Absolutely not.

Andromeda was standing in front of the front door of Gram’s office, her hand on the doornob, and White was giving her an earful. Andromeda wanted to go out for a bit and stretch her legs after waking, but White was not having it.

“White, I just want to look around. I’ll be back here in an hour.” Andromeda said.

No, you won’t, are you even listening to yourself? There is no way that we leave this building and anything good happens. Wait for the one person willing to give us their time in this town a single day before you go around sticking your foot in it all over again.

“I have been in here all morning, and I don’t have anything to distract myself with. There is literally only enough food to make it through the afternoon too so I can’t just stay here.” Andromeda said.

You know just as well as I do that you won’t starve to death if you skip one meal. Go back to the loft, or sit in a chair, or whatever. If you take one step outside that door then I will make your life a living hell until you come back.

Andromeda was taken aback at the sudden threat, but was instigated regardless, “There is nothing you can do to me, all you can do is talk in my head.” Andromeda said.

The feeling that surged through her mind could only be described as what one feels when one drops a plate on the ground and it shatters into a million splinters of glass. For that brief moment between when you realize what happened, and what you need to do to deal with it. The utter shock of disbelief.

Her mind was silent for a moment. She waited for White to launch back with some kind of comeback, a powerful wave of emotion, or something she would expect.

Instead, Andromeda felt a poke in the back of her mind.

Andromeda stepped back, both in shock and disgust.

“You wouldn’t dare.” She said.

Instead of answering, she felt another, stronger poke.

>I’m not following…<

“White, I swear if you do this, I’ll-”

Another poke pushed through the back of her mind and made her see stars. The sudden and terribly sharp pain almost sent her tumbling to the ground.

>Holy- White what are you doing? Stop that.<

Not until she backs off. she may not like it, but she needs to sit and relax for a bit.

>I know, but this is a bit much.<

She won’t listen otherwise.

“You’re overreacting, nothing will happen if I just walk around for a bit.” Andromeda said.

You don’t know that, there could be a hit squad for all you know.

“That’s insane, if that was the case then they would already have knocked the door down.”

>Guys…<

You probably just got lucky and didn’t catch anyone important’s eye. Going out might be the last straw.

>Hey, are you two listening?<

“White, you’re being paranoid.”

You’re being an idiot.

“You’re acting like a recluse who’s afraid of the outside world.”

>Hey!<

Are you so damaged that you can’t take one day before you try ruining what little peace you have?

“Are you so cold in the heart that you can’t let me wander around for a few hours to see if anything is happening?”

>HEY!<

OH! So is THAT what this is about, you wanna go play hero?!

“I DON’T to be treated like a CHILD being put to BED!”

>STOP!<

Little known to any of them, nor anyone who was walking by on the street. A psychic scream radiated from Andromeda with enough force to give everyone within one hundred yards a headache, not least of which being Andromeda, who now fully collapsed on the ground, bleeding out of her ears.

>Why are you two being so argumentative today?!<

Andromeda was still recovering from the tinnitus she was experiencing and White was too rattled from the psionic attack she just endured. Despite that, Whisper continued.

>Andromeda, it has been all of 3 hours since you woke up and ate an entire bowl of fruit. Gram is not back yet from his work and if you left he would have no idea where you went or how to find you. On the other hand, White, telling her not to do something is one thing, but hurting her to make a point is NOT what we do. If you can’t get through to her, then the problem is that YOU aren’t being patient enough. Now act like the grownups you are and talk like you normally do!<

As Andromeda lay on the floor, carefully healing her previously ruptured eardrums in agony, she thought about what Whisper was saying, not just because she was right, but because something else was wrong. White sensed this same thing as soon as Andromeda considered it. They had never been anything less than supportive of each other and very patient at the worst of times.

Back on her feet, she shook her head and tested that her ears still worked. She applied Refutei mending to the blood on the floor until it was gone, then went back up into the loft to lay down. Whisper herself was surprised about how quickly they turned around and sensed that something was amiss as well.

Andromeda laid down and they convened in the shared space. The living room had a set of three matching chairs all facing each other, with White, Andromeda, and Whisper sitting across from each other.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Guys, I’m sorry I yelled. I just wanted you to stop.” Whisper said, worried that some kind of tribunal was about to go down for her actions.

“No, you were justified in doing that. Something is wrong.” Andromeda said.

“Yeah, do you feel the difference as well, Andromeda?” White said.

“I do, ever since I woke up it felt like there was something pressing against my skull. The moment I laid back down, it was gone.” Andromeda said.

“I feel something like that too, but I’m feeling it throughout the entire shared space. I almost feel like when Whisper first appeared, almost like something is trying to invade.” White said.

“Hold on, do you two think there’s another being like me around here?” Whisper said.

“I’m not sure, but considering that you aren’t affected apparently, that’s a strong possibility. What can you tell us about what to expect if it is one?” White asked.

“There is a lot I could say, but as I am now I’m not sure I could give a good description. It’s more feelings than words.” Whisper said.

“We don’t need every detail, just the important things. General stuff.” Andromeda said.

“I can try.” She said, “ The first thing I’d probably mention is that not all mental creatures like me are the same. I was a Hunger Xixial, but there are other kinds. Anger, fear, joy, pretty much every feeling. There are also mental creatures that aren’t Xixials, but I couldn’t say much about those.”

“What other ones do you know about?” White asked.

“We weren’t the most social of beings. Most of the time whenever I saw another creature it was usually a case of eat or be eaten. Though that could just be a me thing. The others might have been more sociable had I not been trying to eat them. I do know of a few though. There are some kind of parasite things that latch onto human souls and tried to mimic them. I got in a fight with one while I was… Well, you know.” White said.

“Do you know of any that can cause people to be irritable? Like we were?” Andromeda asked.

“The thing with us mental beings is that we all have an absolute goal that we strive for. For me, it was always eating, and always trying to end my hunger. The thing is though, we don’t do anything else.” Whisper said.

“How do you mean?” Andromeda said, “You can’t really exist if all you do is try to eat, or whatever else you do.”

Whisper shook her head.

“You’re thinking about it too narrowly. Humans have all sorts of needs, food, water, sleep, social interaction, and things like that. You need to do all of that just to survive. Mental beings only have one need from birth, and we do those things with all of our might. I ate, but I am the exception.” Whisper said.

“I see what you mean, imagine a human that only needed to sleep. They would do nothing else but sleep, or do things that made sleep easier.” White said.

“Exactly, so if you guys are right, and there is another Xixial, then it’s doing something that benefits its goal. That or it’s an aberration, which is a much worse problem.” Whisper said.

“I’m guessing a Xixial Aberration is something that does something more than what it’s born to do.” Andromeda said.

“Yeah, Xixial are born for their one need, but technically speaking there is nothing stopping us from doing other things. I’m perfect evidence of that, you removed my hunger, so you freed me up to do other things.” Whisper said.

“Yeah, but you were starving, that’s just a net negative thing to experience. You said there were Xixial for every kind of emotion. Not all of them are bad emotions right?” Andromeda asked.

“Too much of anything is dangerous. Imagine a being so completely absorbed in the concept of making itself happy that it would force others to be happy too. Or if one was for love, and it made an entire city fall in love with itself.” Whisper said.

“I see your point.” White said.

“Anyway, an Abberation is often more dangerous, because it chooses what it focuses on. We can’t die per se, so the kind of being that can endure anguish similar to what I dealt with and still have the energy to do something else would be unimaginable.” Whisper said.

The first thought that came to Andromeda’s mind was when she healed. It was an agonizing process that usually left her trembling on the floor whenever she wasn’t prepared, she barely had the willpower to stay conscious through it. If she had the strength to power through that then she would be a whole step above where she currently was. White nodded in Andromeda’s direction, agreeing with her general idea.

“Alright, Let’s speak generally now. Between a Xixial, a Mental being we don’t know about, and an Abberation. What is the most likely?” White asked.

“Here’s my thought, if it was a Xixial, and not an aberrant one, then for you two to feel and be affected by it, but not have me notice? That means we’re dealing with either a very old, or very specific Xixial.” Whisper said.

“Any ideas on what kind?” Andromeda asked.

“I couldn’t say, there are so many reasons a Xixial might make people irritable. Fear, Anger, Depression. Like I said, we need more information.”

Hearing this made White roll her eyes.

“White, we can’t figure this out if we stay here.” Andromeda said.

“I know, but I am being serious, every moment we spend outside is another moment someone could recognize us.” White said.

“Actually, I have an idea about that.” Whisper said.

-----

Rigur and the Travelers were taking the day to coordinate their search for Rigur’s classmate, and Alice had left that morning for the conclave in Mizquia to the south. This left Aren without much better to do than wander around town and soak in the sights. He had only heard about Aeroae growing up in the capital, being half a continent away from his home was an experience that barely registered in his mind. Until then, the farthest he ever strayed from the capital province was with Rigur when he visited King’s Grove Proper.

He walked around the shops for a while, fended off the occasional handsy beggar, and almost stepped headline off the end of a short pier until a fisherman pulled him back. But in the end, he felt compelled to wander around the main streets and take in the atmosphere of the city. Even in the high hours of the morning, the thin fog that wrapped around the city was clear to see. As the sun fell through it, it seemed to make the whole city glow. That had the side effect of reducing visibility.

While Aren walked, he turned a corner down a street and bumped into someone else. Well, “bump” is a kind word, as it was more he knocked the other person down to the ground. A young woman, a few years younger than himself.

“Oh god, I’m am so sorry about that.” He said, he lended his arm to her and helped her back to her feet. As he looked he was struck by her appearance. It wasn’t in the normal way one might view a girl, it was her features. She had pitch-black hair that fell to her shoulders, and skin that almost seemed gray. Her eyes so dark that one might think they were pitch black in the wrong light. It wasn’t as though she was necessarily unpleasant to look at, but her appearance seemed almost unnatural.

“It’s fine, I’m getting used to moving around anyway.” She said.

“Ah, are you new to the city as well. I’m here with a few of my colleagues for business.” Aren said.

“I’m… Yeah, I guess I could I’m new here.” She said.

“I see, again, I am incredibly sorry for knocking you to the ground. I’d feel terrible if I ruined your clothes.” He said, the streets were still damp with the morning air and there were a few sparse puddles scattered there and again.

She wiped herself off and shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I was just surprised is all.” She said.

“I’m glad about that.” Aren said. There was a moment of silence where neither of them knew what to say, only for Aren to suddenly remember something and pull out a paper from his back pocket.

“I have an idea, since we’re both new to the city, and I feel a touch of guilt for throwing you down like that, how about we go have lunch.” He said, waving the flyer he was handed a short while ago. She rolled her head in thought, he was aware that a sudden invitation to lunch from a random stranger was suspect at the best of times, but he felt truly awful from the moment he watched her hit the ground. As he thought this, she turned back to him and smiled.

“I think I’ll take you up on that offer, I get the feeling you’re not a bad person.” She said. That put his heart at ease instantly, and he breathed calmly for the first time in minutes. She reacted again, more subtly this time. Her eyes turned away for a moment, as if in thought.

“What’s your name?” She asked.

“Aren.” He said. Hearing this, she had the look of someone who won an argument.

“You can call me Whisper.” She said.