Nayjhren stirred in his sleep. The soft chirping of birds intrigued him, so he slowly opened his eyes to find himself amidst a field of flowers. Surrounding the field was a dark and mysterious jungle. He sat up, his eyes adjusting to how bright it was. He looked down to see his clothes had changed. Now, he wore a soft white robe, his fingers adorned with various rings with intricate designs. Around his neck was a small carved wooden pendant. Nayjhren slowly stood, the serenity calming but offputting the longer he looked around.

In the distance, Nayjhren heard voices. He walked toward it, the flowers beneath his feet moving away before he stepped on them. When he reached the top of a hill he looked down to see a pond of clear water, around it, children playing and talking. Nayjhren looked confused before one of the children spotted him.

"He's awake!"

The rest of the children looked up and waved at Nayjhren. A few began to run up the hill toward him. Nayjhren froze, unsure of what to do. The children all wore similar clothing to him; they even had identical pendants.

Nayjhren slowly backed away as a small group of children gathered around him.

"W-Who are you?"

One kid walked forward, her bright red eyes staring at Nayjhren as she grabbed his hand.

"I'm so glad to see you again!"

Another kid held onto his other hand. His eyes the same bright red.

"Stopped snoozing I see."

More of the children began to hold onto Nayjhren.

Nayjhren's eyes darted across their faces, the feeling of them holding onto him causing him great discomfort.

"S-Stop!"

Nayjhren pulled away.

"What are you doing?!"

The children all looked at each other worried.

One of them came forward.

"It's us... your family."

Nayjhren's eyes widened.

"Wh... what? No that's... why..."

Nayjhren blinked rapidly.

"Which family...?"

The children all made way as a girl with braided black hair and red eyes walked forward.

"Nayjhren..."

Her eyes glistened as she stared at him.

Nayjhren shook his head.

"No... no no..."

The girl reached her hand out and smiled.

"You recognize us... right? Even though we look like this..."

Nayjhren slapped her hand away.

"I don't! Stay away from me!"

Nayjhren turned around and ran.

The girl called out distressed.

"Nayjhren! Wait!"

Nayjhren ran from the flower field and into the jungle. Images of his past flashed into his head.

"Why did they... seems so familiar. It can't be... no way."

Nayjhren kept running deeper into the forest.

The jungle was humid, the wetness sticking to his skin as he pushed past bushes and branches. Distant calls of crows echoed through the forest as he heard rustling behind him. He gripped the sides of his head before smacking into a branch and falling into the mud. He lay in the mud, his chest heaving as he was sprawled out. He slowly got up, his muscles aching and his body in pain all over. As he got to his feet he looked around, jungle on every side. From the greenery, red beady eyes crept forward. Nayjhren's eyes widened before a cougar leapt forward and tackled Nayjhren to the ground.

Nayjhren tried to push it off.

"NO STOP!"

The cougar kept Nayjhren pinned.

Nayjhren struggled and briefly managed to free his leg. He kicked the cougar away and tried to stand.

"What are you?!"

A hand grabbed onto Nayjhren's ankle. He looked down to see the cougar slowly morph back into the black-haired girl.

"Nayjhren, please... it's me."

Nayjhren hesitated.

"I... I don't understand. Who are you!"

The girl tried to stand. Nayjhren glared down at her.

"Tell me!"

The girl slowly stood.

"Tekleha. Remember?"

Nayjhren stared at her in disbelief.

"That's..."

Nayjhren looked at her body.

"You're lying!"

Tekleha smiled weakly and put her hands on his shoulder.

"I promise you. It's me. Your best friend from the nest."

Nayjhren looked distraught.

"I... I won't be fooled so easily."

Tekleha put her forehead to his.

"Good. I'm not trying to fool you."

Tears welled up in Nayjhren's eyes.

"Prove it..."

Tekleha pulled out an old worn leather-bound book. Gold accents highlighted the name.

"You had this right?"

Nayjhren's face contorted with shock.

"You never showed it to anyone but... Father kept it close."

Nayjhren took the book. Tears running down his cheek.

"The Atlas..."

Nayjhren hugged the book close to his chest.

"How did... That's impossible!"

Tekleha put her arm on his shoulder.

"It's not the one you had. Father decided to make his own, to help teach us about the world."

"He knew I read an Atlas?"

"You weren't exactly sneaky with it. Father said you read it in his branches."

Nayjhren looked down at the book.

"How is this all real? How are you alive? How are you... human!?"

Tekleha held his hands.

"Come back and we can show you everything that's happened. Father would love to speak with you again."

Nayjhren looked away.

"Is Father here?"

Tekleha looked conflicted.

"Well, It's a complicated matter."

Suddenly someone in a brown cloak and bear mask dropped down. Nayjhren backed away, cautious of this new individual.

Tekleha reassured Nayjhren.

"It's okay. He's one of us."

The bear mask looked around.

"What are you doing out here without your mask and cloak Tekleha?"

Tekleha rubbed her head.

"I didn't have time to put it on."

"Well get back to the Glade. Before your past starts leaking."

The bear mask person then looked to Nayjhren.

"It's good to see you awake Nayjhren. Talk later if we can."

The bear mask person leapt back up into the trees.

Nayjhren crept forward.

"Who was that?"

Tekleha sighed.

"One of the guardians. He and a few others keep watch for danger."

Tekleha began to walk back toward where they came.

"Come. It isn't safe for me to be this exposed out of the Glade."

Nayjhren watched Tekleha walk away. He sighed before following her.

"Did we scare him away?"

A girl said looking out into the jungle.

"Of course we did, Jasmine!"

A boy groaned crossing his arms.

"We shouldn't have just surrounded him like that, he just woke up!"

"Don't holler Harris. We just got a little enthusiastic."

A serious boy said.

"I hope he didn't die. He might have your first friend, Cae."

A girl said with a monotone expression.

Jasmine began to tear up.

"Don't say the d-word, Linny! He'll be okay! Him and Tekleha..."

Cae scoffed.

"Yes, I trust a Guardian would have discovered them by now. I'm confident they'll return any moment."

Harris leaned back.

"Maybe Tekleha turned?"

Jasmine began to cry.

"Don't say that!"

Linny patted Jasmine on the back.

"Shh, It might be okay. It might be okay."

Cae rolled his eyes.

"You call that reassurance? Please, even I could do better."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Linny glared at Cae.

"Be my guest, Jasmine's getting tears all over me anyway."

Cae approached Jasmine and cleared his throat.

"Do not worry Jasmine. They have a pi percent chance to make it back unscathed or unturned. My approximates tell me that in a matter of less than 30 seconds, both will arrive back at our destination!"

Jasmine stopped crying and looked at Cae confused.

"Wh-Wha..?"

Harris snickered.

"He's just saying big words to try and sound smart. He has no idea what any of that even means."

Cae went red.

"I'd like to see you cobble together a precise measurement then!"

Harris burst out laughing.

"Stop talking! You just sound like more of an idiot."

Cae rolled up his non-existent sleeves and puffed up his chest.

"Wanna brawl?"

Harris shook his head.

"Don't embarrass yourself more. I'm begging."

Linny began to cheer in her same monotone voice.

"Yeah. Get him Cae. Beat him up."

Harris looked worried.

"Linny don't! You know how he gets when-"

Suddenly Cae threw a kick at Harris and launched him across the Glade into the pond.

Linny clapped sarcastically.

"Sooo coool."

Nayjhren and Tekleha kept walking through the jungle. Nayjhren stayed quiet, unsure of what to say.

"You're confused. I get it. I was too when I woke up here."

Tekleha looked over her shoulder at him.

"The others could probably explain it better but... we've been reborn."

Nayjhren looks up at her.

"I do have many questions about all of this but... I just don't understand why you're so happy to see me."

Tekleha walked beside Nayjhren.

"Why wouldn't we be? You're family. Of course, we'd be happy to see you. You might be a little taller and have a deeper voice but... you're still the little kid we took care of."

Nayjhren shook his head.

"How do you forgive me? I caused everything to be destroyed, the nest, our home, even... you."

Nayjhren put his hand to his forehead.

"I messed up... how can you let me back? I don't deserve this... any of this."

Tekleha smiled.

"Father has many regrets from that day as well. He didn't blame you, only himself."

"Yet he was right. If I hadn't gone snooping, if I had just stayed there, lived normally... none of this would have happened."

Tekleha stopped.

"None of this?"

Tekleha gestured to her human body.

"Nayjhren, we are like this because of you."

Nayjhren found it hard to believe.

"But..."

Tekleha shook her head.

"No buts. This is the truth. You opened Father's eyes. You showed him how close you were to creating peace. He says that if he had trusted you more, told you the truth of... everything then creating peace between people and Necrobeast would have already happened."

Nayjhren stopped.

"Maybe..."

Tekleha rubbed Nayjhren's shoulder.

"When you get the chance, speak with Father. He would be more than happy to explain everything to you. He has missed you. More than anyone."

Nayjhren and Tekleha soon exited the forest and came back to the flower field. Everyone ran toward them with smiles on their faces. Nayjhren stared at them, trying to make sense of everything.

Tekleha turned to him.

"Until then, just try to enjoy yourself. Welcome home, Nayjhren."

Everyone surrounded Nayjhren and began to poke and prod at him. They invaded his space and commented on everything about him, from his hair to his height they wanted to know everything about it. Nayjhren could only smile, he wanted nothing more than this.

A little while later...

"You two ready?"

Harris asked standing behind Cae and Nayjhren.

Cae stood beside Nayjhren as he looked down at the water. They were standing on a large boulder beside the pond, Nayjhren was stretching as he prepared to dive off.

Cae did a few squats.

"Prepared to be humiliated?"

Nayjhren smirked.

"Just you wait. I have something new to try."

Cae remained squatted.

"I'm utterly perplexed you even acquiesced to antagonize me in such a competition. Let the more well-equipped individual win."

Harris snickered.

"You sound so stupid!"

Cae turned to Harris with a terrifying glare.

"How about I kick you down with us!"

Harris looked horrified and quickly whistled.

"Uh, Ready set go!"

Nayjhren dove off the boulder as Cae shot off the ground high into the air. Jasmine spat out her drink as she watched Cae disappear behind the sun's shine. Nayjhren plummeted toward the water and spread his body out flat.

Harris looked concerned.

"What is he doing!?"

Cae wooshed past at extreme speeds. For a split second, he and Nayjhren made eye contact. Cae winked and Nayjhren smirked. As Cae preemptively celebrated his victory he suddenly felt his body change. Before he could do anything he and Nayjhren swapped places. Cae went from speeding down into the water to now falling flat on it.

He hit the water with an echoing slap.

Jasmine closed her eyes and covered them with her hands.

"Oh my!"

Tekleha's mouth slowly opened.

"Ouch..."

Linny stared blankly at Cae slowly sinking into the water. Unamused.

Nayjhren hit the water soon after. His dive was perfect and he sprouted out of the water with his arms high.

Harris nodded.

"Cae got what he deserved finally."

Tekleha turned to Jasmine and Linny.

"That was an interesting dive. I have to say I am shocked."

Jasmine looked toward the water.

"Uh... Cae hasn't come up yet."

Linny looked uninterested.

"It was whatever. I've been more shocked before."

Jasmine started to get worried.

"No guys, he hasn't come up and... I think Nayjhren's drowning!"

Nayjhren struggled to keep himself afloat, he thrashed around in the water and began to sink.

"H-HELP!!!"

Tekleha and Linny continued to discuss who won the competition in great detail. Jasmine tried to pull both of them out but they had sunk deeper and deeper.

Harris walked over.

"That was some competition. Don't see a move like that often."

Tekleha nodded.

"It seems Nayjhren has changed, not just physically, but also ability-wise."

Linny looked down at a small frog. She watched to hop along the shore of the pond.

Jasmine continued to try and pull Nayjhren and Cae out.

"GUYS! I REALLY NEED HELP!"

As both of them began to drown Jasmine resorted to her final plan.

"No choice now..."

As Tekleha and Harris kept talking they were interrupted when Jasmine transformed into an Orca and fished Nayjhren and Cae out of the water. She threw them on the bank, both coughing up water and struggling to breathe.

Nayjhren collapsed on the ground.

"Did... I win?"

Tekleha nervously giggled.

"Well... that swap move was cool but you did hit the water a little late."

Harris crossed his arms.

"So, we're giving the win to Cae."

Cae crawled his way toward them.

"Extraordinary!"

Cae then collapsed unconscious.

Harris helped Nayhjren up.

"So, mind disclosing the secret technique you used there?"

Nayjhren sat on a rock.

"It's a long story but... I've been experimenting with my powers and by connecting my soul with another I can swap places with them. The problem is I can't disconnect our souls fast enough so when Cae hit the water I felt it... all of it."

Nayjhren shuddered.

Harris laughed.

"That's dope! Think you can teach me that? I have a few things I wanna do Cae... I've had enough of his kicks..."

Nayjhrne scratched the back of his head.

"I can try. I don't think we will get very far though."

Tekleha sat next to Nayjhren.

"Next time you'll get him."

Nayjhren smiled. Tekleha then looked around.

"Where's Jasmine?"

Everyone looked to the centre of the pond and saw Jasmine, back to her human form, thrashing around in the water, struggling to breathe.

Tekleha shot up.

"Crap?! I forgot, none of us know how to swim! Hold on Jasmine!"

Nayjhren sat back and admired everything around him. He saw many groups of kids hanging out by the pond and flower field. The people around him laughed and he had nothing to hide, no wrongs that he felt ashamed of. As he took everything in he couldn't help but think about when he was first released from the cell beneath the church in Jia. He did think of Jia as a home but he couldn't shake the sinking feeling that was brewing in his gut.

Jasmine walked up to Nayjhren, throwing Jasmine down.

"Are you feeling okay? I hope drowning didn't hurt too much."

Jasmine nodded.

"I'm okay, thank you."

Nayjhren smiled softly before noticing how other people around the pond began to look scared, they were all looking up at the sky with shocked expressions.

Tekleha looked up.

"Oh my god..."

Nayjhren spun around and looked up. His blood ran cold and he went pale. From the sky, they saw people. People falling. What looked like only a few soon grew to what looked like hundreds. They all plummeted toward the island.

Tekleha began to run away.

"I don't like that. We need to get somewhere safe."

Harris looked stern.

"We can go to the podium. Prin's powers should protect us there."

Nayjhren began to follow.

"What's happening? Who are those people falling?"

Tekleha looked up, her face filling with worry.

"I have no idea."

Meanwhile...

The Spectators ran around gearing up. Guns cocked, armour clicked and people gathered. Carleton walked around to get a better view of the meeting. Standing at the front were Lord Vivian and his assistant, Terrintul.

Lord Vivian paced back and forth.

"Spectators. I know the mission has changed many times but I am left with little options. The initial group we sent in encountered an issue. No matter what we do, any team we send into the jungle comes back out. We have sent in multiple teams and none have been able to break through the darkness of the jungle. Even leaving breadcrumbs does not help."

Lord Vivian looked to Carleton and nodded.

"On account of one soldier making it through. Spectator Hiro has disappeared after venturing into the jungle. This means there is a way through and we will find it. For now, prepare to burn this jungle to the ground. If we cannot go through it we will go over it."

Many of the Spectators grabbed oil and gas containers, pouring them on the outskirts of the jungle.

Carleton approached Lord Vivian.

"My lord, is this such a good idea?"

Vivian turned to Carleton with an intrigued expression.

"Why do you doubt it?"

Carleton looked worried.

"The jungle must have a reason for keeping us out. It is best not to tempt it. Perhaps Hiro going missing was a warning."

Vivian nodded thoughtfully.

"Perhaps. We have no other choice at this moment. Our enemy approaches the Haab'."

Vivian gestured to the sky. Carleton looked up to see people falling from the sky. His expression contorted to shock.

"My god..."

Vivian watched the people fall, an irritation building in him.

"Get to work. This whole Island can burn for all I care. What we need is that Haab', now."

Vivian looked over his shoulder to Carleton.

"Do your job or... would you want to end up like little miss Julie...?"

Carleton nodded.

"Understood, my lord."

Carleton turned toward the jungle as it was set ablaze. The assault had begun.