The Nextworld Invasion and the Death of Magic - 34. Chapter 34 - Feeling Feelings

The Mermonster had followed Othri’s directions for two days, and the ship was approaching land. Everyone was above deck except for Alydrael, who was in her cabin. Illiop was with her, and the pair was seated on her bed. She was stroking his rainbowy fur, and he was letting out little happy chirp sounds.

“How come I don’t have any magic?” Alydrael questioned to herself.

She was not pouting or complaining, but she had a genuine curiosity about what would cause nature to give Tigath power, when it did not seem that she or any of the other Urcai in the isolated community in Edgedale had been able to access any new magical abilities.

“What do you suppose it is about Tigath? I wonder if there’s something about his anatomy, kind of like Rothians and their thaumal muscles and bones that produce magic. Maybe he has something in him that draws the magic that our people have forgotten.” Alydrael brought one hand to the bandaged stump of her thigh. It had healed almost miraculously with the aid of Nuji’s spells and potions.

Illiop let out a yip and rubbed his shoulder against Alydrael’s ribs, which made her giggle.

“That tickles!” She scratched both sides of his face. “Illiop, why are you so cute?” She glanced out the window. “What do you suppose we’ll find when we get wherever we’re headed? There’s a pretty good chance that the magical Urcai who Othri is homing into is on land, so we’ll probably have to leave the ship for a while at some point. I wonder if the person is all alone, or if they’re with others. I hope whoever they are, they’re okay. So much bad stuff has happened.”

Alydrael fell silent for a minute, working through her thoughts as she petted the unique animal. She scratched the top of his head at the base of his crystalline antler, and he let out a trill of delight.

“You like that, Illiop?”

There was a knock at the cabin’s door, and Dorjin appeared in the doorframe. She brought one hand to the back of her neck in an embarrassed gesture, and she blushed as she said, “Hi, Alydrael, can I come in?”

Alydrael fixed her pale yellow eyes on Dorjin’s brown ones, and she nodded. “Do you want to sit down?” Alydrael scooched closer to Illiop, and she patted the bed beside her.

Dorjin was wearing a nervous grin. “So… erm… I just… can we talk?”

Alydrael let out the tiniest laugh and said, “Of course, Dorjin, what is it?”

Dorjin let out a little gasp of surprise at how much she liked hearing her name on Alydrael’s lips. She shook herself; she wanted to flirt, but that was not what she was there for, and she knew she was not very skilled at the art, so she focused and sat beside the green-skinned woman.

“Alydrael, what do you think I should do?” Dorjin asked. “At the end of all this, Kalthrin are either going to invade and occupy all of Earth, or maybe your people will rally with the new power in Tigath, and Othri’s ability to bring you all together, even though there aren’t many of your people left.” She paused and added, “I’m sorry, again.”

Alydrael interlaced her green fingers with Dorjin’s pale ones, and even though intense emotions flared again in them both, at the sensation of their hands together, they did not pull them apart this time.

“Are you reconsidering your part in the exodus from Nextworld?” Alydrael asked. “Would you be willing to stay behind when your kind comes to Earth? Or I suppose,” Alydrael considered, “if this new magic that my people are doing manages to preserve the Earth for us, would you want to stay here rather than go back with your own kind? There must be other good Humans in Nextworld, like you, people who don’t want to wipe us out.”

“You know,” Dorjin replied, “there is actually a movement, but I think it’s a very small percentage of Humans; I told Tigath about them. They’re opposed to the exodus. I’ve never really thought about them much, but I know they don’t wanna leave Nextworld. I think it’s a pretty fringe idea, but yeah, I don’t think I want to be part of what Kalthrin are doing. I’d… I’d like to stay with you, Alydrael.”

Both women felt themselves blush, and their palms began to sweat, but they did not release their grip on one another. Their eyes were locked, and they were seated very close together.

Alydrael chuckled and said, “I thought you were older than me when we first met, and you thought I was older than you, but I’m having very grown-up feelings right now, and you make me feel them.” Alydrael’s smile fell. “Relationships are often temporary. I like you too, Dorjin, and I’d like to be with you, but I don’t want you to give up your future with your people over something that might not last.” She closed her eyes in thought and frowned. “If my people are somehow able to stop what Kalthrin are doing, and we managed to keep the Earth…” Alydrael paused, opened her pale yellow eyes, and she looked away from Dorjin. “I don’t think you’d be allowed to stay with me. If my people can stop yours, I don’t think any of you would be welcome on Earth afterward.”

The young women released their hands, and neither spoke for several minutes.

Illiop got up from where he was seated beside Alydrael, and he sprawled across the two women’s four thighs.

“Does that hurt?” Dorjin asked, looking at the bandaged end of Alydrael’s leg.

A smile came back to her green face. “No, Nuji’s magic and potions have healed me enough that I have almost no pain from it anymore.” Alydrael winced as she added, “I did bang the end of it yesterday when I first woke up, and that was a little surprising, but other than that, it’s doing okay.”

“Is there no way for Nuji to use magic to grow your leg back, or give you some sort of… I don’t know, magical leg?”

Alydrael let out a laugh that made Dorjin’s heart flutter. “That sounds wonderful, but no, there’s no way to replace my leg. I’m okay though,” she reiterated, “and I’m still getting used to it, but there’s nothing I can do about it, so I’m just trying to stay positive.” She smiled, and Dorjin knew it was genuine. Alydrael then quietly repeated, “I like you, Dorjin.”

They both blushed again, and there was another moment in which neither spoke.

“If your people can save this planet,” Dorjin said quietly, “I know none of us will be welcome here.”

“And what if we can’t save the Earth?” Alydrael countered. “What if we’re wiped out, the Humans’ exodus, and the planet becomes the possession of your people? Will you stay here, or will you return to your home?”

“That’s what I was asking you!” Dorjin huffed. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” Her sadness then shifted to fear and urgency. “And if we do take over Earth, your people will need to find somewhere to hide. Kalthrin are going to hunt any remnant of your races endlessly.”

Alydrael gave her a solemn nod. “I’ve tried not to think about what might happen at the end of all this, but that fear has also crept into my mind. I can’t help but think that once this world is ruled by Humans, we’ll never be safe.”

“Maybe Tigath’s idea about that magical island will be the answer. He told me about it when we were on the beach together.”

“Uall Island is tiny though,” Alydrael countered, “and it goes underwater.”

“I know. He mentioned that to me,” Dorjin replied, “but he seemed to think there might be an answer in it, and I hope he’s right. I hope we’re able to find the survivors of your people and that you’re able to stay safe when everything’s done.”

Clomping footsteps came down the stairs from above, and Lestralin appeared at the door to Alydrael’s cabin. “Hey gals, I don’t mean to intrude or interrupt, just wanted to let you know we’ve almost made it to the mainland. We won’t be disembarking for a while yet, but I thought you might want to see the view. It’s lovely.”

Alydrael took Dorjin’s hand once more and said, “Why don’t we head up?”