Thumping could be barely heard in the room as Ixalia softly banged the crown of her head against the wall she was sitting propped up by. It was the middle of the night and she could not sleep. A mixture of fear and excitement has kept her awake for most of the time since she went to bed. One shoulder leaning against the other wall of the corner, she mindlessly traced the scales at her hip, her mind submerged in racing thoughts.

Corners soothed her, always had, ever since she could remember. There was just something relaxing in the feeling of safety a sturdy wall provided. The more sides covered, the better. And this night she needed all the mental support she could get as the events of the last weeks started catching up to her. Finally finding purchase in her mind as it slowly stood down from high alert.

Fear filled her because of the nightmares that had caught up to her. Three times that day she woke up in sweat after the dreams showed her blood dripping from her hands and a snake chomping down on her. The how, why and where of the visions always changed, but those two things stayed a constant throughout.

At the same time, Ixa was looking forward to the next day. She felt like a little girl, waiting for her mother to return home to show off her latest childish doodle. Eyes glowing in expectation of proud parently praise at the sight of what could otherwise be categorised only as chaotic scribbles if not coming from a kid.

She couldn’t wait to see how Peter’d react to what she made for him. Strictly speaking, by their world’s standard, it was nothing impressive. But given their current circumstances, she felt proud of her work, especially since it was her first serious go at enchanting. Other than the mandatory classes she had in mage-school as a kid, but those couldn’t really be counted.

Her mind kept jumping between the two thoughts, one moment thinking of the pencil and how to improve it.

Maybe I could find a way to give it some attachments, like a spoon or a fork. But then again, I could just as well enchant the utensils themselves. I hope he’ll get the gist of the spell fast, just a bit of finger-work… uhm… finger… work. Damit, how could I forget. He has claws, Ixa! That’s why you did it in the first place! You stupid…

The next instant her brain would switch into depression.

I really did shoot the guy, didn’t I? Just pulled the trigger, and now he’s dead. So easy. Too easy. And I didn’t even feel anything. I am feeling guilty now, but is it guilt for killing him, or because I do not feel guilty about that and instead feel guilty because I don’t feel guilty. Uhm… Now I have even myself confused, great work, Ixa. Keeping it together like a champ, real impressive.

And back to her gift for Peter.

Hmmm… fingers just make it easy, but with a bit of effort he should be able to guide his mana into the three-armed spiral. We all managed Ingrem’s barrier after all, this is a piece of cake compared to it. The connecting pictogram could be harder with him focused on the spiral, but maybe… If he makes new channels through the claws to be able to better release his mana as if from his fingers… Yeah, that could work.

Straight into the dispirited thoughts.

What will happen with us anyway? We still know nothing, they’ve just taught us the language ever since Sidy’s outburst, not telling us anything. We know they brought us here, but why? And will we ever get back? I miss mom… and dad… my little brothers. I hope they are okay. Who am I kidding, it’s been two weeks, I never missed an evening call with mom before. She’s probably crying her eyes out by now.

A tear started its path down her cheek as her mind started a new rotation as it kept the cycle going.

Eventually, she was able to tear away, trying to find something to do, to occupy herself, to stop herself from thinking too much. With it still being dark there weren't many options, so she returned to creating channels through her tail. It didn’t take much concentration by now, but enough to keep her distracted.

I’ve seen improvements in how well I can use the tail after I’ve made some of the network and it’s more responsive by the day. Maybe I’ll be able to ‘walk’ again soon. How do snakes even move, they slither, moving side by side, sure, but seriously, how does that work?

Ixalia kept herself busy until the sky outside the windows started lightening, at which point she took her trusted walking-chair and moved to look out. With elbow on the windowsill and her head in her hand, she traced the outline of the distant mountains. They stood black against the sky, still covered in darkness for now.

She knew them well, they were the same ones she saw whenever she looked outside her and Sidy’s apartment in the Protectorate. It ran just to its borders on either side, the valley that the country called its home the only interruption of the giant landform in its snaking path from sea to sea.

The girl watched as the sky steadily turned a lighter blue. The sun wasn’t over the horizon yet, but the city was slowly waking up as more and more people began filling the streets. First in singles then in groups. Merchants began setting up stands, guards were changing shifts and gates were being opened.

“If not for us being cooped up in a single room, it might have even been comfortable here.” She murmured to herself as she wistfully dreamed of getting outside.

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A hand squeezed her shoulder and she placed her own upon it. She was grateful for her friend being there for her. After a moment she asked the question that kept her awake the most through the night. “Do you think we’ll get to go back home?”

She got another comforting touch in response.

“Yeah, I hope so too. They do seem to be making an effort to be welcoming here. The single room and day one aside… obviously. Hopefully that was the worst of it. But hey, they got us here, somehow, so there must be a way back right?” Ixa’s mouth blabbered on as she tried to reassure herself as much as her friend.

As she watched, she caught sight of a man as he staggered from a nearby building outside the closest wall. Swaying on his feet slightly, he thrust out a hand to support himself on the wall and started moving away. Probably drank more than he should have if he’s still hammered, she thought as her eyes followed him.

The girl rubbed her eyes as she yawned and then draped her hand across her chest, placed it on the ledge and her chin on top. “I hope Peter likes what I’ve made for him,” she murmured. As the hand squeezed her again she straightened before she spoke once more. “Thanks Sidy, I appreciate you being there.”

A chill ran down her spine when a voice answered her. It did not belong to her friend. To any of her friends. Nor to anyone she met since that fateful day. It was higher pitched than her own and sounded like it belonged to a girl. It spoke just two words. Softly whispering them into her ear, the breath tickling the pointed body part.

“Not Sidy.”

Ixa froze for a moment, her back ramrod straight, goosebumps all over. For some reason, the voice did not scare her as much as she thought it should have. She started to slowly turn her head to look at whoever it was that stood behind her, but before she saw anyone, the hand left her shoulder and a giggle filled the air.

“The others are waking up, gotta go! Byyeee!” it sang and Ixa squeaked out involuntarily as the person stepped on her tail on the way out. Thankfully on the thicker part and not the thinner tip, but it still surprised her as it felt like nothing she ever felt before. Not in a weird way, simply unusual, since her scales were supplying a different sort of feedback than her skin would have.

As her hand clamped down on her mouth after the undignified sound escaped it, her head snapped around in a heartbeat, so quickly in fact that a warm pain shot through her neck as she kinked it. Yet she didn’t catch sight of anyone. The room was empty, the other occupants were rising to their feet. Waking up to the sound of several roosters welcoming the fresh day.

Sidy was sitting in her bedroll, looking curiously at her. “Is everything alright, Ixa?”

She blinked at her friend, her thought in a jumbled mess. What was that? How could anyone disappear like that? I didn’t imagine it, right?

Only the lingering feeling of being stepped on and her shoulder being touched kept her from panicking even more.

Her friend meanwhile got up and started walking to her as she kept throwing glances around the room, trying to spot anyone who did not normally belong. She barely noticed when Sidy got in reach and grabbed her arm. That touch spooked her and she jerked away, eyes staring into her friend’s.

Worry was visible in them as Sidy looked her over. “Are you okay?”

Ixa still did not respond, she simply leaned to the side to look around her companion and then back to look at her and then back around. Two hands gently touched the sides of Ixa’s face and forced her to keep looking at Sidy.

“Ixa, what’s going on?” The brunette’s tone held a bit of harshness, as the other girl fought her to look away, if not with much strength. “Ixa!” She released her friend for a second only to slap her hands back onto the cheeks they held a moment ago. Not like a woman would do to a man if he did something inappropriate, but like someone might to apply aftershave cologne. And not forcefully, there was no pain, just a loudish noise.

It took but a blink or two before Ixa’s eyes focused again. “Did you see someone just now?”

“Someone? Where?”

“Someone, anyone, here right where you are right now, just now.” Ixa replied with a hint of desperation.

Sidy looked her over again before she replied, the hard edge gone from her words. “No, I saw just you near the window. What was that noise you made by the way? What’s going on?”

Fear detached the last hooks that it had briefly sunk into Ixa and she hugged her friend tightly before explaining what happened.

“And then she stepped on me and then there was no one there. And that voice, I could swear I heard it somewhere before. I just got spooked when it wasn’t you,” she sniffed.

Sidy just caressed her back through the whole explanation. When all was said she tried to reassure her. “It’s okay, Ixa. I’ve got you now. There’s no one here now.”

“You don’t believe me, do you?” Ixa said, crestfallen, but immediately regretted her words. “Oh, I’m sorry, Sidy, I didn't mean it like th-.” She didn’t get to finish as a hand was gently placed over her mouth.

If it had been a year before, those words would have left a deep wound in Sidysvalda, but she had seen the stress Ixalia carried because of Asha’s words for so long, how she’d turn to look over her shoulder. The trouble of two weeks prior couldn’t have helped, even if the shoe finally dropped. She knew her friend did not mean to hurt her by the comment. Sidy also knew of her nightmares and that she did not sleep much that night.

It’s the tiredness talking, not her, she told herself as her friend’s comment passed harmlessly over, not finding any purchase in the fondness she held for her.

“Shhh, I know, Ixa. I know, it’s okay. You didn’t mean anything by it. You won’t get rid of me that easily.” Sidy kept hugging the girl and went down with her as Ixa did her equivalent of dropping to the knees, several tears flowing silently.

Who was it though? What was it? Asha? Or the demons the locals keep talking about? The girl thought to herself, but soon cut that train of thought off, since she wouldn’t be getting any answers to those questions any time soon. Probably. At least not right now.

“But seriously, what was that noise you made?” She teased Ixa, which elicited a not so quiet snort.

As they both started laughing, Sidy knew things would be okay. At least for now.