March 17, 2019, 11:49 am. Ready to rumble in the valley of thunder.

As I fly into the valley, thunder booming around us, I glance back at the fading light of what should be a noonday sun. It’s already barely visible. Even wrapping my eyes in Twilight doesn’t allow me to pierce the darkness. The only thing that works is creating balls of lightning.

For the first time since we entered the World dungeon, I find myself worried. The darkness isn’t even the worst of it. Before we defeated the Water-Swan, the valley was full of small, weak lightning beetles. They were everywhere.

Now, there’s not a single bug to be seen.

We continue forward, silent as the wind, not one of us indulging in our usual banter. I’m tempted to just use Lesser Cataclysm to kill everything. But the valley is bigger than my total range.

A particularly bright flash is the only warning I get before I’m struck, an enormous pressure tossing me to the ground. It takes several Paused seconds for me to determine what happened. Roberts and Tipan are near me, also recovering from the massive lightning strike that knocked us out of the sky. Even as I watch, another strike hits Josh as he holds his thorn-shield over Beth and Rufka.

They’re forced to the ground as we adopt our own defensive shell, prepared for further assault. But the strikes stop. We’ve barely been injured, Roberts able to restore the hundred health lost between the entire party in seconds.

“Guess they don’t like us flying,” Josh whispers.

“Guess not,” Beth’s head pivots to the sides, before motioning us forward.

The next fifteen minutes are spent scrambling over broken rock while avoiding the largest of the clouds. When we come across a small cloud blocking our way, instead of going around, Beth signals me to attack it.

Uncertain as to her reasoning, I nonetheless prepare several area attack spells, thinking about the beetles that disappeared. If there are any hiding inside, they’re going to be subjected to every element I can throw.

I don’t bother pausing time, simply smiling as I release a chaotic storm of explosive spells.

The cloud dissipates, and amongst the cloud are hundreds of beetle corpses. I shiver, glad I decided to go for overkill as even now half of the beetles are struggling toward us. But the others step in, flattening them with spells they were holding in preparation for something worse to emerge.

Still, after realizing what hid in the clouds, Beth puts us to work cutting them down. It’s slow and methodical work, and we have to work under the sole light of Rufka’s glowing ball of lightning. Which prompts me to start trying to build a spell that lets me make one of my own.

Several hours, far too many bug parts and multiple failed attempts at a permanent ball of lightning later and we’ve only cleared half the valley. No matter how many of the swarms we kill, if we jump too high, enormous bolts of lightning appear, smashing us down with increasing force. The most recent mis-step resulted in Josh taking more than nine-hundred points of damage, completely blowing through his Health, and leaving him bruised and sore. If Roberts hadn’t been here, Josh would’ve been unconscious.

It's simple to decide to walk slowly after that.

I’ve finally succeeded in building a proper sphere of lightning when there are only a few swarms of the lightning beetles left. As we blast a distant cloud, they start congregating around a dark bubble, their flickering lightning disappearing as they escape inside.

While staring at the bubble, Beth looks at us, looks back at the bubble, then back to us. “Nope. Just nope. Absolutely not.”

Even as she turns around and starts marching away, the rest of us stand there, watching her go. I clap my mouth shut with a loud smack as she disappears over a small ridge.

“Uhm,” I offer, before running after her. I almost can’t see her when I come over the rise, her dark armour blending with the rock. She’s not walking anymore, instead sitting with her head in her hands just out of sight of the others. I wave them back as I sit next to her.

“Hey.”

“Hey kid.”

We sit in silence for a few minutes, not saying anything. I can barely hear the voices of the others from over the ridge, occasionally punctuated by the boom of thunder.

Beth shifts slightly, kicking a loose rock down the side of the ridge. As it bounces, she finally lifts her head, staring at the ball of lightning I have floating over us.

“I miss Molly.”

“Uh. Molly?” I ask, completely off-guard. “Who’s Molly?”

“Molly was my cat when I was your age. Hadn’t thought of her in years before Akilo.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Smoulder reminds me of her. Just as stubborn. And as likely to show up when you need some nonjudgmental love.” Beth laughs, but there’s no smile. She presses the heels of her palms against her eyes before continuing. “Molly used to sneak into my hoodie before I went to class. Then when I tried to take her out, she’d dig in her claws. It was easier to bring her with me than it was to dislodge her.”

“Wait, so you took your cat to class?”

“Yep. She’d snuggle for hours. Made calculus much less stressful. Had to leave my hoodie at home when I took the exam though.”

“Hehe. Sounds like Molly was a great support cat.”

“Yeah. And I bet if she was here now, I wouldn’t be acting so stupid.”

“Stupid? Beth, you’re the smartest person I know.”

“Thanks kid. But this whole head in the hands thing, just from staring at a ball of darkness? That’s stupid.”

“It has to do with… dying, doesn’t it?” I ask, pulling my jacket closed against a sudden chill that has nothing to do with the cold.

Beth doesn’t answer me, staring down the edge of the ridge to where the shadows dance under the erratic rhythm of my lightning ball.

I squeeze Beth’s shoulder, pulling her into a side-hug while waiting for her.

After a few seconds Beth glances at me then chuckles.

“What?” I ask, flipping my hair so it shields my face from her laughter.

“Sorry kid. It’s just. If someone had asked me back when we came to Akilo if I’d ever feel comforted by your presence. Well, I’d have probably kicked them in the crotch.”

I stare at Beth. “You’re saying you don’t find me reassuring?”

“Kid, you’re the scariest damn thing I’ve seen. Ever.”

I open my mouth, I’m not sure if I want to object or complain, but nothing comes out. I’m still trying to figure out what to say when Beth beats me to it. “But you’re one of us. We’re on Team Scary. So, that makes you comforting. You know?”

I nod. That makes sense to me. Not the part about me being scary. But I remember how reassuring it was… how reassuring it is, to know that Beth’s on my side. “Same.”

“Same?” Beth chuckles.

“Yep. You’re the most bad-ass person I’ve ever known.”

“Damn kid. Now I have to stand up and go back down there, don’t I?”

Grinning, I offer her my hand, “You do. No choice.”

“Fine. On one condition.”

“Oh?”

“When we get out of here, we have to make time for you to teach me how to do that,” Beth states, pointing at the ball of lightning hovering over my shoulder.

“Deal.”

…TPWM…

We rejoin the others, Beth leading the way down the jagged terrain. The dark sphere at the centre of the grove hasn’t changed, an unyielding darkness that swallows even the light from mine and Rufka’s lightning orbs.

“Well, let’s get to it, shall we people!” Beth calls out, hauling Josh to his feet with a big grin. She’s able to maintain her grin until we get to the edge of the sphere, at which point I can see it falter for a second. But only a second. Then she starts signaling and we slip into battle mode.

Pressing through the shadow reveals several trees, shrouded in a fog of lightning beetles. The second we’re all inside, thunder echoes across the sphere as several lightning bolts descend on our position. But now that we’re used to the way the Champion battles start, I’m able to relocate everyone during my first Pause. It’s not as effective as teleporting, but dragging them along the ground allows everyone to easily avoid the opening salvo.

I return fire, rotating through my spells to see which are most effective only to discover the trees, labeled by the System as Crakthorns, are immune to elemental damage. All elemental damage.

That’s a new problem.

Still, the bugs aren’t immune. They’re surprisingly vulnerable to fire. They’re more vulnerable than when we fought them in the valley. While their weakness seems like a good thing, it’s only after I’ve scorched most of the beetles that I notice the Crakthorns have been draining the corpses. With the beetles and their mist gone, I’m finally able to get a good look.

Each of the Crakthorns has a different twisted face, etched into a perpetual scream. The last of the beetles flitting about are suddenly snagged by the limbs of the nearest Crakthorns, crushed even as we redouble our offensive, focusing on the closest of the tree-creatures as it begins to rip it’s roots free.

Crap.

Its companions don’t stop pelting us with lightning bolts as it charges forward, only to be met by Josh who throws it back with a heave of his thorn-woven shield. It only stumbles half a step before it wails. The force of the wail shudders through me, causing my ears to ring even as my health drops by a sixth. Its wail is interrupted by an explosive blast of void energy. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Beth has switched to a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. It’s the first time I’ve seen her use it in combat.

It’s super effective.

The first of the Crakthorn has already collapsed, but a quick glance at her resources tells me Beth doesn’t have enough Umbra to take all of them out with her newest toy.

But that’s okay. She’s bought the rest of us time. And as I consider unleashing Lesser Cataclysm, I scan the second Crakthorn as it struggles free, making a new discovery. “They’re only immune to fire damage while they remain rooted.” I call out, hoping everyone heard me.

I start creating an overpowered flame-lance, directing it at the second Crakthorn as it stumbles toward Josh when the world… stutters. One second, Josh is about to block its blow, the next he’s gone, thrown away and the tree-creature is reaching for Roberts. I readjust my aim, releasing my flame-lance when the world stutters again.

This time, when the stutter ends, the tree-creature is on the ground, a massive hole burning where my fire-lance must have passed through it.

I attempt to redirect my attention to the fight, but the world stutters again. I’m standing on the far side of the sphere, surrounded by three separate Crakthorn. They’re all half-incinerated, their remains already burning to ash. I attempt to turn to the others, but once more, everything stops. But this time, time doesn’t start again.

Instead, I feel a pull.

Everything goes dark.

…TPWM…

Smoulder is on my chest, her wet nose nuzzling against my furry cheek as I look about the entirely too bright leather tent. Above me is Uthica’s adviser, Pelthin. She’s dabbing at my head with a cloth. I can hear Uthica’s father, Pern whispering angrily in the background, but I can’t understand what’s being said.

“Pern. Pern, she’s awake!” I hear Pelthin cry out.

The angry whispering cuts out as Pern pushes through a leather curtain I’d thought was just part of the tent.

“Uthica?” he asks, dropping to his knees while taking both of my left hands.

I pause, about to deny his question. But then I see the hands he’s holding. They’re my hands. But they’re definitely Uthica’s hands. I’m in her body again. But where is she?

Uthica?

I wait several seconds, but there’s no response. And the whole time, her father is staring at me.

“Uhm. Not quite?” I try.

He hisses, drawing in a deep breathe as he glares at Pelthin. Which seems fair. Uthica’s chest is killing me. I’m guessing this must be after Pelthin stabbed her. Which reminds me…

“Why in Vaus’ name did you stab her?”

Between the two of us glaring at her Pelthin slumps down, crying.

Okay. Well, that’s not useful.

Pern disregards Pelthin turning back to me. “So, if you’re not Uthica, then you must be the visitor.”

“You know about me?” I ask. His upper eyes are flickering rapidly, a sign he’s been worried. Something only Uthica and I know. I have to keep myself from pulling him into a hug to reassure him that she’s fine.

Cause it’d be a lie. I’m worried about Uthica too.

“Yes. Uthica never mentioned you directly. But I know my daughter. And she’d let it slip on occasion. Which is what prompted this foolishness apparently.” His glare returns, focusing on Pelthin again.

“I didn’t… I thought it would help her,” Pelthin bawls, curling in on herself.

Pern closes his eyes, rubbing his central eye-ridge vigorously as he says, “I’m aware of that Pelthin. That, and the fact you brought her straight to me are the only reason I haven’t told the others what you did.”

“It was supposed to make her better,” Pelthin repeats to herself as she rocks back and forth to the side. I almost feel bad for her. The ache in Uthica’s chest makes that hard though.

“So, I don’t know who you are. But can you tell me why you’re inhabiting my daughter’s body?”

I glance down at where Smoulder is resting on my chest, then over at where Pelthin is curled into a ball on the floor, before finally meeting Pern’s commanding gaze. “Honestly, I’m not sure. Uthica set up some fancy ritual that let us talk to each other. Then when we were talking, that one stabbed us in the chest.”

Pelthin flinches when I mention her stabbing us, but Pern just sighs.

“And I can’t even analyze the weapon because it was destroyed. Likely a feedback loop.” He looks up at the ceiling for several seconds before adjusting his stance. “Well, nothing to do about that now. What’s your name?”

“Uh, my name’s Alexis.”

“Well, Alexis. I think Uthica and I need your help.”

“Sure. Though I was kind of in the middle of something when I was… brought here.”

“Are you able to leave? No foul intent, but if I could have my daughter back, that would be wonderful.”

Uhh. Huh. That’s a good question. Can I leave? When I search for the familiar feeling of my Facet, it’s weak. Very weak. And there’s nothing to pull on. I don’t feel a connection to my body. I spend a few minutes after that panicking, holding Smoulder tight. It’s when she nibbles my ear that I finally relax. I can feel her concern radiating through our bond, but when I look at her and laugh, it returns to her usual smugness.

And a demand to feed her.

Realizing Pern’s been sitting by my side this whole time, I apologize, “Sorry.”

“I imagine that means you’re not able to return my daughter to me.”

“Sorry,” I repeat, “I don’t know why, but my power is restricted. Maybe with more practice.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the time. There are those who have taken my daughter’s moment of weakness and seek to turn the Aetherium on its head. We need her. Now.” Pern extends an arm toward me.

I grasp it, letting him pull me up. “I told you. I can’t get her back.”

“True. But you can help me buy more time. Now, I need you to…”

I close my eyes as I listen to Pern’s instructions. “Okay. I’m not sure if I’ll be very good. But I’ll give it a try.”

“That’s all I ask. I’ll be right behind you.” Turning, he addresses Pelthin, “Pelthin. It’s time for you to make a choice.”

She stops rocking, looking up at where I’m standing next to Pern. Her voice cracks as she asks, “What choice?”

“Do you want to amend for what you’ve done to Uthica?”

Pelthin scrambles to her feet so quickly, that part of me is afraid she’s going to stab me again. But she instead clasps both of her left arms to her chest, performing a small bow as she says, “Anything. I’ll do anything to redeem myself.”

“Good. Cause my daughter’s rather heavy. Take her other side,” Pern says, shifting so I can put more of my weight on Pelthin. Smoulder glares at her as she carefully accepts my arm over her shoulder.

Pern guides us out of the tent. Even with them supporting most of my weight, the pain in Uthica’s chest even makes walking difficult. Outside the tent is a closed-in compound, leather skins stretched out to form a second layer of privacy curtain. Actually, considering the strength of infused leather, they might be fully functional walls now that I think about it.

“Don’t you have healers?” I find myself asking as a particularly bad spasm almost causes me to collapse halfway across the small space.

“Healers stay within Aethire or Betheryne. None would venture this far south.”

“No healing talismans?”

“We had several. None seemed to work except the one that brought you here.”

“Wait, you’re saying I feel like this after you used healing on her?” I ask, as we reach a leather flap that’s been secured by several thin strips of leather with bone buckles.

Pern pauses with his hand on the first of the buckles. “There was a hole in your chest. If Pelthin hadn’t expended every single healing talisman she had available, you wouldn’t be standing there now. And even now, I don’t… It’s amazing you’re even capable of limping.”

“Now remember. Once these straps are undone, you are Uthica. Only Pelthin and I can know otherwise. Understood?”

“Understood,” I nod, doing my best to remain standing through the pain, Smoulder perched on my shoulder.

“Good.” Pern finishes unbuckling the flap, then pulls it back, revealing a short hallway leading to a set of steps. At the top of those steps are a platform. And on that platform, waiting, were Uthica’s aunt Jethico with more than a thousand K’tharn beyond the platform

No big deal, Alexis. Easy peasy.

You can do this.

Time to be a Queen.