Chapter XL

When Lilly opened her eyes, she was immediately blinded by a bright light. She reactively squinted and quickly reached up to block it with her hand. For a moment, she just laid there in a daze, unsure of where she was or what was going on. Yet, for some reason, she felt at peace for the first time since before Nigreos and Album arrived in Wilham. She felt calm and, while the light was bright, its warmth was welcome and part of her wanted to just lay there and go back to sleep. The allure of rest was powerful after the night she went through and she almost gave in, but when memories of that night suddenly came back to her, her eyes snapped back open and she hurriedly pushed herself to a sitting position.

Eric! Where am I? Where is he?!

Her last memory was of him taking that strange syringe and sticking it into her neck, all the while muttering about how it was going to save her. She didn’t know what he had planned but she knew she had to talk to him immediately and demand some form of explanation. However, as she soon realized when she properly took in her surroundings, not only was Eric Reiner nowhere to be seen, but she wasn’t even in his bedroom, rather she was somewhere else entirely.

Where…the hell is this?

Lilly was sitting in a field of grass, the sun shining down on her, as well as the many colorful flowers that surrounded her. To her left and right, the field seemed to stretch out for miles without an end in sight and when she glanced over her shoulder, it was the same. But when she looked ahead, the fields seemed to come to a stop at the base of a giant mountain that loomed over her. At first, she wanted to think that she was somehow transported out of the city and to somewhere else in the country, but she immediately discarded that possibility. She couldn’t possibly be in her world. All around her, colorful little lights were dancing in the air. They were no larger than a golf ball and there seemed to be thousands of them among the flowers. It would have been a beautiful sight under different circumstances, but her confusion as to what was going on caused her pause.

What are these things? she wondered, holding her hand out just as a blue light floated onto her palm.

It was warm and welcoming, causing her to smile despite the situation. But she was only able to enjoy it for a moment before she was struck by another odd detail. As she looked down at her body, she found that she was completely naked. Lilly jumped to her feet, the blue light remaining perched on her hand as she surveyed herself.

What happened to my clothes? Did Eric…? No, of course he’d never do that!

She scanned the grass, but couldn’t find any sign of where her clothes might have been. She knew she’d been fully dressed when she fell unconscious so she had to have been stripped naked after then, and while that thought should have terrified her as to why anybody would do that, she still didn’t panic. Everything about her situation was scary, but she felt perfectly calm.

Is this place doing something to me? Is that why I’m not worried?

With one last look around the fields, she determined that she was alone, so for the time being, her nudeness wasn’t at the top of her priorities. Instead, she stared back at the light, only to find that a green and red one had joined the blue one on her palm.

“Um…” she managed to say. “Can you…speak?”

They all flashed brighter, almost like they were confirming that they could understand her, but they didn’t say anything. Part of her wondered if they only reacted to the sound of her voice, and that they actually didn’t know what she said, but for the moment, she had to hope that they could help her somehow.

“Where am I?” she asked. “What happened to Eric? And what are you?”

They flickered again, but this time, all three of them floated back up into their air and circled around her head a few times. She watched the sight with awe, finding the colors truly beautiful, as they then turned and began to fly toward the base of the mountain.

She frowned. “Wait, hold on a moment!”

They stopped, flashed a few more times, then continued forward. When she didn’t move, they stopped again and blinked.

“Am I…supposed to go with you?” she called over.

Their flashing increased at a rapid pace and she decided that must mean “yes”. For a second, she questioned whether they could be leading her somewhere dangerous before deciding that she could trust them. She didn’t know what made her come to that conclusion for she knew she really should be cautious, and she once again wondered if that it was also an effect of the strange place she was in, but nevertheless, Lilly moved through the grass and toward where the lights were waiting.

She followed the lights out of the grass and soon, she found herself walking on gravel, though despite her lack of shoes or socks, they didn’t hurt her feet. It looked and sounded like gravel, but every time she stepped on it, it felt as if she were walking on a pillow. It only further confirmed for her that wherever she was wasn’t normal.

Did that syringe send me here? But…what even was that thing? Is this where Eric wanted me to go? Did he send me here for some reason?

As unstable as he had seemed, the thought that he had intentionally sent her to this field only increased her comfort since she knew he wouldn’t have placed her in any danger, and soon, she was standing at the base of a dirt path that led further up the mountain. The lights didn’t hesitate to follow it and so she didn’t either. All she did was stop for one moment to look back at the beautiful expanse of flowers, grass, and lights, taking in the sight so she wouldn’t forget it, then continued on her way.

At first, the mountain path wasn’t anything too impressive. On either side of her, all she could see were trees and bushes, reminding her of the many hikes she had gone on with her father when she was small. Though, back then, she could see small animals skittering about and birds calling out to each other. Here, there was no sign of any animals she recognized. Instead, there were only the lights, lazily floating around as if they were bubbles.

They’re so pretty, but…are they alive or are they some natural phenomena?

As she thought that, the blue light flew around her head and rested on her shoulder, sending warmth back through her again. She reached a finger out and it happily bounced onto it to rest on her nail.

“Where are we going?” she asked it.

It blinked twice.

“That…doesn’t help.”

The light then bounced a few more times before joining the other two further ahead. She watched them once again and shrugged, deciding they really couldn’t communicate with her and thus, it would be pointless to keep asking them.

They walked on for what seemed like another hour or so, but since she quickly realized that the sun wasn’t moving from its spot at the zenith, she knew her sense of time was probably off. As they climbed higher up the mountain, the trees and shrubbery soon thinned out, and after a while, she came to stand just before a natural stone bridge that crossed to the other side of what she guessed was a two-hundred foot ravine. Her eyes went wide and she couldn’t help but smile as she saw the waterfall off to the right, pouring down the side of the mountain and into the river below. A refreshing spray of water hit her body and she took a step forward to gaze over the side, finding herself strangely at ease despite the massive drop.

“It’s so pretty,” she muttered.

The lights blinked again to get her attention then flew over the bridge and to where the path continued on the other side.

She laughed. “Yeah, I’m coming.”

The stone bridge was about ten feet wide and didn’t have any railings or anything else that could protect her from falling, so she kept to the very center. Off to her left, she got another view of the fields and, from her much higher vantage point, the sight became even more stunning. When she reached the other side, she was sad to see it go, but also intrigued to see what else this strange world had to offer.

They continued on to higher elevations and she started to realize that they must be leading her to something at the very top of the mountain. Time went on and, by what she assumed was the two hour mark, she realized something else odd. While she was in shape, she wasn’t used to high elevations or climbs as long as this, yet she wasn’t even slightly winded. Her breathing was as steady as when she was sitting down.

I guess that makes this much easier though. I doubt these little lights would have been patient enough for me to take a break.

As they got higher up the mountain, the plant life around her gradually shifted from the normal sights to something far more mystical. The trees became red with pink and gold leaves and the grass was now a bright blue. It felt as if she had stepped into some kind of painting or maybe even a dream. There were even more lights dancing around at this height and they only continued to increase as she walked, some even joining the initial three as they led her. Then, nearly twenty more minutes after arriving in the forest of color, she emerged from the trees and found herself at the top of the mountain.

“Woah…”

There was a large, seemingly natural hot spring stretched out before her, the steam rising up to show her just how warm it was. The smell of roses was in the air and she immediately wanted to jump in and relax, but hesitated, seeing that the lights hadn’t moved.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. You can come in.”

She jumped at the sudden voice and quickly realized she wasn’t alone anymore. Sitting about twenty feet away on the edge of the spring was a woman she didn’t recognize. Her beauty was immediately apparent and she didn’t look as if she could be much older than twenty-five. She was also naked, with all but her shoulders and above submerged in the spring water. Her smile was welcoming and her eyes were bright. Her brown hair had different colored flowers decorating it like a crown.

“Please, I’m sure you walked for quite a while to get up here. Come take a rest. You’ve earned it.”

Unsure of what she should say in such a bizarre situation, Lilly merely nodded and carefully placed her foot into the water. The warmth was so relaxing that she was quick in submerging her whole body inside, sinking so low that it came up to her neck. She exhaled softly, feeling as if all the stress of the last few weeks simply melted into the water.

“Tell me, young lady,” the woman began. “What’s your name?”

For a moment, she wondered if she should be so quick to trust the strange woman, but she soon concluded that she could. There was no basis for it, rather it was just a feeling she had. She instinctively knew this woman wouldn’t harm her.

“Lilly Harper,” she answered.

The woman smiled. “And how did you find your way here? I don’t sense any magic within you so I must conclude that you aren’t Ijirian, yet here you sit. How did you come across The Angel and why did you inject it into yourself?”

Lilly frowned. The Angel?

However, judging from her comment about injecting it, she could only assume that she was referring to the strange black and white syringe that Eric had used on her.

“I…don’t really know,” she admitted. “My friends and I are in danger. We have been for a few weeks now, and we’ve lost almost everything. And just tonight, everybody except my boyfriend and I were…I don’t know, killed? Erased? I really don’t understand it, but with everything gone, my boyfriend suddenly took out this syringe I’d never seen before and placed it in my neck. I don’t know what it was…but maybe that’s the angel you’re talking about. That’s the last thing I remember before waking up here.”

“Interesting,” the woman replied calmly, as if she understood everything Lilly said despite how vague she had been. “And this boyfriend of yours? What is his name?”

Lilly smiled as Eric’s features appeared in his mind, though it was not with the somber and defeated expression he had in recent days. Instead, she thought of the cheerful, smiling boy she had met all those months ago in Mrs. Kentz’s class when he made his way through the door.

“Eric,” Lilly answered. “Eric Reiner.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

To her surprise, the woman smiled, as if that was somehow the answer she was looking for. “Well then, if you are my son’s girlfriend then you must be somebody I can trust as well.”

Lilly didn’t immediately process what she said, but when her words did settle in her mind, she sat up straighter and stared back at the woman in shock. “Your son?” she parroted. “Wait, you don’t mean you’re…?”

She nodded once Lilly trailed off into silence. “Yes, my name is Abigail Reiner… And while I am not the original Abi, I am at least a piece of her consciousness that was placed by the original to keep watch over this world. I’m its guardian, you see, and I’m supposed to wait until somebody worthy comes to claim the power that The Angel keeps here.”

As Lilly truly took in her appearance, she realized that she had to be telling the truth. While she had never even seen a picture of Eric’s mother, she could clearly make out the resemblance between this woman and Eric. That alone gave her every reason to trust her.

“Unfortunately, the original died many years ago,” Abi went on. “But I know what her intentions were. She left The Angel in Eric’s care, hoping he would be the one to come see us and claim the power. But if he’s entrusted you with it, then you must be an exceptional girl, Lilly. And without magic, you may be even more fitting to claim it. You do not have any magic…so you would be able to start from scratch. Yes…if Eric has selected you to be The Angel then I will gladly allow you to be.”

Lilly wasn’t following most of what Abi was saying, and she didn’t know what it meant to become The Angel, but she latched on to the part about gaining some sort of power. “Mrs. Reiner…” she began hesitantly. “If I become this angel, will I be able to save everybody? Can I fight back? Could I undo what’s happened?”

Abi smiled gently, raising a hand to indicate that she should slow down. “And what are you fighting? You said you are in danger? What from? What is trying to harm you?”

“They call themselves the Masters of Ijiria,” she responded instantly, praying that the woman could give her the help she so desperately sought. “Nigreos Noctis and Album Luz. They’re coming after us and they’re trying to erase us. They’ve already taken all our friends away and Eric and I are the only ones left. If you can save us…”

She realized she had rambled everything off without pausing for a breath, so when she finally did, Abi spoke, a sad look in her eyes.

“Calm down, sweetie,” she said. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. The original always suspected that Nigreos and Album may go after Eric someday, but I think she hoped deep down that it would never come to that. It’s a shame that others were involved, but let me say something. You’re friends…the ones that were erased…aren’t dead. They are simply in another world…a prison of sorts. And they can be released.”

With that, a theory that had been hanging over them for the past few days was finally confirmed. Letting out a soft exhale, Lilly leaned back against the edge of the spring and felt tears coming to her eyes. The relief she felt was so intense that she couldn’t hold her emotions back.

They’re alive. We were right. It’s not over! We can still save them!

“How?” she managed to ask. “I’ll do anything, Mrs. Reiner. If it’s to save them…and protect Eric… I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Abi nodded. “I believe you. I can see the conviction in your eyes, but it won’t be an easy task. There are only two ways to release somebody from the erased realm. One is for Album to willingly set them free, a possibility that I would not count on.”

Lilly grimaced, silently agreeing that it would be a fool’s mission to try and diplomatically deal with Album Luz. “And the other option?”

“To break them out from within,” she said simply. “To go into the erased realm and destroy the sources of mana that keep it standing.”

“W-what?” Lilly stuttered. “I’d have to…go inside? But…well, not like I’d necessarily want to do this, but what about killing Album? We were under the impression that without her, this erased realm couldn’t exist. Is that not a possibility?”

To Lilly’s disappointment, Abi shook her head. “Unfortunately not. You see, the erased realm is, in a sense, a twisted pocket realm. Now, I’m not sure how much you know, but I’ll give you a quick rundown. Pocket realms are artificial worlds, created by mages with the mana necessary to sustain one. Now, in order for the mana to get inside, there have to be outlets linked to the other world. In addition, there are many erased realms. The world your friends are in may not be the world past victims are in, so there’s a chance that you won’t wind up in the same one. It’s a gamble…but if you could get inside and destroy the mana gates linked to Album, you could dismantle the world and release all those trapped inside.”

Lilly listened intently, not wanting to allow any detail to slip past her. If this was what she had to do, then she would take the risk and give it a try. As it stood, she might not even have an option of avoiding erasure.

So…if Album does succeed in erasing me, then I’ll have this as a plan to fall back on.

“Now, this world is a similar thing,” Abi continued, indicating the surrounding hot spring with a wave of her hand. “It was a pocket realm created by The Angel and was eventually fused with one that the original Abi Reiner had at her disposal. Within this mountain, there are mana gates that are sustaining it, though the mana is currently being supplied through me. But as you know, Abi Reiner is dead…yet this place lives on. The erased realms are the same. Album Luz is not the only eraser, and should her realms fall, another eraser will simply take on the burden of supplying mana.”

Lilly grimaced. “So even if we kill Album, we can’t release them?”

“Exactly,” she confirmed. “In fact, by killing Album, you would lose your only method of entering the realm. Should she die, releasing her victims becomes impossible.”

Damn… So we have to somehow either convince her to let them go, or get inside and release them ourselves…but we can’t kill her?

She realized with a reluctant sigh that Nigreos preventing Eric from killing Album might have actually been beneficial to them.

“Now, this is not as simple as I make it sound,” Abi said. “We don’t have much more time, so I will be quick. Destroying these mana gates requires a mage and you, currently, are not one. But, if you’re willing to embrace and become The Angel, then you will have the power to destroy the erased realm from within.”

Lilly nodded, deciding then that her answer was an easy one. “Then I’ll become the angel.”

She didn’t even have to consider it. If that's what she had to do, then she would do it without hesitation. Her friends were all at stake, as was the boy who meant so much to her, so if she needed to embrace some power to save them, she would.

“But it’s not such an easy task,” Abi said softly. “The angel…is very powerful…as well as unstable. By taking it inside your body, you would be risking your life…and your very sense of being. If you aren’t careful, Lilly Harper could cease to exist, replaced instead by a being of pure power… It is why this is only to be used in emergencies… For if you become The Angel, there is no turning back.”

A shiver went down Lilly’s spine and yet, she replied with her true feelings without even missing a beat. Part of her wondered if she was so confident simply because of the calming effect of that world, but as she spoke, she realized without a doubt that they were her true feelings.

“Even so,” she said. “Before I came to Wilham and met Eric, I was an antisocial mess. I thought I liked being alone. I thought I was better off without friends. But once I got them, I realized just how much they mean to me. They made me a better person and taught me that I was looking at the world the wrong way. Even if I can’t remember their faces or their names, I remember their effect on me and without them, I wouldn't be the girl sitting before you. So…despite that risk, I will become The Angel if it’ll save them…and if I die in the process, at least I tried. So I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring back those happy days I spent with them.”

For a moment, Abi seemed taken aback, before a satisfied smile spread across her lips. “Yes… I can see why my son likes you. If that’s the case, then I will trust his judgment and turn the power over to you, Lilly Harper.”

Lilly grinned, wanting to show the woman that she was confident in her assertion. “Thank you, Mrs. Reiner. Thank you for everything you’ve told me. I promise that I’ll protect your son and I’ll make everything right. I'll stop Nigreos and Album…”

“I believe you,” she replied. “Once I give you The Angel’s power, both I and this place will cease to exist, but I am happy knowing that my Eric has found somebody like you. Protect him, Lilly. And protect yourself.”

“I promise I will,” she said firmly. “And…if this place really is going to disappear, then I can take a message back to Eric if you want. It’s the least I can do for you after all of this.”

Abi closed her eyes for a moment and then smiled warmly. “Just tell him that I’m sorry I couldn’t make it back to him. I want him to know that I wish I could have made good on my promise and returned home. And tell him I love him so much.”

“I will,” she assured her. “I’ll tell him that.”

“Good. In that case, everything is ready for you. You will submerge your head in the hot spring and soon after, the power will attempt to enter your body. It will be painful, but do not fight it. Allow it inside. Allow it to become one with you, and you must become one with it. It’s a symbiotic relationship, of sorts. Once you merge, you will be relying on each other. If one dies, so does the other. Keep that in mind.”

Lilly swallowed back her fear, knowing that she didn’t have a choice. Eric had sent her there for a reason and there was no doubt in her mind that this was it. To stop Nigreos and Album, she would become an angel.

“Understood.”

Abi nodded, her body suddenly beginning to turn transparent, and as it did, more of the different colored lights from earlier began to remove themselves from her form, as if she were splitting into them. “Perfect. In that case, be safe, Lilly Harper.”

“You, too,” she whispered back. “Again, thank you for everything. Goodbye, Mrs. Reiner.”

“Goodbye.”

With that last word, Abigail Reiner faded away as the little lights began to dance into the air before floating off into different directions. Once Lilly was alone in the hot spring, she took a deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come.

This was the wildcard we were looking for. If anything can turn this around, this is it. So…for Eric and for everybody else we lost, I’ll do what I have to.

With that final thought, Lilly inhaled as much air as she could and ducked her head under the water. In the blink of an eye, everything changed. The light from above vanished and when she looked up, she couldn’t see the surface of the water. She was floating in an endless black with nothing in sight all around her. Despite being under water, she found herself able to breathe and she assumed that, like before, her lack of panic was due to the world somehow.

Alright, now what? Where’s this supposed angel?

“Hello? Is somebody here?”

As the female voice echoed through the water, a small ball of light appeared in front of her. This one was far larger than the little ones from the forest and was a pure white, lacking any color at all. Gradually, it began to shift and expand, forming what looked to be a humanoid shape as arms and legs sprouted from its torso-like form, then ending with a head. From there, it formed feminine features, its body becoming more curved and strands of light falling from its head in what resembled hair.

“Who are you?” the light asked. “I don’t sense any magic inside you. Are you really the one Abi chose for this?”

Lilly opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by another, far more masculine voice.

“Why else would she be here if she wasn’t the one Abi selected?”

A ribbon of shadow swirled around Lilly’s body before coming to a stop beside the light. It, too, began to take on a vaguely human shape, though its form looked more male, with broader shoulders and shorter hair. Despite everything around them being black, it somehow stood out from the rest. It was distinct.

A woman of light and a man of black? she thought. This…can’t be a coincidence. Are these somehow related to Album and Nigreos?

“Tell me, girl, what is your name?” the darkness demanded. “And why have you come here for our power? What do you need us for?”

The light nodded. “Yes, yes! I’m curious about that, too! You’re really a weird choice. I mean, after waiting for so many years, it’s almost disappointing that it’s a magicless girl!”

“Er, well…” For a moment, she hesitated, but after recalling how Abi told her to embrace The Angel, she decided she would answer their questions truthfully. “My name is Lilly Harper. Abi Reiner gave me permission to enter here because I need help. My friends and I are being attacked by beings far more powerful than us and, right now, we don’t have the strength to fight back. But she said that if I were to embrace The Angel then I might have a chance at winning. Are…one of you this angel?”

“Well, in a way,” the light said in her weirdly bubbly voice.

The darkness nodded his agreement. “We are both The Angel. Together, we make it up. If Abi trusts you with this power then I won’t argue. After all this time, I’m ready to get out of here. But you need to allow both of us into your body if you want us…and I can’t even promise that you’ll survive. You come from a very different world than we do, and your body might not be compatible.”

“Abi said something similar,” she responded. “But I don’t have a choice. Without you, I could die anyway. So please! I’ll allow you inside of me! Just…lend me your strength!”

The darkness laughed coldly. “There is no lending, Miss Harper. If you do this, then we will be together until the day you die. Our strength will be yours, and yours will be ours. Do you understand?”

“I do,” Lilly confirmed. “And I accept.”

“Well, isn’t she full of determination,” the light mused. “Well, like he said, if Abi trusts you then I do, too. So, let’s see what you’re made of, Lilly Harper!”

That was the last thing either of them said before their forms began to morph once again. The light being didn’t change that much. In fact, her form only grew a little taller and her hair shortened to her shoulders. The dark being, however, shifted quite a bit. His form became feminine and his hair, too, grew down to his shoulders until both the light and the dark were identical, and when their faces finally formed, Lilly let out a soft exhale.

They’re…me…

With that, the two beings lunged at her and the moment they entered her body, pain the likes of which she had never experienced began to overwhelm her. She let out a shriek as she thrashed around in the water, finding herself unable to breath again. Images flashed through her mind of moments she didn’t recognize and thoughts that weren’t her own. Everything was a jumble and for a moment, she felt herself slipping away, but recalling Abi’s warning, she quickly tried to push past the pain and retain herself. She forced an image of Eric into her thoughts, thinking of him and only him.

He was the one she would save.

He needed her and so, she would be the hero that would save him, to make up for all he’d done for her.

Yeah, I swear! I won’t let this angel beat me! I’ll do this!

For him, I’ll embrace this power!

For him, I’ll become an angel!

***

At the same time and without any warning, Album and Nigreos both dropped to their knees, letting out a surprised gasp together. Album’s head felt like it had split open and for a moment, a vision of Lilly Harper shot through her mind, but it was gone so fast that she wondered if she had even really seen it. She could tell that Nigreos’s distortion spell had fallen and when she forced her head to raise so she could scan the darkened street, she found them alone for the time being.

“What the hell was that?” Nigreos gasped. “Was that…Harper?”

Album clenched her teeth. “You saw that, too? Why would it…”

The Master of Light furrowed her brow and slowly raised her head in the direction they had been heading. All of a sudden, she sensed a congregation of mana stronger than anything she had sensed in that world outside of the pocket realm. It was a foreign yet familiar sense, and she couldn’t figure out what it meant.

All she knew was that the arrival of this power happening just after that sensation couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Something happened,” Nigreos murmured, confirming he was sensing it, too.

Album narrowed her eyes, not in the mood for any more surprises to be thrown at her. “Then let’s hurry and end this.”