Darkest Day of the Year

04

"I think the mortal world was not meant to be my home," Vix said after a moment of reflection, "It just didn't feel right. Here, in the spirit world, I feel at peace, and I know that this is where I belong." "I agree," Lili said, "The mortal world was not for us." The two of them continued walking through the glade of glowing trees, and although they felt content with their existence in the spirit realm, they would occasionally think back to their lives in the mortal world. They knew that they would never forget their past. "Do you think that there are others in the spirit realm who have made the same decision as us?" Lili asked Vix, "Do you think there are other spirits here who have chosen to stay?" Vix thought for a moment, before replying, "I think so. For many spirits in the mortal world, this realm may feel more welcoming and fitting for their existence, and they may feel like they belong here more than they did on Earth. I truly believe that there are others out there who feel the way that we do." "Is there any way that we could meet these other spirits?" Lili asked Vix, "It would be nice to connect with souls who have chosen to live in the spirit realm, like ourselves." "We could try," Vix replied, "There are many spirits in the spirit realm, and I'm sure that if we went exploring and talked to some of the different spirits we've met, we could eventually run into some who have decided to stay." The two of them continued walking together through the golden landscape, discussing the possibility of meeting other spirits that shared their decision. As the two of them continued their walk around the spirit realm, the idea of meeting other spirits who had chosen to stay excited Lili. The thought of connecting with others like themselves and learning about their experiences in the spirit world was thrilling, and she was looking forward to the possibility of meeting such spirits. Vix too felt drawn to the idea, and as they continued to explore the golden landscape, they both kept their eyes peeled for any signs of life. As they crossed paths with a glowing pond, they noticed two spirits swimming nearby, laughing and talking as if they were old friends. "Look there," Lili said, pointing out the spirits to Vix, "Do you see them?" Vix turned to look at the pair swimming in the glowing pond, smiling at each other as they swam about. "Yes, I see them," Vix replied, "Do you think those are spirits who have decided to stay here?" "They must be," Lili said with a smile, "Shall we go meet them?" "Sure!" "Let's go," Lili said, and the two of them walked over towards the spirits in the glowing pond. As they approached, the pair looked up at them, smiling warmly. "Hello," Lili greeted them. "Hello," one of the spirits replied, her voice soft and soothing. "I'm Lili," Lili continued, "And this is Vix." Vix smiled and nodded in greeting, and the pair of spirits in the pond swam over to meet the two of them by the waters edge. Lili and the pair of spirits continued speaking for a few moments, introducing themselves and asking about their lives in the spirit realm. The spirits appeared to be a young couple named Maya and Ash, and they told Lili and Vix that they had spent their entire existence in the spirit realm. Lili and Vix expressed their own thoughts on their decision to stay, and soon the four of them were in a deep conversation about their experiences. The two of them continued speaking and learning about the spirit realm together with Maya and Ash for hours, sharing and listening as the sun set slowly behind the tall glowing trees. As night fell in the spirit realm, the four of them decided to continue their conversations indoors. They entered the castle and made their way to the main hall, where they continued to sit and talk. Their conversation turned to their individual pasts, and soon Maya and Ash were sharing their stories of how they had initially passed over to the spirit realm and the many journeys they had been on since they arrived. The night went by quickly, and soon the four of them found themselves spending the night in the castle together, sharing stories and laughter before falling into a peaceful sleep. The following morning, Lili woke up in the main hall of the spirit realm, alone and a little disoriented. She glanced about her and remembered where she was, smiling as she remembered the night she spent with Maya and Ash. As she got up and left the halls, she met Vix in the entranceway, looking sleepy and tired. "You're up early," they said to Lili, "How did you sleep?" Lili yawned and stretched, before responding, "Well. How about you?" "I had a strange dream last night," Vix said, "Let's sit down and talk over some breakfast." "Okay," Lili said, and she and Vix sat down at the dining table in the hall, where a delicious breakfast was set out. "So," Vix said, "Tell me about your dream." Lili looked up from her food, her expression thoughtful. "I dreamt that I was back in the mortal world, in my old life." She paused for a moment, as if remembering distant memories. "I dreamt about my parents, and my friends, and my school, and everything that we had left behind." "I know that I don't belong there," Lili said quietly, "But... I miss it sometimes." Vix looked at Lili, their expression empathetic. "I understand," they said, "I miss the mortal world too." Lili nodded, and continued, "But... what I really miss more are the people who were there." She smiled to herself, remembering old friends and their shared memories. "What about you?" Lili asked. "Do you miss your old life?"