My blood was boiling from anticipation.

I couldn't tell from what event my body had been on edge but I knew something was coming. Under the soft blanket on my mattress, my eyes fixed over the ceiling, the feeling that crept and rose my pores had postponed the moment my lids would close and I would finally drift into sleep.

The dreams swiped and grabbed my spirit in a motion so swift I hadn’t acknowledged it until I was as heavy as a rock over my bed.

Everything was dark, yet the scent and the warmth betrayed my position. Their voices rose in the night, talking lightly, probably over dinner, and I immediately smiled, finding back the smoothness of their synergy, the embalming sensation around my heart anytime I was close to them. In the deepest of dreams. No images showed this time, and I felt completely relaxed, like I was in a different room, but could still hear and experience their familiarity. The clashing of cutlery. The laughs. The sweet scent of food floating around my nostrils once in a while. I felt at peace.

Until the voices grew louder, and I could discern them.

Something is coming.

What do you mean?

It’s her little fantasy again.

No, it is not. I’m telling the truth. I can feel it.

Did you see it?

No… but.

Then, there is no point in ruining our meal. Pass me the bread, please?

Are you not even a little bit afraid? Mother, we’ve talked about this.

And I’ve answered, have I not? You know this is impossible.

Nina said—

Nina.

Nina is as startled as you are.

It is not her power, it is mine.

Is it really important?

She’s not supposed to see these things. She won’t be able to tell what is real and what is dream.

Nua, you are poking on my last nerve, can we just eat?

Listen to your brother. We have security everywhere. Serve yourself. You haven’t slept in days, haven’t eaten a thing. I’m worried.

Because no one listens. No one cares.

We care, sister. We’ll talk about it after dinner.

There’s no time.

The voices echoed and fainted, and as I felt drawn by an imaginary thread back onto the surface, another calling appeared, one I could recognize easily. Nolis.

My name again, reverberating on the corner of my brain, but I was so invested, so deep inside the dream, the journey back up was long, painful. Nolis.

It seemed to be so far away, so unimportant at the moment, I felt like not answering for once. Let my body and mind drift where they wanted to sink, where they needed to rest. But the third time was, indeed, the charm, because I wasn’t just called. I was summoned. Nolis!

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Samay. Samay’s voice was crossing and slashing through the opaque fog of my sleep to wake me up. He seemed so far, it was hard to focus on him, on reality.

It became louder and louder, until it muffled all other sounds, and jerked my body up in a large inhale.

Nolis, come!

I shook my head, looked at Kâl sleeping helplessly next to me and lifted a hand to grab her when Samay spoke again. Please, answer.

I am here.

Where were you?

Here. Sleeping. Why?

He stayed silent for a moment, and I thought I had lost all communications with him. So, I stood up, went out of our room and started walking toward the library. The other Maors were sleeping soundly, not a care in the world, and the lightning insects resurrected from their slumber, too, as they appeared everytime I took a step close to them. There is a problem. Samay continued.

What is it?

I don’t have much time. Come to the library.

I’m on my way.

Start running.

I jogged, brows frowned. What’s happening?

The closer I got to the library, the better I could hear him. He grunted, sighed, as if struggling with an adversary. The Orulis. In Fryor. It is compromised. I won’t—

I ran. I’m coming.

I am doing all that I can to keep the gate open but I won’t manage for everyone. The portal… It is broken.

I didn’t take the time to answer and used all my awakening force to sprint to the library.

Once I arrived there, Min and Geia were already waiting, the Glaze in place, and inside, the strikes of a lightning. The blue fire of Samay clashing on the walls, his power fulminating against the other destroyed Orulis.

I advanced, unsure, toward the portal. You will be the only one to enter.

“Why?” I said, my whole body bathed in the color of his power.

There is no time. It’s—

“Let me at least seek the others,” I insisted, already aiming for the Glaze.

I won’t hold longer. Nolis. You have to—

His voice stopped and a painful sharp scream resonated inside my mind. My feet immediately reached for the Orulis, my eyes squinting for the light of his magic too grand to actually stare. Only I had come too close, and before any explanation, I felt my being, body, mind and soul, traversing the Orulis.

Keep your wits clear and open. Keep the portal activated.

And the fire engulfed me entirely.

The duration I traveled wasn’t long enough for me to change my mind. In a blink of an eye, I was standing in Fryor, at least what we thought it was, and I couldn’t take my word back.

When I finally took control, the blue tunnel dissipated slowly to a soft warm and flickering glow, as the environment around me appeared.

A dark room, cold tiles of red and gold and white and black, enhanced by woods of different shades, lights and smells. There wasn’t much light inside, only a ray under the beautifully sculpted wooden door facing me. This was only a hall composed of the Orulis.

My foot detached itself off the ground, ready to discover what was outside, when voices grew louder and louder on the other side, their steps approaching dangerously towards the exit I wanted to traverse. “Come on, do we really need to listen to every word she says?” a male tone erupted.

“I saw him,” a woman replied. Her voice… “In my bedroom. Clear as day.”

“Your fantasies are getting more realistic as you try pushing them away, I’ve told you this before,” the man insisted, his smile twisting the pronunciation.

The woman answered, exasperated, as she pushed on the door, “You’re a pain.”

They froze, at the sight of my presence.

And my body had been paralyzed, at the acknowledgment of their identity.

Nina and Kino.