Demoa - Wasteland (2)

“Inga, what’s wrong?” called Rad, who had also located the source of the scream.

He rushed toward her, and Demoa felt a pang of loss as he moved away.

“I… Elga… she’s gone…” Inga said tonelessly, still staring into the sky. “I can’t feel her anymore… I’ve always felt her, always faint in the background, but still there. Ever since she first came here, during her pilgrimage… since we…”

Her words failed, and she squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Do you think the other one… Ray… is still there?” Rad asked sharply, glancing up at the newborn sun, his face shadowed with doubt.

“Maybe. Maybe not. That’s not your concern. We’ll take care of it. We need a muldi for Demoa, NOW!” Eri’s voice suddenly cut through the air like a blade.

The Pilgrim came striding over, scanning the stunned crowd as they continued to gape at the miracle in the sky. With every step, he stabbed his gnarled staff into the ground, his thick eyebrows twitching with tension.

“I… bring a muldi!” Inga muttered, still on the ground, shaking her head.

Demoa barely had time to register what Eri had said before she found herself holding the vine reins of a young but surprisingly gentle muldi. Its trunk brushed softly through her hair.

“Eri, shouldn’t we—” she began, though she didn’t even know why she objected.

He clearly had more experience. He could use far more Lucidity than she could.

“I’m coming too. I have a muldi,” Rad said suddenly, his voice defiant as he stared at Eri.

The Pilgrim only laughed sharply.

“No, I don’t think so. After a breakthrough, the area’s unstable. Even if you’re lucid, you’d probably get fried by a discharge before you even knew what was happening,” he said, casting Rad a dark, warning look.

Thank the Light he never looks at me like that… Demoa thought, shivering.

Rad returned Eri’s glare, and for a moment she thought he might argue again. However, he simply nodded, and the Pilgrim turned toward the animals.

Demoa was about to follow when Rad gently touched her shoulder again.

“I’ll follow at a distance. Far enough that he doesn’t notice. Don’t worry, I won’t be far. I might not have Lucidity, but I still want to know what’s going on out there. And if it comes to it… maybe I can help you,” he whispered, his lips so close to her ear that she felt the warmth of his breath.

If only he’d stay this close… she thought.

But Rad turned quickly and disappeared between some people and buildings.

Is it because of the sun and the breakthrough that he wants to come after us? Or because... of me? No, impossible! she told herself, hurrying after Eri with her muldi in tow.

It didn’t take long before Sars and Olver had mounted their own animals, and soon they were riding off, heading toward the place where the blazing pillar had first emerged. Wind tore at her clothes and whipped across her face. Despite the sun’s warmth, she felt cold now, and a heavy sense of foreboding made her swallow hard.

What if that out there… isn’t Ray in the Dream anymore? What if she gave herself over to something that consumed her? Will we find remains? Or will she simply be gone, like those two men she woke in her panic?

Demoa had no idea what to expect, and that scared her. Fields and meadows flew past as Eri led them onward, ever deeper into the direction from which the sun had come. Even with her companions nearby, she felt alone atop her muldi, clutching tightly to its dark mane. She stared at the back of Eri’s flowing robe.

What will we find? Ray? Elga? But Inga said she couldn’t feel Elga anymore. Is that like what Ray said about Dio? A connection, just weaker? How…?

No matter how she tried, she couldn’t shake the sense that they were heading into a situation that might mean their waking. And Demoa wasn’t ready to awaken. She wanted to stay longer in the light the sun now offered, to cultivate and understand who she really was. And she wanted to see Rad again. Those mysterious eyes, that well-built frame… Merely thinking about him made her warm again.

Was it even wise to follow that thought? Hadn’t Dio let Ray go for the very same reason? To give her space to find herself?

Do I even want to find myself? Or do I just want to find someone who’ll stay with me? Demoa suddenly questioned.

She’d seen how Ray and Dio had acted around each other, seen that they were happy. Could she have something like that too? Maybe with Rad? Or was that only a foolish fantasy? Was she meant for a different path? A path toward the Light, her own lonely path, before there was time for anyone else?

She gripped the muldi’s mane tighter and pressed her lips together.

Stop thinking like that. First of all, Eri’s not someone who gives in to nonsense, and second, Rad probably isn’t even interested in me specifically, only in Lucids in general! She scolded herself and looked ahead.

The flower fields with their ocher blossoms and yellow grasses were calming, but before long, they reached the first areas where holes had been torn into the ground. The material that had once formed the earth floated several arm lengths above the ground, still crackling with white sparks and streaks of lightning. The further they rode, the more distortions and cracks appeared in the terrain: swirls in the air, and red plants growing wildly tall and thick, as if something had deeply nourished them.

Then they passed through zones where massive stone slabs and column-like rocks jutted from the ground, looking as if invisible forces had ripped them apart and then changed their mind, leaving chunks and shards suspended in midair. The air smelled burnt and spent, then suddenly fresh and alive, as if Demoa were walking through a lush grove. The constant shifts in sensation wore her out, and she had to fight to stay focused.

The muldis carried them over increasingly unstable terrain until, finally, a point of light appeared in the distance.

Ray!

As they drew closer, they had to navigate over widening fissures and through enormous craters where massive chunks of dark earth and stone floated in the air, surrounded by sizzling sparks. Again and again, they came dangerously close to sudden flashes, but Sars took the lead and managed to guide them safely through.

Then, Demoa saw Ray more clearly. She was sitting atop a torn hilltop, only a bright white figure, glowing so intensely it was almost impossible to distinguish her body.

Sars raised his hand and slowed his muldi. Demoa did the same, and soon they stood at the edge of the jagged rise where the glowing figure loomed.

“It’s dangerous around here. Whatever’s happening to her, it’s still going on,” he said, glancing at Eri for confirmation.

“Yes. She’s still within herself. And probably… still up there too,” Eri confirmed thoughtfully, pointing toward the sun.

“Isn’t there anything we can do?” Demoa asked, shielding her eyes.

Near Ray, the sunlight felt almost scorching.

“No. Just wait,” Eri confirmed, dismounting.

He looked around, stroking his beard, but his gaze kept drifting back to Ray and the sun, which now seemed to have shifted slightly.

“It was a worldchange,” he whispered, jabbing his wooden staff into the ground, where it sparked with faint red fire.

“A what? What does that mean?” Olver asked.

“Probably the obvious,” Demoa said, trying not to sound too harsh.

Eri gave her a nod.

“Yes. A transformation of the Dream. Or more precisely, of this realm. There are accounts from the few who’ve undertaken astral journeys, rumors of events that radically change the nature of a Dream’s realm. That bring something new. That mark the beginning of a new era. That sun up there…” he pointed again, “that sun has changed the sky. Something new has arrived. Whether it’s good or bad, we’ll see. But since everything here seems touched by Light, I’m not too worried.”

“But… the sun… I know I only just remembered it. Why I would ever forget something so important, I don’t know. But why did it have to be brought? Why wasn’t it always there?” Demoa asked.

“I don’t know. But doesn’t it feel illuminating? Like something that brings clarity? Maybe other realms in the Dream already have suns. Maybe ours is simply young. Or maybe this one is unique. Maybe the sun is meant only for us…” Eri mused aloud, then shook his head. “In any case, we wait.”

So they sat down on a patch of flower field that Ray’s breakthrough had not yet fully destroyed and waited, wordlessly, for something to happen. Eri had been right: the light surrounding the figure in the distance slowly faded, and soon Demoa could see golden, glowing hair. And at last, Ray, kneeling, surrounded by a soft white shimmer.

“Now?” Olver asked impatiently.

“He’ll tell us. He’s the lucid one,” Sars replied.

Eri simply grunted.

More time passed. The sun above them had now clearly shifted from the place it had first appeared. Demoa kept glancing up at it but made sure to shield her eyes. Elga had taught her a few basic techniques for using the Light, even if they were only minor abilities, like making her hand glow faintly or healing the painful sting of a rosalia bush. The latter had taken Demoa ages. She didn’t want to risk wasting energy on careless injuries, like minor damage to her eyesight.

Demoa knew what it meant to lose her vision and more, even if it had only been temporary…

Elga patched me up so fast, and I still take forever just to deal with the tiniest scratches, she thought, looking down at the ground, disheartened.

“I think it’s time,” Eri suddenly said, rising to his feet.

He walked slowly and carefully toward Ray, who now only glowed faintly. Demoa followed him, with Sars and Olver close behind, their eyes scanning the shifting terrain with uneasy focus. As they drew closer, more details became visible... and a lump formed in Demoa’s throat.

There wasn’t a single trace of Elga.

Ray, no…! Why? What’s inside you? Why is Elga gone? Did you really…? She was not yet a friend to you, but I think she cared deeply for you… For all of us... Ray…

Demoa felt wetness on her cheeks and wiped at her eyes and face. She glanced sideways at Eri, but he didn’t seem to notice. His mouth was set, the corners tense as he continued walking toward Ray.

Once she had finally gotten her tears mostly under control and pushed her thoughts of Elga aside, Demoa's gaze fell on Ray again. The young woman was kneeling on the ground, her arms limp at her sides, resting on molten stone. Her beautiful, straight golden hair draped across her shoulders as though even the strands needed to rest after what had happened. Her eyes were closed, and on her cheeks were white, glittering lines branching downward to her neck. Dried tears.

The air still smelled scorched, tinged with the sweetness of blooms. And yet Demoa now felt something like… reverence.

The way Ray sat there, softly glowing and seemingly at peace, the pale tears etched on her face speaking of deep pain and regret. She looked almost like a prying to unknown deities that could alleviate her sorrow.

“Can we touch her? Can I lift her onto my muldi?” Sars asked Eri, studying Ray with a look of awe.

Olver had knelt beside them, his head bowed, lips moving in silent prayer.

“I think so. Let’s get out of here. We need to reach the Monastery. The next settlement is farther away, but we might make it before the sun touches the horizon,” Eri said between breaths, already turning to leave without another word.

Sars snorted, then stepped the last few paces toward Ray. He paused in front of her and swallowed hard.

“You’re sure about this too, Lucid?” he asked, looking to Demoa.

Her thoughts spun.

How would I know? Maybe?

But if Eri said it, then it was probably true. Demoa nodded quickly, backing the Pilgrim’s judgment.

Sars nodded back and lifted Ray onto Olver’s muldi.

The man laid her gently across the animal’s neck, adjusting her position so she wouldn’t slip but wouldn’t be disturbed in her cultivation either.

“I promise I’ll look after her. It’s like… like I’m seeing clearly for the first time. And she made that possible. Life here suddenly feels so much fuller,” Olver said with a short, almost restrained smile, but Demoa could see the awe glowing inside him.

Demoa felt somewhat relieved, though she couldn’t help scanning the area around them.

Is Rad really nearby? Or was that merely big talk? Damn it. He probably just said that to sound brave…

She urged her muldi forward again. Her eyes drifted to the horizon… and to Ray, who now hung like a lifeless sack over the muldi’s neck.

I hope you wake up soon, Ray. I have to ask you what happened to Elga… Will you tell me? Oh, Elga, I wish you could have seen the sun. That special place in the Dream you always talked about... I think there’s a much greater hope of finding it now.