Dreams and Reality

Stuck in an endless dream.

Spiraling… spiraling…

Where is this place?

Downward… ever downward…

A forest.

Boreal, evergreens, for one moment. Then, temperate, deciduous, another.

It was a vast forest.

The Great Jura Forest?

And then, somewhere else, near Dwargon, or in another domain entirely. She'd been walking forever, it seemed, yet also not at all. A mist filled the area, blanketing the ground and the air, obstructing her view.

Or… not where, but maybe… when is this place?

Time flowed differently here. As though one day were a thousand years, and a thousand years a single day.

Tanya stopped a moment – Was it only moment? – and pressed a hand against a nearby tree, resting her weight against it. Her body ached all over.

It was like she was splitting apart at the seams. Her nerves endings were sensitive, burning, freezing, aching from that which she'd never before felt.

Or could not feel – feel truly, or properly – until now, in this moment.

The bark was sharp against her palm. Too sharp. The air burned, and when she breathed, it was something more than air. It was unbearably hot, and excruciatingly cold. Electric and gravel rumbling in her chest.

Magic.

That familiar hum of power. Her fingers, her bones buzzed with it. She was filled to the brim, her magic circuits raw and sparking.

It felt like she was a stranger in her own skin.

Tanya turned, leaning her back against the tree, ignoring the far too rough surface. She looked down, at her arms.

Those familiar scars met her gaze.

This is me.

For better or for worse.

She took a deep breath, then exhaled, the air misting and sparking in front of her. Then, she pushed off the tree, and continued to walk, her gaze turned downward.

Move. Move forward.

A deep chuckle drew her attention. Tanya looked up.

Her eyes widened.

"What- ah!" Tanya winced, grabbing at her head. She exhaled with a hiss, staring forward with a pained grimace. "Who…?"

He was walking away now, through the trees.

He looked different, now.

But she'd know him anywhere.

Tanya's lip curled into a silent snarl, and she followed.

As she went, the scenery... changed, again and again. Like this world had a mind of its own.

He slipped behind a tree, walking out from behind another one entirely.

Again, and again.

Then, finally, he stopped.

Tanya pulled up short.

"You."

Her voice shook with rage… and was tinged, ever so slightly, with something else. Something darker, more painful.

"You can't be here."

"Really?" He smirked, turning fully to face her.

"You- you aren't real." Tanya clenched her fists, ignoring the pain, the discomfort, everything, to stay grounded in this moment. "You're gone."

"I am?"

You have to-

-=-=-=-

Middle of the Night

Tanya Mary Household

Tempest, Jura Tempest Federation

Tanya's eyes shot open.

She sat up quickly, the covers of her futon pooling around her waist. One hand shot to the floor on her left, bracing herself as she hunched over, covering her face with her other hand. Her breathing was ragged, a slight cold sweat decorating her form as she tried to quietly gasp for air.

It barely worked.

Tanya stared through the gaps in her fingers, out into the cool darkness of her room.

Her breathing calmed, eventually, slowly, the rise and fall of her chest evening out.

The room was cool, though the covers around her and the arm thrown haphazardly across her waist kept her temperature at a comfortable high. Even despite the ball of ice stabbing her lungs and crushing her chest.

At least the urge to retch was absent. She'd hardly felt such an urge following such an… experience, in a long while. A small mercy.

Neither was a headache, or a lack of coherency inflicting her at the moment. Another mercy, perhaps. Or indeed a curse, for Tanya was fully aware of herself and her surroundings, and as such was utterly lacking in the mental state required to simply lay back and resume enjoying the warmth of her bed and bed partner.

She was exhausted, no doubt about it. But it was clear she wouldn't be falling back asleep anytime soon.

Tanya sighed, letting her hand drop from her face. Carefully, she moved Shuna's arm from her waist, easing her way out of the covers right after and getting to her feet. In the dark, she padded over to her dresser.

It wouldn't do well for her health to "bare all" to the winter night air, no matter how strong her constitution or how well her magic did at fending off the cold.

-=-=-=-

Early the Next Day

Slightly South of Tempest

Great Forest of Jura

"Is there a reason you're dragging me out here, Treyni?"

Admittedly, waking up upside down, dangling from the ceiling via several vines had been a fairly interesting way to start her morning. Certainly, within her top 3 at least.

That being said, Mary didn't exactly appreciate the wake up itself, regardless of whether or not it made a good story.

She was an avid fan of sleep these days, given that she'd never quite gotten enough during her time as a partial divinity-infested vessel in the midst of a world war. For that sleep to be interrupted without being given a proper reason was more than a little irritating.

Her training with Hakurou wasn't even this early!

Usually.

Anyways.

"And so early, too." Mary made sure to make her displeasure known. "Don't you have better things to do than be a nuisance to me?"

Let it be known that, while Mary had resolved to try and make friends with more people, that did not mean she intended to eagerly extend such a courtesy to those that were, in her eyes, undeserving of it.

Not the Treyni was particularly annoying or anything, just…

Listen, it was cold, dammit. And early! Had she mentioned that already?

"Come now, Mary. We're friends, aren't we?" Treyni continued walking beside her, shooting Mary a smile.

"I'm pretty sure I've interacted with Trya way more than you, so I'm going to say not really."

Treyni's smile did not diminish.

"Like I said, we're friends, aren't we?"

Mary stared at her.

"…Sure. Whatever."

"Delightful. And, as friends, I believe it's only right to share. So, I'm going to share with you something I've found. Something very important."

Mary's fingers itched. She took a breath, suppressing the desire to reach for her katana as best she could. Something about the Dryad's smug air this morning was just rubbing her the wrong way.

"Very important, huh? And what exactly would you consider-"

"Ssh!" Treyni grabbed Mary's shoulder, pulling her down with her to crouch behind a bush. "We're here. Don't alert her or you'll ruin it."

Her?

Treyni gestured with a finger. The tiny branches and leaves of the bush began to shift, a hole growing in the middle such that they could see through without trouble. Treyni wiggled another finger, a faint energy – and oddly enough, the faint sound of birds chirping – washing over them

"We're fully hidden now. She won't be able to spot us."

"What are we, spies? Treyni, nothing you've done so far has improved my impression of little… expedition."

"You'll thank me." Treyni assured her. She glanced pointedly through the hole in the bush, "Now, stop grumbling and look."

"I'm not grumbling." Mary grumbled, looking through the hole.

She blinked, not believing her eyes for a split second.

"That's Tanya."

"You bet it is."

"Treyni." Mary's tone was flat, "Are you seriously telling me you brought me out here, before I'd normally be up and in winter… to spy on Tanya. Of all people. Tanya."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Treyni pouted, looking put out, "It's exactly because it's her that we're out here. Honestly, Mary, aren't you curious?"

"No. I'm not. Shoving my nose in other people's business has rarely gone well for me in the past." Mary sighed, gesturing to the side, "Besides, why would I need to be curious. She's just training. She does that basically every morning. I would know; I live with her."

"Sure, you know that." Treyni leaned in, with a smile that far more discomforting than comforting, "But do you know what, exactly, she does out here?"

"Well, no." Usually I'm asleep until just before it's time to train with Hakurou. "And I don't really care. I don't know why you think I would."

"Oh come on, you know."

"No. I don't." Mary was short with the other woman, her expression blank as she was too tired and overall done with this situation for anything else, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Genuinely."

She was channeling – ironically enough – Tanya's usual level of disappointment in others in order to emphasize her point here.

Maybe I'll take a nap just before lunch. Or after? I'm not exactly busy today; just sword training in the morning then I'm done. Maybe I should find something to do? I've been meaning to be more productive…

Treyni tilted her head, staring at Mary with curious look that lasted just long enough for the above thought to reach a near enough conclusion.

"Hmm, maybe you don't know. Not yet, at least. Okay!" She clapped her hands together, "Do not worry, Mary. As your friend, I'll help you. As soon as you figure things out on your own, just come to your good fiend Treyni, and we'll work the rest out together."

"Cool. Whatever." Mary rolled her eyes. "Are we done here?"

"Are you sure you want to leave so soon?" Treyni looked through the hole, no longer paying full attention to the other woman, "The show's just now starting, after all."

"She's just working out, what-" Mary looked through as well.

Rimuru's here too?

She blinked, leaning in a bit closer to get a better look.

And- they're fighting now? They- oh, they're practicing hand to hand. That makes sense. Still doesn't explain why Treyni's so… enthusiastic about being here, but whatever.

That being said, Mary stayed by Treyni's side for at least an hour.

Tanya and Rimuru were very good at weaponless fighting, apparently. She almost felt like she should be taking notes. Compared to the powerhouses she and Treyni were spying on, Mary sort felt like she was slacking.

There was just… something weird. For some reason, Mary couldn't fully appreciate the spectacle. An odd chord was being struck in the back of her mind, and she had no idea what it was. And it wasn't the fact that Rimuru's eyes were red for some reason, instead of the usual gold.

True, was a great show and all. Ignoring everything else, that was undeniable.

That being said, something just felt… off.

Mary couldn't help but wonder.

-=-=-=-

A Few Days Later

Clearing near Northern Training Field

Tempest, Jura Tempest Federation

Mary couldn't help but wonder…

…if she truly was a failure as a magic user, as she failed yet again to produce any meaningly results on her current task.

"Dammit."

The aura, an odd mix of otherworldly teal outlined in splotchy black that signified the use of space magic, faded from her hands and forearms. And, as she clenched them into fists and resisted the urge to punch a nearby tree, Mary couldn't help but stew in her anger a bit longer than was technically healthy.

"Dammit! Why won't it work!"

The 'it' in this scenario being the particular brand of space magic that allowed Tanya to easily and conveniently store her sword – and, apparently, snacks – whenever she liked.

Mary had lamented once that she had neglected to learn such a useful bit a magic back during their excursion in Xerxes.

Apparently, she hadn't neglected to learn it. She just couldn't learn it at all. At least, that was the conclusion she was about to resign herself too, after a complete inability to recreate the piece of magic on any meaningful level.

"What am I doing wrong?"

This question she directed not to herself, but to the clearing at large. Or more specifically, to her sometimes magic teacher – sometimes, because their practice sessions had reduced yet again from a few times a week to once a week – Tanya, who was leaning against a tree a few meters behind her.

No response came.

Mary turned around, with an eyebrow raised, her anger tempered somewhat and replaced largely with a slight bemusement.

"Tanya?" She blinked. "Hello?"

Is she… asleep?

Mary moved closer, going slow so as to not make any noise.

She has bags under her eyes again.

She stopped in front of Tanya, crossing her arms and frowning.

Has she been overworking again-

A finger poked the back of Mary's shoulder.

Mary jumped slightly, barely stifling a yelp before glancing back.

Shuna waved at her.

Mary blinked. She made to open her mouth.

Shuna shook her head. She turned, gesturing for Mary to follow before walking away.

Huh. Okay.

-=-

The two women stopped on the other side of the clearing, easily out of earshot of Tanya or anyone else that might happen to be in the area.

Which, given that Hakurou was off somewhere else within Tempest proper, meant no one else happened to be in the area.

"Hey Shuna." Mary returned Shuna's wave from earlier, once they'd turned and faced one another. "What brings you around?"

Shuna's gaze flit across the clearing for a split second. If Mary hadn't been looking right at her, she would have missed it.

"Oh, just curiosity is all." Shuna smiled, "I've never sat in on one of these sessions before. Tanya's a good teacher, so I was just wondering… well, how is your magic training going?"

"Tanya's- uh, yeah."

What could she have taught Shuna… hm, you know what? Never mind.

"Yeah, she's… effective. Better than when we first started, at least, though maybe that's because of our, uh…"

"Hm?"

"…unique history." Mary looked away, "You know, I kind of wonder how she taught her battalion now that I've-" She shook her head, "Anyway, it's fine."

"Hm, that's right. You two did know each other before coming here." Shuna clasped her hands in front of her, "What was that like? Was she much different back then?"

"Uh."

Shuna leaned forward.

"Or you? Do you like it here?"

"Um."

Mary resisted the urge to step away.

Until a light breeze blew by, ruffling Shuna's hair slightly and sending a faint floral scent brushing past Mary's nose.

She caved, taking a short step back and turning slightly to the side.

"It's nice here." Mary coughed into her fist, pointedly ignoring Shuna's curious gaze, "I like it a lot better than our old world. And I don't have a Deity sharing half my head, so that's nice. Um, it's important to say though that Tanya and I were enemies at the time. Nothing I thought about her back then is really true anymore. Oh."

Shuna tilted her head. "What is it?"

"Nothing, just… well, I guess I thought she was too cold. Even with everything else going on, and jeez there really was a lot going on, she was sort of- like, too calm? No, not calm. More like- hm. Blank?" Mary put a hand to her chin, her embarrassment forgotten as she really thought about her answer, "…yeah, I think cold was the closest, actually."

"How odd." Shuna glanced across the clearing again, "I don't think she's cold at all. Is she that different now?"

"Yeah, she's definitely a lot- wait, weren't going to talk about my magic training?" Mary blinked. "Actually, how much did Tanya already tell you anyway?"

Uh, I hope I haven't spilled anything. I don't think I did… though, is there anything for me to spill?

"She's answered any questions I've had for her to the best of her ability." Shuna said matter-of-factly, and with a hint of fond exasperation that Mary had no idea how to properly interpret, "I just feel like you and I haven't talked much before, is all. So, how is your magic training coming along, Mary?"

Uh, I guess we're back on the initial subject now, huh? Sure, I'll roll with that.

"I've actually been having a bit of trouble lately." Mary admitted, "I can copy a lot of magic really easily, but it's this one bit of space magic that's really- it's just not working for me."

"Hmm." Shuna put a finger to her cheek in thought, "I'm pretty good with magic myself. Maybe I can help you."

"Really?"

"Mhm." Shuna nodded. "So, why don't you explain to me a bit and tell me what you think is going wrong."

"Okay. Okay, sure." Mary took a breath, "Okay, so a while back Tanya came up with the weird sort of, like, invisible backpack thing using space magic."

"An invisible backpack…"

"She keeps her sword in it. And I've seen her pull out fresh bread and oranges from it, so it can hold food stuff too. I mean, the bread was still warm and everything."

"Is it like Lord Rimuru's stomach?"

"Rimuru's- uh, yeah." Mary blinked. "Yeah, actually that is what it's based off of. I think I remember Tanya saying something like that."

"Well, if it's like that," Shuna half extended her arms, her palms facing one another. "Then it's not really an invisible backpack. It's more like an extra space entirely."

"I feel like she might have mentioned that too."

Or maybe I'm making that up. I don't know.

A teal and black aura surrounded Shuna's hands, the smooth ebb and flow of the space-tempered magicules easily visible as it flowed over and then across, from one palm to the other.

"I'll try it out too." Shuna said, letting the magic pool between her hands. "What instructions did Tanya give you for this?"

"Huh. Okay then." Mary started, watching as Shuna's space magic calmly swirled about.

"So, instructions. Instructions, right. So, Tanya told me- uh, she said 'visualization is key to magic' and to 'try to imagine a hole in reality". Also, there was something like: 'It's an extra space. Imagine a sheathe to your katana but in midair. Also, it's invisible and intangible'. And then like, she did a demonstration."

"A hole in reality, an extra space…" Shuna murmured, her space energy beginning to swirl.

Mary stared.

"You know, it will actually make me feel a lot worse if you get this first try. You know that, right?"

The energy between Shuna's palms became a loose sphere, tendrils of excess magic flaring like coronal loops around it.

"I'm serious. I think it would be a huge blow to my self-esteem. I might never recover emotionally, Shuna. It would scar me. For life. Into my next life, even, since that's a thing apparently."

"Mary, are you going to shut up and join me or would you rather stand there making jokes?" Shuna rolled her eyes, "One of those things would be far more productive, and I really shouldn't have to tell you which."

"You know what, that's a fair point."

Mary copied Shuna's motions, her own space magic quickly bursting out and washing over her fingers and pooling between her palms. The ebb and flow were clearly more violent than Shuna's, neither woman failed to notice.

"Alright." Shuna said, after a moment. She moved a step forward, pushing her hands forward slightly, "Now, pool your magicules with mine. Yes, right here. Let's try and work this out together, shall we?"

-=-