Xylia

Seven

"We're gonna defeat the beast with a hot tub?"

I speculated the furniture in question. Nothing screamed magic or enchanted in its framework; simple patterns adorned the sides, their lines and curves gave the water churning within more decoration if anything.

"It is not a hot tub," Everest reprimanded, "this is an ancient artifact." He insisted in a matter-of-fact tone, "It was used to empower my ancestors with the strength of spirits." I simply nodded my head in mock agreement.

He's officially lost it.

"So let's say, I believe you," I remarked, seeing as his incredulous option was our only idea. "How does this glorified bathtub work?"

"It is not a-," pinching the bridge of his nose, he explained, "According to legend, when any creature steps into the waters, the spirits bind to the living realm. I'm quite not sure how they do so," he trailed off, pacing around the cavern he, "But I assume that we can call upon them for guidance or something of that regard. Nonetheless, we would have excess to a plethora of wisdom and power."

"Why haven't you used this before?" Everest stopped in his tracks, shoulders deflating.

"My people used to be able to call upon the spirits," sparing a glance at the hot tub he exhaled, "but now, whenever we touch the sacred waters," he stuck his hand in, only to jerk it back with a hiss, "this happens." His once unblemished hand was now marred with first degree burns; the skin pulsed with an angry red color.

"Okay, let me see if I got this straight," I began, " The problem: a beast terrorizing the forest, the solution: making a warrior-spirit-hybrid with this sacred hot tub. So far so good?" Everest hummed in agreement with my observations. "But we have a second problem: who's gonna get in the tub?"

He contemplated my words, stroking his chin pensively. Thinking out loud to himself he muttered, "The problem: finding a individual who can receive the spirits." Repeating the line several times to himself, Everest scaled the room once more. Then, his eyes lit up as he snapped his fingers. "I've got it!" He exclaimed, striding up to me.

"The solution: you."

Those were the last words I heard before Everest heaved me into the glorified hot tub.

___

A weightless feeling settled in my bones while the searing burn of oxygen deprivation scalded my lungs. Spots danced along my vision before I gave in and inhaled the 'water' around me.

I can breathe?

Inhaling once more, I savored the sweet sensation that quelled my suffocation. Puffing out a few more breaths, I took in the scene around me.

I was no longer surrounded by the bland bowl of the tub. Instead, clusters of stars littered the vast room, splattering their silvery light on my arms and legs. A hub of light rotated lazily at the center; it's hazy rays spilled out and clung to the edges of the chamber, casting its glow on a plume of smoke churned around my ankles. The mist embraced me in a warm hug, coasting up my body before stopping at my neck. I relaxed against its solid caress.

This isn't so bad.

Lolling my head to the side, I caught the sight of a silhouette. The mist rested me in front of the image. I tilted my head to the side, noting how the figure mimicked my actions. Rotating around, I realized the room was not infinite, but contained a myriad of mirrors. Each illuminating the vibrant violet and soft silvery hues that splayed around the quarters.

The mirrors rippled.

An image of a man stood before me. His shoulders were stiff as a board, arms planted at his sides as his sharp eyes swept the premises. Then, his penetrating gaze fell on me, his jaw ticked forward.

"Uhh hi there," I began, my voice tainted with apprehension, "my name's Xylia." His stare seemed to harden at my introduction.

Gulping, I pushed forward, "I'm supposed to...bond with some spirits." I finish lamely.

The man emitted a low grunt from the back of his throat, fists clenching and relaxing at an alarming rate. Deciding to further explain myself, I expanded, "My people and I are being terrorized by a beast. Our only hope to defeat it is to-" I paused, unsure of what he could do for us. His scowl deepened, brows pinching down.

I'm losing him, I noted frantically. Scrambling for words, I rambled, "We need to...collaborate?" That sounds legitimate. "Yeah, we need to collaborate so...we can... make the world a better place?"

Deciding I had done enough damage, I let the information marinate. Throughout my speech, the man's demeanor never changed, his stoic look of disdain never hinted at his thoughts or inclinations.

"Well?" I heaved out. Not being able to take the silence.

"Questions, comments, concerns?"

Still nothing. But then- the man stroked his chin once more before finally responding.

"No."

"No?" I sputtered out, eyes widening in disbelief. My stomach plummeted at the thought of failing. I had one job, and I blew it. Disappointment and shock morphed into anger.

"You-you can't just say no?!" I roared, "people are about to be slaughtered! And you have the power to stop it, you-you." My eyes shone with rage fueled by his pompous, indifferent attitude. I swung an accusatory finger his way ,"you self centered jerk!"

His cold gaze transitioned into a searing glare, lips curled in a snarl,
"You dare label me as selfish," he scoffed, towering over my smaller frame.

"You barge in here demanding to be saved to," he threw up his hands and quoted, "'make the world a better place.' Well, what gives you the right to be saved? Hmmm." I opened my mouth to argue back, but he wasn't finished.

"You *earthborn think you are entitled everything: you deserve to live, you deserve to receive help," his eyes narrowed with each line. Then, the man's voice dropped to a chilling whisper, "Well what if, you don't deserve anything?"

I floundered under his heated glare, unable to conjure up a single sentence.

"You *earthborn must learn to reap what you have sown," flicking his wrist he sighed, "so I stand by answer of no."

Registering the finality in his statement, I lunged forward pleading, "Wait-!"

But it was all too late. The room dissipated, colors blurring into black.

*Earthborn: slang term for those who were born on the earth.

I came to the realization that some terminology I use (i.e. locations, species, slang, etc.) might be difficult to understand even with context clues. So, I plan on providing a dictionary of sorts (as modeled above) to the previous chapters in order to clarify my plot. Per usual, I hope you enjoyed and thank you so much for taking the time to read my story!

-H