I slowly wade through a river. Above me is the light of thousands of distant galaxies and an infinite void those galaxies inhabit. The water of the river comes up to my waist, and it extends as far as I can see, in all directions, yet I know that this is a river and not an ocean
I have no clothes, yet I am warm and at peace. I keep slowly stepping through the water yet I never grow tired. The water is pitch black, just like my hair, yet my skin is not tarred as it comes up and out of the water. Despite the color, this is water and has all the same consistency as water.
I keep walking through the river. How long I've been walking through this river, I don't know. All I know is that I have to get to the other end, and that I cannot travel backwards. Just what's waiting for me on the other end, I don't know, but I have to keep moving forward. I don't know why, but I know that I must.
My only thoughts are on my surroundings and getting to the other side. My surroundings remain consistent, no matter how long I travel for, so when the pitch black water starts glowing a shade of light blue I feel… nothing at all? I feel something move around in the water, but I don't panic at all.
I look up, and see a small boat floating next to me. The water around the boat glows light blue and the one in the boat is a hooded figure with no face or hands, rowing past me. As I look up at them, they notice and look down at me. They stop rowing and just stare at me.
I feel no great emotion. No great elation at having met another person in this seemingly infinite river or having a ride to get out of the water. No sheer embarrassment from having my boobs completely exposed to a stranger. I try to feel anything at all, but nothing comes up.
We continue to stare at each other in silence. I try to say something, but I quickly find that I have nothing worth saying to this figure. I try to rack my brain for something, anything, but again, nothing comes up.
"Azariah." The figure talks to me for the first time. It's voice is undoubtedly masculine, yet somehow I can tell that they're a girl.
"Wake up." The figure says to me. I don't have any time to think about what this means as my world starts to shatter around me. Even as this world begins to fade away, I feel no emotion.
"Hey… hey Azariah, wake up." I feel my shoulder getting jostled around as I slowly wake up. I quickly become aware that I haven't gotten much sleep. After that I realize that Kiaran is the one waking me up. After that, I realize that the voice of the hooded figure was actually Kiaran's voice.
I slowly sit up and rub my eyes, trying to recover from the vertigo of going between that dream and real life. Kiaran and Aubrey are both here, we're in the inn, our current roommates aren't here. "Kiaran? Why are you waking me up? What time is it?"
"I'm really sorry about this, Azariah, but we really need to talk. We aren't going to be able to talk about this later, at least according to Aubrey."
"It's a little after 7 in the morning. I need your opinion on something real quick, then you can go back to bed."
"Alright, just give me a minute… to wake up first…" I yawn.
><><><><
Azariah gets out of bed, the most tired I've ever seen her. She stretches for a bit before leaving the room. She comes back a few minutes later looking like her usual self. I have no idea what she did. I'm always away when she wakes up so I have no idea what her routine is like.
"You can start now, Aubrey." She says as she closes the door behind her. She stands in front of the door, opting not to sit down. You get off work at three, you're operating on hours of sleep at most, how are you acting so normal?
"I'll keep this short for Azariah's sake," I begin. "There's currently a large monster gathering happening northwest of the Antisor Mountains. I've talked with Inell after your guys' duel and I convinced him to allow all of us to come along should you want to."
Kiaran starts to look excited. Azariah's expression doesn't change.
"According to Inell, unless the worst were to happen, you two should both be fine. I think that it would be a good experience for all of us and I think the reward money should give us a fair amount of disposable income. What do you guys say?"
Kiaran's excitement and Azariah's inexpressiveness both haven't changed. To tell the truth, I'm really just trying to convince Azariah. I'd known that Kiaran would absolutely love to come on this trip with me but I'm not certain at all about Azariah.
Kiaran's seemed to have gotten close enough to her to be able to tell what she's thinking but I have no such luxury. What Azariah sees in Kiaran is beyond me, but trying to figure out her personality from the little expressions she makes and the things she says are even further than that.
I get that she's ridiculously shy and nervous. I get that she's intelligent, and creative. I get that she likes magic, but that's all. I can't understand any more. Kiaran told me that she enjoyed watching anime, but I've never watched it in my past life so I don't know how that wound up influencing her.
She looks down, probably thinking about my proposal. I have no idea what she's thinking of other than that. To my surprise however, Kiaran interrupts this.
"You said northeast of the Antisor Mountains, that's a pretty general area. Just how long is the journey there supposed to take? To and from? How long are we going to be staying there as well?" It's highly unusual to hear Kiaran ask an actually important question. I guess it's just his experience in the Ulfur Forest.
"It's a six day journey by carriage each way. According to Inell, as long as nothing goes horribly wrong we should be there for three day at most. We're supposed to leave in two days. The date can't be arranged."
"Alright, I'll have to speak about it to Baron Wisefang then, but I'll definitely try and come along."
"Me too. I'll speak to Lucidna about it."
OK, so she is planning on coming then? Her boss might not let her, I have to keep that in mind, but I'm glad that it was this easy to convince her. "Alright, that's all I need you for, you can head back to sleep now."
"OK."
><><><><
I entered Baron Wisefang's office where he was waiting for me, and explained everything that had happened. It was a bit difficult, but I managed it in the end. I just have to go on this trip, afterall. What I'm doing right now though, is much, much more difficult than that though.
"You're leaving?! Again?! But you just got back from the Ulfur Forest!"
"I know, I know, Noelle. But you have to see this from my perspective! If you just got called to go on a super cool adventure you'd also head off right away, right?"
"Well… that's true… but hot you said that you'd train me when you got back! What about that now?!"
"Easy! Just keep up the workout we started doing, and if you can do that, I'll move onto swordplay when I get back."
"Seriously?!"
"Yeah, so work hard while I'm gone Noelle."
"Alright! I will!"
Well, it was hard to actually start the conversation. Getting through it and ending it wound up being surprisingly easy.
><><><><
I walk around the library, stack of books in hand, putting them all back where they're supposed to be. It's normally a boring job assuming it doesn't take me to one of the many spatial anomalies in the library in the process, but this time is a bit different. As I'm working, I can't help but think about that dream I had. I wrote it down and everything, I just can't seem to get it off of my mind.
After a while, I happen to run into Lucidna who's having a conversation with another librarian. I really don't want to interrupt them, so I awkwardly pretend that I'm working while I wait for them to finish. I don't overhear anything important that I shouldn't be hearing, so it's fine, right? After a while Lucidna and the other librarian go their separate ways and I intercept Lucidna.
"Hey Luci- Librarian Von Stein. I wanted to talk to you about something." Lucidna seems completely uninterested.
"What is it, Assistant Azariah?"
"It's about a dream I had last night. I was just wondering if there was anything magical that could have been affecting it…"
"Of course there are, there's all sorts of ways to manipulate or cause dreams, now what's your point?"
"Oh… well, I just had a really strange dream this morning that seemed so much more vivid than usual. I haven't been able to forget anything about it, I was just wondering if it could be a vision of the future or something…"
"While that's technically possible, I highly doubt that's the case. I have quite a bit of experience with dreams and how magic relates to them, and you definitely do not seem like the type to be able to have those."
Ooh, people can have dreams about the future in this world? That's the first time I'm hearing that, that's really interesting! But Lucidna said that this probably wasn't what it was so I'll just keep it in mind, now.
"Start by telling me about your dream, I'll give you my thoughts after you're done."
I proceed to explain the dream to Lucidna as clearly as I can, the river, my lack of emotions, the figure, the sky. I had a bit of trouble describing the sky since Lucidna probably doesn't know what a galaxy is, but other than that I think I described the whole thing clearly enough.
"Hm, I see. Just to be clear, you are capable of feeling emotions right now, yes?"
"Yes, I am. There was no lingering effect after the dream."
"Well, according to my knowledge there is no such river in the world, so this likely isn't an apparition of the future. I also can't understand the reason anyone would put you under such a dream, so I've come to two possible conclusions."
"Which are?"
"First, that this was just an unusually vivid dream of your's, and like usual, you're making a big deal out of nothing. Second, you somehow managed to catch the attention of a powerful entity that wishes to form a magical connection with you."
As soon as those words leave Lucidna's lips my brain starts to work in overdrive. All sorts of different emotions fill my body, but the one that fills it the most is excitement. I just have to go back to sleep! I want another connection! I wonder what kind of spells I could possibly use…
"It's better in situations like this to assume the more mundane possibility to be the truth, but to prepare for the worst. Going down that line of thinking, can you remember anything you might have done to attract the attention of any entity? Keep in mind you know nothing of it's personality, so it could have been anything."
Oh, that's a good question. I try to rack my brain for anything I might have done before that dream that might have caused the reaction Lucidna described. I haven't really done anything other than pursue magic for that duel. I can't really think of anything other than that either.
"I've only been learning magic and I had that duel. I don't think any of that would've caused something like that, though."
"If you truly can't think of anything, just assume it was a normal dream of yours. However, in case you did garner something's attention there's a few things that you need to know."
Oh, I certainly believe Lucidna here. "Please tell me then."
"Alright, if this was caused by an entity don't go forming a connection just because you want to. Knowing you, you'd try and form one right away, but don't, it could be extremely dangerous. It's a bad idea to form connections to entities you don't understand because they could be up to anything. To use an analogue you would understand, if you meet a stranger, you wouldn't proceed to let them into your home.
You could have garnered the attention of an entity that truly wants nothing but the best of you, but you will be much better off assuming otherwise. If you ever feel in danger because of this, I have experience in entering dreams and wading off dangerous entities like that. So don't hesitate to ask me for my help."
Lucidna is… actually looking out for me? Thinking about it for more than 5 seconds, that makes sense but it still feels really unusual. "OK, I will."
"Alright, if you keep getting similar dreams, assume you really did get something's attention and please come to me about them like you did today."
Anxiety fills my chest. "Um, there might be a problem with that…"
Lucidna raises her eyebrow. "And what might that be?"
I then tell her about the monster gathering and how Aubrey wanted me to come. I explain to her it's up to her to let me go and if she did, I'd be gone for around 2 weeks. Lucidna looks really annoyed, which really scares me.
"So you're getting involved in the situation near the Antisor then?"
"You knew?"
"Of course I knew, I'm one of Arcana Iryis' students, I get that kind of information from the castle all the time."
The shock nearly paralyzes me. "Huh? You're Iryis' student?"
"Yes, of course I am. And do not address him by first name."
Addressing Iryis as Iryis appears to have really annoyed Lucidna, but that's not why I'm scared.
"Lucidna… do you know where I'm from?"
"What? No, you never talk about it, how am I supposed to know? What does that even have to do with anything?"
OK, she seems legitimately confused. I don't think she's acting here, nor would she have any reason to lie. I had thought that Iryis told her I was an otherworlder, but I guess not. Thank God.
"Yeah, that was really random, sorry…"
"Stop apologizing already, get back to the topic."
"Alright, I wanted to go, but whether or not you can depends on you. So?"
"If you're fine with not getting paid while you're gone for two weeks, then I'll allow it."
"OK, I'll be leaving tomorrow."
"They're leaving that soon, huh? If you have another dream like that tonight, come to me before you leave. After you leave, make sure to be careful."
"You don't have to worry, Inell said I should be fine."
"That wasn't what I was talking about. I was talking about the possibility of you getting the attention of an unknown entity, and leaving to where I won't be able to help you if things go wrong."
"Oh… I'll be careful…"
"And one more piece of advice for you. I'm sure there's a lot of different magic users who would disagree with me very strongly on this point, but I want you to listen to me anyway."
"You're my teacher, there's no way I couldn't…"
"Good. I doubt you'll find yourself in such a situation, but if this really is some sort of entity and you find yourself in a situation that you're about to die, immediately form a connection with it, consequences be damned."
I've never heard Lucidna speak in such a rash tone, so I'm very surprised.
"Right after you're out of danger though, immediately break the connection. If you don't know how to do that, I'm sure there will be a bunch of mages there to teach you. If this does happen, ask them, I don't care how anxious you are around people, this isn't something you can act casually about."
Memories flood in of that stupid embarrasing death I faced in my past life. The painful death I could have avoided completely if I had just told literally anybody about what had happened while I could still be saved. More than anything else, I refuse to die such a death again.
"There's nothing you have to worry about there, you can trust me on that."
"It is unusual to hear you speak so confidently, so I suppose I must believe you."
><><><><
Outside the city walls of Heafdes, housing becomes noticeably more scarce. It's dense enough to still pass off as a city but compared to the inside, it's like night and day. The inside is just constant urban sprawl, while the outside is houses every now and then, farms, and ranches, and constantly encroaching forest. With all the times I've left Heafdes, I've grown quite used to the difference.
What I'm not used to though is the large group of people and carriages out here. I was aware a lot of adventurers were going to be participating in this, but this goes beyond all my expectations. I'm starting to doubt that we'll be receiving any meaningful money, just because of all the people they'd have to pay.
I'll have to try and take some particularly valuable monster parts back with me after we're done and sell those. I know there is quite the market for that sort of stuff, I've sold a bunch of my catches like that before. I'll have to ask Freware about what's valuable for monsters I haven't seen before, she knows that kind of stuff.
"How much longer until they show up?" Speaking of Freware…
"I don't know, Freware. Azariah usually stays in bed until noon, so getting up this early will be a little hard on her. As for Kiaran, I have no idea what he's up to. He should be here already."
"Hey Aubrey? Why are both of our friends so useless?" A small girl to my right says. Her skin is pale, her hair is messy and ash colored, and her clothes all shades of gray. The only part of her body with even the slightest bit of color are her eyes. Her eyes are a shade of purplish red, and because of the dullness of the rest of her appearance, are absolutely enchanting.
"They aren't useless, Cesre. I've told you already, they're stronger than me. We leave in half an hour so they still have plenty of time."
As if on cue, I see Azariah and Kiaran walking around together looking around. Azariah's dressed in black, as always and is carrying a large bag on her shoulder. Kiaran's also dressed normally and brought his scythe with him. I think Pitiful's men were holding onto it, is that why they were taking so long?
"Hey! Kiaran! Azariah! Over here!" I yell. They both notice me right away and come walking over.
"Hey Aubrey! Sorry for being so late! Azariah and I were just saying goodbye to a couple of our friends!"
"That's fine. Freware and Cesre, these are Kiaran and Azariah. The woman is Azariah, and the man is Kiaran. Kiaran and Azariah, these are Freware and Cesre. Freware's the tall one, and Cesre's the short one."
"Hi! Nice to meet you guys!" Kiaran says with a wide smile on his face.
"Same here, Aubrey's said a lot of things about you two." Frerare says
"Hi there." Cesre says.
I feel as though we're missing something. Then I realized that Azariah was the one who hadn't introduced herself. I look over to her, only to find her completely entranced by Cesre's eyes. She's just staring at them with her mouth open. This is a reaction I haven't ever seen from Azariah.
"Do you really like my eyes that much?" Cesre says. Azariah immediately breaks eye contact.
"I'm sorry…" I hear her say, barely audible. Cesre then walks up to her and… grabs her hair?
"It's fine, people are usually attracted to my eyes. Your hair is pretty too. That's a super rare color…"
Azariah doesn't say anything and just keeps looking away from Cesre. I really want to know how this situation is going to go, but as I'm watching I feel wind blowing everywhere.
"Hello Azariah! So this is where you were!" His appearance doesn't cause any major reaction from Kiaran or Azariah. Frerare and Cesre though are a different story. They're both truly shocked at the man with white hair, an umbrella, and is currently flying down to them.
"The… the dragon tamer…" Freware says with awe in her voice like I've never heard from her before.
"You actually did manage to meet him, Aubrey…" Cesre says in disbelief.
"Azariah met him, we never would have met if Azariah hadn't introduced me to him."
"H- hey! It's the dragon tamer!" Says someone from within the crowd of adventurers.
What follows after this is a whole bunch of people all crowd around Inell, and start asking him all sorts of questions like he's some sort of famous celebrity. Is Inell really that famous? I had no idea…
Kiaran somehow manages to convince literally everyone crowding around Inell to leave. I was paying attention to the whole situation too, and I still have no idea how Kiaran managed to pull that off.
After that calmed down, Inell thanked Kiaran and Azariah struck up a casual conversation with him that Freware and Cesre are still far too shocked to enter. Seriously, why is Inell really this big of a deal?
Everything after that goes fine. Nothing major happens until we're around five minutes away from leaving when quite a serious looking woman walks up to us. She seems familiar but I can't quite remember where I've seen her before.
"Librarian Von Stein… What are you doing all the way out here?" Azariah says, and then I remember. When I went to go and grab Azariah from work after Kiaran told me he was heading to the Ulfur Forest, she was there with Azariah.
"Oh, hey there, Lucidna!" Kiaran says. The woman appears to physically cringe.
"Kiaran? Just when did you meet this woman?"
"Oh, when Azariah and I were saying bye to everybody. She's Azariah's boss and the one who's been teaching her magic. Azariah really seems to like her, but she can definitely be really intense."
Lucidna and Azariah are talking in the background as Kiaran and I talk. Then Azariah interrupts us, which seems out of character at first.
"I need to speak with Lucidna really quickly, I won't be long, I swear." Then she leaves with Lucidna. What she needed Azariah for that would take less than five minutes, I have no clue.
We're just about to leave when Azariah comes back with a book that I didn't see either of them with. It's not very thick, probably around 200 pages, and on the cover is writing that I can't read. This only reminds me of just how much further along Azariah is than me.
"Azariah? Did Lucidna give you that? What for?" Kiaran asks.
"It's about a dream I had the other night. I'll tell you if it winds up being important."
Azariah shuts the conversation down before it even happens. They didn't need to speak with each other in private for five minutes just for Azariah to get a book. What they possibly could have been talking about, I have no idea.