Replacement For Displaced

“Cyan, is there any way I can go back to Earth?”

I was half expecting surprise or something bordering an aghast or maybe even pitying expression, but Cyan didn’t seem startled by my question at all.

Regardless of her expectancy, she didn’t answer right away much to my bored impatience; we had been doing paperwork ever since we’d returned to Oeuvre and I was feeling restless for some variety.

“Well… I guess… technically?”

“Why are you saying that like it’s a question; shouldn’t you know?”

Cyan huffed, flicking an acorn toward where I was sitting on her mossy couch and nailing me right on the forehead. I whined adequately enough to portray my role as the undereducated apprentice and we both grinned accordingly after our exaggerated theatrics.

Cyan had quickly established herself as a friend and I was exceedingly happy to have her as my Instructor; it was like having an older sister, mother, and semi-delinquent friend all rolled into one compact package.

“For your information, there’s a lot of technicalities when it comes to a Displaced wanting to go back. Could you just pull a soul back to Earth if you had the body? I didn’t think so.”

“Soul?”

She huffed again, her breath coming out more as a sigh this time.

“Yes, I forget how dense humans are.”

“I personally take offense to that actually.”

She waved her hand dismissively in a ‘whatever’ gesture.

“This isn’t a physical world, Birdie; remember? Oeuvre exists-”

“-in a place between physical worlds; I remember.”

I dodged to the best of my abilities when another acorn shot over in my direction. I didn’t succeed entirely but the tree nut only hit my shoulder that time so I counted it at least as a partial win.

“Anyway, there’s a lot of… nuance when it comes to Replacement– oh, that’s what it’s called when a Portant or Herald wants to try and return to their original planet or realm.”

I’d figured there would be; nuance, that is. Frankly, I was surprised there was even an option at all since I was half expecting Cyan just to straight up say ‘no’.

“Since you’re here already; Designated and Visit already done, you’d have to at least complete your Cupid training before…”

She seemed to consider for a moment, deep in thought if the slight downturn of her lips signified anything. It was the closest thing to a frown I’d seen on the Fairy since we’d had the whole situation after the Visit.

“I think Replacement requires a full Herald Rotation or at least a partial one; I haven’t personally handled the initial start of one for a while so you’d have to ask an Auspice. Good thing we’re well acquainted with one of the best, huh?”

She grinned mischievously, already flying toward the door.

“I’ll let Jun handle the explanation, they’re your Guide after all!”

I was promptly yanked from where I was sitting and ushered out the door, a quick squeeze of my cheeks that was too fast for me to dodge being given before Cyan closed the door behind me with a cheery ‘come back when you’re done!”

Well… alright then.

As I rubbed at my now aching cheek, I spared a quick look down the hall in either direction just to make sure I was alone before I closed my eyes; I hoped they weren’t too busy.

I want to talk to Jun. Call Jun.

It always amazed me how quickly Jun answered a Hailing, it was a little easier when the call went straight to the devices already in place on your person but still…

“Yes.”

“Hi, it– it’s me again.”

“Hello, Jin.”

And wasn’t that just something that made my stomach twist a little; it’s something I’d have to think more deeply about later but at least it was an easy segway into a conversation.

“Mm, yeah, hi. So– I was asking Cyan if there was a way for me to go back home– Replacement I think she called it? And… she told me to ask you about it since it was ‘a question for an Auspice’. At least that’s what she said, I think she might’ve just wanted me to bother you…”

There was a contemplative hum from the other end of the line, and a quiet tick that I deduced was the sound of Jun clicking their tongue as they processed.

“I see. On the topic of Replacement… Yes, it was right of her to refer you to me; where are you now?”

“Uh…”

I looked to my left and right as I had before, heavy doors and shiny tile going for as far as I could see in each direction with little to discern a difference between them. If I squinted, maybe there was a place to turn if I went to the right but I couldn’t tell if it really did or not.

I looked behind me, checking to see if there was a number or some defining feature on Cyan’s door to indicate a difference between the rest and clicking my teeth together in brief frustration when I found none.

“I honestly don’t know, I’m somewhere in the place I was when I first came here; right outside of Cyan’s office if that helps?”

“It does, indeed; wait there, I will retrieve you promptly.”

And then they hung up; which was kind of rude but I digressed.

I almost screeched when Jun was suddenly just there, the taller Elf seeming to simply appear right in front of me in less than a millisecond as I stumbled backward a step and forced myself to a halt before I tripped over something.

“Woah– that was fast.”

They shrugged, tucking a loose strand of hair behind their ear -it was a habit of theirs- and gesturing for me to follow them after I regained my footing.

“Oeuvre is centered around thought and intent– all places that are non-physical tend to be. If you truly desire to arrive say… immediately, you simply need to set your mind strongly to it and it -for the most part- will come to be.”

“That’s sort of what Cyan said, how does that… How is that even possible? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Using your Earth logic, I’m not surprised.”

I was still deciding whether to be offended by that or not.

“Curiosity is a gift given only to those who are young or those who have the time to be idle; we are neither at this moment. And– regardless, does it matter? ‘It is how it is,’ that’s something Human’s say, is it not?”

“Do you really believe that?”

I couldn't stop the disbelieving sort of laugh that rushed out of my mouth in a harsh puff of air, my words charging through before I could measure them to hang challengingly between us.

My rebuttal made them stop, hand pausing as it reached for a different door we had come upon -much faster than Cyan and I had arrived previously- and resting on the handle as they turned to look directly at me.

“...elaborate.”

I felt rather like a child caught talking back to a teacher, but I gathered myself and held Jun’s gaze; I wasn’t known to back down just because I was a little intimidated.

From what I had seen and experienced so far, Jun seemed to be intense in all the serious things they handled but they didn’t seem upset at that moment; they were asking me to explain further, not scolding me for speaking.

Differentiating that intent was extremely important and I dearly hoped I was correct; I’d assume I was given the context clues I’d gathered before and continue on until proven otherwise.

With that in mind to keep me calm, I spoke.

“If you know ‘it is how it is’, then I’m sure you’ve heard ‘curiosity killed the cat,’ right?”

They made an affirming noise, dipping their head as an additional response just so I knew they were completely engaged in what I was saying.

“Correct; although that is not the full quote, there is also a second part.”

I nodded quickly since that’s exactly where I was going.

Their face was surprisingly serious, deadly almost with their eyes set and mouth turned slightly downward with the severity of their intent; I was reminiscently reminded of how a child might look when they were fascinated by something and didn’t want to miss a moment of whatever had caught their attention.

If I hadn’t been focusing very hard on my words to make sure my thoughts were succinct and comprehensive, I might have even thought their expression was endearing; cute even. Maybe.

“Bingo–that means correct. The second part goes ‘But satisfaction brought it back.’ I don’t think curiosity is just for kids or people with too much time on their hands; just because something works well doesn’t mean it couldn’t ever be better, right?.”

I hurriedly moved on before they had a chance to cut in on a slight technicality.

“I’m not saying Oeuvre’s transportation methods could be better because, honestly, I don’t even understand them completely and yes, you’re right, I can’t logic everything out; especially here. And I don’t need to. But, that being said, if knowing the reason and method behind the application of things brings me peace of mind and fulfillment, why wouldn’t I want the satisfaction of knowing how when all I have to do is ask or do a little research?”

I gave them a little bit of a smile, lifting my shoulders with a slight tilt of my head towards them.

“You could even take your own enjoyment for flying in the same way. Cyan only flies directly to where she needs to be because she doesn’t care about having wings; since she was born with them. You took me on the scenic route because you know it’s amazing even though it’s not the most efficient; that example isn’t for the same reasons as I said before but the general explanation is the same: you fly because it makes you happy, and I ask questions because I gain satisfaction from the answers. Does that… do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

They thought about that for a beat, midnight eyes swirling dark as they contemplated.

“That… is an interesting point of view; I condone your approach although I don’t particularly agree with it. However, personal opinion notwithstanding… I do understand your viewpoint and I… will consider adopting some of your methods. I truly appreciate your-”

The pause was prolonged as they seemed to search for the appropriate word.

“Insistence, I would have never seen your perspective without an explanation and I feel… better knowing.”

They smiled, just a little to show their sincerity, and tilted their head towards what I assumed to be their office as they scanned their ID card and opened the door; blocking my view as they went through while I grinned to myself and hurried to follow. Excitement and the thrill of their reception swirling up the emotions in my chest.

I couldn’t wait to see what their office looked like after spending time in Cyans and learning what it meant. They were obviously intimate places Manifested especially tailored to the individual Herald’s preferences.

Who knew what kind of design or agricultural masterpiece awaited me when I stepped over the threshold?

And it was only one door away.