Cure

“What?!” Katie exploded, ears and tail popping into reality as her focus slipped so hard her illusions shattered.

“Ears.” I said matter-of-factly as they flicked back and forth.

“The hell with my ears!” She yowled, clenching her fists. “What do you mean you found the cure?”

“I’ll explain later.” I promised. “For now, let's just focus on getting everyone together.”

And thus began my first official tour of the Academy. By ‘tour’, I mean Kiku moving like a speed demon, pressing seemingly-random stones and saying phrases without context. But with each one, the walls split open, revealing secret passageways that had no telltale signs of being there before. In less than fifteen minutes, we’d gone from just outside the Library Tower on the south-western side of the huge castle-like structure to the Crystal Lake far to the north.

Or, that was the orientation I’d been using anyway. I guess compass directions didn’t really exist on a floating island in a pocket dimension cut off from time itself.

“Akua!!” Kiku called out in Japanese. “Good news, you’re getting your legs back!”

A ripple appeared on the surface of the lake, pretty close to the shore. Soon after, a head emerged; soaking wet And with sea-green hair. Besides that she looked… Japanese, actually. She had an Asian skintone and almond-shaped eyes that shone the colour of the ocean on a sunny day.

“Oh! Hello, Kiku. I was wondering when you'd come to visit me.” she replied, coming closer to the shore. She gave me a little wave and blew a kiss to Katie before turning back to the Changing One. “What do you mean I'm getting my legs back?”

I smiled and held out my hand. “She did it. After all these centuries we've finally got a cure.”

She gasped, pulling away slightly. “You're joking…” Her eyes were narrowed. Suspicious.

“Nope.” I answered, offering my hand more obviously. “Now, gimme your hand - or we'll never get to the others.”

She finally took it, and I shot some maja through her, kickstarting a Shift to give her her legs - though it wouldn't feel natural coming from an outside source. And, for good measure, I turned her crop-top into a swimsuit-slash-summer-dress fusion.

She was a little unsteady, tripping over her own toes - luckily I still had her hand to stop her from falling flat on her face. “It's okay, I gotcha.”

“Thanks…” she mumbled, looking down at her feet.

“Don't sweat it, now come on we've still got four more to pick up!” I replied, taking off and dragging her behind me like a kite.

Raya, of course, was in the Eastern Forest among the other nature spirits.

I burst into what looked like a conclave of all the eldest nymphs we sheltered here. Dryssa, Raya, Hydryl, a few others I didn't remember the names of. They looked like they'd been arguing about something when I dragged everyone through the undergrowth.

“What brings you here, Ancient One?” Hydryl asked, his voice bubbling like a river’s heart.

“I don’t mean to interrupt, I just need Raya for a little while.” I turned to her. “C’mon, it’s time to go. She’s done it.”

“So the Prophecy comes to pass.” She mused, turning back to the other spirits. “I apologize, Elders, but it appears I must take my leave of you.”

Cyfelle proved as elusive as ever - trust a Scryer to avoid you when you need 'em most. Eventually I had to start tracking her by her aura, through the winding halls and misused study areas to the Library Tower.

Another presence at the top of the tower sparked at my sudden arrival, but I ignored it for now. Nova could wait.

Cyfrelle was digging through a dozen tomes and grimoires almost as old as me, frantically scribbling in a notebook as she cross-referenced everything.

“Cyf.” I called, staying by the entryway. I didn't wanna break her clarity forcibly unless there wasn't another choice.

Blank. No response.

“Cyf!”

Still nothing. Fine…

“Cyfrelle Deltanyse!” I barked, stepping over the books, glostars flaring up behind me.

Finally, her eyes cleared up, the foggy haze of fervent searching fading to the background.

“Oh, hello Amaranth.” She said, closing the booklet. “Raya, Katie, you must be Daniel, and… Hello, Aoi…”

H-how?? How did she know my name already? We'd just met!

She looked like a High Elf from a fantasy anime - golden skin, golden hair, eyes shining like sunlight. She was wearing a pristine white robe with gold accents - not to mention a plethora of beads, bangles and bracelets that clattered with her every movement.

Akua was looking up at Cyfrelle with… a mix of love and pain? Did that mean there was something between those two? Something to ask Kikster later - assuming he’d actually answer. The guy was infuriatingly vague about his and the other Masters’ history.

“Hi, Cyf… It’s… been a while…” Her words were so choked I could barely translate the Japanese. There was definitely something there.

“Sorry, girls, no time for that now.” Kiku cut in, one of his star things flying between them. “Krystal’s found the Cure, Cyf. I know you two aren’t exactly on good terms, but you deserve to know as much as any of us. Will you come with us?”

She sighed, rubbing her temples before moving to a desk and picking up a pair of glasses rimmed with gold. “I want freedom from this curse as much as any other, Ama. Regardless of my feelings for the Goddess of Change, or hers for me, we can remain professional around each other.”

Last but not least… The West Wood. Kage inside, countless monsters outside.

“It looks dangerous.” Dan said, walking up next to me.

“It is, kiddo. This is where all those who succumb to the Abyss Fever are contained.”

Katie came over next, grabbing my hand. “Are you sure about this, Pinky? Y’know what’s become of… of him.”

“Yeah, Katie. I do. That’s why I’m going in there alone.”

Immediately, protests rose up.

“It’s too risky - You’ll get hurt - He’s not worth that-”

“Oh shut up, all of you.” Cyf scoffed, voice rising above a level I'd ever heard from her before. “He’s already made up his mind, and your whimpering won’t change it.”

“Wish me luck.” I joked, sparking a glostar and walking forwards. Into the Woods.

It was dark in here. Impressively so. Even with my eyes and my magic I could barely see three feet in front of me. Even the smallest noise made me spin round, ready to start blasting. Nothing - not even your own senses - could be trusted in these Abyss-tainted shadows.

“Kiku.”

I threw a glostar upwards, just glimpsing Kage before he ducked behind a tree.

“You ought to know better than to enter the foliage of this forest.”

“Krystal found the Cure. It was only fair to come get you.” I replied, spinning slowly, straining my eyes and ears for a hint of where he was. Just because we were friends didn’t mean it was a good idea to lose track of him - he was still heavily corrupted, after all.

“Go and enjoy your freedom, then. It’s too late for me - and the students we sealed in here.”

“Never say never, Rys. You don’t know it’s too late for you.”

A ruffle of fabric, followed by a cold grasp on my wrist. Kage’s voice was right in my ear when he next spoke.

“Cures are not something for a creature of darkness. You of all people know what I am.”

“Just because your name means shadow doesn’t mean you have to live in them.” I spat, pulling myself free. “I’m leaving these woods with you or not at al-”

“I said GO!!”

Before I could register anything I was spinning through the air at ridiculous speed, well above the canopy. Right as I was readjusting my bearings-

BANG!

I have no clue how long I was unconscious. It could’ve been five seconds, it could’ve been an hour. All I know is, waking up was a mistake.

My eyes opened, and with them, a searing pain in my chest and left arm. Everyone was gathered around me like mourners at a coffin. “Well… that could’ve gone worse.” I wheezed. Yep… that was broken ribs… at least three of the bastards… and - owww… And a dislocated shoulder.

Akua clasped my hand, muttering in… Hebrew? When did she learn that language? A puzzle for another time - gyahh! My broken bones snapped back into place with as much pain as the breaking had caused, almost making me pass out again. I waved her off before she tried doing my shoulder as well - That at least I could do myself. Roughly grabbing my arm right above the elbow I popped the joint back into place with a squishy crunch, biting my tongue to stop the paragraph of old-school cuss-outs that I was about to spit.

He just… Got up and walked it off… What kind of monster was my teacher?? Anyone else would be dead - that was at least a fifty-foot fall he just had.

“Kikster!” I yelled, running to catch up to him. “You alright?”

“Yes, Daniel. One of my oldest friends just rejected a chance at restoration and threw me fifty-six feet into the air to emphasize the point. Never been better.”

I slowed down as he sped up. I… what could I say to something like that?

The Rotunda was full an hour later - good. We needed all the current students here, ready to be Warped by Krystal. The other Masters came in soon after, Daniel trailing behind them. I should probably apologize for earlier - I was too harsh on him.

“Only five of us left.” I sighed as Katie drew close.

She nodded sadly. “I miss her too, but she needs to find herself first - same as you do.” she booped my nose as she finished speaking, making me blink.

I shook off the surprise and moved to the centre of the room, sending a maja trail to Krystal to signify we were ready. Not long after that the WarpGate around us opened, sending us hurtling through the fabric of space-time in the most stomach-churning experience a mortal could endure.

The Shifting Realm… A place of half-formed ideas, forgotten fantasies, and mass without matter. A place so antithetical to the Abyss that it couldn’t touch this realm at all - hence why Krystal made it her home domain.

Speaking of… there she was. The solitary Goddess of Change, ironically, hadn’t changed since we first met. Same pure white dress, same fiery hair to the waist, same piercing green eyes literally glowing with divine power.

“Greetings, Amaranth.” She smiled, glancing at the twenty-three people standing on what passed for her porch. “Katie, Raya, Cyfrelle, Aoi… Daniel…”

“Hey, Krystal, been a-”

The kid passed out mid-sentence. Krystal crouched down and felt his pulse.

“Oh, dear child… you aren’t ready…” She murmured. Did she just… wipe a tear from her eye?

She stood up, holding the kid in her arms. “It’s time, whether I like it or not. I hope, for this universe’s sake, you all are prepared.”

My eyes flashed gold as I answered. “Ready as we’ll ever be.”