The Aeronaut's Daughter

The Abyss

I hope you all enjoy the first half of Episode Six of Season Three.

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(Before the Earthquake)

Jamie and Olivia were feeding the baby Mulefas around the village. When all of a sudden, Mary Malone came running past them. "I got it!". She waved a round sap lends in the air.

"Mary?" Jamie chased after her. He followed her under the giant roots to the same spot where they had been teaching each other the last few days. He watched her polish the amber lens with a cloth and spread oil from the seeds onto it. She walked outside and glanced through; her face beamed with joy.

Jamie smiled. "You finally see,".

"It's so beautiful,".

"What you're seeing through that lens is exactly what I see now,". Jamie's eyes shimmered gold like Dust.

"It's Sraf," Dorian said proudly, approaching them. "It is what you call Dust or shadow particles, too,".

"This is what you wanted me to see."

"Yes,".

"You and your people drink this oil, and I used this oil to form a lens. The oil is the key. It's what gives you your powers. Could I see Dust if I drank it?".

"You could. But it's very strong and has side effects on other people. Our ancestors had to evolve to rely on this oil for survival. Climb to the top of the tree and look through your spyglass,".

"What will I see?".

"You'll see,".

"I'll guide you up,". Jamie offered again. Once they climbed as far as they could up the stairs, there were still two hundred feet to climb.

"How are we supposed to get to the very top up there?" Mary panted.

"Use the vines and don't look down," Jamie clasped onto one and started pulling yourself up. "And put your foot into a hole that looks like a step,".

Mary eyed him carefully before grabbing her own vine and making sure her feet stepped in the same places as his did. After twenty long minutes of heaving upwards and avoiding looking down, they reached the top branch, and Mary saw more groves of mighty trees in the distance. Unlike the one they were standing on, they were dark and decaying. She peered through her spyglass. Golden Dust particles were evaporating into the air. "It's leaving,".

Jamie nodded sadly. "The trees are dying. Our Sraf trees are our only survival. It is all a delicate balance. Once disturbed, it can never be regained. And if these trees die, so are our people,".

Mary patted his back. "I'm so sorry, Jamie,". They climbed back down, and Nasir and Olivia were with Dorian and Atal, all standing with sad expressions. "I understand now," she panted. "The trees are dying,".

"And so are we," Dorian said. "Every year, more of our people die because Dust is being pulled from our world. Just as it has always been across all other worlds. It is our humanity, our catalyst of thoughts, emotions, imaginations... without it, beings have no purpose,".

"That is why you have been brought here, Miss Malone. To save us,". Nasir's voice was full of desperation, but Malone felt helpless.

"But how? How can I save you all?".

"You will find out soon enough," Dorian said. "The fate of our world and all worlds lies in the hands of the children,".

Since they had talked about Lyra, (M/C) and their friends, Mary could not stop thinking about them. "Is there no chance of you all knowing if they're safe or not?".