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."

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

changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here,

you

and 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: The

"What do you mean?

Grimoire doesn't like

the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm

Ava: Not Yet

It makes sense that it-he-would have a name,

of on

did someone like you manage a contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has the

the world. The way

only lead me nowhere. They 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

one else is out

is Grimoire, little human thing?" the

and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed and

came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where

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

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

future of magic is doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of

and start anew."

down my spine. This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have

ask, unable to keep the worry from my

out of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it