Iron Wasteland

Chapter 13

Providence was standing in a black void. She looked left, then right. Nothing but an infinite abyss. Surprisingly, she didn't feel fear. She felt...familiarity. She'd been here before. She reached out, waving her hand through the void. It swirled and billowed like liquid, before reforming into a solid mass once more. She walked forward, feet clacking on what sounded like tile. Why was this place familiar?

She felt a familiar cold trace on her neck. Someone moved past her, but Providence couldn't see them. She could sense them, though. Another god.

"And here we are." They said, voice feminine. "My realm. Or, at least the place right before. Not many people come here willingly."

"It's nice." Providence heard herself say. She hadn't said it herself. This was merely a memory, it seemed.

"A place merely for passing, and yet I find myself lounging in its halls. The fabric here is so soft, I can make whatever I wish..."

A red velvet couch suddenly sprung into existence, black smoke rolling off it. Providence moved on her own, sitting on the couch. Something warm took her hand. She hated how she couldn't see who it was. Still, the touch was comforting.

"I'm glad you came." The voice said, sounding sheepish. "The others rarely do, even if it's just for a meeting. Your company is always welcome."

"Same for mine." Providence said with a chuckle. "And, is that a blush I see?"

The person's grip tightened. "I–I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, there's no reason to be embarrassed!" The fire goddess said, leaning against the invisible person. "Just proves we're all more mortal than some would like to believe. No reason to be upset about that."

There was a pause. Providence's vision was getting fuzzy.

"...It's cute." The goddess said quietly.

Providence's eyes flicked open, the goddess bolting upright. She looked around, mind still reeling from the memory. Realms. That sounded familiar. She was in someone else's realm, with...whoever that was, they had been close. Her heart ached over the fact she couldn't remember them. Providence stood, taking a better view of her surroundings. She was laying on a sandy bank, a river bubbling along in front of her. Behind, a forest made of multicolored trees. They weren't vibrantly colored, more dull, but still multicolored. It honestly looked a little drab. Dark purple and red leaves, with muddy brown trunks. Leaning against the nearest tree was Irons, snoring soundly.

She trudged over to him, nudging him with her foot. He stirred, one eye creaking open and meeting hers.

"...mornin'." He said, stretching his arms with a yawn. "Hope ya slept well."

She only sighed in reply. "What do we do now?"

Irons stood, stretching more. "Well, we should hit a town and unload our goods. I found a few things in the other rooms that can probably sell for a lot."

"Are we going to discuss what exactly happened yesterday?"

Irons shrugged as he turned, examining the forest. "Not sure what's there to discuss. If it's about that worm thing, I told ya yesterday, I have no idea what that was. Sure a shit was dangerous, but we should count ourselves lucky it didn't chase us."

"Is it...common to find something you have no idea—actually, don't answer that. I think I already know."

Irons seemed to settle on a direction, and started walking. Providence followed a few steps behind.