Tangled

Unshift 286

Unshift 286

286 Ava: Not Yet Ready.

*Sealed? By the water, you mean?"

"Of course not." They look irritated now, likely by how slow my brain is catching up to their thought process. The seals, girl"

"So, a lockbox?"

"Lockb-you humans have such odd innovations." The way they're peering into my face, it feels like they're tearing apart my memories to educate themselves.

"In a sense, I suppose. It isn't that easy" They sit.

In the air.

Floating.

Just-there. As if one would lower themself into a chair, only there's nothing there.

"Why so surprised?" they ask, tilting their head as they blink owlishly in my direction.

Gesturing toward them, I just say, "You're floating. In mid-air."

They roll their eyes again, a surprisingly human gesture for such an otherworldly being. "And you're standing on the ground. How extraordinary."

head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen

abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl?

you

I was trying to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world: The spirit clicks their tongue, annoyance flashing across their ethereal features. "You make quite a habit

mind. "What do you mean? I've

Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed,

his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm not trying to stumble into anything. I'm just trying to

Not Yet

It makes sense that

it's kind of on the nose, isn't

with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip

were out in it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and

their own curiosity. "How can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small circle of vibrant green, there's nothing

no one else

is Grimoire, little human thing?" the

aback, I protest, "I thought you were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed and enjoys

who came barging in here. Shouldn't you

"You seem to know him quite well. I figured you'd

flat on their back in mid-air. It's

announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue

and start anew."

This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my

possible?" I ask, unable to keep the worry from

it makes me flinch,