As if that was the signal, exhaustion chose that exact moment to strike. Liris could feel it grow. It started at the center of her mind, on the surface of that new muscle. Like a pebble tossed into a pond, it radiated outward through her head. Darkness closed in from the corners of her vision. However, it was not the usual blackness like when she held her breath for too long. No, this was a light gray stealing away all sight.

In the moment when the ripple met the top of her neck---she blinked...up...at the ceiling. It was spinning.

Her head hurt, on the outside. Probably had something to do with the stone she could feel underneath.

"Can you hear me?"

Ouch...so loud. Liris pushed herself up, she'd been doing far too much of that lately. Where was- oh right...she was in the testing chamber.

"What...happened?"

"Whew, I'll take that as a yes. You were starting to scare me."

Could Sema not hear her? That was Sema's voice, right? Maybe louder?

"What happened?"

"No need to shout. Did you forget this happens? I tried to catch you but I was so surprised that you were farther away that I didn't get the chance."

"I still have no clue why I'm on the floor. Is this another thing that I was supposed to be told?"

"That's not possible though...surely you...they always mention the exhaustion and grayouts. Usually, it's not this bad. You must have been extremely tired."

"All those times they weren't exaggerating? I've never experienced anything like this...not even slightly."

"Until now? But everyone has grayouts at first. That's half the reason we all try to get stronger since it's so unpleasant."

Unpleasant? Try downright debilitating. The dome far above was still spinning. Just another thing she could be horrible at. As if this ability didn't have enough problems already.

"Should I do anything?"

"No, it will pass soon. Or at least, it should. Try to relax and breathe normally."

Relax...right.

There had to have been a reason...why now? Liris wracked her brain trying to find any connection or pattern. The first time had been in this very place so that wasn't it. Could it be how worn out she was from the day before? Something in the food? Oh, there was one difference but how would that cause all this?

Right as the ceiling stopped spinning, Liris remembered.

"I moved."

"That you did! I was going to ask about that. So um...how?"

"While I was somewhere else, -in my mind?- I took a step and looked over the edge. When I returned..."

"Incredible! Was it the same distance or a different amount?"

"It was about the same. I think."

"This is so exciting. I've never gotten a chance to witness an aspect discovery like this in person. Do you want to test it again?"

Liris rotated her head -wow, that hurt way more than expected- and stared at a beaming Sema. Though that set the world to spinning again, Liris didn't look away until Sema thoroughly got the message.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is it still that bad?"

"Nope. I just had an urge to rest on this warm floor that's so soft. In fact, I've never felt better. Actually, would you mind punching me in the face a few times? I feel way too good."

Oh uh. Sema wasn't crying, was she? No, but she looked close. Just another instance where reading the situation had failed miserably. Liris looked back at the ceiling. It couldn't judge her...so she judged herself. A deep breath in.

"Sorry. No, I don't want to try it again. I'm feeling horrible."

"It's fine. I shouldn't have asked."

Moving huh? That was amazing if she was honest with herself. What were the limits? If one step was the same in both...but the platform of shards had shrunk to the point of being useless. Sure, it was cool, but moving a few inches just didn't seem practical. Maybe during sparring? Surprising Tarren would be worth it. She was forgetting...there was no way to use this part of her ability while doing anything requiring consciousness. Sema had mentioned something though...

"What was that about improving? Getting stronger?"

"It takes a lot of time and effort, but that's why we're here. All the Uniques stay at the Spire and help each other however they can. Some more than others but almost anyone will answer a question if you ask. Our abilities don't always overlap which makes things tricky. There are some commonalities though...like the grayouts."

'Don't snap at her. Be kind. Don't snap.'

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"So...how do we improve?"

"Oh, it's like a muscle. You have to use it regularly and you'll get stronger over time! Some people swear by strange techniques where they sit and stare off into the distance. Others try to use their abilities for as long as they can, all at once. It takes them a long time to wake up afterwards. I just try to use mine when it helps someone. I'm able to stay conscious now, barely. As long as you stick with it, I'm sure you'll do just fine!"

That sure sounded like a painful process. Pushing yourself to the point of passing out over and over again, all just to move a step or two and see some pretty sights?

"What did you say about aspects?"

"Those are even more fascinating! I've done a lot of research on them, what has been recorded anyway, they're always different you see. Each person has their ability, that's the main part like when you disappear, but there's more as well. There's lots of theories on how they're found. Some people think it happens randomly but I think it's all connected somehow. Maybe if you practice underwater you'll get a water aspect! Well...I'm not sure how that would help you. It's all just a theory anyway."

Liris closed her eyes and tried to push the tension from her body. How could someone say so much and yet so little? Maybe a different approach?

"Okay, that's really interesting. Could you tell me a bit more? I'm not sure I understand what an aspect actually is."

She held her breath...did that seem genuine enough?

"Of course! If I'm right, we've already found one of yours so that makes this easy to explain. Your main ability is the disappearing, right? But the moving part still is related to the disappearing while being separate. That's what we would call an aspect. There can be all kinds...small ones...giant ones...it's different for everyone. A few people have a whole bunch of them. I think Eonna has six but it's so hard to tell since she keeps them all secret."

That was something at least. Liris pushed herself up to a seated position. Sema had a faraway look in her eye...probably daydreaming about cataloging every aspect ever known.

"Are aspects trained the same way? Just a bunch of repetition?"

"Yup! You have to use them though. Just disappearing won't help with the movement part. I have no idea what strengthening that would do, by the way. It might not do anything at all so don't set your hopes too high."

Hopes? Liris laughed bitterly. Oops.

"Your head still okay?"

"I'm fine. Just thought of something funny."

"Oh! Exercise helps too."

"Huh?"

"With abilities. Physical fitness helps you manage the unconsciousness better. Not that you're not fit or anything...I'm just saying that...well."

"When you live in an alley and have to scrounge around for food, there's not much time for push-ups."

"That's not what I meant. I'm...sorry. I'm sure it was very difficult. I can't imagine. Well look at you now, all that is behind you! You know what, I'll help you train whenever you want, does that sound good?"

"Pity is worse than a knife in the ribs. Please stop. Spare us both."

"Okaaay then. But just remember that Ekard has your best interests in mind. He's really not so bad."

Had she met the same person? This was ridiculous. Maybe tomorrow wouldn't be only horrible, if this was supposed to help strengthen her ability too. Tomorrow...she still almost couldn't move.

"What do you think of the war?"

Why had she asked that? Did she really want to know? Liris looked away, maybe she should just leave.

"The war? It's terrible. Hopefully I don't have to fight. Focus is helpful but they'd have to protect me too and...I'm not really a fighter."

Okay, now she felt a bit bad. Did she secretly want to bring the mood down? Was switching the topic to war a subconscious attempt at revenge?

"Well...it's only a few people, right? The best fighters with years of training...I'm sure you'll be fine."

That sounded worse, didn't it? Liris cringed at the wall.

"Yeah...maybe. It's just the five. Besides, we'll have you! I'm sure your ability would be much more useful than mine."

Liris didn't believe that for a second. The council must have been worried though...or all that talk of war was just to lower her guard in the spirit of public safety. Were they already worrying about the next one or the one after that? Guess that is the responsibility of the leaders...maybe she should thank them. That laugh she managed to keep down.

"I think I need to rest."

"Of course! This was an intense experience, to be sure. We'll try again another day. In the meantime, try to practice as much as you can...but don't push yourself too far. Overusing abilities has been known to cause injuries."

"Like diving down the stairs, seeing gray?"

"That reminds me! There was this one time back, oh...three hundred years or so, where a man fell down two flights because of overuse. His ability let him smell from much farther away and they were cooking..."

"Sema."

"...roasted duck and- yeah?"

"I need to rest."

"Right. Sorry."

Liris was thankful enough to escape that particular story that she didn't refuse Sema's help in standing. At the door, she even returned Sema's goodbye smile. Liris' was a fake imitation but that didn't appear to bother Sema.

The way back to her room was beginning to be familiar. She only got lost once. The stairs still drained what little energy she had left. She paused at her door, always she was weak...always. If what Sema said was true, all that strength required was practice. If only it were that easy. Even now, with just a thin wooden door separating her from the most safety she'd ever had, it was terrifying. Should she actually try to practice her ability constantly? Wouldn't that result in a permanent state of disorientation?

Liris rested both hands on the door, letting her forehead lean on the smooth boards. What was stopping her from using the ability right now? Her hands shook. Her neck prickled. This was insane. The only way to stop being weak was to practice, but here she was unable to because she was weak. It was circular, annoying, and depressing. Was it even worth the effort? What would the ability be useful for in any practical endeavor? Even her aspect would-

Could that work? Now her legs were shaking as well. Just how hard had she hit her head? Was she really going to try? Heart thudding, Liris gulped down air. There was one way to find out...one terrifying way. Tensing everything, she disappeared.

~,’~,’~,’~,’~,’~,’~

A step. One single step.

~,’~,’~,’~,’~,’~,’~

Stunned, Liris looked out the window. Her window. Inside her room.

Looking back, the door was still closed. No way that had worked. Like a bolt of lightning, her eyes lit up with the first joy she had shown since being dragged into the mist. Her ability wasn't useless after all! Escape was possible! It would take time and effort, but soon she could pass through these thick walls and leave the Spire entirely...without anyone knowing! What if she didn't step far enough? Could some of her be left behind? Her shaking intensified as gray began to frame the window.

Liris leaped for the bed as everything was blotted out completely.