She opened her eyes.
She found herself standing in the middle of a scene that felt both familiar and strangely distant. She looked down at herself, and it was just her, not a child, not a mixed breed of animal, but herself. An adult, a college student. The room soon became visible, it was a classroom, and like all classrooms she had been to, it was stark, almost clinical, with harsh lighting that seemed to want to burn her eyes. There was a desk in front and two chairs, she was on one and the other beside her was her mom.
Her mom… She looked at her, and she hadn't aged a day. Healthy round cheeks and kind tired eyes, but there was something behind it. Something that she was used to but hurt to see, sadness but most of all disappointment. She wanted to run to her, hug her, say she's sorry for whatever made her sad, sorry she made her sad. But a different voice boomed across the room.
"Grace." She reflexively snapped her head forward. There she was, a middle-aged woman adjusting her glasses. "Are you finally paying attention?" That voice, that tone, she knew it all too well.
Just the sight of her almost made her heart jump out of her skin. It was Miss Mariam, her professor for Statistics and Probability 101. She'd always hated her class, her lectures, her assignments, the numbers, percentages, equations seemed like an alien language to her. And it didn't help that the feeling was mutual.
"Grace," Miss Mariam said again, her raspy voice cutting through the air like a knife. She placed a large stack of files, folders, and papers on the desk in front of her. "These are the works you have been missing due to your… absences."
Right… absences… She wondered what excuse she could come up with this time. Could a person be sick for months? A quiet gasp from her right – she knew her mom was shocked and pained, even without looking at her. Yeah, guess what, Mom? Your daughter couldn't care less about the education you value so much.
"Grace!" She was forced to look up with a clammy hand roughly holding her cheeks, "Pay attention." Miss Mariam slammed a paper down on the desk. "Assignment one on statistical theories… missed." Another followed, "Project two on probability applications… not submitted." And then another, and another. More and more papers kept piling up.
She felt her hand being squeezed tightly, too tightly. It was her mom, her grip meant as reassurance, but it hurt. It hurts… mom it hurts!
She tried to scream, but no words came. Nothing, nada, the harsh jarring thud of paper and cardboard clapping against the hard surface of the desk becoming louder and louder with each one piling. The teacher's voice ringing in her ear, screaming, taunting she can't–
Grace awoke with a jolt, her heart pounding in her chest. The nightmare had felt so real, the sights, the sounds, the emotions - it had all seemed viscerally tangible. She took a shaky breath, trying to ground herself in the present moment.
Beside her, Carter stirred, his brow furrowing as he peered at her through the dim firelight. "Grace? What's wrong?"
She hesitated, not wanting to worry him with the details of her unsettling dream. "It's…it's nothing. Just a bad dream, that's all."
Carter studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Hmm. Well, in any case, we should get moving. The sooner we reach the Heart of Tír na nÓg, the better."
Grace nodded, pushing herself up from her sleeping bag. As she stretched her stiff limbs, the details of the nightmare began to fade, replaced by a sense of trepidation about the day ahead.
The forest had grown denser overnight, the canopy of leaves and branches overhead blocking out much of the morning light. Grace couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as she followed Carter through the winding path, her gaze constantly sweeping the shadowy undergrowth for any sign of danger.
"So, this Heart of Tír na nÓg," Grace began, her voice low, "what exactly is it supposed to be?"
Carter glanced back at her, his expression pensive. "From what I've gathered, it's a powerful magical source that lies at the heart of this forest. The legends say it's akin to a wellspring of raw magical energy - the very lifeblood of this entire ecosystem."
Grace frowned. "So if we take it, what happens to the forest?"
"It will…wither and die, I imagine," Carter replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "The Heart is what sustains this entire region. Without it, the balance will be irreparably disrupted."
Grace's steps faltered, and she stared at Carter, aghast. "You mean to say you're going to devastate an entire ecosystem just to power some…some weapon or castle or whatever it is you're after?"
Carter stayed silent for a moment, "Do you care? Are you seriously having second thought just now?"Grace considered before she answered with a firm "No." She saw Carter's head tilted, "I just..I guess you could ask why should I care. I wasn't that eco-friendly to begin with and even I was, this isn't my world."
As she moved a branch away, her eyes widened at the sight before her: a massive tree towering above, its gnarled roots snaking into the earth.
As Grace approached the towering tree, her breath caught in her throat. Tendrils of mist curled around its base, nestled within the heart of the tree, a dazzling crystal glimmered, its facets catching the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy above. The crystal's surface danced with an array of colors - deep sapphire blues melding with vibrant emerald greens, shot through with veins of shimmering gold.
Grace found herself drawn closer, her feet moving of their own accord. As she neared the crystal, she could feel the air humming with palpable energy, the fine hairs on her arms standing on end.
Grace snapped out of her daze, shaking her head slightly. "Uh, okay, cool, we found it. Now do we just…get it?"
Carter dropped the satchel bag and began rummaging through it, pulling out various devices. "I'm afraid it's not as simple as that. Given the whole forest dying without it situation."
He held up a slender metal rod, its length etched with intricate carvings and runes that glowed faintly. "So in order for us to remain intact as the forest crumbles to ash, we must secure a force field where we will extract the crystal from its core."
"This," Carter said, his voice akin to a child showing their parents a drawing they did, "is a force field emitter, specifically designed for magical entities like the Heart of Tír na nÓg. It's not just about physical containment; it's about balancing the energy flow so as not to disturb the natural equilibrium of the forest."
Carefully, he positioned the rod, ensuring it stood perfectly upright. Satisfied, he produced a small device that resembled a cross between a remote control and an arcane talisman, adorned with buttons and glowing symbols.
"Now, when I activate this," he continued, pressing a sequence of buttons, "it will create a controlled barrier around the crystal. It's designed to harmonize with the crystal's energy frequency, allowing us to transport it without causing harm to the forest or ourselves."
As he activated the device, a shimmering dome of light materialized around the crystal, casting a serene glow in the alcove. The forcefield hummed softly, a sound that was both technological and organic, as if the device was speaking to the crystal in a language only they understood.
Carter watched the forcefield, humming thoughtfully. "There," he said finally, "it's stable now."
Grace looked at the encapsulated crystal, a frown on her face. "Wait, so we're destroying a whole forest for this crystal? And we just carry it back like this?"
"Yes," Carter nodded, then shook his head. "And no, my force field can only do so much. Which is why I developed another technology," he said, producing another metal device. "This here will carry our bodies and transport us outside of the forest. So when we extract the crystal and the forest begins to decrease, we will use it to teleport to safety."
Grace didn't give herself a chance to fully comprehend what he was saying. She simply clapped her hands and gestured to the crystal. "Well, extract the thingamajig then, and we can go back to Lydia and the serpentines. I miss them, so get to it."
"Ah, yes," Carter said, "you have to do it."
Grace furrowed her brow, taken aback by Carter's request. "Me? Why do I have to be the one to extract the crystal?" she asked, her tone laced with apprehension.
Carter cleared his throat, his expression shifting slightly. "Well, you see, the force field I've created is calibrated to your unique energy signature. You're the only one who can safely interact with the Heart without disrupting the delicate balance."
Grace stared at Carter, her mouth agape. "You're telling me this now?"
"Well, what did you expect? I said I needed you. You think I wanted your company?"Grace closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm the storm of emotions raging within her. Part of her wanted to lash out at Carter, wanted her company and here she thought they were becoming…She doesn't know. Whatever just get this over with.
Steeling herself, Grace turned to face the crystal, its mesmerizing light casting a kaleidoscope of colors across her face. She stepped closer, each movement measured and cautious, as if approaching a wild animal that might bolt at any sudden noise.
As she drew nearer, the air around the crystal seemed to thicken, humming with an energy that set Grace's nerves on edge. A shiver raced down her spine as she raised her hands, fingers outstretched toward the crystal's shimmering surface.
"Well here's goes..nothing I guess?"
At first, nothing happened; the crystal remained still under my touch, its light continuing to pulse rhythmically.
Then, suddenly, a blinding light erupted from the crystal. It was so intense, so overpowering, that I had to close my eyes against the brilliance. The world around me seemed to dissolve into this overwhelming radiance, every other sensation fading away.
Grace reached out and pressed her palm against the crystal's surface. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, a blinding light exploded from the crystal, engulfing Grace in its brilliance. She cried out, squeezing her eyes shut. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished, all she could see was darkness.