A minute of silence passes between them before she begins to speak, “You noticed it when you first arrived; the air, it’s so dry and lifeless. When you recklessly used all of your power, you noticed that there was no elemental essence for you to absorb. In a sense, this planet is only a step away from death.”

Her expression is downcast as she continues, “The demons that you fought are the best suited for this environment. Their strength isn’t derived from elemental essence but their portals. Even then, they also hate this planet that’s devoid of life and practically barren. Look up at the moon, what do you see?”

Following her instructions, Centum gazes at the sky as his eyes stop on the moon. An expression of shock covers his face as stares at the grey moon hanging lightless in the sky. “Why isn’t the moon green, it has always been green?!” Centum shouts in shock.

Ayla releases a deep sigh as she answers, “The moon provides each planet with endless elemental essence, and it bridges the planet’s connection with the system. For some reason, the moon has abandoned this planet, taking the system along with it. I’m honestly not sure why this has happened, only someone as old as Turrix might know, but he refuses to tell me.”

“Wait, the system isn’t here?!” Centum cries out. A look of fear appears on his face as he tries and fails to call his status screen. “It useless,” Ayla says, “only the demons, who’ve never been favoured by the system, can live freely on this planet. Not even the gods dare to step a foot on this planet. The system grants the gods power, and without it, they are nothing.” A thought sudden appears in Centum’s mind, “Wait, if the system isn’t here, then there’s no way for me to return to the library. I can’t accept this. I refuse to betray my duties.”

Increasingly anxious, he asks, “Is there any way to restore this connection?” Ayla looks towards him as she replies, “The only way to restore the connection is by completing the mission given to us by Lord Jeffery. Unfortunately, we’ve made little progress in these past millennia. Before you ask, only Turrix and the other old elementals know what the mission is. Every time I ask, he says that knowing more than I should, will only burden my mind. He seems to be trying to protect me, but I refuse to believe that the truth is so horrifying that they need to keep it secret.”

Centum’s thoughts are in complete disarray as he begins to comprehend his hopeless predicament. Frustrated, he asks, “Can I at least know who this ‘Lord Jeffery’ is? What gives him the right to dictate whether a world should be abandoned or not?” Ayla gives him a perplexed look as she replies, “You really are a strange spirit. I thought every spirit knew of Lord Jeffery, he’s the World Tree, of course.”

“The World Tree?! I thought it was a myth. There have only been legends of its existence, but no one has proven that it exists. Now you’re telling me that it’s real and it’s a conscious being,” Centum asks in confusion. “What’s so strange about it?” Ayla asks, unable to understand his confusion. In front of her, Centum closes his eyes as he massages his forehead, desperately trying to process everything he’s learned from their conversation.

Ten minutes pass in silence as he finally looks up at Ayla. “Can I at least know where we’re going?” he asks, having calmed down a bit. “We’re going back to our home. Your arrival has changed our plans, and we need to recover our supply of elemental essence. Home is the only place where this is possible on the planet,” she replies.

“Why does your home have the only source of elemental essence, I thought this planet was devoid of it?” he asks, growing a bit more comfortable from there long discussion. “Of course, we need a source of elemental essence; else we would have died a long time ago. The reason why it’s there, like all the other important information, is only known by Turrix and the other old elementals. I believe its existence is closely linked to the goal of our mission, but I can’t be sure.”

For the third time, the most important knowledge is just outside of his reach. “I need to talk with Turrix. I have to find out what’s really going on,” he promises himself. Having worked through most of his questions, Centum reaches the last one. “If I can uncover these secrets, then the best place to find out more should be at your home. How long until we reach it?” he asks.

“Oh, it’s not long. We should be there in ten years,” Growing fond of talking to someone new, Ayla easily replies. “Good, it’s only ten years… wait, did you say ten years?!” Centum reels back in shock. “Yeah, it’s not that long. It took us a hundred years to get this far, but because Turrix can be less conservative on his use of elemental essence, we can be home in a tenth of the time. Isn’t that great?” she says, unconcerned.

Unsurprisingly, Centum’s mind reaches a breaking point as everything he’s learned becomes too much to handle. Unceremoniously, he collapses on the grass, mentally exhausted. With the sun hanging over his head, he falls asleep. At his side, Ayla looks at him with worry. “Watch over him and let him rest, Ayla. Our new sibling seems a bit delicate. I fear this cruel world might be his death,” Turrix’s voice sounds out next to her.

Even in sleep, Centum struggles to find rest. Deep in the night, his dreams force him awake. His breathing is haggard as he sits upright. On the grass next to him, Ayla gently asks, “Did you have a nightmare, was it about the girl you mentioned before?” A sorrowful expression rests on his face as he nods in response.

“I can see she meant a lot to you. It’s alright to be sad, that’s a normal part of life. Time is the best medicine for the heart,” she comforts him, her words helping to ease his pain. Her gaze becomes determined as she decides, “This planet is cruel. The last thing I want is for my newest friend to die. So, how about this; Let me train you to be strong enough to face any danger this planet has to offer and maybe it can help distract you from these gloomy thoughts?”

Their eyes meet as Centum considers her suggestion. Deep in the night, under the lightless sky, he agrees. In his heart, he makes a vow, “Don’t worry Mia. I won’t die. I’ll become strong and escape this planet. I’ll visit the mermen for both of us.”