A Frozen Instant

The soft whistle of the wind, as it slipped through the cracks of the imposing palace walls, slowly faded away in time. The world around her became a palpable stillness, as if the universe itself held its breath in eternal suspense. Time vanished amidst the whispers of the wind, leaving Aria trapped in a frozen moment.

The halt was not abrupt, but gradually decelerated, inch by inch, as Aria's green eyes focused on her surroundings. Dust particles hung motionless in the air, much like her frozen companion, and the statues that surrounded the throne where the divine Fuzz resided.

[Dear Aria, do not be alarmed.]

The telepathic communication reached her.

[I am running out of time, so I had to resort to an old trick. This way, we can speak without interruptions.]

Aria's eyes widened, taken aback by what she heard and the surreal scene unfolding before her.

[Time is a fluid concept, and like ⿲⿲⿲, you will come to understand its intricate nature.]

The voice that reached Aria's mind conveyed a comforting tranquility, even though she didn't fully grasp the meaning of some of the words spoken.

[In this dimension, countless civilizations have fallen, consumed by forces beyond their control. It is a grim reminder of the fragile balance that exists between realms.]

The Fuzz's words carried the weight of ancient knowledge, tinged with a hint of sadness.

[My name is Lumis, or at least that is what I was once known as. You see, before you stands only a fraction of my true self. The residual Astraforge that clings to the walls of my realm has granted me a visible form that you can perceive.]

Aria didn't fully understand what the creature was saying, but she tried to keep her attention on the words being sent directly into her mind.

[What I want, Aria, is for us to form a contract. You will help me regain the body I lost in time, and in return, I will reward you with this.]

Above the head of the white Fuzz, a brilliant and unique crown appeared. Aria immediately recognized it as the artifact Nexus coveted, the very reason she found herself trapped in that temple.

"A contract? And why should I trust you?" Aria exclaimed with clear disbelief, her eyes shifting to the side, displaying a childlike expression.

[If you refuse, you will be trapped here forever.]

This time, the voice that reached her mind was more demanding, increasing the psychological pressure on Aria. She slightly pressed her lips together in anger, but after a few seconds, she let out a sigh.

"Doesn't that apply to you as well? If you've chosen to contact me, it means you don't have time to waste in this place."

Aria noticed that Astraforge constantly emanated from the creature's body. It wasn't intentional; rather, it escaped gradually, dissipating into the air, as if a balloon had a small hole through which the air leaked.

[...]

[¡Hahaha!]

That laughter caught Aria by surprise, causing her to step back slightly.

[Very well, if you accept my proposal, I will not only provide you with the artifact but also help you find your sister through our contract.]

Huh? How did he know about her sister? She hadn't mentioned anything about her. Aria furrowed her brow slightly as she looked at the divine Fuzz.

[Your thoughts are quite evident to me.]

[Along with your peculiar desire to constantly hug me.]

Aria blushed slightly at those words.

[I know what you seek. Consider this contract mutually beneficial. I will provide you with as much information as I can to help you achieve your goals, but in return, you must assist me with mine. Doesn't that seem like a fair deal?]

Aria swallowed hard, feeling that the situation was even more confusing than she had anticipated. Did she imagine herself discussing a contract with a fluffy white creature in the middle of an abandoned palace? Definitely not.

"Then could you tell me what the heck Nexus is and why we have to do these stupid assignments?"

With those words, Lumis's body froze slightly as he closed his eyes.

[I'm sorry, but some things are beyond my power. My actions are limited; the curse upon my soul forbids me from many things.]

It was then that Aria saw it. A strange manifestation of energy—Astraforge, perhaps? It was difficult to define, but it took the form of a vivid, purple chain that coiled around Lumis's form, symbolizing the curse that limited his abilities.

It wasn't hard for Aria to put the pieces together: if he couldn't speak about Nexus due to this strange curse, it meant that this being was somehow connected to it. She clenched her fists, feeling like she was literally playing in the palm of his hand, and it made her incredibly uneasy.

[I see you have reached a conclusion.]

"I still don't trust you. I have no reason to believe that what you're saying is true."

Aria bit her lip, feeling trapped between a rock and a hard place. If she refused, she would be trapped there and unable to find her sister. But on the other hand, if she accepted the contract, she could be at the mercy of this creature.

"I'll have to take the risk if I want to get out of this... Emily," she murmured to herself, raising her gaze. "Alright, Lumis, I accept your contract."

[A wise choice, my dear Aria.]

By consenting, Lumis's body began to glow with a radiant white light. The essence of Astraforge surged toward Aria, entering through her shoulder and leaving behind a radiant mark, akin to a tattoo. This symbolized the culmination of their contract, intertwining their fates.

Aria let out a groan of pain as she touched her shoulder, feeling a momentary burning sensation that gradually dissipated.

Moments later, the frozen time around Aria resumed its natural course. The palace came back to life, dust particles danced in the sunlit air, and the distant echoes of the bustling realm reached her ears.

"Aria? Are you okay?"

The voice of a certain redhead resonated, pulling Aria out of the trance she was in. After that strange encounter, the divine Fuzz had completely vanished, leaving both of them perplexed by what they had witnessed.

***

After regaining her composure, Aria would recount what had happened to Hilda. Although the red-haired girl wasn't initially convinced by her explanation, it didn't sound too far-fetched considering the kind of world they inhabited.

"Ah, I missed the chance to face a creature like that. I would have liked to test its strength," Hilda said with a confident smile, clenching her fists.

Hilda's attitude surprised Aria. She was someone who expressed her desires without worry and did whatever she wanted. In a way, she reminded her of Emily.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot," Hilda said as she moved towards the Araespecter's corpse, then proceeded to extract the large fangs with her own hands. They were enormous and likely weighed several kilograms, but Hilda casually placed them on her shoulders as if they were nothing.

"This is what I've been looking for," Hilda said with a smile before looking at Aria with curiosity. "Shouldn't you take that now?"

As she spoke, she pointed towards the imposing throne where a white gleam emanated. There lay the artifact she had been seeking, the same one that would allow her to consider her mission complete.

"You should take it. Don't worry, we'll meet again sooner than you think," Hilda said with a proud smile.

Meanwhile, the young woman with silver hair took calm steps towards the structure until she stood in front of the artifact. When Aria's fingers made contact with the crown, a golden glow enveloped her surroundings.

[The assignment has been completed.]

[Aria is now part of Nexus.]

With the end of that message and a blinding flash of light, Aria's physical form dissolved, transporting her back to the familiar surroundings of her apartment. The room was bathed in a warm glow that gradually faded away.

Had she succeeded? A sigh escaped her lips. Hilda had mentioned that the other participants of that assignment would be sent to their respective dimensions once the mission was accomplished, which brought some relief to Aria.

But... where was her sister? No matter how hard she searched, she couldn't find her.

Had she been lost forever in that place?

This thought flooded her mind, and a sense of desolation overwhelmed her completely. Her little sister had vanished, and she had thought that completing that task would save her, but... it hadn't.

Tears welled up in her eyes once again as she felt that her efforts had been in vain. However, as her hands covered her face, a new flash of light emanated from the television.

Could it be what she was thinking?

Was it her?

But a tall, muscular figure made its presence known. That reddish hair was hard to forget, especially the smile that could be seen on the face.

"Wow! So this is where you live," she said in an affable voice, looking at Aria who went from an expectant and hopeful expression to a depressive one filled with sadness.

"I guess I'm not who you were expecting," she said while scratching her chin with a hint of guilt. "Don't worry, Emily is still fine."

Aria opened her eyes wide, directing her gaze towards Hilda before approaching visibly angry.

"How do you know that? If this is a joke, I..."

It was clear that she was on the verge of collapse, but that woman took her by the shoulder, seeking to calm her.

"Only the Realmwalkers know about this, but once you die, your body is returned to this dimension at the starting point," she explained calmly and softly, trying to soothe the young silver-haired girl.

"But how is that possible?" Aria expressed, still incredulous about those words. "Until now, the only people who returned were Realmwalkers, and the others who disappeared never came back."

"That's because only an Astraforge user is capable of seeing the body; ordinary people are unable to notice it," she said, taking Aria's shoulders to speak to her with complete honesty. "That means Emily is still alive out there."

Aria's eyes widened at hearing those words, and tears of happiness welled up in her eyes. She was relieved to know that there was hope, that her sister was still okay wherever she was.

"And I guess you won't give up until you find her," she said, patting Aria's back with a smile. "If you want to find her, then I'll introduce you to someone."

With those words, Hilda approached the door, opening it to let the light illuminate the dark apartment they were in.

"Are you coming?" Hilda said with a faint smile.

Aria summoned the strength to smile in that situation, stepping forward to follow Hilda's footsteps. She didn't know what the future held, but staying there lamenting wouldn't bring her sister back.