It’s been hot all day. The sun’s been beating down on the earth since far before noon; people don’t like to go outside much. Still, the sky has been shades of vivid blue only interrupted by the bravest of wispy clouds. It’s a lovely hue to see. Even though that blue is a refreshing color, it means heat. So when the sun starts to dip and the sky slowly starts to paint itself in warmer hues, it’s a breath of fresh air.

Who can say if this sunset will introduce itself with pink or orange, possibly even gold. Who knows which clouds will become vessels for this transition and which ones will hold newborn shadows. What I know is that that vibrant blue will greet the evening with a transformation. A palette of light that lasts only minutes.

Every second of a sunset is different from the last as the lowering sun changes everything with its motion. A blush of pink or a glimpse of orange will eventually become a rich navy or deep teal. It greets another beautiful sky.

After the sun is gone, we see silhouettes over an ombre. Stars finally get their chance to show themselves, fading in. The moon hangs heavy, sometimes bright; it’s a remembrance of a now gone sun. The sky is dark, and it will be cool.

The figure splayed on the table woke to the low chanting of the robed silhouettes that surrounded them. The cry grew louder alongside a rhythmic slapping, and the figure knew at least one of the cultists would be sacrificed with them this night.

The voices peaked in their call, "This is the game of concentration: no repeats or hesitation. Category is- Category is!- CATEGORY IS!"

My life

Of constantly repeating and torturous tasks,

All lived within an inescapable maze,

I eat, I eat, I eat,

I’m eaten and again does the cycle start,

I eat, I eat,

I eat a glowing dot,

I turn and I eat,

I eat the ghosts that would eat me,

Ghosts with names,

Just as trapped in this maze as I,

And they eat, they eat,

And they dare not be eaten,

I see an exit off to the side,

In hopes to see the light of day

I go through,

I appear merely on the other side of the maze,

So I eat, I eat,

And I’m eaten,

The ghosts have won again,

Though none are victorious.

This year,

This senior year is the first.

This is my first year of adomania;

A type of mania only so much talked of,

Found in lists of rare words.

Adomania, how I’d forget thee.

How in these moments,

To the shame of myself, the author, the writer, the wordsmith-

The ego-

I wish that I could forget the word.

Or perhaps remember it in the same way as I remember

Petrichor

I wish, like petrichor, it came as a word too good

Not as one too familiar.

No, this is not so.

This year is the first true year adomania, I find.

And I fear the future that is

Too close too close too close.

Half way done, it can’t be.

I don’t want it to be.

I can’t stand the thought of it being over.

I yearn to escape,

Escape what? The feeling, the institution.

I can’t say.

Is this the speed of the rest of my life?

Going too fast

Slow down, but also.

Don’t.

The world keeps going and I hesitate.

The world keeps going, and I hesitate.

I want to dig in my heels

I want to forget adomania

And zenosyne

(Time is just as slow as it ever was, I swear I know).

I find myself in these words too

Too

Too well.

I linger on them.

Linger on them longer than I linger in any second

Longer than any moment

Long enough to find myself in the words because

Where else might I linger at all.

I want to do so much.

I want to do nothing at all.

I want to never have to sleep.

I want to not wake so soon.

I want to be an author a writer a wordsmith

I want to not be the ego.

I’ve found myself a year of adomania for the first time,

I don’t know if there will be another.

Can’t say it’s really the first.

Adomania compounded

By zenosyne.

Words I did not know mere minutes ago and now use

Like I know how they deserve to be used

But what else might I do.

When this year, just started halfway through already,

Will end

Will end in five twelve months or

Perhaps

Perhaps it won’t end ever.

And what discomfort I find from adomania will be a joke

Or it’ll end all too fast

All too soon

All too

And the adomania will be true

And will still be a joke.

Gardrin may be both Bonnaire and botanist, but she was never enamored by her own green thumb. It wasn’t that she lacked the magic for it, like many of her cousins did; she was a natural at the plant magic, as she should be. Gardrin was far from untalented, hideously far, and she knew it. However, she was practically only a Bonnaire in name and the blood that ran with tree sap; plasma both metallic and sticky-sweet tasting as Henry, after an unfortunate and uncomfortable incident, informed her. That just marked her a botanist, though.

Bonnaire politics held little relevance to Gardrin. She didn’t have many positions that were world changing to her; at least, none of the things she fought for related to her family. She wasn’t gathering followers and partners in preparation for the battle to be the next clan head. Instead, she was planning to eliminate almost all ties to them using the upcoming strife as a distraction. Well, she was, but it looks like things may be changing.

Gardrin knew exactly how she was related to Efaira; that’s what happens when your proof of identity is where you fit on the family tree and your blood’s qualities. It’s what happens when you learn your family members in the same way you learn about historical figures. Being fifth cousins twice removed didn’t make them particularly close, but because they were only a few years apart and on the same general branch, they were practically sisters in the eyes of their family members. Gardrin had seen Efaira at all of the family events she had been required to attend; they had talked twice. Of course, Gardrin hadn’t talked to some of her sisters through anything other than cacophony trees, scrying bowls, and call root; Gardrin isn’t even sure she’d ever seen all of them face to face, so maybe Efaira was close. That didn’t mean she wanted to see Efaira.

“Gardrin, it is good to see you,” Efaira said in her rich voice, “You have bloomed beautifully.”

Gardrin hated dealing with family. She was glad when people didn’t realize she was a Bonnaire and only thought she primaried in plant magic. Gardrin didn’t look classically Bonnaire, though there was a surprising variety of appearances in her family. Efaira did. Efaira looked like a plant herself (Henry said she look similar to a mythical creature from his world: a nymph or an elf). Her skin was green, her limbs willowy, hair decorated with leaves, seeds lodged in her flesh and teeth; she was tall and smelled of flowers and nectar. Even her eyes were a leafy shade. The varying hues of viridian tulips budding on her face surely covered her body as a whole. She wasn’t only a primarily plant magician; she only did plant magic and had to be more of a botanist than anyone else on their branch. Honestly, Gardrin was surprised that Efaira wasn’t on the main named line with those looks.

Gardrin was tiny, the definition of petit. She was dark, and she was bright all at once. Her immediate family members all had darker skin, mostly ranging from bark to soil shades, but her skin was a dusty indigo, ocean like, but not quite sky. Her father once tried to assure her it was the shade of the richest dirt, but gleefully, Gardrin pointed out her skin almost looked purple compared to her siblings. He settled on comparing her to petals- she held her tongue on saying they must be bruised. The flowers on her face were red, bright, bright red to indicate her primary. Her hair was partly more orange, and the fire of one of her secondaries ranged from yellow to burgundy on her neck. She knew her eyes fit in with the pallette. The most interesting part of her appearance, in Gardrin’s opinion, was the manifestation of her other secondary. Her hands looked as though they were covered in oil or some other dark pool. Liquid magic wasn’t water or blood magic, and it was her favorite. Considering the fact that Gardrin’s magics and colors weren’t expected to be Bonnaire, neither was she. Still, Efaira knew who she was, but Gardrin was loathe to get out of this without causing her dear cousin a fuss.

Gardrin’s smile was surprisingly pleasant when compared when compared to her displeased tone, “Blooming burning, it doesn’t much matter. Fancy familiar terms don’t work as an identifier.”

“Of course, I would not try to fool you as such,” Efaira wasn’t disheartened, and if that didn’t just reaffirm the multi magical girl’s irritation, she was sure some later event in this meeting would.

“Then you understand I simply must demand as thourough proof as possible.Trying times like these must be faced without doubt,” her own pride at the ability to speak silken words surprised Gardrin.

“Please,” Efaira took a seat, “Demand as you will.”

Demand she would; Gardrin wasted no time in her ‘request’, “Family line, second cousins by age, and explain the Shrubbery Break in Ties.”

With little effort, Efaira completed the difficult list, and she lifted her hand to a thorn in her hair. She pierced the pad of her thumb and let a drop of blood well up before sowing a seed in the wound.

“You must understand, I’ve no choice but to seek the same assurances.”

Gardrin let out a frustrated sigh but kept up appearances, “As you declare, you will.”

Efaira’s head sunk into a nod, “Please, family line, aunts and uncles, and explain the Ashworth Treaty.”

Gardrin’s feelings about being able to recite those facts were complicated. She was good at memorization; who would dare claim she wasn’t? Still, she had spent so much time avoiding family; time enough, she perhaps hoped, that she may have forgotten.

Gardrin cut her thoughts off by splitting her thumb open with a tooth. After one drop of sap-blood was shown and laped away, she stuck the digit in a vial on her hip, sealing the wound.

The smile of Efaira’s face grew, and she pleasantly waved off a waiter. The establishment was used to Gardrin and aware of who she was. They earned her appreciation when they didn’t make a fuss at the meeting; they might not be used to this sort of thing, but they had seen her meetings with Henry and others who followed him. She would have to leave a good tip.

Efaira smoothed her skirts and left her hands on the table, wrists crossed, “Now that our identities are assured, there is business to discuss.”

“Not quite,” Gardrin tossed a flask at her cousin, who just barley caught it, “Drink.”

“Is that not excessive?”

Gardrin was going to relish finally catching Efaira off guard; in her discomfort, she had instinctively wrapped vines around the bottle.

“It’s just Kattern,” Gardrin leaned back and smirked as her voice lilted, “There is nothing wrong with making sure you tell the truth.”

“Is there honestly such a need for these measures?”

“If you want to talk to me, drink. It’s plant based, so you can speed it through your system. I’ll walk out if you don’t.”

Efaira flipped open the lid and swallowed a dose of the potion with a grimace.

“May I speak now?”

“Alright, what do you want?”

“Within the next few years, the heads of our house will be retiring from their positions.”

“What does this matter to me?”

“It will be a family affair; you are family. These events must always be relevant to you.”

“I care little for the family. So, what is it that you want from me?”

“The family is always prevalent.”

“No, it isn’t. If that’s all you want to say, I’m sure I have places to be.”

“I am in a group aiming to be the next heads.”

“Good for you.”

“We want your support.”

“Of course you do, and is it because of how much you value family, how we’re considered practically sisters, or is it some other reason?”

“You can imagine why I’m here.”

“Oh, I can imagine a whole host of possibilities. You need to specify.”

“You are the right hand of one of the other world heroes, known as the a leader of his army. You are a respected potions mistress. We would be fools not to try to recruit you.”

“I love how you only need a few dozen followers to make an army,” for a moment, the potions mage’s voice filled with laughter, but her amusement returned to being pointed, “So, you aren’t above admitting you just want my connections. My position with Henry does give me power, but the family doesn’t approve of my potions.”

“We both know you hold sway.”

“Why should I support your claim?”

“We aim to consolidate and loosen the restrictions on the family. Children will be allowed to seek outside education. More magics will be allowed. Union without approval will not be penalized. The Bonnaire family will solidify its positions of power, as well.”

“I don’t disapprove, but I don’t care. Do better if you want to convince me.”

“These matters are not enough to affect you?”

“No, they aren’t, and you aren’t doing any better.”

Efaira sighed and dispassionately said, “We can guarantee the family will not bother you unless it is an appeal to your official position or an emergency. You would still have access to our resources, but you’d have to seek them out. You could be left alone without cutting ties.”

“How bad does it feel to have to resort to giving me exactly what I want?”

“You don’t understand. This family needs change; I believed you would see that, and I believed that need would be enough to gain your aid.”

“I’m acutely aware of the changes desperately needed by our family. I can’t say I think it’ll actually happen, though.”

“There is faith deserved by the group I am apart of.”

“So you say. I’d rather leave the family entirely than deal with changing it myself.”

“We have earned every bit of support that is given. We will bring a new era,” an angry Efaira was a rare sight; Gardrin wondered how many people she tipped her hand to and whether that effect was from herself or the potion.

“Well, you seem to be confident, dare I say arrogant,” amusement, familiar as it were, oozed from Gardrin’s voice, “But you’ve yet to sway me with your points.”

“If you are unable to see the value in our goals, then you are a fool too far gone.”

“Claiming me a fool and yet, in spite of everything, you decided you need me so much you came here.”

“We have not made that determination.”

“That’a a shame because you do. I know my position and how valuable it is. As you said, I am at Henry’s side, no other is as fully trusted by him or followed by the army. Disgrace of a Bonnaire, maybe, but I mean more when it comes to this world. I do not need the family, but I am necessary.”

Efaira was quiet. The vines curling around her limbs swayed, but they did not lash out. They handed her the vial Gardrin had yet to retrieve. Efaira held it up to the lights, noticing how she hadn’t even consumed a quarter of the potion. The vial itself controlled dosing and limited intake. As far as Efaira was aware, these had to be custom made; Efaira was right.

“You have almost as much influence on the powers of this world as the entire family as a whole, do you not?”

“I just might.”

“Then you will not be supporting us?”

“No one ever said that.”

For the first time Gardrin had ever seen, surprise bloomed across the older girl’s face, “Pardon but I feel as though you’ve lost me.”

“I can’t say you swayed me with your goals, not when I don’t expect you to accomplish them. However, I never gave a ‘no’ to your previous offer.”

“I had thought you completely rejected our group.”

“Now, why would I do that? You offered me all I wanted, and I still get access to Bonnaire resources. That’s almost too good to be true.”

“I fully mean to give you as promised.”

“Oh, I believe you. Even without the truth potion, you don’t want to deal with the consequences of cheating me.”

“I do not- I do not-”

“‘Go against your word’? Clearly you do, even if you don’t mean to. Nice to know the Kattern is working. Don’t worry; I won’t hold it against you. Everyone breaks their word occasionally.”

“I apologize for being unable to always do as I say.”

“You’re playing politics; I’d be more surprised if you did.”

“That aside, will you provide us with what I have asked.”

“You know what, sure. Your group as my official support. They can now use my name to help further your goals. I would advise you not to abuse the privilege.”

“Of course. We will do our best not to disappoint you.”

“Really? You’ll dedicate your time to not disappointing me? How kind.”

“Allow me to rephrase, we will attempt to not disappoint you in regards to your name.”

“That’s relieving. If you tried to guide the family in a way that doesn’t disappoint me, you wouldn’t be pleased with yourself.”

“I had realized, and that is why I thought it prudent to correct.”

“So, now that you have what you came for, are you going to continue speaking in circles with me or..?”

“I have business I must attend today other than this. Thank you for your agreement. Please, excuse me.”

Efaira rose from her seat and placed the potion in front of Gardrin who merely motioned to a server. She came here for a meal, not to make waves in her family’s political affairs. Before Efaira left the room, and before a server reached her table, a realization seemed to strike Gardrin, and she called out to her cousin.

"Oh, and Efaira,” the redhead's amusement now bled smug, “If you manage to speed the Kattern through your system, you’ll be able to lie again in about two hours.”

Efaira turned to nod in acknowledgement and as a farewell. She eagerly left the pub, pleased to be done with the meeting. Gardrin’s smile turned sharp, and she placed her order. She hoped what she just got into would be entertaining instead of something she’d regret.

Kierem had always been acutely aware of how much Indigo meant to her. Indigo was the only thing there for her when she was born. The orphanage she was abandoned at gave her a second treasure, a name other than the one her parents gave her. It was easy for her to decide to go by Kierem rather than Janet, even if it is her last name. Kierem is sure Indigo, though only a dog, approved.

These two things mean more than the world to her. Not even the caretakers in the orphanage held quite a place in her heart, but that was mostly because they were sent to other locations after their training. Kierem stopped missing them, but she remembers them through the use of her chosen name.

Kierem has two things that really matter to her, and she could live with that. Though, if anything were to ever happen to Indigo, she thinks she might just die. Whether that was alright or not doesn’t much matter to the young adult. Still, she makes sure these alone are enough for her.

That’s why she doesn’t quite understand the reason her eyes are widening, her brow is furrowing, her lips are spreading in a frown right now. What in the world could be causing this reaction? Indigo is fine, and her name is still her own, so what is it that’s causing her so much distress?

The moment that thought crosses her mind, Luke Ganite’s face focuses in her vision. His own counterace is blank, in a clearly practiced way. He doesn’t seem to be sharing her confusion in the least. Does he understand what’s going on with her, and does he really mean what he just said?

Kierem’s voice is soft, but she can’t tell if it’s from her emotions or her quiet nature, “What do you mean graduating? You’re only a year older than me.”

“I am.” Luke acknowledges, “I’ve also skipped years.”

“Oh. I know, but I hadn’t realized you’d be leaving this year,” Kierem never knew a realization could feel like a lead weight on her bones.

The two remain silent. The table between them is covered in less papers than usual, but both notebooks were practically full. It is nearing finals, and neither of them is foolish enough to put off studying. Kierem worked hard to end up in the prestigious school after the orphanage, and she would not let all of that go to waste. Luke’s rapidly approaching graduation is proof enough of his intelligence.

Lowering her gaze to the table, it takes almost all of Kierem’s willpower not to shift her crossed arms into a hug. Still, she can’t place what’s so wrong with her. Luke sets his pen down, face still inscrutable. He had considered putting off informing Kierem, but had decided he wasn’t going to be a coward.

It was strange for either of them to begin a conversation, but it wasn’t like they just sat in silence during their study sessions. In any other situation, it would be a shock to most onlookers, but Luke opens his mouth.

“I’ll still be working with a couple of the professors, so I’m not going to be leaving campus for a while.”

That, Kierem notices, means quite a bit to her. It even lifts a burden from her shoulders, one that had been placed when he said he was graduating. She supposes it makes sense, but it is unexpected.

“Will we be continuing your tutoring sessions?”

“Will you be taking any more thermodynamic courses? You’re already well past the required amount.”

“I haven’t finalized my schedule for next semester.”

Luke nods. Kierem looks up at his face again. It’s still mostly blank, but it looks more natural. This, too, brought her relief.

Luke’s gaze briefly flickers to her notebook, “You were doing well enough in the class as it was.”

“Professor Malroy didn’t want to lose the benefits the school gets from accepting me.”

“I know.”

Kierem finds the silence familiarly comfortable. She returns to pouring over her notes. Her companion takes another second watching her before doing the same.

They end the session later than normal. There isn’t much to pack up this time. Together, they leave the library and pause where they usually split.

“I’ll see you on Thursday to study, right?” Luke knows they both remember, but it doesn’t hurt to reaffirm their plans.

Kierem nods, “I’ll see you there. Bye, Luke.”

Luke waves, and the two begin to walk in different directions. Kierem finds herself pausing before they get to far and turns to face him.

“Luke.”

He stops and looks at her.

“I’m glad you’ll be there next semester.”

A faint smile crosses his face.

“I’ll be seeing you, Kierem.”

She nods, and they each continue on their own paths.

Kierem had always cherished Indigo; she held her own name dear. More than anything, these were hers, and she didn’t know who she’d be without them. Nothing else had ever gotten to her before. That had changed. Kierem now had three things she wouldn’t dare let be taken from her, and she was happy.

Henry was pissed. He had been back in this world for months, but his ire never really faded. Swept away to help save a magical world just to get dumped back “home” after the war was won. He didn’t think there was anyone out there liar enough to say he was any formed of pleased.

True, he was grateful to see his parents again; he missed them, but. That was just it; everytime he took solace in reuniting with them, he was stopped by the wish to be elsewhere. He wasn’t going to be winning any child of the year awards anytime soon. Still, he loved his parents, and he’d freely admit to crying when seeing them for the first time after a decade, for the first time since he was eight and now eight again. Of course, they were both very confused at the tears in his eyes and the sudden, dramatic shift in his personality. It had only been ten years for Henry in that magical world, after all.

Henry would have gone mad if he were the only one who went to that world, but all twelve of them seemed to have returned- even the three who died. They, at least, understood how jarring the world was, but it wasn’t the same. They hadn’t spent more of their lives, their formative years, in the magical world. He grew up there; it became his home, and now he was here.

A miracle happened the previous week. If Henry were to be honest, he would have to admit that he never thought he’d see anyone from that world ever again; if he were to be even more honest, Henry knew there wasn’t a single thing that could stand in Gardrin Bonnaire’s way. Even if she had never been to Earth before, it wouldn’t stop her from going there for the first time. She was never going to let him live down how happy he was to see her. Henry was vindicated, even if it was tainted with bitterness, by the fact that she suffered the de-aging as well.

Gardrin was going to do what she wanted, and she decided to make sure her closest companion didn’t leave that easily. So, she looked into interdimensional magic, got her responsibilities covered for temporarily, and brewed up a potion that dropped her off right in Henry’s yard. Now, she was staying at his house; his parents insisted she couldn’t just go off alone.

Henry had sat, stewing, on an outcropping in the woods that served as his backyard for some time. His brooding was interrupted when Gardrin decided she wanted some company.

“Hey,” she plopped down next to him, “I see you’re still a champ at moping.”

Henry sighed, “Hey, Gar. You commune with the plants to find me?”

“I don’t think your trees like me all that much, but I can’t say I much care. I’m still trying to figure out how to actually make them useful in one of my potions, but I’ve got no basis to work with.” the girl pouted.

“I have no doubt you’ll figure it out, even if it means you tear every plant in the vicinity apart.”

“Please, I’m not wasteful. It’s not like I’m low on supplies, anyhow. You don’t have to worry about me demolishing your precious woods.”

“How much can your brew from what you have on you?”

“Enough Stranger’s Tongue to become fluent in about five languages.”

“First of all, isn’t Stanger’s Tongue super dangerous? Why aren’t you just using Traveler’s Translator? Secondly, I was thinking more along the lines of the dimensional potion that got you here in the first place.”

“Traveler’s Translator doesn’t actually teach you languages and is known for being faulty. I know how to handle my mixes well enough that Stranger’s Tongue won’t hurt me; frankly, I’m insulted that you would insinuate otherwise.”

“My apologies, great potions mistress. Daresay, I know you are skilled in your art better than any other. Please, grant me your forgiveness,” the sarcasm that fell from Henry’s mouth was practiced at this point, but Gardrin still gave a smug smirk.

“I suppose I can forgive you just this once, but don’t do it again.”

“I would never. Seriously, though, what about that dimensional potion?”

“You seem desperate for that information.”

“Do I now?”

Gardrin rolled her eyes and turned to face Henry fully.

“Yes, you do. Tell me, what’s bugging you, Henry? Can’t help if I don’t know what’s up.”

Henry pursed his lips, a scowl forming on his brow.

Finally, he grit out, “Did I ever tell you what this place means to me? This outcropping specifically.”

“No, in fact- as I recall- you only ever talked about your parents when you talked about where you from. I’m going to go out on a limb and say if you haven’t told me, then you haven’t told anyone at all.”

“Well, look who’s clever. I guess I haven’t mentioned it to anyone.”

“Don’t leave me hanging, Henry.”

“This is where I was swept away. I always thought it would be the last place I’d ever be on Earth.”

Gardrin paused, “Technically, I have enough on me to make four batches on the potion, one batch per person. However, I’m not sure how to brew it for others yet. It‘s part of what this trip is for. I can’t get you back there, Henry.”

Henry slumped. He took a deep breath and swallowed his frustration. Gardrin waited for him. Eventually, he leaned back, facing the nearly clear sky.

“I guess I shouldn’t be expecting you to fix everything after you already did so much to get here.”

“You really shouldn’t. It’s not fair of you.”

“Life’s not fair.”

“I didn’t realize your ego was that big.”

“Life hasn’t been fair to me.”

“I know, but you’ve been given back some of things it stole from you.”

“Yeah, by having something more important taken away.”

“Deal.”

“You think I haven’t been.”

“I think you’ve been moping on a bunch of rocks hoping to be swept away again. What a great display of effort into your return.”

“There hasn’t been anything I can do!”

“And you aren’t even trying to appreciate what you have here, are you? Oh, but woe is you.”

“I know it isn’t right, okay. I know more than anyone, but-”

“You’ve got an excuse? Please, share.”

Henry rose from the outcropping and leveled Gardrin with a glare. She crossed her arms, face adorned with something close to amusement.

“I used to be the greatest, but now I am smaller than the smallest! Forgive me if I’m having trouble adjusting!”

“Well, you are pretty small. Guess that’s what happens when you lose ten years.”

The boy looked away; his fists clenched at his sides. A breath stuck in his lungs. His critic just tilted her head and let the shadow of a smile grace her lips. Henry exhaled harshly, tension suddenly releasing.

“I’m taller that you, at least.”

“Not much of an accomplishment, I’m afraid.”

“I- I miss it. I miss who I was there.”

“What was so different about you there?”

“I was a hero; I had an army. I was skilled in so many magics that I nearly lost count. I was an adult. I’m not any of those things now.”

“That sucks.”

“I know I need to be trying harder here, but every time I try I just-”

“Remember everything you miss.”

“Yeah, that.”

“Just like you did every time you tried settling in when you first landed in my home.”

“Did I?”

“You just thought you’d never be able to return.”

“I suppose, I actually did my best to accept the loss.”

“But here I am.”

“And I don’t have to accept anything.”

“So long as I stay.”

“You’d leave?”

“Probably not.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“Probably.”

“What do you think I should do?”

“Do whatever, but I don’t think you’re looking at the full picture.”

“Enlighten me.”

“If I can get my potions to work, you can return.”

“You know I know that.”

“You can also come back here.”

“That’s not exactly the problem here.”

“No, but it was. Now, I’m here with the best possible gift in your life, and you’re ignoring half the benefits.”

“Elaborate. Please.”

“You won’t have to give anything up this time. Not a single thing. You should appreciate that.”

“I appreciate everything you’re giving me.”

“Then why aren’t you reaching out to your parents.”

“What?”

“Well? You don’t have to give up a relationship with them. Why aren’t you trying to build one?”

“I’m not- I don’t have a relationship with them anymore. I spent ten years away, and it wasn’t even an hour for them.”

“Fix it.”

“I’m not sure how.”

“Remind me, how did you get an army again?”

“You were there.”

“If you can’t even reach out to your parents, how in the world did you manage to gather a group loyal enough to die with you? At least a quarter of them hated you at first.”

“It’s different.”

“So?”

Henry sighed. He took his seat next to Gardrin. A small smile slowly bloomed on his face.

“So, I guess I better get started. Thanks, Gardrin.”

“Well, when you’re this great, you just have to share some of your wisdom with those in desperate need.”

“Right, of course.”

Gardrin snorted, and both kids started snickering. The two looked out at the sunset before them.

“Never seen a sunset with so much red before.”

“That’s because Earth’s atmosphere isn’t soaked in magic.”

“I noticed. Guess I’ll just learn to deal.”

“Not leaving then.”

“I suppose.”

The two lapsed into silence as the first stars began to reveal themselves. Eventually, Henry’s mother called them in. Gardrin shoved Henry off of the outcropping and gave him a pointed look before rushing inside. After a beat, Henry raced after her, giving his parents a quick hug after reaching them.

Life gets hard, and sometimes it's hard to even see a single upside to your person. Just remeber, that's okay. If nothing else, you are here. You have the wonderful existance to just exist in.

Yes, you will face hardships, pains, aguishes, but you get to experience them. You can feel every single emotion on the spectrum and expanding one expands the others, all because you are here to do that. Even if it's dreadful, it's an experience you can have, and isn't that in of itself valuable?

More than that, you've been here this long. You have your very own life that you've managed to survive in. That is a trait worth celebrating. Even if you have a hard time facing yourself, you still are you. You can do as you please within yourself. Just remember to be good for yourself, because lasting this long deserves a treat evey once in a while.