The void was oppressive, endless, and silent. Darkness stretched in all directions, its weight pressing against Mickel's chest as though the void itself sought to consume him. He floated aimlessly, his breaths shallow, his thoughts chaotic.
"El-Elsa! Mary! Anyone there?" His voice echoed, fading into nothingness as if the darkness swallowed his every word. The names of his sisters felt like fragile lifelines, their syllables barely holding him together. But no response came. The silence was deafening, his isolation unbearable.
Mickel twisted his body, hoping to find some sense of up or down, but there was none. It was a complete absence—not just of light or sound, but of meaning itself. He was utterly, terrifyingly alone.
He stopped moving and let himself drift, closing his eyes as panic threatened to consume him. Where are they? Why can't I remember how I got here? His mind raced with fragments of memories, flashes of laughter, warmth, and familiarity. Elsa's confident smirk as she teased him. Mary's gentle hum as she wove flowers into his hair. They were so vivid, yet so distant, like a dream fading upon waking.
Frustration built within him, coiling in his chest like a serpent. His sisters were gone, and he was powerless to find them. His fists clenched, and for the first time, he opened his eyes.
The act was instinctive, born of desperation. Yet, the moment his eyelids lifted, something extraordinary happened. Light erupted from within him, piercing through the void with a brilliance so intense it forced him to shield his gaze.
The void resisted the light at first, twisting and trembling as if reluctant to let go of its claim. But Mickel's resolve grew, and so did the light. It expanded outward, its warmth chasing away the cold emptiness. Colors emerged, first faint and hesitant, then bold and vibrant. Streaks of gold and crimson swirled together, forming a horizon where there had been none.
Mickel floated at the center of it all, awe-struck. The light didn't just illuminate—it created. A vast sky stretched above him, dotted with countless stars that shimmered like gems on black velvet. Below him, land began to take shape, jagged mountains rising like the spines of some ancient beast. Rivers carved their paths through valleys, and forests sprang to life in bursts of emerald green.
He lowered his hands and stared at them, trembling. Did I do this?
The world felt alive, pulsing with energy. Yet something was missing. The weight in Mickel's heart remained, heavier than ever. His sisters were nowhere to be seen.
"El-Elsa? Mary?" he called again, his voice trembling. The land answered this time—not with words, but with motion.
A gust of wind swirled around him, carrying whispers too faint to understand. The ground rumbled beneath him, and from the horizon, a shadow rose. It wasn't his sisters, but something else entirely.
A massive dragon emerged from the mist, its scales shimmering like molten silver under the starlight. Its wings stretched wide, casting an imposing shadow over the newborn land. Its eyes, ancient and piercing, locked onto Mickel with an intensity that froze him in place.
"You," the dragon rumbled, its voice like thunder rolling through the mountains, "are not meant to be here."
Mickel's mouth went dry. "What do you mean? I… I created this place!"
The dragon lowered its head, smoke curling from its nostrils. "You created nothing. You opened your eyes, and the light of your soul tore through the void. This world was born of your desperation, but it is incomplete."
"Incomplete?" Mickel echoed, his fear giving way to confusion.
The dragon's gaze softened, though its voice remained firm. "Your heart is fractured. This world reflects your turmoil. If you wish to find those you seek, you must understand your power—and yourself."
Mickel took a step back, his head spinning. "I don't understand! I just want to find my sisters!"
"Then you must create," the dragon said. It extended one massive claw, drawing a line in the air. From the line, a cascade of stars poured forth, forming shapes that flickered and twisted before settling into constellations.
"This is your canvas," the dragon continued. "Fill it. Shape it. Your sisters may lie hidden in the corners of your creation—or in the depths of your soul. Only by forging this world can you uncover the truth."
Mickel stared at the stars, his pulse quickening. The dragon's words were cryptic, yet something about them resonated with him. He looked at his hands again, flexing his fingers. The light that had pierced the void still lingered, flickering faintly like the embers of a dying fire.
He took a deep breath and extended his hand toward the horizon. The light surged forth once more, painting the sky with streaks of crimson and violet. He imagined a sun, and one blazed into existence, its warmth kissing his skin. He imagined oceans, and they roared into being, their waves crashing against the jagged cliffs.
The dragon watched in silence, its expression unreadable.
But as Mickel poured his energy into creation, doubt began to creep in. What if this was all for nothing? What if his sisters were truly gone?
The light faltered, and with it, the world began to waver. The sky dimmed, the oceans receded, and the mountains crumbled into dust.
"No!" Mickel cried out, clutching his chest as pain seared through him. The dragon stepped forward, its shadow enveloping him.
"Creation is an act of will," it said. "Doubt is your enemy. Let your heart guide you, and your world will endure."
Mickel fell to his knees, his breaths ragged. The light flickered in his hands, threatening to vanish entirely. But then he thought of Elsa's laughter, Mary's gentle smile. He thought of their warmth, their love.
And he stood.
The light blazed once more, stronger than before. The world returned, more vibrant and intricate than ever. Forests teemed with life, rivers glittered like silver threads, and the sky was a masterpiece of endless possibility.
The dragon nodded, satisfaction gleaming in its eyes. "Good. Now, your journey begins."
As the dragon vanished into the mist, Mickel gazed at the world he had created. It was beautiful, yet it felt like only the beginning. Somewhere, hidden in the depths of this universe, his sisters were waiting.
And he would find them—no matter what it took.