by J E Mueller
Something clicked thinking about the nicknames, and a small sense of dread came over me. I turned to look at the door, and took the two remaining steps to shut it firmly as I turned back to the water lady.
“I don’t remember much, but if I remember right, you’re important here.” I stared at her for a long second. “You’re one of the Creators?”
Marella nodded. “More or less. Sadly, for the moment, less. I’m not fully here.”
“You’re trapped in an artifact?” I wondered aloud. “If so, how are you here?”
“It is very difficult for magic of my own kind to trap me here. I am a little different than the other Creators.” She smirked. “So, while I can’t entirely break myself free, I can still be out and active enough to keep at least a small semblance of balance.”
Ah, so the remaining balance was purely thanks to a plan gone wrong. “What happened?”
She shook her head. “Being bound by them prevents me from giving too many details, but when I get free… or really any of us, someone can provide details.”
Everyone wanted freedom, while I understood the urge, I wasn’t sure where to go from here. At least she wasn’t demanding like the fog. “This may sound weird, but can you tell me if it was some sort of fog that did this to you?”
She shook her head. “It was not a fog, now that I can say.”
“Well, how would one free you?”
She looked thoughtful. “I can’t quite get the words out, but, you could do it.”
“But you can’t say how exactly.” I just wanted to scream. There was a piece of the puzzle here, within grasp, and something magical preventing it from reaching me. “Okay, cool… So you said you’re only partly here… Where are you trapped exactly?”
Marella stared off into the distance for a long moment. “It was a cruel trick. For the most part artifacts are just hidden or scattered. What these fools did was give them to Dreamers and then killed them, effectively hiding them. Not mine however, since I was too much of a problem for them.” She smirked at me. “It’s attached to a large winged creature, something bat-like I think. It occasionally flies about so it’s location is always changing. I can feel it moving.”
“Oooh, that’s really clever and evil.” I was surprised with how brilliant the planning there was.
“Agreed.” Marella gave a tired sigh. “It was a well thought out idea for sure, and there’s no easy way to get locations to someone. I can sense the others if my artifact gets close enough to them.”
I nodded. “I found one of you.” I waved my wrist, the bracelet lightly shining in the dim light of the room.
“I cannot sense them, who are they?” Marella asked curiously.
I cannot sense them either and do not know if I trust them.
Of course, nothing would be that simple. “Since your artifact is away they cannot sense you either and do not trust you.”
Marella narrowed her eyes on the bracelet. “If I had my guess that would be entirely Lydia, however, I suppose we can work something out, something only I would know.”
It was just a lucky guess.
I wasn’t sure how to react to that statement. “Well, what do you know that only they would know? Or whatever works?”
“I never spoke to her outside of graveyards until after she was eighteen,” Marella said confidently, a coy smile playing across her face.
Well, that’s true. Hmmm. Tell her I still don’t trust her.
I wondered who this ‘her’ was but played messenger instead. “She still doesn’t trust you.”
“We don’t have time for this, Lydia,” Marella stated sharply. “We need a plan to find the others and I’ve got one if you don’t.”
How rude! Of course, I have a plan. A bard is always prepared.
“She has a plan I guess.” I shrugged. “Will someone tell me the plan?” I was not enjoying this go between game.
We need to awaken the gift.
“What does that even mean?” I grumbled, wishing I could glare at this Lydia person.
Marella gave a small laugh. “She wants to awaken the gift, doesn’t she?” When I nodded she continued. “That is a good idea, except you’re tainted.”
“What?” I scoffed. “What does that even mean?”
Marella shook her head. “They, the angels and demons, have gotten their talons in you. Not very firmly, but since you are so receptive, they have gotten into your head.” Marella tilted her head to the side for a moment. “Maybe this fog you mentioned is them.”
“I can believe that.” I had no problems agreeing there.
“We’ll have to close off that receptiveness first. It will hurt.” Marella walked over, her steps slightly above both water and land. “Lydia, since you’re so attached, will you do the honors?”
She just doesn’t want to look like the bad guy here, Lydia grumbled at me.
“Just someone do this so we can move on,” I complained tiredly. “I haven’t had any decent sleep with them invading my dreams.”
As you wish.
A tingling sensation rippled from my fingertips and toes quickly upward through my body and into my head until a blinding pain pierced my skull. The pain was intense, too much so to cry out. I felt myself drop to my knees, and even though I had closed my eyes, lights danced in front of them.
Then it was gone.
Not a shred of pain remained but something felt different. Something felt… Solid. I glanced around the room remembering various games I played here as a kid. The information was too much to sort through, but I knew for a fact I made the right choice.
Whatever was with the fog, it seemed as if it were repressing my memories. Things were easily flowing back. Finally, things were making sense without all the extra effort. I looked back at Marella and knew if we had Lydia that meant we were on the right track. We needed to find the main Creators, and if I remembered correctly that was Tella and Dani. There were others with that title, but they didn’t have the same abilities. We still would need to find them all in the end. I was ready for this.
I looked Marella in the eyes. “So, we’re missing Dani and Tella then,” I stated, pulling myself back to my feet.
“There’s my girl.” Marella smirked.
Oh good. That helped with the memories.
“They must have been interfering with what you remembered for a while now. I’m ashamed we never noticed sooner.” Marella’s smile faltered for a moment before she shook her head. “No matter. It’s resolved now. Though I would be careful with these new found memories. I am unsure what damage those angel and demon creatures have done.”
And I fully agree with those statements. Heavens, how did they slip all this past us?
I had a feeling I knew. “Maybe they weren’t clever, maybe just desperate enough to slowly leak themselves into dreams of those they could. If they have powers enough to somehow trap you, I’m sure they could have powers enough to make someone broken or damaged forget.” Not that I wanted to admit to being damaged, but that accident that killed Mother and nearly took us as well did hurt me for some time. These creatures didn’t have power in my world, just in this realm. Hopefully, it would stay that way.
That was an angel trick, messages in dreams for the least amount of interference, Lydia sighed tiredly to me.
“What an annoying thought. Sounds like angel nonsense. Those darn creatures.” Marella gave a few more choice curses before continuing. “We need to make sure this lockdown on their ability to contact you worked, and you’ll have some memories to process before we can continue.”
“What? That’s it?” I asked, surprised she wasn’t more desperate to be free.
“As much as things need to be done quickly, we cannot rush this. Rest. Bring me back word of any problems. If you sense those who should not be in your head or your dreams we need to know right away.”
Sadly, she is right.
“Do try to keep her safe Lydia.” Marella stared at the bracelet for a moment.
Like
I haven’t been trying all along.
Some advice on how to kill things would help.
Envision them in your mind as clearly as possible. I am not your eyes, but I can see things if you let me in your mind.
Not weird at all. Nope. I would just have to accept this. “Until tomorrow then.” I nodded at Marella and turned to the door.
“They will quickly know we’ve blocked them if this works,” Marella stated, her tone stern. “They may send someone to hurt you if they think we’re making any progress.”
I nodded and turned to face her once more. “They’ve killed others if I’ve heard correctly.”
“I have no doubt of that. The demons and angels will do anything to get free. Even if it means being forced to work together.” Marella warned.
“Why can’t they be free? I’m sure there’s a good reason, but I don’t know it.”
“Lydia can give you the full story. Now go and rest.” Marella waved me off as she took several steps backward and vanished into a puddle.
Taking that as my cue to go, I left and started to slowly make my way back to the common room, carefully navigating and checking corners to make sure I didn’t run into anything or anyone. I wondered what the story with these other creatures was.
I certainly can tell you, and it is a long one to tell. The basics of it are that the angels and demons destroyed their homeworlds and were fighting over our realm. They used humans as pawns and as things to feed off of. One side fed off of hope and fear while the other determination and failure. As their war raged on, they realized the realm was becoming unstable, and started to use humans as bigger pawns in their games, allowing the strongest on each side to back off and let the realm rebalance.
I had a feeling things didn’t get rebalanced.
No, not at all. The demons found a terrible way to claim most, if not all the realm. We stopped them. Well, me and several others. Tella figured out a way to remove them from the realm, fixing that issue and trapping them here.
That was great, but sounded like a lot of work. Why not just eliminate them? They were truly that evil from the sound of it, and not caring about what realms they eventually destroyed.
Tella isn’t one for killing any if it at all can be avoided.
Ah. I couldn’t blame her at all. Still, they were able to do things like this then… What would be their gain here?
Taking over this realm, which is small and meant for spirits. It would give them access to the realm we ripped them away from, effectively allowing them back into that world to resume as they pleased.
How could they be stopped in the first place?
Magic of course, though removing them removed the magic from that realm as well. Their existence and the powers they could gift brought magic into the realm in the first place.
While I didn’t want my home being ripped apart, I was disappointed I didn’t have magic my entire life.
Oh, but you did. You just don’t remember. Try as we might some souls always came back as guides, wanting to help the spirits cross. Of course, you’d end up stuck here for some time, but you and many others guided many peacefully to the otherside.
What? How could I do that?
You befriend and encourage the troubled souls around you. You’ve already started and you’re hardly fully trapped here.
Will I make it back alive?
It is hard to say. The demons and angels will do their worst and try to stop you. I don’t know what tricks they have, and sadly, in this form, I cannot make sure you’re fine in your home realm.
I could only think of Melly being cared for by Kegan and wondered if Kegan truly was able to care for my body too.
Did the fog show that to you?
I nodded to myself.
I wouldn’t doubt it. They wouldn’t risk Kegan knowing unless they truly thought they could convince you.
Weird, was she important?
She is, in the most simple terms possible, the Creator of balance. She will continue to roam that realm until she is no longer needed there. Somehow, Kegan always seems to be in the right place when a guide has need of her. I’ve no doubt she’ll do her best to keep you safe.
But why wasn’t she here if she was a Creator?
Kegan’s story is her own, and I won’t even attempt to explain it. I do hope you’re able to ask her yourself one day.
At that moment I made it back through the painting. No one was in the common room yet, but it was like a light switch had turned off inside of me. I was ready for bed, and hopefully I would actually be able to sleep.
Chapter 13
I wasn’t sure how long I was out for, but it didn’t feel like enough time. Still, I had no weird dreams of an olive green fog, and I felt mildly rested. At least that was something.
Either way, I wished Mare had left me to sleep instead of shaking me awake.
“Wakey wakey!” she called happily as she shoved my shoulder back and forth.
I finally gave her a grumble and she stopped.
“We’ve got fun plans for today!”
I was not ready for fun plans. I wasn’t even sure what was going to happen with these memories finally sorting themselves out.
“What plans?” I tried to wipe the sand out of my eyes.
“Someone spotted some creature texts yesterday. Of course, one thing led to another and they didn’t grab them, but they just might be worthwhile enough to nab.” Mare’s voice was a bit too chipper.
“Might be worthwhile enough, huh?” I pushed myself up, hoping my brain would start to wake up with me. Grogginess was clinging to me hard this morning, even with the extra sleep.
Would adventuring right away be wise? They did say to let the memories sort first, but I really wanted to see Marella sooner rather than later. This project did not sound quick.
“It won’t be too hard,” Mare continued, “and you’re making great progress with your skills.”
“Are you trying to get me to agree to this before telling me the details?” I tiredly glared at her.
“Maaaybe,” she sung before dropping her voice to a whisper. “We’ve got some things to chat about too.”
Well now, that had my attention. Still, I acted as casual as possible. “Fine, what floor is this thing on?”
“The third, but the group we’re meeting is heading to the first floor mini library. Someone saw a few odd books there yesterday as well.” Mare started to move toward the door.
I got up but hesitated. “What’s with all the odd books but no one’s grabbing them?”
Mare paused in the doorway. “They were ambushed, but they don’t think the other team knew exactly what they were up to so, hopefully, the books are still there. I know books randomly change libraries so it’s hit or miss on a lot of things.”
With a nod, I followed her out into the common area. “What is with all the ambushes?”
“It’s a weird matter. I guess Benz was missing for a long while so they were looking more for him than anything.” Mare’s reply was too casual for that topic.
“I’m guessing he’s not dead or this would be bigger news,” I commented, trying to push carefully for a few more details.
“No. If someone strong enough dies, you can feel it. It’s almost like… a ripple of power that just hits you. Usually, it only happens if someone’s been here close to a year or more and dies,” Mare explained.
“Oh, well then…” I thought on the information as we left the safety of the common room. That didn’t sound familiar but I was a Dreamer, so maybe I couldn’t feel that?
Then I remembered. A ripple isn’t what I’d call it at all. “Wait, isn’t it more like shock, like that jolt you feel when you are falling in a dream and then suddenly wake up?”
Mare stopped and considered it a moment. “Yes, yes it is. But how do you know that?”
“I think I experienced it before. Didn’t someone die when I first came here? From that… Agmon thing?”
Mare nodded and continued walking as I
followed. “Yes. There wasn’t a huge shock from that but it’s enough of the general idea.”
In the near distance, the sound of running could be heard, so we froze. Magic lightly sparkled along Mare’s fingers before vanishing. “Clove,” was all she said, and a few moments later Clove almost ran directly into us.
“Oh good!” She breathed heavily for a moment. “Mare, I need to borrow you.”
Mare gave her a confused look. “What’s wrong?”
Clove glanced at me for a brief second before replying to her. “There’s too many Agmon and Darkoril. We keep getting cut off and separated and Cane is on a piece she thinks might be very powerful. It’s been calling to her.”
Mare gave a firm nod. “Let’s do this then.”
Clove hesitated. “I don’t think you should come on this one,” she stated to me. “It’s going to be pretty bad today. It’s already been pretty bad today, and I…” She sighed. “I’d rather you get better and stronger first. You’ve already died once, and I don’t think we’ll get so lucky next time.”
The sound of worry and concern caught in my throat. “Normally, I’d want to fight you on that.” Random memories of adventuring with her flashed through my mind. “I am still tired though. Maybe you’re right. Some hardcore training this week and then maybe I can be of more help?”
Clove breathed a sigh of relief. “Now that sounds like a solid plan.”
Mare frowned, likely wanting someone else who could help with the artifact but she nodded as well. “You’re probably right. Let’s be off, then.”
Clove gave a quick wave, and then the two of them were off. I wondered what I should do now, but figured it wouldn’t hurt to continue on and try and find the library down here on my own. Summoning my bow, I went in search of it myself.
Getting to the library was a little more work than I expected. Honestly, it was a lot more. I had to do some sprinting and fending off a few of those electric hedgehogs, but I eventually found it. It was such a relief to finally get in there I almost didn’t notice the group that was already there.
“Ze?” I said, surprised.
He looked over at me as I entered. “Oh, hey. I didn’t know you were doing library things today.”
