Great. It wasn’t a dream. I thought to myself as I brushed some leaves off myself. I absolutely hated it when something came up all of a sudden that ruined the next day. Right now, I was supposed to be at home, with my family. Not—Cia was gone, I realized. Or at least, it was dark enough that I couldn’t see her. That served well to knock me out of my thoughts and wake me up.

I stood, as quietly as I could, and glanced around. Up above, the moon was dark and lifeless; not a good sign at all. First of all, I had slept an entire twenty-four hours or so, and second, I was essentially defenseless on a Full Moon. As I pulled out one of my swords, I heard rustling leaves in the distance, followed by the cracking of a branch. More crunching leaves, adjacent to me, but not headed toward me.

“Cia?” I whispered. “Hello?”

Contrary to what I had learned, she blinked into existence in front of me, making me flinch. “Finally awake. What’s up?”

“Uh, those leaves... was that an animal or a...?”

“Oh Dualaraties. I counted three,” Cia said, completely unbothered by that fact.

I sighed. “Great. Rogues?”

“Yeah. Why’re you so worried though? I can just make you invisible.”

“Cuz!” I stopped myself and took a breath. “I don’t know. Everything.”

Not everything. Not you, at least. But I hate this stupid situation. Alone in the forest, at night. Nobody to contact or live with. Just Cia.

We both turned as we heard the rustling of leaves stop and suddenly turn toward us. I felt air sink into me and watched as Cia disappeared as well. I hesitated a moment before turning and running, making sure to keep my sword from hitting trees, though I couldn’t stop the leaves from rustling on the ground. From behind, I heard a low growl and a bark as the Dualaraties caught my scent and heard the leaves crunching.

“Dogs...? Chupacabras, right?” I said.

“Yeah. Perfect guess.”

I felt my face heat up. “Thanks...”

“I counted four, anyway. I was messing with them earlier.”

My stomach dropped at that information, though I kept running. I just didn’t trust myself to be able to escape them or fend them off either. The extreme lack of light didn’t help with my worrying either, as I could barely see the trees around me, except something seemed off about the lighting. It was weird, like when you got up in the middle of the night, let one eye adjust to candlelight, but then opened both eyes once the candle was blown out.

“Tree straight ahead,” Cia said. I listened and changed course. “Now turn right.”

I did as asked, once again. “How can you tell?”

“Oh, just a cool little thing I have,” Cia said. “My Fae Eyes gives us night vision.”

“Is that why my vision is, uh...?”

“Messed up? I’d guess it’s cuz we haven’t spent too much time together.”

I nodded in response and listened closely to her directions. I almost tripped over myself as I heard a snout snap behind me, and a moment later it caught my cloak for long enough that I stumbled and fell. I tried swinging my sword, but it bit my arm before I could hit it.

“Ow!” I said, feeling tears well up.

“Hey! Can you pick that one up and run?!” Cia said. “Hurry!”

I did as asked, with no hesitation. One of the others finally caught up to me but I sliced it across the eye before it could bite. It backed off, giving me the time I needed to pick up the other one and run. However, I only got a few steps before a bolder Chupacabra jumped at me and bit my leg. I grunted in pain and fell over again, trying to ignore all the pain.

“Rose! Nasturtium!” Cia said.

“Huh?” I asked as I tried to slice at the blood-sucking dogs. A moment later, I felt some of my energy return as red and orange lights shined through my right sleeve. Whatever power Cia used didn’t help much with the sharp pain, but it, and my anger, helped me lash out at the Chupacabras surrounding me. They continued biting, but my sword drove them away.

One of them caught my sword in its mouth and ripped it away from me. A moment later, I had my cloak pulled over me and I just let the dogs bite me. I cried and ignored whatever Cia was saying, too scared for my life to listen. Teeth bit into me, hard, but all I did to drive them away was shake my arms slightly. After just a few more seconds of surviving the pain, one of them let up, and I heard a snarl followed by yelps from the other rogues.

What?

“Good boy! Sit,” Cia said.

I chanced a look and took my cloak off as I grimaced in pain and wiped away a few tears.

Cia stopped petting the Chupacabra and looked at me. “Not exactly the best teamwork, but you’ll be healed in a few minutes.”

“Hm?”

“One of my powers, Rose. It manipulates the energy of others to heal you and me. So, technically not healing, but you get the idea.”

I nodded in understanding and looked at one of the bites on my leg; it healed in front of my eyes.

“The other two are Nasturtium and Nightshade. Nasturtium is a sort of mind control, but apparently, it’s pretty weak for now. And obviously, Nightshade is the invisibility.”

“Mm... cool,” I said.

“Hah, I wouldn’t be very talkative after that either. You okay?” Cia asked.

“Kinda.”

Cia looked at me skeptically but decided to let this subject drop. A ticklish but warm sensation bubbled up around my injuries as Cia closed her eyes to concentrate on healing me. An urge to scratch at my injuries also came about, but I resisted it, not wanting to mess up the process. I curiously looked around and noted that the red cloud of mist that surrounded me and healed me also reached out to touch the dying Dualaraties.

“You’re stealing their energy?” I said.

“Yes. Concerned?”

“Uh, I guess so.”

I thought to myself about those feelings again—the ones that always confused me. I wonder why I feel guilty. Prolly cuz they didn’t choose this. They were just living, and I was their food, more or less. And they just look like little doggies.

“Hey,” Cia said, grabbing my attention, “since your arms are healed, pull up your sleeve—I wanna see your Ethereon.”

I did as asked, and my eyes widened at the sight. “Wow... it’s pretty,” I said as I looked at a black vine that started on the back of my hand, snaked around my arm, and presumably reached up to my dominant left eye. Leaves and shoots grew off the main vine, but the most eye-catching part was the flowers. I recognized only the red rose, but not the purple flower with its thin, pointed petals, or the orange flower with its rounded petals.

“Why’re they all colored?” I asked. “Ethereons are supposed to be completely black unless a Spell is being used.”

“I’m special like that,” Cia said. She really didn’t miss a beat. “Besides, I am using a power right now. That glowing orange one is a nasturtium, the purple one is a nightshade, and the glowing red is a rose.”

“I knew the rose,” I said. I began asking why the entire vine didn’t glow but I stopped as I spotted a mark on the back of my arm. “Why is there a bud there?”

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“Hm? Oh, that? I guess it’ll open if it wants to,” Cia said.

“You aren’t—”

A growl cut me off. I gasped and glanced to my side, where it had come from, and spotted the Chupacabra. Sharp bristles on its back stood on end as it looked out at the dark forest, having smelled something. Concern appeared on Cia’s face as she settled the Dualaratie down, silenced us with a gesture, and left. Assuming I would have to run in a few seconds, I took the time to stand.

After a long minute, Cia popped into existence in front of me, her face white as a ghost. “I’m not sure what that thing is, but... I know I can’t do anything to it with my Spells. No mind control, no energy to steal from.”

My body shivered at the fear that I’d never heard from her before. “Uh, what...?”

She closed her mouth as a branch snapped a few hundred feet away. No, it wasn’t a branch I realized. That was an entire freaking tree.

“Move!” Cia whispered.

Can you move me instead? I thought to myself. I hated that I was always so hesitant, but thankfully, Cia grabbed my hand and began pulling me along—she was surprisingly strong for a Faery just a few inches tall. Leaves crunched underfoot as I ran, not taking time to look for the empty spots. I felt curiosity beginning to fuel my fear, and so I spoke up.

“Cia, what is it?” I asked.

“It’s better if I don’t say.”

I didn’t believe her and let my words slip out in spite. “You’re not sure, are you?”

She went silent. “No. I’m not,” she said, causing me to sigh as we ran in silence. Not a single noise around us. No birds flying away in fear. No Dualaraties anywhere in sight. And worst of all, no moon up above.

I froze in place as I noticed something utterly horrible that made me want to throw up. The monster was in front of us now. I could see its dim, pulsing red skin that writhed around uncontrollably. I would have called it some sort of octopus with the tentacles that comprised its entire body, except octopuses hadn’t ever given me a sense of dread. This thing did.

Its ‘circumference’ was maybe fifteen feet of blood, dirt, leaves, and bones that floated through its tentacles. Those tentacles seemed to wrap straight through trees, allowing it to hover above the ground. The worst part, though, was the innumerable amount of teeth that each tentacle had. Tiny mouths filled with teeth on every single tentacle, each one smiling like a maniac.

As if in a trance, I hid behind a tree even though I knew that it knew where I was. “Cia... Nightshade.”

“Right. And your night vision should be better,” she said as she disappeared.

I made a run for it once she was completely gone, and I heard branches snap behind me as soon as I stepped forward. I didn’t want to take any chances with glancing backward and then running into a tree, so I kept my face forward. By now, my nausea had given me a splitting headache, and the world seemed to be darkening around me at the same time as it became brighter thanks to Cia’s Passive.

One more branch cracked, and I was lifted into the air with a scream. For just a split second, I could see the Chupacabra being eaten alive in record time, and though I couldn’t see her, I heard Cia yell. “KIARA!”

I felt sharp coming from my ankles, which were now above my head, and I realized it must have been gnawing on my ankles. My disorientation and a lump in my throat stopped me from yelling for help. Out of nowhere, a Werewolf slammed into the tree directly under me, causing the monster to stop for just a moment.

I want to be home, I wished as tears ran down my forehead instead of my cheeks. Please... someone help.

I belatedly realized I was on the ground now, and the monster was in the spot the Werewolf had been in. I instantly tried standing up, only for one of my ankles to collapse under me. Then, I tried crawling instead, my fingers digging into the grass and pulling me forward. I guess I had some absence of hesitance when my life was on the line.

Just as I felt one of the monster’s tentacles began snaking its way around me, I saw a man in front of me. He had come from the direction where the Werewolf had flown in from, and he was tall and burly. The monster looked at him as he walked forward with a refined air and ran a hand through his beautifully colored hair. The slicked-back hair was silver and had black streaks running through it, and it was paired with a neatly trimmed beard.

I watched him brush off his heavy clothes; too heavy to be from Solumina, even in the winter. A dark blue military jacket with a white dress shirt underneath. Tan trousers that slipped neatly under heavy brown boots. A black cloak bordered with wolf’s fur hung around his neck. An air that told even the monster to hold on a minute, even though he had a grim look on his face as he spotted me.

“Luna,” he spoke with a deep, compelling voice. “Vessel Enhancement.”

The bottom of his cuff exploded with a yellow light that was snuffed out just a moment later by the monster. Except, something was off. The monster’s velocity was completely gone, and its tentacles still seemed to be stabbing at something in its midst. I watched with bated breath as the man stepped through the bloody tentacles with a smug smile. He reached behind him, into the body of the monster, and squeezed his hand. A pillar of flames erupted a moment later, and that light seemed to instantly kill the silent monster.

The flames died down just as quickly as they had appeared, and he wasted no time in walking over to me. “I certainly wasn’t expecting to save a child tonight.”

He stopped in his tracks as Cia appeared between him and me. “Turn off that power and then you can help her up.”

I heard the animosity in her voice, confirmed as the man’s smile was swept away. “Luna, no more.”

Cia let him pass, and I hesitantly took the hand he offered. I stood carefully and happily found that my ankles didn’t hurt nearly as much anymore. I also took the time to reexamine the man who had helped me, and noticed that he actually didn’t seem too friendly—I’d have to give him the benefit of the doubt though, since I couldn’t fight him.

He raised an eyebrow as I stood. “Excuse my words. You’re no child. What do you happen to be doing out this late at night?”

I looked him in the eyes. “Uh, I was running.”

He seemed satisfied with that answer and finally let go of my arm. “Happen to know what it was? I haven’t seen one before.”

“No... I haven't either,” I said.

“A new monster? I haven’t been here in years, but wouldn’t things like that be recorded in books?”

I shrugged and nodded in agreement.

“Ah, it seems I’ve forgotten my manners,” he said, smiling. “My name is Andrian Sol. And you, young lady?”

“Uh, Kiara Luminaire,” I said, noting how he didn’t ask for Cia’s name; it bugged me.

“An interesting last name... it’s good to share a homeland with someone so brave. However, I’m currently living in Frikalt, hence the heavy clothes.”

I smiled awkwardly. “Mm, cool. I’m from... west of here, a town called Bristol.”

“The old trading town?”

“Mhm.”

“You’re a little far... any reason for that?”

I froze, not sure if I should tell him. Cia spoke anyway. “We’re headed to Soleil.”

“Alone...?” he said. “Would you rather consider coming with me? You and your Faery seem amusing.”

I looked to Cia for help, but she only shrugged. “Uh, I guess so,” I said.

“Can you help?” Cia asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Help? I suppose I can, if you need it. C’mon, I’d rather not stand around for too long,” he said. “Luna!”

A tall, glowing woman walked out from behind a tree, and my eyes widened slightly at her beauty. She had a simple silk dress that seemed to cling to her a little too tightly, but her motherly smile slightly changed my mind about her demeanor. Golden hair that somehow also glowed blue dropped behind her and reached down to her knees. She was beautiful, though I saw Cia instantly scowl at the sight.

“Hello,” she said with a gentle smile, “I believe your name is Kiara? And I didn’t get the name of the little one.”

“I’m Ciara with a ‘C’,” Cia mumbled. “Just call me Cia.”

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you two,” Luna said.

“You speak too softly,” Cia said. “I can barely—”

“Cia,” I said. “Stop.”

Andrian glanced at Cia and Luna with annoyance. “We can rest here for the night. We’ll continue tomorrow. Luna, you can rest.”

“Uh...” I trailed off as Luna dissipated into nothingness.

“What is it?” Andrian said.

“I thought you two were still traveling.”

“Kiara, lying is bad for you,” Cia said. I blushed. “Andrian, she slept for over twenty hours.”

Andrian’s eyes widened. “Over twenty hours?!” Andrian asked.

“Yup. Somewhere about there.”

“Kiara,” Andrian said, “did you just summon Cia yesterday?”

“Uh, well, yeah,” I said. “I think.”

“You aren’t surprised?” Cia asked.

“The moon’s phase changed, so...”

“Twenty hours... really?” Andrian said. “She slept all that time?”

“Twenty-three hours and sixteen minutes, to be exact,” Cia said.

“Why so exact?”

“The moon,” Cia responded as if we all knew exactly what she meant. “Anyway, what’s so important about the time?”

Andrian finally wiped the shock off his face. “Usually, the night after a kid summons a Dualaratie, they sleep longer than usual, but only by four to seven hours. Anything more, and that’s rare. Some say the longer the sleep, the more power the Dualaratie must have, but nobody’s sure of that.

“There’s actually a story about a man named Rylius the Blue Demon. Supposedly, he summoned his Dualaratie and only slept for a single hour. Later that night, he goes on to save the village from a giant Dualaratie, and travels the world defeating rogue after rogue without a problem. Everyone said his Dualaratie moved as fast as lightning, its color the same as the moon, though one day he just vanished.”

“Huh, well that was useless,” Cia said.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes; Andrian was obviously passionate about that story.

“I guess so. Either way, twenty three hours is quite rare. You should find someone who can appraise Cia,” Andrian said, unfazed by Cia’s comment.

“Uh, where did Rylius disappear to? Like, are there any theories, I mean,” I said.

“Oh. Well, some say he made it into Acujutu,” Andrian said. “I personally believe something else, but...”

“But?” Cia asked.

“It’s nothing. Just a dream from childhood.”

I thought a moment. “Maybe... he used a pocket to reach Acujutu. Even though it’s inaccessible to people from Verinth, I bet his Dualaratie could’ve made a way...”

“Hm. Smart girl,” Andrian said.

I blushed slightly. “Uh, thanks. One of my brothers got me into mythology.”

“Interesting. I didn’t have siblings, but once my parents died, I moved to Frikalt to climb the political ladder and—ah, I’ve said too much. Let’s get moving, shall we?”

I nodded in agreement and watched as Andrian moved off in the wrong direction, but I noticed he was just going to get his sword; Cia didn’t notice that. “Hey, wrong direction,” Cia said.

“I’m getting my sword,” Andrian said as he walked up to a tree with a giant, thick claymore lodged in it; it was the same tree the Werewolf had been flung into. He pulled it out effortlessly and swung it over his back, where it attached to nothing visible to the human eye.

Magnets? Or tech from the Vears? I thought to myself. I didn’t have the courage to ask, so I just followed him as he began walking. I was sort of glad I had company now, though with him being someone who dealt with politics, it took away some of my trust. It also didn’t help that we were in the dark, and I still had no family. I missed them more than I ever thought I would.

It’s fine... just think of it like a story Andrian told. For now, the hardest part should just be to not break down in front of everyone. So, not too different from my normal life. Great.