Memories of a Forgotten Past

Several more days passed before Lacia regained the use of her legs. She knew recovery would be slow and had already prepared for the possibility she may never use them again. Thankfully, she was able to prove herself wrong.

“I can finally stop being bed-ridden,” she thought. An exuberant smile shied its way onto her face. Being paralyzed from the waist down had grown old. She hated feeling helpless.

Desperately, Lacia ventured her way out of the med-bay. Her legs were still weak, but she could at least stand, propping herself up against the wall. She hadn’t felt the sun on her skin in weeks. The sound of waves breaking against the ship deepened her desire to get outside, again. Stepping onto the deck, she stopped as she inhaled the fresh ocean air. The smell of salt on the sea was something other than bleach for once.

Scanning the horizon, she was met by an endless ocean. She had grown tired of playing musical beds and medical tests, but she had grown just as weary of all the water. Five minutes on solid ground and she'd call it a day.

“At least I don’t get seasick,” she thought.

Curiously, a new scent had mixed in with the salty spray of wind and water. “Is that… smoke?” she muttered. “It smells like a fire, but the only thing for miles is water. Not exactly great for making fires with,” she said, sarcasm dripping from her words.

Hoisting herself onto the railing, she leaned over for a better view. The railing sweltered in the blazing sun. It was blistering-hot to the touch, but she didn’t care. She dangled her legs over the edge, seeking pleasure from the thrill of something so dangerous.

“Finally,” she said, breathing heavily. The sun kissed her cheeks. Light sea spray occasionally splashed up for a hello. “It feels amazing out here. I guess that’s what weeks of being locked in dark rooms will do to you.”

Out of caution, she climbed down from the railing, finally realizing how bad her legs were shaking. Clutching the railing like it was the only thing between her and the depths of the ocean she gazed out over the horizon once more, scanning the skies for any signs of smoke. It was entirely possible she wasn’t smelling anything. The near-constant stench of bleach had permeated her nose, gradually eroding her sense of smell bit by bit.

A brief gust of wind slammed into Lacia, nearly knocking her back. Her hair billowed in the breeze, a beautiful flurry of silver that reflected the sun's rays like crystals. The wind carried the scent of smoke on it still, stronger this time. She was determined to find its origin. It was early afternoon, and everyone was enjoying an afternoon nap which meant the smoke wasn’t coming from the ship. That left only one other option.

Another gust of wind battered Lacia, significantly colder this time. She shivered, wrapping her arms around her body for warmth as she released her hold from the railing. Realizing her mistake, she hopelessly thrust her arms out, hoping to grab her only means of support.

She crumpled to the deck in a heap, unable to support herself on her quaking legs. An audible crunch emanated from her foot, promptly finding itself lost in the agonizing screams of pain that reverberated across the ship. The sound of a heavy metal door joined the chorus. A familiar voice quickly broke the symphony of noise. “What the hell are you doing out here and what the hell happened to your foot?!”

“As much as I hate to see you right now,” Lacia said through heavy sobs, “I really need your help.” She pointed to the foot she had fallen on, now twisted 180 degrees the other direction. “Please, help." She sobbed. "Aria–"

She looked at Lacia with a mixture of confusion and bewilderment. “I’ve never even seen a break like this before in my life,” Aria said in disbelief. “With a break that bad, I can’t afford to move you without risking the integrity of the foot muscles. I’m sure you’d like to walk again at some–”

“Twenty,” Lacia interrupted. The very sight of her mangled foot made her physically ill.

“Excuse me?” Aria replied.

“On a one to ten scale, my pain is at a twenty.” Her foot was already beginning to swell as it turned purple from the bruising. A small crimson puddle collected beneath.

“Lacia, listen to me.” She took a deep breath. “You more than likely caused a clean break, in which case I can’t do much,” Aria explained, concernedly examining Lacia’s foot. “Ok. Tell you what. I’ll have to give you a pain killer before I move you, but the only way I can do this is if you work with me.”

A small bag was draped across Aria’s chest. She rummaged through and pulled out a small syringe and vial. “This,” Aria said, emphasizing the contents, “is pretty powerful stuff. What I need you to do is try and sit straight.”

Lacia’s breathing was ragged and inconsistent as she carefully adjusted her position. Several minutes passed. She was sick with nausea and embroiled with pain, but she remained seated in an upright position.

“It won’t take the pain away completely,” Aria cautioned, "but it should help considerably. I should warn you, though,” unease crept into her voice, "if this isn’t a clean break, I will have to reset your foot and you will feel that.”

Lacia’s began to close her eyes as she swayed back and forth, in sync with the motion of the ship. The world faded away in a dull collapse of color as everything seemed to pull away from her. She reached out a hand, desperate to hold on to something, anything, but her hand fell empty. Somewhere in the expanse she could hear Aria calling out to her, struggling to keep her conscious.

Snaaap. The sound was sickening. The resetting of human bones as they snapped back into place too first place for worst experiences. Aria reset the broken foot in one quick motion, successfully pulling Lacia out of her semi-conscious daze. She silently cheered. Without warning, a hand swept through the air, meeting Aria’s cheek with a clamorous slap.

“And that’s the thanks I get for helping you?”

“Sorry,” Lacia weakly replied. “Force of habit.”

“How many people do you consistently slap that hard? That hurt!”

“Just you. I get lots of practice in my dreams,” Lacia smirked before she passed out from the pain.

Several voices drifted into Lacia’s room, but she was unsure if they were real or part of a dream.

“...Yes. We successfully… foot…”

“But… is completely splintered?”

“... heal… way it was…to–”

She couldn’t make heads or tails of the conversation as she drifted in and out of sleep. Whatever it was about, she would deal with it when she was fully-conscious.

“Why are you so insistent we dock and take her to a mainland hospital? Look at these!”

“It’s the fact that the bone is so splintered that we should take her to an actual hospital!”

Bickering pulled Lacia from her slumber. Whoever it was, they weren’t very observant. She gradually opened her eyes, adjusting to the light of the room. The shade on the door had been pulled down for privacy, but she could still hear the bickering from the hall.

“Dammit, Aria! Stop trying to fight me on this.”

“With all due respect, Doctor, she’s been unconscious for a three days. At the very least, we need to have her looked at by an expert.”

An exasperated sigh crept in from the hall. “If you want to go out there, be my guest, but I won’t be able to help you once you debark the ship.”

“Thank you Doctor Reihner,” Aria said, relieved. “Besides, I want to see if the Neriolite reacts.”

“Suit yourself, Aria,” he said in defeat.

Lacia sat up in bed, noting the conclusion of their conversation. “Now if only someone would walk in here and explain to me what’s going to happen to my foot,” she sighed, her head falling back onto the pillow. “I am so sick of lying in bed all-damn-day. I literally cannot catch a break”

Lacia sat up once more. Something felt off. There was an increased cold that seemed to emanate from the window. The heater was on full blast, but the cold seemed to pay it no mind. “How can it be so cold? We’re in the middle of the ocean,” she dwelled. “Well, I think we’re in the middle of the ocean.” She realized the ship had stopped dead in its tracks. Reaching for the blinds, she swiped for the string to pull them up but fell short. Her foot was firmly strapped to the bed, limiting her range of motion.

The door to her room suddenly burst open. A triumphant Aria stood in the doorway… with winter clothes? In her arms were two coats that looked more like miniature sheep. Among the assortment of other clothing was a set of thick-cotton underwear, fleece-lined tights, snow pants, and waterproof gloves. Lacia gave Aria a look of total confusion, gleaning for an answer. She rolled her eyes at the stupid look on Aria’s face.

“Fine then. I’ll ask. Did hell freeze over or something?” Annoyance quickly spread across her face.

“It’s funny you should say that, actually,” Aria replied, a dainty look on her face.

“No, it’s not funny. Just answer me. What’s going on?”

Aria walked over to the window, slowly pulling the blinds up. The sky outside was a solid sheet of grey. It looked like someone took a bucket of grey paint and poured it on the sky. Snowflakes occasionally stuck to the window, melting upon contact with the warm glass. The look on Lacia’s face said, “You’re an idiot,” as she laid her head back down. It would take more than a few snowflakes before she willingly hopped out of bed.

Aria let out a small “Hmph” as if to say, “Oh, just you wait,” and opened the window. Snow blasted Lacia in the face. The force of the wind blew her bed covers off, plunging her into a fervent series of shivers.

“Fine! You have my attention. What?" Lacia shouted over the wind. "And if you would be so kind, explain my foot to me.”

“Gladly, but first…”

Aria rolled Lacia’s bed closer to the window, raising it enough so she could see out. What had once been an entire ocean was now a solid sheet of ice and snow. She squinted, trying to comprehend how an entire ocean could freeze solid in the span of three days. A week ago, it was sunny and warm. Now, she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was like something out of a dream.

Aria recounted recent events as she moved to close the window. “The day after you broke your foot, we were hit by a flash-freeze. The temperatures outside plummeted ninety degrees in the twenty four hours after,” she explained. “What you see now is the result of that.” Her explanation sent a chill down Lacia’s spine.

“How did this happen?” she asked in disbelief, pulling herself away from the window.

Aria shook her head as she rummaged through the pile of clothes, holding up garment after garment. Several minutes later, she had procured an outfit for Lacia.

“Shower first, then you can get dressed,” Aria demanded.

“But–”

“Did you think I was going to leave you to fend for yourself? I’m going to help you, obviously!”

Lacia opened her mouth to say something, but decided against the thought. Taking her silence as a go-ahead, Aria unstrapped her foot and hoisted her into a wheelchair. She hummed a faint tune, happily wheeling Lacia into the bathroom.

“I really can’t take much more of this,” Lacia decided.

“Aaand done. This special boot will help you walk, but you will have to take the occasional break,” Dr. Reihner explained. “The way you landed on your foot, it fractured the entire bone. While we were able to restore most of it, you will still need surgery to correct the more extensive damage–bone grafts as well.”

“Approximately how long can I walk with this boot on? How does it work?” Lacia asked, carefully slipping the boot on.

“One hour. Afterwards, you must rest. The boot takes X-rays of the bone every thirty seconds and adjusts the shock absorption inside according to the X-rays,” he answered. “However, it’s not perfect, and because the bone isn’t fully reformed yet, well…” he trailed off as he began punching numbers into a calculator. “The charge in the boot lasts for three days, so get to a hospital before then.”

“What happens if we don’t?” Lacia asked sternly.

“You’ve seen what it’s like out there I presume? Take a wild guess.”

“Uh, yeah… Got it. Thanks.” If she and Aria were unable to find a hospital before the charge ran out, they could be in serious trouble. “I mean, Aria would probably just leave me behind, honestly,” Lacia said tauntingly. “Leave me to freeze in the barren wasteland of ice and snow, my body consumed by the forces of nature.”

A look of displeasure crossed Aria’s face as she turned to face Lacia. “I’m really not so awful a person,” she muttered under her breath.

“Enough, you two. Focus.” Doctor Reihner ushered them over to a large map. It spanned the full width of the wall. Every landmass, ocean, and island chain were neatly labeled in black sharpie.

“Normally, you’re not supposed to be allowed out of your room,” Aria said, wheeling Lacia closer to the map. “I’m certainly not some cruel girl who wouldn’t let you have at least a little fun though, so here’s the deal.” She stepped in front of Lacia. “This dot here,” she said, tapping the sharpie against the map, “is where we are now.”

Click. “Ow! What was that?” Lacia cried.

“And that is so I can keep track of you. After all, they wouldn’t be very pleased if I let you run amok,” Aria said, shoving back into her coat pocket.

“Okay, but did it have to be in the back of my leg?” Lacia retorted, twisting around to find the injection point. Being poked and prodded was one thing, but keeping constant tabs on her location was another. “Let’s say, hypothetically, that once we’re back here, I would like the tracker removed. What are the terms of that agreement?”

A stifled laugh forced its way from Aria’s throat. “You’re really amusing, you know that? You’re also incredibly stupid.”

'Stupid.' The word seemed to reverberate inside Lacia’s head. Aria’s response to Lacia’s question told her the agreement was worth more than what she was willing to bargain for. She shot Aria a petrifying leer, startling her.

“Okay,” she said uncomfortably. “If you want the tracker removed so badly then you can crawl right back into that bed and we continue the poking and prodding. Unless I lose you in that icy hellscape out there, our work here isn’t finished.”

“That’s reassuring,” Lacia thought sarcastically. “So, not exactly a straight answer, but whatever.” The planning phase had already begun. Aria just didn’t realize it. “Call me stupid all you want, but I’m already one step ahead.”

“In case you think you’ve gotten the better of me, I would advise you to think twice.” Aria grasped Lacia’s wrist and held it up. A small metallic object glinted in the light, securely fastened to the inside of her sleeve. The wooliness of her coat kept it well hidden. Quickly untethering the object from her wrist, she stuck a small knife in her bag. Lacia’s head spun from the force of Aria’s slap, leaving behind a red handprint.

“And that is for three days ago. I suppose it is rather amusing though,” Aria scoffed. “You thought you were going to cut the tracker out of your leg and run once we debarked, didn’t you? Who do you think has the map here, Lacia? Because it’s certainly not you.”

She pretended to rub her cheek, waiting for Aria to turn her back. Before she could swipe the knife back, she found herself on the floor with her hands behind her back. “Ok, so she has insane reaction speed, too. What else can she do? Read my mind?”

“Do you want me to answer that question?” Aria said devilishly.

A sharp gasp escaped from Lacia’s lips. Who the hell was Aria and how was she always two steps ahead of her? Aria released her from the hold. “You… scare me,” Lacia whispered, watching Aria walk away.

“Good! Now let’s get going before night falls. It’s a long ways to shore. Are you coming?”

The morning gradually warmed as the sun rose higher in the sky. Sunlight peaked between the surrounding high-rises, bathing Mana in a soft orange glow. She slowly opened her eyes, slumped against the wall of the patio. Despite the warmth of the mid-morning sun, the icy concrete made Mana shiver, yet her cheek was surprisingly warm. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she opened the camera. She had all but forgotten about the mark under her eye. To her surprise, it hadn’t faded. A marvelous display of light engulfed the tiny star.

“I see you have awoken,” came the voice from before. “We are both short on time, child. I wish you hadn’t slept so long.” Mana jumped. Startled, her toes connected with the metal legs of the patio table. She bit her lip, trying to suppress the urge to shout obscenities at the top of her lungs.

The snarky tone in her voice seethed with every throb from her toes. “If I said I talked to God today, nobody would believe me. Just give me a name to call you by,” she said, through clenched teeth and throbbing toes.

“I see you remembered our chat from earlier… Very well, then. You may call me Omnis.” Like tearing paper in two, the sky in front of Mana ripped open. The space where she had been standing moments prior had become an indeterminate ripple. She waved her hand through the newly formed tear. Nothing.

“What did–”

“Watch closely,” Omnis interrupted.

What had been a gelatinous ripple gradually came into focus. The hazy colors began to solidify as a familiar figure slowly came into view. Mana couldn’t believe her eyes. At last, a wintry scene made its debut in front of her. An endless hellscape of ice and snow spanned for what seemed like eternity.

“That’s not… Lacia, is it?” Mana said, gasping. A second figure came into view, but was obscured by the blowing snow. The two figures seemed to be conversing with one another. “Closer,” she willed. “Closer.” The scene briefly rippled, obscuring the view, before it abruptly cleared.

“Do you even know where we’re going?” Lacia shouted over the howling wind. They had been walking for nearly an hour in the same indeterminate direction.

“Of course I do,” Aria retorted back.

Lacia’s foot ached the more she walked. The cold was her first culprit, but she knew she was reaching her limit for the hour. Ice and snow crunched underfoot. They had briefly discussed the idea of make-shift sleds before debarking, but the snow was so heavy it covered the ice in minutes. Likewise, Aria had refused to pull Lacia along who vowed to dump Aria’s “dumb ass” in the nearest pocket of water she could find.

“You’re literally holding the map upside down!” Lacia whined. “Please God tell me we aren’t–” A face-full of snow cut her off.

She plowed face-first into a giant snow drift. For a moment, she simply stood there, too embarrassed to face Aria who was laughing and pointing at her. “Forget you,” Lacia grumbled, wiping the snow from her face.

She regained her composure, still hiding her embarrassment from Aria. What she had believed to be a massive snow drift instead turned out to be a border gate. A small yellow tag caught her attention:                                         

                                                              Kingdom of Gila

They'd arrived at the border of Alura and Gila, but the gate was unmonitored.

“Gila is at the westernmost point of Alura,” Lacia said under her breath. “If Aria had really meant to drag us east,” she paused, recalling the map. “That would put us somewhere near the Aviid Isles and the Kingdom of Miarn.” Lacia's eyes widened. She turned back towards Aria who was fiddling with the map. “So I was right,” Lacia said dully.

It was clear from Aria’s map fiddling, she had no clue where they were. She was so determined to prove they weren’t lost, she missed the border-tag entirely. Lacia packed several handfuls of fresh snow over the area she had previously cleared. It was imperative Aria remained in the dark about this. Whether Aria could read her mind or not didn’t matter. She simply caught Lacia off-guard the first time, that's all. For now, Gila would be a secret she’d bury along with the snow and ice.

A searing heat promptly brandished itself across her forehead. She swore she heard Mana calling out to her. Lacia rubbed her forehead as she caught Aria’s gaze.

“It’s been an hour. We’ll stop here for a bit so you can rest your foot,” she said, sitting down with a plop as she returned her attention to the map.

Lacia felt like her forehead was on fire. The voice came again. It was somewhat distorted, but it was clear whose voice she was hearing. “Mana!” she squealed in silent delight. Lacia kept her distance in case Aria overheard her conversation–enough to make her think she was being hostile and not trying to hide something.

“How are you even able to reach me? I thought you couldn’t use high-level magic?” Lacia interrogated. They had been apart for what seemed like eternity.

“It’s a long story. Where are you right now? It looks cold. Are you near Norid?” Mana spouted off question after question.

“No. I can’t explain everything right now either. We’re at the border of Alura and Gila, though I’m alright. Mostly.” The thought of her broken foot and events of the ship remained front and center in her mind.

“Ok, then we’re coming to get you–”

“We? Brendan is still with you? Thank goodness,” she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yeah, and his friend Licht. Listen,” Mana said, "we can be there in a couple days. Gila is usually pretty friendly to Alurian people.”

Lacia let her finish. “You can’t save me… You guys aren’t in a position to confront these people,” she said. “We’re heading to the mainland to find a hospital. Long story short, my foot is completely broken and needs several surgeries to fully repair it.”

“Oh, Lacia…”

“I want nothing more than to go home, believe me,” Sadness crept into her voice, “but there’s somewhere else I still have to be and something I have to understand.” A wave of nausea brought Lacia to her feet. “You know where we’re going. Figure something out, please. Before these people get their way…”

Mana sniffled. “I’m sorry it’s taking so long, Lacia.”

“It’s okay, I love you guys, but I’m at my limit. This link is draining me…” Lacia dropped to her knees as her vision swam. She slammed her hands into the snow, trying to stabilize herself, but it was no use. Whatever little mana she'd stored had been depleted.

Aria noticed the flurry of erratic movements, but was of little help. Lacia hit the ground, using her shoulder to absorb the impact.

“Where the hell did all of your mana go?” Aria pondered aloud as she finally rushed over, her words swept up by the wind. “You are one surprise after the other.”

“I– I know mana depletion is bad, but I didn’t know I had mana,” Lacia said in response to Aria’s concern.

“All living things retain mana, regardless of whether or not you’re aware of it,” she quickly explained. “Even you, and yours is gone.”

Lacia’s vision gradually focused as a deep warmth spread throughout her body. She closed her eyes, embracing the influx of mana. “I shared some of mine with you. Rest, now. We’ll continue tomorrow,” Aria said.

The coming night would be treacherous and cold, but Lacia was confident in Aria’s abilities. She thoroughly enjoyed watching her struggle to pitch a tent before falling into an exhausted slumber.

Sharp pains erupted in Lacia’s side. She didn’t understand why it felt like a case of deja-vu. It wasn’t the arrow wound. These were much sharper pains, coming in waves. She stumbled to her feet, clutching her side as she slowly raised her head.

“So that’s why this feels familiar,” Lacia said disdainfully.

Pink and red decorations lined the ceiling, draped across the room like vines in a jungle. White tablecloths were neatly placed across each table with perfectly aligned silverware on top. In the center of the room was a large table adorned with more decorations doused in glitter for effect. The entire span of the table was filled with gifts addressed to her.

She surmised this was likely a dream, but she felt trapped with no means of escape. Every step she took felt like she was wading through knee-deep water.

“Lacia…” A voice echoed from behind her. She spun around, but the room remained devoid of people. She winced. The pain refused to abate.

“Dammit,” she muttered, “The same red dress, the same room, the same pain… What is going on here?” She steadied herself on a nearby table.

Laughter echoed through the empty room, bouncing off the walls, dissipating into the empty air. Lacia made a full circle. Still alone. She bit her lip and turned to face the gifts once more. They were neatly wrapped in various shades of pink, purple, and red wrapping paper. Bows adorned the top of each, completing the theme. She grabbed the nearest one and carefully unwrapped it, anxiety creeping in like a thief in the night. Printed on the underside of the lid read a simple message. Still, it sent shivers down her spine: 

Happy 20th birthday, Lacia. As your parents, we are ecstatic you’ve grown into the young woman you have. But, you are 20 now so we decided it was time to tell you.

“Twenty? Tell me? Wasn’t I just here celebrating nineteen…?” She said, puzzled.

This is the only way we can reach you, so please try to bear the pain as you read this.

You were taken from us as a small child. You were special. Gifted. We spent years looking for you until we learned of your enrollment at Miruna High School–a school for gifted children, but instead of learning how to control your gift, it was suppressed.

We realize this is a lot to take in and you’re wondering how we know this. A powerful spell was cast on you, allowing the caster to detect anyone within a certain range of you. We asked an old friend of ours to keep an eye on you so that at the very least, we would know our baby girl was ok.

“Well, it’s not what I expected, but it’s not crazy, either,” Lacia said. Her voice nearly caught in her throat, emotions getting the better of her.

The school was headed by the Miruna family. Yes, they named it after themselves. By now, we imagine you’ve met their little, well, not so much anymore, girl. Aria Miruna was especially gifted, but she loathed the world after she lost her parents. To keep you safe, false memories were implanted in your mind. Had Aria told you the truth, it would have upended everything.

A splitting headache began to form over Lacia’s left eye. She rubbed her temples to no avail. “Has my entire life been a lie?” She shook her head. “Just a little more…”

This is why you were sent to Miruna in the first place. Once you grew a little older, you were told that your “parents” were away on business trips, correct? So the school sent letters, impersonating them. Once you became a fifth year at Miruna, you were given the option to live at your “parents” home and you continued school as normal.

Finally, you must be wondering where Mana comes in. She was enrolled in your same school. Those memories are genuine. She never asked about your parents because she was led to believe the same thing as you. Hold her close, Lacia. Cherish those who are close to you. We’re sorry this is all we can say for now.

Happy birthday.

Love, Mom & Dad.

Lacia set the top of the box aside. Complete bewilderment bowled over her in series. Her parents, Aria, Mana… was she really made to forget it all? She peered inside the box. A small bracelet the size of her wrist was neatly wrapped in tissue paper. It was encrusted with various purple stones that seemed to emit a strange aura. Slipping the bracelet on, her mind immediately cleared and the headache subsided. Her side still ached miserably, but it was bearable now.

“I don’t know how I feel about all of this,” she said, staring at the bracelet. “I have a big role to play in everything apparently, but I have no idea what that role is.”

There was one more thing she needed to confirm. Her footsteps made small taps on the tile as she walked over to the windows. Snow was gently falling, just like last time, but something was different. She squinted, trying to focus her eyes on a small figure standing in the middle of the road. They were too far away for Lacia to make out anything more than a general shape, but she felt like they were staring back at her.

“If this is a dream, can I just create things?” she pondered aloud. Lacia closed her eyes and imagined a pair of binoculars in her hands. When she opened her eyes again a literal pair of binoculars hung from her neck. “Why can’t I do this when I’m not having strange dreams?”

Lifting the binoculars, she aimed them where the shadowy figure was standing. Snow-covered rooftops and dark windows dotted the white landscape. She shifted her focus towards the glowing lights of the illuminated welcome sign. The darkness of the night was deep, swallowing everything around it in an inky-black. A dark outline stood in front of the sign, a silhouette against the backdrop of lights. It raised an arm above its head and pointed directly at Lacia. She shivered.

“What do you want?” she asked in a hushed voice.

The lights on the sign began to flicker as they seemed to rearrange themselves right in front of her eyes. Lacia removed the binoculars, taking in the full scope of the new message. She aimed the binoculars at the sign again, hoping she’d just misread it. In the snow at the base of the sign was a single word: “Y O U R”.

She aimed the binoculars up, but the figure that had been standing in front of the sign was gone. Lacia slowly read the new message: “Time is up”.

A sharp whisper resounded through the hallway causing Lacia to drop the binoculars. She spun on her heels, hair whipping around as she turned to face the same figure that had been standing in front of the sign. An icy grip latched onto her arm. She struggled to free herself, but she was quickly losing strength as she crumpled to her knees.

“Time is up… Your time is up…” it hissed in her ears.

The floor had morphed into a sea of icy black. Shadowy tendrils locked her in place, wrapping around her arms and legs. The shadow figure moved closer. With each step, the tendrils tightened their grip around her limbs. She thrashed with the remaining ounces of strength she had left. The vice grips around her arms and legs temporarily loosened.

“I’m free!” she realized. Her heart pounded in her chest as the world seemed to move in slow motion. Feet on the floor again, she bounded down the hallway as fast as her legs would carry her. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. She didn’t waste a single moment as she distanced herself from what would have been certain death. The shadow figure was in pursuit, but she could at least stay ahead of it.

Concluding that this was either some other alternate dimension or an incredibly lucid dream, Lacia decided her best option was to leave the building as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the only exit was back where she started. She had to think of something, quickly.

She explored the building, finding a flight of stairs to the second floor. It seemed the only way out was up. The place was much larger than she realized as she climbed several more flights. Exhausted, she decided to stop one floor from the top. She could at least buy a little more time this way. The adrenaline had left her in a weaker state than she would have liked, though–just lifting an arm was a chore. Likewise, her legs ached just as much as her arms. They felt like deadweights. She put her back against the wall, sliding to the floor. Her heavy breathing seemed to fill the air. Not realizing how cold it was, the sight of her breath startled her.

“I’m sure if I can think up a pair of binoculars, I can at least think of something warmer to wear,” she said through chattering teeth. “Something warmer, please,” she chanted, hands clasped like a prayer. To her dismay, nothing appeared.

“Maybe there’s something around here somewhere. I’ll freeze to death if I don’t find any warmth soon,” she said. Pulling herself up with help from a nearby doorknob, she ventured down the hallway, one arm against the wall for support.

Something on her arm caught her eye. A large circular bruise had formed where the tendril held her. She examined her other arm and both legs, finding the same pattern of bruising on each limb. She groaned, but the sight of a coat closet lifted her spirits some.

“These look nice, but they’re too big for me,” she said, rummaging through fur coats. “I don’t need something this large weighing me down… Oh, this will work,” she said excitedly. A white fur coat hung at the back of the closet. Lacia pulled it off the hanger.

The coat fit like a glove. It was perfect, but she was still freezing cold. The dress certainly didn’t help. She exited the coat closet.

“Logically, with this many floors, there’s bound to be roof-access somewhere,” she said, shuddering. An intensifying cold filled the air. “I wish I was dressed better for this.”

Shadows danced on the walls of the stairwell. Fear welled up inside Lacia. She froze for a few moments. She knew she would be too weak to fight and she had nowhere else left to go. With the remaining energy she could summon, she bolted up the final flight of stairs. It was a short climb, but she was winded and her body ached with an increasing ferocity. She scanned the hallway, looking for anything that led to the roof. The hall was dark, limiting her field of view. At the far end of the hall a bright red sign was plastered on a large metal door.

Roof Access. Authorized Personnel Only.

“Thank god for bright colors.”

Her stockinged feet lightly tapped the tile as she sprinted towards the door. Her spirits dropped as she jiggled the door handle. Locked. She turned her back to the door. The shadows grew longer and darker as they approached the final flight of stairs. She had a few minutes at best.

“Dammit… I really am out of time I guess…” She slumped against the door, defeated. “There’s no way…”

Unexpectedly, the handle began to jiggle. Startled, Lacia half jumped, half crawled, out of the way. A faint grunt came from behind the door before it blew off its hinges. She watched as it skidded down the hall. Turning back towards the now-open doorway, Lacia beamed with excitement. Aria stood in the empty door frame, a mix of annoyance and relief crossing her face. Lacia stood up, ready to leap into the arms of her savior. If there were ever a time to be thankful for her bullshit, it was now.

“How did you…” her voice cracked. A stinging cold enveloped her lower half. The last of her remaining strength slowly sapped away as she dropped to the floor. She grabbed at her waist, desperately trying to free herself from the clutches of whatever was wrapping itself around her.

“Time is up…” a familiar voice hissed. Lacia’s blood ran cold.

“Aria?” she whimpered.

The shadow-clad figure made its debut at the top of the stairs, inching ever closer to Lacia. An immobilizing cold poured from its shadowy tendrils. Icy-cold floors were an all-too-familiar sensation, but this time her life force was being devoured by something straight out of a nightmare as she lay immobilized. A new pair of tendrils pinned her arms behind her back. Another set bound her ankles together.

“Time is up,” the shadow-clad figure repeated.

“Lacia,” Aria whispered, "how did you cross paths with a devil?”

“Aria– I don’t have time for 21 questions! Help me out here,” she pleaded.

“Normally, I would, but the evil pouring out of that thing is insane... There– there isn’t anything I can do,” she said. Terror filled both of their eyes.

The devil stopped moving. Slowly, Lacia was peeled from the floor, the shadowy tendrils lifting her into the air. She squeezed her eyes shut. Whatever happened next, she didn’t want to see it as her restraints held her like glue.

“A r i a…” the devil spoke, embellishing each syllable. “How nice of you to come,” it hissed.

“I– I haven’t met you before,” she said, desperately trying to keep her voice steady. “Wh– who are you?” she demanded.

Another tendril slithered across Lacia’s body, carefully wrapping itself around her neck. A searing heat burned into her skin, etching a hollow ring of black hexes.

“Yesss… a lovely curse mark indeed,” the devil said, admiring its new handiwork. It seemed to pay Aria little mind, avoiding her faulty leer. “I wonder… Will you save the girl, or,” the devil paused, "will you sacrifice her to create a world free of strife?”

Aria seethed with rage. She didn’t appreciate being mocked by a devil. “Y-y-you still haven’t told me who you are. What do you want?”

The devil continued its examination of Lacia as it spoke. “This one here has a very special gift. It is the last one I need in order to open the gate.”

“You don’t mean–”

“I do. The very same. The Erill Gate,” it said, finally paying heed to Aria. Her tough-girl act fell apart at the seams.

“You really think you can resurrect the Banished Ones alone?" Aria said, confidence creeping into her voice. Lacia’s bracelet glinted in the pale moonlight from the open doorway, catching Aria’s attention. “Give me your name, you damned thing,” she ordered once more.

“You’ve been a good sport. I suppose I will grant you your wish before I drain your life as well.” A grin slithered across the devil’s face. Teeth whiter than snow broke from its shadow-clad body. A deep, disembodied voice emanated from somewhere deep within the devil's throat.

“Lucifero… But I thought you were–”

“Dead? While that blast from Saint Miruna certainly left me in quite a mess, he never finished the job, and now here I am,” Lucifero said with devilish glee.

Aria locked her gaze on Lucifero as she quickly analyzed the new information she was just given. “If it took you this long to finally reappear, then that means you’re desperate. If Lacia fully awakened her gift, she would likely throw one hell of a wrench into your plans. Which means she’s close to her awakening…”

Lucifero’s grin faded, noticing the break in the conversation. Several tendrils shot towards Aria at lightning speed.

“So my hunch was correct. God, I hope this works.”

The air grew thick, blanketing the hallway in rich mana. She had stalled Lucifero just long enough to amass a condensed amount so large she could nuke a small city. A tiny ball of golden light gathered in Aria’s hand, banishing any shadows within the range of its luminescence.

“You don’t have nearly the same strength your ancestor did. You don’t really think that puny ball of light will hurt me, do you?” Lucifero teased.

“Actually, I do,” Aria replied. “Let go of my friend so I can blast you out of existence once and for all,” she stated. Her eyes shone with a newfound ferocity. “Three…”

Lucifero flung Lacia down the hall, leaving a crater in the wall from the force of the throw. She lay motionless in white.

Ominously, “And to think I was going to hold back...”

Lucifero’s shadows overtook the hall once again, plunging everything into pitch darkness and icy cold.

“Two…”

“Foolish child. I am Lucifero. Third in line to the throne of–”

“One.”

The air quickly grew exponentially heavier, almost as if someone had turned gravity up to eleven. The ball of light in Aria’s palm had become so condensed she would create a miniature black hole if she lost control. Around and around it began to spin, slowly at first, as it gradually picked up speed. Rays of light were strewn across the hallway and through the open doorway, illuminating the sky with the luster of a thousand suns.

“Goodbye, for good, Lucifero,” Aria said, firing the ball of condensed light and mana from her palm. Lucifero’s cries of agony were lost in the luster purge, the very fiber of the devil’s being extirpated by the preeminence. A searing white light filled the hallway.

Aria floated, weightless. A white room burst into vigorous arrays of color. She promptly found herself standing at the gates of a large, gothic-styled school. To her right was a girl, no older than ten or eleven. Her head was tilted back as she took in the colossal size of the school in comparison to her small body. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

“Hey, it’s okay! Don’t cry,” Aria comforted. She moved to place a hand on her shoulder but it phased straight through the girl.

Confused, Aria watched as the gates opened to reveal a beautiful garden of green–various rare flowers and shrubbery filled the expanse. A large fountain displayed a marvelous performance of waterworks, fresh water splashing into the basin. The girl leaned over the edge, marveling at her own reflection. Aria stood back, fascinated.

A door opened somewhere as a well-mannered, gentlemanly voice called out. “Ahh… You must be young Lacia. We have been anticipating your arrival.”

“That little girl is Lacia?” Aria thought to herself. “She’s so much littler– so much more… innocent.”

Lacia stared at the man for a moment before she stuck her tongue out. The man chuckled, unphased by the blatant rudeness of her actions.

“Innocent… Right.”

“I want my mom and dad. When can they come see me?” she spat.

A blanket of clouds briefly blotted out the sun as a light breeze whispered through the garden, rustling Lacia’s hair. The aroma of azaleas drifted through the garden. Aria briefly closed her eyes, embracing the sweet scent.

“Her mannerisms are so different. Even from a younger version of herself, I would’ve expected her to act at least somewhat like she does now,” Aria thought, analyzing Lacia’s childish nature, "but this little girl doesn’t act like the version of her I know at all.”

Lacia shifted the weight of the backpack on her shoulders, holding the straps with both hands. She stood firm, waiting for an answer to her question.

“They can’t visit you right now,” the man said apologetically, "but they have promised to write you letters while they are away on business.”

The scene shifted. Millions of colors whirled into a spiral, creating tunnels of what looked like moving pictures–memories. The room settled again, thrusting Aria into another of Lacia’s memories.

“This is… incredible,” she said in awe.

A new scene emerged. Lacia sat alone at an oak table in what was the grandest of libraries Aria had ever seen. Shelves of books lined every wall, stretching towards the ceiling, multiple stories up. The smell of leather book-bindings and paper filled her nose. She walked over to the table where Lacia sat. Several textbooks, a couple novels, and a slew of papers, pens and pencils littered the tabletop.

Aria moved in front of her, noticing she had grown older compared to the last memory, when she was just a child. Several years had clearly passed. Her hair covered her neck and shoulders. She had even grown in the chest department as well. Aria peered into her eyes–a beautiful sky-blue, but she could see the exhaustion in them.

“Hey, new girl.” Aria looked up to see a trio of girls approaching the table. Lacia nervously pulled her sleeves down, but not before Aria caught sight of the numerous bruises on her arms. “What’re ya studying?” One of the girls said tauntingly.

Lacia remained silent.

“So that’s how it is,” Aria thought, noticing Lacia’s discomfort. “What do these girls have to gain by messing with her? Are those bruises–”

“I said, what are you studying?” the girl repeated, pushing Lacia's materials off the table.

She ignored the shove, frantically gathering the papers that had scattered to the floor. Aria watched closely, her full attention on the scene at-hand.

“...Grant my wish. Vierni,” a voice chanted. A large blast of wind hit the three girls square in the back, one by one, sending them flying to the far end of the library. The caster made sure to carefully avoid Lacia and her study materials. “Are you okay Lacia? Did they hurt you?”

“N-no. I’m fine. Thank you, Mana.”

Mana appeared at Lacia’s side, coming to her aid. She seemed much more confident in herself and abilities than Lacia, though. Whoever she was, Aria had never met her, but she felt oddly reassured by her presence.

“Let’s go get lunch. Finals week is draining,” Mana emphasized. “Come on!”

The scene changed one last time as the room shifted and memories expanded once more. This memory Aria knew well. She was seated on the edge of a bridge, her feet dangling over the water below.

“I looked so much different… The accident really did change everything,” she realized, awe-struck at how different she was now. “I don’t even recognize myself.”

Her hair brushed against her middle back, light brown locks brandishing their healthy shine in the moonlight. The younger Aria leaned back, eyes pointed towards the vast array of stars overhead. She looked into her own eyes. Her younger self was full of vigor and happiness. Turquoise-green eyes reflected the full moon, an lively smile filled the face of her teenage self.

Footsteps clamored down the bridge, covering the sound of running water from the stream below. A familiar face appeared in the dim lamplight. It was Lacia. She waved her arm, trying to grab Aria’s attention, a large, folded blanket in her arms. Her foot caught an upturned board, stumbling the rest of the way as she nearly lost the blanket.

“What are you doing, Aria?” Lacia asked, her eyes full of light and curiosity.

“Oh, nothing,” Aria replied softly. “Just admiring the stars. Look how beautiful they are tonight.”

Lacia turned her attention towards the sky as well. The night air was chilly. She moved closer to Aria, wrapping a blanket around the two of them. A large grin spread across her face, as she took in the beauty of the night sky.

“Wow… They’re so pretty! Do you come out here every night?”

Aria was shocked. How could she remember sitting out on the bridge, but forget her relationship with Lacia entirely?

“Miss Lacia! There you are,” a familiar, but slightly older voice came. “I’m afraid I have terrible news.”

Lacia’s face turned away from the sky, her smile fading to worry. “What is it, Hobson?”

“Are you sure you would like me to repeat this with Miss Aria around?” he asked concernedly.

She looked at Aria, then back at Hobson. “Yes, if you would, please.” Lacia folded her hands in her lap. Hobson pulled an envelope from his coat pocket and retrieved a letter from within. He cleared his throat, unfolding the letter.

“Lacia Amana, Miruna High School offers its deepest condolences to you this evening. A large earthquake struck the city your parents were on business in. As of this moment, your parents have not been found. Search and rescue are still working to clear the debris. Rescue efforts have been working non-stop. Miruna High is ready to offer you any services you may need in these troubling times.”

-President Miruna

Lacia’s jaw dropped as Hobson read the letter aloud. Aria wrapped her arms around her, embracing her in a tight hug.

“Lacia… I am so sorry… If you need anything let me know, okay? I’m here for you,” Aria said, consoling her.

“Hobson, do you know when the quake occurred?” Lacia asked shakily.

“Two days ago. The school was just informed this afternoon.”

“I see…” Lacia turned her gaze towards the wooden planks of the bridge. “I… I think I’m going to go lie down… I’ll see you tomorrow, Aria,” she said solemnly as she slowly disappeared into the night, returning to her dorm.

Aria left her younger self behind as she followed Lacia back to her room. She was concerned, not just about her own faulty memory, but about what happened to Lacia that night.

Lacia took her shoes off and placed them by the door. Flipping the lights off, she crawled into bed, crying herself to sleep on a tear-stained pillow.

The white room vanished. It seemed to want to show her specific memories of not only Lacia’s, but hers, as well. Colors swirled into a dazzling spiral of vivid pigmentation.

The world returned to focus as Aria walked over to the burnt-in shadow that was now Lucifero. “Your mistake was thinking I couldn’t,” she said, breathing heavily. “I don’t deserve to call her a friend, but I learned something tonight. This world really isn’t all that bad. Someone very important taught me that,” she said as she ran towards Lacia.

The curse mark Lucifero had placed around her neck had fully vanished. Nothing remained of Lucifero or the devil’s sickening aura. Aria traced Lacia’s body, examining what remaining life force Lucifero hadn’t drained.

“You’re alive… thank god,” she said, tears cascading down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner. I’m such an awful person and I know I don't deserve your kindness, but I hope you can forgive me for being so awful to you,” she said through sobs. “I never expected your heart and mind to be so full of serenity. I forgot something very important and I’m sorry.”

Aria’s voice filled Lacia’s ears, pulling her back from a delicate state between life and death. She slowly opened her eyes and lifted a hand to Aria’s cheek, soaked with tears. Weakly, “I heard everything you said back there. That was really brave, you know?” She took a deep, painful, breath. “I remember, too. I’m sorry.”

Aria opened her eyes and smiled. “I’m going to get us both out of here, ok? Just rest,” she eased.

Lacia slowly shook her head. “How did you know where to find me?”

“It’s an ability I have,” she sniffled. “I’m only able to enter the hearts and minds of those I’m close to, which is why I was surprised I could do it with you,” she said, admittingly. “I’m going to pull us both out of here now, ok?”

Lacia nodded, head resting against Aria’s chest.

“When we get out of here, I want you to tell me all about those memories.”