Skylar Indra

“I’ve been telling you, I don’t understand what you're telling me to do.”

“Just feel the flow of mana throughout your body. You should be able to do even that! It’s been months and we haven’t even crossed the starting line.” Father groaned his expression somewhere in between confusion and disappointment. “Maybe we should just move to the capital and get you a private teacher.”

“Oooh, that’s a good idea!” Mother prompted while skipping back up the flight of stairs. She looked back at the two of us while leaving the room and yelled, “Let me get my stuff packed and get a carriage, I’ll let you know when everything is ready!”

‘Hmm the capital, huh? I wonder what it’s like I thought as I had many images running through my head at once. I figured I had to scrap most of those ideas due to the difference between this apparent world and mine.

*

Mother came skipping out in a bundle of clothes and three medium-sized bags.

“Alright I got the carriage, I’m ready to go whenever you are!”

“Yeah, yeah, just give us a little bit more time, I feel like she is almost th--”

BOOM… UWAAAA

“She did it! She did it! Finally!” Father yelled excitedly while jumping up the stairs and hugging mother, “She finally did… what is..?” He trailed off.

Looking around, I found that the mana particles floating in the air around me had turned to many different colors and shades, consisting of red, green, blue, white, and black. The strange thing wasn't these basic colors, but the abundance of multi-colored particles. Some were gray and black, others were red and black and the rarest one which I found was a White and Gold particle.

“Wait…..Is...Is that time?” Father asked as he dropped down to his knees with his jaw dropped open so far it almost hit the floor, looking over to mother he stated, “We need to go to the capital. The sooner the better.”

*

[Hmm?]

An otherworldly, ethereal voice resounded through her room, sounding like several voices speaking at the same time.

[That star... no, that supernova! It seems a new god has risen. Come before me, my children!]

The voice echoed out through the halls, prompting a group of seven to kneel before the owner of the voice seconds later.

“Your majesty, you called?” the first voice inquired, their eyes gazing up to look the source of the voice in the eyes.

[Indeed, now look… up.]

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

The seven sets of eyes peering up widened in shock.

“Your majesty, what shall your eternally loyal servants do?”

[Hmm, find that star and observe it. Report if there are any abnormalities.]

“Yes, your majesty.” the seven voices responded before vanishing.

*

Climbing into the carriage it was surprisingly spacious and comfortable. Sitting on the bench to the right, my father to the left and my mother across, we started the three-day-long trip to the capital. Being mid-day when we left, we quickly had to stop to set up camp. Looking around, I saw various-looking plants, from small bushes with triangular leaves to large trees, with needles hanging down vertically.

Being the scientist I was I instantly took a liking to the variety of trees and bushes, as I was taking samples and putting them into my pack my father asked

“What are you doing?”

“Taking samples, of course! Who wouldn't, these plants, they’re like nothing I’ve ever seen before!”

“What are you talking about? These bushes are everywhere. And as for the trees, well it's common knowledge to not stay under them for too long, especially if you have anything metal you’re carrying.”

“Why?”

“Look up.” he stated, peering up at the millions of needles pointing directly at them. “They fall on you, you're dead, no question.”

As he said the last words, I jumped back in disbelief still looking up watching the needles track me as I moved away from the trunk of the tree.

“Well, just be careful, I don't want you dying on me just yet.” a hint of sorrow filled his voice but he quickly cleared his throat, regaining his posture.

‘Something must have happened. I’ll ask him about it later.’

Watching him quickly turn away and walk toward where mother was setting up camp, I looked back up the tree, the needles were pointing up toward the vast, tranquil, orange and purple sky.

*

The day quickly turned to night as I was struggling to get comfortable on the ground next to the warm and soothing fire mother lit. Late at night, I heard a rustling next to me. As I looked over, I found my mother’s comforting face close to mine. It was somewhat reassuring that I’m not alone on my journey in this new and frankly alien world.

‘Though the only one going through what I’m going through, to be honest, it was quite shocking, not waking in my lab where I usually wake in the mornings. But in a field of green-coated hills, swaying grass and… right him. I wonder what he’s up to now. I never really got to say goodbye, well it's not like I have many memories with him so I guess it's fine, but, what am I thinking right now I should be trying to sleep!’

Firmly shutting my eyes, to the point of making them hurt, I kept them shut. My consciousness slowly drifted farther away as I couldn’t help but think about him.

By the time morning came, the next day only one thing had changed. The needles on the tree were gone. Not on the ground, but embedded into the skull of a medium-sized rodent. Almost like a pincushion full of pins the original shape of the skull was almost unrecognizable. Tens of thousands of hair thick spines were sticking out of the creature in all directions. On one side of the skull was a hole where brain matter was spilling out and dying the ground red and brown. A truly repulsive sight. My knees buckled and bent my torso over, nothing came up except for bile and last night's meal of dried meat. Continuing to observe the corpse the hair-like needles were slowly expanding as the creature's corpse shriveled and decomposed, almost like they were sucking the life force out of the once alive rodent.

EEAAA!

A short screech let out of my mouth as I opened it for the second time, footsteps approached from my back as I turned around I found familiar pants and shoes, belonging to my father.

“Yep, that's what happens when you,” Looking toward the tree he finished his sentence, “Chew out a big chunk of this tree. Anyway, breakfast is ready, so come over to the fire when you're ready.”

“I… I don’t think I’ll be having breakfast this morning, I'm feeling a bit… unwell.” I said, peering over my shoulder to see my father’s face with a sarcastic forced grin plastered on my face.