Amanda can hardly walk through the forest, even with Ezi’s guidance. Eventually, he just scoops her up bridal style since it takes less time, ignoring her protests when he does so. 

He has a pretty good idea as to where to find his friend. He walks more carefully than usual, afraid of harming the corporeal in his arms. He still can’t get used to the way she feels. Solid and warm, but not like Jake’s warmth. She doesn’t give off heat like he does. She’s just… warm. Sort of like the blood of Life Spirits. Is it because she has blood inside her? Is that where this comes from? It’s deeply bizarre to think of. Wrong, even. 

The Spirit walks silently and the human follows his example, not saying a word. Just making that soft sound of air moving in and out of her. Ezi hears Cyn when they come closer to the clearing, and tilts his head. She’s muttering, too quiet for mortal ears. 

“That damn human! Why does it hurt? Why did she have to come here? She’d be better off dead anyway! Why is she-” Not wanting Amanda to hear such things, Ezi stomps on a twig on the ground, silencing Cyn. 

He steps into the clearing to see the boulder that’s always been there is in fragments, Cyn looking almost panicked with hands that drip her inky blood. “Should’ve known it was just you,” she mutters. 

“Your hands!” Amanda exclaims. “You’re hurt!”

As soon as they get into the grassy area, Ezi sets her down. “What did you do, Cyn?” he asks calmly. 

The Shadow looks bored. “I showed the rock who’s boss. That’s all.”

“I’m sure it was quite the battle…” Ezi says with a raised brow, ignoring the way Cyn growls at him. “We have to speak with MOther. Show her Amanda.”

Cyn crosses her arms and steps closer to them. Amanda peeps but Ezi ignores that as well. 

“Why is it black?” Amanda asks, voice shaking. 

Cyn lifts her hand. Not only is she bleeding black liquid, but it’s thick. Like tar. Little tendrils of black smoke rise from the wounds. “It’s just how I am, kid. I’m darkness incarnate.”

Ezi chimes in. “That’s right. We haven’t got bodies like you do. We’re manifestations of light and dark. Nothing more.”

The Light reaches behind himself, grabbing the head of his spear then bringing his bloody hand back for the human to examine. His yellow blood has an odd shine to it, almost seeming to be infused with glitter.

Amanda’s eyes go wide. “It’s beautiful!”

Ezi smiles at her. “Thank you. Like me, it’s always glowing. Because I’m Light. Cyn is Shadow.”

“Which means we’re mortal enemies,” Cyn cackles but her posture gives away how nervous she is around the young girl. She puts on an impressive display, but Ezi knows her well enough to see through it. 

Amanda, however, trembles, taking Cyn’s words at face value. She looks from one Spirit to the other, and both are grinning at one another. 

“I'll achieve eternal night one day, you know!” Cyn boldly claims. 

“If you achieve it one day, that isn’t really night, is it?” Ezi counters. 

Cyn scowls and gently whacks his knee with her tail before going into the trees. Ezi chuckles before picking up Amanda again.

“Woah, hey! P-please ask first next time!” She seems flustered, face turning red like before. 

Blushing. This is called blushing, I think. How long has it been since I made myself blush? Ezi wonders. 

He gets that familiar urge to rip out his hair at the thought. All things considered, it’s good Amanda is in his arms, preventing him from doing so. Ezi shakes his head, as if able to make the dire thoughts rattle out of his ears before they head for their destination. 

After a brief walk through the forest and into the main area of the Valley, they get there. Tucked away into the side of one of the mountains. 

The building  they stand before is unimpressive. Grey bricks and a wooden door, long and low. It was made to resemble human structures, an ironic form of symbolism that the Elementals made as a reminder. 

Amanda gives it a dubious look, quickly changing to one of shock as Ezi opens the door. Cyn remains a few paces behind as they walk in, appearing bored. Amanda seems lost in her own wonder, mouth open as she turns in a circle in a vain attempt to absorb all the beauty within these walls. 

A ceiling covered in crystals of all colours that light the room. Walls coated in vines, thousands of tiny flowers blooming, then wilting, then blooming again. Different patterns appear each moment from the rapidly moving life and death cycle. There’s no floor, only water. Transparent as the cleanest glass and perfectly still, it shows the smooth rocks in the depths. Steppingstones lead up to the center of the building, where a gigantic well sits. 

The Well of Life. The prison housing the one who created the Spirits. 

Ezi bites his bottom lip, then hops to the first stone. His robes are even longer than most, making them dip into the cool water. 

Amanda, perhaps sensing the tranquility of the space, remains silent as she follows him. Cyn brings up the rear. 

The Light reaches the stone stairs leading up to the Well’s opening. He climbs up and looks down into the water. Its surface gives nothing away, perfectly mirroring the crystals above. Ezi gasps as Amanda leans over as well, getting anxious at the sight of a second version of her staring up at him from the water. Why is Mother showing a vision of Amanda? An omen?

Cyn joins them on the top step of the Well, looking down into it with the other two. Her tail swishes, also watching the image of the girl. 

“Why is it only me?” Amanda breaks the silence. 

“We don’t have bodies, so no reflections,” Cyn murmurs. “Look, you can see a glow in the water where Ezi is, and I cast a shadow, but that’s it.”

“No bodies?”

“No,” Ezi replies. “In a way, we aren’t even real.”

Amanda gazes at Ezi with some expression he can’t read. It makes him turn away, though that doesn’t mean he can no longer see her watching him. 

“We’ve been…” Cyn pauses, searching for the right word. “Forgotten.”

“Even if humanity remembered us, we still wouldn’t have bodies, Cyn.”

“I guess that’s true. Wouldn’t want one anyway, frankly. What good is a body?”

The conversation is cut short when a feminine voice emanates from the Well of Life, seeming to flow over them. Despite the words being soft, they brim with an ancient power beyond the comprehension of even the two powerful Spirits in the building. 

“I see you’ve brought a human. Well done. Thank you, Cynthia and Ezi,” says the voice telepathically. 

Amanda looks around, startled. Ezi says, “Amanda Green, meet Sessa’al en Kei’i. We call her ‘Mother’ because she created us, back before this world was made.”

“What?” Amanda whispers, shocked, “She’s in the well?”

“Amanda? Is that what you call yourself?” The voice is emotionless, yet soothing as it washes over the three. The human girl nods slowly. “I see. Welcome to the Spirit Valley. My children will be taking care of you until you’re dying day. I’ll see to it.”

“Wait, what? Mother, you can’t!” Cyn shrieks at the water. “She’s human!”

“Which is why she must be looked after, Cynthia. I did not send both you and Ezi after her for no reason. You Elementals are duty-bound to protect humanity from the Life Spirits that would end their species. It is part of your duty and punishment. Therefore-”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass!” Cyn growls. Amanda steps closer to Ezi, who sighs and waits for this to be over and done with. Cyn’s outburst has completely shattered the calm spell. 

“You really think we’re going to babysit a damn human? You seriously think welcoming her mortal ass in here is a good idea? We’ll all fade!”

“Cyn, shh!” Ezi breaks in.

“Shut it, Ezi! You know as well as I do that this is a horrible idea! You know what they’re like, I know you do!” She fixes him with an intense stare, one he can’t meet. 

“Are you finished whining now, Shadow?” Mother’s voice has a tinge of anger to it, making the Spirits go still. Ezi backs up, going down a step and Amanda mimics him. 

“Mother, listen!” Cyn continues to protest. “Humans bring destruction, we’ve all seen that firsthand! You can’t really expect us to-”

“Ezi, Amanda will be sleeping in the small clearing with you. See to it that she’s comfortable.”

Ezi’s eyes widen but he replies steadily. “Yes, Mother. Amanda will be safe and comfortable with me. I promise.”

Cyn is left flabbergasted, glaring at Ezi, then the Well, then back to Ezi. She turns to leave, tossing bitter words over her shoulder.

“I know a disaster when I see it. You’ll realize I’m right sooner or later.”