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

abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl? This isn't a place

you

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 spirit clicks their tongue, annoyance flashing across their ethereal features. "You make quite a habit of

I frown, confusion swirling in my mind. "What do you mean? I've never been

"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 fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid and shallow. "Grimoire? You mean my magic book?

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 connect with my book. With,

Not Yet

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

on the nose,

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

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

can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our

else is

human thing?"

me. After all, they went on and on about how

eyes narrow. "You're the one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where

seem to know him quite well. I

spirit groans, dramatically falling flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there like they're lying on

frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue

and start anew."

its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any real

to

abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity that roots