Mia finds herself floating alone in a massive dark space. The void slowly encroaches on what is left of her mind, eroding it bit by bit. She knows she is dying, the fight she had been in… forever ago it feels to her, has taken its toll, and it is still not sated. She’d cry, if she could, but here in this dark endless cold, the tears do not come. Though really, she knows it is because she has no body.

  Her body is still somewhere else, somewhere where there is warmth. She can feel the occasional trickle of it enter her, but it is not enough, it is far from enough to stave off the inevitable. She floats there for what feels like aeons. Aeons of loneliness, of dying. So when another presence makes itself known, she believes it to be a fiction, conjured by her imagination. A dying dragon’s delusion, to ease her into the end.

  The presence though, very quickly makes it clear that it is not, in fact, a fiction. It fills the void and drives away the cold, the darkness remains though. But even then, Mia knows that she has at least a semblance of agency for the moment.

  Her body twists into a sitting position, though there is no up or down in this place, she is not a tangled mess of broken limbs anymore. Amusement would elicit a chuckle from her if she could, but it seems her spirit only has its limbs, and then some, but no tear ducts or lungs. In this place, she instead has wings and a tail.

  The lack of lungs obviously makes talking hard, so she remains silent, waiting for the visitor to initiate conversation, in hopes of gleaming a way to communicate. “You are doing quite fine, young dragon.” The voice is vast and encompassing, filling the entire space. “Just direct your thoughts outward, and I will hear. But it is best if you just listen, for the moment.” Listening is painful, but there is little she can do about it, instead, Mia sends her acknowledgement outward towards the other presence.

  Then, everything shifts again, and Mia finds herself floating in front of an orb. It takes her a moment to realize that it is a small representation of her own world. It is lush with green and blue for the most part, but there is something that stands out. A few tiny little dots moving at a snail’s pace across its surface.

  She continues to observe for a long moment, before the voice speaks once more. “This world you, we, are from. It is young. And yet, it is so different to the other worlds out there.” It feels to Mia like she is missing some context, like she is only hearing a tiny fraction of a larger conversation, but she listens regardless. “The Genesis that came to this world was… different. Corrupt, some may say. It did things in ways it should not have, but it was also subtle about it.” Mia’s perspective shifts again to a view of a large constellation. It branches and branches, but at the center is a singular familiar black mass. “All magic originates from it, but no one knows it. Even the old fools know plenty little about magic. They pride themselves on their power, on their unity with the magic. But they have succumbed to it, they have given up their true self.”

  Mia’s perspective shifts back to the planet, but much more detailed this time. She knows that the dots she is looking at are Ada and Naya, people she knows. “I wish I could tell you more, little dragon. But… the others will not take kindly to my meddling when they find out, they see it as a perversion. I’ve already done much more than I should, but I can not let this chance go. For now, this world still remains hidden from their sight. But it won’t forever, and once they find it, find us…” The being trails off at those words, the implication is clear to Mia. “They only thirst for one thing, and that is power. They do not care about the truth, about the Genesis. They will not stop to consider anything once they come, it will just be another world laid to waste.”

  Silence hangs in the void for a long moment, before the voice continues. “Our time draws to a close. You may ask one question of me, before I must send you back. I wish I could explain more, but this is as much as I can tell you.”

  Mia considers her question for a few moments, asking about details would be pointless, clearly, so instead, her question is more personal. “Who, or what, are you?” She can sense amusement filling the entire space they occupy, and a moment later she feels herself drawn towards one of the tiny dots she’d been observing. She’s drawn towards Ada. Her consciousness slips and warps until her surroundings change once more. A forest, Ada running through it, Naya next to her, they do not know she is there, not yet. She knows she can gather their attention and talk, but it will take a lot out of her.

  She considers what to do, and how she even ended up here, how she knows she can talk to them, when a small fragment enters her mind, just a few words of someone, something she has met, but has already forgotten. “A caring wife.” And then like a lingering echo. “Make sure she reaches the grove, it is your only hope.” There are more fragments, she knows they are there, of a moment in time long ago and that has yet to happen. An odd juxtaposition to her, but it matters little, the fragments do not wish to be known, not yet. They are there, waiting. Some of them are close, barely out of reach, and she knows she will know them soon. Others are still far, a weight behind them that feels oppressive.

  Her attention turns back to Ada and Naya, she has clearly missed a lot during her moment of distraction. Mia watches the two of them break camp and start on their journey through the forest again. Ada’s hurt, she notices, part of one of her tails is missing, but it’s already healing up again, little bit by little. Though the injury seems to impede her little as the two of them dive into a massive river and swim across. A small hint of amusement goes through Mia when she notices that Naya is slower than Ada. It’s rare for them to be slower than anyone, but Ada seems quite at home underneath the surface.

  She continues to watch them for a while longer, they’re left alone for the most part, only encountering a little obstacle when they come across the territorial markings of a branchsnapper hydra. The two of them take a bit of a detour around its territory. Naya could’ve defeated it easily, but the fight would’ve been rather drawn out, branchsnapper hydras aren’t exactly easy to take down thanks to their heavy armor and latent regenerative abilities.

  The day carries on for a while before things change again, Ada is the second to notice, almost at the same time as Mia does. The magic is different, in a way that is obviously new to Ada as she comes to a halt. That’s when Naya also notices the slight change. Mia, however, is familiar with this sensation, she has encountered it before. In the wilds, far away from “civilization”, out there… out here, things are different. Older, sometimes, than they should be. Sometimes there sometimes not, the rules of the world have changed since the genesis, and those ruins are part of it. She debates with herself for a moment, a moment that seems frozen in time as neither Ada or Naya move. Eventually, she draws to a conclusion. “Ada, Naya.” She calls out to the two of them, her voice an echo in the fabric of reality.

  “Ada, Naya.” The voice fills our minds just after we notice a change in our surroundings, a shift in the ambient magic. I am startled for a moment, before I realize who’s voice it is, it’s one I have grown used to recently.

  As I am gathering myself and trying to figure out what to say, Naya starts to speak already. “Mia? Is that you? How?” They seem on guard, eyes flitting around, scanning our surroundings. Their concern is obvious, and this is clearly not a normal situation. Mia is a long distance away from here, after all.

  “Yes. I am sorry I can’t talk much.” I feel a presence that wasn’t there before shifts its attention onto me. I am fairly certain that it is Mia, and not something else, but I remain cautious for the moment. “I am not sure about the how, but it has to do with Anya, I think. She wanted to make sure you get where you need to.” There is a long pause between Mia’s words before she continues. “Follow the sensation. The ruins… they’ll help.” Her voice is already beginning to fade again.

  “Mia! I’ll make sure to save you!” An adoring feeling floods me for a short moment, before it too fades away and the presence becomes muted once more. I turn my eyes towards Naya, they’ve relaxed by now, but are still slightly on guard.

  They step up towards me and look in the direction we are sensing the magic from. “Well, that was something… I’m not sure whether to trust her. We don’t know if that really was her, or something else. But… you’re the one who’s dead wife is talking to her, and that seems to have connected Mia to us here.” They look at me expectantly.

  I nod at them and consider for a moment. “That… felt like Mia. She’s still here, I think, just very muted. And… she said the ruins are going to help? I don’t see any, but if they’re connected to this different magic… I kind of want to check them out anyway. So, I say we trust that it is her.” I speak with a conviction that isn’t necessarily all there, but if there is one thing I know, it’s that neither Mia nor Anya would lie to me. “And I want to talk to her more. She said something about Anya… I have to know what happened.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Naya considers me for a bit before nodding and stepping forwards. “Let’s go then. If it comes to a fight, make sure not to get more injured. Your tail’s still healing up, more wounds are just going to slow down the process.” I flicker my understanding at her and we begin to move once more.

  It doesn’t take long before the faint change in ambience becomes more prominent. The magic feels different, not wrong, but like it is from elsewhere, somewhere older and more. Naya doesn’t seem to notice the shift as clearly as I am, but their mannerism slightly shifts too, they’re on edge, keeping their eyes peeled. And yet, the further we go, a sense of serenity starts to engulf us, the serene presence of something ancient that has stood the test of time. It’s only when Naya silently points it out to me that I notice that the plant life around us has changed too, plants I have never seen before. Expected for me, but not for Naya.

  When we finally lay eyes on it, we both stop in our tracks. These ruins are different, I am hard pressed to even call them ruins. It resembles a small mansion, but it is formed from the very vegetation itself. The primary material making up the abode is a strange tree, a tree that has light blue glowing veins running all over its bark. Then, there’s the vines and moss that seem to make up the walls. It’s a natural design, there’s no crude edges or unnatural smoothness to the curves.

  The entrance inside is a curtain of vines, Naya pushes them aside as they lead the way for us. We’re met with a furnished room, though unlike furniture we are familiar with, this is grown from the very house itself. It’s a strange sight, on one hand, there are clear signs of the place not having been used for a long time; there’s vines and moss growing across places where they seemingly shouldn’t be. But even then, the majority of it is still intact.

  I push aside the curtain towards another room as excitement starts to build in me. This place is new, so different, and ancient. It’s obviously not human in origin. I step into the new room, a rather large bathroom it would seem, most of it taken up by a bath. The bath, too, is formed out of plants, but instead of many vines and moss forming it, it seems to be part of the tree itself, the trunk having formed it.

  Naya does not follow me, they’re probably exploring other parts, confident in our safety now that we’re here. An assessment I have to agree with, I do not sense any malice or any other presences besides the faint lingering of Mia. The main difference to before is the magic and the plants.

  Eventually, I step back out of the bathroom and go to find Naya. I find them exploring what seems to be a bedroom. Though instead of beds, there are hammocks formed by giant leaves. Stepping up next to them I grab their attention. “Mia said she’d be able to talk more, but her presence is still weak.” Naya turns to me and thinks for a moment before replying.

  “She might need a moment, it can’t be easy on her. Mia, are you there?” Their voice does not echo in the room, but it seems to echo in our minds as Mia’s presence becomes stronger. It’s an odd sensation, but not uncomfortable.

  It takes a long few moments before Mia’s presence stabilizes, it is still relatively weak, but she is here. “I’m sorry, earlier took more out of me than I thought. This place helps for now though.” Her voice still has the same quality to it as before, but she seems more confident now. “You probably have a lot of questions, and I’ll try to answer what I can, but… I don’t know much myself.”

  I flicker my understanding before I speak. “You… mentioned my wife earlier. I’d like to know, is she okay? How did you meet here? Where did you meet her?” My concern for Mia’s well being is still present, but if she talked to my wife, then I must know.

  “Yes, I think I have. I am faint on the details, most of them seem to be locked away, but I know that it was her. She… wanted to make sure you reach the place she has shown you. Said it’s my only hope. There’s more I don’t quite remember. A vast darkness, and a presence just as vast. I think that was her.” There’s a faint change in her presence for a moment before she continues. “She told me many things, that much I know, but most of it is beyond my consciousness for now. But I do know that she cares; about you… us… everything. I think. There was a sense of approaching danger, but I am not sure what that is. Just that it is beyond us for now.”

  Neither Naya nor I speak for a moment, taking in Mia’s words. This means that my wife is alive… somewhere, doing something. And from the sounds of it, it is important. I resolve myself to find her, to help her with this danger… once I can. She’d be livid if I were to throw my life away, and it is clear that she knows more than me, that she has plans and is stirring us in the right direction.

  As I am lost in thought, I almost miss it when Naya speaks. “I can’t say much on the last bit, but if her wife, if you are sure that we should follow her guidance, then we shall. There is clearly much we do not know, but for the moment, it is our best lead. Also…” They glance at me, making sure I pay attention. “We’ll be taking more hunting opportunities. If there truly is a looming danger, then we must be prepared.” They pause for a moment in thought before continuing. “How come you have an easier time reaching us here? It is clear this place is different, but I want to know the why and how. And how we can make sure you can stay with us, at least to some extent.” My attention is peaked at that line of questioning. I’d be very happy if we can manage to have Mia with us, even if she is not here in person, having her around to talk to would assuage my worries at least a little.

  There is an agonizingly long moment of silence before Mia speaks again. “There is a way, yes. But, I am not clear on the details yet. Anya gave them to me, but there is a… veil, in between it and me. It’s slowly leaking through, but the knowledge is not complete yet. We should talk for now. As for why this place allows me to be more present; the barrier between worlds is weaker here. From my understanding this place did not originate on our own planet, and it will not necessarily stay here forever. That is also why my presence takes less energy to maintain.” I can feel her attention focus more onto me. “Little one, I am sorry for what happened. I… did not think the curse would take as much of a toll on me as it did. Even now I can feel my body is slowly fading away, so, thank you. Thank you for taking me to the others, for making sure I am safe. And thank you for trying to help me.” I can feel her smile, despite not being able to see her.

  “Of course! I care about you, you’re my friend! So of course I take care of you!” There is a small giggle from Naya, but I ignore them for the moment. “You protected me too, helped me when we didn’t even know each other… I just wish we could’ve spent more time with each other. Hopefully you can learn what we need! I don’t want to leave you behind again.” Displeasure flickers across my skin at the thought.

  I feel a sense of care fill our surroundings. “Of course, I wish for the same. I’ve quite enjoyed our time together, so I hope we can extend it as much as we can… if… you can’t make it to the grove then…” She stops herself from continuing as a sense of sadness suffuses us. She stays silent for a while until I finally flicker my curiosity. “It doesn’t matter, not right now. For now, we shall work off of the assumption that you do make it back in time. There is little point in being sad over the things that have yet come to pass. And if what I have learnt from Anya is correct, then what we shall find there, might even be the key to breaking this curse.” There is still a sense of sadness in her presence, but it is now interlaced with hope. There’s also still a trace of care present, the same as before, and yet there is a trace of something else. I have a guess as to who or what it is from, but it disappears before I can mention it.

  While I am still stuck on the other presence, Naya continues the conversation with Mia. “Break the curse? You’ve been looking for a way to do that for centuries now. I don’t want to kill your excitement, but what makes you think this one will work?”

  Mia is quiet for a short moment before answering. “Well, I wouldn’t call it a hunch, more like, a premonition? Anya has told me a lot, most of which I can’t remember in full, or at all right now. I just know that it has happened. One of those things, that I do remember partially, is about the grove. I don’t know the details, but it is the key to breaking the curse. The information seems to be reluctant, only slowly feeding into my mind in ways I can understand. And there is this feeling of something… vast, in the background. It’s very muted right now, but I think that is why I don’t remember everything, it is too much.” Naya just nods at the empty air then looks around the room.

  Naya shakes their head, their voice a bit more gruff than usual. “Right. Can’t say I am exactly a fan of some stranger apparently having the ability to manipulate our memories and our minds to such an extent. But, anyway, talking to you is nice, but not having anything concrete that is you, no form or anything, is slightly unsettling. Any idea whether you can fix that, or anything? And how about keeping you around?” Naya is hard to get a good read on for me, their thoughts don’t fully make sense to me. Anya is my wife, so why would they distrust her? Sure, the knowledge was a bit weird at first, but no different to what my own magic has done! And why is Mia not having a body unsettling? While I’d like her to have one, I am also just happy that she’s here with us!

  “Keeping you around would be nice, Mia! I miss you!” I bounce up and down a little, a pattern of excitement and anxiety interlacing on my skin.

  The presence around us warms a little, like Mia is happy we want her around. “Right, yes. I… some of it has continued to come back to me, it’s a bit of a process. Little one, you’ll need to figure out how you absorbed that storage ring I gave you, because we’ll need you to do it again.”

  The patterns on my skin lean further towards the excitement part now as I hear her words. I get to experiment with my new powers, with my magic! “Alright! Just, tell me what to do and I’ll try to figure it out!” Naya shoots me a grin as amusement fills Mia’s presence and we get to work.

  bluesky, and on !

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