I watched as Aether, Immy, and Breta worked on coaxing Essie into a calmer state. Essie was glued to Immy’s side and refused to leave, and kept trembling, clearly still very rattled.

“Was it bad?” Sidus asked, as he stood next to Aether.

“One moment she was alright, but once she got past a certain point, it was as if something grabbed hold of her and was dragging her.” Aether responded.

“So it does have to do with the elements.” Sidus replied, still seemingly uncertain.

“I think so, we still need to see how it goes with Ynos as well, just to be sure.” Aether stated.

After hearing that I couldn’t help but grip tighter onto his tail. I didn’t want to go back out there.

“Lost, I will protect you.” He said with a big smile on his face, showing how eager he is to go fight this pull.

I shook my head, I was not ready for another attempt, the several times I had tried already were enough for a lifetime.

“I-I don’t think I can.” I stammered out, before using his wing he dragged me in closer to his side. Feeling myself pressed up against him, I couldn’t help but blush as next to this hulking mass of muscle and strength, I felt small, but also I felt secure. My own trembles calmed a bit as I leaned myself into his side and closed my eyes, and just sunk into the feeling of being held and the feeling of safety I had been yearning for years.

Then I snapped back, as Ynos lifted his head and spoke, “Where are you going? I thought we were next?”

“You guys after Breta, alright?” Aether asked.

Ynos looked back at me, and even though I was more relaxed then before I guess my expression betrayed how nervous I still was, when he looked back to Aether, “Alright, be safe.” He said.

I watched nervously as Aether and Breta left the cave. I hope that they will be okay. That goddess, though masking her emotions, is one of the nicer ones I have met so far. I really hope she comes back safe.

“Lost, is it that bad?” Ynos asked me, as he looked back at me.

“I can’t describe what it is like…” I replied, my voice trailing off.

“Oh, you can, you just are too scared to seem weak.” Chuckled the abyssal form, as it looked into the sky from the entrance of the cave.

“No, I am strong…” I mumbled, scared to talk outloud to the Abyss which the others can’t see.

“You can’t even talk back to me properly.” The Abyss mused, seemingly relishing in that I can’t talk back right now.

“I-I can talk just fine…” I mumbled.

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“M-mom?” The little serpent swam forward in front of me and the abyss, looking back at me, her bright blue scales glistening like crystals.

I closed my eyes and focused for a second before reopening them to only see the serpent and the abyss was gone. A sense of warmth washed through my body, as I felt more at peace and calmed. I felt a smile come across my face. I am not alone, no matter what. I blinked again and she was gone, but I could still feel her and the joy she brings. The yearning to explore, and adventure, just like I did when I was young.

“Ynos, t-thank you. W-when we go, I will go with you.” I stammered out, though internally I felt better, my body was still resistant to the idea of going along.

Ynos, looked back to me and smiled a big happy smile , “Good.” He said full of enthusiasm.

That was till when Aether and Breta appeared back at the entrance.

Aether was the first to speak, “She was pulled as well, though it wasn’t as strong as when Essie was pulled.”

“So even Divine energy will get pulled as well.” Immy muttered seemingly thinking hard.

“Yes, the power behind it wasn’t as bad, but it was still there and was slowly taking her.” Aether confirmed.

Sidus, from behind us, “You sure you want to go? We pretty much have our answers already.”

“Yes, I want to see it myself.” Ynos replied with certainty

I saw Aether spare me a glance, which I knew that he knew I was still uncomfortable, but his gaze. I could see it in his eyes, he seems to be the same age as his siblings, but there is much more to this dragon. I could tell an aged dragon gaze. He is much older on the inside than the outside. His eyes betrayed his many more years of age.

“Well, let’s get that out of the way then.” Aether said.

I felt Ynos grip me tightly, then suddenly everything was different. We were now outside of the planet. A shiver of anxiety raked its claws through my body, causing a shiver to run though it like a wave. I felt Ynos’s tail wrap around me, and hold me closer to him, as he set out further away, as my body waited almost frozen with anticipation for what's going to come.

The calmness of everything around us was such a stark contrast to what chaos was roaring within me. The petrifying fear of what is to come. Then just as we were coasting forward, suddenly I felt its claws dig deep into my soul and grab hold. Hungry for the mana within. I gasped in shock, it was much worse this time than before.

Then I heard him say, “I promised to keep you safe!” Then his large claws grabbed me and like I was a small dragoness he hurled me away from him and back toward his brother Aether. The sure force of the throw was so much and disoriented from the void’s pull, I could not resist or fight to orient myself. The shock of everything making this not even feel real, as lights flashed and disappeared before me.