Seed of Hope

Chapter 5: Whispers now heard

Aisling stood frozen for a moment, her eyes scanning the strange creature before her. The small specter seemed almost amused, floating with an air of lightness. It smiled—if one could call the narrowing of its bright blue eyes a smile—then spoke in a soft, almost teasing voice.

"You must have a lot of questions. You always have, don't you?"

Aisling shook her head, as if trying to shake off her stupor. She opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment.

"Why didn't you look like this... before?"

"It was because of the spell," the little creature grew serious.

"What spell?"

"Since the rulers of this kingdom left, time had frozen, we withered, trapped in this shadowy state," the specter nodded slightly, its voice tinged with melancholy. "But now that you've broken the spell...We are free!"

It lifted its arms in a theatrical gesture and twirled in place. Aisling glanced down at the metallic flower still in her hand. She gently turned it between her fingers, studying it again.

"You were trapped... all this time?" She suddenly stopped, her eyes widening as a realization hit her. "Wait... is that what you... you've been trying to tell me... for the past ten years?"

The creature nodded with a smile, floating lazily around her.

"It's okay. The waiting was much longer before you first arrived. Ten years? That was just a blink of an eye."

Aisling's apology faltered on her lips, replaced by deep contemplation. She lifted her gaze to the grand hall, taking in the intricate details of the castle around her.

"This realm... it's yours? You built all this?" she asked, gesturing broadly at the vast space surrounding her.

The Dusk Dweller burst out laughing, a light and ethereal sound.

"Oh no, no, not at all. This wasn't our creation. We were offered refuge here after the Apocalypse... to hide."

A strange echo resonated within Aisling's heart, reminding her of her own people. She squinted, curious.

"What were you hiding from?"

"I... I think our leader should answer that question." The specter suddenly grew uneasy, its floating movements becoming more nervous. It cast an eager look at Aisling, brimming with excitement. "Come, follow me!"

Aisling hesitated, staring at the little creature, then down at the flower still in her hand. She held it out toward the specter.

"Wait... take it. It's yours, right?"

The Dweller shook its head gently, floating backward.

"No. It's yours now."

Aisling followed the floating specter outside the castle, her footsteps echoing faintly on the stone floor. Upon reaching the courtyard, she was struck by the sudden transformation of the landscape. The once-imposing wall of thorns had shriveled beneath the sunlight, dry, brittle branches, almost reduced to ash.

Still a bit stunned by everything unfolding around her, she noticed other creatures approaching slowly, floating and murmuring among themselves, exuding a cautious curiosity. The Dwellers had regained their original forms, their ethereal, dark bodies glowed with those same blue patterns. They seemed at peace, their energy and presence far less oppressive than before. They varied in size and form, some male, some female, with more or fewer eyes. A few bolder ones attempted timid waves of greeting, to which Aisling awkwardly responded with a nod or an uncertain smile. Comparing them to the small one beside her, she guessed that her young companion was still quite juvenile compared to the others.