Blinding redtails chirped at their newfound visitors, much to Reial’s annoyance. Why did anyone like their “songs?” It was more akin to having someone scream in your ears.

And the worst part? They still had all of southern Aunesfern to go through.

Aunesfern wasn’t exactly the smallest state in the nation, by many, it was considered the second largest. With Uvandra—its sister state—beating it out in size.

That didn’t make the walk any easy on them. Especially with Charette having declined his offer to Stride her across the state. For some reason, she was intent on walking there, saying that they should take in the sights while they could. It all sounded like an excuse to him.

Scorch brushed against his leg, prancing around the walk-road and snapping playfully at the small forest animals and birds that strayed too close. Charette watched him, mindlessly bouncing an elastic ball made of Essence. Giving her something to keep her hands busy.

“May I see it?” Reial said, holding out his hand.

Charette nodded, bouncing it into the palm of his hand masterfully. However, upon contact, the ball evaporated in a clear mist.

“Umm, Charette?”

“Yes?”

“The ball.”

“I gave it to you.”

“Then where is it?” He asked.

Charette tore her gaze away from the tall, redwood giants of the forest. “It’s-wait, where did it go?”

She scanned the area, confused. Reial sighed. “Never mind.”

They continued in relative silence, with Scorch being Scorch. Having grown up in the rural outskirts of Aunesfern, he was well acquainted with the sights and sounds of the forest. The cinnamon scent produced by the towering redwoods, the crackling flaps of a hunting red wing, and the elusive flicker of a phantom wyrm in the depths. Watching, waiting.

The sound of Charette’s humming drew Reial’s attention back to her. It felt surreal having her by his side. He had never planned to take her along. She was happy at home, yet she had chosen to follow him. Why was that?

“Reial,” Charette suddenly spoke up. “I’m sorry, about yesterday.”

Reial looked at her. Responding immediately would be wrong. He'd only prove himself to be foolish by speaking without talking. She didn't deserve to hurt again. Not after everything.

Charette, however, continued.

“I was just really stressed about you leaving. I thought that...maybe I did something wrong. I didn’t want to leave on bad terms”

“On bad terms? You realize that I don’t hate you, right?” He answered.

"That didn’t stop me from thinking you did...”

Reial frowned. He knew what leaving would do to her. How her only friend and brother leaving her side would crush her. He was being selfish because he knew that her life would be better without him. Her frustration was justified, and that made it harder on his conscience. It was his job as her elder brother to comfort and reassure her, but he had never been particularly good at that.

His answers were half-baked, never good enough, like his tutors had always complained. How could he be a reliable shoulder for her when he could barely stand on his own?

“So…any reason why you’re so interested in the Solvaylian Arts?” Reial asked, hoping the change in subject would brighten her mood.

Charette looked at him, her expression inscrutable. “I thought learning more about them would make me…’better.’”

Reial nodded. They’ve had this conversation before plenty of times. To be Aunesfernish was to achieve greater and greater heights, just like Rei. Greatness was in their blood, yet they lacked the drive for learning and working. Not because they were lazy by nature, but because they never felt inspired or motivated. Outliers lost in a land of overachievers. They weren’t strange, were they?

Reial put on a smile for her. “You don’t need to know more about the Solvaylian Arts to be better, you’re already a natural. If you were more skilled, you’d be on the same level as La’Vina.”

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.” She said, a small smile spreading across her lips. “But thanks.”

A short bark from Scorch caught their attention, leading them to discover the drog clawing his way up a tree. The red oak was some fifty feet, a young one judging from the length of its branches. In a burst of energy, Scorch tossed himself from the oak and began slithering across the sky, almost as if he were flying. It lasted for two seconds before he plummeted back to the earth. Crashing into a bush.

The drog stuck his head out, looking at Reial and Charette eagerly before hopping out of the bush in a tangled mess. A fall like that wouldn’t hurt a drog.

“Good boy!” Charette cheered. “Just try not to do that in the city, please? We don’t want to get into trouble.”

As time dragged, Reial became a bit more talkative, tapping into the Sygnal and sharing what caught his interest through his link with Charette. That mainly being show performers. He couldn’t decide what he loved more about them. Perhaps it was those large, willing smiles as they danced, performed complex Solvaylian tricks, or juggled various items. They were just happy to be there, and he wanted to know what that felt like.

“Do you think it’s true?” Charette said, interrupting the broadcast on Reial’s end. “You know, about the pneuma that’s said to haunt the steppe.”

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Reial thought about it for a good moment. That word, pneuma. Could it be…? “No, but legends have a basis, don’t they? There’s probably some dangerous animal that lives up there. Probably an overgrown nezerine for all we know.

Charette hummed. “True.”

Even then, an oversized beast would pose no trouble to Reial. It had more to do with the Yuson Steppes terrain. It was a barren wasteland with little to no outposts, which, coupled with its irregular weather patterns, made it a dangerous location to travel through. If the person in question wasn’t a Strider, Glider, or Trancer that is.

The safest way to Thírion, for that matter, was from Recunda’s port city of Endona. Not only was there no need for identification but he’s heard from many people on the Sygnal how swift the ferry was. It was the obvious choice to avoid their parent’s detection.

And yet there was still something that bothered him. Something that had continued to nag at his mind since the morning. There was still no word about their disappearance. It had been a full day and a half since they’d left home, and their parents hadn’t bothered to raise an alarm.

Were they ashamed that their prized jewels had left them? That the children they had imprisoned in their own home escaped from their overbearing clutches? Did their father think that this would tarnish his reputation as governor of their state? No, that didn’t make sense. He could care less for his reputation because of who he was.

Reial could never wrap his mind around that. Their father never appeared or sounded like the kind of person who would willingly lock someone away. He was the type of person who gave you advice and a hug when you needed it. As to why he subjected them to this treatment, Reial didn’t know.

He had an easy life, or what many would call an easy life, but to him, it was anything but pleasant.

Maybe they believe we’ve locked ourselves away? He thought. That could be a plausibility. It has been only a day after all.

***

Reial Strode into a clearing, his Veil Sight solidifying the twisting blurs of colors into a physical environment he could make sense of. Charette had her eyes shut tight, as the “spontaneous” materialization in another space might throw her mind for a loop.

Scorch followed her example, his body wrapped tightly around Reial’s waist. They had to hold onto him, or else they would be broken and battered like ragdolls at the speed with which he traveled.

Reial slowed to a natural speed, finally succumbing to the dissolution of his mind. He couldn’t go on; or else he would forever lose himself. Stumbling forward, he spilled onto the ground. Crushing his sister beneath his weight as Scorch began to unfurl. It didn’t hurt, because the sensation failed to register in his mind.

During these moments, it felt as if he were watching himself. Lightheaded, lost. His eyes glazed over as he stared at nothing. It was the closest thing to death that any Essence-wielder could experience. But it didn’t scare him, even if he was able to fully comprehend his own thoughts.

Charette finally managed to push him over onto his back, freeing herself from his weight. Scorch nuzzled Reial’s face, his soft fur reminding Reial in his haze of a warm blanket. Thinking on his part required a great effort. When Charette spoke, it was garbled nonsense. As if she was speaking another tongue. He felt something wet and warm against his cheek. Was Scorch licking him?

He wanted to tell them that he was fine, that he was still “all there” but he couldn’t even feel his mouth move. Charette frowned at him, concern etched onto her face as she pulled him up and sat him against a nearby tree. He’d have an earful from her whenever he managed to recover.

Reial wanted to sigh. He knew that carrying someone while Striding was an extremely taxing effort, but he still did it. Even with four years of experience under his belt, he was still new to it. His father would’ve been ashamed to see him making reckless use of his powers.

Reial watched silently as Scorch walked in circles beside him before finally lying down. Unconditional love was a difficult thing to earn, but he never took it for granted. Like flashing lightning, guilt struck him. He wanted to leave this too, wanted to leave Scorch. Drogs weren’t just animals, they were intelligent beings that could love and hate, and think for themselves as humans did.

How would his disappearance affect Scorch? Would he howl his lament? Sniff at his old clothes to be reminded of his scent. Reial didn’t know how he had come to earn the drog’s affection, especially after failing to protect him too.

Commanding his arm to move, he rubbed Scorch’s folded ears. He couldn’t feel any of it, not even his muscles move, but this was the most he could do to show his gratitude. Scorch nuzzled his hand before returning his head to rest.

This, Reial thought, isn’t a bad way to drift off to sleep. Just lying against a tree, staring out into the open, starry space of night. The realm of the Almagest. Their supposed Gods.

He should’ve enjoyed himself, felt at peace with where he was, yet he couldn’t because he knew he didn’t deserve it. That thought was enough to push him back into his state of melancholy.

After Charette had finished making camp, she removed Reial’s large bag from his shoulders and set it down by hers, his one-handed sword still strapped to it. It was his only remainder of his tutor, Eston.

Eighteen years felt long, each year dragging out like a scuttling Treedint roach. He hadn’t bothered to remove the sword from its scabbard, though Eston claimed it was “special.” Not that it mattered, Reial wasn’t much of a duelist. He could easily defend himself from most threats with his Striding alone.

“You…”

Reial groaned inwardly. That voice. That dwelling voice. It did nothing but chastise him whenever it managed to bring itself together. Did it have nothing better to do than nag at him?

“Care to explain why you nearly killed yourself just to make some extra miles?” It asked with a strange, static-like quality.

“Why does it matter.” Reial simply replied.

A groan. How could a voice in his head groan? “By Vaes’s hand, you’re stubborn. You knew this would happen, but you still went through it. What if you died?” It asked.

Reial didn’t give a response. He didn’t care enough. Not now. Perhaps if he remained silent, the voice would-

“No, I won’t just leave you alone if you’re quiet. I can hear what you’re thinking.” The voice said. “It’s not that easy.”

“Why now?” Reial asked It.

“Because you need to take better care of yourself. With your attitude, you’re no better than that legion of Veil Striders Vaes took on his Crusade.”

“I’m nothing like them.”

“You’re right. At least they cared enough to try.”

A blend of Frustration and shame burned his cheeks. It was true—Hyvashyvek’s name, it was true—but he hated it. They cared enough to try, try until they burned their minds out. He couldn’t dream of dying for a greater cause when he was still struggling to care.

“Be more careful.” It advised him.

“Alright.”

“Say it like you mean it.”

Reial glanced over at his sister. She was asleep, as well as Scorch. How much time had passed? “You sound like a child.” Reial retorted.

“A child that doesn’t want you to throw our lives away.” It countered.

“Our lives?” Reial said. “What do you mean by that?”

“Never mind that just give me an answer.”

‘If I do, will you leave me alone?”

There was nothing for a moment, then a glimmer of light appeared in his mindscape. He couldn’t quite make out what it was. It was as if he were watching something from the corner of his eyes. Distinct, but fuzzy.

“I will, for now.” It answered.

With a mental sigh, Reial relented. “I promise to be more careful. There, is that better?”

“Yes, it is.” It gloated.

“Good.”

Reial waited for a response, but it never came. The glimmer of light dimmed until it was snuffed out, and he was left alone. Alone like how he had wanted it. Without anyone to bother him or remind him of his failures.

So why did he still feel hollow?