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."

catches me off guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen anything like

hand, changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why

you

physically, it takes a while to gather the words. "I was... 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:

swirling in my mind. "What do you mean? I've

to handle. "Not here, specifically. But you have a penchant for barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy

remains settled in perpetual annoyance. "I know many things, girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers 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

Ava: Not

that it-he-would have a

it's kind of on

inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow

experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human. Much more than

don't seem interested in a two-way conversation, only in satiating 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 but a vast expanse of dead forest. The contrast is stark-life and death separated by an invisible

one else is out

human thing?" the spirit

going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't

in

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

back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there like

of magic is doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I

and start anew."

doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my life. I'm sure it's even worse for a

unable to keep the worry from

reaction is like something out of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine