it to three. The fall felt surreal; one moment she was sitting in the wheelchair. The next, she was falling through the air with no way to slow her descent. Her thoughts raced:


    ¡°What happens next? Even if it¡¯s ¡®not my time¡¯, what am I supposed to do? I can¡¯t be someone else¡¯s doll to run experiments on and keep locked up forever!¡±


    Unable to break her fall, she landed on her arm, wallowing in pain. She struggled to crawl away, gasping as the air was expelled from her lungs. Her chest felt tight, spots swam in her eyes. A sharp, stinging pain shot through her body; she became physically ill. Her mind swam with pain and confusion, intermixed with every possible scenario she could think of that ended in her favor, but the pain was too much. She lay writhing on the deck like a fish out of water.


    The smell of wax wafted into her nose. Catching her reflection in the glossy, wooden surface, she noticed dark circles under her eyes. Perhaps even more striking were the masses of bruises that ran between her neck and shoulder¡ªenough was enough. She decided that, if she couldn¡¯t jump, she¡¯d lay there and take her chances at being a human guinea pig.


    ¡°God, I hate this so much,¡± she said, crying. ¡°Stuck on some boat in the middle of nowhere and now my legs suddenly just don¡¯t work? I¡¯m so pathetic.¡±


    ¡°Lacia¡­¡± Someone was calling out to her, but the voice was raspy, barely audible, and she was pretty sure water couldn¡¯t speak. ¡°Allow me to handle things from here. You¡¯ve done well,¡± the voice sounded. ¡°Reach out your hand.¡±


    Subconsciously, she extended her uninjured arm. She wasn¡¯t sure what she was expecting, but she grabbed something tangible. No¡­ Whatever she¡¯d grabbed was different somehow. The only way she could think of describing it was like grabbing air; she knew it was there, but she couldn¡¯t explain how. It felt¡­ inviting.


    ¡°I cannot give them a sign, but I can do this,¡± the voice remarked.


    She was lifted from the deck as a warm wind caressed her body. She floated in the air for a moment, unsure if she was hallucinating from the pain or if she truly was airborne. A part of her knew her world was about to collide with something she never could have imagined¡ªready or not, the moment was now.


    A makeshift portal, shimmering like glass, appeared before her; she felt weightless, pulled into the void, watching as the boat retreated from view. She floated through the open abyss for what felt like eternity, yet the flow of time seemed contested¡ªa place where gravity was nonexistent, and time had no meaning. How long had it been since she entered the portal? Minutes? Hours? Perhaps even days? The darkness was profound, but she remained steadfast.


    Suddenly, a small, compact ball of light drifted towards her; it seemed eager to reward her strong will and determination, for making it so far on her own, but it also felt sad and lonely. She held out her hands as the light nestled itself into her palms, subsequently creating an explosion of color that fanned out in every direction¡ªthe birth of a new galaxy; she dove through the atmosphere of an exo-planet, brushed against the icy body of a comet, and witnessed the collapse of a star.


    ¡°Harmoniously symbiotic... There''s no other way to describe this,¡± she said, bathed in the beauty of the universe.


    ¡°You are not yet ready to understand, but the universe holds many secrets,¡± the voice came again. ¡°There is still much for you to learn. Now, go. They still need you.¡±


    Another portal shimmered before her as she drifted to a halt before it. The luster of the universe transformed the portal into a multicolor rainbow¡ªbeautiful didn''t cut it; this was something she¡¯d only ever seen in pictures and movies¡ªto stand before such cosmic magnificence filled her with an unfamiliar sense of calm. The pain in her arm melted away, her heartrate slowed, and a transcendent warmth eased her weary mind.


    Peering through the newly formed portal, she felt like the omniscient narrator in a story: she watched as a businessman walked across the street for a morning coffee; a teacher compiled her lesson plans for the day; a pilot climbed into the cockpit of his plane, ready for another day of flights.


    The scene shifted once more. This time, a pile of desks had been strewn across a classroom. In the center, a girl lay sprawled out onto the floor. Was that her? Another portal opened to her right where she could see Mana, Brendan and another person she didn''t recognize. Excitedly, she called out, but to no avail.


    ¡°You are needed in both places, child, but your friends are not yet ready for your return. There is still much you have left to do and much yet to learn,¡± the voice explained. ¡°You have crossed great distances. Your two worlds are separate, but you must learn how to cross these parallels on your own¡­ The future is what you seek the most. I will not be able to help you again.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what? What am I supposed to do, then? How do I get back? Where do I actually belong?¡± Desperation seeped into Lacia''s voice. Questions bombarded her brain, but answers continued to elude her. ¡°The future?¡±


    ¡°You must find those answers yourself. I am out of time, but I bid you good luck, Lacia. Do not forget: the answers you seek await discovery.¡±


    A gust of wind slammed into her, forcing her through the first portal in a dizzying spiral. She held out her hand, watching as the cosmic colors slipped through her fingers. She understood very little of what had happened, but one thing was for sure: she would never forget the magnificence she¡¯d been graced with.


    Spinning herself around, she managed to glide to a stop as she stood before a strange red door. A glowing key manifested in her palm, but it was ice cold. She looked at the door, the key in her hand, then back to the door.


    If she could stay in this place forever, she would. Her mind was at peace, her body felt lighter than air, and she felt focused, but the weight of the world and her decisions had fallen upon her shoulders; she couldn''t neglect the people who were relying on her, whether they knew it or not.


    ¡°I suppose this is the metaphorical key to my destiny, then?¡± She turned the key over in her hands. It had no physical form, yet it glistened like metal. ¡°Everything from here on, I¡¯ll have to figure out myself, but I don¡¯t even know where to start¡­ I know I''m here for a reason, but how am I supposed to bear the weight of two worlds? She sighed. ¡°In any case, it looks like my entire world just doubled in size.¡±


    She turned the key in the door and was immediately bathed in light so pure she wondered if she was on her way to meet God. An endless sea of emotion swept over her like a tidal wave. From fear and anxiety, to hope and determination, myriads of emotions enveloped her like a loving hug.


    The scent of oak desks slowly began to fill her nostrils as a slew of voices arced through the colorless void, illuminating the path before her in arrays of vivid color. While her heart ached, and she wanted nothing more than to crawl under her bed covers, that life was no more.


    As the light began to dissipate, she found herself on her back, blinking in surprise. ¡°Oh, I''m back,¡± she groaned.


    Faint amber light peered through the windows casting shadows into the corners of the classroom as the sun began to set. A light breeze blew across her face from an open window, gently rustling her silvery-blonde locks.


    She looked around the room, attempting to sit up, thoroughly confused. She felt as if she¡¯d been somewhere and nowhere at the same time, but she couldn¡¯t explain why¡ªat least, not right away, but it seemed she had bigger problems on her hands now; a handful of students stood around her, nervously whispering.


    ¡°What¡­ happened?¡± she asked. Her voice was slow but steady.


    Lyra was the first to answer. ¡°You suddenly passed out and hit the desks on the way down. You hit them really hard. Are you ok?¡±


    Lacia patted herself down from head to toe before realizing she¡¯d mysteriously changed clothes. Her memory was foggy, but she remembered the woman on the ship had given her a nightgown and leggings.


    ¡°Well, maybe it was more like she threw them in my face, but¡ª¡± she cut herself off. ¡°Um¡­ Have I been wearing this the whole time?¡± she asked, pulling at a cream-colored cross-knit sweater and knee-length skirt. ¡°No, uh, leggings or anything else?¡±


    The classroom was full of blank stares. ¡°Lacia,¡± Mana said, pushing her way to the front, ¡°did you maybe hit your head a little hard? Maybe we should get you to a hospital, just to be safe.¡±


    ¡°Please, just humor me. I literally don¡¯t remember changing or where I got these clothes from¡­¡± Her face suddenly turned red. Her skirt had slipped at the waist, giving any spectators an unexpected sight.


    ¡°Lacia?¡± Lyra said.


    ¡°Err¡­ Sorry, Lyra. I didn¡¯t mean to ignore you,¡± Lacia said, using the fallen desks as cover to pull her skirt back up. ¡°I¡¯m just a little confused¡­¡±


    Lyra shook her head. ¡°No worries, really! Let¡¯s talk later, though. I really think there¡¯s something we should discuss.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ When my brain is working a little better,¡± Lacia laughed.


    She began to lift herself off the floor, slowly at first. The aches and soreness were manageable. Thankfully, the tumble didn¡¯t seem to have broken any bones. Strangely enough, she¡¯d escaped without injury. Hoisting herself back onto her feet, she was quickly overcome with a flood of memories: Brendan, the now-closed gift shop in Azalea¡ªeven her nightmares. It was almost as if she¡¯d forgotten about her ¡°normal¡± life entirely; the way her memories came flooding back made her feel like a computer with too much information¡ªher brain was fried.


    Mana raised her voice. ¡°Lacia¡ª"


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mana. I¡¯m fine,¡± she insisted. ¡°My memories¡­ they¡¯re suddenly all here now, because that¡¯s totally normal,¡± she said sarcastically, ¡°but I feel like I¡¯m living a double life. How do I even explain this?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t exactly look ¡®fine¡¯ to me. Are you sure?¡± a male voice came.


    ¡°Again¡ª I¡¯m fine, but I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve been introduced yet," Lacia said tensely.


    Mana spoke up, hoping to defuse tensions. ¡°That¡¯s Kaden. He¡¯s our group leader and the one in charge of everything right now. He¡¯s, uhh, just making sure you¡¯re alright,¡± she said, addressing Lacia as she stared daggers into him.


    Lacia crossed her arms. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to meet you, Kaden. You already know who I am, I guess, so I see no further need for introductions.¡± She steadied herself. ¡°There¡¯s actually a lot that I need to explain, though. At least, what I can, anyways¡­¡±


    ¡°Actually, can you take a rain check?¡± Lyra said. ¡°I don¡¯t know if this is connected to whatever that thing was we killed out there, but some suspicious-looking people just walked onto campus.¡±


    Mana hurried to the window, but Lyra held her arm out in warning. ¡°You can take my spot here,¡± Lyra said, using the drapes for cover.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Nonchalantly, Lacia positioned herself on the set of drapes opposite Mana and peered out; a group of three people had indeed infiltrated the school grounds. They were hard to see from the top floor, but she could make out two what looked like two men and one woman as they approached from the front gates.


    The men were well-built, muscles bulging through their shirts. Something hung at their sides, but she couldn¡¯t make out what it was. Were they contractors, sent to share blueprints of the school for renovation after the attack? She squinted.


    ¡°Those are definitely guns, but they¡¯re¡­ empty? The magazines aren¡¯t even in them,¡± she half-warned.


    ¡°Alright¡­ Then what¡¯s the verdict?¡± Mana asked. ¡°Do we stay, or should we sneak out around the back of the school maybe?¡±


    ¡°Great question, really, but let¡¯s say we do manage to sneak out. Where, exactly, do we go? Won¡¯t they just follow us?¡± Lacia countered.


    ¡°Neither,¡± Kaden concluded. ¡°Let them enter the school first. There¡¯s plenty of debris to navigate and that¡¯ll make for noisy footsteps. This floor was untouched¡ªour footsteps will be quieter, and we can use that to our advantage.¡±


    ¡°How so, Kaden?¡± Lyra mused. She seemed almost excited.


    ¡°We use the noise of their footsteps to determine their location.¡± He walked up to the windows, stopping several feet from the edge before angling a small mirror toward the ground until the trio came into view. ¡°That woman has a thermal imaging camera. If she gets close enough, it¡¯ll pick up on your fingerprints on the edges of the drapes¡ªthe residual heat. I have another idea how we get out of here.¡± Heeding his warning, Lacia and Mana retreated from the window, regrouping in the center of the classroom.


    ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: Lacia, Lyra, and Mana¡ªyou three raid the Crafting Club down the hall, grab all of the material you can find, and tie it together. Only pull drapes from the windows if they are out of the view of those people,¡± he said. ¡°While we can try to go out the back, the amount of debris that¡¯s laying around would make for a hazardous trip. If we leave footprints in the dust and plaster, they¡¯ll be able to track us.¡±


    ¡°So, there is a brain in there,¡± Lyra teased. ¡°In the meantime, Kaden, can you and Cilan barricade the stairs and doors to this floor? We want to buy time, don¡¯t we?¡± She giggled before grabbing Lacia and Mana, pulling them towards the Crafting Club¡¯s room.


    Kaden sneered. ¡°Real funny.¡± He turned to Cilan next. ¡°First, by chance, I don¡¯t suppose you can access the school¡¯s network, can you? I¡¯ve heard you StuCo guys get some pretty nice perks. Any announcements you can loop over the intercom would add a little chaos to the pot and confuse our guests.¡±


    ¡°Heh. Yeah, I can do that. I¡¯ll have to run down to the Broadcasting Room, but it should only take a few minutes¡ªjust don¡¯t completely barricade me out. This should work really well, but for it to work, they can¡¯t be in the building yet,¡± Cilan explained. ¡°It has to seem authentic, like it¡¯s been playing since before the attack.¡±


    Kaden nodded, giving Cilan the greenlight. ¡°Try to work fast, though. We may not have more than a few of those said minutes.¡±


    A couple minutes later, a loud warning blared across the school¡¯s intercom: ¡°All students and staff are to shelter in place. This is not a drill. All students and staff are to shelter in place.¡±


    Cilan poked his head back into the classroom. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Kaden replied, ¡°but how did you do that so fast?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get StuCo President just because I have good grades,¡± he smirked. ¡°I¡¯m kind of a tech wiz, too.¡±


    ¡°Remind me not to get on your bad side next time we game¡­ Anyways, we just have to hope the girls got the message,¡± Kaden said, stepping out into the hall. ¡°While we wait for those three, we need to finish the barricades because it looks like,¡± he walked back over to the windows, ¡°our guests have entered the school. They¡¯re probably just past the shoe lockers by now.¡±


    ¡°He¡ªeey,¡± Lyra called. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting. This was all we could find!¡±


    Swirls of various hues fluttered through the hallway; crimson reds, verdant greens, ocean blues, and sunset purples turned the hallway into a sea of color. Murmurs rose between Lacia and Mana, uncertain if they had an appropriate amount of fabric. Altogether, there looked to be enough for three-stories worth in length¡ªshort the length of one story, approximately.


    ¡°We¡¯re just short,¡± Kaden said pensively. ¡°It¡¯s about a six-foot drop from the end of the fabric rope that means¡­ It¡¯ll have to do. Take the teacher¡¯s desk and push it against the wall, then tie the fabric rope to it. We¡¯ll use that to anchor us as we rappel down,¡± he ordered. ¡°Thoughts on our barricade?¡±


    ¡°I mean, if you¡¯re trying to stop a horde of baby bunnies, it¡¯s perfect,¡± Lacia replied, sarcastically. ¡°Real talk though, it could use a little more work. Those dudes were bulky, but what else are they capable of, you know?¡±


    Kaden glared at her. ¡°You make a good point about the two men, but who are you to criticize our barricade? Like, this is all we could come up with. Do you have a builder¡¯s permit or something?¡±


    Lacia shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just a girl. What do I know?¡±


    Cilan cleared his throat. ¡°If you two are done, I¡¯m tracking our uninvited guests¡ªin the event you¡¯d like a sense of where they are, that is.¡± A series of blips dotted the screen of his phone. ¡°It really do be now or never,¡± he said. ¡°We have about five minutes until they reach the stairs. If the barricade holds, it¡¯ll buy us maybe another couple. If we¡¯re rappelling down, that¡¯s at least two minutes per person.¡±


    Suddenly, all eyes turned to Lacia. She wondered what ever happened to democracy; she really did not want to be the first to go. It was one thing to take part in controlled experiments, it was another to trapeze down a rope of fabric without someone to catch her if she fell. What happened if she did fall? She understood that hesitation could cost them time they didn¡¯t have, but she didn¡¯t want to fall however many stories, break her legs, and everything be all for naught.


    She sighed, giving in. ¡°Fine, but, next time, I get a say in this kind of thing.¡±


    A minute later, she was below the window line. The fabric was almost too silken¡ªher hands slipped several inches before she could firmly grasp the makeshift rope. She dug her heels into the wall, trying to slow her descent, but she inadvertently rubbed her hands raw instead. Shrugging the rope burn off, she rappelled the rest of the way down, dangling several feet above the ground before hitting the grassy slope beneath her.


    ¡°Keep coming,¡± she shouted up. ¡°I¡¯ll, uhh¡­¡± She looked around for a landmark of some sort¡ªa central location where they could all meet up. ¡°I can see a school bus like a hundred away from here,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s everyone meet there.¡±


    She could hear Kaden and Cilan urging the remaining students down the rope as she ran for the bus. ¡°This is crazy,¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯s real and what¡¯s fiction anymore? Why is it I seem to be everyone¡¯s target lately?!¡±


    She stopped at the school gates, squeezing between the metal fences. ¡°Ow!¡± she yelped. ¡°But of course I¡¯d get cut by a rusty gate. If those people don¡¯t kill me, tetanus sure will,¡± she half-joked. ¡°God, this is so insane. Zero out of ten¡ªwould not recommend.¡±


    The metal was hot, radiated by the midday sun, but she would gladly take a few burns if it meant getting everyone to safety. She wondered what would happen if she couldn¡¯t fit through the gates or, god forbid, she got stuck. Paranoia seized her mind; she pulled her sweater off and balled it up in her hands. If the knit snagged on some part of the metal or got caught on a branch, she¡¯d have to spend time unhooking herself¡ªbetter to just take it off.


    The gradual patter of footsteps rose from the pavement behind her. How many people had been able to make it down so far? She stopped at the doors to the bus, panting, hands on her knees. With a little force, she pried the doors open with a quiet hiss and climbed inside. As luck would have it, the keys were even in the ignition.


    She planted herself in the driver¡¯s seat, shoving the sweater into the side as she turned the key over and over only to be met with a sputtering engine that refused to start. Her heart pounded against her chest, anxiety levels rising. If the bus wouldn¡¯t start, they¡¯d be in trouble; it wouldn¡¯t take long for those people to push through the makeshift barrier Kaden and Cilan had created, though it seemed to be holding¡ªfor now.


    ¡°Lacia!¡± Lyra called, rounding the corner by the gates. ¡°The woman made it up faster than we were expecting,¡± she said, catching her breath. ¡°It¡¯s just Kaden and Cilan left, but the rope started to fray after I made it down.¡± She seated herself on the entryway steps, exhausted.


    ¡°Are they okay?¡± Lacia asked, concerned.


    ¡°They¡¯re boys,¡± she said between breaths. ¡°If they have to jump from a little higher up the rope, they¡¯ll be fine. More importantly,¡± Lyra moved to examine the bus¡¯s dashboard, ¡°is it not starting?¡± Lacia shook her head. ¡°Then how about we give it a little boost?¡± She placed a single palm against the dash for a moment. ¡°Okay. Now try.¡±


    Lacia turned the key in the ignition again. One click¡­ Two clicks¡­ Three clicks¡­ The engine roared to life, humming with a healthy machinery-like resonance. She relaxed as the engine continued to purr¡ªthey officially had a getaway vehicle. Now, all they needed were Mana, the two boys, and a plan.


    The sound of Cilan¡¯s voice suddenly pierced the air. ¡°Go, Kaden. I¡¯ll be right behind you!¡±


    Lacia motioned for Lyra to take a seat before slamming the gas pedal to the floor, giving her little time to settle in before she was thrust into the cracked-leather upholstery. The plan was to park the bus in front of the gate; they could use the steel exterior as a bulletproof shield¡ªit would block anyone who stood on the other side of it from view.


    ¡°Lacia! You could¡¯ve waited until I was at least between the seats, you know?¡± Lyra scolded. ¡°I literally almost fell over the back of the seat!¡± She blew a puff of hair out of her face.


    ¡°Sorry¡­ But every second counts. I floored it because I knew the bus would lurch and it would throw you into a seat,¡± she said awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s a physics thing. Don¡¯t ask me how it works.¡±


    Lyra pulled her window down as Mana squeezed through the gates, Kaden not far behind. ¡°Come around the back of the bus¡ªit¡¯ll provide more cover for longer,¡± Lyra shouted. ¡°We don¡¯t want those people to know how many of us there are. If you slow when rounding the front of the bus, they could see you.¡± She turned back toward Lacia. ¡°Park the bus so that the end is parallel with the gates.¡±


    She did as instructed. Engaging the parking brake, she leaned over the back of the driver¡¯s seat, beaming. The bus rattled and bounced before coming to a squealing halt, back end parallel to the gate. Lacia engaged the parking brake though she left the bus idling, prepared for a hasty retreat.


    ¡°You know what? I think we make a pretty good team! Since only one person can fit in the entryway at a time, having everyone come around back would protect them while boarding and waiting to board the bus! Also, in the off chance we do get shot at, there¡¯s one thing I¡¯d like to do.¡±


    A look of confusion crossed Lyra¡¯s face. ¡°And what is that¡­?¡±


    ¡°Your hair just looks sooo soft. Would you mind sharing your hair care routine with me? It reminds me of chocolate and,¡± she tugged at her own hair, ¡°mine is kinda flat at the moment. Mind helping a girl out?¡±


    Mana stood in the entryway of the bus, trying to hold back her laughter. ¡°Lacia, there¡¯s no way that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about right now.¡± She¡¯d silently snuck aboard, eavesdropping on Lyra and Lacia¡¯s conversation.


    ¡°You took the words right out of my mouth, but, next time, maybe don¡¯t eavesdrop? Just saying¡­¡± Lyra replied. ¡°Um, anyways¡­ Tell you what, Lacia. If we make it out of this, I¡¯ll share my routine with you. Deal?¡±


    Lacia glowered at Mana. ¡°You know what I heard, Mana? I heard that eavesdroppers lose one cup size every time they¡¯re caught. Crazy, right?¡± She watched as Mana¡¯s face momentarily filled with shock. ¡°By the way, you have a deal, Lyra!¡±


    She laughed. ¡°Ok, but remember: this is entirely dependent on you getting us out of here. Don¡¯t get us killed, now,¡± Lyra winked.


    ¡°By the way,¡± Mana said, coming down from her laughter high, ¡°where did Kaden go? He was behind me just a minute ago.¡± She climbed into the bus, hoping for a better idea of what was happening as she peered out the windows. ¡°That idiot. He went back to help Cilan, though I¡¯m not sure what good he is, standing there with his arms in the air like that¡­¡±


    Without warning, Cilan bolted out of the open window. Mana gasped and, for a moment, Lacia thought he was trying to run on air. They watched as he used his center of gravity to pull himself towards the fabric rope; specks of multicolored sparkles rained over him as he stripped the rope of color. Pulling out a small lighter, the rope was promptly engulfed in flames.


    ¡°Did he just¡­ light that whole thing on fire, before he was on the ground?¡± Mana said, shocked. ¡°The idea wasn¡¯t to burn the school down, or yourself, you idiot.¡±


    ¡°Could you do something like that, under pressure?¡± Lyra teased. ¡°Boys are strange creatures. They¡¯re willing to tear their bodies apart just to prove that they can. Either that, or they just have to light literally anything and everything on fire like some toy.¡± Her tone was cool and calm, but her eyes told a different story.


    Catching Lacia¡¯s gaze in the rearview mirror, she finished her thought. ¡°I have wonder if they know what they¡¯re doing sometimes, you know what I mean?¡±


    ¡°Why did she say it like that?¡± Lacia wondered. ¡°It¡¯s as if she knows¡ª¡±


    The audible crunch of gravel underfoot turned her attention back to the windows as Kaden and Cilan skid to a stop before the school gates. Kaden cupped his hands and bent down; Cilan sprinted towards him, calculating the distance each foot would need to travel, careful not to miss Kaden¡¯s boost.


    ¡°You know,¡± he said, ¡°nothing quite screams ''I''m over here!'' like a giant, rolling yellow banana on wheels.¡±


    Kaden didn¡¯t seem amused by the attempted joke. ¡°It¡¯s all we have, Cilan. Quit making crappy jokes. What else did you want the girls to do? Rent an Elephant?¡± Cilan frowned, displeased at the retort. ¡°Uh huh. That¡¯s what I thought. Take some time out to find better jokes, man, because that one sucked,¡± he said, hoisting Cilan over the gates as the sole of his shoes pressed against his palms. Kaden followed suit, climbing over the metal bars with ease.


    The sun was centered overhead, beating down on the pavement. Combined with the heat from the bus, the air had turned into a thick, heavy soup. The boys climbed into the bus, drenched in sweat as temperatures soared without explanation.


    ¡°Is it just me, or is it, like, hot, hot?¡± Cilan asked, sliding into an empty seat.


    ¡°It¡¯s so hot, I¡¯m strongly thinking about ditching this bra,¡± Mana corroborated.


    Lacia frowned as the bus doors creaked shut. ¡°Was that information really necessary? I mean, as a fellow woman, I totally get it, but some things are best left unsaid¡­¡± She settled her gaze on Cilan and Kaden, but they were hardly paying attention. ¡°Okay then,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Anyways, we¡¯re leaving! Hold on to something, because I¡¯m flooring it.¡±


    ¡°No¡ª Lacia, wai¡ª¡± Lyra was in the middle of swapping seats before she was thrown into another as Lacia hit the gas. ¡°Girl, I swear,¡± she muttered.


    The bus hurtled down the road, off to a destination unknown. Lacia glanced in the rearview mirror, wary of pursuers. Thankfully, they were alone. She turned down a side street, intersecting a neighborhood; it would be good to get off the main roads, regardless of whether they were being followed or not. They had no food or water, blankets, flashlights¡ªequipment deemed necessary for emergencies.


    ¡°Hey, uhh, now that we¡¯re safe,¡± Lacia started, ¡°can someone please explain to me where it is I¡¯m taking us? Parking the bus and looting empty houses sounds nice and all,¡± she joked, ¡°but I think we need a better plan than something morally questionable.¡±


    Kaden pulled out a pocket-crumpled map; it looked like it had been drawn in sharpie. Some kind of abstract art project? In the upper right corner, a red circle encompassed a black X¡ªlikely something important.


    ¡°Can you get us here?" Kaden asked, tapping the circled X with his finger.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, but what exactly is it?¡± Lacia replied as she pulled the bus over to examine the map.


    Mana stopped fanning herself. She looked to Kaden then Lacia, uncertain about what they should and shouldn¡¯t divulge. She rubbed the back of her head, conflicted, before bouncing the question back to Kaden to answer.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m gonna be real with you, fam. We still don¡¯t know enough about what¡¯s going on with you, but we know you¡¯re an integral part of this mission.¡±


    ¡°Mission?¡± Lacia cocked her head.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re not fully back, yet¡­ Alright, then here¡¯s a quick rundown.¡± His voice was full of displeasure, having been put on the spot. ¡°We¡¯re part of a group of people who, how do I put this?¡± He pondered his phrasing for a moment. "We have this power called ¡°Aria.¡±


    He held out his hand as a faint white light grew in his palm, strangely calming. The light swelled into a ball as it cast its luminescence outwards. Stars formed within the center like a mini universe, expanding into infinity. Lacia felt the tension in her muscles ease, and the sneaking migraine she¡¯d been fighting back was gone¡ªshe was sold.


    ¡°I''ll show you more in a minute,¡± Kaden said, ¡°but we¡¯re still a few miles out. I¡¯ll tell you know when we arrive.¡±


    Lacia¡¯s curiosity was ready to burst like a frozen pipe, but she was more than willing to drive a few more miles if it meant Kaden had the answers to her questions: Where was she? What about the mysterious pains and her excessive bleeding? Who was after her? She didn¡¯t want to get her hopes up, but it wasn¡¯t fair to keep her in the dark if he knew something.


    ***


    Several excruciatingly-hot miles later, Kaden signaled for Lacia to park the bus. She pulled under a set of large shade trees, finally giving its engine a well-earned rest as the compressor hissed off. She exited the bus and examined her surroundings¡­ or lack thereof.


    A large, open field sprawled into the horizon, encompassing her on all sides. Other than the several boulders that dotted the landscape, the field was almost as flat as a sheet of paper. She began to understand why people still believed the Earth was flat¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a single blade of glass out of place, though, she felt unsettled. Goosebumps lined her arms like sandpaper. Was she nervous? Just anxious? She couldn¡¯t put her finger on the vibe at all.


    ¡°Watch carefully,¡± Kaden instructed.


    ¡°Sorry, watch what?¡±


    A strong wind blew in from every direction¡ªcool and refreshing. Pressure built in Lacia¡¯s chest as the air crackled with an electric-like energy. She turned to look at Kaden, but he remained hyper-fixated on whatever it was he was trying to demonstrate. Suddenly, the wind grew hot and dry; it reminded her of desert air without all the sand.


    Kaden raised his hand and chopped the air like a knife. Lacia swore time momentarily stopped. A black and white flash bleached the world¡ª not even gravity could escape the thunderous climax to his demonstration; the world became weightless and blank, like a painter¡¯s canvas, as Lacia¡¯s feet momentarily left the ground.


    A familiar voice called out to her. ¡°You¡¯re getting closer, but you still have a long journey ahead of you.¡±


    Colors rushed back into focus like a splash of paint. She dropped to her knees, struggling to regain her equilibrium¡­ and her dignity; a puddle of vomit formed at her feet. A fresh, cold breeze nipped at the back of her neck as Kaden continued his demonstration without interruption.


    ¡°Was Kaden''s Aria responsible for that just now? It felt¡­ unreal, like he just split dimensions or something crazy,¡± she reasoned with herself.


    ¡°Pay attention, because here¡¯s the important part,¡± he said, steadying his breathing.


    A loud shriek reverberated for miles as the condensed block of air he¡¯d been compiling continued to condense, rotating at speeds greater than that of a hurricane. Lacia shivered as the air temperature dove; the wind continued to howl like a banshee. The wind shifted again, replacing the formerly dry plume with a moisture-laden atmosphere. Lacia¡¯s ears popped as the air pressure bombed out; it fell so fast even her bones ached.


    With a large heave, Kaden released the condensed block of air, hurtling it towards a nearby boulder that shattered like glass. The shockwave knocked Lacia off her feet. If she were any lighter, there was a distinct possibility she would have been blown away, thrown miles down-field. He shuffled over to Lacia, staring at what remained of the boulder, now in gravel-sized pieces.


    ¡°Aria is special. It allows us to manifest our strongest feelings into form. My demonstration was but one example,¡± he explained. ¡°Just like the human spirit has many emotions, Aria has many forms¡ªperhaps even a limitless amount. Don¡¯t let your emotions take control, though. Aria is a gift, and as such, it can be taken away all the same.¡±


    Lacia¡¯s hair fluttered about in the now-restless wind¡ªstrands of silver shone against the grey background of the sky above. Was mastering whatever ¡°Aria¡± was the real key to her destiny? Perhaps even a ticket back to her old life?


    ¡°I¡ª Kad¡ª¡± the words caught in her throat like syrup¡ªshe tried again. ¡°Kaden, I feel like there¡¯s more you¡¯re not telling me. I don¡¯t just have ¡®Aria¡¯. You explained that it was a gift, but not where this said gift comes from. How am I supposed to obtain something so¡­ special?¡± She recalled his explanation. ¡°You said Aria has many forms. Could it be my Aria will take a form no one has ever seen?¡±


    She turned to look at Mana then Lyra and, finally, Cilan, but no one had an answer for her¡ªor was it just that they refused to answer? They looked around nervously, afraid to address her questions. She quickly grew suspicious.


    ¡°What is it you can¡¯t tell me? I thought I was part of some important grand scheme, but how am I supposed to trust anyone if you won¡¯t trust me first?¡±


    Kaden tried to explain. ¡°We do trust you, but some things are better off lost than found. Lacia, we¡ª"


    She cut him off. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± attitude creeping into her voice, ¡°but what the hell does that even mean? Like¡ª Kaden, please. I realize that, whoever I was to you, has changed, I guess, but I promise you I¡¯m still the same person I was before!¡± Tears clouded her eyes. ¡°All I want is to feel like someone accepts me for who I am. I¡¯m not a genie in a lamp, I don¡¯t have magic powers, and,¡± she said softly, ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m supposed to do anymore.¡±


    Lyra shot Kaden a dirty look. ¡°Way to go, man,¡± she said, as she ran over to console Lacia. ¡°She just wanted a simple answer¡ªnot some riddle.¡±


    Kaden tried to apologize. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to come off so harsh, Lacia, but I just¡­¡±


    ¡°Just what, Kaden?¡± Lyra demanded. ¡°Look, I know you mean well, but,¡± she lowered her voice, ¡°she¡¯s more important than you realize.¡±


    ¡°Even if she is, you and I both know she isn¡¯t re¡ª"


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± Lyra shot back. ¡°Why is it we don¡¯t have an answer for her? Telling her she¡¯s better off not knowing wasn¡¯t¡ª"


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault,¡± Lacia cut in, face in her hands. ¡°I don¡¯t even know who I¡¯m supposed to be or where I am. I¡¯m scared, and I¡¯m tired of putting on this fa?ade.¡± She stood up to brush the dirt from her butt. ¡°I don¡¯t know if this is where I belong, but you¡¯ve made clear you don¡¯t have the answers I¡¯m looking for, either,¡± she sniffled.


    ¡°If I¡¯m to discover who I am and what my role in all of this craziness is,¡± she continued, ¡°does it not seem reasonable that learning Aria is a good first step? I don¡¯t want to have to part ways here¡ªI don¡¯t think I¡¯d last a day.¡± Her voice quivered. ¡°For all any of us know, that monster and those people were just the icing on the cake¡­¡±


    Lyra smiled; Lacia''s determination was admirable. ¡°Lacia,¡± she said soothingly, ¡°you¡¯re one of the strongest people I¡¯ve ever met, and I¡¯m glad I get to know you. As it currently stands, there just isn¡¯t anything that will change Kaden¡¯s mind¡ªnot even I know the full story behind Aria or what your gift might be, but,¡± she moved to wipe Lacia¡¯s tears away, ¡°what I do know is that you¡¯re not alone¡ªno matter how alone you may feel. I did say we needed to talk later, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Kaden folded his arms. ¡°Lacia, it wasn¡¯t my intention to frighten you. It¡¯s true, what I said about Aria. The TLDR is that we don¡¯t understand the fundamentals ourselves, but if we can¡¯t utilize everyone¡¯s own unique strengths and abilities, we¡¯re no stronger than our weakest link, right? I apologize for not being more direct with you.¡±


    Lacia opened her mouth to speak, but something whizzed past her ear, skinning her cheek; a thin trace of blood trickled down her face. An arrow had lodged itself into the side of the bus, piercing the steel exterior. With a little force, she dislodged the arrowhead, a diamond-tipped point.


    ¡°Did this just¡ª"


    Before anyone could react, a second arrow whistled through the air, but it seemed¡­ slower. The diamond-tipped point glinted in the streaks of sunlight that had broken the overcast, unhindered as it approached its target, and, this time, it didn¡¯t miss.

 Chapter 5: Who Am I?

    Lacia was jolted awake by a sharp, stabbing pain in her side. Drenched in cold sweat, she pushed her bangs out of her face, soaked with sweat as she shivered in the frigid icebox-like room. Despite the pitch darkness, the familiar faint, orange glow from beneath the door told her she¡¯d been returned to the boat.


    Her heart pounded against her ribs; her entire body shook like an earthquake. A mixture of fear and anxiety coursed through her veins, but the newfound rush of adrenaline had masked the pain¡ªfor now. She knew it was there, and that the adrenaline high would only last so long, but her apprehension was just as addictive as the rush her body brimmed with. Even so, her curiosity had a will of its own. She moved a hand to her side, unsure of what had just happened.


    She struggled to hold the silky fabric of her nightgown up, eventually pinning it in the waistband of her leggings to keep it from slipping. With her side exposed to the open air, she took a deep breath; an abnormal cold greeted her hand as she pressed it to her side, fingers curling around her ribs. She imagined her fingers wrapping around her abdomen, feeling around in the darkness. Curious, she wiggled her toes in the light from the door, hardly enough to illuminate the polish on her nails; it wouldn¡¯t be enough to illuminate her entire abdomen.


    An unsettling wet, warmth soon overtook her hand as she spread her fingers, trying to zero-in on the afflicted area. Her heart rate returned to normal as she steadied her breathing. Unfortunately, this meant an unwelcome return to the pain masked by the adrenaline rush.


    Her hand slid around to her back before coming to a stop as it rubbed against drier skin. From what she could gather, she¡¯d been hit somewhere between the ribs on her lower right side and the midsection of her back¡ªdefinitely some kind of abdominal wound, but the pain radiated from her side, rippling across her abdomen.


    She deduced the warm liquid was blood and that her hand was covered in it, but how much was there? Was she actively bleeding, or had the blood already clotted and her fingers had just smeared it across her side¡ªnot something indicative of a larger problem?


    If the light from under the door was enough to illuminate her toes, surely it would be enough to see what was on her hand, she figured. She gave herself to the count of three; at three, she would get off the bed and, hopefully, determine the severity of the wound. Ignorance was bliss, but after crossing over into some strange other world, and the subsequent attempts on her life¡­ If she really was bleeding, it wasn¡¯t from something she¡¯d done in her time on the boat.


    One thing was for sure: she had been hit, and now she was in the same room she¡¯d started in, aboard the same boat she¡¯d found herself trapped on. Only one question remained: how could the same wound she¡¯d received after she¡¯d been struck transfer between the supposed two worlds? Did that confirm everything she¡¯d just experienced was real, though? One question seemed to lead to another.


    ¡°Enough overthinking,¡± she thought, quietly initiating a countdown. ¡°Three, two, one¡­¡±


    A loud smack reverberated through the room as her bare feet hit the tile floor. The plan had been to use the light from under the door to illuminate her hand. Instead, she found herself falling to the floor in excruciating pain, and her legs were still unable to support her weight¡ªshe¡¯d completely forgotten about her attempt to jump overboard.


    Using what strength she could muster, she pushed herself closer to the door. She would ram her shoulder into the metal frame¡ªpainful, but it was the only thing she could think to use that might break her fall.


    Success! Or¡­ that¡¯s what she would have liked to believe had she not fallen onto something else entirely; a movable cart of medical equipment had been left in the middle of the floor. While she had been able to slow her descent, it wasn¡¯t the most ideal, or painless, method ever. The cart clattered to the floor, scattering various medical tools across the dark floor.


    Footsteps clamored down the hall, their frantic nature in-sync with her heartrate. A key entered the lock in the door, swinging it open with a rush of wind. Orange light spilled in through the open doorway, bathing everything from a stethoscope to even a cold plate of food in artificial light. Like Lacia, it also lay in disarray, strewn across the floor.


    Dead silence took hold as an unfamiliar woman examined the disorderly state of the room. A steady drip resonated from the edge of the bed, breaking the stillness of silence. Drip¡­ Drop¡­ Lacia cringed as the woman made a dissatisfied tsk with her mouth before half-taunting her with a tinge of her own curiosity.


    ¡°Oh, goodness¡­ But, gosh¡­ You¡¯re incredibly lucky Cherri was moved to another wing of the ship, you know?¡± The woman let out a small sigh, taking in the full perspective of the room as she moved to pull the blood-soaked sheets from the bed.


    The woman continued. ¡°You were found lying on the deck, completely passed out. I don¡¯t know who left you there and why, but I imagine you probably attempted to jump overboard,¡± she surmised. ¡°Whatever Cherri gave you seems to have disabled the use of your leg muscles, but she never logged what she gave you. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t just give you something to neutralize the effects of the first drug.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    The woman cut her off. ¡°Look, Lacia. I really don¡¯t care what you have to say right now. I mean, just look at you. You can¡¯t even get off the floor.¡± Her face was full of pity.


    ¡°You¡¯re so kind,¡± Lacia said through sarcasm and gritted teeth.


    She soon found herself losing body heat faster than she could generate it as the floor sucked any semblance of warmth from her like a vacuum. Despite her best efforts, she continued to flounder on the floor, muscles too weak to support her weight. Amidst the stabbing pain in her side and the immobility of her legs, she repeatedly fell back onto the floor, achieving the same floundering results each time.


    The woman dropped the bloodied bedding into a hamper in the wall before seating herself on the bare mattress. She seemed both amused and fascinated by Lacia¡¯s repeated struggle. Her face showed little measure of emotion, but her eyes followed Lacia¡¯s every move as if they were programmed to record her.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the show, you know? This is the most entertaining thing to happen on this ship in some time.¡±


    Lacia glared at her through matted hair¡ªshe did not appreciate the snarky comments. ¡°What a bitch,¡± she thought. ¡°Here I am, lying on this floor, in pain, bleeding, and all she can do is watch me struggle.¡± Her legs remained outstretched behind her, useless and immobile¡ªshe could barely feel them.


    ¡°Alright,¡± the woman sighed. ¡°I suppose this is enough fun for one night,¡± she said in an airy voice.


    As if on cue, Lacia slipped in the new crimson puddle that had begun to spread out from under her. Her face contorted in pain as she fell back onto the floor again; this time, she decided to stay down¡ªshe just didn¡¯t have the strength to keep trying.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to come over here to poke more fun at me, I¡¯d rather you just leave me,¡± she said through shallow breaths. ¡°Clearly, I can¡¯t do anything since I¡¯m so useless. I¡¯d rather just die here than be humiliated like this.¡± Tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she looked away, embarrassed.


    ¡°You¡¯re an interesting girl, you know that?¡± the woman said. She crouched down, level with Lacia. She dug her elbows into her knees as she placed her hands on her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve ever had someone quite like you before.¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± Lacia said hurriedly, ¡°Since you¡¯ve yet to introduce yourself and you know me, I¡¯m going to call you Miss Masochist, okay?¡± The blood loss was making her woozy. ¡°Either you do your job and get me to someone who can help me or¡ªI don¡¯t know. I¡¯m¡ª I¡¯m in too much pain, and I think I¡¯ve lost too much blood¡­ So, do something and we can have a lovely conversation over tea tomorrow, ok?¡± she half-smiled.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ tea isn¡¯t really my thing though¡­¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t being lit¡ª¡± Lacia cut herself off. A huge wave of nausea overcame her. She felt like she could vomit at any moment.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to let you in on a little secret,¡± the woman whispered in her ear. It felt uncomfortably warm and ticklish. ¡°I¡¯m actually the same age as you.¡±


    Lacia¡¯s eyes felt like deadweights; it took everything she had to keep them open. What did it even matter they were the same age? A faint buzzing resonated through her head as she began to lose sense of reality. She felt someone lift her head off the floor and lay her on another bed; the lights on the ceiling began to move as she was wheeled down the hallway towards another mysterious room.


    ¡°See?¡± The woman said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t just going to let you bleed out. You¡¯re far too interesting, Lacia. For example,¡± she lifted Lacia¡¯s gown, ¡°how did you get a puncture wound like this¡ªespecially this clean?¡± The flesh around the wound had grown red and swollen, oozing fresh blood. ¡°Oh, and before we put you under, let me introduce myself,¡± she said, dancing around the bed.


    ¡°My name is Aria, and I am your new caregiver!¡± Lacia¡¯s eyes widened as Aria giggled. ¡°I look forward to working with you! The Doctor and I will be patching you up tonight, so rest well. We have a lot to discuss when you wake again,¡± she said endearingly.


    ¡°More complexities to confuse me,¡± she thought. The anesthesia gripped her; her vision began to swim, and, seconds later, she was asleep. Whatever the connection Aria had to everything, she¡¯d have to unravel later.


    ¡°So, Brendan, tell me why we¡¯re here again?¡± Mana wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about trying to shuffle through large crowds of refugees, especially as the sun was beginning to set, but browsing antique shops was also pretty low on her list of things-to-do.


    ¡°I just need to check on something really quick then we can go eat. I promise.¡±


    He was browsing the rustic wares of a lonely antique shop. Everything from cheaply-made plastic seashells to centuries-old geographic maps lined the shelves. The orange rays from the setting sun threw a rustic glow on the dusty floorboards and wooden shelving. Aside from its contents, it was a regular antique shop filled to the brim with gadgets and trinkets of all kinds¡ªnot just plastic replicas or poorly-understood maps created by early explorers.


    Dust particles floated in the sunbeams, drifting in the still air as they gathered on the ground, embracing their inevitable fate¡ªthey would be swept away one day, off to start anew somewhere else. It was almost ironic¡ªthe particulates shimmered with the luster of diamonds, forged into perfection by trial, yet the dust was allowed to just¡­ float there, shimmering like their gemstone counterparts¡ªas if something so foul ever reserved the right to mimic such perfection.


    Brendan shifted his weight to one foot as he leaned against the wall, tired. He was hungry, too, as was indicated by the rumbling of his stomach, but for some reason, he¡¯d felt drawn to the little shop, like he¡¯d been there before. He¡¯d tried to explain his reasoning to Mana, but she just sighed and threw up her arms.


    ¡°Look. You know how everything is made of matter, right?¡± he started. ¡°Just like everything has its own unique material form, it also has a unique mana signature. If whatever I¡¯m feeling in here leads us to Lacia, it would be worth it, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been in here for thirty minutes and you¡¯ve touched almost everything, though. I¡¯m hungry,¡± she whined, ¡°Can¡¯t we go eat first and then come back? I¡¯m just as concerned as you are, but we can¡¯t do this on an empty stomach. Right, Licht? ¡­Licht?¡±


    She looked everywhere, but their new companion was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Until I find Licht, you can keep looking,¡± she told Brendan. ¡°After that, I will drag both of you out of here so we can eat something if it¡¯s the last thing I do.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Brendan said, scurrying off to another room somewhere in the back of the shop.


    ¡°Boys.¡± Mana rolled her eyes. ¡°Now, where in the world did Licht go? He was supposed to be my way out of this place¡­¡± She turned the corner, surprised to find him in deep conversation with the shopkeeper.


    ¡°It¡¯s called a what now? Did I hear you right?¡± he asked, surprised. ¡°Those aren¡¯t even supposed to exist here.¡±


    An elderly woman¡¯s voice replied. ¡°Yes, you heard me correctly. The stone you speak of is called neriolite. Not much is known about it, however.¡± It was the shopkeeper.


    ¡°Can you think of why it would appear here, on Earth, of all places?¡± Licht shook his head. ¡°No¡­ Forget Earth¡ªit doesn¡¯t belong in this universe. This literally makes zero sense.¡±


    ¡°It may not mean much, but I have noticed a disturbance in the universal plane as of late. Something has become unbalanced. Perhaps this is what might be disrupting the current order. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve noticed the cracks in the sky, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and it¡¯s almost as if our world is colliding with another, yet the energy I¡¯m feeling is¡­ different. I¡¯m not sure how exactly to describe it. Maybe like¡­¡± He gasped. ¡°Are we colliding with a decaying world? Something on the brink of destruction?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve felt the same energy you have, though I cannot answer your questions as I do not know.¡± The shopkeeper retrieved a book from below the counter, but Mana was too far back to make out the cover or what it said.


    ¡°This,¡± the woman said, planting a large, dust-caked, book on the counter, ¡°may help answer some of your questions. I¡¯ve been holding onto it for some time, hoping to pass it onto someone who might find better use out of it than I. It is yours now. Take good care of it, and it should serve you well.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your generosity,¡± Licht said, surprised. ¡°I know this seems strange, but a friend of, uhh, my friends, is missing. All we really know right now is that she¡¯s mixed up in some crazy stuff.¡± He scratched his nose. ¡°Once this is all over, I¡¯ll thank you properly for both your help and this book.¡±


    The shopkeeper chuckled. ¡°I appreciate the sentiment. Now, go. It looks like a certain someone has been anxiously looking for you.¡±


    ¡°Shoot¡­ So, she knew I was here the whole time?¡± Mana cursed.


    ¡°Thank you again, ma¡¯am. You¡¯ve been a great help,¡± Licht said before turning around to give Mana a big smile. Embarrassed by her own eavesdropping, she turned her head away. ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Not really,¡± she pouted. ¡°More to the point, can you help me convince Brendan to let us go eat? We can come back later. It¡¯s just that we¡¯ve been here¡­ almost an hour now,¡± she said, checking the time on her phone, surprised to find it still had a charge.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± he laughed.


    Suddenly, Brendan¡¯s shouts echoed from the back of the shop. ¡°Mana, Licht¡ª Come here for a minute. I think I¡¯ve got something.¡±


    Mana was thrilled he might have a lead, but she also dreaded the thought of spending another minute without food. Although, if it was enough to convince him to leave after he explained his findings, she wasn¡¯t opposed to seeing what he had to say.


    ¡°Well, then¡­ Shall we go humor him?¡± Licht asked.


    ¡°If it means getting a plate of food in front of me that much faster, I¡¯m totally down,¡± she said in response.


    The back of the shop was filled with even more unique items than the front: murky glass jars, petrified driftwood, life preservers, and everything from theoretical literature to modern-day craft technology. A dim lightbulb transformed the stagnant dust into shimmering balls of light as they meandered about the room.


    Brendan opened a book he''d pulled from a nearby shelf; the pages smelled like a freshly printed novel, though it had seen better days. Water stains lined the edge, and the binding looked as if it could fall apart at any moment, damaged by years of sun and saltwater.


    ¡°What did you find, Brendan? Is it about Lacia?¡± Mana asked, pushing through a curtain of string beads.


    ¡°Yes and no,¡± he replied. ¡°Remember how I could trace her mana earlier? Well, it turns out that when I examined her hair ribbon further, I discovered another, strange mana. That same feeling led me here to the back of the shop¡ªspecifically, to this book.¡± He held the water-stained pages and cracked leather binding up:


    ¡°How Humanity is Incomplete: A Series of Essays¡±


    Borrowing the book from Brendan, Mana studied the front cover, scouring every inch for an author, but the ink had run at some point, smearing the words, and the first page was missing. Still, for a compilation of essays, it was surprisingly light. She thumbed through several pages before handing it back, concluding its contents were light years ahead of her comprehension level.


    The binding crackled as Brendan opened the essays to a dog-eared page. ¡°Yeah, I can barely understand this thing myself. While I can¡¯t quite explain how Lacia and these essays are connected, it¡¯s probably safe to assume it has something to do with what¡¯s in this thing. There¡¯s a passage in here I want to read to you and Licht. I¡¯ll try to explain as much as I¡ª¡±


    The shopkeeper fumbled her way through the string-bead-entry, interrupting Brendan mid-sentence. ¡°Ah. You¡¯re still here. Excellent!¡± She shuffled over to Mana. ¡°Please, open your hand. I have something I want to give you.¡±


    Curiosity got the better of her. She extended her arm and uncurled her fingers. The shopkeeper nestled a small necklace in the palm of her hand, neck chain curling into a silvery heap in the center. She hooked the necklace together, holding it up in the light. It was, arguably, the most beautiful piece of jewelry she¡¯d ever laid eyes on. The neck chain shimmered silver and bronze depending upon how the light hit it.


    A yellow, crescent-like charm seemed to sway to the beat of her heart as it dangled in front of her. On each end were two round beads, pale pink and blue. Upon further inspection, she realized they¡¯d been affixed around a thin, wire frame¡ªslightly offset from each other. She gave the beads a small tug, but they didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°This is a very special necklace, young lady. Always keep it on you,¡± the shopkeeper explained. ¡°It will serve you well.¡±


    Mana thanked the elderly woman, but she still had questions. ¡°Thank you very much for the concern but, umm¡­ What is this for? I mean, I¡¯ll be the first to admit that life has been anything but normal lately, so I guess this is about par,¡± she laughed. ¡°Still though, why give this to me?¡±


    ¡°That necklace,¡± the shopkeeper started, ¡°wards off evil, but it also leads you in the direction your heart desires. Tell me, young lady, what do you desire most right now?¡±


    Mana paused for a few seconds. Secretly, she wished things would just go back to normal, though she understood the unreasonable nature of something so broad. Just having Lacia back would suffice, but there had to be a method to the madness. Lacia¡¯s abduction, the weird weather, voices in her head¡­


    ¡°I¡­ want to find Lacia and get things back to the way they were before all of this¡­ weirdness. Like, she¡¯s pretty much my whole life, and I can¡¯t imagine a life without her. I have to find her,¡± Mana exclaimed, placing her hand on her chest. ¡°She¡¯s depending on all of us.¡±


    ¡°Then, close your hand around that necklace and funnel your desires into it,¡± the shopkeeper said.


    Again, she did as instructed. Her hand began to warm; rays of light emanated from between her fingers, temporarily outshining even the streetlight that now filtered in through the dust-caked windows. She opened her hand to find the necklace fully illuminated, bathing the entirety of the room in a calming luminescence. Stars danced before her eyes, filling the air with miniature orbs of white, yellow, and fiery blue. The crescent began to expand in size as the beads arced around the circumference of the wireframe; they seemed eager to outrace each other. However, just as soon as the cosmic display began, it came to an end.


    ¡°Very good. Your heart¡¯s desires are pure and full of determination. Don¡¯t forget what brought you this far, and you will face the trials ahead of you with ease,¡± the shopkeeper finished. She turned to Brendan, leaving Mana and Licht at a total loss for words. ¡°Now, about that passage you were going to read¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Uh, yeah. Thank you for reminding me,¡± Brendan said, also in-awe. ¡°Would you, um, like to hear it as well, ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind, yes. That book is a unique one, but I¡¯ve never opened it myself,¡± she said, finding a nearby bench to sit on. ¡°It was brought to me by a couple nearly fifty years ago. They were never able to open it, however, and as such, it has remained on that shelf ever since.¡±


    ¡°And I was just the first to ever open it¡­ No pressure, right?¡± he asked, rhetorically. ¡°We seem to find one mystery after another.¡± He gave a defeated sigh. ¡°Okay. Here goes.¡±


    ¡°The human spirit is a fascinating one, I¡¯ve come to discover. Mom and dad could never understand that my fascination with the human psyche as a child wasn¡¯t just a phase; I suppose that¡¯s why they were never able to find true salvation. As humans, we have long been fascinated with the idea of something greater than ourselves¡­ This is an inherently flawed idea. As humans, we are weak-spirited, frail, and want to believe our failures are not just that¡ªfailures.¡±


    Brendan looked up from the page, expecting to receive looks of confusion or disregard. However, everyone seemed engaged, eager to hear more. Mana had posted up against the wall, arms folded, and Licht had joined the shopkeeper on the bench.


    ¡°Not quite what I was expecting, but okay,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Continuing on¡­¡±


    ¡°Our lives are filled with the constant idea of perfection and failure, but it¡¯s these very ideals that create such a weak and useless human spirit¡ªthis must not be allowed to cultivate further. I have proposed multiple hypotheses as a means of explanation for this weak human spirit: the innate desire to achieve something greater than ourselves, an afterlife, and an incomplete evolutionary trait that never fully developed and instead created a regression of the human spirit.¡±


    Brendan looked up again, but no one had moved. Licht¡¯s eyes were closed, listening intently; the shopkeeper smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯ve, uh, read ahead a bit already, so fair warning: this next bit might be a little difficult to understand.¡±


    ¡°This is certainly fascinating though, wouldn¡¯t you say? Who would have guessed such thought existed?¡± The shopkeeper said with distinct curiosity. ¡°Please, continue.¡±


    ¡°However,¡± Brendan read, introducing the next passage, ¡°my research into dark matter and time-space have led me to the potential discovery of a lifetime. We are living in an ever-expanding, infinite, universe. The way dark matter behaves when you introduce it to the concept of time briefly creates an entirely new, miniscule universe filled with many worlds like our own. Or maybe it would be easier to define these new universes not as universes at all, but as a part of the current universe we reside in already.¡±


    ¡°Yes, these are entirely new dimensions. The idea of taking a metaphorical step into one of these other worlds has been the subject of my research for years, and now that I have happened upon a unique stone, that I am dubbing ¡®neriolite¡¯, I feel I am closer than ever to restructuring this useless world.¡±


    ¡°Stop,¡± Mana said. ¡°Where is this going?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve stopped him at a good point, actually,¡± Licht piped up. ¡°The neriolite mentioned in that passage, Brendan¡­ Do you think it might have some kind of connection to Lacia¡¯s disappearance and the crazy weather?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± he said. ¡°Lest we forget about those cracks in the sky, too¡­¡±


    At this point, Mana was thoroughly confounded. ¡°We¡¯ll explain later,¡± Licht promised.


    ¡°We should let the young man continue. This is really quite fascinating,¡± the shopkeeper remarked as Brendan returned his attention to the final paragraphs of the page.


    ¡°Unfortunately, I have no way of determining whether these other worlds, apart from our own, are just as pitiful and incomplete. There remains a challenge to my research as it seems it will take more than this strange stone to open the metaphorical gates¡ªalso where I presume these neriolite reside, but how it came to be in our world remains a mystery. However, there seems to be a connection between an unusually-high state of consciousness and elevated emotional states. More tests will have to be run¡ªsome kind of human trials perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Truthfully, the sense of spirit makes me sick, and it¡¯s a waste to try and fix something so incomplete. Therefore, using these findings, I will reshape this world if no others are determined to be viable.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way to be sure if there¡¯s a connection to anything we¡¯re experiencing,¡± Brendan said, closing the book, ¡°or if Lacia is, in fact, involved. What we do know is that this is as good a lead as any we¡¯ve had since her disappearance.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Brendan¡­¡± Mana broke in. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking.¡±


    ¡°I know you do,¡± he said, one hand still on the book, ¡°but as coincidental as it sounds, we can¡¯t just run around the world looking for her. Look¡­ As long as I can still detect her mana, she¡¯s okay, and this weird book proves that. Whatever is happening, she¡¯s needed by more than just us for whatever reason.¡±


    ¡°Brendan¡¯s right, Mana,¡± Licht said. ¡°In the meantime, as we figure things out and plan our next move, why don¡¯t we get something to eat and find a place to stay for the night?¡±


    She sighed. There was no use in arguing and she was definitely hungry¡ªthe gurgling of her stomach told her as much. Stealing a glance at Licht, he gave her an awkward, semi-embarrassed smile.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s that then. I¡¯m famished and we can¡¯t do this on an empty stomach,¡± she shrugged.


    The shopkeeper spoke up once more. ¡°The world is a big place¡ªbe careful out there. Come back and see when you¡¯ve found your friend. She sounds just as lovely as all of you, and don¡¯t get into any trouble, you hear me?¡±


    Everyone laughed, sidelining the unsettling tension Brendan¡¯s read-aloud had created. There was a lot they still didn¡¯t know about Lacia, or the world, even, but the grandmotherly-like tone and insistence from the shopkeeper was a welcome reprieve from the anxiety that hung in the air like a wet blanket.


    ¡°Go. You persistent young people never know when to start, but when you finally do, you never stop,¡± she half-joked.


    ¡°One last thing, if you wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± Brendan piped. ¡°How do we address you? You¡¯ve done so much for us in such simple ways. The least we can do is address you properly.¡±


    Silence filled the room, disturbed only by the sound of the clattering beads from the entryway. Unnervingly, the shopkeeper stared at him as if she were peering into his soul before finally answering his question.


    ¡°You may call me Madame Lucero¡ªthat is my name. Now, off you go,¡± she said, herding the group back to the front of the shop.


    Peering through the windows, Mana realized dusk had already fallen on the town. ¡°So much for doing anything with what little daylight we had to begin with,¡± she thought.


    ¡°If you find yourselves around these parts again someday, perhaps you will still find me here,¡± Madame Lucero said in parting as she opened the front door. ¡°The best advice I can give you, well, you already know. You¡¯re a smart bunch,¡± she chuckled.


    Mana, Licht, and Brendan watched the elderly woman hobble back into the shop, another dimension in its own right¡ªan experience they¡¯d almost certainly look back on someday. For now, they couldn¡¯t help but feel as if they¡¯d made an important first step in determining Lacia¡¯s potential whereabouts and just what, exactly, they were walking into.


    Was the ¡°neriolite¡± mentioned in the text what Lacia had encountered back at the gas station, and what was the ominous mention of restructuring the world? Was such a feat even possible?


    ¡°Whatever happens next, I hope we¡¯re ready for it,¡± Mana said to herself. ¡°Wherever you are, Lacia, hold on just a little longer. We¡¯re getting closer by the day.¡± She turned to look at the dusk-lit sky. ¡°Just a little longer¡­¡±


    Mana reached into her back pocket having forgotten she chose to wear a skirt that day, the last of her clean clothes, but she failed to remember she also had no pockets. With an exasperated sigh she reached into her bag, slung across her chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m so hungry and tired that I can¡¯t even remember half the things I¡¯ve done today,¡± she complained.


    With a couple tiny taps, she was relieved to find her phone still had a charge as the screen sprang to life. While the display of zero new notifications was a little disheartening, the phone at least still kept time; 8:21pm scrolled across the top of the screen.


    The night air was cool and damp as it began to settle across the town, dew forming on any solid surface it could cling to. Thankfully, the onset of dusk had forced many of the crowds from earlier in the day to thin; the only sign anyone had been there at all were the occasional shoeprints in the dirt.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go eat,¡± Mana said.


    ***


    ¡°Ahh! That was the best meal I¡¯ve had in weeks,¡± Mana exclaimed in delight. Brendan and Licht seemed to agree as they, too, sat back in their chairs, stomachs full. ¡°We still have to find a place to stay for the night, though. I don¡¯t think my back could handle another night sleeping in the car.¡± She reached out to their waitress as she cleared a nearby table. ¡°Excuse me, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Yes? Was everything to your satisfaction?¡± the waitress answered.


    ¡°Yes, actually. It was wonderful, but I noticed this restaurant was connected to an inn. Would you happen to have any openings or know if there are any, by chance?¡±


    The waitress stopped for a moment to study the faces of her patrons. ¡°Yes, actually, we do. How long are you looking to stay for?¡±


    ¡°Just a night or two, really.¡±


    ¡°Alright. And it¡¯s just the three of you?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We need a break from sleeping in the car,¡± Mana laughed.


    The waitress pulled out a small tablet, made a few quick taps, and handed the device to Mana. On the screen were several options depending on room-type, view, and even suites. The prices weren¡¯t what she had hoped for, but they were still lighter on her wallet than what she was expecting. As she scrolled through the list of options, something else caught her eye; the numbers on the screen seemed to be in a foreign currency, but not one she¡¯d ever heard of or seen before.


    Ceruls, Alura¡¯s currency of choice, had been replaced by something unrecognizable¡ªa left-facing bracket centered inside a small circle. It was likely just a mistake, but Seria was still within Alura; the currency should still be in ceruls, regardless of who was requesting a room.


    Cross-referencing the dinner bill and the room rates, she confirmed the currencies were dissimilar. She did a double-take just to be certain, but the respective currencies remained unchanged.


    ¡°Two nights would be perfect, but can you tell me what currency these rates are in?¡± Mana asked, handing the tablet back.


    Puzzled, the waitress took a moment to examine the room rates in question. Mana watched as she fiddled with the device, frowning at its apparent failure to procure an accurate number; her frustration only grew when the tablet bricked itself, inoperable. She knocked it against the palm of her hand¡ªa little crass and unexpected, but it seemed to work. With a couple more swipes, quick taps, and the click of a button, her face eased.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened there, but everything is back in ceruls again. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience,¡± she exclaimed as she handed the tablet back to Mana.


    Sure enough, the prices now reflected the updated currency and associated costs; the rates for a single night were now far more appealing. She was relieved, and so was her wallet.


    ¡°Yeah, two nights would be perfect, please.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the waitress exclaimed in delight. ¡°You¡¯re our first guests in some time.¡±


    ¡°But there are so many people here¡­ You¡¯re telling me no one else has made a booking? The food is excellent and so are the prices for a room¡­ I know things have been off lately, but there¡¯s everything, and then some, going for this place. Doesn¡¯t that seem strange?¡±


    ¡°Do you really think they have money for such expenses as you can afford right now?¡± The waitress gestured in the direction of a local refugee camp. ¡°I think they have bigger things to worry about at the moment¡­¡±


    A small group of refugees wandered through the streets; tattered clothes and dirt-covered faces exemplified their plight. One man limped along, struggling to keep pace while a woman held a hand over an already-scabbed-over laceration on her arm. They looked like they¡¯d been through hell, but, somehow, they all managed to find a way to smile.


    Mana overheard their conversation as they passed the patio. ¡°I don¡¯t know, guys,¡± a male voice said. ¡°The earthquake was bad, but despite losing everything, I still have all of you. Maybe I¡¯m still in shock, but I feel so blessed to be here right now¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey man, that¡¯s what friends are for¡ªto make you feel not-so-alone,¡± another of the male refugees replied. ¡°We¡¯re gonna get this figured out. For now, all we can do is wait for insurance to eventually kick in. I hope¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really sweet of you, Mikey,¡± the injured woman said. ¡°He¡¯s right, guys. We have to be optimistic. There¡¯s nothing we can do right now except wait, like you said.¡± She stopped, having noticed a member of the group had fallen behind. ¡°Here, Rinn¡ª Use my shoulder for support.¡±


    Mana shifted uncomfortably in her seat, having been subject to a conversation she never thought she¡¯d have to hear. While she¡¯d been a little taken aback by the subtle suggestion that she was being selfish, judging by the waitresses¡¯ reaction to her earlier question, it was still embarrassing to admit she wasn¡¯t thinking clearly.


    Her ears felt like they were on fire as her cheeks flushed. How could she have been so oblivious? These people were caught by surprise, victim to the unyielding power of nature. While she could afford dinner and a couple nights at a nice inn, she still felt guilty for having assumed that was a luxury everyone else could also afford.


    The faint murmur of voices and small cries lingered in the air, carried out by the evening sea breezes as the final glow of the sun melted into the inky twilight of the evening. It was so calm despite the large influx of refugees into the city; the occasional laugh, and shout of frustration hitchhiked on the wind to her ears.


    These people had suffered enormous tragedy; they were displaced, hungry, and scared with no home to return to, yet there remained a glimmer of hope and optimism that was unlike anything else. Maybe it was the sense of community and belonging? Was it that they could relate to each other, having lived through something as terrifying as an earthquake and, for some, a mega-tsunami?


    ¡°Maybe,¡± she thought. ¡°It feels like forever since we left Azalea. Anything could have happened since then, but is this because of us? All of this suffering? We¡¯re still supposed to find Lacia, right?¡±


    She sighed. ¡°You have a point,¡± she said in reply to the waitresses¡¯ comments. ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind putting us up for a couple days, we¡¯d still love to stay.¡± She turned around in her chair, legs brushing the linen tablecloth, to address Licht and Brendan. ¡°How does a suite sound to you two? I think we could all use the room considering we¡¯ve been stuck in that car for so long.¡±


    ¡°That sounds heavenly,¡± Brendan said, leaning back in his chair.


    ¡°Wurkfs fer mme,¡± Licht replied, stuffing his face once again.


    Mana couldn¡¯t help but giggle. ¡°You heard the boys. One suite, two nights, please,¡± she said with a smile¡ªthe first one since Lacia¡¯s abduction.


    The waitress had recommended the master suite, even giving them their second night for half the rate of the first as an apology for her earlier comments and software glitch; she¡¯d admitted it wasn¡¯t her place to judge, but it had been a long day. She¡¯d been harassed by some of the refugees on more than one occasion, fending off those who only wanted to make a scene.


    ¡°Girl¡­ I¡¯m sorry you had to put up with that,¡± Mana had said, sympathizing. ¡°Next time, just smack them with a frying pan,¡± she winked, adding an extra 30% tip to the final dinner bill.


    Walking into the room, the sweet scent of azaleas greeted her nostrils as she took a moment to enjoy the open space and quiet. While she didn¡¯t doubt the waitresses¡¯ opinions on the Master Suite, words simply didn¡¯t do it justice: white walls and bright fluorescent lights gave the room an ethereal feel. Combined with the vaulted ceiling and walk-out back porch, the place felt more like a millionaire¡¯s vacation home than a fancy suite at an inn in the middle of town.


    Tired, she placed her bag and leftovers from dinner on the counter; the food was so good, she¡¯d ordered another portion to-go. For a moment, she thought she was standing in the middle of a five-star kitchen: pots and pans hung from drying racks above the sink, the appliances were sparkly stainless steel, and the drawers and cabinets were a dark oaken color, juxtaposing the kitchen with the glass-like white-marble floors.


    Eyeing a similarly colored leather couch, she finally realized how exhausted she was. She walked over and promptly buried her face in the throw pillows¡ªmakeup-be-damned. She¡¯d worry about washing her face later.


    An audible gasp escaped her lips, catching Licht and Brendan off-guard as they entered the room, carrying packed suitcases. She concluded that the couch was the most comfortable thing she¡¯d ever laid on¡ªperiod; she didn¡¯t think her body would forgive her if she got up. Removing her face from the pillow, she turned her head, peering through a set of silken drapes¡ªthey cast an almost divine filter on the city.


    ¡°That¡¯s eerily heavenly,¡± she thought to herself.


    ¡°Mana,¡± Brendan said, ¡°Licht and I are gonna put the suitcases in the left bedroom. He says his feet are killing him, though, so if you want your stuff before he calls it a night, I can put it in your room, if that¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°My¡­ room?¡± She was confused. ¡°There¡¯s only two bedrooms and if Licht is taking the one on the left¡ª Where will you sleep?¡± she asked, suddenly worried.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯d say judging by your reaction to that couch when we walked in, that should suffice,¡± he laughed. ¡°Mana¡ª You¡¯re footing the bill for us; the least I can do is let you have an actual bedroom.¡±


    ¡°And they say chivalry is dead,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°Fine, but please let me know if you need an actual bed. I¡¯m not opposed to¡­ sharing¡­¡±


    Brendan chuckled. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± he smiled.


    ¡°Uuunngh,¡± Licht grunted, fighting to remove his boots. ¡°I think all of the walking we did in town today caused my feet to swell a bit,¡± he laughed. ¡°Brendan, come give me a hand!¡±


    Brendan sauntered over to help. ¡°Thanks, again, for tonight. We¡¯re getting closer to figuring out where Lacia is, so try to rest well tonight. We¡¯ll find her, I promise,¡± he said, sticking his head through the doorway.


    ¡°Brendan!¡± Licht called.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I¡¯m coming,¡± he said. Mana could hear him from the other room as she got up to inspect the other bedroom. ¡°Put your back against the wall and I¡¯ll pull,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s gotta come off eventually!¡±


    ¡°Guess I should¡¯ve looked for a pair of shoes that fit instead of a new book on parallel dimensions, eh?" he said in reply.


    Mana giggled. ¡°It¡¯s the hard times that bring out the best in people, unfortunately,¡± she said to herself.


    Thirty minutes had passed, and Licht was still struggling to remove his boots. Brendan had tried wedging a butter knife between his ankle and the boot in hopes of loosening the seal between the two, resulting in a broken knife; he¡¯d even tried warming it with a hair dryer to make the boot expand¡ªno luck.


    ¡°Dude, just what shoe size are you, and how did you even get these on?¡±


    ¡°Eight and a half, and I put them on like I normally do.¡±


    Brendan grunted, pulling at the boot with every ounce of muscle he could muster. ¡°This¡­ thing¡­ won¡¯t¡ª¡±


    The boot gave a massive sigh as the air pocket inside gave way. Somehow, Licht had managed to create an air-tight seal inside the boot, securely anchoring it to his foot. He wiggled his toes, relieved his foot was finally free.


    ¡°Ahh¡­ Damn it feels good to take these things off. Now then¡­ for the left,¡± he clamored joyously.


    ¡°Alright, on three,¡± Brendan said, one foot pressed against the wall, the other on the floor. ¡°Let¡¯s not make this another thirty-minute battle, so, on three, I¡¯ll pull. That¡¯s when you try to stay as anchored to the wall as possible,¡± he explained. ¡°This won¡¯t work if either of us loses our balance.¡±


    ¡°Aye, aye sir!¡± Licht said, laughing.


    ¡°Three¡­ Two¡­¡± Brendan tightened his grip on the boot, ¡°One!¡±


    He pulled with so much force he stumbled back, surprised at how easy the second boot came off. Unable to regain his balance, he half-stumbled, half-moonwalked into Mana¡¯s room, falling over the edge of the bed.


    While she trusted Licht and Brendan to behave themselves, she never could have predicted what happened next. It had been an exhausting last few days, and a hot soak in the tub sounded like the perfect reprieve to her troubles. She¡¯d purposefully left her room door open a crack, but not because she was looking to have someone accidentally tackle her and pin her to the bed¡ªscantily dressed in only her underwear.


    The silken sheets under her body were as cold as the chilled windows, but at least that chill was held back by the glass. The sheets were pleasurable, but not what she was in the mood for. What¡¯s more, Brendan still hadn¡¯t realized she was only half-dressed as he slowly lifted his face from the pillow he¡¯d landed on, half-draped over her. She could just tell him to keep his head down until she put some clothes on, but why waste such an opportunity as this, she wondered, freeing herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell him how I feel,¡± she thought. ¡°But I should also let him know that, even if it was an accident, you shouldn¡¯t intrude on a woman when she¡¯s changing.¡± She mulled her thoughts over in her head, but her mind resembled that of jello.


    ¡°Aghh! Come on Mana, get it together!¡±


    It only took a few seconds for Brendan to remove his face from the pillow, but those few seconds felt more like a few centuries. How long had it actually been? Seconds? Minutes? She¡¯d lost all track of time as her thoughts continued to congeal into a gelatinous mess.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll tell him¡ª No¡­ Wait.¡± She pinched her cheek, resharpening her focus. ¡°Am I just emotional because of everything we¡¯ve been through lately? And Lacia¡¯s disappearance¡­ Are these feelings genuine or are they something artificial?¡± She shook her head.


    ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± Brendan asked, pillow-free. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to come barging in like¡­ that¡­¡±


    Brendan¡¯s eyes grew to the size of golf balls. There, before him, Mana sat on her legs, hands at her sides still half-dressed as she stared into his eyes; he had no choice but to stare back¡ªhe refused to look anywhere else. Her emerald eyes bore holes into his own caramel irises. If there were an Olympic sport for staring contests, there would be no competition¡ªneither Mana nor Brendan broke eye contact for a good minute.


    ¡°Mana¡­ You realize¡­¡±


    ¡°Observant, are we?¡± Mana said blushing, gaze still fixed.


    Seconds later, Brendan was at the foot of the bed, groveling in sincere apology. He wanted to compliment how great she looked¡ªlong before the accidental stumble into her room. Seeing her so brazenly bare all she had out in the open was one spectacle he wished he could compliment her on. Unfortunately, there was a time and place for everything, and her bedroom wasn¡¯t it.


    ¡°If it¡¯s any consolation, my face was in that pillow longer than I saw you, uhh¡­ Look. I¡¯ma be real with you right now, Mana. I have absolutely no idea what to say, and I¡¯ve wanted to say some things to you, and¡ª¡±


    Mana turned around, perched at the foot of the bed as he continued groveling¡ªdefinitely the last thing she¡¯d expected him to do. It wasn¡¯t that she doubted he had a good heart or wasn¡¯t someone to lustfully leer at women¡ªthe problem was that she had no idea how to react. He hadn¡¯t even complimented her. In fact, his apology sounded more like regret with a tinge of guilt than it did anything to do with her. If they hadn¡¯t spent the last several weeks together, would his reaction have been different? He had said there were some things he¡¯d wanted to say¡­


    ¡°Stop that,¡± she demanded. ¡°You¡¯re giving me S&M vibes and I don¡¯t like it. Stop apologizing. You didn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Sorry! Oops¡­ My bad,¡± he apologized, subconsciously.


    ¡°Stop! I literally hate the vibes that¡¯s giving me right now,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°Get back on the bed. I¡­ want you to sit in front of me.¡± The gears in her mind smoked. ¡°Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. I didn¡¯t just say that, did I?¡±


    Reluctantly, Brendan joined Mana on the bed again, now cross-legged. Meanwhile, Licht could be heard struggling with his other boot still. He couldn¡¯t help but think about how strange the evening had become: the tug of Lacia¡¯s mana, the incident at the restaurant, Licht¡¯s boot, and now this. Truthfully, he just wanted to turn around and go to bed; that had been his plan from the start.


    ¡°Let me be abundantly clear: you are inviting me here, back onto this bed. This was not done with any other motives in mind,¡± he clarified, ¡°but you do know you¡¯re half, uh, naked¡­ right?¡± If looks could kill, Mana would be accused of murder; her stare held so much ferocity he feared she might turn him to stone.


    ¡°This is the only time I¡¯m going to say this, so listen carefully,¡± Mana said. Her cheeks had grown bright red.


    ¡°These feelings I have,¡± she placed a hand on her chest, ¡°I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re genuine or not, but I wanted to tell you¡­ Brendan, I think I¡ª¡°


    SWOOSH!! THUNK!


    Licht¡¯s other boot sailed between Mana and Brendan, leaving mere inches between them as it slipped by. The sole rammed the back of the headboard with a loud SMACK. Licht peeped his head out into the main room, noticing how quiet it had become.


    ¡°Bad time?¡± he asked, gritting his teeth.


    ¡°No¡­ You know what? Never mind. Forget I asked,¡± she said softly, out of earshot. ¡°I¡¯m such a wreck right now¡ªeven boots are flying through the air!¡±


    She pulled a robe over herself, draped across the back of the desk chair, and retreated into the bathroom. The door slammed shut with audible force. She slumped against the sleek oak door, defeated and tired. The boot was an unexpected out; she wanted to tell Brendan how she felt, but she couldn¡¯t undermine herself; she had to ensure her feelings were genuine or suffer the pain of heartbreak later for leading herself on.


    ¡°Mana,¡± Brendan mumbled under his breath.


    He knew what she was trying to convey, but he couldn¡¯t understand what she was feeling¡ªat least not entirely. Her sobs from behind the bathroom door had less to do with him and more to do with the fact that, over the last several weeks, she¡¯d felt like she was increasingly powerless, unable to affect change. She watched as her world came crashing down at her feet like waves along the shoreline.


    Losing Lacia meant losing the one person who kept her anchored when the going got rough. She could keep up appearances better than anyone, better than Lacia herself; whether she chose to willingly divulge what bothered her was strictly her business; she didn¡¯t want to bother anyone else with her problems.


    Before the school suspended classes, she was falling behind in multiple subjects¡ªnot because she was having trouble understanding the concepts, but because she was growing tired of isolation, always alone. Her parents had been gone for months, away on business. However, they¡¯d gone radio silent several weeks prior to the day of the announcement in the school cafeteria. She called their work phones, but they would just ring and ring and ring¡ªeven the corporate line had been disconnected. To make matters worse, at the end of the first week, a large sum of money had appeared in her bank account; the last four digits she recognized as her parents¡¯ joint savings account.


    ¡°Who would even want to listen to such a conspiracy-prone story, anyways? Losing you, Lacia, was like losing that second half of myself,¡± she pitied.


    Brendan stared at the bathroom door, sighing. ¡°We all have our demons. Her¡¯s must be especially strong tonight.¡±


    His own emotions began to well up inside of him, ready to spring. It hurt, seeing her suffer, feeling like she¡¯d lost the only person she could confide in. A lump formed in his throat, but someone had to be her anchor. If he allowed his emotions to dictate his decisions, he was no better than a hollow puppet.


    Shifting his attention from Mana for the moment, he realized how unkept her room was: a pair of leggings were draped over the headboard of the bed, a few pairs of shorts had been strewn across the floor, and a set of pajama bottoms lazily hanging from the curtains¡ªhow those got up there would forever be a mystery.


    ¡°What was she doing in here?¡± he thought aloud. ¡°Maybe she was looking for something¡­¡±


    As he picked up the room, a letter rustled to the floor¡ªit must have been tucked away in a pocket somewhere. Several wrinkles had been creased into the envelope, reminding him of the scowl he used to receive from his teachers when they asked him where his homework was.


    ¡°Clearly not here,¡± he would retort, an attitude reminiscent of lazy, hazy school days.


    He knelt down, un-wrinkling the envelope as best he could before replacing it inside her half-zipped suitcase. He returned his gaze to the door, frowning, wishing he had the answers to all of her problems; the sobbing had dulled to an occasional sniffle. A sudden bzzt refocused his attention once again; Mana¡¯s phone had vibrated on the desk. To his surprise, it was unlocked.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± he thought.


    There was no sense in trying to pry anything out of her right now¡ªit wasn¡¯t in anyone¡¯s best interest. For tonight, it would be better if she was allowed to confront her inner self. Of course, he¡¯d be sure to check up on her in the morning.


    Picking up the phone, he navigated to the notes app and began typing. The battery had less than ten percent, though¡ªhe¡¯d be quick. Hopefully, in time, the note would explain his own feelings a little better, but only when the time was right; then, and only then, would she truly have everything she needed.


    ¡°In due time¡­¡±


    Dawn came early. Streaming through the curtains, sunlight bathed Mana¡¯s bedroom in a pale light as she wrestled the bed sheets, trapped between her legs. She groaned, trying to block the morning sun from her eyes, but it was no use; she¡¯d tossed and turned all night. The clock on her nightstand read a daunting 5:30am¡ªnot her preferred time to start the day. She did a double take:


    ¡°Five-thirty? Has it always been this bright so early in May?¡± she wondered. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve just been so out of it lately that I haven¡¯t paid as much attention to things as I normally do¡­¡±


    Even so, she couldn¡¯t believe April had already come and gone. Wasn¡¯t she just walking Lacia home from school? And the croissant? The days had blurred together since her disappearance; today being the start of a new month didn¡¯t exactly give her that ¡°new¡± vibe; today was just another set of twenty-four hours in the quest to find Lacia. She felt no closer to finding her best friend than she did to winning the lottery, and she didn¡¯t even have a ticket. Mana rubbed the sleep from her eyes, swinging her feet over the side of the bed.


    ¡°She¡¯s been gone for almost a month now¡­ Just how close are we actually getting to figuring this out?¡± she muttered. Her stomach seemed more interested in finding breakfast, however. ¡°So hungry¡­¡±


    She checked the Room Service menu on the kitchen counter, sneaking past Brendan, still asleep on the couch in the main room. Hotels always had early breakfast¡ªsurely this one was the same, right? Squinting, she turned the menu over:


    ¡°Breakfast starts at 7am,¡± it read.


    ¡°That is so cap. I¡¯m hungry now, and there¡¯s not a single scrap of food in this place besides last night¡¯s leftovers¡­¡± She wanted breakfast¡ªnot a full-course dinner. ¡°What the hell am I going to eat?¡± she mumbled, stomach rumbling. ¡°Can we not right now, stomach? I know you¡¯re hungry, but so am I. Please just, like¡ªchill.¡±


    Defeated, she stepped out onto the patio, inhaling the crisp, dewy morning air. Maybe if she took her mind off food, it would help settle her stomach. She eased into a patio chair nestled in the corner, warmed by the gentle rays of the morning sun, barely a half circle; another day of work had begun, arcing across the sky, warming the earth.


    Shades of red and purple plastered the horizon, a display of magnificence fit only for those who dared brave the early hours of the approaching dawn¡ªa display unlike anything she¡¯d ever seen. The crimson reds reflected her fiery determination and passion, one that ignited a fire in her heart. She never backed down from a challenge, no matter how stacked against her the odds were. The hues of lavender symbolized her calming nature but reflected her heart¡¯s burning desire for peace and stability.


    ¡°Sometimes, it takes a major ordeal before someone truly realizes just how fragile life is, but even more so for them to understand their own ideals and what constitutes their humanity,¡± she said, thinking back on the adventures she¡¯d had with Lacia as a child. ¡°Though I know we¡¯re far apart, we¡¯re not really that far, are we? I¡¯ve learned a lot since we¡¯ve been apart,¡± she laughed.


    The gradual, warming light of the sun made her want to crawl back into bed, eyes heavy. She pulled her legs up to her chest, resting her head against her knees. Maybe getting up early wasn¡¯t such a bad thing, after all. The sun represented life and renewal, and she understood why; it provided light¡ªrenewal¡ªand warmth¡ªlife.


    A sudden, light tingling sensation around her cheek disrupted her dreamy daze. Using the porch door, she examined her reflection in the glass; the mark under her eye had reignited as a fresh breeze stripped the sun¡¯s warmth from her skin.


    Without warning, her vision pulsed. She felt like someone was adjusting a zoom lens¡ªin and out, in and out. A debilitating migraine radiated across her entire forehead, around the eyes, and down her neck. She began to sway, gripping the chair, struggling to steady herself. Her vision pulsed again as a streak of light cut across the sky like lightning, but there was no thunder; it danced across the horizon, erratic and unpredictable. The same moment it appeared, it vanished, leaving her with a worsening migraine.


    Cracks formed in the sky, crawling across the pale, sunlit canvas like spidery cracks; they traversed the color-filled horizon in unrecognizable patterns: horizontally, vertically¡ªeven sharp, diagonal cuts that reminded her of a computer screensaver. Was she hallucinating? Was the migraine a harbinger of some sort? She pressed a hand to her head, embroiled by the searing pain.


    An abrupt, but soft, voice called out to her: ¡°Do not fret, my child. You¡¯ve done well to come this far, but this is where your path lessens in ease.¡± The voice felt empty, void of emotion or substance, rippling through her mind. ¡°You are not equipped to handle the burdens that will befall you on this path you have chosen. You are dearly missing someone¡ªyour heart aches¡ªbut it is not yet time for you to reunite.¡±


    ¡°Okay. It¡¯s a bad migraine when there are voices in my head,¡± she groaned.


    Still, she had questions, and if the last several weeks had taught her anything, asking questions seemed to be the only way information got around, yet she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if, perhaps, there was something greater at work, something omniscient and loving¡ªsomething grand.


    ¡°Alright, why not play along?¡± she pondered. ¡°For the sake of having a control, let¡¯s say I¡¯m not losing my mind, and this is happening. Just who are you? Why come to me of all people, and for what?¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°Who or what are you?¡±


    Mana planted herself where she stood, still uneasy. The concrete patio retained the previous night¡¯s chill, though it seemed to have no reservations about sharing. She exchanged her body heat for the shocking cold of the patio floor; the morning sun was too young to provide any warmth. Perhaps even more shocking, however, was the response she received to her question.


    Silence reigned supreme. ¡°I have been called an angel, an apparition¡ªeven a figment of imagination¡­ Perhaps the term ''God'' is something you are more familiar with?¡±


    ¡°¡­God?¡±


    ¡°If that is what you wish to call me, though I am not omnipotent,¡± the voice replied. ¡°More to the point, time is not something I have, child. The person your heart seeks is safe, but she longs for your rescue.¡±


    Mana¡¯s eyes widened. Aside from Brendan managing to trace her mana, this was the first good news she¡¯d received regarding Lacia. A question began to form on her lips, but she faltered. Lacia aside, what did the voice mean by ¡°short on time¡±? Did Gods even have a sense of time?


    ¡°Or whatever you are,¡± she mumbled.


    The voice continued. ¡°It is not time for your reunion yet, but you must not forget what it is that has brought you this far,¡± it warned. ¡°However, I shall bestow upon you something that will help in your journey.¡±


    A distant whistling crept into Mana¡¯s ears, shrill like a winter¡¯s wind. Before she knew it, a surge of rich, magical energy funneled around her as a whirlwind nipped at her bare skin. The wind grew stronger, squeezing its way between the soles of her feet and the concrete. She felt her feet leave the patio floor, in awe at the mid-air suspension¡ªshe didn¡¯t care how such a feat was even possible.


    Elation poured into every fiber of her being; the warm influx of mana was sublime. Her muscles eased; the stress melted away¡ªshe could even feel her blood pressure lower. Wisps of color danced before her, twirling round and round in a ritualistic ceremony. Were they putting on a show for her or was there more to it? An orange wisp wandered up to her; it seemed almost¡­ curious. It danced across her shoulders and bounced off her chest before it dissipated in the swirling column of air. Following suit, wisps of all colors joined their comrade, dissipating into multicolored puffs of air. The colors mixed together, transforming the vortex into a whirl of ethereal white.


    Her body warmed, filled with the playful energy of the wisps and rejuvenated by the surge of mana that coursed through her veins, purging her body of senescent cells. She felt amazing, like she¡¯d consumed a smoothie packed with every superfood known to man, buttressed by a confidence boost.


    ¡°So, this is what magic feels like,¡± she said softly, enveloped by the magically-charged vortex. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt anything like this. It¡¯s so¡­ warm and comforting.¡±


    Moments later, her feet were returned to the ground as she made a gradual descent. What had taken less than five minutes felt like eternity; she didn¡¯t want to lose the rich, magical feeling she¡¯d been gifted¡ªit was pure ecstasy. She licked her lips to wet her mouth and was greeted by a pleasant, sugary taste.


    ¡°Remember this feeling as it will be one you recall when the time is right,¡± the voice riddled again. ¡°For now, relish what you have been given.¡±


    A small inkling of satisfaction escaped her lips, one of pleasure. ¡°Mmm¡­ You can¡¯t tease a girl like that¡­¡±

 Chapter 6: Memories of a Forgotten Past

    Several days passed before Lacia regained the use of her legs. She knew recovery would be slow; unlikely as it was, she¡¯d already prepared for the possibility she might not walk again. Thankfully, that reality never came to pass.


    ¡°It¡¯s not perfect, but at least I can sort of walk again,¡± she thought. An exuberant smile shied its way onto her face. She¡¯d grown weary of the medicine-induced paralysis¡ªstretching never felt so good.


    Eagerly, she ventured her way out of the med-bay, tiptoeing along as she used the handrails for support. Her legs were weak, but she could at least make small trips before running out of breath.


    The hallways were dark and filled with the stench of bleach, cold tile exacerbating the chill on her skin. The thought of warm sunlight gave her the motivation she needed to push through the stinging ache in her side¡ªjust a few more feet.


    Waves threw themselves at the boat from all sides, splashing against the metal hull; the sound grew louder the closer she got to the deck. With a large heave, she pressed her body against the door as bright sunlight blinded her, forcing her eyes to adjust from the dimly-lit med-bay where she¡¯d been recovering from surgery.


    Her bare feet burned as she stepped onto the sun-seared deck. She didn¡¯t realize how well wood absorbed heat as she quickly retreated back inside, scouring the area for any nearby shade. Propping herself between the doorway, she took a deep breath, inhaling the salty ocean air. Finally, something other than bleach.


    Eyeing an open beach chair, nestled beneath an unfurled umbrella, she half-limped, half-fast walked across the scalding deck. Moments later, she managed to successfully tumble into the open chair, clenching her toes in blistering pain. While she¡¯d wanted some actual sun, she supposed she couldn¡¯t complain; being outside after what felt like eternity was good enough, though she had little semblance of what day it even was, much less the month.


    ¡°Oh well,¡± she sighed. ¡°It could be worse, I guess, but I¡¯m kinda glad things ended up this way, because drowning doesn¡¯t sound fun anymore. Err¡­ Not that it ever did¡­ I definitely wasn¡¯t thinking straight.¡± She shivered.


    Adjusting her position in the chair, she found herself face-to-face with the same endless horizon as before¡ªnothing but open ocean for as far as the eye could see. She¡¯d grown tired of playing musical beds and medical tests, but she had grown just as weary of all the water¡ªfive minutes on solid ground and she¡¯d be happy.


    ¡°At least I don¡¯t get seasick,¡± she laughed.


    She sat back and closed her eyes, taking in the mixture of saltwater and the lingering stench of bleach in her nose¡­ No. It wasn¡¯t bleach she was smelling but something else¡ªsomething acrid, and it made her nose curl.


    ¡°Is that¡­ smoke? It smells like fire, but the only thing out here is water. Unless,¡± she gasped, sitting up, ¡°the boat¡¯s on fire? Oh, God. Am I doomed to have a watery grave anyways?¡± she sobbed.


    She couldn¡¯t help but recall her nightmares: the empty beach, the drowning¡ª ¡°Stop it. You¡¯re psyching yourself out¡­ There was still a beach, and that had nothing to do with any boats on fire,¡± she pouted. ¡°But still. Where is that coming from?¡±


    Hoisting herself onto the railing, she leaned over for a better view. The metal sweltered in the blazing sun, blistering-to-the-touch, but she didn¡¯t care. She dangled over the edge a moment longer, welcoming the sea spray that splashed her face.


    ¡°I never knew the sun could feel so good. That¡¯s what days of dark rooms and air conditioning will do to you, I guess¡­¡±


    She began her climb down from the railing; her legs felt like they were on fire as they shook under the strain of her weight. While unsteady, she managed to secure one foot on the lower rung followed by the other, clutching the railing with an iron grasp all the while. Her heart pounded against her chest as she realized the climb down would not be as easy as the climb up. Blisters formed on her hands from the sun-seared metal, but if she let go now, she would fall onto the deck¡ªthere would be no way to break her fall.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I thought this was a good idea,¡± she panicked. ¡°I¡¯m losing my mind. There¡¯s no way that was smoke. The bleach must have ruined my sense of smell or something. Now I¡¯m stuck!¡±


    Without warning, a sudden squall battered the boat with gusty winds and a bout of heavy rain, nearly forcing her overboard. Her hair billowed in the tempest, locks of platinum against a gray sky. Steam rose from the deck as the temperature dropped nearly twenty degrees in a matter of minutes. While she wasn¡¯t fond of being rained on, again, the metal had at least cooled enough to give her hands a break from the scalding temperatures.


    Another gust slammed into the boat, forcing it to careen into an approaching wave with tremendous force. Miraculously, Lacia managed to hang on, but not without first taking a mouthful of saltwater she subsequently spit out.


    She turned her gaze to the sky. ¡°Would you like to add a shark to the next wave or are you done now? Like, what the actual fuck?¡± she muttered.


    Just as soon as the storm had arrived, it departed, leaving clear skies and calm seas in its wake. A brisk wind chilled her skin, a far cry from the warm summer-like sea breezes she¡¯d been graced with earlier. The air had grown exponentially colder; a mind-numbing chill clung to her body like wet paper. She inhaled sharply, catching a strong whiff of the same acrid, smokey odor that forced her onto the railing to begin with. Summer was right around the corner, but the cold was unseasonal.


    A strange sound suddenly permeated her ears, but it was¡­ different¡ªsomething akin to that of crackling ice cubes in water. A violent shiver overcame her body as frost crawled along the metal railings, flash-freezing anything that dared cross its icy path. She had seconds to make a decision: let go of the railing and fall back onto the deck, or hold on and risk frostbite.


    Indecision mired her brain like a fog as she watched the advancing frost inch closer and closer. She turned her head around, trying to estimate the distance between her position on the railing and the deck below. The problem wasn¡¯t that she¡¯d climbed too high, though. While it had been a formidable climb, her legs had gone numb since; she¡¯d wedged her feet between the rails to anchor herself. She tried to wiggle her toes, but they wouldn¡¯t budge.


    Her skin was wet and cold, a prime target for rapid-onset hypothermia. Perhaps more pressing were the icicles that had started to form on the underside of the rails as the rainwater flash-froze where it dripped.


    She cursed, releasing her hold from the railing. Time seemed to move in slow motion; she watched as the place where her hands had been moments prior turned to solid ice. The air whipped around her back as she fell, plunging into the icy atmosphere. She arched her back, hoping her shoulders would take the brunt of the impact, but something was off¡ªher left foot was still lodged between the rails. She squeezed her eyes shut; she didn¡¯t want to see what came next.


    Her shoulders slammed into the deck, forcing her head to rebound into the wooden planks. The impact expelled the air from her lungs, sending her into a dizzying whirlwind of excruciating pain as she gasped for breath. She lay crumpled on the deck in a heap, roiling in agony.


    The hope was that her feet would dislodge from between the railing as she fell back, eliminating the need to move them herself. It was a risky last resort, but the muscles in her legs must have atrophied in her time since surgery¡ªmore than she¡¯d realized. To make matters worse, she¡¯d unknowingly restricted the flow of blood to her feet, causing much of the lower leg to grow numb as well.


    As she fell back, she twisted her foot in the complete opposite direction before it finally freed itself from between the railing. The pain was intense; she didn¡¯t realize she¡¯d been screaming for over a minute. With an obnoxious rusty, creak, a heavy metal door swung back on its hinges as Lacia¡¯s agonizing screams continued, reverberating across the whole of the boat.


    Aria¡¯s voice broke the cacophony of screams and sobs. ¡°Lacia?! What the hell are you doing out here?¡± She made a sickening face as she laid eyes on Lacia¡¯s now-broken foot. ¡°Girl, do you like making my life harder or something? Here you are, sneaking out of recovery, just to injure yourself again.¡± She frowned. ¡°And to think we were finally going to have our talk.¡±


    Tears streamed down Lacia¡¯s face. ¡°As much as I hate to see you right now,¡± she said between breaths, struggling to fill her lungs with oxygen, ¡°I¡¯m¡ª The pain¡ª¡± She scrambled around on the deck, somehow still wet with rain.


    Aria gave her a look, something between bewilderment and curiosity. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen someone break a foot so cleanly before,¡± she said in disbelief. ¡°I literally have no idea how you managed to pull this off, but I don¡¯t know if I can even move you¡ªit might cause even more damage.¡± She ran over to Lacia, careful not to slip.


    ¡°Twenty,¡± Lacia said.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Aria replied.


    ¡°The pain,¡± she said, foot beginning to swell into a bruised heap, ¡°is a twenty¡ª One to ten scale¡­¡±


    Aria knelt down, carefully examining Lacia¡¯s foot. She took a deep breath. ¡°Oh yeah¡­ You definitely broke it. Just from the outside, I can tell there¡¯s a clean break of the bone,¡± she explained. ¡°Until we secure that foot, there isn¡¯t much else I can do. If you¡¯re looking for immediate relief, well, pain meds don¡¯t work like that, so the sooner we take care of this, the better.¡± She removed a pair of padded splints from a medical bag. ¡°If the bone truly separated, you¡¯re in luck. If not, this could hurt¡ªa lot.¡±


    Lacia¡¯s breathing had grown ragged and inconsistent, but she managed to sit up, using the railing as support despite the icy metal. She watched as Aria unraveled the splints, preparing to press them against her leg. Embroiled with nausea and pain, she wanted to lean over and empty the contents of her stomach into the sea.


    ¡°Again,¡± Aria said, ¡°if the bone is still hanging on, even by a sliver, I will have to set the foot first.¡± She moved to place the splints but stopped. ¡°Actually¡­ Can you move it at all?¡±


    She wiggled her foot ever so slightly, but it was enough; the bone was still attached, but almost certainly broken. In all likelihood, when she¡¯d twisted her foot between the railing, the initial twist had fractured the bone, but the ensuing torque had exacerbated the fracture, splintering the bone in multiple places; it would have to be set, after all.


    ¡°Ok¡­ Just close your eyes and I¡¯ll get this all nice and wrapped up,¡± Aria coaxed deceivingly. ¡°This should only take a minute.¡± Lacia likely wouldn¡¯t let her set the foot if she was expecting it.


    Lacia closed her eyes, swaying in tandem with the rocking of the boat as the world began to fade away in a dull collapse of color. Was she always this tired? She struggled to keep her eyes open, despite her distrust of Aria. Colors melted like ice cream in the sun, dripping from the sky, off the walls, and seeping through the deck. She reached out a hand, but her muscles fell limp as if she were caught somewhere between wake and sleep.


    At some point, Lacia¡¯s hand drifted in front of her face; the distortion reminded her of the way water refracted light, metaphorically breaking anything submerged within its watery clutches. Was she actually drowning? Could she take a breath, and would her lungs even work if she could? Her arms drifted in the empty space before her, fingers outstretched, waiting for a lifeline. Somewhere in the expanse, she could hear Aria¡¯s voice, but it was distant, unable to break the barrier that seemed to separate them.


    Snaaap. The crunch was gut-wrenching, even startling a small flock of seagulls that had perched on the top of the boat. With a quick twist and subsequent splint, Aria had set the bone in Lacia¡¯s foot. In a perfect world, she would have been elated, having set her first-ever broken bone. While she¡¯d successfully pulled Lacia from a state of shock, any celebrations would have to take a raincheck.


    Instinctively, Lacia swung her elbow straight into Aria¡¯s temple, temporarily stunning her as she stumbled into the railing, trying to regain her balance. She¡¯d unconsciously attacked her after she set the bone; the pain shot through her nerves, triggering a half-conscious fight-or-flight response¡ªAria just happened to be on the receiving end of an unexpected stimulus she¡¯d triggered.


    ¡°Ughhh¡­ What the hell was that? Did something¡­ hit me?¡±


    Lacia seethed. ¡°That really hurt. You definitely had that coming,¡± she said, opening her eyes.


    ¡°Ok, but why did you hit me so hard?! I almost blacked out,¡± Aria said, pressing a hand


    to the side of her head. She looked ready to cry.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know what you were expecting, girly-pop,¡± Lacia retorted. ¡°If you were a man, I would have swung a lot harder.¡± She rubbed her elbow.


    Aria balled her fists as she stormed over to Lacia, ready to share a few unkind words. Woozily, she stomped through a puddle left by the rainstorm and promptly lost her footing, landing on her tailbone.


    Lacia watched as her face changed from rage to shock. ¡°Aww. Look at you,¡± she teased, ¡°pathetically sitting there in a puddle.¡±


    Aria¡¯s face turned bright red; she was soaked-through in the worst-imaginable place. ¡°I swear to God, Lacia¡­ If you laugh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get your panties in a wad, Aria. Or, should I say, a wat-er,¡± she joked, biting her lower lip. ¡°Imagine how I felt when you sat there at the edge of my bed, taunting me. I¡ª¡± She covered her hand with her mouth before finally losing the contents of her stomach. ¡°I¡¯m totally exhausted,¡± she groaned. Her eyes had grown heavy again. ¡°I¡¯m done. I¡¯ve had enough¡­¡±


    ¡°Find your own way back to your room, then,¡± Aria scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m over this. You¡¯re a waste of my time.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so crass. No wonder you don¡¯t have,¡± Lacia yawned, ¡°a boyfriend. But it¡¯s okay if you¡¯re into girls too, though. Just know you wouldn¡¯t be my type even if I did swing that way.¡± She yawned again. ¡°Goodnight¡­¡±


    Aria was bewildered. ¡°Where does this girl get off, thinking I¡¯ll just let her sleep here? Not to mention it¡¯s the middle of the day! And what in the world gave her the impression I¡¯m into other women?!¡± She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long while before I get used to this,¡± she grumbled.


    Several voices drifted through the door, a hushed conversation piquing her ears, ready to eavesdrop. Mixed into her dreams, she wasn¡¯t sure if what she was hearing was real or if it was her brain trying to trauma-cope.


    ¡°¡­Yes. We successfully¡­ her foot¡­¡±


    ¡°But¡­ is completely splintered?¡±


    ¡°... heal¡­ way it was¡­ to¡ª¡±


    The conversation seemed to go on for hours as she tossed and turned, desperate to fall back to sleep. Whatever they were rambling on about, she could care less; she¡¯d deal with it later as she buried her head under a pillow.


    ¡°Why are you so insistent we dock and take her to a mainland hospital? These X-Rays are not as severe as you think they are,¡± said an older male voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about the X-Rays,¡± Aria¡¯s voice came. ¡°What I care about is restructuring the bone. It¡¯s so splintered there¡¯s almost no way it will heal on its own.¡±


    The voices had grown louder, pulling Lacia from her sleep. Whatever they were bickering about, it was starting to irritate her. She wanted to sleep, not listen to a conversation about a broken foot. If it was truly that important, they could come and talk to her about it.


    Having given up on any rest, she slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the light of the room. Daylight filtered in through a small port window, casting a pale daylit ambiance across the room. The shade on the door had been pulled down for privacy¡ªlike that was of much use, she thought.


    ¡°Dammit, Aria! Stop trying to fight me on this!¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, Doctor, she¡¯s been asleep for three days. Look¡­ All I¡¯m saying is I think she should be looked at by a team of medical experts. I¡¯m not trying to downplay your knowledge or anything, but we don¡¯t have the resources to deal with something like this here.¡±


    The Doctor gave an exasperated sigh. ¡°If you want to go out there, be my guest, but I won¡¯t be able to help you once you disembark.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Doctor Reihner,¡± Aria said, relieved. ¡°Besides, I want to see if the neriolite actually reacts to her or not. Like maybe it was a fluke?¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself, Aria,¡± he said in defeat.


    Lacia sat up in bed, noting the conclusion of their conversation. ¡°Now¡­ If only someone would walk in here and explain to me what¡¯s going to happen to my foot,¡± she sighed, her head falling back onto the pillow. ¡°I am so sick of lying in bed all day. I literally cannot catch a break.¡±


    She sat up once more, but something felt¡­ different. An increased cold poured from the window above her bed as if it were trying to provoke the heater, but why would the heater be on in the first place? Last time she checked, May was a temperate month in Alura before the blistering summer heatwaves took hold.


    Regardless, the heater was definitely working overtime. ¡°How can it be so cold, though? Oceans don¡¯t exactly get that cold,¡± she pondered aloud. ¡°Err¡­ I think we¡¯re on the ocean or something, anyways¡­¡±


    The familiar rocking motion of the boat had ceased. They weren¡¯t anchored; the boat was buoyant¡ªit would bob regardless of whether they were anchored or not. Shakily, she pulled her covers back. Standing on the bed, she reached for the blinds above her head as she swiped for the string to pull them up but to no avail. Her foot ached, firmly held within a sturdy cast; small cat faces and hearts were drawn in red sharpie on the white bandaging.


    ¡°God, I hate her,¡± she said. ¡°Now I have these cute little cats on my cast and¡ª Ughh! Why is she like this? She acts like a devil yet has this stupid girly side to her, too. Too cutesy¡ªnot very demure.¡±


    With a loud bang, the door to her room burst open, revealing a triumphant Aria as she stood in the doorway with¡­ winter clothes? In her arms were two coats, though, if she didn¡¯t know better, she¡¯d have mistaken them for miniature sheep they were so full of fleece. Among the assortment of other clothing was a set of thick-cotton underwear, footed tights, snow pants, and waterproof gloves. Lacia rolled her eyes, noticing the stupid look on Aria¡¯s face. Either she was genuinely excited about something, or someone had slipped her a little too much caffeine.


    Lacia sighed. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll ask. Why are you so happy? Did hell freeze over or something?¡±


    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s funny you should say that,¡± Aria replied, a dainty look on her face.


    Lacia mimicked Aria¡¯s pensive tone. ¡°Actually, no it¡¯s not funny,¡± she said. ¡°Just tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Aria walked over to a control panel by the bed. Flipping a switch, the blinds on the curtain began to rise, revealing a solid sheet of grey clouds; it looked as if someone had taken a bucket of grey paint and smeared it all across the sky.


    A short burst of heavy flurries nestled themselves into the arch of the window, sticking to the heater-warmed glass before they returned to a liquid state. Is this what Aria was so thrilled about? A quick burst of flurries? Lacia wasn¡¯t amused, but Aria just stood there, clothes in-hand, beaming like a child.


    Noticing Lacia¡¯s lack of enthrallment, Aria opened the window, blasting Lacia with a gust of freezing air and snow, blowing her bed covers into the floor; she felt like she¡¯d been plunged into an ice-water pool.


    ¡°Fine! You have my attention. What?!¡±


    Aria activated the lift on Lacia¡¯s bed, nudging it just high enough she could grab the windowsill for support as she looked out over what had once been water; a hellscape of snow and ice greeted her eyes.


    ¡°How¡­ does an entire body of saltwater freeze in a matter of days?¡± Lacia asked, her brain struggling to comprehend the sudden winter-like scenery. ¡°This isn¡¯t a prank or something, right? Like, I will throw hands if you¡¯re trying to mess with me.¡±


    Aria recounted the last few days. ¡°The same day you broke your foot, everything began to freeze. I noticed the railings were already covered in frost when I walked outside, but it just kept getting colder and colder,¡± she explained. ¡°According to temperature sensors here on the boat, we¡¯ve dropped almost ninety degrees, and we¡¯re still falling.¡±


    ¡°So, what exactly happened, then?¡± Lacia asked, seating herself on the bed.


    Aria shook her head as she rummaged through the mound of clothes she¡¯d brought with her, now piled on the end of the bed. She held up garment after garment, modeling each new potential outfit for Lacia to see.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Lacia said, stopping her midway through. ¡°I actually like that one. Can I¡ª¡±


    Aria shook her head. ¡°Shower first, then you can try on whatever you like.¡±


    Lacia tried to contest the decision only to be met with a rather abrupt, and rude, demonstration by Aria, waving a hand in front of her face as if she were removing a foul bag of trash¡ªnot her finest explanation, but it would have to do for now. Lacia¡¯s complexion was a mired combination of matted hair, oily skin, and trace amounts of dried blood, but there was no actual body odor¡ªprobably a good thing, Aria figured.


    ¡°What? Did you think I was going to leave you to fend for yourself? I¡¯m going to help you, obviously,¡± Aria said, addressing Lacia¡¯s sour expression.


    Lacia opened her mouth to speak but decided against the thought¡ªsome things were better left unsaid. While her disdain for Aria was strong, she could at least keep her less-than-kind thoughts to herself. Still, she did an awful job at steering wheelchairs, bumping into anything and everything. At the moment, however, she was more concerned Aria would ram her foot into the wall than anything else; the mental pain was unfathomable, imagining her already-broken foot crumpling as it connected with the wall.


    Pushing the thought from her mind, she decided to address a more-current issue. ¡°And how, exactly, are we going to do this?¡± Lacia complained. ¡°I¡¯m not stripping down in front of you.¡± A devilishly-happy grin spread across Aria¡¯s face. ¡°You just had to ask, didn¡¯t you, Lacia?¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d say that, so,¡± she said, removing a bag from the back of the wheelchair, ¡°I brought two two-piece swimsuits. I¡¯ll let you pick which one you want first.¡±


    ¡°On second thought,¡± Lacia said, ¡°I¡¯ll just strip. I¡¯d be caught dead wearing a flower-printed two-piece. It screams bad taste.¡± She fumbled around inside her oversized t-shirt, trying to take it off, before finally throwing it onto the floor in frustration. ¡°I really can¡¯t take much more of this.¡±


    ***


    ¡°This boot was designed for patients with less-severe fractures than yours, but it should still help you walk a little easier,¡± Dr. Reihner explained. ¡°You managed to fracture the entire bone. Really, I should say splintered, but the point is, you will need to take occasional breaks. Our capabilities here are limited, but we were able to at least make sure the bone stays together. We can¡¯t have bone shards entering your bloodstream.¡±


    ¡°Also,¡± Aria said, ¡°while what Dr, Reihner said is true, you¡¯re still going to need an actual surgeon to fully correct the damage.¡±


    ¡°Ok, so how long can I stay on feet at a time then, and how does this thing work?¡± Lacia asked, carefully slipping the boot on as she adjusted the straps, simultaneously fighting the extra-long sleeves on her coat.


    ¡°I¡¯d say an hour, but in the state that foot is in, even thirty minutes is pushing it,¡± the doctor explained. ¡°As for how it works, the boot is made of a highly durable outer shell and packed with shock-absorbing foam inside. As the boot senses how your foot moves within it, it will adjust the foam and elevation accordingly to ensure the foot is secured. Anything else to add, Aria?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a weird little thing. Not very cute or demure, but it is effective. Every couple of minutes, the sensors in the boot also take scans of the bone so it can be as precise as possible when making adjustments,¡± she explained. ¡°It¡¯s not perfect, and because the bone is technically still fractured, well¡­ The plan is to reach the mainland and get to a hospital before the charge in your boot runs out.¡±


    ¡°And if we don¡¯t make it to shore, then what happens?¡± Lacia asked sternly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen what it¡¯s like out there. Take a wild guess. I packed enough supplies for 3 days since we aren¡¯t, like, really far, but it¡¯s best to be prepared. Also,¡± she said, lifting one of several overstuffed bags, ¡°these are really heavy, and I¡¯m just a girl.¡±


    ¡°Never say that again,¡± Lacia said, cringing. ¡°Anyways, Aria would probably just leave me behind if the battery ran out, to be honest,¡± Lacia said to Dr. Reihner, purposefully avoiding eye contact with her. ¡°She¡¯d just leave me to freeze in the barren wasteland of ice and snow, my body consumed by the forces of nature.¡±


    A look of displeasure crossed Aria¡¯s face as she turned to look at Lacia. ¡°I¡¯m really not so awful a person,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°If I have to drag you to shore, I will. Sure hope you¡¯re flexible, though, because you¡¯ll be sore for a week if I do have to drag you.¡±


    ¡°And you,¡± Lacia emphasized, ¡°will be at the bottom of all that sea ice if you lay a finger on me. I will knock you out, honey.¡±


    ¡°Enough! You two bicker like children,¡± Doctor Reihner said, ushering them over to a large map; it spanned the length of the wall. ¡°Aria has taken the liberty of labeling each body of water, landmass, and our approximate current location for you. Study it carefully before you leave.¡± He eyed Aria. ¡°That goes for you too, Aria. Now try to get along. I¡¯ll be in my office if you need me.¡± The girls watched as Doctor Reihner disappeared down the hall, automatic sliding doors swishing closed behind him.


    ¡°Under normal circumstances,¡± Aria started, ¡°you wouldn¡¯t be allowed out of your room until you¡¯d healed enough. Obviously, things are a little different right now,¡± she said, avoiding Lacia¡¯s eyes, fearful of an awkward exchange. ¡°I¡¯m certainly not some cruel girl who wouldn¡¯t let you have at least a little fun though, so here¡¯s the deal.¡± She stepped in front of the map, spinning a sharpie marker between her fingers. ¡°This dot here,¡± she said, tapping the sharpie against the map, ¡°is where we are now.¡±


    Click. ¡°Ow! What the hell was that?!¡± Lacia cried.


    ¡°And that is so I can keep track of you. After all, they wouldn¡¯t be very pleased if I let you run amok,¡± Aria said, shoving a small remote back inside her coat pocket.


    ¡°Okay, but why did it shock the back of my leg, and who is ¡®they¡¯? Actually, what else are you keeping from me?¡± Lacia retorted, twisting around to find what shocked her. Being poked and prodded was one thing, but shock-collaring her was another¡ªeven if it was a bit of an over-exaggeration. ¡°Let¡¯s say, hypothetically that, at some point, I would like the tracker removed. How much of your ass do I have to kiss to have it taken out?¡±


    A stifled laugh forced its way from Aria¡¯s throat. ¡°You¡¯re really amusing, you know that? You¡¯re, unfortunately, not very bright, though.¡±


    ¡°She literally just said I¡¯m stupid. That¡¯s crazy,¡± Lacia thought.


    The phrase seemed to reverberate through her head; Aria¡¯s response probably meant she¡¯d have to bargain more than what she was willing to lose if she wanted the tracker removed. She shot Aria a petrifying leer. She jumped.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she said, uncomfortably. ¡°If you want the tracker removed so badly, walk back into your room. Before you jaunted off to wherever, the tests I¡¯d been running on you weren¡¯t finished. There¡¯s something about you that I just can¡¯t put my finger on yet, so, unless I lose you outside somewhere, our work here isn¡¯t finished.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s reassuring,¡± Lacia grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s much of answer, but okay.¡± That was fine, though. She¡¯d devised a surefire method that would make Aria¡¯s icy will crack. ¡°Call me what you will, but I¡¯ve been one step ahead of you for a while now,¡± she said under her breath.


    ¡°Oh, you poor, stupid girl. As you sit there thinking you know how to get the better of me, I would advise you to rethink whatever it is that¡¯s going through that head of yours.¡±


    Aria grasped Lacia¡¯s wrist, holding it in the air as her coat sleeve slipped down her arm. A small, metallic object glinted in the ceiling lights, fastened to the underside of her arm. Untethering the object, Aria stuck what seemed to be a small scalpel in her bag.


    With a quick show of dominance, Aria¡¯s hand flew through the air, connecting with Lacia¡¯s cheek where a sweltering red handprint smirked, throbbing. As if one slap wasn¡¯t enough, she followed up with an even stronger slap, causing Lacia to bite her tongue. The bitter taste of blood filled her mouth.


    ¡°That was for the elbow a few days ago. I have not been able to get rid of this migraine because of it since, but I suppose it is rather amusing, though,¡± Aria scoffed. ¡°If you were thinking you were going to attack me with that scalpel, I¡¯ll let you in on a little something. When you thought you snuck it from my scrubs in the Operating Room when we first met, I put it there on purpose.¡±


    ¡°So, you admit you baited me, but I already knew there was no reason you¡¯d have a scalpel, anyways. When I grabbed it, if it had been sharp, I would have cut my hand because of the way I grabbed it, but I didn¡¯t.¡±


    Lacia pretended to rub her cheek as she waited for Aria to turn her back. The scalpel was never meant to be an offensive weapon, but a defensive one; she¡¯d hoped to use it in a microwave to short the ship¡¯s circuits. In the confusion, she¡¯d use the dark to sneak into the Control Room, send out a distress signal, and wait to be rescued by any passing vessels, but before she could swipe the scalpel back, she found herself on the floor, hands behind her back.


    ¡°Ok, so she has insane reaction times, too. What else can she do? Read my mind?¡± Lacia thought, surprised.


    ¡°Do you want me to answer that question?¡± Aria whispered in her ear. Her breath was warm and uncomfortably moist.


    Lacia gasped as Aria released her from the hold. ¡°You¡­ scare me,¡± Lacia whispered, watching as Aria walked away.


    ¡°Mmm¡­ That¡¯s more like it. Now, then. It¡¯ll take us several days to reach the mainland by foot. Are you coming, or do you want to be poked and prodded more?¡±


    ¡°I cannot believe this is what my life has turned into,¡± Lacia grumbled.


    The morning had begun to warm as the sun continued its trek across the sky, shimmering rays peaking between the high-rises of Seria, bathing Mana in a soft, orange glow. Sunlight bled through her eyelids as she stirred, slumped against the wall of the patio. The icy concrete made her shiver despite the influx of warmth from the mid-morning sun, but it wasn¡¯t the chill that encompassed her body that caught her attention; her right cheek was uncomfortably warm, like she¡¯d laid in a pool of her own drool.


    She reached into her pocket for her phone but forgot the gown she¡¯d chosen for the previous night didn¡¯t have any pockets. At the very least, it explained why she was so cold. She crawled over to the patio door, using the glass to examine herself in its glossy reflection. To her surprise, a small, star-shaped mark had appeared under her right eye where it glowed with a faint reddish hue. Like Lacia¡¯s, it looked as if it had been hand-drawn by a small child who was just learning how to draw.


    ¡°What is this thing?¡± she wondered, rubbing the mark with a finger.


    ¡°I see you have awoken.¡± It was the voice from earlier that morning. ¡°We are both short on time, child. I wish you hadn¡¯t slept so long.¡±


    Startled, Mana rammed her toes into the metal legs of the patio table, each joint giving a loud pop as she bit her lip, trying to suppress the urge to simultaneously scream and cry from the pain. A small trickle of blood seeped from her lower lip as she bit down even harder.


    ¡°I seem to recall Gods being benevolent¡ªnot beings that cause innocent young women unnecessary pain when they ram their toes into metal chairs because the voices in their heads won¡¯t stop scaring them,¡± she said through clenched teeth. ¡°Honestly, If I said I talked to God today, nobody would believe me. Not that having a name to call you by would really help with that, but at least give me something.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I see you remembered our chat from earlier¡­ Very well, then.¡± The voice paused for a moment as if it were thinking of a name. ¡°You may call me Omnis. I am many things, some you are more familiar with, others you are not.¡±


    An abrupt tearing sound, almost like paper, spawned from a mysterious rift that seemed to appear out of nowhere; it reminded her of the cracks in the sky after the earthquake, but still¡­ This was something else entirely¡ªa tear in the fabric of spacetime, a gelatinous ripple with no set form; it was just a floating blob of black and celestial blue. She waved her hand through the strange rift, but nothing happened.


    ¡°What is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Watch closely,¡± Omnis interrupted.


    What had been an indeterminate ripple in spacetime eventually came into focus like a photo camera. The murky colors began to congeal, mixing into hues of white and grey as a wintry scene soon revealed itself. She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. While she didn¡¯t recognize the location, the wintry landscape seemed to blanket everything for miles.


    The scene faded in and out of focus before two figures appeared amid the ongoing tempest of wind and snow, their silhouettes juxtaposed against the stark background. They seemed to be carrying something, but she couldn¡¯t tell what. Maybe a backpack? Or maybe it was some kind of sled? She squinted, forcing her eyes to comb over every possible detail.


    ¡°Wait¡­ That¡¯s not¡­ Lacia, is it?!¡± she gasped. The two figures seemed to be conversing with one another, though she couldn¡¯t make out what they were saying. ¡°Closer,¡± she willed. ¡°Get me closer.¡± The scene rippled for a brief moment, obscuring the view, before it cleared.


    ¡°Do you even know where we¡¯re going?¡± Lacia shouted over the roar of the wind. They had been walking for what felt like ever in the same, indeterminate direction.


    ¡°Of course I do,¡± Aria retorted.


    Lacia groaned. Her foot was really starting to hurt, and she knew the cold wasn¡¯t helping; cold weather always made her bones ache, but a broken foot gave new meaning to the phenomenon. Still, she knew she was reaching her set limit on walking as the snow and ice crunched beneath the boot.


    She¡¯d tried to discuss the idea of using sleds rather than heavy backpacks before they disembarked, but Aria had refused to humor the idea, saying that she was using it as an excuse to take more frequent breaks than the one-an-hour she¡¯d been alotted. Likewise, Lacia had also refused to pull Aria along, vowing to dump her ¡°dumb ass¡± in the nearest hole she could find.


    ¡°You¡¯re literally holding the map upside down!¡± Lacia whined. ¡°Please, God, tell me we aren¡¯t los¡ª¡±


    Lacia plowed face-first into an enormous snow drift; it was at least twice her height. For a moment, she just stood there, too embarrassed to turn around. Aria, however, was having the time of her life, pointing and laughing.


    ¡°Oh my god! How did you literally not see that? It¡¯s, like, at least twice your size. Wait! Don¡¯t turn around yet. This is the best thing that has happened since I got to shock you earlier.¡±


    Lacia quickly regained her composure. While it was embarrassing, her own clumsiness had actually prompted an important discovery¡ªone that proved Aria¡¯s cartography skills obsolete. What she¡¯d originally believed was just a highly compact snowdrift turned out to be a border gate meant for official immigration between the country of Alura, to the east, and the Kingdom of Gila, to the north; they were in the middle of disputed territory that laid between the official borders of both countries.


    ¡°Gila is the northwestern-most country to Alura,¡± Lacia said under her breath. ¡°If Aria wanted to take us to the mainland, straight east would have been faster.¡± She paused, recalling the map from the boat. ¡°That would have put us somewhere near the Aviid Isles to the southeast and the Kingdom of Miarn at Alura¡¯s southeastern-most point¡­¡± Her eyes widened. She turned back towards Aria, now fiddling with the map. ¡°So, I was right,¡± Lacia said dully, ¡°she really can¡¯t read a map. We went in the exact opposite direction.¡±


    It was clear from Aria¡¯s map fiddling that she legitimately had no idea where they were. She was so determined to prove they weren¡¯t lost, she¡¯d missed the border-tag entirely, bright yellow against the stark, white background.


    Lacia packed several handfuls of fresh snow over the newly exposed sign, ensuring Aria remained ignorant of their whereabouts. If Gila was actively processing those seeking asylum, she could use that to her advantage, gaining immunity to Aria¡¯s temporary conservatorship; it was a thought, and one that, if done correctly, could be a way out of the mess she continued to find herself in. While she knew Aria was keeping tabs on her thoughts, she¡¯d already found a way to cut her intrusive pushiness out; she¡¯d caught her off-guard the first time¡ªit wouldn¡¯t happen again.


    She scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s crazy to think she thinks so highly of her abilities when she¡¯s so blissfully unaware. What a life. To think all I had to was picture a mental firewall in my mind and now she¡¯s on the other side, frustrated I outsmarted her, after all.¡± She finished packing the snow over the border-tag; Gila would be a secret she¡¯d bury along with the snow and ice.


    A searing heat suddenly brandished itself across her forehead as her body erupted into an adrenaline-heightened state. At first, she wondered if she was getting sick, but this seemed too sudden. Then, she heard Mana¡¯s voice, distorted at first, calling out to her. She rubbed her forehead, trying to mitigate the onset of what she assumed was a bad migraine. All the while, Aria was watching her intently as the two locked eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re not looking so good. It¡¯s been a while since our last break, anyways, so we¡¯ll stop here for a bit and rest,¡± she said, plopping down into the snow as she returned her attention to the map.


    While a break was appreciated, her head felt like it was ready to split open as the pain only seemed to worsen. Mana¡¯s voice came through again, still distorted but manageable. She didn¡¯t know how such a feat was possible, but she didn¡¯t care. As for the coming migraine, she¡¯d deal with it later.


    ¡°Mana!¡± she squealed in soft delight, keeping her distance from Aria, but not too far that she¡¯d grow suspicious. ¡°How are you even able to, uhh, talk to me, I guess? Is this magic? Are you using magic right now?¡± Lacia interrogated.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Mana said, laughing. ¡°More importantly, where are you right now? It looks cold, but Alura isn¡¯t known for cold climates this time of year. Are you maybe near Buunit? You know, crazy weather and all. Maybe they got hit by a freak snowstorm.¡±


    ¡°No, but I can¡¯t really explain everything right now, either. All I know is that we¡¯re at the border of Alura and the Kingdom of Gila. Umm¡­ As for myself,¡± Lacia said, ¡°I¡¯m alright. Mostly.¡± The ache in her foot told a different story, however. Even so, she was fortunate that things hadn¡¯t been worse in her time away from Mana and Brendan.


    ¡°Ok, then we¡¯re coming to get you, so sta¡ª¡±


    ¡°We? Brendan is still with you? Thank goodness.¡± Lacia gave a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Yeah, and his friend Licht. Listen,¡± Mana said, ¡°we can be there in a couple days. Gila is usually pretty friendly to Alurian people.¡±


    Lacia grit her teeth. ¡°You can¡¯t save me¡­ Not yet, anyways. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to be¡ª I¡¯m just concerned you¡¯re going to get yourselves mixed up in my problems again. You¡¯re not under any obligation to find me right now,¡± she said. ¡°What I will say is that we¡¯re heading to the mainland to find a proper hospital. Long story short,¡± she said awkwardly, ¡°my foot is kinda, a teeny bit, really broken. It¡¯s okay-ish for now, but it¡¯ll need more surgeries to completely fix it.¡±


    ¡°What?! What happened? Lacia¡­¡± It sounded like Mana had begun to cry. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I should have paid more attention that day we stopped off the highway.¡±


    ¡°Mana,¡± Lacia soothed, ¡°I want nothing more than to go home right now, believe me, but there¡¯s somewhere else I still have to be, and something I still don¡¯t fully understand. They¡¯re related in ways I just don¡¯t really get, yet.¡± A wave of nausea brought Lacia to her knees. ¡°Urg¡­ But you know where we¡¯re going, now. I¡¯ll leave it to you, uh, three to do what you believe is best. For now, don¡¯t apologize for something that no one could have predicted. If I¡¯ve learned anything, there¡¯s always a way to look at even the smallest of happy days.¡±


    Mana sniffled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s taking so long to find you, but we aren¡¯t far. I think we¡¯ve come across some useful information, too. Just¡­ try to be safe. Okay?¡±


    Lacia giggled. ¡°I know, but thank you. I hate to cut things short like this, but whatever this is, it¡¯s draining me. This link is draining me¡­¡± Lacia slammed her palms into the snow, trying to stabilize herself. ¡°I have to go now, but I¡¯ll see you soon. I promise.¡± Mana¡¯s voice went quiet¡ªshe was gone.


    Noticing her erratic movements, Aria walked over to investigate as Lacia hit the ground, ramming her shoulder several inches into the snow to absorb the impact. She was exhausted, like someone had wrung every last ounce of energy from her body and, of course, Aria was of little help.


    ¡°What¡­? Where in the world did all of your mana go?¡± Aria pondered aloud; the wind threatened to sweep her words away. ¡°You are one surprise after the other, I swear. What¡¯s next? You tell me you¡¯re some famous internet personality?¡±


    ¡°L¡ª Look. I don¡¯t know what happened, but I feel like death warmed over right now,¡± Lacia replied. ¡°And no, I¡¯m not famous, and you¡¯re s¡ª still not funny.¡±


    ¡°It seems you need a quick lesson on mana,¡± Aria said, failing to grasp what was happening. ¡°All living things retain mana, regardless of whether living organisms are aware of it or not,¡± she explained. ¡°That goes for you, too, but yours is gone. Actually, it¡¯s there, but I can only detect the bare minimum you need just to keep your body alive.¡±


    Lacia¡¯s vision slowly began to focus as a deep warmth spread throughout her body. She closed her eyes, embracing the influx of mana. She didn¡¯t care where it came from, whose it was or why. Right now, all she wanted was to sleep.


    ¡°I¡¯ve shared some of my mana with you,¡± Aria said, breathing heavily. ¡°It should help your body replenish its own natural reserves, but whatever you did, don¡¯t do it again,¡± she warned. ¡°We still need shelter¡­ Just, uhh, rest here for now¡­¡±


    The coming night would be treacherous and cold, but Lacia was confident in Aria¡¯s abilities, even if she was easy to manipulate. She enjoyed watching her struggle to pitch a tent as she faded in and out of sleep before ultimately falling into an exhausted slumber.


    ¡°Man¡­ How am I this unlucky?¡± Aria complained, the falling snow her only companion.


    Sharp pains erupted in Lacia¡¯s side as she woke with a start. For some reason, though, the pain felt eerily familiar, but she didn¡¯t fully understand why yet. Either way, this was one case of deja vu she¡¯d rather have left in the past, whenever it was from. From what she could tell, it wasn¡¯t the arrow wound, though that still ached a bit from time to time, too. No, these were much sharper pains, and they came in waves. She stumbled to her feet, clutching her side as she slowly raised her head off the tile floor.


    Did Aria actually manage to get her to a hospital? She shook her head. ¡°No¡­ This definitely isn¡¯t a hospital,¡± she said, rubbing her cheek. ¡°But why does this place feel so¡­ familiar?¡± She looked around the room. ¡°Oh. That¡¯s why,¡± she said disdainfully, noticing the room¡¯s d¨¦cor.


    Pink and red party streamers lined the ceiling, draped across the room like vines in a jungle. White tablecloths were neatly placed across each table, perfectly ordained with gleaming silverware. In the center of the room was a large folding table adorned with even more decorations, doused in glitter for effect; it was covered from end to end with gifts, and they were all addressed to her.


    She surmised she was probably dreaming, yet she was completely lucid. An uncomfortable feeling overran her body, knots forming in her stomach, and every step she took she felt like she was wading through knee-deep water.


    ¡°Lacia¡­¡± A hushed voice echoed from somewhere behind her. She spun around in her position on the floor, exacerbating the pain in her side, but at least she seemed to be alone. Still, random, whisper-y voices didn¡¯t exactly calm her nerves. Picking herself up off the floor, she winced. The pain refused to abate.


    ¡°Dammit,¡± she muttered, ¡°How did I even get here? The same red dress, the same party room, the same pains¡­ What is going on here?¡± She stumbled into a nearby table, steadying herself as she regained her footing. ¡°Normally, I don¡¯t mind heels,¡± she grumbled, ¡°but when I can already barely walk, they¡¯re really not the most useful things. Stiletto pumps, no less¡­¡±


    Monotonous laughter echoed through the empty room, bouncing off the walls, before dissipating into the air with the steady hum of the heat pump. She made another full circle, this time holding her breath as she tried to pinpoint the source. Unfortunately, she was only left more confused than when she woke up, the phantom laughter unidentifiable.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    She bit her lip as she turned to face the gifts again, neatly wrapped in various shades of pink, purple, and red wrapping paper. Bows adorned the top of each, completing the theme. She grabbed the nearest one, carefully unwrapping it as anxiety crept into her nerves; she was growing paranoid, afraid maybe she wasn¡¯t as alone as she thought. Printed on the underside of the lid read a simple message. Still, it sent shivers down her spine:


    ¡°Happy 20th birthday, Lacia! As your parents, we are ecstatic you¡¯ve grown into the young woman you have, but it¡¯s because you¡¯ve reached the conclusion of your teenage years now that we¡¯ve decided it¡¯s finally time to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Twenty? And tell me what, exactly? Weren¡¯t we just here celebrating nineteen¡­?¡± Her voice was filled with puzzlement as she continued reading.


    ¡°This was the only way we could reach you, so please try to bear the pain as you read this. Sadly, by the time you do read this, we will no longer be here. Even so, please read carefully. All will be explained in due time¡ª¡±


    ¡°First, you were taken from us when you were still very young. You were special¡ªgifted. We spent many years looking for you to no avail¡ªnot even the police or government intelligence agencies had any leads, that is, until we learned of your enrollment at Miruna High School¡ªa school for gifted children. By this time, you¡¯d been gone for nearly a decade, and we¡¯d all but given up hope of seeing our baby girl again.¡±


    Tears welled in the corners of Lacia¡¯s eyes as she read on.


    ¡°The school was supposed to help you develop the wonderful gift you had received. Instead, they chose to suppress it, hoping to use its tremendous power for maleficent purposes. While we realize this is a lot to take in, we can, at the very least, explain what happened next. Your wonderful mom and dad have friends in high places, and when we learned of your whereabouts, we asked for them to watch over you from afar. If anyone got too close, the school would be alerted, though, so we had to keep things rather secretive.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem like such a big deal,¡± Lacia said, taking a seat at the table, crossing her legs for comfort, silken black pantyhose giving them a lustrous shine. ¡°Still, this really is a lot to take in¡­¡±


    ¡°That all being said, you¡¯re probably wondering how we know all of this and what the implications would be if someone from outside the school got too close to you. Allow us to explain: The same friends we mentioned earlier had eyes inside the school, someone on the inside whose identity even we weren¡¯t aware of. However, there was an ¡°incident¡± once where a student from one of the town¡¯s public institutions did get too close. They were subsequently retrieved and promptly had their memories wiped, or so we presume based upon the information we were given. So, what was it about you that was so important the school had to erase all memory of you? Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have that answer, but it seems likely the school didn¡¯t want its secrets exposed.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ While it¡¯s not what I expected, it¡¯s not that crazy, either,¡± Lacia said. Her voice nearly caught in her throat, emotions getting the better of her. ¡°Still, you pose a great question. What is so special about me?¡± She uncrossed her legs.


    ¡°The school was headed by the Miruna family. Yes, they named it after themselves¡ªthey always did have a bit of an ego. Anyways, by now, we imagine you¡¯ve met their little, well, not so much anymore, girl¡ªAria Miruna. She was especially gifted, but she loathed the world after she lost her parents in a freak car accident. To keep you safe at the time, you were given false memories of your life up to the point of your enrollment at the school. If you¡¯re reading this, then Aria has yet to tell you the truth¡ªnot this one in particular, but she can explain in more detail later¡ªbut had she told you then, it would have upended everything.¡±


    A splitting headache began to form over Lacia¡¯s left eye, as she rubbed her temples. ¡°Has my entire life been a lie? And what of Aria, now? What does all of this mean?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Just a little more¡­¡±


    ¡°This is why you were sent to Miruna High in the first place. Once you grew a little older, you were told your ¡°parents¡± were away on business trips, correct? So, the school sent letters, impersonating us, coercing you little by little as you played right into their hand. Of course, this was no fault of your own, and once you became a fifth year, you were given the option to live at home instead of the dorms. You obliged and continued school as normal from then on.¡±


    ¡°Finally, you must be wondering where Mana comes into play. She was enrolled in your same school¡ªthose memories are genuine. However, she never asked about your past because she was led to believe the same thing as you, though she was always highly observant¡ªwe expected her to get into a little trouble from time to time as we¡¯re sure you¡¯ve experienced. Keep her close, Lacia, and cherish those who are closest to you. We¡¯re sorry this is all we can say for now.


    Happy birthday, sweetheart.


    Love, Mom & Dad~¡±


    Lacia set the lid of the gift box aside; complete bewilderment bowled over her in series: Her parents, Aria, Mana¡­ Was she really made to forget it all? She peered inside the box, hoping for any additional letters or clues, but all that remained was a small bracelet, neatly wrapped in white tissue paper; it was encrusted with various purple gemstones, but she couldn¡¯t tell if they crystals or maybe even diamonds; they didn¡¯t bear much resemblance to either stone, but they seemed to give off a strange sort of energy.


    Slipping the bracelet on, the hint of fogginess in her mind faded away as her headache subsided. While her side still ached something terrible, she could at least bear the brunt of it. She was surprised, though. She never would have thought the strange energy the bracelet gave off was one of medicinal abilities.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t know how I feel about all of this,¡± she said, staring at the bracelet, ¡°but I have a big role to play in everything, apparently. Unfortunately, I¡¯m totally clueless what that role even is. As Aria would say, I¡¯m just a girl.¡±


    Deciding to return her focus to the situation at hand, she got up and walked out of the party room, heels clicking against the bare floor as she sauntered over to a window-lined wall¡ªthere was something she still wanted to confirm.


    She caught her reflection in the mirror-like windows. While she hadn¡¯t expected to find herself trapped inside of some augmented reality-like dream, she couldn¡¯t help but admire the mirrored emulation:


    The dress gave her bust a perfect lift, falling just above her knees, tightened in the back with a corset-like drawstring ribbon; her pantyhose glinted in the light, reflecting the fluorescent light from the ceiling tiles above¡ªthe sleek black garment perfectly complimenting her dress. She danced around in her heels for a moment, light dancing alongside her in the black, faux leather shoe; a buckle and pair of straps wound their way around her lower leg, ensuring a snug fit with the additional four inches in height.


    What surprised her most, however, was her hair; it had grown past the midsection of her back, a beautiful platinum-blonde color. It was beautifully braided around the circumference of her head, tied off in the back to reveal the different layers, resembling that of a waterfall of glossy, luscious locks.


    Even her makeup looked like it had been professionally done: burgundy lip matte, mascara, dusky eyeshadow, and an even-toned foundation with a little bronzer and blush around the upper cheekbones. If she didn¡¯t know better, she¡¯d have thought she was being coronated as the princess of some mystical kingdom.


    ¡°Even I¡¯d fall for myself,¡± she said, wowed. ¡°I look incredible, not to mention the little bracelet adding to my entourage now.¡±


    She cupped her hands against the window to see out, careful not to smear her makeup on the glass if she got too close; snow gathered on the ground outside, silently blanketing everything in a soft shade of white.


    While she¡¯d initially recognized the party room, everything else remained equally as foreign. She squinted, hoping to find something she recognized, until she stopped on a small figure standing in the middle of the road. Whoever it was, they were too far to make out anything more than a general shape, but the voice in the back of her mind told her they were staring back.


    ¡°Now I have to know who that is, so, if this is a dream, I should be able to just make things at will, right?¡± she pondered aloud, closing her eyes as she imagined a pair of binoculars in her hands. While they didn¡¯t appear in her hands, a pair had managed to drape themselves around her neck¡ªclose enough. ¡°Why can¡¯t I do this when I¡¯m not having strange dreams? Imagine all of the clothes I could buy if I could just imagine money at-will!¡±


    Lifting the binoculars, she aimed them toward the road, where the figure had been. Snow-covered rooftops and dark windows dotted the white landscape, but the figure was gone. She shifted her sightline toward the illuminated welcome sign where she rediscovered the same strange figure again¡ªit had moved.


    The darkness of the night was deep, swallowing everything around it in an inky black¡ªall except the weird person, or thing, that had juxtaposed itself against the backdrop of the sign. She watched as they lifted their arm straight into the air, above their head. Slowly, they propelled their arm forward until they were pointing right at her. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she whispered softly. ¡°So creepy¡­¡±


    The lights on the sign began to flicker as they seemed to rearrange themselves in real-time. Hoping it was just an optical illusion, she centered the binoculars on the sign, taking in the full scope of the letters before a word seemed to manifest itself in the snow beneath it.


    She aimed the binoculars lower, looking for the mysterious figure from before, but it was gone; the road was empty, and snow had begun to cover the surface. Reluctantly, she focused the binoculars on the sign again, reading the full message, starting with the word in the snow:


    ¡°Your,¡± she read, ¡°time is up.¡± She bit her lip. ¡°Ohh¡­ How I don¡¯t like the sound of that¡­¡±


    A sharp whisper echoed through the hallway, causing Lacia to drop the binoculars with a loud clutter, just missing her foot. She spun around on her heels, hair whipping her in the face as she came face to face with the same mysterious figure from the road, cloaked in shadows.


    An icy hand gripped Lacia¡¯s arm, unwilling to ease its hold as shadows crawled up her shoulder, turning her arm black. She struggled to free herself, crumpling to the floor as her strength was sapped. There was no way to loosen the shadowy figure¡¯s grip. With each passing second, she grew weaker and weaker, clambering for release.


    ¡°Time is up¡­ Your time is up,¡± it hissed in her ears.


    The floor morphed into an icy sea of black, without form and void of light. Shadowy tendrils wrapped themselves around Lacia¡¯s arms and legs, locking her in place. The restraints seemed to grow tighter with the figure¡¯s steady encroachment, squeezing her limbs like some kind of toy. Panic set in as her mind filled with terror; her eyes darted back and forth, looking for a way to free herself. Her heart slammed against her ribcage, prepared to force its own way out if necessary; she curled her fingers, nails digging into the soft flesh of her palms as she tensed her muscles, squirming like a trapped animal.


    Reluctant at first, she decided to test a theory. There was no harm in a last-resort option¡ªthere was nowhere else for her to go, anyways. If death was inevitable, she had nothing else left to lose, but if her theory was right, it could be the out she was looking for.


    ¡°Okay¡­ Think about this for a second,¡± she monologued. ¡°If I can feel the tendrils tighten, that should mean there¡¯s some level of physicality to them, right? So, there¡¯s only one way to find out¡­¡±


    She took a deep breath, slowly exhaling the sudden influx of oxygen into her lungs. If she could just relax her muscles enough, there was a chance she could slip through the bindings, but with the prominence of death and the stranglehold fear had on her mind, she could hardly relax. Even so, she had to try. With one final deep breath and subsequent exhalation, her body went limp, muscles fully relaxed. To her surprise, the ferocious grip of the tendrils loosened, giving her a chance to implement the second stage of her plan.


    ¡°Here goes nothing, then.¡±


    She flailed about, unleashing one, final, adrenaline-fueled, thrashing, catching the shadow-clad figure off guard; she slammed her body into the ground beneath her, using the extra momentum like slack in a rope. She swung her body from side to side. She wasn¡¯t free yet, but by using the same kinetic energy she¡¯d created to swing, she was able to use the same energy to arc her body up and down. By using the newly created slack, she came down hard on her arms and legs, smashing the tendrils that bound her into the floor. The shadowy figure bellowed in pain, unleashing an ominous, guttural roar, but the pain was worth the gain¡ªthe tendrils retreated as she managed to pull herself off the floor.


    ¡°It worked! I¡¯m free!¡±


    Her heart pounded against her ribs, doped up with a concoction of adrenaline, terror, and hope¡ªhope that this was all just a horrible nightmare. Regardless of what happened next, her feet were on the floor again, heels clicking against the tile, sprinting as fast as her legs could carry her. There wasn¡¯t a moment to waste¡ªdistancing herself from the shadowy figure was priority number one.


    Whatever the thing was, it seemed to lag behind, still in pursuit, but she could at least stay ahead of it while she concocted a plan, or lack thereof. Truthfully, she had no idea how to fight something as terrifying as a shadow figure. However, she¡¯d inflicted pain earlier¡ªit wasn¡¯t invulnerable¡ªit had to have a weakness somewhere. Right?


    Unfortunately, she still had no idea where she was or why she was there to begin with, concluding that either she¡¯d finally learned how to lucid dream or had stumbled upon some kind of doorway to an alternate dimension. At this point, she supposed it didn¡¯t really matter, deciding that her next best option was to find an exit out of the strange building, but the only one she¡¯d seen thus far was back where she started.


    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m going back there.¡±


    After several more minutes, she finally came to a stairwell, marble steps winding around to the upper floors. There was no sense in trying to lap the shadow figure, and she certainly wasn¡¯t about to wait for it to round the corner which meant her only option was up. As much as she dreaded the possibility of being cornered, she had to explore the upper floors. For all she knew, there was a fire escape on the floor above her she could use as a means of escape.


    ¡°No time like the present,¡± she mumbled.


    She climbed the stairs, heels echoing through the open marble expanse as each click rose higher into the lofty ceiling. Reaching the second-floor landing, she realized the building was far grander than she¡¯d previously thought. Even so, the second floor didn¡¯t offer much: empty offices, dark windows, and barren, grey-toned walls hugged by similarly-empty glass display cases. Golden tapestries hung from the ceiling, embroidered in black trim, but that¡¯s all they were¡ªtapestries devoid of any significance or identity.


    ¡°No logos or any kind of branding at all?¡± she said as she walked beneath one. ¡°Even the nametag slots on the office doors are empty. This is so creepy.¡± She shuddered. ¡°Even these walls are totally barren¡­ No posters, fliers¡ªnothing¡­¡±


    Failing to find an exit, she climbed several more flights of stairs, each floor as empty as the last. Exhausted, she decided to stop one floor from the top, slightly more decorated. Dim, round lights in the ceiling cast an eerie glow on the tan-colored walls, bathing the hall in lukewarm, yellow light. Office nameplates remained nameless, but a series of fliers had been taped to the doors in hopes of capturing fresh attention, but as she moved closer, she realized they were nothing more than templates; they were also blank, minus the colorful borders on the paper.


    She sighed, exhaustion finally catching up with her as she climbed the final few steps to the second-to-last floor before stopping to take a break. Considering the pace of the shadow figure¡¯s pursuit after her narrow escape, she figured she was at least several floors higher, but how much time did that buy her?


    ¡°It won¡¯t matter either way if I can¡¯t find a way out of this god-forsaken building,¡± she grumbled.


    The fatigue consumed her like a fire: sore calf muscles, stiff arms, and another skull-splitting headache. While she couldn¡¯t blame her body for its weary state, she wished the adrenaline rush hadn¡¯t left her so weak; she wouldn¡¯t be able to fend off another assault. Her whole body felt like one giant deadweight as she pressed her back against the wall, sliding to the floor. The chill from the dark, marble floors only added to her predicament: she was freezing.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure if I can think up a pair of binoculars, I can at least think of something warmer to wear,¡± she said through chattering teeth. ¡°Something warmer, please,¡± she prayed.


    To her dismay, nothing happened. What made clothes any different than a tangible item like binoculars? And why was she able to produce a pair so easily? She wanted to cry¡ªit wasn¡¯t fair. Not only did she have to learn her parents weren¡¯t who she thought they were, she had just been attacked by some other-worldly monster.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I did to deserve all of this,¡± she said, holding back tears. ¡°I can barely move and I¡¯m so cold.¡± Despite the glossy makeup, faint shades of blue began to appear on her lips. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s something around here somewhere? A coat closet maybe? Although, I guess it doesn¡¯t really matter what it is,¡± she emphasized. ¡°I just need somewhere or something warm or I might actually freeze to death.¡±


    Begrudgingly, she pulled herself up, using a nearby doorknob for support as she leaned against the wall for another minute, trying to catch her breath. She moved slowly, her muscles growing ever-more-stiff by the second. The energy in the building seemed to shift, almost like a forewarning. An electric charge lingered in the air, pecking at her skin with tiny zaps.


    ¡°If God is about to smite me, I hope he does it quickly,¡± she half-joked. ¡°The tension in the air right now is insane. I feel like I¡¯m breathing anxiety instead of oxygen.¡± She continued her perilous venture down the hall, one arm against the wall for support as rough, plaster-like crumbles added scratches to her hand.


    Something in her peripheral vision caught her attention. Looking over, she noticed a large, circular bruise had formed where she¡¯d been held. Stopping to examine her other arm, she found similar markings. The yellowish bruises were unsightly; she couldn¡¯t see through her tights, but she assumed there were likely similar bruises up and down her legs.


    ¡°I could just, like, apply some pressure and see if it hurts, but that doesn¡¯t sound like fun. I already hurt too much. On the bright side,¡± she said, running her fingers over a metallic nameplate, ¡°I think I just found a coat closet. The only good thing to happen tonight¡­¡±


    Rustling the brass knob, the door swung open with a rush of pent-up aromas: leather, velvet, fur. She was ecstatic¡ªfinally, warm clothes. She pushed her way past rack-fulls of coats, jackets, and even the occasional fleece-lined scarf, but everything was either too big or too small. While she didn¡¯t necessarily mind grabbing a larger coat, mobility was highly important; the ability to evade the shadow figure had to factor into her choice of clothing. Anything too tight-fitting would be restrictive, but anything too big could make for sloppy and predictable movements.


    ¡°These look nice, but I just can¡¯t take the risk,¡± she sighed, rummaging through even more coats. ¡°I don¡¯t need something this large weighing me down, and this is cute but way too small.¡± She continued digging. ¡°Oh, this will work!¡± A white fur coat hung at the back of the closet as she removed it from its hanger¡ªa perfect fit. ¡°This dress doesn¡¯t really help a whole lot, but the coat should keep me at least a little warmer,¡± she said, exiting the closet, ¡°but where did all of this stuff come from? And whose is it?¡±


    The door closed with a soft click. She put her hands on her hips, planning out her next move; she was still too weak to fight back, and an exit remained elusive. What else could she do? She pinched herself, hoping maybe she was having an excruciatingly bad nightmare, yet nothing changed. She stood in the same red dress and newfound white coat, same empty corridor, and her body still ached.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I was expecting.¡± She dropped her arms to her side. ¡°Ok. With this many floors, there¡¯s bound to be roof-access somewhere, right? It looks like my only way out of this icy hell is an emergency exit or something. Maybe¡­ Maybe I could lap that thing now,¡± she gasped. ¡°If it¡¯s checking every single floor, I¡¯m bound to pass it, and then I can take the exit on the first floor!¡± An intensifying cold filled the air. ¡°Still, I wish I was better-dressed for this.¡±


    She started towards the stairwell, nervous, but this was her only chance. The longer she waited, the faster her window of opportunity would close, and this being the second floor from the top, she was like a rat trapped in a cage. She¡¯d never forgive herself if she sabotaged her own escape out of hesitation.


    ¡°One foot in front of the other,¡± she said. ¡°You can do it, Lacia. Don¡¯t waste the opportunity you have to slip out of here.¡± Unsteady footsteps echoed through the hall, growing steadier and more rhythmic by the second until, finally, she broke into a sprint. ¡°This is it! I don¡¯t see the shadow figure, so I should be able to slip right past and¡ª¡±


    Her sprint slowed as the faint caricature of a man danced on the far walls of the stairwell, cloaked in shimmering shadows. She froze, knowing she¡¯d just run out of time. Too weak to fight, and no exits to be found, existential dread filled her veins like a disease, the final glimmer of hope wilting like a flower.


    Without thinking, she bolted up the final flight of stairs. Despite the short climb, she was completely out of breath as her lungs screamed at her to stop¡ªeven her legs seemed to threaten to give out at any moment. She scanned the hallway, eyes skimming every last placard, poster, and sign for anything that indicated a fire escape, other stairs, or roof access¡ªanything. She just needed something.


    Without warning, the ceiling lights burst, scattering broken glass across the floor as it bounced off her body. She was thankful for quick reflexes, but there were no other sources of light; she¡¯d have to rely on the mental image she¡¯d created of the building¡¯s floorplan.


    Thankfully, each subsequent floor was laid out the same as the last, though wandering around in the dark while being chased by some shadow-figure-monster-thing was not her idea of fun. The hall was dark, the only light coming from the floor below as it spilled out into the stairwell.


    ¡°I know where I am as long as I keep a hand on the railing. These floors are all the same,¡± she said shakily. ¡°There has to be some kind of way out. It¡¯s the top floor. It¡¯s mandated in the building codes as long as wherever this place is, is still in Alura!¡±


    At the far end of the hall, a red sign glinted in the reflection of a glass door; the light from the stairwell must have hopped from door to door, reflecting it onto a large, metal access. Lacia¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she read the sign: Roof Access. Authorized Personnel Only.


    ¡°I have to be the luckiest girl alive right now. There¡¯s literally no way!¡±


    Her heels struck the tile floor as she sprinted towards the access door, spirits dropping as she tried the door handle. It wouldn¡¯t budge at all; the handle was locked in the upright position, taunting her as she pounded her fists against the cold steel.


    ¡°Fuck! This is it¡­¡± She sank to her knees, hair falling past her face as she pressed her hands to the floor. ¡°I¡¯m actually going to die here¡­¡±


    She turned her back to the door, knees pressed together. Her face was a cross between despair and subliminal fear. She struggled against the door, back arching higher and higher as the shadows snaked across the floor, seeking their prey from earlier that night, but they didn¡¯t seem to be aware of her presence yet. Even so, it didn¡¯t matter. Fear was a powerful weapon, and it controlled every racing thought that entered her mind. The shadows continued to grow longer, darker. The first glimpses of her pursuer arrived at the top of the stairs, beady, red eyes cutting through the dark.


    The tension in her body eased as she sat against the door, legs sprawled out on the cold tile. Every ounce of resistance fled from her muscles, the shadow figure¡¯s eyes gorging on the fear that poured from her body like sweat. Her life flashed before her eyes as seconds became minutes; breaths grew into staggered sobs; warm tears rolled down her cheeks, crashing into the floor.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok,¡± she sobbed. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay¡­ I should have known twenty years was twenty years too long.¡± She laughed. ¡°They always said I had to confront my demons. Is this what that¡¯s like?¡±


    Unexpectedly, the handle began to jiggle. Startled, Lacia half jumped, half crawled, out of the way. A faint grunt came from behind the door before it blew off its hinges, metal rungs scattering down a set of concrete steps and onto the tile. She watched as it skidded down the hall where it crashed into the back wall.


    Turning back towards the now-open doorway, Lacia beamed with excitement. Aria stood in the empty door frame, a mix of annoyance and relief crossing her face. Pale moonlight illuminated her brunette locks as she flipped her hair over her shoulder, allowing it to settle against her back.


    For the first time, Lacia noticed Aria¡¯s lavender-blue irises, a beautiful combination of colors against her silhouette in the backdrop of the moon. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the dueling shades symbolized a part of her she¡¯d yet to share, something not even Aria understood about herself, but they were fierce, angry as they leered over Lacia¡¯s head.


    Lacia stood up, ready to leap into the arms of her savior. If there was ever a time to be thankful for her bullshit, it was now, but she didn¡¯t want Aria to know she¡¯d been crying, having nearly given up on life. As if her tear-stained eyes weren¡¯t enough, her outburst moments earlier wasn¡¯t something she was ready to share¡ªnot yet.


    ¡°You know, I haven¡¯t been super into dresses these last few years,¡± Aria started, ¡°but I feel kind of,¡± she smirked, ¡°in charge. I don¡¯t know how you managed to get here, Lacia, but it seems you¡¯re not alone.¡±


    The tails of her dress fluttered in the wind like a sea of celestial purple, white stilettos resonating through the echo-chamber hallway. Her footsteps were slow and methodical, almost as if she were imparting a warning to the shadow figure.


    ¡°It¡¯s a little too dark in here,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s add a little light.¡± Several small orbs emanated from her body as she guided each into a resting position somewhere above her head. ¡°Now, then.¡±


    The luminescent orbs cast stray shadows into hiding as Aria¡¯s figure was enveloped in the new ethereal light; she was beautiful. Red highlights flared around the edges of her eyes, juxtaposed with long, black eyelashes and pink blush; her skin was flawless, a perfect, peachy tone.


    Forgetting her earlier plight, Lacia found herself jealous. Aria was beautiful, and she¡¯d never seen anyone rock white tights as well as she did, complimenting the purple waves in the skirt of her dress. She couldn¡¯t believe how she seemed to almost¡­ sparkle, hints of light glinting off her arms, cheeks, and upper chest. A flowery white bow held the ensemble together, wrapping the outfit up with a nice ribbon-like material.


    ¡°Aria¡­ You¡¯re so pretty,¡± Lacia fawned, ¡°but how did you get¡­¡± her voice cracked.


    A stinging cold enveloped her lower half as the last of her remaining strength was sapped away bit by bit. Dropping to the floor, she grabbed at her waist, struggling to free herself from the clutches of whatever had begun to wrap itself around her.


    ¡°Time is up¡­¡± a familiar voice hissed. Lacia¡¯s blood ran cold.


    Lacia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you just heed her warning? That woman makes me want to run away!¡±


    The shadow-clad figure made its debut at the top of the stairs, its full form inching ever closer to Lacia, now immobilized in the clutches of an unseen force. A numbing cold poured from its shadowy tendrils, finally revealing themselves as they continued to wrap around her body.


    She was quickly pinned to the floor again, cheek pressed against the icy floors, an all-too-familiar sensation, but something felt different this time. She wasn¡¯t just losing strength, she could feel her life slipping away, devoured by something straight out of a nightmare as she lay immobilized. Yet more shadows bound her arms behind her back and ankles together.


    ¡°Time is up,¡± the shadow-clad figure repeated.


    ¡°Lacia,¡± Aria spoke, ¡°how did you manage to cross paths with a devil, much less in the middle of a nightmare?¡±


    ¡°Aria,¡± Lacia said weakly, ¡°I don¡¯t have time for 21 questions¡­ Any help would be greatly appreciated,¡± she pleaded.


    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ve wanted a chance to play for a while now, anyways. So,¡± Aria said, addressing the devil, ¡°you think this is your domain, do you?¡± She put a hand to her lips, trying to hide a giggle. ¡°The evil pouring from you right now is super strong. I don¡¯t know if I can beat you,¡± she said with a dainty voice, ¡°but I look forward to a challenge.¡±


    The devil halted its advance as Lacia was peeled from the floor, the shadows lifting her into the air. She squeezed her eyes shut, mentally preparing herself for what might come next. The tendrils held her tight. Her bones began to fracture under the pressure.


    ¡°Aria¡­¡± the devil hissed, embellishing each syllable. ¡°How nice of you to come!¡±


    ¡°Oh? We¡¯re on a first-name basis now, are we? I haven¡¯t met you before,¡± she said, voice steady. ¡°Which one are you?¡± she demanded.


    Another tendril slithered across Lacia¡¯s body, carefully wrapping itself around her neck. A searing heat burned into her skin, etching a hollow ring of black hexes. She squirmed, but it was no use.


    ¡°Our master will be pleased that his curse mark has been applied,¡± the devil said, admiring its new handiwork. It seemed to pay Aria little mind, avoiding her faulty leer. ¡°I wonder¡­ Will you save the girl, or,¡± it paused, "will you sacrifice her to create a world free of strife? How devoted to your original ideals are you, little girl?¡±


    Aria seethed with rage. She didn¡¯t appreciate being mocked by a devil. ¡°Calling me a little girl when I¡¯m about to turn you to ash is pretty bold,¡± she scoffed, eyes still fixed on the devil, ¡°but you still haven¡¯t told me who you are or what you want.¡± Her voice grew threatening.


    The devil continued its examination of Lacia as it spoke, twirling her around in midair like some kind of spit roast. ¡°This one here has a very special gift. It is the last one I, or, should I say, we need in order to open the gate.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°I do. The very same. The Erill Gate,¡± the devil said, finally paying heed to Aria.


    ¡°You really think you can resurrect the Banished Ones alone?¡± she posed. Her eyes twinkled with curiosity, though she¡¯d yet to remove them from the devil. Suddenly, a small glint caught her attention, but it was inconsistent.


    ¡°Aria¡ª¡± Lacia gestured towards the bracelet on her wrist as it glinted once more, caught in the moonlight from the open doorway. ¡°Maybe she¡¯ll know something about this thing I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I see. If that bracelet is what I think it is, then¡­¡± A cold pool developed beneath Aria¡¯s feet¡ªan expected attack, even if she couldn¡¯t see it. She sidestepped the invisible strike with ease. ¡°Oh? Now, that wasn¡¯t very nice,¡± she pouted.


    ¡°You humans are so peculiar,¡± the devil growled. ¡°You sidestepped an attack you could not see. How?¡±


    ¡°Give me your name first, then maybe I¡¯ll tell you,¡± she taunted. ¡°I have to be careful. I still don¡¯t know what this thing¡¯s capable of and if I make it mad, it might kill Lacia.¡±


    ¡°Ha! You¡¯ve been a good sport. I suppose I will grant you your wish before I drain your life as well.¡±


    A grin slithered across the devil¡¯s face. A set of sharp, pointed teeth broke from its shadowy facade. A deep, disembodied voice emanated from somewhere deep within its throat, but neither Lacia nor Aria could make out what it was saying.


    ¡°Quit mumbling! Use your words,¡± Aria demanded.


    ¡°Lucifero,¡± it hissed.


    Aria¡¯s face lit up with a mixture of surprise and shock. ¡°The third in line to the throne of the Reverse Royalty¡­ Lucky me,¡± she grumbled. ¡°I thought you were¡ª¡±


    ¡°Dead? While that blast from your ancestor, Saint Miruna I think was the poor bastard¡¯s name, certainly left me in quite a mess, he never finished the job,¡± Lucifero grinned with a widening smile, ¡°and now I¡¯m here to take this one¡¯s little gift, but it seems I get to have you for dessert, Miss Miruna!¡±


    Aria licked her lips, the strawberry taste of her lip gloss embellishing her tongue. ¡°Now, don¡¯t get me excited, Lucifero,¡± she said, cheeks flushed. ¡°I¡¯ve waited so long to get my revenge on you monsters¡­ When that man took me in¡­ That promise¡­ Ah! I could just¡ª Mm!¡±


    Lucifero¡¯s grin began to fade. ¡°Your poor thing, You really don¡¯t know, do you? The man you hold in such high regard is¡ª"


    ¡°Shut up!¡± she shouted back. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare ruin my moment of ecstasy. I¡¯ll cut you down where you stand in a minute.¡± She locked her gaze on Lucifero, quickly analyzing what the devil had shared. ¡°If it took you this long to finally reappear,¡± she said slowly, ¡°then that means you¡¯re desperate. If Lacia fully awakened her gift, she would disrupt everything you¡¯ve worked so hard for, you poor thing,¡± she taunted back. ¡°That means she¡¯s close to her awakening¡­¡±


    Lucifero¡¯s grin returned to its shadow-clad state; the devil realized it had been outsmarted; she was a threat, yet she lacked several pieces of vital information. The next move would decide who took an early lead in the ensuing battle.


    A flurry of pointed shadows shot up from the floor beneath Aria¡¯s feet¡ªanother sneak attack. While she hadn¡¯t expected Lucifero to attack the same place twice, she effortlessly sidestepped the attack again, suffering only a minor laceration to her inner left thigh.


    ¡°Ripped tights aren¡¯t a good look on anyone,¡± she said, disappointed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you did that.¡±


    ¡°Take this fight seriously, girl, or your friend will be dead in minutes!¡±


    ¡°I got under its, uhh, skin? Shadows?¡± She shook her head. ¡°All that means is my hunch was correct. Tch. And they doubt the power of women¡¯s intuition¡­¡± The air grew thick, blanketing the hallway in enriched mana. ¡°Now,¡± she emphasized, ¡°you have me excited!¡±


    ¡°Aria,¡± Lacia groaned, ¡°please release your hormones somewhere else. I¡¯m¡­ really fading here¡­¡±


    ¡°Ew! What? No! Don¡¯t make me out to be some horn¡ª¡± A small, shadow-like spear soared toward Aria as she caught it between her fingers. Blood trickled down her hand. ¡°I was in the middle of a conversation, you know? Did you really think that would hurt me?¡± she said as the shadows dissolved into light. ¡°I¡¯ve stalled this thing just long enough now.¡±


    An amalgamation of condensed mana formed in the palm of her hand; rays of light shot from a spiraling orb small enough to mistake for a toy, but powerful enough to level a small city. The miniature ball of golden light began to expand in size, banishing any shadows within the range of its luminescence¡ªnot even the icy floors were spared as heat shimmered across the tile like a summer heatwave.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have nearly the same strength your ancestor did. You don¡¯t really think that puny ball of light will hurt me, do you?¡± Lucifero taunted.


    Aria bit her lower lip until she bled. ¡°Actually, I do,¡± she whispered, inches from the devil¡¯s back.


    Lucifero¡¯s body burst into a mass of shadows, sharper than razor blades as the devil failed to stop Aria¡¯s feint. Furious, it turned to Lacia, still wrapped up, and tightened its hold. A loud snap and subsequent scream signaled her second broken bone in as many weeks.


    ¡°You were warned, girl. Her life is decided by me and me alone now,¡± Lucifero snickered. ¡°That was just her arm. Will she stay conscious long enough for me to break a few ribs, too?¡± Lucifero¡¯s voice had grown desperate, but the devil wasn¡¯t bluffing; it intended on making good on its promises.


    ¡°Let go of her,¡± Aria said, reaffirming her position behind the devil again. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to fight me if you keep hanging on to her like we¡¯re in some kind of tentacle p¡ª¡±


    Lucifero managed to land a blow, grazing Aria¡¯s cheek. ¡°You¡¯re fast,¡± she said, surprised. ¡°It seems you¡¯re not the same moron you¡¯re made out to be, Lucifero. Not even my ancestors thought you were a worthy foe! How does that make you feel?!¡± she shouted.


    Lucifero flung Lacia down the hall with enough force to send her cratering into the wall. She was motionless amid a cloud of dust and plaster. Wooden support beams had been snapped in half as she¡¯d soared straight them before losing momentum. The sound of splitting wood and crunch of rubble echoed up the hall, but Lacia remained silent.


    ¡°And with that, you¡¯ve signed your return ticket back to hell,¡± Aria said, furious. Her eyes left streaks of light where she stood as she sped towards Lucifero, eager to land an attack of her own. ¡°Not that I was ever going to hold back, but I also wasn¡¯t planning on using every ounce of mana I had¡­ God, I hope this works¡­¡±


    Lucifero¡¯s shadows overtook the hall, plunging everything into pitch darkness amidst an otherworldly clash between dark and light. Finally landing a blow of her own, she seared a hole through the devil¡¯s midsection.


    ¡°You have three seconds to bow your head and kneel before me, you filth. I¡¯ll let you in on a little secret, though,¡± Aria said, parrying Lucifero¡¯s shadows with her own blades of light. ¡°If Lacia isn¡¯t breathing, you won¡¯t be, either.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you think?¡± the devil laughed. ¡°Do you think this is a game? Where you get to choose between life and death? I hold the key to your fates!¡±


    ¡°Three¡­¡±


    Lucifero landed another strike, this time hitting the mark. Aria choked, trying to hold back a mass of fresh blood, but it poured from her mouth like a waterfall, staining her lips red as it pooled onto the floor at her feet. The devil had managed to pierce her stomach with an unseen shadow, hidden somewhere in her peripheral vision.


    She dropped to her knees, coughing up a new mass of blood. The color drained from her face in seconds, leaving only a ghostly complexion not even her makeup could hide. Her hair fell into her face, soaking up the flood of tears that flooded down her cheeks; her ends dipped into the pool of blood like paintbrushes, preparing to paint her demise as she shut the world out.


    Lucifero crept forward, wrapping Aria¡¯s arms and legs in the same shadows the devil had used to bind Lacia. A fresh spurt of blood oozed from her wound, splattering onto the tile with a loud splash. Yet, despite being an inch from death, she smiled as she opened her eyes, revealing the same burning ferocity from before.


    ¡°Fool. I am Lucifero, third in line to the throne of the Reverse Royalty¡¯s most powerful, most elite, devils.¡± An eerie tingle brushed Aria¡¯s ear. ¡°And now you will sit by my future throne, chained like a dog,¡± the devil whispered.


    ¡°Two,¡± Aria counted, ¡°and, I prefer cats, sorry,¡± she said, weakly.


    The air suddenly grew exponentially heavier, almost as if someone had turned gravity up to eleven. The ball of light in Aria¡¯s palm had disappeared after she¡¯d initiated her assault, but she¡¯d never stopped accumulating more mana from the surrounding environment. She had to allow Lucifero to land an attack, or her efforts would have been in vain. Still, she hadn¡¯t expected a killing blow; she only needed the devil to strike her once, and preferably not in the stomach.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she said, weakly, ¡°have you ever wondered what it would be like if you were at the center of a supernova? Everything else around you burning up in the stellar evacuation?¡±


    Lucifero ignored her question. ¡°You will die here, Aria Miruna. Upon your death, I will retrieve your little friend¡¯s body and take what is rightfully mine. Your souls will forever be chained to my throne as you watch me ascend.¡±


    Aria sighed. ¡°That sounds terrible, not gonna lie,¡± she said. ¡°Also, my head is a little foggy right now. I think it¡¯s the blood loss¡­ Remind me what comes before two?¡±


    ¡°Why are you still counting?!¡± Lucifero demanded, slamming Aria against the wall.


    The impact only exacerbated her bleeding. She swore she could see stars as she struggled for breath, clutching her chest. Every joint in her body simultaneously popped as she collided with the wall, leaving an impression where she¡¯d been moments prior.


    ¡°One,¡± she managed to choke.


    The ball of light she¡¯d been controlling from earlier suddenly reappeared in the palm of her hand as it began to swirl. It was slow at first, but gradually picked up speed, throwing shimmering rays of light into the shadow-lined hallway. The light had grown so bright, it illuminated the sky with the luster of a thousand suns; night quickly became day.


    ¡°All I had to do,¡± she coughed, ¡°was bait you in, but I wish you¡¯d gone for an arm or leg or something¡ªnot my stomach.¡± Dried blood had formed on the sides of her mouth and chin. ¡°Unfortunately for you, you can¡¯t let go of me, and this is where one of two things happens¡ªeither I die because my magic was too weak, or you get obliterated.¡± A new shadowy tendril wrapped itself around her neck, choking her out. ¡°Either way, one of us dies here,¡± she croaked.


    ¡°Your ancestor put up a greater challenge than you. This is pathetic.¡± Lucifero drew a shadow-cloaked blade to her neck. ¡°I¡¯ll send you to visit him in hell!¡±


    Aria¡¯s face had drained of all color; her lips had turned blue from lack of oxygen, a stark contrast to the red blood stains around her mouth. Breathing was difficult, but not impossible; she had one chance to ensure both her and Lacia¡¯s escape.


    Lucifero was formidable, but the devil¡¯s observation skills were subpar. While they¡¯d been conversing, Aria had allowed Lucifero¡¯s shadows to absorb the mana orb she¡¯d been channeling. She could feel its power growing, but she was beginning to lose consciousness; she would be unable to control its release if she blacked out or, worse yet, died. Everything hinged on the amount of mana she¡¯d been able to amass and her own risky decisions, allowing Lucifero to draw her in. Still, she wondered if her recklessness was for the better good or not.


    ¡°That man,¡± she whispered hoarsely, ¡°promised me a perfect world.¡± She tugged at the shadows around her neck, but they seemed to lack physical form, still tightening. ¡°I¡ª Can¡¯t¡ª Die¡ª Here!¡± She halted the orb¡¯s consumption of mana. Now, she had to hope it was enough. ¡°Did you know,¡± she said, ¡°that when you reverse the molecular structure of mana particles, they become like miniature bombs?¡±


    The devil laughed, pushing the blade into her neck. ¡°You can¡¯t hurt me with something as amateur as that!¡± Bright red blood trickled beneath the shadow blade. ¡°Watching you struggle is incredibly amusing.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, Lucifero,¡± she said, slowly, ¡°when you reverse mana, magic particles, they begin to act a little differently. Their natural tendency is to repel anything they come into contact with, but because I reversed the structure of the orb you absorbed, the light-magic-bomb inside of you has become a¡ª¡±


    The devil leapt backwards. ¡°When did you have time to do that?!¡± Lucifero¡¯s hold on Aria loosed as she dropped to the floor. ¡°Not even your ancestor was able to pull off a white hole!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not my ancestor,¡± she wheezed. ¡°Goodbye, for good, Lucifero.¡± She relinquished control of the orb, allowing it to spiral into disorder. ¡°Zero¡­¡±


    Lucifero¡¯s cries of agony were lost in the luster purge, the very fiber of the devil¡¯s being extirpated by preeminence. A searing white light filled the hallway, banishing every trace of the physical world, transforming it into a blank slate of nothingness. Space and time seemed to collide as the oxygen was burned away in the subsequent colorless supernova.


    Aria watched as Lucifero¡¯s shadows were painted white as they swirled around a fixed point, trapped within the vortex. Fringes of black lined the exterior of a pure white hole, absorbing everything within its reach.


    ¡°Unlike its darker cousin,¡± Aria explained, ¡°white holes do not bend space and time. Rather, they erase the existence of everything caught within their confines from space and time. All that will remain of you is a memory, and not a very tasteful one.¡±


    The devil shouted something she could only imagine was some kind of curse, but the shouts were lost in the gyre of heat and light as the white hole continued its feast. Worried she would find herself on the other end of her own creation, she slipped the sash from her dress around a nearby doorhandle, double and triple-knotting it. While it wasn¡¯t a black hole, the white hole¡¯s gravitational pull was still powerful, pulling in any unsecured object it could find, not just Lucifero.


    Moments later, the hole dissipated, leaving behind a steady whoosh, satisfied by the meal it had been given; Lucifero was gone. She could finally breathe, or at least kind of. Every breath hurt, using the same muscles Lucifero had torn through earlier, but she just happy to be alive. After all, she had her own unfinished business to tend to still.


    Lifting herself up, she suddenly found herself floating, weightless, almost as if someone had turned the gravity dial to low. She bounced off the walls of the hallway, still bathed in white, but the outlines of doors and light fixtures had remained visible. Now, everything was just white. She determined she was no longer in the same hallway as earlier but somewhere else entirely¡ªsomewhere between reality and a dreamscape.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± she pondered aloud. ¡°This place¡­ It¡¯s so quiet and peaceful. Is it because Lucifero¡¯s gone?¡± Her abdomen began to ache as the adrenaline from her fight left her body. ¡°I could use a few more doses of that,¡± she groaned. ¡°Now what do I do?¡±


    The moment the words left her lips, the room burst into vigorous arrays of color. Aria promptly found herself standing at the entrance of a large, gothic-styled school, arced gates towering over her. She peered through the bronze slats, hands gripping the warm metal. Just beyond the gates was an erected magical barrier. Whatever the school wanted to keep hidden, they were doing a terrible job of keeping it a secret. Who, or what, were they trying to hide? Why was security seemingly so tight? The exterior of the building was nothing more than a mirage amplified by magic as it flickered like a projection.


    ¡°Yeah, real stealthy¡­¡±


    Aria turned to walk the length of the gates, hoping to find a way in, before the soft cries of a child caught her attention. Looking down, a girl, no older than ten or eleven, stood before the same gates as her. She looked as if she was trying to comprehend the colossal size of the school; her small body was nothing more than the size of ant compared to the monumental structure. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes.


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s okay! Don¡¯t cry,¡± Aria comforted.


    She moved to place a hand on the girl¡¯s shoulder, but it phased right through her. Confused, she watched as the gates opened to reveal a beautiful garden of varying hues and natural beauty: red and purple flower patches, sculpted hedges, and fruits and vegetables of decadent, juicy volumes. A large fountain offered the surrounding plant life a midday sip as fresh water splashed back into the rounded, stone basin; it was a marvelous performance of waterworks and nature¡¯s own cycle of life.


    The girl leaned over the edge of the fountain, marveling at her own watery reflection. Aria stood back, fascinated as the girl quickly became absorbed in the marvel of her mirror image. Afraid she might fall in, Aria ran over to the edge of the fountain, hoping to pull the little girl back, but she phased straight through like some kind of ghost.


    ¡°Alright. Enough of this,¡± she grumbled.


    The loud groan of a heavy, metal door pierced the peaceful serenity of the garden, swinging open on its hinges. An elderly, well-mannered gentleman appeared in the doorway as he turned in Lacia¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Ahh¡­ You must be Young Lacia. We have been anticipating your arrival.¡±


    ¡°That little girl is Lacia?¡± Aria thought to herself. ¡°She¡¯s so much littler, so much more¡­ innocent. That is not the girl I¡¯ve had the unfortunate pleasure of lugging around in the snow.¡±


    Lacia stared at the man for a moment before she stuck her tongue out. He chuckled, unphased by her blatant disregard for manners and proper etiquette. She returned her attention to the fountain, kicking her legs in the air as she leaned into the watery basin.


    ¡°Innocent¡­ Right.¡±


    A minute later, she¡¯d grown bored of her reflection in the water, choosing a new plaything to capture her attention with as she locked eyes with the man. She furrowed her brow, berating him with an onslaught of questions, yet he remained unphased, answering each ignorant demand she made with dignity and poise.


    ¡°I want my mom and dad. When can they come see me?¡± Lacia spat.


    A blanket of clouds briefly blotted out the sun as a light breeze whispered through the garden, rustling Lacia¡¯s hair. The sweet-scent assortment of azaleas drifted through the garden, greeting Aria¡¯s nose with a lovely, floral aroma. She closed her eyes, embracing the tranquility. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but think about how much different Lacia was compared to her initial reactions.


    ¡°Her mannerisms are so different. Even from a younger version of herself, I would¡¯ve expected her to act at least somewhat like she does now,¡± Aria thought, scrutinizing Lacia¡¯s childish nature, ¡°but this little girl doesn¡¯t act like the version of her I know, at all.¡±


    Lacia shifted the weight of the backpack on her shoulders, holding the straps with both hands. The canvas dug into her palms as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, books jostling around inside the enclosed pockets. She stood eager, waiting for an answer to her question, yet the elderly man continued to smile before finally deciding upon an appropriate answer.


    ¡°Your parents cannot visit you right now,¡± he said apologetically, "but they have promised to write you letters while they are away on business.¡±


    Suddenly, the image of Lacia, the elderly man, and the garden dissolved into an infinite number of fine particulates. Colors whirled into a spiral, creating tunnels of images that resembled moving pictures. Were they memories? If so, whose? Moments later, the room finally settled, thrusting Aria into another picturesque scene. Though, blurry at first, the image seemed to focus like a camera lens before deciding upon what setting it wanted.


    ¡°This is¡­ incredible,¡± she said in awe. ¡°Who knew such marvels existed? Forget how it¡¯s even possible!¡±


    Lacia sat alone; a wide, oak table sprawled out before her in what was the grandest of libraries Aria had ever seen. Shelves of books lined every wall, stretching towards the ceiling, multiple stories up. The smell of leather book-bindings and paper filled her nose as the fluttering of pages and soft thump of closing hardback covers greeted her ears. Curiously, she walked over to the table where Lacia sat; several textbooks, a couple novels, and a slew of papers, pens and pencils littered the tabletop.


    Aria rotated into her field of view, noticing that Lacia was slightly older compared to the last scene, when she was just a child. Several years had clearly passed: her hair covered her neck and shoulders, a few inches had been added to her height, and her face no longer resembled that of a small child. Aria peered into her eyes¡ªa beautiful sky-blue, but she could see the exhaustion in them.


    ¡°Hey, new girl.¡±


    Aria looked up to see a trio of girls meander around the edge of the table as Lacia grew uncomfortable. Nervously, she pulled the sleeves of a red and white embroidered cardigan down, but not before Aria caught sight of the numerous bruises scattered up and down her arms.


    ¡°What¡¯re ya studying?¡± one of the girls taunted.


    ¡°So, that¡¯s how it is,¡± Aria thought, noticing Lacia¡¯s discomfort. ¡°What do these girls have to gain by teasing her? And, are those bruises from¡ª¡±


    ¡°I said, what are you studying?¡± the same girl repeated, pushing a pile of books and papers onto the floor.


    Lacia ignored the inconvenience as she frantically gathered the papers that had scattered across the library floor. Aria continued to watch closely, her full attention on the scene at hand. She couldn¡¯t imagine a world where a girl like Lacia ever had to struggle with something as lowly as bullying, yet there was no other way to describe what she was witnessing.


    She knew she couldn¡¯t interact with the world, but it still made her blood boil. ¡°We don¡¯t have to get along, but no matter how much I dislike a person, I¡¯d never stoop so low that bullying was pleasureful.¡± She gagged. ¡°What a twisted ideal.¡±


    A sudden blast of wind slammed the three girls square in the back, sending them flying towards the far end of the library where they flew through a series of double doors, down an adjacent hallway.


    ¡°That was magic,¡± Aria realized. ¡°And from the looks of things, I¡¯m about to find out who cast it.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay, Lacia?¡± a soft voice called. ¡°I hate those girls so much, so I¡¯ll take the heat for using unauthorized magic later.¡± Her voice was full of sweetness and confidence.


    ¡°No. I¡¯m fine,¡± Lacia said, shaking her head. ¡°Thank you, Mana.¡±


    ¡°She seems a lot more confident than Lacia,¡± Aria thought, studying her. ¡°I feel strangely reassured by her presence, but I¡¯ve never met this girl,¡± she pondered.


    Her figure was similar to that of Lacia¡¯s, perhaps a little fuller in the chest department, but, other than her silky, black hair, notable differences were few and far between. Ivory skin glowed in the daylight that filtered in through large windows in the ceiling. Even so, Lacia¡¯s complexion remained the most appealing of the two as Aria examined her own similar lack-of-a-tan skin tone.


    Emerald eyes reflected in Lacia¡¯s endless blue irises, creating a turquoise sea of visual reflection, enhanced by the top-down effect of the daylight; the library had become a stage, idolizing the two girls in the glistening dust particles that floated in the air. Aria half-expected one of the two to climb onto the table in ballerina-like fashion¡ªall that was missing was a set of classical music.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go get lunch. Finals week is draining, and I¡¯m famished,¡± Mana emphasized. ¡°What sounds good?¡±


    The scene changed again, presumably for the final time as the room shifted and the images expanded once more, but she understood what she was seeing this time; these were genuine memories, after all, though the first two were not hers. This one, however, Aria knew well: seated on the edge of a rusted, metal bridge, her feet dangled over the coursing creek below illuminated by a full moon.


    ¡°I looked so much different¡­ The accident really did change everything,¡± she said, awe-struck. ¡°I don¡¯t even recognize myself.¡± Doubt crept into her voice. ¡°Am I doing the right thing? I¡¯m doing this for a better world, right?¡±


    Her hair brushed against the midsection of her back, light brown locks brandishing their healthy shine in the pale moonlight. She leaned back, eyes pointed towards the vast array of stars overhead. Looking into the eyes of her teenage self, she couldn¡¯t help but notice the vigor and happiness that shone in them, something she¡¯d left behind a long time ago. Pale, hazel-blue eyes reflected the moon¡¯s showing, a lively smile filling the face of her teenage self.


    Footsteps clamored down the bridge, muffling the sound of the creek below, struggling to transport its chilly contents downstream. An orange ball of light bobbed in the inky darkness, Lacia¡¯s face appearing in the warm glow. She waved an arm, hoping to grab Aria¡¯s attention while simultaneously greeting her new friend. In her other arm was a large, folded blanket; it would be far more comfortable than sitting on splintered boards. Unfortunately, as she approached, her foot caught an upturned board, stumbling the rest of the way as she nearly dove straight off the bridge and into the water.


    ¡°What are you doing, Aria?¡± Lacia asked, her eyes full of light and curiosity as she regained her composure.


    ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± she replied softly. ¡°Just admiring the stars. Look how beautiful they are tonight.¡±


    The night air was chilly as she moved closer to Aria, settling down next to her as she wrapped the blanket around the two of them. A large grin spread across her face as looked up at the sky, taking in the beauty of the heavens above.


    Cosmic clouds of silver, blue, and purple lined the night sky, graced by the occasional streak of a shooting star¡ªnot even the luminescence of a full moon could outshine the magnitude of the stars.


    ¡°Wow¡­ So pretty¡­ Do you come out here every night?¡± Lacia asked.


    ¡°I remember this moment, but, at the same time, I don¡¯t¡­¡± Aria thought. ¡°How could I remember sitting out here on the bridge, but forget the relationship I had with Lacia entirely? I¡­ I know trauma can manifest itself in weird ways, but this memory¡­¡±


    ¡°Miss Lacia! There you are,¡± a familiar voice came. It was the elderly man from the first memory. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have terrible news, dear.¡±


    Lacia removed her transfixed gaze on the sky, her warm smile fading to worry. ¡°What is it, Hobson?¡±


    ¡°Would you be opposed to having Miss Aria here? You may not want to be alone with the news I am about to share with you,¡± he asked, a tinge of concern in his voice.


    She looked at Aria, then back at Hobson. ¡°Yes, if you would, please.¡± Lacia folded her hands in her lap as Hobson pulled an envelope from his coat, retrieving a small envelope from within. He cleared his throat, removing its contents¡ªa letter.


    ¡°Dear Lacia Amana,¡± he started, ¡°Miruna High School offers its deepest condolences to you. A large earthquake struck the city your parents were on business in, but as of the date of notice in this letter, your parents have not been found. Search and rescue crews are working relentlessly to clear the debris. If you require any resources during this trying time, Miruna High School is ready to offer you any services you may desire.¡± He placed the letter back in the envelope. ¡°Signed by President Miruna,¡± he finished.


    Lacia looked as if she was going to be sick. The warm glow of the lantern struggled to revive her now-ghostly complexion. She opened her mouth to speak, but didn¡¯t know where to start. Aria wrapped her arms around her, hoping to console her friend with a hug.


    ¡°Lacia¡­ I am so sorry¡­ If you need anything let me know, okay? I¡¯m here for you,¡± Aria said, comfortingly.


    ¡°Thank you, Aria,¡± she managed to croak out. ¡°Hobson¡­ Do you know when the earthquake happened?¡± she asked, shaking.


    ¡°Two days ago. The school was just informed this afternoon,¡± he replied. ¡°Allow me to offer my deepest condolences, young Miss.¡±


    ¡°I, see,¡± she faltered. ¡°I appreciate you letting me know and the support, Hobson.¡± She turned her gaze towards the wooden planks of the bridge, refusing to embrace the sky¡¯s beauty in such a dark moment. ¡°I¡­ I think I¡¯m going to go to bed. I¡¯ll, uh, see you tomorrow, Aria,¡± she said solemnly. She wrapped the rest of the blanket around Aria as she got up to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay tomorrow. I just need to process things tonight,¡± she smiled weakly before wandering into the night.


    Rather than relive the rest of the memory through her own perspective, Aria decided to follow Lacia back to her dorm. She was concerned, but not by her own faulty memory¡ªnot alone. Lacia¡¯s staggers resembled that of a drunkard as Aria continued her pursuit.


    ¡°This must have been a turning point in both of our lives. What other reason could there possibly be I¡¯m seeing this?¡± she wondered aloud.


    She watched as Lacia took her shoes off, placing them by the door of her dorm room, the black, patent leather shoes glistening in the light. Flipping the lights off, she crawled into bed, pulling the covers over her head before crying herself to sleep on a tear-stained pillow.


    The white room vanished, but it seemed to desire Aria¡¯s reactions after previewing not only Lacia¡¯s memories but hers, as well. Colors swirled into a dazzling spiral of vivid pigmentation once more before the world returned to focus moments later; she was back in the hallway where she¡¯d started. A dark, burnt-in shadow in the tile caught her attention first.


    ¡°Your mistake, Lucifero, was thinking I couldn¡¯t surpass what everyone already expected of me,¡± she said, breathing heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve to call Lacia a friend, but I learned something valuable tonight. This world¡­ isn¡¯t all that bad. Someone very important taught me that,¡± she said, heels echoing down the hall as she ran towards Lacia.


    She slid onto her knees, gliding across the smooth, ceramic floor as she attempted to remove as much debris from Lacia¡¯s body as possible: large chunks of concrete here, shards of glass there. If anything, though, the curse mark Lucifero implanted onto her neck had vanished without a trace¡ªnothing remained of Lucifero or the devil¡¯s sickening aura. Aria¡¯s eyes ran the length of Lacia¡¯s body, using what little magic she could muster to run a thorough examination of her body. Just how much of her life had Lucifero drained, and could she get it back?


    ¡°You¡¯re alive¡­ Thank god,¡± Aria sobbed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I didn¡¯t come sooner. I¡¯m such an awful person, and I know I don''t deserve your kindness, but I hope you can forgive me for everything,¡± she said through sobs, ¡°for forgetting about you, for treating you like my enemy¡ªfor forgetting about us. I became so caught up in my own selfish ideals that I lost sight of who I was, and I know there¡¯s no excuse for my behavior, but I never expected your heart and mind to be so full of serenity and amazement.¡± She fell over her body. ¡°I forgot something very important, and I am so, so, so sorry.¡±


    Aria¡¯s voice filled Lacia¡¯s ears, pulling her back from the brink of death, caught in a precarious traipse between life and death. Slowly, she opened her eyes, lifting a hand to Aria¡¯s cheek, soaked with tears and dried blood.


    ¡°I heard everything you said back there,¡± Lacia said weakly, startling Aria. She took a deep, painful, breath. ¡°You were so brave, and I¡¯m kind of jealous I couldn¡¯t make as grand a performance, but don¡¯t blame yourself for what happened. I forgot, too. I¡¯m sorry, Aria.¡±


    Aria pulled herself away from Lacia, giving her room to breathe. ¡°I¡¯m going to get us both out of here, ok? Just rest,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°We¡¯ll have time to talk later, but I¡¯m pretty spent, myself,¡± she said, lifting her dress to reveal her own wounds. ¡°If I didn¡¯t draw Lucifero in, we would both be dead right now,¡± she winced, lowering the garment, ¡°but it worked out.¡± She smiled again.


    Lacia nodded before following up with a question. ¡°How did you know where to find me?¡± she asked hoarsely.


    ¡°It¡¯s an ability I have,¡± Aria sniffled. ¡°I¡¯m only able to enter dreams when I have a strong bond with the recipient which is why I was so surprised I could do it with you,¡± she said, admittingly. ¡°I¡¯m going to pull us both out of here now, ok?¡± Lacia nodded, hand intertwined with Aria¡¯s. ¡°When we get out of here, I want to catch up. Will you accept my invitation to tea this time?¡±


    Lacia smiled. ¡°Only the finest tea leaves and sets. Otherwise, it¡¯s a promise.¡±

 Chapter 7: Connected Memories

    ¡°Mana? Are you alright?¡± Brendan asked, a worried expression on his face.


    She stared straight ahead, a look of shock on her face. Lacia was alright; she couldn¡¯t believe it. It had been nearly a month since her disappearance, but knowing Lacia was ok filled her with a revived passion.


    ¡°She¡¯s ok,¡± Mana said softly.


    ¡°Sorry¡ª I don¡¯t follow?¡± Mana turned around to face Brendan, tears of happiness streaming down her face causing him to take a step back. ¡°If this is about last night, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said apologetically. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to make you cry.¡±


    Mana looked at him, clearly confused. ¡°Huh? Last night¡­? Oh! No, no, no! These tears aren¡¯t about last night, and, uh, that wasn¡¯t your fault. I¡¯m sorry for dragging you into my emotional wreck of a life, though. I know that hasn¡¯t been fair to you¡­¡± she said, shifting her eyes from his gaze. ¡°These are tears of happiness. Lacia is ok, and I even know where she is.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d say that¡¯s good news, but where is she, exactly?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s with another person, but they¡¯re at the border of Gila, northwest of Seria, and the westernmost point of Alura. It¡¯s going to be a bit of a drive.¡±


    The screen-door of the porch slid open with a soft whoosh. Licht appeared in the doorway, a look of surprise mixed with excitement on his face as well; he was anxious to meet the person Mana and Brendan had talked so much about.


    ¡°Did I hear you say you know where Lacia is?¡± he asked.


    Brendan nodded. ¡°Yeah. The border of Alura and¡ª¡±


    ¡°We leave in the morning, if that¡¯s ok with you two?¡± Mana interrupted. ¡°Besides, there¡¯s something I need to¡­¡± Her voice began to ebb as she began to sway back and forth, falling into Licht¡¯s arms. Beads of sweat crossed her forehead. She looked up as the ceiling began to spin, colors mixing and spilling into dizzying combinations. She shut her eyes; if she didn¡¯t, she''d probably vomit all over the boys.


    ¡°Mana? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Brendan called. His voice was wobbly and distant.


    ¡°Please make it stop,¡± she whined. ¡°I can¡¯t do this¡ª¡± She reached out, hoping to find a hand, something to anchor her to reality, but her arm flailed in the empty air. Panic overtook her as Brendan and Licht''s voices dissolved into nothingness. She felt like she was being carried away¡ªsomewhere foreign.


    The dizzying merry-go-round effect began to subside almost as soon as it started, but as she opened her eyes again, she was no longer on the porch¡ªmuch less the hotel, for that matter. An eerie, white room slowly came into focus; shifting palettes of color dotted the blank scenery. There seemed to be no end to the strange room, expanding into infinity. She turned her head to the right, or was it the left? Which way was up or down? Was there such a thing as direction in a place that lacked dimensionality? Mana lifted her head up, careful not to spark a new wave of vertigo as water trickled from the ends of her hair.


    ¡°What is this place?¡± she wondered aloud. ¡°And¡­ water? I guess that makes this the floor? It¡¯s so warm¡­¡±


    A familiar voice echoed through the colorless expanse. ¡°She has begun to refine her gift if you¡¯ve come to visit me,¡± it emphasized.


    ¡°I know that voice,¡± Mana mumbled. ¡°Omnis?¡±


    Sitting up, she wrung her hair out as a parade of black rose petals brushed against her legs. She looked down, examining the petals, juxtaposed against the glassy floor of white. She caught her reflection in the watery image, turning her head from side to side, thoroughly examining herself with distinct curiosity.


    Her hair was matted on one side, likely from sleep but, despite forgetting to remove her makeup before crawling into bed, she didn¡¯t look half as bad as she¡¯d felt the previous night. Still, she longed for a hot shower and a fresh face.


    Shifting her attention from the watery reflection, one of the small color palettes she¡¯d noticed earlier began to drift towards her, congealing into an orb of picturesque images that played back like a movie. It was just big enough to fit in the palm of her hand where it rested as it finished its approach.


    ¡°What is this thing?¡± Mana asked. ¡°It seems vaguely familiar, but I don¡¯t know why¡­¡±


    Suddenly, the orb leapt into the air in front of her as it fanned out into a floating puddle of color. She reached out, gently tapping the shimmering image with her finger, promptly finding herself in the middle of an abandoned amusement park, greeted by a supernova of color, warmth, and emotion. Enveloped by the night, the only light came from a full moon, illuminating her surroundings in a milky-white luminescence.


    ¡°Cute girls and abandoned theme parks don¡¯t really mix, honestly, but I might as well figure out where I am,¡± she said to herself. ¡°I know I¡¯ve seen a ton of movies, and there¡¯s probably some clich¨¦ reason for all of this, but,¡± she paused, ¡°why am I here of all places?¡±


    The night air nipped at her skin as she walked past rusty carousels and disheveled tents full of holes. She spent another minute, taking in the sights of the lonely rides and attractions, before gravitating towards an otherwise well-kept Ferris wheel, towering over the center of the fairgrounds. She placed her hand on a blue cart; sadness washed over her in waves as tears welled in her eyes. She removed her hand, brushing the tears away with the backs of her hands.


    With a loud groan, the Ferris wheel rotated around to reveal an orange cart; the door was ajar. Inside, a small, silver bracelet rested on the cracked, grey leather seats. With a little effort, she managed to pry the door open the rest of the way.


    ¡°Stubborn thing,¡± she grumbled.


    She hoisted herself into the cart, taking a seat as she turned the bracelet over in her hands; there wasn¡¯t a scratch or speck of dust on it. The silver beads gleamed in the moonlight, emitting a dazzling beauty. Laying it out in her palm, she noticed a diamond-shaped locket on the end.


    ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s anything in here¡­ Huh?¡± A wrinkled picture fluttered to the floor at her feet. It must have been folded to fit inside the locket with careful precision; on the back was a message:


    To my best friend in the whole entire world.


    To the girl I look up to most.


    To my favorite person ever.


    To you, Mana.


    Emotions crashed into her like an icy wave, threatening to drown her in the watery jaws of the undertow. She turned the picture to the front, overcome with surprise. There she was, in the very same cart, sitting beside Lacia, her perfect smile filling the center of the composition. Mana donned a smile of her own. Her eyes gave off a look of content despite the small, cramped cabin. The late afternoon sun shone through the window at a perfect angle, creating a brilliant, rainbow-colored lens flare.


    ¡°We looked so happy. How could I have forgotten this memory of all things?¡± She tucked the picture back inside the locket, closing it with a small snap. ¡°Now I know why I feel like this.¡± She pressed a hand against the interior window as a soothing warmth spread throughout her body, happiness filling her heart. A long-forgotten memory flashed across her mind.


    Lacia was approaching the Ferris wheel; the late-summer sun beamed overhead as she tugged at her oversized t-shirt, the mesh fabric sticky against her skin with sweat. A pink fluff of cotton candy arced through the air, taking the place of her pointer finger. Mana gave a reluctant smile as Lacia dragged her towards the multi-colored carousel of steel and plastic.


    She remembered Lacia had complained about wearing leggings that day and how it was too warm, wishing Mana had warned her about the heat as she tried, several times, to remove the cottony garment. Reminding Lacia she hadn¡¯t brought a pair of shorts to change into, Mana felt more like a babysitter than two friends enjoying a day at the fair. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh though, for some reason, she just stood there as Lacia continued on without her.


    She yelled out, confusion and worry filling her voice. ¡°Lacia, wait for me,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Laci¡­ a¡­ Wait¡ª Is that me?¡± Mana realized she¡¯d been observing a memory from four years ago; she¡¯d become so engrossed in the scene that she didn¡¯t realize she wasn¡¯t physically there.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± she said, disappointed.


    Lacia¡¯s voice snapped her back to attention. ¡°After this, I kinda want to take a break by the pier. I¡¯ve always wanted to watch the sun set over the ocean,¡± she said. ¡°I think that would be a perfect way to end summer break.¡± Mana watched herself nod in agreement as the two girls climbed into the orange cart, the summer sun transforming the rusty paint into a brilliant, blazing, bronze.


    ¡°It¡¯s a totally different experience from this perspective,¡± Mana thought. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I forgot how much I cherished this memory.¡± She rushed to climb into the cart, forgetting that, once again, she was witnessing the past; she had no physical presence.


    As the Ferris wheel began to lift into the sky, Lacia pulled a small bracelet from her shoulder bag. Mana quickly realized it was the same bracelet she had picked up earlier, minus the picture that had yet to be taken. Clasping it between her hands, Lacia held the bracelet up to her heart. She turned to face the window, hiding a smile from Mana as she slipped it back into her bag.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost at the top¡ªlet¡¯s take a picture! I don¡¯t want to forget today,¡± Lacia said, digging around in her bag for her phone. ¡°It only seems right since you¡¯re the one who gave this bracelet to me.¡±


    Mana¡¯s face lit up. ¡°I don¡¯t want to forget either. I want to cherish these moments forever!¡±


    Tears filled Mana¡¯s eyes as she watched her past unfold. The picture they took that day was something she¡¯d cherish for years, but she couldn¡¯t remember why she¡¯d forgotten about it or where it had gone; she wasn¡¯t one to misplace things. Not only was it a surprise to find the picture carefully tucked away inside the bracelet¡¯s locket, but it was also a symbolic reflection of the better days when all she had to worry about was homework.


    ¡°I feel like such a jerk. Here I am, saying I don¡¯t ever want to forget, yet I went and forgot anyway. What kind of person does that? Especially someone they consider a friend. I can¡¯t believe myself right now¡­¡±


    Setting aside her plight for a moment, she returned her attention to the Ferris wheel as laughter filled the cart before the ride finished its revolution. The late-afternoon sun faded into a gentle evening warmth, a light breeze sweeping through the fairgrounds. Vibrant purples, reds, and oranges burned across the sky in a fiery display of passion that seemed to echo the same fervor of friendship the two girls had for each other. As the evening crowd began to thin, the Mana and Lacia departed for the pier, hoping to catch a once-in-a-lifetime sunset.


    Several couples lined the mahogany boardwalk, admiring the sun¡¯s watercolor-like painting in the sky. One girl seemed especially fond of the evening¡¯s sunset, tugging at her boyfriend¡¯s hand as she pointed at the colorful clouds. He chuckled, pulling her closer.


    ¡°I wished I could have someone like that,¡± Mana mumbled under her breath. While she¡¯d always longed for some kind of relationship, she wasn¡¯t sure what kind of person could fill that void.


    The memory continued its playback as the sun continued its artistic composition, igniting the sky in even deeper hues of crimson and lilac. Still, without Lacia by her side, she felt incomplete; she wished she could be there to experience the same moments she was reliving.


    Reaching the end of the pier, Lacia told Mana to take off her shoes. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want a strap to randomly break and lose a shoe, right? Besides, feeling the sea breeze on your feet is a feeling unlike any other,¡± Lacia fawned.


    ¡°So far this summer,¡± Mana started, ¡°what would you say your favorite moment has been?¡±


    Lacia pondered over the question for a moment before she gave her answer. ¡°This one,¡± she smiled. ¡°Right here and now.¡± She leaned into Mana¡¯s shoulder as the scene shifted into blurs of white haze.


    Mana found herself back in the white room where she started, trails of memories swirling through the void. The same, shallow bed of water from before greeted her as she gazed into her own eyes through the shimmering reflection. Small tears welled in the corners.


    ¡°Do you understand now?¡± Omnis inquired.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Mana asked, holding back tears.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°A memory, one of your most cherished.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I got that much, but how was I able to see that, and where am I?¡±


    Omnis remained silent before answering. ¡°This is the Hall of Memories. Only those deemed worthy are allowed here, but even fewer do I allow conversation with me.¡±


    The sound of sloshing water edged closer to Mana, still processing everything. She wiped away tear after tear, but they refused to cease; emotions flowed into her like a river emptying its contents into the sea.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you fixed up, shall we?¡±


    A golden-orange glow engulfed her body, comfortingly warm and overflowing with abundant mana. Her clothes stripped bare, revealing perfectly toned skin in the golden shimmer. She outstretched her arms, watching as the mana condensed, creating abstract, spiraling patterns along her skin. The familiar rush of wind overwhelmed her body as she was lifted off the ground; she felt like a puppet, at the mercy of the invisible threads that held her.


    She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her silken black hair melted into a deep, chocolate brown. The mana in the air continued to gather as it swirled around her, transforming the matted mess of knots and tangles into a luscious, shimmering adornment.


    ¡°This is incredible¡­¡± she thought. Her mind was the clearest it had been in weeks.


    An ethereal light filled the room, transmuting the muted white into a warm, golden glow.  Silken fabric raced across her body, threads of material weaving themselves together into a beautiful dress. The room seemed to melt, its colors pouring into the garment like paint spilling from a bucket. Gold trim wound its way through the threads, perfectly complimenting the white base as it brushed the back of her legs; shimmering ruffles layered the skirt, the sheer fabric creating an almost ethereal effect. The occasional fwip tightened the dress¡¯ back, ensuring its perfect fit as the corset ribbon wound its way through the tightening loops.


    Golden stockings strapped themselves to a mysterious garter belt somewhere beneath the dress, straps firmly pressed against her thighs as white, Mary Jane flats strapped themselves over the arches of her feet, a small block heel adding an extra inch to her height. A white choker and associated golden bow completed the look.


    Finally, the magical vortex began to slow, but not before one final touch-up: Sparkling, golden eyeshadow and black eyeliner highlighted her emerald-green irises as the mana subsequently lengthened her eyelashes, now a bold black¡ªmascara-free. The dwindling magical influx etched a pale magenta onto her cheeks, under the eyes, before adding a complimentary highlight across her cheekbones and corners of her eyes. The remaining traces of mana settled onto her lips, turning them into vibrant, glossy crimson.


    Finally settling to her feet, Mana¡¯s shoes created a small splash as they connected with the watery floor. Ripples fanned out in all directions, eager to return the water to its solid, pristine mirror-like state. Almost unrecognizable, she admired herself in the newly cast reflection, but hers wasn¡¯t the only one being cast this time: a white, humanoid figure had appeared behind her.


    ¡°Are you¡­? Did¡­¡± She lifted a finger, pointing at the figure, then herself.


    ¡°I am interpreted in many ways, but as you seem to have grown content with the name Omnis, then yes, that is me,¡± Omnis said, emotionless. ¡°Consider the improvement of your impoverished appearance a gift from me. You will need it where you are going, but that time has yet to come,¡± Omnis continued, answering Mana¡¯s second question. ¡°Now, as a parting gift, I have also rebalanced your magical circuits to their primordial state. You should find your magic quite a bit more free-flowing and potent now. Try casting a simple wind spell.¡±


    ¡°A¡­ wind spell?¡± Mana said, uncertainly. Before she could ask anything else, a new memory presented itself before her. Drifting through the lingering air currents, the bubble burst as it connected with her chest. ¡°Oh¡­ I see, now.¡±


    She closed her eyes again, focused, as she channeled a new surge of mana. It was incredible; the Hall of Memories was filled with such abundant magical energy; she wondered what it would be like to channel such immense power. The more she gathered, the more gravity seemed to weigh her down as the mana quickly pooled and condensed; her ears popped as the atmospheric pressure bombed out. Golden threads suddenly became visible, rotating around a singularity between her hands.


    ¡°Now, aim it at me, if you would,¡± Omnis said, ¡°and don¡¯t hold back.¡±


    Mana opened her eyes, her shimmering eye shadow as golden as the air currents. She stared at the magical vortex she¡¯d conjured, took a deep breath, and unleashed the spell; a deafening sonic boom resonated through the room as the brunt of the wind struck Omnis. The blast was so powerful that Mana struggled to maintain her footing as the wind rushed out in all directions.


    ¡°Very impressive,¡± Omnis said. ¡°You have much talent, Mana Lhumin. Yes, I would say you are ready, though there remains room for growth, as always.¡±


    ¡°Ready?¡± Mana asked, breathing heavily.


    ¡°Do you not recall our prior conversation?¡± Omnis gave a light chuckle. ¡°I am the one you¡¯ve been calling Omnis. You¡¯ll understand more when the time comes, but, for now, there is more we have to do here.¡±


    Omnis pointed a finger, motioning for Mana to look up. A small beam of light shot from the tip of a pure-white finger, fading several seconds later. What had been an untouched ceiling of pearly white suddenly began to shift, the suddenly-blocky ceiling like a giant, intricate machine, full of moving parts.


    ¡°Do you remember when we first spoke? It has been quite some time now,¡± Omnis asked.


    ¡°Are you talking about after the earthquake?¡± Mana replied, eyes fixed on the ceiling.


    ¡°Close. After you first arrived in Seria.¡±


    Surprise found its way onto Mana¡¯s face. How long had it been since she first arrived in Seria with Brendan and Licht? She scoured the corners of her mind, trying to remember what Omnis had told her. Realizing where she stood, she gasped.


    ¡°Under a bed of water, I lay in waiting. I can be seen twice a day. Find what you cherish most, and unlock the door to the grand maze.¡± A smile spread across Omni¡¯s face. ¡°This is what you mean, isn¡¯t it? This is the grand maze, and I¡¯m standing under a bed of water,¡± Mana said excitedly.


    The faux ceiling above her now resembled that of a starry sky, beautiful and illustrious. Stars shone with a ferocious magnitude as meteors streaked across the sky in tails of orange, white, and blue¡ªnot even the dazzling light of a full moon could outshine the meteoric display.


    Silence hung in the air for several seconds before Omnis spoke. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, but that was a very good guess. Give it a little more thought.¡±


    Mana stared at the ceiling, then back at the floor as another minute passed before she gave her second guess. Stooping down, her dress trailed in the water, floating on the surface like liquid gold. She placed her fingertips on the water¡¯s surface where a series of emerald lines cut across the watery plane like an electrical charge.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought¡­¡± she said softly, dipping her fingers into the water as they broke the glassy surface. They inched deeper and deeper until she was elbow deep. She wiggled them around, searching beneath the bed of water until they found what they were looking for.


    ¡°Under a bed of water,¡± she recited, finally grabbing hold of something, ¡°I lay waiting.¡± Slowly, she pulled a golden band from the water; it was littered with engravings all the way around the circumference, though the script wasn¡¯t in a language she recognized.


    ¡°Do not forget the rest of what I told you, and complete your quest,¡± Omnis said, satisfied. ¡°You must hurry and reconnect with your friends. This will be the last time I am able to assist you for a while. Good luck, Mana Lhumin.¡± A shimmering doorway appeared behind her, bathed in a dazzling, white light. ¡°Take that portal back, and remember: your journey has only just begun,¡± Omni¡¯s voice echoed as it faded into the white room.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting closer,¡± Mana whispered to herself. ¡°Even though I am about as lost as ever still, something tells me I¡¯m doing the right thing.¡±


    She turned and walked through the doorway, a newfound fire lighting the path she blazed. Her reunion with Lacia was closing in, but so was something else, something dark, and she could feel it. Even so, if she gave up searching for Lacia, everything she had done up until now would be a waste.


    ¡°So, remind me why we¡¯re dressed like we just walked out of a fifth-century castle again,¡± Brendan said, pulling at the collar of an exquisite, plush robe.


    ¡°Do I really have to explain it again?¡± Mana whined. ¡°Besides, grey is a good look on you. Do you really need another reason? It¡¯s quite classy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be really curious to hear what your reasoning for packing us up so quickly is, too,¡± Brendan complained. ¡°It¡¯s important that we find Lacia, but you look, uhh¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say something that¡¯s going to get me all flustered or I might drive off the road, ¡®k? I¡¯m sure Licht would also like to see tomorrow,¡± she cautioned.


    As she hurriedly packed their bags earlier that afternoon, she¡¯d done her best to give a condensed version of her meetings with Omnis, emphasizing her most recent visit and the Hall of Memories, including the golden band, but all Licht and Brendan could do was stare at her like they¡¯d seen a winning lottery ticket¡ªpart of the reason she¡¯d decided to change out of the dress and into a set of normal street clothes; a black crop top and strappy sandals with white, denim shorts would suffice.


    ¡°Besides, you¡¯ll need it where we¡¯re going,¡± she explained, though she wasn¡¯t sure if that message was more for her or for all three of them. ¡°Look,¡± she sighed. ¡°All I can really assume is that Gila is super formal with their attire-of-choice, I guess.¡± It wasn¡¯t a great answer, but it seemed to be enough to satisfy Brendan¡¯s burning curiosity.


    While she¡¯d never visited the actual Kingdom of Gila itself, she knew they were some of the friendliest people around. On occasion, she¡¯d strike up conversation with a Gilan tourist visiting Alura for its tropical summer weather as an escape from the Gilan cold. Considering recent events, however, she wondered just how friendly they¡¯d actually still be.


    ¡°Then tell me why we,¡± he said, gesturing towards himself and Licht, ¡°have to wear this stuff and you don¡¯t anymore.¡± Brendan demanded.


    ¡°At least he¡¯s not whining about it anymore,¡± Mana thought. ¡°Err¡­ Sort of¡­¡±


    While she normally didn¡¯t mind the extra attention, for some reason, she felt embarrassed. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t like the dress; she loved it, but she also knew better than to wear a dress in such sauna-like weather as Alura had quickly become. Likewise, she couldn¡¯t just remove layers like the boys could, and her dress was a lot less breathable than their current getups. Besides, it was punishment for their ogling her back at the hotel. Of course, being the kind soul she was, she¡¯d tell them later. For now, though, she just let them wonder.


    ¡°Is the heat messing with your brain, Brendan? You¡¯re normally pretty cool,¡± Mana poked, still focused on the road.


    ¡°Real funny,¡± Brendan retorted. ¡°Anyways, what¡¯s the plan when we meet up with Lacia?¡±


    Mana pondered the question for a moment; she wasn¡¯t entirely sure what her reunion with Lacia would bring. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure. All I can say is that this band thingy and Lacia are connected somehow,¡± she said, gesturing towards its resting place in the front seat.


    ¡°I¡¯m really glad you two are having such a heart-to-heart moment here,¡± Licht said, ¡°but could you kindly focus on the road, Mana? I can really sense the tension between you two.¡±


    ¡°Dude, there¡¯s literally no one else on the road. What are you so worried about?¡± Brendan laughed. ¡°Look, we¡¯ll be at the Gila border gate by tomorrow evening. Until then, maybe we should find a good map of the kingdom before the satellites come crashing down, too,¡± he said, nervously.


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®too¡¯? Mana asked, concern edging into her voice.


    ¡°It was a joke, guys. Relax. You two are way too on-edge.¡± Brendan locked eyes with Mana in the rearview mirror. ¡°No wonder¡­ Mana, you look tired. Pull over, and I¡¯ll drive.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? I mean, I can at least get us to the next town,¡± she said, trying to defend herself. Apparently, no amount of otherworldly makeup could hide the exhaustion in her eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll drive, Licht can take the front seat, and you can stretch out in the back. Sound good?¡±


    She sighed. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s fine, I guess. Thanks, Brendan,¡± she said, pulling onto the shoulder. ¡°Do you know how to get to Gila?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Licht and I can handle things from here. Get some rest and we¡¯ll wake you up in a couple hours,¡± Brendan said as the trio all swapped seats.


    ¡°If you say so,¡± she forfeited. ¡°There¡¯s, uhh, a little more to the story from earlier, but I¡¯ll explain tonight. Hope you don¡¯t mind a warm seat,¡± she teased.


    The heat of the day eventually broke like a fever, the sun setting below the horizon. Dusk settled in quickly, blanketing the surrounding landscape in a quiescent lull. City lights grew brighter as the evening progressed, but the streets were devoid of excessive traffic. It was an eerie feeling, driving into town during rush hour¡ªwithout the rush.


    Brendan checked the time on the car radio: half past six. Mana was still sound asleep in the back seat; he figured he''d better let her rest, considering everything she¡¯d been through earlier that same day.


    Licht''s laptop reflected in the passenger-side window, street names and city capitals scribbled across a map of Gila. ¡°How¡¯s it coming over there?¡± Brendan asked, taking a quick glance.


    ¡°Just finished, actually. Gila is mostly rural, from what I can see, and the layout seems to be divided up amongst multiple ruling families,¡± Licht surmised. ¡°However, I was looking at a population density map while cross-referencing energy usage, but the data doesn¡¯t line up.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The energy usage throughout the entire kingdom has dropped significantly since the start of the year, but there hasn¡¯t been a recorded decline in population to support such a drop.¡±


    Brendan glanced in the rearview mirror, watching as Mana¡¯s chest rose and fell; she hadn¡¯t changed positions once in the last couple of hours she¡¯d been asleep. He couldn¡¯t imagine how exhausted she truly was. Thankfully, though, his conversation with Licht hadn¡¯t disturbed her.


    ¡°We haven''t given you the full rundown on Lacia yet,¡± Brendan said, ¡°but all of this crazy stuff seems to be tied to her in some strange way, and, apparently, it¡¯s been an issue long since before I met her and Mana. Whether or not it¡¯s all coincidence, I have no idea,¡± he admitted. ¡°What I do know is this: Something is happening, and no one has any answers. Honestly, that scares me more than anything.¡±


    Licht closed the laptop, putting it away. ¡°Let¡¯s go over what we do know, then: First, the extreme weather and unnatural-natural disasters. Second, Lacia¡¯s disappearance,¡± he paused, recalling everything Mana and Brendan had told him. ¡°Finally, there¡¯s Omnis and the Hall of Memories.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget the supposed disturbance Madame Lucero felt, too,¡± Brendan added. ¡°Like she said, something has disrupted the universal plane. You¡¯ve noticed it too, right? How space-time feels like it¡¯s changing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely something, but I¡¯m not sure changing is quite the word,¡± Licht said. ¡°Still, there¡¯s definitely been a shift. Like, the car shouldn¡¯t be travelling as fast as it is for only fifty miles per hour. In fact, my laptop¡¯s sensors thought we were doing ninety.¡±


    Brendan gave a confused sideways glance. ¡°Are you trying to say we are moving through space faster than time should allow? And¡­ why does your laptop have speed sensors in it?¡±


    ¡°Exactly that. Err¡­ Not the speed sensors, though. I¡¯ll, uh, explain that later,¡± he chuckled. ¡°As for the space-time stuff¡­ Theoretically, we could outrun time itself at the right speed. What that speed is, I can¡¯t say, but it seems like a plausible scenario. Needless to say, this isn¡¯t normal and completely defies natural order.¡±


    ¡°Well, whatever¡¯s going on, it¡¯s way bigger than all of us. I just wish we had some actual answers, you know?¡± Brendan pressed his head against the headrest.


    A small groan emanated from the backseat as Mana shifted around in the confined space of the car. Just as soon as she¡¯d settled into a new position, she¡¯d immediately fallen back to sleep. Licht pulled a small blanket from a bag in the floorboard, laying it over her. Despite the recent sweltering days, the nights remained pleasantly cool.


    ¡°She¡¯ll probably be out until late. Maybe we should just keep going,¡± Licht suggested, as he returned his attention to the front of the car. ¡°I don¡¯t mind taking over the driving for a while, either, you know.¡±


    The lights of the city were now behind them as they drove into the coming night, an eerily empty highway ahead of them. It was strange, being the only car for miles. What was normally a brightly-lit roadway was now all but consumed by the approaching night as darkness settled in.


    ¡°That works for me,¡± Brendan said. ¡°It¡¯s already almost seven, so I¡¯ll take over again around midnight. Sound good?¡±


    ¡°That should be fine,¡± Licht replied. ¡°So¡­ do you just wanna quickly hop seats or¡ª¡±


    ¡°While accelerating through space-time as we defy the laws of physics? Absolutely not, dude. I¡¯d rather not know how that ends.¡±


    ¡°Still a killjoy, I see.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Brendan laughed.

 Chapter 8: Genuine Goodbyes

    Snow drifts lined the outside of the tent, the white piles a stark contrast to the neon orange canvas. It was draining enough for Aria, fighting Lucifero, but it took everything she had just to drag Lacia out of the cold and into the tent¡ªespecially after sharing some of her own mana with her. She¡¯d managed to muster enough strength to drag two sleeping bags overtop of Lacia and herself before she passed out, but even that was a chore.


    After an exhaustive sleep, Aria found herself drenched in sweat despite the cold which only made her shiver. She was confident in her abilities, but fighting Lucifero alone wasn¡¯t exactly the most ideal scenario. Still, she never would have thought she¡¯d come face-to-face with a devil¡ªmuch less the third-ranked of the Reverse Realm, Lucifero, yet the devil¡¯s motives remained elusive. Why choose to torment Lacia, of all people, and what exactly did it gain by manifesting itself through her nightmares? The mention of a ¡°gift¡± was peculiar, however.


    ¡°But there isn¡¯t cause without a reason,¡± Aria whispered to herself. ¡°Whatever it is her ¡®gift¡¯ is, it¡¯s important to the devils.¡± She shuddered. ¡°But how many are there? And the Erill Gate¡­ Last time I checked, that was just an urban legend.¡± She shook her head. There were more important things to worry about at the moment; Lacia came first.


    She crawled back into her sleeping back after changing out of her sweat-drenched clothes, immediately regretting the decision once the cold air struck her skin. Shivering, she poked her head out, keeping a watchful eye on Lacia, still unconscious. While she¡¯d been able to pull them both from the nightmare, one, glaring problem remained.


    ¡°Or, really two, I guess,¡± Aria mumbled. ¡°I know Lucifero is gone, but how do we know if the devil was able to relay information back to its friends or whatever? Like, we¡¯re super dead if another devil shows up¡­¡± She sighed. ¡°More importantly, our injuries followed us back to the real world, and if we don¡¯t get medical help soon, we both might end up dying out here. Though, I guess I¡¯m not quite as banged up as you are,¡± she said, taking note of Lacia¡¯s condition.


    Lucifero had drained most of her mana, and her actual life energy was highly unstable, teetering on the precipice of life and death. The ghostly paleness in her face was testament to just how close she had come to death. Aria watched as her pale, blue lips quivered under the fleece of the sleeping bag, body clinging to life by a fraying thread.


    Aria wished she could do more, but as things stood, she was spent¡ªthere just wasn¡¯t anything else she could do; the sleeping bag was enough of a struggle as is. Even so, she owed it to herself to keep her alive. After treating her like some kind of lab rat, the least she could do was keep her warm. Regardless of how she felt, though, Lacia would have to pull through via her own power. Watching as she slept, Aria realized she was the only thing that stood between Lacia and the clutches of death.


    Suddenly, with a soft groan, Lacia opened her eyes for the first time in more than a day. She shifted beneath the weight of her sleeping bag, causing it to slip off. She tried to speak, but all she could muster was a weak whisper:


    ¡°Aria¡­ We¡¯re¡ª¡± Her throat seized from the day air as she fell into a coughing fit before she could finish.


    Aria shook her head. ¡°Save it for later. Your body is working super hard to keep you alive. Like, you have no idea how close to death you are,¡± she whispered back. ¡°Please, just try to save your strength right now.¡±


    Lacia¡¯s face contorted in pain as she fidgeted around before finally uncovering the same map Aria had been playing with, hidden beneath her sleeping bag. Weakly, she pointed to what Aria assumed was their current location.


    ¡°I¡ª What are you trying to say?¡± Confusion plastered her face.


    ¡°Gila. West¡­ Not east.¡±


    ¡°Gila? But Gila is west of¡­ here¡­¡± Aria scrambled out of her sleeping bag, mimicking that of a caterpillar. She grabbed the map from the floor, turning it around as she realized her mistake. She met Lacia¡¯s one-eye-open gaze, embarrassed. ¡°I really thought I knew where we were going¡­ I am so sorry.¡±


    A deep exhale escaped Lacia¡¯s icy lips. ¡°Gate.¡±


    Aria stared at her blankly for a moment, forgetting about the map in her hands. Slowly, she began to piece the puzzle together: the cold and snow, her misdirection, and the word ¡®gate¡¯. She threw her shoes on, eased Lacia into her sleeping bag, and rushed out of the tent, headlong into the blinding snow. A minute later, she returned, a gleeful smile on her face.


    ¡°You¡¯re so full of surprises, I swear. I can¡¯t believe you found the Gila border gate! Although,¡± she averted her gaze, ¡°I suppose you kept it a secret because you didn¡¯t trust me¡­¡±


    Lacia shook her head, giving Aria a weak smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± she mouthed. ¡°Talk later.¡± The warmth from the sleeping bag was comforting, and her eyes were already heavy; she fell back into a contorted sleep.


    Aria watched as her face transitioned from rest to torment. ¡°Her dreams must be pretty vivid,¡± she said. ¡°Her body is trying to release all of its pent-up stress, just trying to keep her alive, but all of that stress has to manifest itself somewhere. Unfortunately, these nightmares you will have to face alone.¡±


    With a deep sigh, she left the tent for a second time, reemerging into the raging snowstorm, but if her hunch was correct, there was a way to ensure their survival. At the very least, she might have figured out how to find a sturdier shelter.


    ¡°Border gates are made of titanium, so they¡¯re pretty resilient. Still¡­ They¡¯re usually pretty heavily guarded. Why didn¡¯t we trip any magic sensors when we approached?¡± Despite all the awkward stumbling around in the snow, neither she nor Lacia had triggered any alerts. ¡°I wonder¡­ After the flash freeze, is it possible the sudden temperature change weakened the locks on the gate at all? I might be able to get it open, if so.¡±


    Trudging through the ever-growing snow drifts, she stumbled around until she finally found the front entrance, but, to her surprise, she was able to turn the locks with ease; the entire gate had been left unlocked. She poked her head through the widening front entrance, finding only a dimly lit, empty corridor and piles of discarded armor alongside broken torch hilts, and tattered clothes. Did the guards just up and leave for no reason, or did something force them to leave?


    ¡°Ok. This is creepy,¡± she said, walking through the now-open entryway. ¡°Why would they leave their border unguarded like this?¡± She poked around further, searching for any signs of life. ¡°Hate to admit it, but I¡¯m a curious girly. What happened here?¡± she whispered aloud.


    Taking in the full scope of the border gate¡¯s interior, it reminded her of a train tunnel, but bigger. Concrete made up most of the tunnel, but the occasional titanium support column seemed to be doing most of the structural work as they arced across the ceiling. Where windows once peered into the connecting landscape, thick, oak boards and steel grating now barred their view.


    Border gates were usually illuminated by rows of OLED floor lights, but the only light that filled the desolate corridor was from a small orb Aria had conjured so she could see. Innumerable footprints lined the dusty, concrete path, but they might as well have belonged to ghosts¡ªno one was around.


    ¡°This time of year, the border gates are usually packed with people. While not my cup of tea, it would have been nice to see someone¡¯s face other than Lacia¡¯s and my own.¡± She walked for another minute before turning back, nearly out of breath; simple spells still drained her. ¡°What is going on here? This definitely isn¡¯t normal, but I guess, on the bright side, Gila¡¯s border gate is almost identical to the one in the Aviid Isles. I¡¯d like to explore more, but I might crash out if I¡¯m not careful. I¡¯m totally spent.¡±


    While it hadn¡¯t been the most opportune time, a school field trip had given her the chance to visit the island nation, only a year after the car accident that had taken her parents¡¯ lives. She was reluctant at first; all she wanted to do was wallow in her sorrow, but she was glad she went; the information was invaluable at a time like this.


    ¡°If I remember correctly, this thing should work.¡± Finding a rusted lever along the wall, she flipped it up, revealing an entirely separate corridor. She put her hands on her hips, smiling. ¡°The country of Gila is now open for business, courtesy of Aria Miruna.¡±


    Licht and Brendan had alternated drivers at least four times before Mana finally woke up, having slept nearly the entire trip. They didn¡¯t want to wake her, so they let her sleep, figuring she¡¯d join them when she was rested enough. Of note, however, was the new air of confidence in her mannerisms and body language; Brendan was the first to pick up on the change, though he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what all had happened during Mana¡¯s visit with Omnis.


    The night seemed to drag on as Licht dozed in the passenger seat. Considering his lack of magical practice, Brendan wondered just how well he would be able to protect his friend. He¡¯d never forgive himself if something happened to Licht, but he was a walking library of random knowledge¡ªsomething in that head of his could be the advantage they needed. Even so, he lacked the power to protect himself, and that worried him.


    Brendan gave Licht a small nudge. ¡°Hey, would you mind waking Mana up for me? We¡¯re only a couple hours from Buunit, and we have no idea what could be waiting for us there. Best to be prepared, just in case, you know?¡±


    Licht lifted his head from the slack in his seatbelt. ¡°On it,¡± he yawned. ¡°Has she been asleep all night? I feel like this is what they call beauty sleep.¡±


    Brendan chuckled. ¡°Ok. I¡¯ll give you that one.¡±


    Licht rubbed Mana¡¯s shoulders, giving her a slight jolt. Nothing. He tried again, a little harder. She groaned, stirring for the first time since the evening prior. Several small pops emanated from her joints as she stretched out in the backseat, still sleepy-eyed.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she said, stifling a yawn. ¡°Err¡­ What time is it?¡± She poked her head between the front seats, eyeing the time on the car¡¯s radio. ¡°You were supposed to wake me up last night,¡± she scolded, ¡°not this morning.¡±


    ¡°Apologies, but you were sleeping so soundly, we hated to wake you,¡± Licht said.


    ¡°Guys, it¡¯s literally,¡± she did a double take, ¡°nine in the morning¡­? But where¡¯s the sun?¡± By all technicalities, it was still night. ¡°Why is it still dark outside?¡±


    ¡°What time?¡± the boys said in unison.


    ¡°Have you not been looking at the clock at all? What did you guys do all night?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s fine, but,¡± she decided to change the subject, ¡°doesn¡¯t this sound like a popular Alurian folktale, though? Something about the sun losing its light after the opening of a gate or two or something?¡± She wracked her brain, unable to remember much else. ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯ve got, honestly. It¡¯s been a long time since I last heard the story.¡±


    ¡°I think what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Licht started, ¡°is indeed a folktale, but it goes way back, something that originated when the Lhumin and Greyriter families first migrated to Alura.¡± Licht motioned for Mana to sit back. ¡°You see, your families were involved in more than just the Searing Wounds event. They were the first people to settle in Alura,¡± he continued. ¡°When they arrived, they uncovered something dark.¡±


    ¡°Something¡­ dark?¡± Mana repeated.


    Brendan¡¯s curiosity was piqued as well. ¡°Well, you have my attention, now.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d be here all day, or night, I guess, if I explained everything,¡± Licht said, ¡°so I¡¯ll make this short.¡±


    Snow flurries began to stick to the windshield. A fresh dusting of snow covered the road ahead as it blew across the highway, caught in the car¡¯s high beams. The sun still hadn¡¯t risen, and the blowing snow was beginning to limit visibility.


    ¡°The folktale talks about a series of gates, I think six, but in order to open them, a sacrifice had to be made¡ªsomething very specific, but I can¡¯t remember what.¡± Licht¡¯s voice began to shudder. ¡°If the gates were ever opened, they would allow interdimensional travel to and from the Reverse World. A place where devils and other devious beings reside.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Brendan spoke up, ¡°Since we¡¯re so close to Buunit now, why don¡¯t we stop and get something to eat? We can continue our conversation there,¡± he suggested. ¡°Besides, we still don¡¯t have a plan for Lacia. This could be a good opportunity to kind of get us more organized.¡± Mana¡¯s face lit up at the mention of food. ¡°Is that okay with you two?¡±


    ¡°That sounds like a good idea,¡± Licht said, ¡°and Brendan¡¯s right. Plus, judging by the look on your face, Mana, you have no idea where we are, do you?¡±


    ¡°Umm, yeah. Where¡¯s Buunit?¡± she asked, embarrassed.


    Nestled in the far, northern territory of Alura, Buunit was a place where only the hardiest of people lived. Summers were pleasantly cool, but it was brutally cold and snowy most other times of the year. The small, sleepy town had nothing to offer in terms of attractions, though it was frequently labeled one of the most beautiful places in northern Alura. Pictures of the town almost always depicted a winter wonderland: snowy rooftops, trees coated in white, hanging icicles. Aside from the infrequent passing car, most people walked to where they needed to go; driving was usually a hassle.


    Buunit¡¯s wintery beauty was exactly what Mana had expected, despite having never visited. One final cloud of snow blew over the car, obscuring the windshield, before the town finally came into view, but it seemed they weren¡¯t the only ones paying Northern Alura a visit; a new storm system had begun to push in, engulfing cars in piles of even more heavy, wet snow.


    Brendan turned on the car¡¯s low beams out of courtesy for other drivers, but it seemed everyone had already gone inside¡ªeven the snowplow drivers knew the effort was moot. Still, most homes and businesses were dark, despite the approaching sunless afternoon. Flickering through the blowing snow, the lights of a small diner came into focus¡ªseemingly, the only place open in town.


    ¡°Still better than being out in the storm,¡± Brendan thought as he pulled in, parking away from the snow drifts. The diner had a modern feel to it but seemed to embrace more of a progressive theme: Several AI walked back and forth, emptying boxes of food. Walking in, an overhead voice greeted them:


    ¡°Welcome to Nu-Landia. The best dining experience in all of Alura! Please take a seat.¡±


    Wiping their shoes on a quick-drying, heated mat, Mana and Brendan embraced the warmth of the running heater. Licht, on the other hand, barreled past the pair, mesmerized by the human-like AI restaurant staff; if he hadn¡¯t known better, he would have thought they were real people.


    Mana and Brendan took a seat in the center of the diner, lost in thought as they gazed through the panoramic wall of windows, joined by the silent, winter landscape. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the diner, aside from the AI staff, was the masterful blend of sleek oak support beams and metallic finish, giving the place a touch of modernity mixed with more post-modern styles. Without warning, a set of holographic menus appeared in front of the two, highlighting fan-favorite dishes¡ªmenu items from decades ago remade to suit modern tastes. As the menus scrolled, Mana and Brendan wondered just how much food a handful of AI could make.


    ¡°Please take a seat,¡± the overhead speaker repeated as Licht joined Mana and Brendan at the table.


    ¡°Great!¡± Mana said, satisfied. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all here, there¡¯s a few things we need to think about before we start our search for Lacia.¡± She looked around the table, noticing the anxious looks on Licht¡¯s face. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I do need to say, yeah.¡± He seemed to fumble with his words. ¡°As much fun as it¡¯s been, I think it¡¯s probably time I break off here. Err¡­ Don¡¯t get me wrong, I want to help you guys out still, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯m real capable.¡±


    Snow continued to drift against the exterior windows of the diner. The only thing keeping the cold out was the warm LED lighting and heat from the kitchen that seeped into the dining area. The sudden silence merged with the falling blanket of snow, Mana and Brendan¡¯s mouths searching for the words to say, but they were at a loss. A faint tune played from the tower speakers at the back of the diner as it faded into the background, replaced by the occasional scrape of a metal spatula and howling of the wind outside; the silence was omnipresent, otherwise.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll support you in whatever decision you make,¡± Mana said, breaking the silence stalemate. ¡°I feel like the world is crying¡ªit¡¯s in pain. I really think three heads are better than two, and I want to be totally honest with you, Licht. I feel safer with you around, but I know you feel like you¡¯re not able help us much.¡± She put a hand on her chest. ¡°You¡¯ve been such a huge help, though. Like, I literally lost my best friend and then found out the world¡¯s in trouble, so you¡¯ve been great, really. We wouldn¡¯t have made it this far without you, even,¡± she said. ¡°We aren¡¯t going to force you to come along with us. That wouldn¡¯t be fair.¡±


    Brendan nodded in agreement. ¡°Mana¡¯s right. As your friend, I can¡¯t put you in more danger than what I already have, but,¡± he paused, ¡°the knowledge you have of Alurian history and whatever this stuff with the Reverse World is, isn¡¯t something either of us have.¡± He looked into Mana¡¯s eyes; she didn¡¯t want to see Licht go, either.


    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re in luck then,¡± Licht said. ¡°I¡¯m not totally useless!¡± He pulled a small, spherical device from his pocket, placing it on the table in front of him. ¡°This thing here will allow me to see and hear you wherever you are. Likewise, I¡¯ll be able to communicate through it, too.¡±


    Brendan and Mana studied it like an Anatomy test. The sleek, aluminum design was smooth and pleasant to the touch. It looked like something out of a science fiction movie: white body, electric blue trim, and a small, mechanical hum. Beyond its outward appearance, though, it didn¡¯t seem like anything special. Several crevices were carved into the device; a charging port or control panel was likely hidden beneath one of several, outlined, removable plates.


    Mana grabbed the device and held it in her hand, surprised to find it was incredibly lightweight. It couldn¡¯t have been more than six or seven inches in diameter, just small enough to tuck away in a bag somewhere. It was cute, but she had no idea what it did, or when Licht had found the time to make such a thing. She handed the device back.


    Turning it around, Licht flipped a small switch hidden beneath one of the removable panels, leaving it on the table as he moved to the back of the diner for a demonstration. He retrieved another one of the strange devices from the pocket of his coat, flipping the same switch on the second device as he did the first.


    With a series of shrill chirps and whirs, both devices sprang to life simultaneously. Licht¡¯s transformed itself into a clampable earpiece; the one on Brendan and Mana¡¯s table became a holographic display, projecting real-time images and audio through thin air¡ªno cords, device pairing, or cell towers needed.


    ¡°As long as you have one of these on you, we can communicate with each other, regardless of how far apart we are. I¡¯ll show you.¡± Licht lightly tapped the earpiece. The hologram changed, revealing Mana and Brendan as it tracked their movements and voices.


    ¡°So, this is what you were working on while you were in that decaying shantytown,¡± Brendan said, impressed. ¡°I bet you even called it a Leyliner, and I¡¯d also bet it probably draws mana from the Earth¡¯s actual leylines.¡± He grinned. ¡°Did I get it?¡±


    Mana was too stunned for words; she¡¯d never seen anything like it before. Her eyes darted between Licht and the device on the table. In a normal world, she¡¯d propose starting a business, but seeing as the world was apparently on the brink of destruction, she figured she¡¯d save it for later. Still though, his mechanical prowess was impressive. Did he really want to leave? She had a hard time believing he felt as useless as he said he did.


    ¡°Spot on, my friend,¡± Licht winked. ¡°It¡¯s not perfect, but I''ve been clunking away at this thing for a while now,¡± he said, admiring his handiwork.


    An idea popped into Brendan¡¯s head. ¡°Hey, so you two know how we only have one car right now, yeah? What if we let Licht take the car and we use our magic to reach the border gate? If you can propel us, Mana, I can reduce drag from the air and keep us warm.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ We¡¯re not too much farther, are we? Because that¡¯s totally genius, if so,¡± she said. ¡°My magic isn¡¯t perfect. It¡¯s still incomplete, even after the visit with Omnis, but it¡¯s starting to come back, little by little¡­.¡± She turned to face Licht, now seated across from her. ¡°So, how do we use the Leyliner? Like, does it follow us? Are we supposed to carry it, or¡­?¡±


    ¡°Actually, when you use it in earpiece mode, it allows you to talk to me directly. As long as you have it on, I can see and hear everything as if I were with you. Of course, you can turn these features on or off depending on personal preference. I wouldn¡¯t want to intrude on something I wasn¡¯t supposed to hear.¡±


    Mana raised an eyebrow. ¡°What is that supposed to mean, exactly? Surely you¡¯re not speaking from experience, right?¡± She closed her eyes, giving him an eerie smile.


    ¡°Give me a little credit,¡± he laughed. ¡°Besides, whoever the Leyliner is registered to is the only one who can change its settings, and there have to be two, unique, biosignatures for the pair to activate.¡± He flipped another small switch on the side of his Leyliner. ¡°By flipping this switch, it becomes a chip that you can stick to your skin. It peels off super easy, but it won¡¯t wash off, fall off, blow away¡ªit¡¯ll stay on until you take it off. Likewise, only the person the Leyliner is registered to can remove it.¡±


    Mana flipped the switch on hers, following Licht¡¯s demonstration, as she placed the chip on the back of her wrist. She waved her hand through the air, ran it under the restroom faucet¡ªshe even stuck it under the hand drier, but it stayed right where she placed it.


    ¡°This thing is¡­ interesting,¡± she said.


    Licht laughed. ¡°You just have to focus your mana on the spot you put it on, and it¡¯ll stay there, even if you forget. The only drawback to this mode is it¡¯s limited to visuals-only, but it still provides environmental feedback. While you were in the bathroom, I received an alert about a sudden change in the environment, though it was just the sink, I¡¯m sure, knowing how you like to test things, first.¡±


    Brendan praised the demonstration for its simplicity, though he couldn¡¯t help but feel like Licht had used the Leyliner as a pivot, avoiding further questions about his plans to depart from the group.


    ¡°I need to know where you¡¯re gonna be staying, man,¡± Brendan said, taking the lead on conversation. ¡°Like, if you tell me you¡¯re going to sleep and eat in the car, I will find you and lock you in a hotel room until you decide to quit sleeping in the car.¡±


    ¡°I have friends in high places,¡± he replied with a grin, ¡°but hotel rates are expensive, and bunking with an old friend in Seria would be easier. Even so,¡± he said, ¡°what would your solution be to the nightly room rates?¡± Brendan reached into his pocket, presenting a crumpled piece of paper where he¡¯d logged every hotel stay of his own; he had accumulated over a year of free nights. ¡°I rest my case, then,¡± Licht laughed.


    ¡°Huh. Well, now that that¡¯s settled,¡± Mana said, contentedly, ¡°let¡¯s enjoy our food. I¡¯m starving!¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Licht said. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about this for a while. I¡¯m far better suited to support you guys from behind than I am from the front.¡± He shook his head. ¡°There are things I need to take care of myself, but it won¡¯t take long.¡±


    Mana and Brendan looked at each other, then back at Licht. ¡°We might be saying goodbye for a while, then, I guess,¡± Mana said, melancholy. She looked up, snow falling onto her face. ¡°Still, you¡¯ve been wonderful. We never would have found Lacia without you. Like, how do I repay your kindness and all the help you¡¯ve given us?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Licht said. ¡°I had a feeling something was off when you two showed up. I chose southern Alura because it¡¯s the one place no one would come looking for me, that is, unless something serious happened.¡± He gestured towards Mana and Brendan. ¡°For example.¡±


    Mana exhaled sharply, her breath a white cloud in the frigid evening air. She felt like she was losing another important part of her life. While they hadn¡¯t known each other long, Licht had helped patch the hole Lacia had left when she disappeared. Still, she wished he didn¡¯t have to leave. His smile was infectious, and the goofy drawl he had when they first met was kind of funny¡ªin a good way; she appreciated that.


    The snow grew heavier as she wrapped her arms around her body for warmth. Dim streetlights struggled to illuminate the diner parking lot, now buried beneath several inches of fresh snow. She wondered how Licht would make the drive back to Seria in such treacherous conditions. Seeing as the town¡¯s only snowplow had called it quits, how was he planning on getting to Seria, much less out of the parking lot? To her dismay, even the highway lights had flickered off one by one, plunging the roadways into darkness.


    ¡°I get that you feel like you¡¯re safer staying behind, but it¡¯s too dangerous to travel right now. Unless you have a solution for that, too?¡± The intonation in her voice rose.


    ¡°As long as I go slow, I¡¯ll be fine. Plus, it¡¯s easier to drive on snow than ice, so I¡¯ll be ok. Can¡¯t cause much damage if you¡¯re not even going ten miles per hour, right?¡± he laughed. ¡°Besides, I managed to find some abandoned tire chains!¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s fine, but be extra safe, okay? Things will probably only get crazier from here, and Brendan and I have no idea what we¡¯re getting into.¡± She gazed into the distance, past the snow-covered buildings. ¡°It¡¯s so barren out there¡­ Who knows what¡¯s waiting for us¡­¡±


    Without warning, she wrapped her arms around Licht, locking her fingers behind his back in a giant bear hug. He was surprisingly warm, and she could feel his heartbeat. There was no stopping him from leaving, as much as she wished she could; it would be selfish of her to ask him to stay.


    Surprised, Licht almost lost his footing in the snow. Hugs weren¡¯t his thing, and he wasn¡¯t a big fan of people violating his personal space, but something about Mana¡¯s hug felt different; he could feel the sadness and fear in her heart, yet the tiniest shred of hope still burned bright within her. In less than a month, they¡¯d gone from complete strangers to good friends; he was going to miss her presence.


    ¡°Licht,¡± Brendan said as Mana released her hug, ¡°be safe. We¡¯ll be in touch once we get a little closer to the gate.¡± He gave Licht a hug of his own, complete with a pat on the back and subsequent handshake. ¡°If you need us, call us¡ªor however these Leyliners work,¡± he joked.


    Tears began to well in Licht¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mana, thank you for being such a genuine person. Your resolve and determination have opened my eyes. I used to hide, trying to avoid the world, afraid of the evil in it. After meeting you, I realized that it wasn¡¯t the world I was afraid of¡ªit was myself. I didn¡¯t think there were people like you still left out there, so I just ran away from the things that scared me.¡±


    ¡°Licht, please don¡¯t cry,¡± Mana said, noticing the tears in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll make me cry. I need you to be strong for both of us, ok?¡±


    ¡°Ok, ok,¡± Licht said, wiping away his tears. ¡°You two be safe as well. I¡¯ll do everything I can on my end to support you. Now go find Lacia. If fate brought the three of us together, I¡¯m sure Lacia and I will cross paths as well someday.¡±


    Mana handed Licht a small piece of paper. ¡°I know it¡¯s kind of useless right now, but I¡¯d like to get to know you better once all of this is over. Besides,¡± she said, shuffling her feet in the snow, ¡°I realized I never gave you my phone number. I know it seems kind of high schooler-ish, but who knows what¡¯ll happen?¡±


    Licht smiled. It was a simple gesture, but it meant more than she could have imagined. It warmed his heart to know someone who barely knew him believed in him, and so passionately, at that. He¡¯d find a way to thank her properly later, but for now, he¡¯d make sure to keep the phone number safe.


    ¡°Sounds good!¡±


    ¡°I know goodbyes can be bittersweet, Brendan, but you don¡¯t have to cry. It¡¯ll be alright. We¡¯ll see him again,¡± Mana teased.


    Brendan sniffled, still cold. ¡°You just like to tease people, don¡¯t you?¡±


    She smirked. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide your feelings around me. I promise you¡¯re free to express yourself as you please.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to ignore you and let you handle the Leyliner,¡± Brendan said, clearly not amused. ¡°We should be at the gate soon, right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re real fun,¡± she pouted. ¡°but yes, we should be there shortly.¡±


    She was excited to see Lacia again, and there was so much to tell her. From Licht and the earthquake to Madame Lucero¡¯s shop in Seria and even Omnis, there was no lack of material to talk her ear off about, but who was the other person she¡¯d seen with her back in Seria? It wasn¡¯t that it bothered her or anything, though. While Lacia had said there was too much to explain, it didn¡¯t seem like she was in trouble or anything. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but feel like something was off. As her thoughts began to drift, so did control over her spellcasting.


    ¡°Mana, please focus,¡± Brendan said, struggling to maintain his position above the snow.


    The trip had been a mostly seamless glide thanks to Mana¡¯s newfound command over her magic up to that point, but Brendan had underestimated their speed as the wind bit through the shield he¡¯d cast to keep them warm; the wind chills were brutal, and Mana¡¯s lack of focus only hindered his own spellcasting, having to pick up the slack.


    ¡°Huh? Oh! I¡¯m so sorry, Brendan. I was thinking about Lacia. I guess I let my mind wander a little too much, though. Sorry, again,¡± she said, readjusting their glide. ¡°By the way, have you noticed how deep the snow is now? We passed a few road signs a while back that were almost completely buried.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s incredible. I¡¯ve never seen so much snow in my life,¡± he said, ¡°but a storm like this in May is weird, even for northern Alura.¡± He looked over to find Mana fidgeting with the Leyliner. ¡°Are you going to be able to use that thing and keep us straight?¡± he asked, worried.


    ¡°Yes. Have at least a little faith in me, would you?¡± she frowned. ¡°But, uhh, It was this switch, right?¡± The Leyliner transformed from its spherical shape into the earpiece Licht had demonstrated back at the diner. ¡°Okay, so, this thing functions by using the magical energy within the earth itself, leylines, but how does it transmit back? Did Licht ever explain that part?¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± Brendan said, offering to take the device. ¡°I¡¯ll set it up so you can focus on the road¡­ wherever it is.¡± The further north they went, the heavier the snow seemed to get.


    After another minute of button pressing, Brendan finally got the device working. ¡°Licht? Can you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Loud and clear,¡± Licht¡¯s voice came. ¡°You know, I really outdid myself with these things! I should start a business or something!¡±


    ¡°Riiight¡­¡± Mana mumbled. ¡°And to think I was going to be the one who got to tell him the Leyliners were a cool business idea¡­¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe these things work this far out.¡± Brendan¡¯s voice was filled with wonderment. ¡°Can you see what we¡¯re seeing? I want to make sure I¡¯m understanding how this thing works.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Licht paused, ¡°either there¡¯s a problem with the Leyliner or you¡¯re looking at a white wall.¡±


    ¡°Look, man. While you¡¯re away, you need to work on your jokes, too. Anyways, with all of this snow, it kind of is like looking at a white wall. I¡¯m amazed at how heavy it is now.¡± An overhead road sign showed a coming fork in the road: left for Gila, right for Alura. ¡°We¡¯re almost to the border now.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Licht said, ¡°or, don¡¯t see. Regardless, I¡¯m happy the Leyliner is functioning properly. Even if you cross into Gila, the Leyliner should still work as it draws its power from the leylines in the Earth, like I said.¡±


    ¡°Ok, yeah. That¡¯s what I thought,¡± Brendan confirmed. ¡°For a change of scenery, would you like to say hi to Mana?¡± Brendan asked, turning his head to face her.


    She waved, keeping her spellcasting steady. ¡°I can kind of hear him, but I think it¡¯s because you have the volume up so loud. We should have asked him if there was a way to share some kind of audiovisual link between us.¡±


    ¡°Good point¡­ Hey, is there a way to share your voice with Mana, so that she can hear you, too?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ That might be possible if I expand the device¡¯s ROMT field,¡± Licht explained. ¡°Before you ask, it stands for Range of Magical Transmission. Basically, by expanding the field, anyone within that new range would be able to hear anything that comes through your Leyliner. Unfortunately, visual information is still only limited to that of the wearer.¡±


    ¡°So, the current range must only be like a foot or two, then. I guess that makes sense,¡± Brendan surmised.


    A faint, static hiss caught Mana¡¯s attention. ¡°Did you hear that or was it just me?¡± she turned to look at Brendan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic, it¡¯s just me.¡± Licht¡¯s voice echoed through her ears as if he were standing next to her. ¡°You can hear me, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, so a link is possible. You sound really clear. Like, I feel like you¡¯re here with us,¡± she joked. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can also see what I¡¯m seeing, can you?¡±


    ¡°No, unfortunately not, but with some work, I might be able to implement a similar feature in a future software update. Well, actually,¡± he paused. ¡°There might be a workaround.¡±


    ¡°Workaround?¡± Mana and Brendan repeated.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Licht replied. ¡°If you both feed your mana into the Leyliner at the same time, I should be able to see what you see, but you only need to use a small amount.¡±


    Mana did as instructed, funneling a small amount of mana into the Leyliner with Brendan, but it was risky. The rest of the trip to the Gila border gate had taken longer than she¡¯d expected, and her mana was beginning to dwindle. Still, it was a necessary sacrifice. If she became separated from Brendan, she doubted she¡¯d be able to find him in the blizzard.


    ¡°Combined with the lack of streetlighting, I might as well be blind,¡± she thought.


    ¡°There. That¡¯s enough! I can see what you¡¯re seeing now, Mana,¡± Licht¡¯s voice was giddy.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± she said, surprised. ¡°It really doesn¡¯t take much. Unfortunately, I really don¡¯t have much.¡±


    Mana slowed the glide as she cut back on her mana consumption, hoping to preserve just enough so she could still get them to the border gate. She could sense they were close, but a two-minute glide would become a thirty-minute walk if she ran out of mana, and without much protective clothing, the possibility of freezing to death was all too real.


    Her consciousness faded in and out for a moment; she didn¡¯t even remember blacking out, but her eyes felt heavy, vying for a long rest. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m hitting my limit now of all times,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re so close. Just a little more¡­¡±


    ¡°Mana, stop here. We aren¡¯t far. We can walk the rest, okay?¡± Brendan called, trying to keep her mind stimulated. When did he notice her mana was getting low?


    Suddenly, juxtaposed against the wall of snow, a neon orange shape began to dance on the horizon. ¡°We¡¯ll use that as a guide, then,¡± Brendan said, taking note of the deteriorating situation. ¡°I have more than enough mana to keep us warm as we walk.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Mana emphasized, teeth chattering.


    ¡°You¡¯re literally over there blacking out.¡± He toggled the Leyliner to audio only. ¡°Sorry, Licht. I¡¯ve gotta hang this thing up. Mana has used up all of her magic, and we need to find shelter. I¡¯ll give you a call when we¡¯re safe.¡±


    ¡°Not a problem! Just be careful, both of you. Mana, just listen to Brendan. I can hear the tiredness in your voice. I¡¯ll check in with you guys a little later.¡± With a click, the Leyliner fell silent.


    Brendan took his coat off, folding it as he placed it on the ground. ¡°Sit for a few. Take a break, and let your mana recover a little bit.¡±


    Realizing she wasn¡¯t going to win the ensuing argument, she gave in. ¡°Just for a few, then, okay?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re blacking out, you¡¯ll need more than a few minutes, but we also can¡¯t stay out here for very long. I¡¯m a little low on mana too, but you used way too much of yours way too fast. Your magic control also still needs work, but there¡¯s no time for that right now,¡± he explained. ¡°Magical energy is like a phone. There is a way to recharge it while you use it. For now, though, I just need you to rest.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Brendan,¡± she sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to cause you so much troub¡ª¡± A metallic, clanking sound echoed through the raging blizzard. ¡°Did you hear that just now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and it was loud. Do you think it could be¡ª?¡±


    ¡°Someone opening a border gate?¡± Mana finished his sentence.


    ¡°You see that orange thing, right? It sounded like it came from somewhere in that direction.¡±


    Mana squinted, aimlessly searching the dark, snowy horizon for anything orange. ¡°I think I see something. It looks like it might be orange, but I¡¯m also super tired. I¡¯m¡­ not sure if I¡¯m actually seeing what¡¯s really there or not.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Licht? Sorry to bother you again so soon,¡± Brendan called, tapping the Leyliner, ¡°but do you think you could zoom in on that orange thing for me?¡±


    ¡°Master technological architect Licht at your service,¡± he jested. ¡°You sure do ask for a lot, you know? What do you think Leyliners are? Cameras?¡±


    ¡°Kind of?¡± Brendan admitted. ¡°And you know I would rarely ask you for anything, so don¡¯t try me, pal. Besides, I know you too well. You¡¯d never forget such an important feature. What else would the camera lens on this thing be for?¡±


    Mana snickered. ¡°You two fight like a married couple. It¡¯s kind of cute, you know? Just admit you¡¯re in lo¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey, Mana? How do you feel about being left in the snow?¡±


    ¡°Oh, now come on, Brendan. It was just a joke¡­¡±

 Chapter 9: Believe in Yourself and Your Heart

    ¡°Now who could that be?¡± Aria wondered aloud. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine many people would be able to make it out here of all places.¡±


    A faint mana signature pulled her from her exploration of the Gila border gate, but as she ventured back into the snow, she sensed a second, more faint, signature. While distinct, Aria wasn¡¯t sure where they¡¯d come from or what they were doing so far north. The blizzard had reduced visibility so much she could barely see her hand in front of her face. Combined with the lack of sunlight, it was dangerous just to be outside.


    She shivered as the wind tore through the wintry hellscape, etching a semi-permanent chill into her bones. She wanted to turn around and explore the border gate some more; she¡¯d found piles of firewood, neatly stacked against the wall, but whoever was approaching knew what they were doing; no one in their right mind would venture this far for nothing. The only reason she¡¯d made it as far as she had, with Lacia in tow, was because of her own magic, but overestimating what mana she currently had left made for an unorthodox solution: drag Lacia inside the border gate with her and close the door.


    Log by log, she¡¯d arranged the firewood into a small pile. The plan was to drag Lacia inside and out of the cold; the tent and sleeping bags were only a temporary fix, and they needed something to prepare food with, too. Cold, mushy meals sounded about as appealing as standing barefoot in the snow.


    Dimly lit and bitter cold, the border gate wasn¡¯t an ideal shelter, but it beat the tent by miles, flapping in the howling wind, threatening to blow away with every gust. Besides, there was no wind inside the gate, and the only snow was piled near the entrance; it would melt once she lit the fire, something to warm both her and Lacia. Hopefully, it would ease the strain on Lacia¡¯s body as she healed, but even that would take months, at the very least.


    ¡°But before I do any of that, Let¡¯s figure out who was dumb enough to come all the way out here. Although,¡± she posed, ¡°they might actually know what they¡¯re doing¡­ Still, my mana levels are super low and so are Lacia¡¯s. I can barely feel her mana myself¡­¡±


    Regardless, she wasn¡¯t taking any chances. She spent the next several minutes casting a low-level warding, something to throw any potential pursuers off, but it was a chore. Under normal circumstances, it only took around an hour for Earth¡¯s leylines to restore even the most depleted magic levels in humans. For Aria, It had taken several hours just to restore a small fraction of her own mana.


    ¡°The problem is that I can¡¯t restore my mana fast enough,¡± she gritted. ¡°If I¡¯m struggling, how in the world are you faring, even this well?¡± Aria stared at the tent for another minute. ¡°Whatever. The warding is up. Weak, but it should be enough to fool most people.¡±


    Out of her peripherals, she watched as a dark shadow broke through the wall of blowing snow, followed by a second moments later. She closed her eyes, temporarily eliminating each of her five senses one by one as she entered a heightened state of consciousness. She could feel the crunching of snow underfoot two sets of feet, the moisture on their breath as it froze upon exhalation¡ªeven the beating of their hearts. What she didn¡¯t sense surprised her more than what she did: there was no malicious intent.


    ¡°There¡¯s definitely two people. One male, one female, but their mana levels are also super low. Who would decide to waste all of their magic just to make the trip out here?¡± An idea sprang into Aria¡¯s head. ¡°The cool thing about telepathy is that its mana-usage is pretty low,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Sadly, this really isn¡¯t the time to learn something new. Still, if I can connect to whoever¡¯s out there, this could be huge.¡±


    She took a deep breath, inhaling the freezing air as it filled her lungs. The cold air helped her concentrate, focusing her thoughts on the female; she wasn¡¯t fond of poking around inside of a guy¡¯s head. While telepathy was intermediate-level magic at best, for someone with no practice, it might as well have been an undecipherable spell meant only for the highest-skilled mages. If she missed her target, her consciousness would slingshot back at her like a rubber band; she¡¯d be struck by debilitating migraines, rolling blackouts¡ª She even ran the risk of permanent, irreparable, brain damage, and that was if she was lucky. The worst-case scenario: unpredictable seizures and possible death by stroke. Despite the risks, she concluded the potential reward outweighed the dangers of novice spellcasting.


    ¡°My luck has been awful recently, so please let this work,¡± she panted. ¡°If there¡¯s a God out there, or some higher power, I beg of you to lend me your help just this once.¡±


    A growing ache etched its way across Mana¡¯s forehead as her nerves tingled with numbness. She felt trapped between wake and sleep, consumed by fleeting moments of both. The border gate wasn¡¯t far, but if her mana levels didn¡¯t rebound, and soon, she¡¯d be as lost in the snow as the absent daylight.


    ¡°Brendan,¡± Licht warned, ¡°her mana levels are not improving despite her not using any magic. The leylines around you should be working to replenish them but they just keep falling. She has used ninety-five percent of her mana since you started out.¡±


    Brendan cursed. ¡°And I don¡¯t have enough to get us back, either. Sure hope whoever is out here with us is friendly,¡± he joked.


    Mana lifted her head from Brendan¡¯s shoulder; he¡¯d joined her on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s ok,¡± she said woozily, ¡°I¡¯m good now.¡± She attempted to stand, squarely focused on the snowy ground. Her face was confronted in concentration.


    ¡°Hey, before you get any further, look me in the eyes. Can you see me? Is your vision clear?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah. I can see you,¡± she lied.


    ¡°You¡¯re staring straight past me, Mana. We can¡¯t go any further with you like this. We¡¯ll have to wait for my mana to replenish itself before we can make the trek back to Buunit.¡± She began to sway as the ensuing headache filled her ears with a static hum. ¡°Yeah, this is not what I was hoping for,¡± Brendan admitted.


    ¡°Am I going blind? Can¡¯t think straight¡­¡± Her thoughts were muddled; anxiety crept into her veins like a neurotoxin. Unexpectedly, a voice shoved its way through the jumble of haywire thoughts and chaotic emotions.


    ¡°No, but your mana levels are dangerously low,¡± a female voice replied.


    ¡°There¡¯s a voice in my head,¡± Mana giggled. ¡°Huh? I laughed?¡± She felt her grip on reality loosen. With what coherency she still had left, she impulsively reached out, clutching Brendan¡¯s pant leg before she lost consciousness.


    ¡°Licht, did you hear anything? She just passed out but said something about a voice in her head.¡± He looked down at Mana, moving her face away from the snow.


    ¡°No. I didn¡¯t hear any¡ª¡±


    Brendan held a hand up to the Leyliner. ¡°Hold on. There is someone else here. I wasn¡¯t sure at first,¡± he said softly, ¡°but there¡¯s definitely someone about a few hundred feet from us.¡± He tensed his muscles, consolidating what mana he could conjure. ¡°This might be a stupid idea, but I¡¯m going to send a quick mana pulse out.¡±


    ¡°Like magical sonar?¡± Licht replied. ¡°If you die, I¡¯ll construct a shrine in my future apartment for you two.¡±


    Brendan chuckled. ¡°Maybe don¡¯t be so hasty there, pal.¡± He sent a weak pulse of mana through the air as the outline of a person revealed itself through the snowstorm. Staggering through the snow, a grainy outline revealed itself to him. ¡°I think it¡¯s a woman,¡± he said, noting the slim figure and what he assumed was long hair, ¡°and it seems there¡¯s a small mana-disruption field nearby, too.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think they¡¯re lost, do you?¡± Licht questioned. ¡°If there¡¯s a mana-disruption field, even a small one, then we know there¡¯s another magic-user nearby, but when you say the field is weak, it makes me think they could be just as low on mana as you are. But why are the leylines not replenishing anyone¡¯s mana?¡±


    ¡°Good question, and one I wish I knew the answer to. Still, the way they¡¯re walking doesn¡¯t seem threatening. In fact, I¡¯d almost say they look¡­ hurt.¡± A small tug at his pant leg returned his attention to Mana. ¡°She¡¯s awake again?¡±


    ¡°Go to her,¡± Mana groaned, one hand pressed against her forehead, the other clutching Brendan¡¯s pant leg.


    ¡°If you¡¯re slipping between states of consciousness like this, we¡¯re in more danger than I thought,¡± Brendan affirmed. ¡°If you can sleep, just¡ª¡±


    ¡°That woman¡ª Lacia¡ª¡± She passed out again before she could finish.


    His expression changed to an aslant frown. ¡°Alright, so who are you?¡± he muttered, staring into the snowy void. The outline had faded.


    Aria tightened the laces on her boots as they compacted the snow beneath them with every step, uncertainty laid out before her.


    ¡°Hang tight, Lacia,¡± she gritted. ¡°We¡¯re all going to make it out of here. Alive.¡± She stared into the indomitable, wintry void. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this for myself,¡± she paused, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for you.¡± She threw the hood of her coat over her head and stepped out of the tent. ¡°Black tights and a white coat. God, I look like a walking snowman.¡±


    Brendan was bent over Mana, shielding her from the wind. ¡°Man, this sucks,¡± he said through chattering teeth. ¡°It¡¯s so damn cold out here, and it won¡¯t stop snowing!¡±


    The Leyliner floated around to face Brendan. ¡°The leylines that flow through here are rich in mana,¡± Licht explained. ¡°You should have enough to get to the border gate before long, but I still can¡¯t figure out why your Mana¡¯s levels aren¡¯t being replenished yet¡­¡±


    Riding the wind, a strong magical presence roared through the encroaching darkness; there was no masking its powerful presence. The Leyliner chirped and spun as Brendan¡¯s mana collided with the approaching stranger¡¯s. Snow whipped into whirlwinds. The hair on Brendan¡¯s arms resembled needles. The two mana fields were distinct but uniquely complimentary, like the sun and the moon.


    ¡°Did you just sense that through the Leyliner? Seriously? Now that¡¯s wild.¡±


    ¡°Uhh, yeah,¡± Licht replied, shocked. ¡°Wow! I was saving the mana-detection feature for version 1.1. There must be a bug in the programming that inadvertently added the feature early.¡±


    ¡°As comedic as ever,¡± Brendan said, rolling his eyes.


    He picked Mana up from the ground, holding her in his arms. They¡¯d come this far; it was the least he could do while she was in such a vulnerable state. Math wasn¡¯t his strong suit, but he calculated there was a fifty-fifty chance that whoever was approaching was friendly.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Brendan demanded. ¡°Are you a snow¡­woman?¡± He looked away, trying to hide his laughter.


    A girl, about Brendan¡¯s age, emerged from the darkness as she threw the hood of her coat off, revealing snow-covered eyebrows and red, flushed cheeks. Her choice of waterproof gloves, and thick coat acted as makeshift camouflage; her black tights juxtaposed the wall of white behind her.


    ¡°What a way to greet the girl who saved your friend from being consumed by a devil,¡± she said, hurt. ¡°Whatever¡­ That girl you¡¯re holding, let me see her.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me? You want me to just¡­ hand her over?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Better question. You know Lacia? Wait, wait, wait. How do you know who we are?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but what other reason would you have for coming all the way out here? Besides, I dug around in your friend¡¯s head a little which is how I actually know what you¡¯re after,¡± she grumbled. ¡°I¡¯d say you can trust me, but literally every villain ever says that, so¡ª¡± She walked over to Brendan as he took a step back. ¡°You pinged me with your magic earlier, did you not? If you still don¡¯t trust me, you can check my mana levels for yourself.¡± She winced as she moved a hand to her stomach. ¡°And I¡¯m still not fully healed yet, either¡­¡±


    Brendan halted his backwards approach. ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re not fully healed, though? I can¡¯t get all three of us out of here myself, so please don¡¯t need my help. We¡¯re tapped, as is.¡±


    ¡°Will you just let me see her?¡± the girl asked, impatient. ¡°She¡¯s ill. That¡¯s why her mana can¡¯t restore itself. You let her overexert herself.¡±


    ¡°How do you know all of that, and what are you doing out here?¡± A million-and-one more questions poured into his mind. ¡°Can you at least tell me your name, and how did you find us?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain on the way.¡±


    ¡°The way to where?!¡±


    ¡°The Gila Border Gate first, then the person you¡¯ve been looking for this whole time.¡± She turned her back to Brendan, motioning for him to follow. ¡°Oh, and I guess I can give you my name. It¡¯s Aria. Nice to, uh, meet you, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah. Likewise. Name¡¯s Brendan.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Aria said, nonchalant.


    ¡°But you just said you didn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    Brendan sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s just the hell out of the snow.¡±


    A large pile of tattered clothing, wooden torch hilts, and broken twigs littered the entryway to the Gila border gate, all separated into neat piles. It was almost as if someone had been foraging for materials before abruptly leaving the job unfinished. Had Aria been trying to build a fire?


    ¡°Doubt whoever was here was looking for a real thrilling camping experience,¡± Brendan mumbled. ¡°What is this place?¡±


    ¡°Some of those piles are my doing. We need warmth, and I think I have enough mana enough to start one. More importantly,¡± Aria answered, ¡°this is the inside of the Gila Border Gate.¡± She brushed her fingers through her hair, the white snow reminding Brendan of marshmallows in a cup of hot chocolate. ¡°Leave your friend here for a moment and help me gather this junk into a big pile so I can light it. I promise, she¡¯ll be safer anywhere than out there.¡± She stared into the howling snowstorm.


    ¡°Uh, yeah,¡± Brendan said, leaning Mana against the wall. ¡°So, explain to me: where is Lacia, exactly? And how did you get so far in this storm?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s in our tent, a few hundred feet from the border gate. Before the freeze overtook the ship, she managed to break her foot, but she needs a doctor. I can¡¯t heal her,¡± Aria explained, adding a handful of twigs to the growing pile of kindling. ¡°The sooner we can make this fire, the sooner I can go and grab her.¡±


    A loud snap bounced off the concrete walls as a quick burst of heat and light melted the cold darkness from Brendan and Aria¡¯s bones. The flickering firelight chased the shadows away, clambering back into their musky corners. Dark circles cast their own shadows beneath Aria¡¯s eyes, an unintended consequence of the now hearty fire. Her skin looked clammy, and dried blood lined the corners of her mouth.


    ¡°You¡¯re in no shape to go back out there,¡± Brendan declared. ¡°If the tent is the bright orange thing I saw from way out, I¡¯ll get her. Not to rain on your parade or any moral code you¡¯re operating under, but you look like hell. Stay here, rest, and I¡¯ll be back with Lacia.¡±


    Aria sighed. ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind. Fighting devils takes a lot out of a girl, you know? When you get back, I¡¯ll explain more, including about your friend.¡± She gave a weary smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re injured, too. Give me a few hours and I might be able to patch you up some,¡± Brendan said as he stood up. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be right back with Lacia. Just try to keep warm, and don¡¯t murder my friend or something weird.¡±


    She frowned.


    ¡°She has Mana-Contraction Syndrome, or MCS for short,¡± Aria explained. ¡°I can help her, but it¡¯ll have to wait until morning. I haven¡¯t slept, well, in days. Oh, and speaking of sleeping,¡± she inquired, ¡°why hasn¡¯t the sun risen? Is it not, like, midday?¡±


    Brendan scratched his head. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d have the answer to that one,¡± he said. ¡°Look, there¡¯s a lot going on out there right now. This is way bigger than you or me, but you already know that, don''t you?¡±


    Aria stared into the fire. ¡°I¡¯m going to go slow for you, then. How familiar are you with devils?


    ¡°¡­Huh? Are you being genuine or is this, like, a joke or something? I¡¯m not the religious type, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. Angels, gods, devils¡ª I have no reason to believe any of it.¡± Brendan returned to his place by the fire. ¡°When you first mentioned fighting a devil, I legit thought you were joking. You are just kidding, right?¡±


    She leaned back until she was level with the floor, arms at her sides. ¡°I wish I was joking, Brendan. These things¡ªdevils¡ªare real, and I won¡¯t be able to defeat another one. Not alone.¡± She lifted her head up, catching his gaze. ¡°This is me asking you for help. I¡¯m spent, Lacia is critically wounded, and your friend is going to be out of commission for a while, too.¡±


    Brendan folded his arms. ¡°If what you¡¯re saying is true, I have a friend who just might have a little more information. Assuming I believe you, what is it you¡¯re wanting from me?¡±


    She stretched her hands toward the ceiling. ¡°When I first met Lacia¡­ err, met her for the second time, she was like a stranger to me. I didn¡¯t know who she was, I didn¡¯t recognize her face¡ªnothing about her was familiar. Why?¡± She recalled the early days of their technical reunion. ¡°After I walked into her nightmare and met Lucifero, something happened¡ªsome kind of weird reaction. After I defeated him, I remembered my past, and some of the most precious times I¡¯d spent with Lacia.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Stop there. You ¡®walked¡¯ into a nightmare?¡± Brendan shook his head. ¡°More to the point, you and Lacia have a history? Now that¡¯s¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not proud of what I did, Brendan. Don¡¯t call it interesting. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about how I treated her the last couple of weeks or however long it¡¯s been¡ª God! I don¡¯t even know anymore! Does it matter?¡±


    He threw up his hands. ¡°Hey, now. It¡¯s okay! Look, the fact of the matter is, everything you just told me changes things. If you¡¯re not my enemy but friends with Lacia, I think that makes us allies.¡± He scratched his head. ¡°At least, I think that¡¯s how most war novels go, anyways.¡±


    Aria chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s no reason you should trust me, though. I treated her like dirt, stuck her with a tracker¡ªI even hit her, but that last one was a freebie since she elbowed me in the head,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Like, I don¡¯t know how to explain it, but it didn¡¯t feel like me.¡±


    Brendan walked over to Aria, sitting a few feet in front of her. ¡°I appreciate your honesty, but you obviously feel some kind of guilt and regret, right? You saved her from a, uh, devil, and brought her all the way out here, coincidence or not that we all met.¡± He held out a hand. ¡°So, are we good? I think we could make for a pretty good team, you know?¡±


    She struggled to find the words to say. ¡°I¡ª Yeah¡­ I think this is the right thing to do,¡± she said, grabbing Brendan¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to ally with you and, uhh¡­ What¡¯s your friend¡¯s name¡­? Sorry. I only poked around enough to figure yours out.¡±


    Brendan grinned. ¡°That¡¯s Mana. She¡¯s known Lacia since they were kids. Without her, this journey would have been impossible. Still, she put herself in danger to get us this far. I think that should give you a pretty good feel for her determination.¡± He pulled Aria into a sitting position. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s one more person I want to introduce you to. Licht, you still chilling?¡±


    The Leyliner suddenly whirred to life, revealing itself to Aria as it hovered next to Brendan. Aria raised an eyebrow, unsure what to make of the strange, cube-shaped device. She wondered if she¡¯d just allied herself with a technological genius or some kind of super nerd. Either way, she was both confused and thoroughly intrigued.


    ¡°I presume you¡¯re Aria,¡± the Leyliner chimed. Aria quickly distanced herself from the device. ¡°My name is Licht, and this thing I¡¯m talking through is called a Leyliner. I promise I¡¯m not some kind of advanced artificially intelligent program from centuries in the future,¡± he laughed. ¡°I guess I could have worked on my introduction first, though,¡± he said, pensively.


    ¡°Okay then¡­ Well, it¡¯s nice to meet you, Licht, but if I may, might I ask why you aren¡¯t here now? In person?¡± She crawled back to her place near the fire, examining the Leyliner like a child¡¯s toy.


    ¡°I¡¯m not magically adept in offense or defense, but the little magic I can use I¡¯m able to infuse into this device I¡¯m speaking through. I¡¯d only be a liability, otherwise. This is the best way for me to support Brendan and Mana, and, of course, you and Lacia as well, now.¡±


    Brendan added onto Licht¡¯s introduction. ¡°You see, he¡¯s also a history buff. Not only that, as you can see, he¡¯s also really good with technology and programming. As for myself,¡± he said, ¡°should I let you do the honors, buddy?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind if I do!¡± Licht said. ¡°Brendan and I have known each other since at least high school, but we might go further back than that, even. My brain¡¯s a bit cooked at the moment. Anyways,¡± he continued, ¡°Brendan also has a huge heart, and he¡¯s good with magic. Uhh¡­ He likes night drives, his favorite ice cream flavor is peanut butter, when he¡¯s not¡ª¡±


    ¡°O~kay,¡± Brendan said, cutting Licht off, ¡°I think that¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t think she particularly cares what kind of ice cream I like,¡± he laughed. ¡°Well, with introductions out of the way now, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask you.¡±


    Aria pointed at herself. ¡°Me? What is it you want to know? If it has anything to do with your poor fashion sense, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re too far gone for my help,¡± she teased.


    ¡°Hurtful, but no. That¡¯s not what I wanted to ask.¡± He gestured with his hand, opening his palm. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ve heard of a certain Alurian myth, have you?¡±


    ¡°There are a few I was told as a little girl, but¡ª Wait¡­Considering what I just told you, you¡¯re not referring to the one about the Reverse World, are you?¡±


    ¡°Think about it, Aria,¡± Licht said. ¡°Lucifero attacked Lacia in her dreams because he was after something. From what Mana and Brendan have both told me, she was taken by some strange man who just appeared out of nowhere.¡± The Leyliner whirred over to Aria. ¡°If we connect the dots, all three things are related in some way. In fact, the involvement of the devil, Lucifero, adds weight to another ancient Alurian story.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more to all of this, including the second story Licht just mentioned. I think I may be able to offer a few more bits and pieces to the puzzle, but did Lucifero tell you anything else? Anything at all?¡±


    Aria shifted her eyes to the side wall and back. ¡°I don¡¯t like where this is going so far,¡± she pouted, ¡°but he did tell me he was the third ranked of the Reverse Royalty. Before you ask, yes, I¡¯m absolutely certain I defeated him.¡±


    ¡°Ok,¡± Brendan said. ¡°At this point, the rest of the Reverse Royalty probably knows of Lucifero¡¯s defeat. Like you said, you can¡¯t fight another devil alone and we wouldn¡¯t let you, anyway,¡± he added. ¡°The next fights won¡¯t be so simple¡ªespecially against any devils of similar or higher rank to Lucifero. So, the question begs: how do we deal with something that powerful?¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°There¡¯s more to that second story that I think will help, like Brendan said, ¡°Licht offered, ¡°but I also think it would be best if we waited for Lacia and Mana to regain consciousness first, seeing as this involves them, too. The way I see it, you¡¯re both exhausted and your mana levels are about as barren as my alcohol cabinet,¡± he joked. ¡°I need to make some software updates anyways, and conversation will distract me from my work, so why don¡¯t you two try to get some sleep?¡±


    ¡°Licht¡¯s right,¡± Brendan said. ¡°I can heal your stomach wounds once I get some mana back, then we can focus on fixing Mana up. We¡¯ll plan our next move after that. Besides, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s an on-demand movie streaming service out here.¡±


    Aria was hesitant to agree, but she didn¡¯t argue. She was exhausted; in her current state, she wasn¡¯t of much use to anyone, much less herself. With the addition of Licht, Brendan, and Mana, she felt like the hope she¡¯d abandoned had been rekindled, but life wasn¡¯t so simple, and she knew that. Hope would be the one thing that got her killed if she wasn¡¯t careful.


    ¡°Alright, fine,¡± she caved. ¡°Don¡¯t let me sleep too long, and if you have any weird dreams, tell me.¡±


    ¡°Weird dreams?¡± Licht and Brendan echoed.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know if you have any,¡± Aria said, closing her eyes.


    Sleep would be a welcome relief, but Lucifero¡¯s interference with Lacia¡¯s unconscious mind wasn¡¯t something she¡¯d been able to wrap her mind around yet. What was it that he wanted, and why?


    ¡°Perhaps it has something to do with that other world her mind subconsciously escaped to, but that doesn¡¯t explain why our wounds are following us between realms,¡± she puzzled. ¡°This feels way too much like some kind of twisted alter-fiction¡­¡±


    Brendan was the first to stir, stretching out across the concrete floor. He felt strangely rested. He looked over to the fire, now a pile of ashes and smoldering embers, then at Aria, several feet from the edge of their makeshift fire pit. The dimly lit coals embellished the border gate in a warm, orange glow. Thankfully, the smoke had managed to find a way to filter out.


    ¡°She must¡¯ve gotten too warm laying by the fire and all,¡± Brendan mumbled. Her breathing was ragged and inconsistent before it steadied itself a moment later. He heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m just glad she¡¯s hanging in there¡­ This whole journey has been rough on everyone. That being said, I guess I better check on the Leyliner, too.¡±


    The device gave a low hum as he approached. It reminded him of an oversized plastic building block, like the ones he used to play with as a child. He tapped the top of the device with his finger, initiating a holographic text box that popped out in front of his face: Software Update Commenced.


    ¡°Software update, huh? He must¡¯ve been busy.¡± He rubbed the back of his head. ¡°Can¡¯t say I blame ya, buddy. Trying to find your own ways to support us out here¡­¡± He looked towards the far wall where Lacia and Mana rested. ¡°Huh? Now I know she wasn¡¯t like that before I fell asleep,¡± he chuckled. Mana¡¯s head must have fallen into Lacia¡¯s lap at some point. ¡°Maybe she woke up and saw Lacia was here, too. Hmm.¡±


    ¡°Their resolve is strong. They will be just fine,¡± a disembodied voice came. ¡°You, however, I am quite curious about. ¡°What is it that motivates you, Brendan Greyriter?¡± The voice was strangely¡­ comforting.


    ¡°Apparently, it¡¯s my turn to hear voices in my head. That¡¯s wild.¡±


    ¡°Ahh. You have a sense of humor. I like that,¡± the voice said. ¡°I have already paid Mana multiple visits. Her heart has been battered and bruised, but her motivations are clear. However, I have yet to determine what drives you. What is it you seek to gain?¡±


    Brendan wracked his brain. ¡°A strange voice, and one that claims to have visited Mana several times already¡­ Are you who she¡¯s been calling Omnis?¡±


    The embers suddenly began to smoke, smothering the room in thick, white smoke. ¡°What¡ª? Where is this coming from? We didn¡¯t burn anything that would turn the smoke white, and the fire isn¡¯t even lit!¡± he coughed, eyes watering.


    He took a deep breath, expecting to inhale a plume of smoke, only to find the air was clear. Opening his eyes, he couldn¡¯t believe what he saw. The border gate was nowhere to be seen. Instead, an ethereal, white room had taken its place. No¡­ it was more akin to that of a large hall, nestled inside an alternate plane of reality: time didn¡¯t flow, and space was stagnant. He was hesitant to even call it a room as the space expanded into infinity. Aside from the trickle of water that fell from the vaulted ceiling, everything was still. Only the reverberations of the water droplets seemed to obey the laws of physics.


    ¡°Or maybe not,¡± he said, watching as the water droplets dripped in reverse, splashing onto the ceiling rather than the floor. ¡°Where in the world am I?¡±


    ¡°Allow me to show you something,¡± the voice said.


    A bubble of shifting colors drifted into the palms of his hands. ¡°If emotions could take corporeal form, this bubble would definitely be the manifestation of it. Man, this place just gets weirder and weirder. What a trip!¡±


    ¡°That bubble is the culmination of the heart of someone who cares for you very deeply. It yearns for the one thing that can fill that which consumes it. Can you feel the tears that have been shed? The uncertainty and fear that comprise every drop?¡± The room began to shift in color before rectifying into a fiery, sunset-orange. The voice ebbed with a heavenly aura. ¡°Now, let those emotions imbue themselves into your heart, Brendan Greyriter.¡±


    The colors shifted again, this time into a mixture of orange, silver, and blue. Brendan felt as if he were being transported through space-time itself. Colors congealed into a whirlwind of emotions he never even knew existed. Tears began to form in the corners of his eyes until they streamed down his face in torrents as his heart paraded in his chest. Every heartbeat brought about a new flood of emotions that tore through him like a meteor blazing through the atmosphere. The emotional scars that had hidden themselves away in his heart began to resurface; he had forced them into submission before locking them away, afraid to face the past he¡¯d chosen to forget.


    ¡°Brendan?¡± a female voice called. ¡°Brendan, are you ok?¡± He opened his eyes to find a girl standing before him. ¡°It took you long enough,¡± she said, voice quivering.


    The sun had reemerged as it began to set. Grass sprouted through the rocks that littered the ground, eroding as time passed, back into the Earth¡¯s loamy soil. An expanse laid out before him: an open field. Wet blades of grass grazed his fingers as he balled his fists into the cool earth. His tears turned the soil into dark shades of brown, dirt smearing his shirt as he clutched his chest. A warm breeze transformed his hair into streams of gold in the setting sun.


    Brendan lifted his head up to find a younger version of himself standing before him. The girl from earlier had suddenly disappeared. He dried his eyes, new emotions lining up one by one as if they were preparing an assault on his heart. Steadying his breathing, he watched as a scene from his childhood played out before him.


    ¡°Young master, please come back inside,¡± a weary voice called out. ¡°You¡¯ll catch cold!¡±


    Brendan hadn¡¯t noticed the downpour at first, but he also hadn¡¯t felt the rain on his skin until now. The exchange between his younger self and what looked to be a well-dressed, older gentleman resumed, but something about the exchange felt vaguely familiar. Regardless, he surmised that the scene playing out before him had to have taken place at least a decade earlier.


    ¡°I told her I would wait for her to come back home like she promised she would. This is something I have to do,¡± Brendan¡¯s younger self shouted through the pouring rain.


    He stared down an empty road as if he were expecting the arrival of someone important at any moment. The rain had turned the pavement to glass, reflecting the canvas of solid gray clouds overhead¡ªa reflection of the turmoil in his heart.


    ¡°Your mother and father would have my head if you caught cold on my watch. Come inside. I¡¯ll draw you a hot bath and¡ª¡±


    ¡°No. I told her I would wait. I¡¯ll stand here like I promised I would. They can¡¯t take her away¡­¡± He balled his fists in frustration as he turned to face the man before falling to his knees, slamming the ground. ¡°Tell me they can¡¯t take her, Hobson! Tell me!¡±


    ¡°What is this?¡± Brendan questioned as he watched the dramatics unfold before his eyes. ¡°Why don¡¯t I remember any of this? And who was I talking about?¡±


    ¡°Young master, I understand your frustrations, but there¡¯s nothing we will be able to do if you continue to stand in this rainstorm. Aria will be alright. She is going to be with her new family now, and we have to accept that. Someday you, too, will find the perfect home, but until then,¡± Hobson crouched beside Brendan, holding an umbrella over the two, ¡°please come back inside.¡±


    A thick mist began to crawl across the ground, raindrops quickly cooling the sun-scorched pavement. Brendan felt as uncertain as the growing haze, unable to establish what he was feeling, where he was, or what he was witnessing. The little boy was definitely him, but he didn¡¯t recognize the man he had called Hobson. To make matters worse, the way he¡¯d name-dropped Aria¡­ It was as if he¡¯d known her all his life even though they had only met for the first time less than a day ago. Before he could manifest even the semblance of an explanation, the scene shimmered and melted away like chalk in the summer rain.


    Emotions were his friend, and he made sure everyone knew, but these emotions¡­ They were more than just everyday feelings; these were far stronger and more volatile. He felt as if someone had unleashed a torrent of unregulated emotions, forcing him to submit to the very same forces he¡¯d tried so hard to imprison. They consumed him as colors pulsated and morphed into new images. For a moment, Brendan thought he¡¯d caught a glimpse of the border gate, but it was well-lit and bustling with life¡ªa complete one-eighty. It must have been his imagination.


    The scene transformed again, shimmering like ripples in water. To his surprise, he did find himself back at the Gila border gate. Aria was where he had left her, and Mana was still curled up next to Lacia, asleep. He smiled. Lacia¡¯s return was a welcome surprise, but her abduction had blindsided him. Everything had happened so quickly: the weird weather, Lacia¡¯s strange wounds and subsequent disappearance, and Mana¡¯s meetings with the so-called Omnis. He was glad to have her back. With the group being as jumbled as it was, her return was a highly welcome commodity. Even so, her disappearance still didn¡¯t explain all of the crazy things that had happened since. He cared for her¡ªfor all of his friends¡ªbut he felt like a pawn in a game of chess. Where would he be moved to next, and how would it affect the outcome of the match?


    ¡°There is one more thing you need to see,¡± the voice came again as the image of the border gate rippled away.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Brendan shouted, ¡°what is it you¡¯re trying to tell me? And what are these emotions?¡±


    ¡°You will understand in time.¡±


    Colors congealed into a messy blur, kaleidoscopic patterns swirling through the void. Random memory bubbles whisked by him as a set of translucent stairs manifested themselves before him, spiraling into eternity. He placed a foot on the first step. The tap of the sole of his shoe pierced the silence as visible sound waves emanated outwards from the impact.


    Clearly, something was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, but what? He placed another foot on the step, illuminating the entire staircase in a flood of yellow light. Each subsequent step reverberated through the emptiness, but instead of dissipating, their unique waveforms seemed to resonate with one another.


    ¡°I feel so light¡­ I should be able to just¡­ kind of hop down there.¡± He took a small hop where he stood. ¡°So that¡¯s it, huh? I thought gravity seemed a little broken when I saw the water droplets earlier, but this definitely confirms it. Guess I¡¯d better go see what¡¯s waiting for me now.¡±


    He leapt down the stairs, sailing through the low-gravity emptiness as memories continued to fly past him. Some, he genuinely remembered. Others, he questioned their origin. Regardless, they seemed to attach themselves to an invisible wall as if they were pinning themselves to an art board. He turned around, fascinated by the changing scenery as he continued to fly down the stairs.


    A minute later, his feet hit the final step, a melodic ping concluding the minor symphony. What seemed to be the last of the memory bubbles sorted themselves into the makeshift wall, completing the composition. The sound of large, metal gears bounded through the strange void as a red door appeared in front of him. Something compelled him to enter.


    Turning the knob, he walked through the entryway, finding himself in the same earthy plane as before. The sun hadn¡¯t moved from its earlier position in the sky, and the dirt had retained the impressions from his fists¡ªeven the tear stains were still visible. Time wasn¡¯t flowing, after all¡ªa frozen spacetime where he could spend eternity in a single moment.


    Suddenly, a sweet scent wafted into his nose. It was familiar, but he couldn¡¯t place why he knew the aroma. A brief gust of wind carried the scent into his nose again, stronger this time, as it triggered a series of long-forgotten memories, but one in particular stood out:


    It was a dark, rainy night in April. He was on his way to the mall to meet up with a friend¡ªa girl he had known since elementary school. Neon lights painted the town in a fluorescent glow as rain plastered the roads and sidewalks, creating artificial mirrors. It was as if the town were looking back at its own reflection. Tires splashed through puddles in the road, dousing anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves caught in the wake. It was the kind of night Brendan loved most.


    Upon arrival, he shot a quick text and walked inside, the glass doors reflecting the roadway: ¡°Where are you?¡±


    Finding a table inside the food court, Brendan took a seat under the skylight as he kicked his feet up in an empty chair, perfectly relaxed. He felt great¡ªthe best he had in a long time. Fifteen seemed like a huge milestone, despite only having been a teenager for the last three years. Tonight, though, he was content with just spending his birthday evening in the presence of his favorite person.


    His phone buzzed on the table, startling him as he checked the notification. It was a text message: ¡°I¡¯m inside Azalea¡¯s Apparel. Come meet me inside!¡±


    ¡°As much as I¡¯d rather not walk into a women¡¯s clothing store, if I don¡¯t pull her out of there, she¡¯ll spend her entire allowance,¡± Brendan half-joked.


    ***


    Twenty minutes later, he¡¯d managed to drag himself and his favorite spender out of the store. The damage had been done, but she was thrilled to death. Shopping bags filled his hands as he gave a defeated sigh.


    ¡°Come back anytime, Miss! We appreciate your patronage,¡± the store manager called out, ¡°and don¡¯t forget¡ªtomorrow is BOGO!¡±


    ¡°Aria¡­ Listen to me very carefully¡­ You have enough clothes to last you three lifetimes, and if my math is correct, your allowance for the month is almost gone. I¡¯m not sure you need anything more,¡± Brendan said warily, knowing how easy it was to suck her in and how difficult it was to drag her back out.


    ¡°I¡¯ll for sure be back tomorrow,¡± Aria shouted through the closing door. ¡°You can count on my patronage!¡±


    Brendan sighed. She was a handful, but he loved her. The enthusiastic faces she would make and the way her entire body seemed to radiate with energy¡ªall of it. He loved everything about her. He couldn¡¯t imagine spending time with anyone other than her. Even the way her hair bounced when she walked was unique.


    ¡°Sorry for dragging you back into Azalea¡¯s again,¡± Aria said half-apologetically. ¡°On the bright side, we have the rest of the night to do whatever else now!¡± She tilted her head, hair falling to the side as she gave Brendan a pearly smile. The night was theirs.


    ¡°There¡¯s somewhere I¡¯d like to go, actually. How does a late dinner in the Nebula sound?¡± Brendan asked.


    He wanted the big announcement he had planned to be something neither of them would ever forget. Their feelings for each other were mutual; they¡¯d been friends since before they even knew what the word ¡°friend¡± meant, and Brendan had made an honest effort through the years to understand what made Aria tick. A dinner under the stars sounded like the perfect opportunity to prove it.


    ¡°That telescope-restaurant-thing, right? Where you can sit underneath an actual nebula of stars?¡± Aria began to imagine the menu, her mouth watering. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the food is really good!¡±


    ¡°Yep! Let¡¯s hurry, though. They added some new items, so there¡¯s probably a huge wait list.¡±


    ¡°Mm! Ok!¡±


    The wait was shorter than expected. They were seated within fifteen minutes and were able to order a few short minutes after that. The rain must have thinned out the evening crowd. Even so, the Nebula¡¯s stellar extravagance shined on. Mirroring intergalactic space, a camera panned across the display, revealing star-filled nebulas, gaseous quasars, even planetary ring systems. Vibrant reds and oranges, sometimes even deep, midnight blues, engulfed the restaurant in a galactic glow before the camera panned onto something new.


    ¡°So, what do you think? Beautiful, isn¡¯t it? There¡¯s not another place on Earth like this, and being here with you makes it even better,¡± Brendan said, gazing up at the ceiling.


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s amazing,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before.¡± She leaned back in her seat, thinking about the latter half of what he¡¯d said. ¡°That sounded like a confession of his feelings. Wait! Was him taking me here his way of asking me out on a date?¡± She felt the blood rush to her cheeks as her ears grew warm. Had the restaurant not relied upon blacklights for the additional ambiance, her face would have been as red as the nebulas overhead.


    Suddenly, her phone rang in her handbag, snapping her out of her daze. The call was from a number she didn¡¯t recognize. Something told her it was important, but why so late at night? She quickly looked at the time before answering, shocked it was already after 9:00 p.m.


    ¡°Hello? This is Aria Miruna,¡± she answered. Brendan watched as the life in her eyes vanished, color draining from her face. She gripped the side of the table to steady herself. ¡°Ok. Thank you, but please stop doing that.¡± She hung up the phone.


    ¡°Who was it?¡± Brendan asked concernedly, careful not to pry too much. ¡°Is everything ok?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, no. It¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± she said reassuringly. ¡°Elena just watched the latest episode of that new foreign drama series everyone is raving about right now, and she spoiled it for me.¡± Aria rolled her eyes as she placed the phone back in her bag. ¡°Ughh. These weekly episodes give me emotional damage, I swear. Elena, too, if she doesn¡¯t stop changing her number. I¡¯m sorry to have worried you, though.¡±


    Brendan let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching a lot of gaming streams lately so I can¡¯t relate, but I¡¯m glad it wasn¡¯t something super serious.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sorry. I just really wanted to see the episode while it was airing,¡± she laughed, twirling her hair around her finger, ¡°but spending the evening with you, on your birthday night no less, is infinitely better,¡± she teased.


    ¡°Still, I¡¯m going to need you to stop scaring me like that,¡± Brendan chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve always done that, but I still love that side of you, regardless.¡±


    There it was again, another confessionary statement. ¡°I swear. If this boy doesn¡¯t ask me to be his girlfriend tonight, I¡¯ll do it for him.¡±


    Brendan paid the bill, tipping the waiter generously. He wanted to spread his joy with others tonight. Settling for anything less-than-perfect would be a sin. He was feeling great, and the food was just as superb: creamy soup, soft three-cheese grilled cheese sandwiches filled with layers of lettuce, tomato, and turkey alongside a colorful medley of herbs, shrimp, and penne pasta all tossed in parmesan with a hint of black pepper for the main course.


    Aria and Brendan walked into the restaurant¡¯s viewing room, allowing their meals to digest before walking around the mall again. This room was different from the main one, however. Instead of a slow pan-across, the viewing room focused on two sections of the sky, and tonight¡¯s showing were the constellations of Aquila and Lyra.


    ¡°Do you know the story behind the brightest stars in these constellations?¡± Brendan asked. ¡°I promise I didn¡¯t call ahead and tell them to show these specific ones tonight,¡± he joked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not very good at constellations, but are they Altair and Vega? Aside from the Big Dipper, those are, like, the only constellations I know,¡± she confessed.


    Brendan chuckled. ¡°Close. Altair is a part of the constellation Aquila, and Vega is a part of Lyra. The story goes that Altair and Vega were a weaver girl and a poor shepherd boy, but they were separated by a river, carved out by the gods. Or, at least,¡± he admitted, ¡°that¡¯s one version of the story.¡±


    ¡°Forbidden lovers, huh?¡± Aria stared up at the ceiling. ¡°Meant to be together but kept forever apart¡­ It¡¯s such a beautiful, sad story.¡±


    ¡°It really is, but you know¡­ I never thought I would get to do something like this with you. Being here with you, right here, right now¡ª It¡¯s all I could ever dream about. When they took you away five years ago,¡± Brendan said softly, gazing at the stars, ¡°I would stand in the road for hours every day, hoping that you¡¯d come back. I was so heartbroken and totally devastated. You were my best friend, and to have something like that taken away from you¡­ It almost feels like a real-life Altair and Vega.¡±


    Aria grabbed his hand and held it in hers. She could feel the beat of his heart in his wrist, almost as if she were clasping their emotions together. She felt guilty, but she never had a say in the matter. Her mother had said it was because she retained a special gift, and in order to use it properly, she would have to attend a school for gifted children. When the news broke that she would have to leave Brendan, she attempted to run away but was caught within minutes after stumbling into a glass vase in the dark.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t stay,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry you had to suffer like that.¡± She looked him in the eyes. A small smile forced its way onto her face. ¡°I swear I¡¯ll tell you everything, but I don¡¯t want to ruin your special night, so let¡¯s save it. ¡®K?¡±


    ¡°Aria¡ª¡±


    She shook her head, putting a finger to her lips. Her face flushed as she closed her eyes. Her heart pounded against her chest, battering her ribcage with fervent feelings. She¡¯d tried hard not to blush, but she could feel herself becoming absorbed in the moment. She leaned in until she could whisper in his ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m in love with this feeling, Brendan. I¡¯m¡­¡± she paused, ¡°I¡¯m in love with you.¡±


    Brendan¡¯s entire world erupted into a supernova of enamored passion and desire. Everything he thought he knew vanished into the emptiness of the cosmos above him as the stars gleamed in ecstatic magnitude. There was one side to Aria that Brendan didn¡¯t know about, and it was this one: her long, silky-brown hair tucked behind one ear as she leaned in, the moisture on her breath against his ear, the feeling of her lips against his.


    ¡°I remember now¡­ The same girl who used to love everything to do with azaleas,¡± he said, fresh tears falling from his cheeks.


    He looked up, eyes no longer transfixed on the dark spots in the dirt, but someone had been watching, waiting patiently. The sweet aroma of azaleas filled his nostrils again followed by a soft shuffling of feet. There was only one person in the world who loved azaleas so much.


    ¡°And that perfume¡­ So it was you¡­¡±


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m not the only one who forgot,¡± Aria said shyly. She held her hands behind her back. ¡°Long time no see, my little Altair.¡± The wind swirled around her, scattering a consortium of red and purple flower petals into the air. The orange sun transformed her hair into golden strands as it fluttered beneath her straw sunhat, locks transient in the breeze. Like her hair, even her skin glowed with an amber-like essence. ¡°I remember now, too,¡± she said.


    Brendan did a complete one-eighty, locking eyes with Aria, the Aria he¡¯d always known, for the first time in years. She was beautiful, engulfed in the fiery grace of the setting sun as she dug her toes into the soft soil beneath her feet. A shimmering white sundress, held together by an ornate, oversized bow in the back, whipped around in the wind; it was as if nature itself understood the enthusiasm in her heart, but she was hesitant to admit what she felt. She curled her toes. Tension stiffened her muscles.


    Brendan wasn¡¯t sure what to feel. How was he supposed to describe the elation he felt alongside the overwhelming sense of lost time that hung over him like a cloud? The return of his lost and broken memories and Aria¡¯s unexpected appearance sent his heart into an unabated flurry. He felt as if he¡¯d been caught in a sudden rainstorm; the spontaneity and mood were there. Like raindrops in a puddle, waves of emotions rippled through him, relentless and oftentimes unforgiving.


    ¡°Aria, I¡ª¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Let me explain. I¡¯m not who I used to be. I¡¯m not like the girl in your memories. Not anymore.¡± She averted her gaze.


    An intense sadness filled her eyes¡ªa sadness exacerbated by feelings of insurmountable guilt and regret. A small glint rose from their corners, barely-noticeable slits. She was the final piece to the puzzle she¡¯d been trying to piece together since her reunion with Lacia, but figuring out how she fit into everything remained elusive. Regret filled her with guilt, the kind of guilt that made her question if she even deserved forgiveness.


    ¡°That night at the mall, after my parents picked me up, something terrible happened. It broke me, and I hated the world for it. I became someone I never wanted to be.¡± Tears began to well in her eyes.


    Brendan noticed she looked thinner compared to the memory of her on his fifteenth birthday. Had it really been six years? Not even her eyes held the same light they used to, dark circles still evident despite all of the creams he was sure she¡¯d likely tried. Regardless, nothing would ever change the way he felt, even if they had forgotten each other.


    ¡°That night, our car was hit by a drunk driver that swerved into our lane. Mom and dad were killed upon impact and I¡ª I just sat there in the back seat,¡± her voice shook, ¡°covered in their blood and broken glass.¡± She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. ¡°Brendan, I hated everyone and everything. I was so mad that I left town without a word. I fell so far,¡± she whispered. ¡°The world was my enemy, and when I stumbled upon a series of essays claiming that it was possible to theoretically rewrite it, well¡­ Life meant absolutely nothing to me, as you can see. I wasn¡¯t afraid to exploit anyone so long as I stood to gain from it.¡±


    She walked down a set of nearby train tracks hidden beneath the overgrowth of grass and weeds. The rusted steel had turned dark brown and orange. Gravel crunched underneath the blocky heel of her sandals as she trudged forward, hands carelessly swaying at her sides. Brendan could tell she was crying even though her back was turned. She just didn¡¯t want him to see.


    ¡°God, I even aided in the kidnapping of Lacia,¡± she said exasperated. ¡°What was I thinking? How could anyone love a monster like¡ª¡±


    Brendan moved to wrap his arms around her. ¡°Aria. You are not a monster. What you did is not for me or anyone else to judge. I don¡¯t know what the past six years have been like for you. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a reason, and we¡¯ll deal with that later. But if there¡¯s a God out there or some twist of fate is to decide your destiny,¡± he paused, ¡°they¡¯ll have to go through me first.¡±


    Aria fell to her knees as she slipped through Brendan¡¯s arms, allowing gravity to win her over instead. Her legs plowed into the cool dirt. Dark splotches splattered her dress, salty tears glistening in the setting sun as they cascaded down her cheeks. She wanted nothing more than to tell him she still had feelings for him, despite their time apart, but she didn¡¯t even know where to begin. His words echoed inside of her mind as she desperately tried to uncover their meaning. What did she want more? Time to figure herself out, or just someone to love her, to tell her it will all be okay in the end?


    ¡°He¡¯s probably already scouted Mana, Lacia especially,¡± she thought. ¡°How can he say he¡¯d fight gods when he doesn¡¯t even know me anymore? He can¡¯t expect me to just stand here and smile, can he?¡±


    ¡°Aria,¡± he said softly, ¡°we all have regrets. We¡¯ve all done things we¡¯re not proud of, and I know you know that better than anyone.¡± He knelt down beside her. ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to act like anyone other than yourself¡ªno one other than the girl I fell in love with that night at the mall.¡± He smiled, holding back his own tears of reminiscence.


    ¡°I¡ª I just want to learn how to live without all of these regrets, Brendan.¡± Aria clutched her chest. ¡°My heart hurts. My soul is screaming at me. I can hear the voices in my head telling me how awful I am¡ª¡±


    She broke into a cacophony of sobs, more tear-sized dark spots joining its companions in her lap. Tears splashed off the backs of her hands while others were absorbed into the soil. Her emotions ebbed and flowed; she was unable to manage the onslaught of guilt, pain, and heartbreak. It would take more than a confession of love to mend her wounded heart.


    The colors shifted in the evening sky as the stars began their routine shimmer; deep purples, reds, and dark blues heralded the budding starlight of the night.


    ¡°We may never know where the world and heaven end, but I know that, with you by my side,¡± Brendan grabbed her tear-soaked hands, ¡°everything will fall into place.¡±


    Aria¡¯s heart raced. Her eyes shone in the gleaming starlight, wet with tears as she removed her gaze from her lap. Her heart collided with a wall of mixed emotions; she had forgotten what it was like to have someone care for her. She took shallow breaths between sobs, realizing she¡¯d been staggering her breathing the entire time.


    The flickering dream she¡¯d always longed for had been right in front of her from the start. With Brendan¡¯s hands still in hers, she brought them to her cheeks, tears caressing his soft fingers before dripping off. It wasn¡¯t a perfect dream, but it was her dream. Fear edged into her mind, afraid that if she let go, she would have to face the reality of losing him all over again.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the person I ever wanted to become. I hate myself. I¡¯ve caused so much grief.¡±


    She scolded herself, not for her misplaced memories and misguided morality, but her failures as a friend, a romantic partner, and, most of all, a human being. She wanted to believe everything would be okay in the end, but what exactly was the end? Was she willing to wait that long? She¡¯d just betrayed the last six years of her life, devoted to some strange man who babbled about nonsense all the time, and for what?


    ¡°No¡­ What I want,¡± she said, stumbling to her feet, ¡°is to believe in myself again. I want to feel¡ª¡±


    Brendan wrapped his arms around her again, tighter this time. He was warm, body pressed against hers. Her body had missed his soft touch, but her mind was a jungle gym of complex emotions that only added to her discomfort. She eked out a small squeal, trying to push him off. She felt embarrassed, awkward. ¡°This really isn¡¯t the time,¡± she wanted to shout, but decided it wasn¡¯t worth the effort to fight him. She let her arms fall to her sides. ¡°Fine,¡± she thought, ¡°I guess this isn¡¯t so terrible, after all.¡±


    ¡°You can cry too, you know? You don¡¯t have to be strong all the time,¡± she said through choked tears as they continued their descent, mixing and spilling with Brendan¡¯s from earlier ¡°Don¡¯t make this all about me,¡± she mumbled into his shoulder.


    ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± he said, ¡°but I think I¡¯ve got things under control.¡± His voice was shaky, and watching Aria cry pained him. ¡°Just another side to you I¡¯ve yet to see, despite thinking I had you all figured out.¡± He chuckled. ¡°If it¡¯s not about you though, then who else do I get to share this moment with?¡±


    Aria groaned. ¡°Why do you always have to trouble my heart like this?¡± she said between sobs. ¡°I hate you when you do this to me, but I feel like I¡¯m alive for the first time in years. I haven¡¯t felt emotions like this in so long¡­ I forgot what it was like to cry, to have someone care about you without ever asking for such kindness¡­¡±


    The last of the sky¡¯s color faded away, revealing the full luster of the night sky as Aria¡¯s belief in her dreams rose higher than the stars themselves. This time, she wouldn¡¯t let Brendan go, no matter what it took to make that reality hers.

 Chapter 10: A Chant at the Bounds of This World

    ¡°Time to get up, people. Can¡¯t sleep forever, you know! There¡¯s a lot we need to get done and even more to figure out,¡± Aria shouted, shrugging Mana and Lacia awake.


    Brendan was the last to stir as he examined the fire, now just darkened coals. ¡°Aria, did you¡­¡±


    She shot him a look. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time, or place. Later,¡± she whispered.


    Brendan nodded as he stood up and walked over to the leyliner, noticing the software update had finished, but the device remained void of activity. For now, it was just a useless metal cube. He¡¯d assumed it was always online, not thinking about the mana-consumption something like that would take.


    ¡°Either way, I guess Licht is asleep,¡± he thought. ¡°Should I just leave him be, though?¡± A gleeful grin snuck onto his face. ¡°Nah!¡± He forcefully shook the leyliner. ¡°Time to wake up, Licht. Rise n¡¯ shine!¡±


    The cube flared to life, hovering in front of Brendan¡¯s face. Was it¡­ glaring at him? Without warning, the cube smacked him. Rubbing the rightfully earned welt on his forehead, he reached for the device, prepared to prove he could hit harder.


    ¡°Tch. Was trying to have a little fun¡­¡±


    ¡°You shook the hell out of it, what else did you expect it to do?¡± Aria mused as she walked over, examining the object. ¡°I saw you walk in with this thing, but you never told me what it does. Seems rather hostile towards you, though.¡±


    ¡°To put it simply,¡± he frowned, still rubbing his forehead, ¡°the leyliner is a two-part system. It allows us to see and speak with each other over long distances by imbuing a small amount of mana into the device itself.¡± Hesitantly, Brendan picked it up again. ¡°By flipping a switch, it can transform into an earpiece where it¡¯s able to transmit audio-visual data back to Licht. In this mode,¡± he flipped the second switch, ¡°it¡¯s like a magnet, but it sticks to you if you focus your mana wherever you place it. Audio-only, though.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Licht isn¡¯t awake, is he?¡± Aria blurted out. ¡°There¡¯s something we all¡ª¡±


    ¡°Need to discuss?¡± Brendan interjected. ¡°There¡¯re a few things, it seems. Standing around won¡¯t get us anywhere, though.¡± He flipped the switch again as the leyliner transformed back into a floating cube. ¡°Licht, are you awake or not?¡±


    ¡°Yea, yea. I¡¯m here,¡± Licht¡¯s voice came through the floating cube. ¡°We do need to go over some stuff, especially the Reverse World, but there¡¯s something else we need to go over, first.¡± The leyliner fell silent for a moment before hovering over to Aria then off towards Mana and Lacia. ¡°I¡¯m just checking vitals right now. Aria, you said you were having trouble healing your wounds, but you seem to be alright now.¡±


    She blushed. ¡°I won¡¯t ask how you know that, but you¡¯re right. I feel better than I did, uh, last night? It¡¯s taking some time still, but I was able to repair some of the internal damage when I woke up¡­¡±


    ¡°How much mana would you estimate you currently have, then?¡± Licht questioned. ¡°Just a rough guess is fine.¡±


    ¡°Uhh¡­ Maybe, like, thirty-five percent of normal or so? Not great, but I¡¯m out of danger, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking.¡±


    ¡°Something has suppressed the normal mana-recovery rate¡­ Hmm¡­ Alright,¡± he said, ¡°just try not to use too much for the time being. Now, for Lacia and Mana.¡±


    A wave of blue light washed over Lacia and Mana, still asleep, heads nestled on each other¡¯s shoulders. Sequences of numbers and letters flashed across the screen in matrixes of data and illogical summaries. Mana was the first to wake, disturbed by the bright LED light.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if waking up to this is creepy or just genuine concern, Licht,¡± she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. ¡°Either way, mind telling me what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Lacia groaned, turning around to face the wall. ¡°Let a girl sleep.¡±


    ¡°More surprises every day, I swear. Lacia,¡± Mana sighed, ¡°you can¡¯t sleep forever.¡± She knelt beside her, trying to turn her back over. ¡°Lacia, come on. Why are you like this?¡±


    ¡°Because it hurts to move right now,¡± she whined.


    ¡°Oh? Is that right? I wonder what you should be telling me, then.¡±


    Aria pulled Brendan aside as Mana and Lacia delved into a heated argument over who was going to tell the story of their adventures first. There was still a lot she didn¡¯t understand about herself. How had she forgotten about two of the most important people in her life? Was it the metaphorical hand of fate that had brought them together again? But if that were the case, what explained her memory loss? She hadn¡¯t willingly chosen to forget; there had to be another force at play, something working in the background.


    Like the exposure on a camera, she felt like her memories needed a little more light to fully reveal themselves again. The longer she waited, the more light they could draw before she snapped the photo, preserving the moments forever. Still, an unwarranted feeling of dread poured over her. She knew that certain traumas could create a type of memory suppression, and that scared her. Was there something in the back of her mind that was so traumatic, so life-altering, that she¡¯d subconsciously forgotten an entire part of her life?


    ¡°Better late than never,¡± she thought. Aria turned her head to the side before returning her attention to Brendan. ¡°I still want to discuss this more later, but¡­ You did have the same dream I did, right? What do you remember¡­ from that night?¡± Her cheeks flushed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to be honest, of what I¡¯ve become, and how I let myself be so easily manipulated,¡± she said in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯ve done so many terrible things you don¡¯t even know about and¡ª¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I think of you as some kind of monster, Aria. I don¡¯t care if we¡¯re living in a dream or I don¡¯t have the full story yet, I¡¯m not one to judge you based upon what you¡¯ve done or who you think you are.¡± Brendan reached for Aria¡¯s hand, but she pulled away.


    ¡°There¡¯s something else you need to know, but it¡¯s better if¡ª¡± She stopped, reordering the thought in her head. ¡°It¡¯s better if I show you.¡±


    ¡°Show me¡ª?¡± A shrill beep from the leyliner cut him off. ¡°We¡¯ll pick this up later, ok?¡±


    Displeased about being put on hold, Aria bit her lip. ¡°That boy. He cares so much about those two even though we were the almost-somethings¡­¡± She pressed her hands to her cheeks. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to be the jealous girl, Aria. There are bigger things to worry about.¡±


    The leyliner had finished its scan of Lacia and Mana, still bickering about who was more obliged to share the details of their journeys. A matrix of data points ranging from blood oxygen level to red blood cell count was projected on the wall, providing a detailed summary of their health like art in a museum.


    Mana¡¯s numbers suggested relatively good health despite the debilitating MCS blackouts almost twenty-four hours earlier. Her blood sugar levels were normal, and her white blood cell count was within acceptable range. Surprisingly, the leyliner had mapped out a three-dimensional model of her brain as well, showing zero complications. Except for the slow mana-recovery rate, all of her other vitals were acceptable.


    Lacia¡¯s numbers, however, told a different story: her metabolic levels were significantly diminished, her red blood cell count was low, and an X-Ray showed multiple fractures ranging in severity from cracked ribs to her already-broken foot. Likewise, the bruises on her arms and legs still hadn¡¯t fully healed from her run-in with Lucifero; purple ring-like bruises wrapped around her thighs, lower legs, and forearms.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Aria said, analyzing the data sets, ¡°I knew I was cutting it close when I showed up but, again, wow.¡± She shuddered, chilled by the thought of how close Lacia had come to death. ¡°I¡¯d surmise that, when he when placed that curse mark on you, it was meant to slowly kill you¡ªinadvertently. If he could wound you enough, his plan was likely to allow the curse mark to finish you.¡±


    ¡°Why should I have to tell¡ª Wait.¡± Lacia stopped mid-argument. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± She turned around to face the wall, skimming the numbers from the leyliner¡¯s scans. ¡°Aria,¡± she said, surprise etched across her face, ¡°I couldn¡¯t say it earlier, and I still don¡¯t completely trust you, but,¡± she paused again, regaining her composure, ¡°thank you. You saved my life, and I know I¡¯ve been ungrateful, not having thanked you until now. I realize just how close we both came to dying. Looking at these numbers, finally feeling the effects of that fight, I feel like I kind of dropped the ball¡­¡±


    Aria bit her lip, taken aback by Lacia¡¯s apology, still a little hurt by her lack of trust, but she understood. ¡°Look, Lacia. I know we aren¡¯t on the best of terms, but let me explain¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Lacia blurted. ¡°Give me time, Aria. Please.¡±


    Dejected, Aria took a step back, balancing on the backs of her heels. She wanted nothing more than to explain why she¡¯d treated her so terribly, and how she longed to mend their relationship, but what would something like that take? Lacia had made it clear that trust was earned, not gained.


    ¡°I guess I was an idiot, thinking that we could play pretend and forget everything that happened.¡± She gave a depressive sigh.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much time for reunions. Sorry,¡± Brendan said, cutting the tension in the air as he turned toward Aria. ¡°Earlier, you said it would be easier to show me something.¡± He was careful not to share the details of their previous conversation, much less shared dream. ¡°I know there are things you want to tell all of us, so I¡¯ll just say this: if you feel like this is the time to tell-all, I¡¯d say do it. We¡¯ve all been gathered here for a reason,¡± he grabbed Aria¡¯s hand, trying to reassure her, as she tried to pull away, ¡°so let¡¯s figure out why and get all of this baggage off of our chests. We have to stop whatever it is the Reverse World is hoping to achieve here.¡±


    A pit formed in Aria¡¯s stomach. The feelings of isolation, abandonment, anguish¡ª She swallowed them all, trying to understand her feelings towards Brendan and why he was so adamant about keeping her close, but it wasn¡¯t Brendan she was worried about; her relationship with Lacia wasn¡¯t where she wanted it to be, and that bothered her the most.


    ¡°Ugh. He¡¯s right, though. I need to focus on what¡¯s important now.¡± Taking a sharp breath, the chilly air sharpened her mind. ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll go ahead and start now,¡± she said, casting away her melancholic attitude. ¡°It would be best if everyone stood back a little¡ªeveryone but Lacia.¡±


    Lacia pointed at herself. ¡°Me? Might I ask why?¡±


    ¡°Remember when we first met? How I told you I knew where you received that gash in your side? You could say that time has theoretically stopped in that world.¡±


    She stooped down, fumbling around in her bag. With a glint of excitement, she retrieved the same knife she¡¯d taken back from Lacia before they disembarked the ship. To everyone¡¯s horror, she dragged the blade across the palm of her hand as a fresh stream of blood trickled to the floor.


    ¡°Aria! What are you¡ª?¡±


    A sudden gush of wind slammed into Lacia as her feet slid across the concrete floor. She shielded herself with her arms as rich magical energy filled the air, engulfing the empty border gate like a raging whirlwind.


    ¡°Lacia,¡± Mana shouted above the rush of wind, ¡°What¡¯s going on? What is she talking about? Some other world?¡±


    Brendan echoed Mana¡¯s questions, now directed at Aria. ¡°I know you¡¯re upset,¡± he shouted, ¡°but a little explanation would be nice, you know! Like, what are you trying to say? Lacia and the Reverse are connected?¡±


    ¡°Be patient,¡± Aria shouted back. ¡°There¡¯s a reason I¡¯m doing this.¡± She turned to look at Lacia, pivoting the job of explaining to her.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°just allow me to summarize the last few weeks into a quick two-minute explanation, she said, throwing up her hands before another blast of wind tore into her. ¡°Hang on! Let me explain before you blast me again!¡± She turned her head so Mana and Brendan could hear her. ¡°There¡¯s another plane of exis¡ª¡±


    A stabbing pain erupted across her abdomen as if something had lodged itself into her flesh. She stumbled back, fresh crimson stains seeping through her clothes. Judging by Aria¡¯s lack of concern, she assumed the return of her agony was part of the plan, but her time as everyone¡¯s scapegoat was growing old.


    Mana moved to intercept Aria, noticing Lacia¡¯s discomfort, but was met with an abrupt hand as she approached. She protested, frowning. It had been nearly a month since the two had last seen each other. Watching Lacia grovel in pain was painful in of itself.


    ¡°Stay,¡± Lacia said, breathing heavily. ¡°Just¡­ let her do this. I know Aria has her reasons, and there¡¯s no other way to explain everything that has happened to us to you.¡± She dropped to one knee.


    Ignoring her demands, Mana pushed forward. Her caramel locks reminded Lacia of the time she¡¯d given her a makeshift haircut when they were children. She¡¯d watched as locks of sleek, black hair fell to the floor, reflecting the overhead light with a glossy sheen. The renewed shade of her now-caramel strands fascinated Lacia just as her dark hair did back then, streaming in the light of the afternoon sun.


    ¡°Give me your hand,¡± Mana shouted over the wind, but it was no use. The shrieking air currents tore any sound other than its own howls to shreds. Determined not to lose the one thing she¡¯d fought so hard for, she pushed on. She knew her stubbornness was her greatest weakness, but she refused to let that weakness define her. After all, her stubbornness had brought her this far. Just as the day had its night, her weakness also had its counterpart; the very same stubbornness that often got her into trouble was the very thing that led her back to Lacia. Her overprotective spirit hadn¡¯t failed her yet, and she wasn¡¯t about to end that streak, either.


    Lacia turned her head, addressing the worried look on Mana¡¯s face. ¡°Look. I know you¡¯re worried,¡± she shouted over the wind, ¡°but this is something we have to do, and I know you¡¯ll understand that. I won¡¯t leave you alone, I swear.¡±


    ¡°How can you say that when you¡¯re in as poor a shape as you are? You and Aria are keeping something from me, from us, and I¡ª What am I supposed to do if I lose you again? And right after I just found you? That¡¯s not fair!¡± After what seemed like the world¡¯s longest shouting match, the wind finally began to subside; rich, magical energy lingered in the air. ¡°Can¡¯t we just¡ª¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know the meaning of what is and is not fair, Mana,¡± Aria interrupted, overhearing the last of her conversation with Lacia. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be rude, just¡ª Please. I¡¯ll explain when we get there. For now, I just need everyone to take a breath.¡±


    Mana nodded, reassessing the situation. ¡°Sorry, Aria, but I really need you to please explain what just happened. I think I speak for all of us when I say we¡¯re a little confused. And where, exactly, is ¡®there?¡¯¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t answer that question until Lacia imbues some of her mana into this.¡± A small key appeared in her hand, shimmering like a watery reflection. ¡°Her mana is all that¡¯s needed to solidify this key.¡± She tilted her head back towards Brendan. ¡°And, if I¡¯m not mistaken, you and Mana also found a little something special on your adventure, right?¡±


    Brendan folded his arms across his chest. ¡°Alright. Now how did you know¡ª?¡±


    ¡°That band is called a halifer. There are only two in existence,¡± she emphasized, ¡°and, supposedly, they possess the power to open doorways to other worlds. When this key takes physical form and resonates with one of the doorways, you¡¯ll hear it. Whether any of this is actually true or not is irrelevant. Clearly, you found one, and I have one of the keys.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Lacia said, taking a seat on the ground, ¡°it¡¯s reasonable to assume that what you already know about this stuff is actually real.¡± She laid back, the cold concrete soothing her achy muscles.


    ¡°That¡¯s a valid assumption, I suppose,¡± Aria replied. ¡°When a halifer comes into contact with one of these doorways, once opened, they emit a certain frequency, and that resonance is what activates the doorway¡ªwhat allows for actual travel between worlds.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough, but I¡¯m not hearing anything right now,¡± Brendan shrugged. ¡°More importantly, why does it have to be Lacia¡¯s mana?¡±


    ¡°Listen carefully, Brendan,¡± Mana said. ¡°It¡¯s faint, but you can hear it, almost as if the key really is resonating¡­.¡± She pulled the halifer from her bag and presented it to Aria. ¡°How does Lacia tie into all of this, though? I think Brendan has a valid question here.¡±


    With a small grunt, Lacia returned to her feet, but something had happened. Golden particles now floated in the air, dancing and twirling around her as she held her palms out, absorbing the shimmering cloud. She felt rejuvenated¡ªthe best she¡¯d been since her life had devolved into innumerable injuries and fear.


    The rush of rejuvenation reminded her of warm spring days, the renewal of life and reinvigorating energy that came with it. As soon as the feeling swept through her body, it was gone, a series of bright, golden flashes concluding the brief moment of bewilderment. She looked to Aria for an explanation who could only offer her best assumption.


    ¡°Lacia¡­ Do you know what that power is? Have you any idea what just happened?¡± she asked curiously.


    ¡°Umm¡­ Well¡ª What¡¯s the correct answer?¡±


    Ignoring Lacia¡¯s attempt at humor, she continued on. ¡°I think what that might have been was an extremely rare type of magic, something that can only be wielded by someone of a certain bloodline. Uhh¡­ What that basically means is that you do have a super special gift¡ªwe just don¡¯t know exactly what it is and how it works.¡± She locked eyes with Lacia, studying her intently. ¡°I think I¡¯m beginning to understand what Lucifero was after.¡±


    ¡°And if we factor in the Erill Gate,¡± Licht added from the leyliner, ¡°we have a very compelling argument that what Lucifero was really looking for had something to do with opening that gate.¡±


    Mana and Brendan exchanged glances with each other as Lacia stood awkwardly in the center of the room. No one seemed to know what to do next, having surmised what it was Lucifero, and likely the other devils, wanted. Still, even if that were the case, there remained one problem: no one knew where the Erill Gate was or what it was, for that matter.


    Aria¡¯s eye twitched in response to a sudden growing pressure. Something in the air had changed; it clung to her skin like wet clothes on a hot day. Her magic was reacting to something, but she couldn¡¯t place why it felt familiar, yet so strangely foreign.


    ¡°We¡¯ve had it wrong this whole time,¡± she mumbled, ¡°but something tells me we¡¯re running short on time¡­¡±


    Lacia¡¯s vision pulsed in response to the same growing pressure that seemed to be affecting Aria. She dropped to the floor, legs sprawled out beneath her as she brought a hand to her head. As her body adjusted to the increased magical energy, something strange happened: a new, larger, golden orb appeared before, hovering several inches from her face.


    ¡°I feel like this one¡¯s different from the last few¡­ The magical energy with this orb is¡ª I think it¡¯s harmonizing with me?¡± She squinted. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s some kind of fairy? A spirit¡­?¡±


    ¡°No good guesses,¡± a small voice fluttered through her head.


    ¡°Did you just¡ª Telepathy?¡±


    ¡°Much danger. Soon.¡±


    Puzzled, she continued her questioning. ¡°What do I call you? What are you?¡±


    ¡°I am Hika. Hika is an aurei.¡±


    ¡°An aurei? This is the first I¡¯ve ever heard of you, but why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Lacia is Hika¡¯s home. Hika has always been with Lacia, Lacia just not know it,¡± the aurei said through broken sentences. ¡°We must go. Danger coming for Lacia and friends.¡±


    A frown spread across Lacia¡¯s face. ¡°Hika, was it? I still have so many questions, though.¡±


    ¡°Umm, Lacia,¡± Mana said. ¡°Are you talking to that ball of light¡­?¡±


    Aria nodded. ¡°I was going to let her continue. I figured maybe she¡¯d lost her mind finally,¡± she silently giggled.


    ¡°I still half a mind to dump you in the snow, Aria,¡± Lacia said, unamused.


    ¡°I was kidding. Relax¡­¡±


    ¡°Questions later,¡± Hika urged. ¡°Hold out hand for Hika so Hika can finish.¡±


    Lacia did as instructed as she extended her arm. Hika swooped onto her palm, tracing dancing letters of light. Something inside of Lacia stirred¡ªa sense of reassurance and calm. She took a deep, slow breath, allowing the rapid influx of mana to fill her with elation.


    Coming to terms with the aurei, however, would challenge everything she believed in, and while the concept of gods and mythology wasn¡¯t something she was keen on, the encounter with Lucifero had forced her to begin rethinking her approach.


    ¡°Maybe tomorrow I¡¯ll find out the tooth fairy is real too,¡± she muttered.


    A sudden wave of ominous dread sent chills through Lacia¡¯s body. Goosebumps lined her arms as she shivered, unable to control her now-chattering teeth. She felt like she was on a rollercoaster, the subsequent feeling of falling was inevitable once the ride reached the top of the tracks. Her heart leapt into her throat, ready to flee whatever evil had wormed its way towards her and the rest of the group. Given Aria¡¯s earlier thoughts on Lucifero¡¯s motives, she surmised his defeat had sent shockwaves through the Reverse World; it was all but certain another devil was on its way to finish the job now that they were all tired and weak. She turned her attention to Hika who, with one final swoop, completed the letter tracing.


    ¡°We must go. Hika will take you back soon. Learn to use power soon,¡± the Aurei encouraged.


    ¡°Wait! How do I use this power? And what do you mean by taking me back? Back where?¡±


    ¡°Hika must go but will see Lacia soon.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    A powerful tremor shook the corridor just as Hika vanished into a puff of golden light. The terrifying malevolence made Lacia nauseous. Booming laughter filled the air as if it were taunting her, knowing there was nowhere for her to run or hide.


    ¡°Hika said I need to learn to use this power, soon, but how do I do that? Do aurei not come with an instruction manual or something?¡± She pulled at her hair in frustration. ¡°How am I supposed to use this ¡®power¡¯ everyone keeps telling me I have if I don¡¯t know how to use it to begin with?¡± She looked at Aria.


    ¡°I can teach you, but I don¡¯t think now is the time.¡± Aria bit her lip. ¡°Guess we pray for a miracle? I mean, I don¡¯t know what else we can do. You¡¯re looking at me like I have all the answers.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Brendan and Mana said in unison, ¡°you kinda do.¡±


    Aria shrugged. ¡°Think about what you felt when that golden light entered your body. Try to feel something different¡ªanything that might lead you to a really fast understanding on how to use magic. There¡¯s no way we went through everything we did just to die here.¡±


    Lacia crossed her arms as she closed her eyes. ¡°Even if, by some miracle, I manage to figure out just how to use magic, or whatever, I definitely can¡¯t fight. Like,¡± she held out her arms, ¡°do you expect these things to throw a punch? Why else do you think I elbowed you? These stick arms are useless.¡±


    Devil or not, they had a couple minutes, at best, to figure something out. Aria and Lacia seemed to be the most affected by the growing presence, but even Mana, Brendan, and the leyliner had picked up on the intensifying evil. Unlike Lucifero, however, this evil was different: collected, precise, and nauseating.


    Another devil was on its way, but its energy seemed rooted to a single point rather than emanating outward unlike Lucifero¡¯s, which was chaotic and lacked control, flailing around like a garden hose. There wasn¡¯t any time to think. One moment, everyone was rubbing sleep from their eyes; the next, they were standing at the precipice of an evil so monstrous that even the word ¡°terror¡± felt hollow.


    Ready or not, someone was going to have to step up. ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of sacrifices, to be honest, but how else do we win this fight?¡± Lacia pondered. ¡°Hika must have given me something to work with, right? We¡¯re all only here because of me. Would it be selfish of me to be the one to buy time if I can?¡± If the history books were going to write anything about her, she preferred they would write about her heroic attempts to save her friends from a devil. ¡°Of course, to do that, I have to make sure I don¡¯t get totally clapped first.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± Aria announced.


    Lacia opened her eyes to find a black pool of shadows amassing in the center of the corridor. They were outmatched, that much was obvious, but that wasn¡¯t what bothered her. She¡¯d inadvertently dragged everyone else into her mess without ever intending to. Now what? She refused to let her problems become the problems of anyone else. While her combat abilities were still rusty, she intended to make a stand worthy of dinner-table conversation years from now.


    Still, the devil didn¡¯t seem eager to attack. Rather, it was taking its time, its shadowy form bubbling up like some kind of black, molten rock. If it had wanted to kill them outright, it could have easily done so already, but it hadn¡¯t. Why? Surely it wasn¡¯t stopping by for a coffee break, right?


    ¡°Look, I can tell you¡¯re worried,¡± Aria said, addressing Lacia, ¡°but I can also sense you want revenge. I know you want to unleash all of that pent up anger you have on something. Lucifero did us both a favor, though. We¡¯d still be at each other¡¯s throats had he not shown up.¡± She smiled, eyes fixated on the growing black mass. ¡°You want to protect everyone. Yes, I know what you¡¯re thinking.¡±


    ¡°Fair point,¡± Lacia posited.


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s a fair point. It¡¯s my point. Anyways, let¡¯s try to minimize any potential collateral damage as best we can.¡± Lacia watched as Aria¡¯s eyes moved toward the leyliner. ¡°Licht needs to find something to hide the leyliner in. The last thing we need is the guy with all the brains being targeted because a devil traced him through the leyliner.¡± She gave an aslant frown. ¡°I hate that that¡¯s the best we can do. As for the rest of us¡­ Get creative. Our mana is too low to fight at full power, so our best shot at getting out of here alive is to improvise.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s right, Lacia,¡± Licht said through the leyliner. ¡°I think the odds of the four of you winning is marginal, but I think the odds you¡¯re all killed is even lower. Think: Lacia is who the devils are after. If they can¡¯t get to her, they can¡¯t kill you.¡±


    ¡°Uhh, think you could explain that one to me?¡± Brendan asked, scratching his head.


    ¡°If you are close enough to Lacia, powerful attacks would be powered down so as not to harm Lacia. If you can keep her close to the three of you¡ªMana, Brendan, Aria¡ªthere¡¯s a chance you fend this devil off without exerting too much effort. It¡¯s a long-shot, but you get the idea.¡± The leyliner chirped. ¡°Now then, before I make my hideaway¡­ I¡¯ve connected your minds together through the leyliner. Think of it as short-range telepathy. At the very least, you can use it to non-verbally communicate with each other.¡±


    ¡°Software update?¡± Brendan asked, painting the air with a finger.


    ¡°Yep! Pretty ingenious, isn¡¯t it? I accept monetary compensation if you would be so kind as to shower me with your praise now.¡±


    ¡°In your dreams, buddy,¡± Brendan laughed. ¡°We¡¯ll all have a nice dinner or something once we¡¯re done here, ok?¡±


    A deep, disembodied voice charged the air with a sickening aura. ¡°You made a fool of my third seat, but that is no matter. Lacia Amana, I will take your power for myself and end this silly game you continue to play. And you, Aria Miruna, I will take everything you ever cared about and leave you to die in solitude. Your ancestors cannot help you like they did last time.¡±


    ¡°My¡­ ancestors?¡± Aria shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. That was all me, you nasty devil.¡± Aria grabbed Lacia¡¯s hands. ¡°Telepathy only now, everyone. Lacia, hurry and imbue your mana into the key. Stand behind me and don¡¯t move. Mana, take the halifer and run your hands around the circumference. That will allow the band to begin resonating with the key once it¡¯s ready. Remember what Licht said: we have to get creative. Win in unconventional ways.¡±


    ¡°Allow me, then,¡± Brendan said. ¡°This won¡¯t buy us much time, so get started, you two!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make small talk,¡± Aria suggested. ¡°When you two are done, let us know. Brendan, as much as I would love for you to take the lead, let¡¯s try not to piss this one off before we even get a chance to catch our breath.¡±


    ¡°Have at it, then. I¡¯ll set something up as a failsafe in the meantime.¡±


    ¡°So, I imagine there are two reasons you¡¯re here,¡± Aria said, addressing the devil. ¡°One: you¡¯re upset that we knocked Lucifero on his pathetic ass and it makes you mad. Two: you¡¯re still mad, but not, like, mad mad, so you¡¯ve come for Lacia for some reason.¡±


    ¡°You bore me, Miruna girl,¡± the devil said, a human-like form emerging from the shadows. ¡°I am here for reasons beyond your comprehension, and for reasons you should have expected after regaining your memories.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Aria put a finger to her lower lip, ¡°that wasn¡¯t exactly something I could control. Now, had the memory fairy walked up to me and offered to return my memories that way, maybe things would have gone a little differently. What¡¯s a girl to do?¡± she shrugged.


    ¡°Aria, you¡¯re not making small talk. You¡¯re just antagonizing the thing,¡± Mana telepathized.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Aria rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll be straight with you, devil. We can¡¯t just hand Lacia over, nor do I appreciate the whole ¡®solitude¡¯ thing you said earlier. I¡¯m not sure what your deal with me is if Lucifero isn¡¯t such a big deal, like you said, but I didn¡¯t choose this life. Let¡¯s be unrealistic here and pretend like I¡¯m somehow the perpetrator.¡±


    A high-pitched whistling sound bounced off the concrete walls, nearly inaudible; Mana had activated the halifer. Aria had her doubts about the legitimacy of the stories surrounding the halifers, but the wailing all but eased them. Still, if the devil caught onto what they were doing, her small talk wouldn¡¯t be enough to save Lacia, much less everyone else¡ªherself included. She tapped the heel of her boot against the concrete floor, masking the sound.


    ¡°Thank god it¡¯s not any louder than that. I won¡¯t be able to tap my foot forever, though,¡± she admitted, ¡°but we need another minute. The key and halifer must resonate with each other, and to do that, the key will need to be inserted inside the halifer.¡±


    A red ball of flame erupted from Brendan¡¯s palms as he loosed the orb into the air. Nets of orange flame raced across the ground as the orb sank into the floor, like a rock in water. He clasped his hands together, ground now awash in a flood of burning light. The floor melted into a sea of molten rock, forcing the devil¡¯s partially-formed body into the fiery pit. Fiery threads stitched themselves together atop the now magmatic floor as they continually tore the devil¡¯s shadows to shreds.


    ¡°A simple spell like this won¡¯t hold that thing back very long. I¡¯ve only slowed its complete ascent, but I combined several other simple spells with this one. We have about a minute, judging by the feedback I¡¯m receiving from the threads. Before you ask, yes, they have nerve endings that relay information back to me about the captive¡¯s condition.¡± Mana and Lacia met him with blank stares. ¡°I¡¯ll explain it better later¡­¡±


    ¡°Bring the halifer over here, Mana,¡± Aria ordered. ¡°When a halifer¡¯s key and the actual halifer itself meet, like I explained earlier, they should open an interdimensional door. Still, it will take a little more time for the actual lock on said door to undo itself.¡±


    Aria inserted the key into the halifer with an audible thunk, clicking as the key dissipated into a mist of golden color. An ancient, albeit unreadable, script began to etch itself into the band, wrapping around the circumference as each character glowed with a ferocious white light. The clicking continued. She almost wondered if someone was raising the metaphorical curtain on the ensuing chaos, a stage tech somewhere in the rafters operating the curtain¡¯s pulleys.


    Mana shot a fleeting glance towards Brendan, leaving Aria to finish summoning the door. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, darkening the concrete as they splashed onto the ground. The energy and focus it took to hold the devil back was tremendous: his temples throbbed; his muscles screamed at him, and he could feel his mana dwindling¡ªfast.


    ¡°Time this, time that,¡± he thought to himself. ¡°It¡¯s about time someone lent me a hand, here.¡±


    Streaks of dark shadows shot through the magmatic labyrinth, drilling their way through Brendan¡¯s magic. With each subsequent hole, the integrity of the spell grew weaker as more shadows emerged from the floor, slowly congealing into various body parts. With one final push from the devil, the spell began to give way as Brendan fell to his knees, breathing heavily. The ground heaved, showering everyone in concrete dust and dirt as a dark mist seeped through the cracks like a poisonous fog.


    ¡°Just a little longer,¡± Aria pleaded. ¡°We just need another minute!¡±


    Realizing that Brendan had nearly exhausted his remaining mana, Aria was busy with the halifer, and Lacia was still severely wounded, she knew that, whatever happened next, it would mean the difference between life and death. She could sense how strong the devil was, a strength that paralyzed her muscles with fear. What could she do to secure another minute?


    She knew that if Brendan¡¯s spell failed, that would be it. They¡¯d be slaughtered like livestock or forced into an indentured servitude for eternity, made to grant every request made by the devils as they used them like some cheap, plastic toy. If Brendan¡¯s spell failed now, what little hope everyone clung to would vanish like the daylight. If everyone else got to live, and her death brought peace and ensured order, she almost didn¡¯t mind expending the last trickles of her own mana, firing it into Brendan.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what happens to me at this point. Every second counts, and we don¡¯t have many of those left. If Brendan can use my magic in a way that I cannot, I don¡¯t mind doing this.¡±


    Brendan immediately righted the spell, forcing the devil back into submission as the same magical threads from before began to tear the devil apart once more, scattering pieces of its shadows in the magmatic labyrinth. He knew Mana had transferred her magic to him¡ªa reckless move.


    ¡°I¡¯ll scold you later,¡± he telepathized, ¡°but for right now, thank you. I think I can buy us at least another few seconds. After that, someone, or something, is going to have to keep the devil occupied until Lacia and Aria are done.¡±


    ¡°Now open!¡± Aria shouted.


    A blinding beam of light shot from the halifer as it bisected the front wall of the border gate. Loud groans erupted from a set of ornate doors fabricated by sleek, white marble and pure gold that ornamented the trim. An archway appeared as the doors opened outward, revealing their unique opulence: near the top, winged designs paralleled each other in symmetrical patterns like the flames of a fire. Closer to the bottom, a series of bulb-like designs looped around each other, separated by a thin layer of branching tails that reached for the winged patterns near the top.


    Aria was awestruck. She¡¯d never seen such decadent architecture, much less believed something with such grandeur existed. She reached out, hand gliding across the strangely-warm marble as the doors continued to open.


    ¡°Aria, we¡¯re out of time,¡± Lacia said, noticing her dawdle. ¡°Mana is exhausting herself trying to help keep Brendan¡¯s spell up while you¡¯re just standing there! We should try to help reinforce Brendan¡¯s spell until the doors fully open¡­¡± A thought wormed its way into the front of her brain. ¡°Actually, I have another idea.¡±


    Aria turned around just as Lacia revealed a thin golden thread that had been wrapped around her finger. She reached out, hoping to snatch the thread from her, but Lacia was quick to react, spinning around to avoid her reach.


    ¡°Lacia,¡± Aria cautioned, ¡°Don¡¯t do this. There¡¯s another way. Look how close the doors are to opening,¡± she said shakily. ¡°That thread¡­ You do understand what that means, right?¡±


    Lacia nodded. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I wish there was a better way, but we need magical power we just don¡¯t have. If I¡¯m careful, I¡¯ll only take maybe twenty or so years off my life, I think?¡±


    She tucked a stray lock of platinum hair behind her ear. The thread was small and inconspicuous, visible only under certain light, as she twirled it through the air. A star-shaped outline emblazoned in gold appeared before her, reflecting the same mark on her cheek, as she finished her aerial finger-ballet.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Mana shouted. ¡°That mark on your cheek only glows when you¡¯re doing something stupid. I am so for real right now. I don¡¯t think this is the right thing to do.¡±


    Lacia smiled. ¡°What I should and shouldn¡¯t do really isn¡¯t my decision to make anymore. I wish I¡¯d known how to use this power earlier, and I still want an explanation from you later,¡± she said, glancing back at Aria, ¡°but this is something I would have done a long time ago, anyways.¡±


    ¡°Lacia, you don¡¯t have to be the hero,¡± Aria cautioned. ¡°We can do this toge¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, Aria, we can¡¯t. Our bodies are worn out, and our magic isn¡¯t even a fraction of what it could be. Sadly, there are no other options left. I wish I had more time to settle the confusion in my heart and mind, though.¡± She bit her wrist, drawing blood as she dabbled her fingers in the fresh crimson liquid. Using her blood, she painted a similar star-shaped mark on the ground beneath her feet. ¡°This thread is what allows mana to flow through my veins, what keeps me alive. By painting this mark with my blood, I can increase this spell¡¯s potency. Simply put, if this thread breaks, I die.¡±


    Omnis¡¯ riddle echoed through Mana¡¯s mind. ¡°There were two parts to Omnis¡¯ riddle. The halifer was one, but I also have to find what I cherish most¡ªthat¡¯s you, Lacia. You are key to all of this¡ªto whatever is happening,¡± she pleaded. ¡°You don¡¯t have to end your life just to save ours. I don¡¯t care if that¡¯s selfish, either. You are my light, my anchor¡ªyou are everything to me! Forget the world¡ª¡±


    ¡°Mana,¡± Brendan said sternly, still focusing on the devil, ¡°do you realize that it¡¯s more than just our lives that are at stake here? I know how deeply you care for Lacia, but we have to respect her decision. Given our current circumstances, I don¡¯t we have much room for opinions.¡±


    ¡°This is all so crazy, guys. Mana, I know you¡¯re afraid of losing me again, but if this riddle you¡¯re talking about does include me, you have to realize that, just because I¡¯m important, the riddle likely didn¡¯t say how I¡¯m supposed to perform my role.¡± She gave Mana a teary look. ¡°I¡¯m crying because I¡¯m happy, but I¡¯m not about to just throw my life away for no reason. Trust me.¡±


    ¡°From the sounds of things, if that spell fails, that¡¯s it¡ªno second chances, so I urge you to strongly consider what it is you¡¯re planning to do,¡± Brendan said. ¡°In fact, I think I know exactly what spell you¡¯re about to perform, so let me warn you: if you¡¯re successful, sure¡ªmaybe you lose a few decades on your life, but if you fail, it really does mean death.¡± His voice was grave but sprinkled with hints of concern.


    Before she could attempt to explain the spell, an enormous shadow towered over her, congealing into a man at the base: the devil had broken through Brendan¡¯s spells. Greasy black hair rested against his pale skin as he pushed it out of his face, revealing a set of black irises. He was lanky and looked as if he hadn¡¯t eaten a full meal in weeks, ribs pressing against his bare chest with every breath.


    Lacia stood firm, prepared to activate her spell at any moment. Shadowy tendrils poured from the man, outspreading the floor as they snaked around, eager to pursue any biological entities. If she averted her gaze, she risked losing even the smallest fraction of a second to activate her spell. She could still see the doors opening, gold glinting in her peripherals. Unfortunately, until they were fully open, she would have to put her spell on hold or risk the safety of everyone else.


    ¡°Mana, Brendan¡ª Do what you can to protect Aria. We need those¡ª¡± She quickly covered her mouth with her hands, careful not to leak any further details of the plan. ¡°That doorway will take you to a world that lies on the opposite side of ours. You¡¯ll be safe there,¡± she said telepathically. ¡°But I can only buy you guys a little more time. When those doors are fully open, you need to hurry through!¡±


    The sound of clapping hands refocused Lacia¡¯s attention. ¡°How very noble of you. Lucifero did tell me you had quite the heart,¡± the devil teased. Its disembodied voice felt like needles in her ears. ¡°But this is the beginning of your end. Our meeting will not end like it did with Lucifero for you. Before I kill you and finally steal your powers from you, I should introduce myself¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know who you are,¡± Lacia interrupted, ¡°Ahzef, first seat of the Reverse World. How nice of you to at least come visit me outside of my dreams. I¡¯ll gladly see to it that our meeting ends swift¡ª¡± A hidden tentacle-shaped shadow wrapped itself around her throat, silencing her.


    ¡°Be quiet. You¡¯re talking to King Ahzef of the Reverse World. Know your place, bratty human,¡± the devil seethed.


    Mana broke into an athletic sprint, full speed towards Lacia. ¡°Let her go, you ugly thing! I won¡¯t let you lay another hand on her!¡± A phosphorous ball of magic began to form in the palms of her hands before it abruptly sputtered out.


    ¡°You¡¯re a new face, but you¡¯re pitifully weak if that¡¯s all you can do,¡± Ahzef said, unimpressed.


    A large shadow streaked through the air, preparing to swat her like a bug. Time seemed to slow down, memories flashing through her mind at light speed. Something felt¡­ off, though. Time had slowed. She looked on with distinct curiosity as the shadow plowed into the ground, kicking up shards of concrete; she sidestepped the attack with ease. Ahzef¡¯s movements had grown sluggish and predictable, though the devil had seemingly yet to notice.


    ¡°Do not be foolish, child. You are not capable of inflicting harm upon Ahzef.¡± For the first time since Seria, Omnis¡¯ voice reverberated through her mind, this time a little more forceful. ¡°You are nothing more than fodder to him.¡±


    ¡°Brendan, I¡¯m finished! Get her back before she gets herself killed,¡± Aria shouted, snapping Mana back to reality.


    ¡°Wait¡ª What just¡­ Omnis? And the time¡ª¡±


    ¡°Already on it!¡± he yelled, anticipating Ahzef¡¯s follow-up attack.


    As expected, a flurry of shadows raced towards Mana as they peeled themselves off the ground like stickers. They recoiled, eager to take turns as if she had become the only player in a game of death. How many strikes would it take? One? Two? Maybe three or more? The first shadow sprung towards her before colliding with a wall of white light, subsequently crumbling to dust.


    ¡°What is even happening anymore?¡± she said, thoroughly confused.


    ¡°I should be asking you that!¡± Brendan replied, reprimanding her reckless behavior. ¡°And what was that wall of light just then?¡±


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t you?¡± She could see the sheer rush of adrenaline in his eyes.


    ¡°No. Can you feel the mana in it, though? It feels almost protective, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯d rely upon random strokes of luck, honestly. For your sake, let¡¯s just stick to Plan A before we jump to Plan C.¡±


    Ahzef¡¯s voice boomed through the corridor again. ¡°Come to pay me a visit, have you, dear goddess?¡± the devil beamed. ¡°Either you¡¯re here to watch the slaughter, or you¡¯re here to try and steal my betrothed world from me. Now, I wonder which it could be?¡±


    With a thunderous crash, the doors finally revealed what laid beyond their marble fa?ades: an open field, painted by the occasional tree, filtered through a water-like barrier. It seemed so Earth-like¡ªblue sky, white clouds¡­ but something about it seemed¡­ different. Despite the summer warmth that now overspread the inside of the border gate, a semi-permanent chill hid beneath the warm advection like a bitter aftertaste.


    ¡°Brendan,¡± Aria said, the tiny glimmer of childishness she used to flaunt so endearingly had all but vanished, ¡°I have to keep the doors open for Lacia. If we¡¯re to have any hope at all, you need to take Mana and jump through that portal now. I will do my best to join you once I¡¯ve retrieved Lacia.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad I chose not to kill you yet. This is quite fascinating, don¡¯t you think?¡± Ahzef said playfully. ¡°You¡¯re like ants scurrying beneath my foot, too brainless to do anything but run around in circles.¡± The pressure in the room spiked, forcing everyone¡¯s ears to pop as the sound of marble scraping against concrete began to crescendo. ¡°You will remain here, with your friend and I, while you watch as I pull every bone from her body.¡±


    Flaunting her like some kind of sports trophy, Lacia dangled off the ground, only the tips of her toes making contact with the ground. Though her arms and legs were restrained by shadows, she didn¡¯t seem to mind. In fact, a devilish smirk of her own crossed her face, giving Mana even more reason to worry.


    To make matters worse, the doors they¡¯d all worked so hard, and waited so patiently for, to open had begun to close. Aria didn¡¯t want to look. After all, ignorance was bliss, and she¡¯d used most of the little mana she¡¯d recovered just trying to open them. Opening them again would not be an option. She made a split-second decision, reversing the flow of her magic, allowing the doors to naturally open back towards her once again. In some ways, she¡¯d just become a magical magnet, but Ahzef was able to exert far more power and control than she could, overriding her own magic and control.


    ¡°Do not underestimate her,¡± Aria reassured Mana. ¡°We will be right behind you¡ªnow go!¡± Aria whipped her head around to face Ahzef again, caramel tresses of hair careful not whip her in the face. ¡°This fight is far from over, Ahzef. I hope you know you¡¯ve overlooked one important detail,¡± she taunted joyously.


    Brendan scooped Mana into his arms, looking back at Aria as they ran by. ¡°Turn that devil to ash, Lacia!¡±


    Mana frowned.


    ¡°What? I¡¯m just trying to¡­ lighten the mood a little.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to act all valiant, at least have some worthwhile jokes,¡± she sighed.


    ¡°I left the sigil unfinished for a reason,¡± Lacia thought to herself. ¡°Everyone should be through the portal by the time I cast this, so¡­¡±


    Striking the ground with the tips of her toes, she finished the blood sigil at her feet. She turned her head, watching Ahzef¡¯s cold eyes fight for control over Aria¡¯s magic. She grabbed at her throat, a small blade of light cutting through the shadow that held her in a chokehold. She¡¯d deal with the bleeding gash along her throat later. For now, she¡¯d managed to tear through the shadow, releasing the constriction.


    ¡°You devils talk a lot for such little to show for all the fancy words,¡± she choked. ¡°You¡¯re mine, Ahzef! If I have to get caught up in my own spell, fine, but I¡¯m sending you back to where you belong!¡±


    Aria launched Brendan and Mana through the portal as they vanished with a pwip. ¡°She can¡¯t fight at full power if you¡¯re hanging around,¡± she shouted after them. ¡°You¡¯ll be safe, I swear on my life. Lacia and I will come find you when all is settled.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t forget about me,¡± Licht said as the leyliner flew through the portal after them.


    Aria giggled. ¡°I¡¯ll have to get to know you too, sometime, Licht. Now then¡­¡± An enormous magical energy began to build, harmonizing with Lacia¡¯s own as she took a deep breath. ¡°I once heard a story, Ahzef. Would you like to hear it?¡±


    The devil let out a disembodied bellow. ¡°I have a feeling we will see each other again after this. I was initially interested in skewering you atop my shadows, but now I think I will play this game you have concocted.¡±


    ¡°Unlike you,¡± Aria said, ¡°I have no intention of continuing this ridiculousness with you, but if you insist on not hearing my story, then allow us to end your pursuit of¡ª¡±


    ¡°Me,¡± Lacia finished. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize you, but you seem vaguely familiar, like a dream¡­¡± She gasped. ¡°You¡ª That nightmare!¡±


    The devil raised an inhuman eyebrow. ¡°Oh, so now you recognize me? Perhaps I should have changed my appearance some.¡± Ahzef pondered the idea for a moment. ¡°Well, no matter. My wardrobe change and the Miruna girl¡¯s story can all wait for another time.¡±


    With a concentrated surge of magic, Lacia freed herself from the rest of her restraints, running over to join Aria who looked ready to commit murder. Her eyes gleamed in the dying light of the coals as several new shadows filtered across the floor, attempting to hide in the low light. She watched carefully, examining every flinch, every eyelid flutter, every scattering of dust.


    ¡°Dispel yourselves,¡± she said calmly as the approaching shadows dissipated into fine, dust before completely fading away. ¡°Become nothing as you return to the darkness.¡±


    A look of surprise crossed Lacia¡¯s face. ¡°Spoken magic? I didn¡¯t know you could incite a command like that.¡±


    ¡°Normally, you can¡¯t,¡± Aria said, putting a hand to her head, trying to tamper a roaring headache. ¡°It¡¯s forbidden to use such magic, and there¡¯s supposed to be a permanent block on acquisition of the learning material, but I have my ways.¡±


    ¡°Next, you¡¯ll say something off-brand like ¡®I¡¯m really Santa Clause¡¯ or whatever,¡± Lacia joked. ¡°Ok, but for real though, it¡¯s kind of nice, teaming up with you. Our magic seems to resonate with each other¡¯s. I think, if I can call Hika up, maybe it¡¯ll lend us some additional support.¡±


    She twirled the golden thread from earlier through the air. The end had frayed by a couple of inches since she first revealed it. Just how much of her life would those two inches take? She flicked it like a whip as it expanded in size, battering Ahzef¡¯s feet. It was lighter than air, but the handling felt good; the whip wasn¡¯t too light nor was it small and plasticky¡ªsomething mass-produced and made to sit in a landfill.


    ¡°Once upon a time,¡± she started, ¡°there was a girl¡ªa small girl. She was shy, afraid of the world and everything in it.¡± Ahzef eyed Lacia carefully as she continued to twirl the whip, circling him all the while. ¡°Then, one day, she woke up and had no recollection of who or where she was. All she had been left with was a small, cracked stone that gleamed like a ruby. When she touched it, she became violently ill, barely able to hold her stomach.¡±


    ¡°Where is this going?¡± Aria whispered softly. ¡°We¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fast forward about ten years, and that little girl is now all grown up. Until she, quite unexpectedly, encountered a special boy, she¡¯d accepted the last decade of her life as someone she wasn¡¯t even sure she was.¡± She stopped between Aria and Ahzef, pointing her gaze towards the floor. ¡°Suddenly, her whole life changed again, and she found herself questioning her true identity for the first time in her life. She wept, more than she ever had before. Suddenly,¡± she quickly turned to face Ahzef, ¡°she¡¯s involved in all of this crazy good vs evil, life and death, craziness.¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± the devil growled, frowning.


    ¡°Then, she finds a similar stone to the one she¡¯d received as a child, ultimately leading to her abduction. Still unsure of who she was and why she had suddenly been thrust into an interdimensional conflict, she spent a lot of time thinking, reflecting. But, as the seal that had been placed on her past began to weaken, she realized she wasn¡¯t the only one who had been deceived.¡± She tilted her head towards Aria, smiling. ¡°Can you guess who that little girl was?¡±


    Aria nodded. ¡°Yes, and I¡¯m sure she¡¯s full of anguish, lamenting her blissful ignorance to the reality that she¡¯d tried so hard to discard. As her memories began to return,¡± Aria said, continuing the story, ¡°so too did the memories of another girl, a girl who had experienced untold tragedy, something so life-altering she wanted nothing more than to erase the world and start over.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Lacia continued, ¡°by feeding off of their anguish and sorrows, you sought to exploit the very things that made them human.¡± She changed the subject of the story. ¡°You forced Aria to run unapproved tests on me, all in hopes of also discovering who left the so-called neriolite with me that day, all of those years ago. You¡¯ve been watching us, for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Your tale of tragedy does not interest me,¡± Ahzef said, yawning. ¡°The Miruna girl¡¯s sounded like it had more promise.¡±


    Without warning, Hika¡¯s voice trickled into Lacia¡¯s ears. ¡°Lacia still has much to learn, but you will need Hika¡¯s help. This form not suited for Lacia¡¯s needs.¡±


    ¡°And now, Ahzef,¡± Lacia finished, ¡°we¡¯re going to put an end to whatever crusade you¡¯re on. I don¡¯t care how the neriolite is connected to all of this, or what it is that you want. I just want a normal life back, and the pain I¡¯ve had to endure up to now is unlike anything I thought I¡¯d ever know.¡± She sighed. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m tired of questioning myself, wondering who my real friends are, but most of all¡­ I¡¯m tired of you.¡±


    ¡°I think it is about time we brought this symphony to a close,¡± Hika¡¯s voice called out. ¡°Before I lend you my magic, Miss Illi¡ª Miss Amana, I should explain I can also take the form of a human girl.¡±


    Suddenly, somewhere farther down the corridor, a small light began to grow, faint at first, growing brighter with each passing second. A rhythmic tapping, or maybe it was the click of a shoe, reverberated off the walls.


    A girl appeared amidst a spotlight of luminescent orbs that illuminated her path; she looked like she was about Lacia¡¯s age. The only way she could think of describing her was radiant, but with an air of grace and formidable strength. Delicate waves of green, darker than a rainforest, wove themselves into an elegant gown that seemed to glimmer in the light, enhanced by intricate patterns of golden trim, like vines wrapping around a tree.


    She donned a pair of opaque white stockings, held up by golden ribbons that encircled her thighs. The silken legwear was imbued with the same intricate patterns as the gown, but what shocked Lacia most was her perfectly golden hair. She¡¯d never seen a color so vibrant and lustrous, full of waves that bounced off the midsection of her back like an ocean.


    ¡°And now we know what the tapping sound was,¡± Aria noted, examining her footwear. ¡°I don¡¯t think even I could pull off heels as elegant as those. It¡¯s almost as if they¡¯re made of gold and emeralds. Lacia,¡± Aria hissed, ¡°how long have you known her¡ªHika, I mean? Does she always have flashy entrances like this?¡±


    Noticing the hushed conversation between Lacia and Aria, Hika spoke up. ¡°I only use this form when it is absolutely required of me. My smaller form is quite cramped so,¡± she groaned, stretching, ¡°I think I will remain in this form for a while.¡±


    ¡°But do you always have such flashy entrances?¡± Lacia and Aria asked in unison.


    Startled, she shook her head. ¡°No, but when it comes to a certain group of devils that continue to cause trouble for my princ¡ªfor the ones I am assigned to protect, it is sort of an expected duty. Besides, where would be the fun in fighting the King of the Reverse World in drab clothing?¡± Lacia compiled herself, though Aria remained awestruck. ¡°Aria, was it? I am an aurei. My official duty is to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Protect those of important status¡ªdeemed so by your elders. I¡¯m aware. I just can¡¯t believe aurei can take human form. You¡¯re just so¡­ pretty,¡± she said, mesmerized.


    ¡°Imagine how I feel,¡± Lacia joked, ¡°knowing a whole other being lived inside of me. In fact, think back to about ten minutes ago, and you won¡¯t have to imagine.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Anyways, I assume you two know what I¡¯m planning then, right?¡±


    Aria frowned. ¡°I do, and I still think it¡¯s reckless¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because it is,¡± Hika interrupted.


    ¡°But it¡¯s like I said. I¡¯m ready to do whatever it takes, even if that means my own life gets cut a little short,¡± Lacia confessed.


    ¡°You mean like sixty years short?¡± Hika frowned. ¡°I shall assist however I can, but the spell you are wanting to cast has major implications.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Lacia said, ¡°but if a hihouyo is the only way we finally put an end to what I can only assume is some kind of twisted cycle,¡± she paused for a moment, ¡°I¡¯ll gladly do it.¡±


    ¡°Lacia. You realize what you¡¯re saying, right? You¡¯re basically talking about a death sentence here. I¡¯m not sure the human body could handle something like that. I mean, you¡¯re taking about death, no matter how you spin it, if you go through with this,¡± Aria explained.


    ¡°No, like, I understand that, but everything everyone has worked so hard for, just for my sake, can¡¯t end here.¡± A shrill, but faint, whistle echoed through the corridor as she drew one final blood sigil on the back of her hand. ¡°Before I begin, I should tell you, Aria, that something, way back when we were still on the ship, told me not to trust you. If I¡¯m being honest, I wasn¡¯t sure what to believe.¡± All three sigils began to glow like a crystal in the sunlight. ¡°Knowing how our pasts connect parts of my life that I¡¯d forgotten about together, I¡¯m pretty sure I understand your true colors, now,¡± she smiled.


    Aria narrowed her eyes. ¡°Is this some indirect way of asking me to help you with the hihouyo? Are you absolutely certain this is what you want to do?¡± she asked, shielding her eyes from the prismatic light. ¡°Well,¡± she sighed, ¡°I guess it¡¯s really the only way to make up for how I treated you. ¡­Has this ever been cast by more than one person?¡±


    ¡°Not that I know of, but my mind is still a bit hazy. I¡¯m glad you could read between the lines, though. I really didn¡¯t want to just outright ask you,¡± Lacia laughed awkwardly.


    Aria gave a weak smile. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s the least I can do for my best friend.¡±


    ¡°I think we have some catching up to do before we go back to the whole best friends thing,¡± Lacia admitted. ¡°Let¡¯s take it slow and enjoy our time over tea or something when we¡¯re done here.¡± Aria nodded.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re done saying goodbye, I should tell you that your little spell won¡¯t work on me. You¡¯re wasting your time. In any other scenario, perhaps you might have the advantage, but your mind is not as walled-off as you believe it to be,¡± Ahzef snickered. ¡°It¡¯s such a shame, truly. I was really starting to have a little fun.¡±


    ¡°Sorry to disappoint, then,¡± Lacia half-apologized. ¡°If you¡¯d spent any time in my head, you¡¯d realize there¡¯s more to this spell than you think,¡± she lied.


    ¡°Is that right? Let me offer you some advice, then: don¡¯t be the hero. All I am after is the two of you¡ªnot even the aurei interests me. If you¡¯re not careful, little Lacia, you could very well be the thing that destroys everything you¡¯ve worked so hard to protect. Or, rather, what everyone else has tried to protect.¡± Devilish laughter bounced off the walls, poisoning the air. With an abrupt snap, the lights were dispelled once more.


    ¡°You have no power here, Ahzef,¡± Hika said calmly. Golden rays of light clashed against the devil¡¯s steely shadows as she unleashed a wave of magisterial starlight. Her hair erupted into a flurry of golden waves as she moved, locked in a fierce battle between dark and light. Ahzef¡¯s shadows were quickly burnt away. ¡°You should heed your own warning, dear King,¡± she said.


    The light was blinding, forcing Lacia and Aria to shield their eyes, but everything was still on track despite the surprise that was Hika. The spell could be activated at a moment¡¯s notice, though it seemed she was attempting to buy more than a few minutes of time. The hihouyo was a last-resort and, of course, forbidden magic. Still, Hika hadn¡¯t explained what happened if the spell was successful¡ªjust that it was inevitable death if it failed, according to Brendan. If Lacia defied the odds, who would reprimand her for using forbidden magic? What was the punishment? A slap on the wrist? Of course she didn¡¯t want to use something that took sixty years off of her life in exchange for overwhelming power, but what other options were there?


    A look of astonishment crossed Lacia¡¯s face. ¡°Surprised?¡± Hika asked. ¡°I am capable of quite a bit more, but we can save the finer details for another day, like I said.¡± A wall of shadows rolled over her before she could say more, momentarily masking her golden light. ¡°Have you no manners, devil? I was enjoying learning more about my¡­ Well, maybe I shouldn¡¯t spoil things just yet.¡± A golden prism of light dispelled the shadows, embellishing the corridor in even brighter, ethereal light. ¡°Are you, perhaps, upset that I didn¡¯t greet you for the first time in¡ª How long, now? Three hundred years?¡±


    Ahzef chuckled. ¡°You always show up when it¡¯s least convenient. Never mind the minor hiccup, however. I will wipe you from existence this time, Hika. Mark my words.¡± A canine-like sneer spread across his face.


    Overwhelming surprise filled Hika¡¯s face. ¡°Lacia, are you almost ready? Ahzef is much weaker than I had anticipated.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the impression I got,¡± Aria thought. She looked over to Lacia who seemed just as confused. ¡°No¡­ She knows what¡¯s going on. It¡¯s a bluff!¡±


    ¡°If you are looking for an escape, your only hope is the hihouyo. I have my doubts that it will do enough to eliminate him, but it should wound him,¡± Hika telepathized as she engulfed Lacia and Aria in a bubble of fluorescent light; it shimmered like gold, but its composition was like that of a normal soap bubble.


    ¡°How are things coming, Aria?¡± Lacia asked, nervously. ¡°God only knows how we¡¯ve been fortunate enough to stall for so much time,¡± she said quietly, watching as Hika continued to spar with Ahzef.


    ¡°I just need a little more time,¡± she said, a fresh cut across her hand dripping with blood. ¡°I only have the blood sigils left.¡±


    Lacia nodded. ¡°Tell me, Ahzef,¡± she shouted, buying more time, ¡°what is it that the Reverse World is after? What exactly is it you want with me, specifically?¡± A fiery blade arced through the room, shrouded in shadow, tearing through the border gate¡¯s support columns as cracks formed in the ceiling. ¡°I¡¯m not anything special,¡± she said warily. ¡°What is it you gain from such a reckless appearance such as this?¡±


    ¡°What do I have to gain?¡± Ahzef boomed with laughter. ¡°By destroying your world and reforming it to suit my needs, not even your goddess will be able to stop me. I will devour every last world and absorb their dimensional energies.¡± The cracks in the concrete continued to grow larger as they raced down the walls. ¡°This just so happened to be my latest stop, but I will admit¡ª I did not expect to encounter such resistance! This has been thrilling!¡±


    Lacia glanced back at Aria, close to finishing her final sigil. ¡°We can¡¯t take another attack like that last one or this whole room will come down on top of us.¡±


    Time sped by, challenging the breakneck speeds of a bullet train. Adrenaline pumped through her veins unrestricted as her brain absorbed the chemical influx without hesitation. She didn¡¯t know how much more time Aria would need, but the minutes passed like seconds.


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®goddess¡¯? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, nor do I believe in such things,¡± Lacia replied. ¡°Just because devils exist doesn¡¯t mean the opposite is also true.¡±


    The air shifted as a wind blew from somewhere behind her, cold, but filled with such apathy she thought she was going to be sick. It was almost as if she could feel Ahzef¡¯s surprise, considering her response.


    ¡°Perhaps you don¡¯t know, but I suppose it doesn¡¯t really matter one way or the other, does it? Once I¡¯ve sapped away every last ounce of your magic, your very life itself, your powers will be mine¡ªthat wonderful little gift of yours. Before I do kill you, and I get rid of this annoying aurei, I think it would be fun to watch the horror spread across your face as I crush Aria¡¯s organs into bloody pulps.¡±


    ¡°Hey now, there¡¯s no need to drag things out with me.¡± A small quiver had entered Aria¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m really not a fan of that¡­¡±


    ¡°Lacia,¡± Hika telepathized, ¡°Ahzef is very prideful. Boast about how strong he is. Once Aria is ready, I will give the final instructions on how to maximize the effectiveness of the hihouyo.¡± Lacia nodded.


    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s maybe do the organ crushing thing later,¡± Lacia offered, ¡°but what I really want to know is how you became so strong. I know you¡¯re a devil, but that human form you have must be holding you back, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to go whenever you are, Lacia,¡± Aria whispered in her ear. ¡°This might kill us, but if it doesn¡¯t, Ahzef will, so,¡± she moved away from her ear, placing a hand on her shoulder, ¡°I want you to know how selfish it was of me, forgetting about the friendship we once had, and I¡¯m sorry about how I treated you. I cast away a part of myself after I lost my parents.¡±


    Ahzef droned on about his power and admirability in the background, forgetting what he had originally come to do, flattered by Lacia¡¯s shallow compliments. Aria rolled her eyes, annoyed by the devil¡¯s blabbering.


    ¡°Anyways, that confused look on your face tells me we still have a lot of catching up to do¡ªmaybe more than I expected. If we make it out of this alive, I¡¯d love to hear all about how life has been.¡±


    Lacia locked her in a tight hug. ¡°Sounds good, Aria. I can¡¯t wait!¡±


    The portal behind them began to flicker as the doors continued to close, scraping against the concrete. The spell couldn¡¯t wait any longer; it was kill or be killed. If the hihouyo failed, Ahzef would devour everything, leaving behind a world of chaos; despair would prevail, and order would fall into disarray.


    ¡°Time always seems to work against us, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Lacia noted. ¡°We¡¯re ready now, Hika.¡±


    ¡°Place the hand you drew the sigil on and press your palm onto the blood sigil you painted on the floor. You must channel all of your mana into them, but you must give something in return for casting such a spell,¡± she explained. ¡°Your life threads will be severely shortened by this.¡±


    A resounding slap echoed through the corridor as Lacia and Aria pressed their palms to the floor, surrounded by chunks of falling concrete as the border gate finally began to crumble. The sigils melded together, forming a constellation of makeshift stars as they reveled beneath the replicated starlight, blazing with a luminescent brilliance.


    ¡°Repeat after me,¡± Hika started: ¡°I offer my life to the ones I love, and to the things I have vowed to protect. I call upon the great who have perished to grant me their power. I offer my life if I may be deemed a failure in my mission to incapacitate the evil before me. Though I may fail, I understand that I have chosen this path, and I will carry out my duty until the end.¡±


    Lacia and Aria repeated the chant, the bubbles surrounding them fading as every last ounce of magical energy was drawn into the sigils. A golden thread, similar to the one Lacia had twirled around earlier, appeared above their heads. They watched as a tiny flame dwindled away much of what remained of their lives, as if it were bound to a fuse, leaving the threads blackened and charred.


    ¡°We¡¯ve made our choice,¡± Lacia said. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate those who¡¯s wills are stronger than yours, Ahzef,¡± she challenged.


    Hika grabbed Lacia and Aria¡¯s hands. ¡°It was a pleasure getting to meet both of you finally. This is as far as I can go. The rest is up to you now,¡± she said, beaming with joy. ¡°You are already aware of how to cast the remainder of the spell.¡± She placed a hand above her breasts. ¡°Lacia, I do not know what will happen after this, but so long as you are alive, I will be with you, always. Aria, you are peculiar. In time, you will understand more about yourself and your powers as well.¡± She waved goodbye before vanishing into a golden mist.


    ¡°Always with me, huh? I have so many questions I still need answered, so let¡¯s try not to kill ourselves here,¡± Lacia joked. ¡°Forgive me for being clich¨¦, but it¡¯s all or nothing. Are you ready?¡±


    Aria struggled to stifle her laughter. ¡°¡­Yeah. I have just as many questions, and we still have that tea date, so no dying on me, either. Got it?¡±


    ¡°Mm! Here goes.¡±


    Ahzef lunged forward, accompanied by hordes of shadows, glaring eyes peering through the darkness as if the shadows were alive. Smoky fingers crept along the ground, concrete dissolving into dust, as they overtook everything in their path. Without Hika¡¯s light, the final dying embers from the fire extinguished themselves, unable to survive the decay of oxygen and lack of kindling. A moment later, the remaining coals had been reduced to dust¡ªeven the smallest of cinders erased from existence. True darkness settled into the corridor, unabated as it consumed everything. Reality began to distort as if it were being stretched by an immense gravitational force.


    ¡°Just as I devour everything in this small space, so, too, will I devour the rest of your world. You cannot hope to change the tide of this battle, not without the other princess,¡± Ahzef hissed, words seeping out of his mouth like a sludge. ¡°Once I¡¯m finished here, I will pay the rest of your friends a visit as well!¡±


    A slow chant rose into the air as Lacia and Aria finalized the remainder of the spell. An orange glow cascaded down the walls like a waterfall of color, overrunning the shadows. Patches of grass and flowers bloomed in its wake, restoring what Azhef had destroyed. What had been a pit of black and despair was now a flourishing field of beauty, embellished with a magical warmth. Nothing remained of the border gate, in part destroyed by Ahzef, as the light pooled beneath the girls¡¯ feet, eagerly rushing into their bodies.


    ¡°Ablaze with the hopes of those who have departed and those who await salvation, we accept the exchange of our lives to banish those which sorties with evil. May this spell become a beacon of light for all who desire it. Within our hearts is a blossoming flame, one that will now perform this extravagant dance¡­¡±


    A gleaming incandescence eviscerated Ahzef¡¯s remaining shadows, etching black stains into the ground. Radiance bathed the sky in a searing blaze of heat and fire. Bellows of agony and curses were shredded in the blistering flare. Hellish temperatures incinerated everything caught within the spell¡¯s radius. The remaining concrete rubble liquified, dripping like molten rock as it plopped onto the ground with an exaggerated hiss. Earthquakes radiated through the earth, shaking cities miles away as a plume of smoke and fire shot into the sky, filling the atmosphere with ash and latent heat.


    What had been an icy hellscape of snow and ice was reduced to liquid, the blast of the hihouyo leaving a crater that stretched further than the horizon. Water poured into the newly formed basin, connecting the land to the sea. The smell of super-heated salt lingered in the air as night became day.


    Standing tall amidst the chaos they now paid tribute to, the interdimensional doors were wide open again, but the portal was gone¡ªonly an empty slate of white lingered, colors washed out by the blazing iridescence of the sky.


    Water began to rush over the burn that now blighted the earth, preparing to drown the secrets of the devils and other worlds. Ahzef, however, was nowhere to be seen. Whether he had fled or was expunged from existence remained a mystery. Regardless, the commotion of celebration was just as absent; Lacia and Aria were also nowhere to be found, now lost in a world mired by uncertainty and volatility.