"Wherefore, that I might more clearly behold the things themselves, I uncasing the Propositions and Demonstrations out of their covert of words, designed them in notes and species appearing to the very eye." - William Oughtred
My mind is in shambles. Nothing really makes sense; I cannot distinguish right from left, up from down... All that I remember is...
"Next up on the stage, our most beloved—drumroll, please..."
An unknown instrument begins to fill the silence of the forest.
"ELYONN!"
My feet move on their own, and I find myself standing on a stage of sorts. A lone woman awaits my arrival with a hitched breath. I find it funny that we share the same hair color for whatever reason.
As I peer over the edge of the podium, I realize the woman is the only one in the crowdless crowd.
"T-Thank you for having me."
"So, Elyon, tell us about yourself."
"I... uhm... I am Elyon, as you already know."
"Sure, sure, we know that. But what we REALLY want to know is who you are."
"Something nice about me, huh? Sure... I, uhm, am a very humble person. I once gave food to a girl in need, and she became my friend."
"Tell us more about this woman."
"She is a feisty one, that's for sure."
Multiple rows of laughter are audible in the background.
"He... he. Right, she is my best friend and the only person who supports my need for validation? No, that's not right. She is someone broken who finds refuge in my good deeds."
"Can you name some of your good deeds? Other than feeding her."
"Sure... I gave her a place to stay once for a few days."
The woman rubs her chin with the now-visible pen in her hand.
"How about this—something other than physical things. Emotional things."
"Being a funny guy?"
The woman nods slightly. "Guess we share that trait."
"But I presume you want something other than being a funny guy?"
The woman nods once more.
"Right... I got it! She wants to stop chasing the gods, but I always remind her not to stray from her goal."
"Her goal? Have you ever asked her why she wants to do that?"
"I did? I don't really remember. I can't really recall it, maybe... No, I definitely asked her what was wrong. I did that!"
The woman remains quiet.
"Yeah, probably a stupid reason like... SOMETHING! Something that is on the tip of my tong— Wait... who are you?"
The woman looks puzzled for a moment before she answers.
"Your sister, silly... Isn't that why you wear that funny robe? So I can recognize you?"
Blackness fills every inch of my vision. My sister disappears as well. Yet in the corner of my eye, a silhouette is visible—one that harbors the shape of a crow.
"Don't you love it, Elyon? Always being a selfish piece of shit that puts its needs over anyone else's?"
I am not like that. No, I care; I care about people... I-I just don't know how to show it.
"You do show it; in fact, you denying everything, constantly lying to others—it is a form of asserting what you have onto others."
I do—
"That's why you show it. Because you don't have anything better to show."
"You intend to spend the rest of eternity as a blob of unbothered consequences that you somehow wiggle out of?"
"You consider yourself the apex predator. The strongest out of the bunch, but somehow you and your rotten mind can't even distinguish what's wrong or right? What was the quote? Oh, right, with great power comes great responsibility."
"But tell me, what responsibilities do you relish? None, not one; you can't even be nice to the only person in the world who tolerated your presence."
"Once your senses go back to normal, you will realize what a shit person you are. You will want to make amends, but guess what, Elyon? You can never cross a broken bridge twice."
In that moment, I realize that my mental clarity is gone; I don't know where I am. I should probably anchor myself sooner, before...
"Elyon?"
"Yes... Eve?"
"I think... I started to understand you."
"You did?"
"Yeah... You chase the gods to give me a purpose. So I won't abandon you. You think that if I stayed by your side, I would grow bored of you. You don't really care about the gods. You only care about me..."
"Eve... I..."
"And if I were to go, you would realize that you would have to go back to finding your sister. Which would fill you with dread, since the world is a big place, right? But you are bigger than that, are you not?"
"I am?"
"You are, Elyon; everything is going to be fine. I will remain forever by your side. We pinky promised, didn't we?"
"We did."
"Then let's do it again for good measure."
I reach out to her, to my first student, to my true friend. I want our fingers to touch. I want to feel her cold fingertips pressing against mine. Yet before they can touch...
My mental clarity returns to normal, and in front of me stand two people.
Anton and Stacy... I think.
"Elyon? You alright, buddy? You spaced out for a good minute."
"Yeah... I think... I think I am fine."