Glass or Diamond: Fairy's Wish

Murtoa of Lakia is a world-renowned hero and slayer of monsters. Though, his true appearance is known to far fewer, those who do know him well have come to see the minor details that construct his character.

So, as the form of Murtoa of Lakia bounces up in down in several attempted hops to gain flight, failing to do so, his friends can only watch awkwardly.

“How does Murtoa get around like this?” Rui-Buri, the spirit of fire, continues hopping in frustration.

Maerin retorts dryly, “Walking mostly.”

“Really? All the time?”

Gyrryth chuckles, and Coco snorts. The teenage techromancer grumbles as she turns back around, “I don’ like it. ‘Bando’s bits actin’ like a flooze.”

The spirit occupying his body whines, “Hey! You try being imprisoned for thousands of years and get the body that CAN’T fly.” She remarks more distantly as the thought hits her, “I can’t remember the last time I walked even before then…”

She then flexes a gloved hand and snaps her fingers briefly, causing a small puff of fire. She giggles deviously, and Maerin warns, “No arson!”

“I know that!” She replies as she climbs up to peek into some of the corners as Coco resumes driving down the tree, “Murtoa made a contract and all that. I get until we find Nelrei or twenty four hours, and he told me you’d let me have your body next if I help quickly. No harming anyone here, blah blah blah.” She creates a flame around her hand, dancing the fire around Murtoa’s armor without causing damage, though some smoke comes from the filth and debris that remains from his last battle. She muses with a little sassiness and bitterness in her tone, “I think Murtoa was hoping I couldn’t use magic in his body.”

Kessa replies, “It’s more likely he was worried you couldn’t, since… the spell… that I did.”

Rui-Buri crosses her arms, growling, “Sooooo. You’re the portdod who did that, huh? Well, let me just tell you, you little horny-headed clod, we didn’t CHOOSE our lot in life, and displacing us like that doesn’t feel great. How did you even learn draconic magic?”

Lykha flinches, clenching her fists to try to brace against the burst of fear that hits her. Kessa nervously murmurs, “I-... It’s… the result of a wish.”

Rui-Buri grunts, shaking her head as she looks condescendingly at Kessa with her arms crossed.

Maerin asks, “Wait, draconic magic? As opposed to…”

Rui-Buri looks at her, grunting out, “It’s the result of a wish.”

The other glance at Kessa, but the teen replies innocently, “She’s… telling the truth.”

Surprised, Lykha squeaks, “W-Why does it sound like… D-... Dr…” She swallows hard, and Rui-Buri retorts bluntly, “It’s the magic that we gifted to the dragons. Or, what it evolved into much later, at least.”

The others stare at her, and Gyrryth asks, “So it is indeed true? There is other magic in the world?”

The helmeted head of the warrior nods. “Of course. We are not the origin of reality. But, we were pretty early in the grand scheme.” She draws the sword known as Zaermaa, holding it like she’s never held one before, which is possible. “He kills those giant monsters with this?”

Coco answers, “Aye! Tha’, the other’un, an’ fixin’s of the bes’ techromanca in the world!”

“I see.” She carefully swings the sword, which makes Maerin and Lykha a little nervous, but she doesn’t cause any harm. “I know you’re all wondering. I don’t know how or why the magic changed. It did. And, it displaces the magic we are. I don’t know how we were imprisoned, and I don’t know how it works. Our magic IS that which casters like him use for additional power.” She points at Gyrryth, who admits, “I have learned the repercussions and have additional respect.”

“Yeah, yeah. Better than most. Fairies have some of their own magic, similar to us, but not drawn from us. Still, when a draconic spell is used, it purges all other magical energy around it. You have to be careful if you care about your friends.” She shrugs, putting the sword back with some fumbling. “Or don’t. All I can do is warn you.”

Kessa replies with a little exasperation, “I’m warned! I had no idea! And, I didn’t know what else to do!”

Rui-Buri scoffs. “Famous last words.” She then puts her gloved hands on her hips. “So, Murtoa told me you needed my help. Since I’m missing out on getting to talk to him, tell me what it is so you and I can trade when it’s done. Can’t exactly fly to her in this body. Sexy as it is.”

Lykha blushes, while Maerin asks, “Can you at least detect her?”

Rui-Buri puts her hand to the helmet’s chin, humming audibly. “Mmm… It’s tricky, having never met her. Buuut… Considering the number of fairies that way versus the number of fairies this way…” She points as she talks, adding, “Probably safe to assume that way.”

Coco nods, “Aye!” She turns back around, resuming piloting of the trunk winder. “An’, while ‘Bando’s out’o’ his sexy body…”

The spirit inhabiting the human warrior’s body scoffs. “Yeah, nice try. Ironically, not part of the contract.”

Surprised, Maerin, Lykha, and Kessa all hum with an “Oh?”, while even Gyrryth seems to be intrigued. The spirit shrugs. “He asked me nicely not to, but if his helmet has to come off, then it has to come off.” She deepens her voice, “‘As a term of a contract, it could get everyone killed.’”

Maerin scoffs. “Sounds a little too paranoid to be Murmur.”

Gyrryth offers, “I do believe if it was the only weapon at his disposal, Sir Murtoa would spare no hesitation for anyone here.”

The group nods, including Rui-Buri. She then teases deviously, “If you’re wondering… Yes.”

Intrigued once more, the others ask, “Yes, what?”

Coco peeks over her shoulder, and Rui-Buri snickers. “He is VERY handsome.”

Lykha and Coco both blush, and the techromancer squeaks as she turns around. She tries to boisterously claim, “Aye! ‘C-Course! I would’ne fall for jus’ any guggler!”

Maerin calls the spirit’s bluff, “She’s just teasing.”

Rui-Buri snickers saucily. “Believe what you want, Maerin. I got to see.”

There’s an awkward silence, broken only when Gyrryth clears his throat. “Yes. Well, let us focus on the task at hand. Whatever is happening with Lykha’s dear mother, we must ensure she is not lost to the void.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Rui-Buri waves dismissively. “Let me know when we’re at the bottom of the tree. I’mm’a go explore this thing.” She quickly points at Maerin, “Can’t leave it, but I can explore it.” She starts climbing up, groaning, “HOW!? How do you fleshy flightless creatures do this!” She playfully sobs as she climbs out of the cockpit, and the others glance at each other.

Lykha asks softly, “She… wouldn’t lie to us, would she?”

Coco retorts, “Aye! She bu’ a bogglesly o’ mind-... mmm… She a brain… twista.” She twists back to snap, “Ye know wha’ I mean!” She grumbles softly as she curses words and language, and her own orphan struggle for survival.

Maerin replies more coherently and expertly, “I… see no reason she can’t… But, I’ve never contracted with the spirits before.”

Gyrryth offers his piece of wisdom, “Perhaps it is not a matter of truth or fiction, but what exactly the terms Murtoa offered were.”

Lykha fidgets with her hands, squeaking, “I-... I’ll go follow her, just to make sure she doesn’t hurt Mury’s body.” She hovers upwards after the spirit, and Kessa adds just as Lykha is reaching the door, “She is hiding something. I… can’t make sense of it. Too much… noise right now.”

Maerin replies, “No more than usual.”

“No… I… It’s the wish. I can’t always filter out what’s coming to mind. When no one listens, it’s easier to just… blurt stuff out. Usually whatever feels loudest in my head.”

Gyrryth asks gently, “And pray tell, what echoes loudest at present, Burdened One?”

Kessa looks distantly for a moment. She murmurs, “I’ve found her.”

Lykha, hesitating at the threshold to the cockpit, asks in confusion, “That’s what Rui-Buri is thinking?”

Kessa shakes her head. “No. I don’t… I don’t know who it is. But, I think… I think it’s talking about…” She looks up nervously at Lykha. Lykha pleads softly, “Coco…”

The addressed teen glances over her shoulder at the fairy. Her face becomes determined, and she replies confidently, “Aye, Tricksie. I’m on i’.” She accelerates down the tree trunk, and the whole vehicle rumbles, shifting its weight as its grip on the bark of the collossal tree becomes less sturdy, and it tracks precariously across the uneven bark of the ancient forest monolith.

Gyrryth dexterously climbs into the passenger front seat, buckling himself in. He cautions, “Be wary, Fiery One…”

“AYE! She’s talkin’ to me. I go’ this!” Something groans behind them, and debris hits the top of the vehicle before falling. She eases back the throttle a tiny bit as a large chunk of bark falls far below them, and the vehicle balances itself a little better. She adds, “I was ready for tha’.” She makes a few more adjustments, quietly requesting, “K-Keep ready on the anchas.”

Gyrryth smirks and nods. “As you wish, Fiery One.”

Lykha sniffles at the care her friend is showing, and she follows Rui-Buri with a replenished sense of purpose. The trunk winder is wavering and rocking more in response to the relatively higher speed, but Coco is the best driver they have, as she drives the trunk winder the most. Murtoa and Gyrryth have battle instincts and aged experience, but the teen has recent experience and an affitinty for the machines she works on. It’s still just as likely she’ll get them all killed, but Lykha sincerely appreciates Coco for exactly who she is.

Likewise, she worries for Murtoa, who is presently trapped in the spirit prison while his own body wanders around.

Or rather, is laying against the boiler’s exhaust trunk. The metal pipes that vent the smoke from the furnace and any excess steam pressure are up near the cieling if they were on the ground, but Rui-Buri has found a cozy-looking position in the structure of the ceiling to lay against them. She notices Lykha and greets the fairy. “Hey! Lykha! Can you believe how warm this is!?”

The young fairy fidgets. “I… We were worried.”

“I figured as much.” She lounges back, kicking her feet idly. “Nieolsynnys didn’t have a solid plan, for what it’s worth. Just seemed like a good idea at the time. Fortunately for all of us, Murtoa saw right through it.” She scoffs. “I’ve often wondered if I could fool him.”

“How do the spirits know Mury? Or… why do you… think so highly of him?”

The spirit’s idle fidgeting slows to a stop. “I… don’t know… For what felt like eternity, we were alone in that place. We’d… hear voices. Or, not even really voices, per se. Just an urge… We had to send the magic to where it was called.” Gloved hands fidget as she softly describes her imprisonment. “We heard an angry yell, and… we all were startled… afraid. It was the first real voice we had heard in so long, other than ourselves.” She looks at Lykha, adding, “Spirits can handle a long time alone, but it’s not fun.”

She then continues looking at the pipes. “The voice was angry, and it was familiar. It was yelling at someone, we think. And, that’s when we heard the name. A name that sounded so bland. So normal. And yet, it felt good.” She looks at Lykha again. “Murtoa of Lakia.”

She then adds as she sits up, leaning her back against the pipes. “We learned something, though. Or, Ulterryn did. OUR magic was being used by the world. We realized it to a degree, but we never really made sense of it. However, Ulterryn figured out how to peer into the world during spells, and we could catch glimpses. We glimpsed a name many times, as casters used spells to clean up the corpses of titans. He never needed magic, and he never made enemies with people who don’t deserve it.” She scoffs. “We used to watch mortals tell each other stories that weren’t true, and we never really understood. We spirits experience the world, we don’t imagine it. But, hearing of his tales, even as limited as we were, were inspiring.”

Her tone turns more serious and she looks directly at Lykha. Similar to when Murtoa’s gaze sincerely locks with hers, Lykha can tell Rui-Buri is using the warrior’s eyes to look directly into the fairy’s. “A voice suddenly told us one day ‘Pueilass lehana suuchura.’” She stares at Lykha, and the young fairy recognizes the structure of the sentence, but the words didn’t match anything she knows. Rui-Buri, sensing the hesitation, fills in, “‘Time is coming.’ Don’t ask me how. We know it was meant for us.”

Lykha nods, asking softly, “What time is that?”

The spirits scoffs, swaying her feet below her as she dangles over the corridor of the trunk winder. “Well, we all HOPE it’s the time we are once again free.” She fidgets. “Whatever imprisoned us is very powerful. And, it was able to drain us so badly and catch us off guard, we don’t even know who it was.” She adds, “Murtoa does, though.”

This surprises Lykha, though she realizes at this point, it shouldn’t. Kessa knows all of the secrets of the world if it’s truly a secret. Murtoa seems to know a little about everything else. Even if he claims he doesn’t. Lykha, however, can connect dots. “It’s the evil brother, isn’t it? Th-The Queltarine king of Lakia?”

Rui-Buri scoffs. “I wouldn’t know. We didn’t have ‘Queltarines’ or ‘Lakia’ when we were last free. We had Salta and Wekwelsk and humans with spears and clubs were still fighting drakyks with their whips and crude magic.”

Lykha nods respectfully. She asks, “Who are Salta and Wekwelsk?”

The spirit looks at her, cocking her head briefly. “Salta is the snail that gave Gruicelle water when she became stranded in the desert on one of her wanderings. And, Wekwelsk was a lizard that chased off a bunch of mages that managed to magically trap Merzianne.” Her tone softens as she reminisces. “They were nothing in the presence of the greatest powers in the world. And yet,... They were so kind and selfless.” She murmurs as she idly draws with her finger on the metal near her shoulder. “I hope they’re still alive…”

Lykha doesn’t know what to say, other than the obvious. “I… always thought the story of the snail was a bibby… A… A children’s story.”

The shift in Rui-Buri’s posture indicates she’s probably smiling reverently, though Murtoa’s helmet hides the face beneath. Her tone is tender, “I see… Well deserved…” The spirit sits up suddenly, stating; “So! I told you a story, so now you tell me one. Who is this woman we’re looking for?”

“M-My Mother?”

Rui-Buri nods.

“D-...” Lykha hesitates. She never really thought about it, but the spirits aren’t like normal beings. It’s reasonable to assume they don’t have parents, but surely they know OF parents, don’t they?

Lykha asks, “Don’t you know what a mother is?”

“I suppose I understand the concept… She’s your creator or something. Never understood why that’s so important, I guess.”

Lykha hovers to a seated position nearby, fidgeting as it becomes her turn to reminisce. “She’s… I don’t know how to describe her. She’s always been everything. She patted my head when I was sad, and she healed me when I was hurt. She’s never afraid of the squeaks and squawks in the darkness, and she knows every bedtime story. She taught me how to fly and,” The young fairy blushes, squeaking, “She taught me how to use magic, even though she wasn’t supposed to.” Her more confident tone returns, and she continues, “She is the woman I wish I could be, but also,... someone I know I can never replace.”

“INNNteresting…” Rui-Buri looks off at nothing in particular, remarking with a warm tone, “I suppose I can understand the connection. My sisters are all I’ve known for most of my existence. But, you have to know… You can’t grow into someone else. You’ll always be you.”

Lykha smiles. “You’re right. I often wish I had Mother’s strenght and wisdom, but… After the last year… I think I know where hers came from. She lived life.”

The helmet tips, and Rui-Buri hums in amusement. “Nothing truly worth knowing can be simply told.”

Lykha nods in agreement. The tracks of the trunk winder are creaking and rattling, and the boiler is rumbling as the turbine whirs.

For the moment, all Lykha can do is wait.

Her usual lot in life, it seems.

***

Almost an hour later, the trunk winder is approaching the actual ground. Coco is trembling a little, but she is still focused on driving. She often looks away from the windshield, sniffling quietly.

Gyrryth offered to switch with her a while ago, but she snapped at him, and so, everyone has left Coco alone, save Blastie, her pet blaze panda. The small mammal climbs onto her shoulder looking for food, and she manages to squeak in an unnaturally uneasy tone, “Hey Blastie.” She uses a shaking left hand to retrieve some nuts from her gearbag and attempts to hand them to the intelligent little animal. The teen winces when she drops most of them, and they clatter against the windshield below her. Coco braces, driving for a long moment with her eyes closed as she grips both sides of the steering mechanism with all of her strength.

Maerin tries to coo, “You’re doing great, Coco…”

The teen snaps, “O’COURSE I AM!” This startles the blaze panda, and Blastie squeals as she darts up the floor towards the back of the cockpit. Coco winces again, trying to calm herself. She chokes out, “I-I’m th-th-the bes’ techromanca…” She croaks and swallows, unable to finish her thought.

As the ground gets closer, Gyrryth glances at Coco briefly. Kessa and Maerin make eye contact with him, realizing that they should be slowing down.

Gyrryth murmurs as softly as his deep voice can go, “Coco…”

She tenses, shaking her head.

The lizardman looks forward again, and waits only a moment longer. He sighs, leaning over to the driver side, and Coco whimpers nervously. He eases the throttle back, urging, “We need to slow down now.”

Coco swallows hard, nodding. Tears are starting to appear on her face. Lykha hovers close, but hesitates to say anything. Coco just has to make it a little further.

The nose of the trunk winder reaches the ground, and the tracks begin to pull it into a level with the ground. Coco begins breathing heavily as Gyrryth hovers over her with his broad hand, ensuring no other adjustments need made just yet. Each car joins the body of the trunk winder as it pivots.

Once the last car reaches the ground and is flat, Coco’s right hand flies with speed, snatching the throttle to the idle position. The vehicle creaks to a stop, humming calmly as the teen tears at the harness holding her to the driver’s seat. She sniffles and whimpers in frustration, and everyone hesitates to make a move to help her.

She manages to extract herself, scrambling free of the seat. She tries to sprint rearward as Lykha hovers up out of her way. The teen doesn’t make it far, though, falling to her hands and knees as she throws up. Her helmet tumbles across the floor. Lykha flinches, but she, like the others, allows Coco the dignity to finish.

Sniffling and sobbing softly, Coco tries to choke out, “I-I-I’ll… c-c-c…”

Lykha hovers down to Coco’s shoulder, petting the teen’s head. She then hugs Coco’s head, petting the softly-curling horn on the right side of her head. Coco sobs, and the young fairy says tenderly, “Coco… You… You braved your fear for me and my mother… I… Thank you.”

Coco nodding her head rocks Lykha as well, but it causes the young fairy to smile. Coco sniffles, wiping her mouth and nose with her sloppy-fitting mechanic’s glove. “I… I c-can’t… even tease ye…”

Lykha chuckles softly, glancing at Gyrryth as he nods softly. He maneuvers himself into the driver’s seat, and Lykha replies to Coco, “Who are you? Are you possessed by a spirit?”

The teen scoffs, which causes her to cough a little and sniffle messily. “M-Me thinka… too smar’ for no bogglesly…”

Lykha chuckles again, hugging warmly to the teen’s head. She kisses the top of the teen’s head, satisfied that it’s not particularly grimy or filthy, as the teen once had been when they first came to the forest. Lykha coos, “Gyrryth will take it from here. Go rest, Coco. Thank you for what you did.”

Coco nods in agreement, still weary. She mumbles, “E’eryone, watch ye steps…” She wearily climbs to her feet, and Lykha stays close. Gyrryth adds, “Good work, Coco. We made excellent time.” Again, Coco nods, weary and sparing of her words. Maerin smiles as well, and Kessa teases, “More useful than me right now.”

Coco shoots her a smirk, though her usual sass and fiery expression are absent. She takes a breath, slowly working her way rearward towards the bunk compartment. Lykha informs the others, “I’ll go with Coco.”

Coco grumbles, “I don’ nee’...” She braces against Maerin’s seat, pausing for a moment. Lykha rolls her eyes. “I’m going with you so I can check on Rui-Buri. She was still napping against the boiler.”

Maerin retorts dryly, “I hope she doesn’t burn Murmur’s body.”

Lykha fidgets. “She… claims she is removing the heat with her power. I-I’m sure it’ll be…” Lykha trails off. She pivots and faces Coco, gesturing, “After you, Coco.”

The teen wearily glares at Lykha, but decides against any further unnecessary defiance. She simply trudges down the corridor, and Lykha follows close behind. She won’t be able to prevent Coco from falling, but she can quickly retrieve help, as well as heal the teen if something does happen.

The two happen across an odd scene, however. Murtoa’s body is lying on his shoulders with his legs propped above him on the wall. His voice, distorted by a different inhabitant within his body, groans, “OooooOOHHH….”

Lykha quickly darts to Rui-Buri, asking quickly, “M-Rui-Buri!? Are you alright!?”

The spirit inhabiting Murtoa’s body groans in frustration. “Human bodies are terrible…”

Lykha inspects the armored body as Rui-Buri stirs slowly at first. “Is… Mury’s body alright?”

Rui-Buri rolls over slowly, painstakingly sitting up. “How should I know? This is the first time I’ve ever felt physical pain. Oh my goodness… Am I dying?” She looks at Mury’s gloved hands for a moment.

Lykha sighs. “You can still move, so that’s a good sign.”

The spirit grumbles, “Terrible way to wake up from a wonderful nap.”

Coco retorts as she holds a hand on her own stomach, “Ye trapped for all o’ time, and ye jus’ wanna sleep?”

Rui-Buri points up, asking excitedly, “Have you ever felt how warm it is up there?” She trembles. “I miss warm…” She hugs her body -Mury’s body- briefly.

The young fairy sighs. “You should have been a little more careful, though. You could have hurt Mury’s body. And, you smell burnt, now.”

Surprised, the spirit asks, “Me?” She inspects as much of Murtoa’s armor and clothes as she can, replying, “I didn’t feel like I was getting too hot. I’d assume it’d hurt Murtoa’s body.”

Coco wearily adds, “I don’t smell anything.”

“Fairy’s senses of smell are much stronger, Coco. You know-...” A sudden chill crawls through Lykha, causing her to shiver. At first, she can’t make sense of it. It is simply a primal feeling, deep within her body. Her very bones feel cold, and her wings are tingling. She whispers, “Something’s wrong.”

***

Gyrryth makes some adjustments on the panel of the trunk winder as Kessa explores the controls at the front passenger seat. Maerin is sitting on the dash, studying their exterior surroundings.

“I think we came from more that way, Gyrryth. Didn’t Murmur say to head towards that village? Wouldn’t mind selling some more goods.”

“I trust the compass, Mature One. It has not behaved erratically yet.”

“I get what you’re saying, but these trees look wrong. I’m sure we were closer to those two trees over there.”

Gyrryth ponders the notes he took for bearings and estimated distances while they were driving towards the fairy village. The compass is reading opposite of the way they came, as he would expect. He taps the compass lens, just to be sure. It wobbles a little bit, but its needle stays true. His natural sense of direction can be fooled in the forest, thanks to the overwhelmingly repetitive and crowded surroundings of the forest. He has the inkling that he should agree with Maerin, but he’s had to navigate labyrinthine places before, and few means of navigation are without weaknesses. A simple compass is more difficult to fool, but not impossible.

The question is, if it is being fooled, how is it being done? Gyrryth scratches his chin briefly. “I suppose in the lack of Sir Murtoa’s council, I must defer to my own as well as your instincts, Mature One. Are you certain?”

Maerin nods, crossing her arms under her chest. “It’s that or we get the spirit back up here.”

“Soon enough. I shall alter our course for now. We still have a fair distance in this general direction no matter the precise bearing.”

The mature fairy nods. She finally grimaces and sighs. “I feel bad for Coco, but that is foul. And, now the smell of ash is getting stronger. Do you know the last time the exhaust was cleaned?”

Kessa replies, “Coco did it after the nishkatan was defeated, while we were camping.”

“Oh? Is that a secret?”

“I CAN KNOW THINGS THAT I OBSERVE! I saw her do it.” She smiles reverently, “She may not like me, but she’s a hard worker. I… kinda envy that about her. And, she’s trying to figure out what a princess’s dress would look like so she can try to make one.”

Maerin and Gyrryth glance at each other, and Maerin almost bursts into laughter. Gyrryth replies, “It would be strange to envision our Coco as a princess. Even you have a rather refined personality.”

Kessa blushes and waves her hand, “I have no noble qualities by birth alone. The people of my village taught me as well as they could.”

Gyrryth nods in agreement, but his face suddenly twists briefly. “Interesting…”

“Hmm? What?” asks Maerin.

“I smell the ash, now. However…”

“Is that… Sulfur?” The two look at each other. Maerin is a chemist, and Gyrryth has encountered sulfur in regards to firearms and explosives. Additionally, Maerin has been using it to make simple medicines that she knows how to make.

As they look further ahead of them, the humid fog of the forest seems to slowly be changing color. Instead of a soft white fog in the shadows of the forest, the haze is turning darker, obscuring all ahead of them and hanging heavy like a cloud of stifling cold ink.

Maerin asks softly, nearly at a whisper out of instinct, “Wh-... What’s happening?”

Gyrryth scans all around, his eyes darting quickly and alertly. His senses are all furiously begging for his attention, alerting him to danger. “I’m… not sure. A trick of the fairies? As with the sage Yanari?”

“Something feels off… Even I’m getting chills, and I don’t have magic. Any secrets you’d like to share, Kessa?”

The teen shakes her head. There’s… nothing. The… voices. They’re gone.”

“Your secrets voices?”

Kessa nods, and Maerin asks, “How can that be? I thought you said it was just a bunch of knowledge.”

Before Kessa can answer, Lykha bursts into the cockpit, and she screams, “WE HAVE TO TURN BACK! PLEASE!” She darts to Gyrryth, trying to press his hands on the steering mechanism to turn the vehicle around. She sniffles, “Please! We have to turn back!”

Maerin approaches Lykha, asking, “Lykha!? Breathe! What’s gotten into you?”

Lykha whimpers, still trying to struggle free of Maerin and steer the vehicle she has no hope of steering. “Th-th-the smell! I… I… I can taste it in my dreams! I…” She breaks down into sobs.

Kessa asks as gently as she can, “What about your mother?”

Lykha sobs more, sinking to her knees on the dashboard of the trunk winder. "M-Mama! P-p-please wake me from this nightmare! I want to go home! Please!"

Lykha's plea is heard by all, including Rui-Buri and Coco, who linger in the entrance to the cockpit. Gyrryth finally slows the vehicle as Maerin tries to comfort her young counterpart with a hug.

Though not to Lykha’s extreme, there’s no denying that an air of fear is lingering heavy in the cockpit. Everyone is uneasy, and something feels very wrong.

Maerin looks at Murtoa’s body, but judging by the posture, it’s still being occupied by the spirit. Maerin asks, “Anything Murmur can tell us, Rui-Buri?”

She shakes her head, replying quietly, “I haven’t heard him since we switched. I think the connection is still weak. Or… it’s getting weaker…”

Maerin growls, “What?”

Rui-Buri shakes her head. “I’m not lying. I… I couldn’t feel my sisters much at all, but now… I feel like… Everything is fading.” She flexes her hand, attempting to form a flame once more. While she gets a spark and a small flame, the fire itself is a deep red, flickering weakly as it threatens to vanish at any moment. She growls, trying to channel more of her energy into the flame, but it only grows a little.

Then, suddenly, it vanishes. The flame simply disappears, and the trunk winder shuts down as well, slowly going to sleep as the turbine loses steam.

Maerin asks Gyrryth, “W-Were we stopped too long?” The lights in the trunk winder die, leaving them in near total darkness.

The lizardman shakes his head, barely visible. “No. Not at idle.”

Coco coughs, grumbling, “Leakin’ boil wata?”

Gyrryth shakes his head as he inspects the panel. His vision is better than a human’s in the darkness, but he doesn’t have true night vision. He replies, “Water levels are reading normal.”

“Then…”

Kessa begins coughing, but her voice is weak. Gyrryth and Maerin look at everyone, realizing that everyone is audibly wheezing and breathing quickly, audible thanks to the lack of other noise.

Lykha pleads weakly, “It’s gone… All of it’s gone…”

Maerin coos, trying to stay calm even as her own heart pounds in her chest. “What’s gone, Lykha? We’re all right here.”

“Air…” retorts Rui-Buri grimly. “The air is thin…” She leans against the bulkhead as Coco is forced to lean on one of the rear seats. “Too thin for fire…”

Kessa asks uneasily, “If… if that’s true… what is that ahead of us?”

The group looks, barely able to see each other. Ahead of the trunk winder, though, is an ominous glow.

Ringed by a dim orange glow at ground level like a fallen crown in the darkness, the center rises much higher than the trunk winder, in spite of the distance away. It is painful to look at, even though the color to the central glow is a seemingly dim hue of whitish-violet.

Lykha’s cries and whimpers, even as she is slowly suffocating, are the only thing audible as the group watches the foreboding glow. The young fairy whimpers, “No… No… please… please… I ju-just… I just want to go home… This isn’t real… It’s a nightmare… Please… let me wake up…”

A much smaller glow appears, glowing with a soft golden light. It’s almost impossible to see, but it appears like a firefly, darting close to the windshield. It takes a moment, but the glow is very similar to the natural glow emanating from one of the members of the group kneeling on the dashboard of the trunk winder.

It is a fairy, though more mature than Lykha, and she is equally surprised to see the vehicle. Smoke and ash are swirling from her clothing.

However, she pivots as the violet glow shifts, revealing the outline of the figure creating the glow.

Tunnel vision is closing in on the slowly asphyxiating group, but the figure before them is clear as a ray of sunlight in a cave. It grips all who gaze upon it and refuses to let go. Like the very paint with which nightmares are drawn, spilling darkness across the world, the being is some kind of monster.

Unlike the maigon, this being seems to be cloaked in magic, shadow, and the flames of the deepest pits of the darkest hell, searing even those who gaze upon them from great distance. It steals one’s breath so they cannot scream. It steals one’s warmth so their blood runs cold. It steals one’s strength so their muscles release them.

Gyrryth glimpses Kessa slumping as she falls unconscious. Lykha is finally almost silent as her strength dissipates, tears still glistening in her eyes, reflecting the light of the flames. Maerin continues to hug the young fairy as she fades, and Coco and Rui-Buri sink to the floor as well.

Gyrryth looks one last time at the mysterious fairy, who makes eye contact with him, strangely beautiful in the light of the monster. She smiles with a resigned and gentle expression, and she tosses something at the trunk winder.

The glow from the creature’s mouth begins to grow brighter, refracting sharp daggers for teeth. And, before anything else can happen, Gyrryth’s consciousness slips away from him.

***