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."

sarcasm catches me off guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've

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

you

off-balance mentally 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

"What do you mean? I've

not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat

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

Ava: Not Yet

It makes sense that it-he-would have

kind of on

of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of

been since you were out in it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human. Much more than their appearance. "Acons, perhaps?" They shrug. "Time is

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

no one else

Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing their

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

the one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where your own

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

spirit groans, dramatically falling flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them

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

and start anew."

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

I ask, unable to keep the worry from

sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity that roots me to the