10 Minute Tales

Jul 3 - Vanishing City

He opened his eyes and saw nothing he knew. Towering spires of ice, beautiful in their regularity and chaotic in their shimmer, stretched to the skies. Ice coated the ground beneath his feet, the cool blue chilling the soles of his bare feet. He walked along these abandoned streets, looking around in awe. The wind sang between the spires, an ominous yet beautiful melody filling the street. He heard whispered murmurs behind him, voices of his own doubts slowly echoing louder.

"I shouldn't be here."

"This place is not for mortal souls."

"I must find the way out." He shook his head, dispelling the thoughts as he wobbled a little. The ice underfoot was cold, but he found it wouldn't let him slip. What was this place?

"This is home." a voice replied to his thoughts, making him jump and turn around. It was a small being, reaching no higher than his hips, but it was also very rotund and was dressed in heavy furs. He blinked, a little confused.

"I'm sorry, but... what exactly are you?"

"I am a Nyduh." it replied, looking up at him with sad, brown eyes. "And this is our home."

"Your home?" he looked again, to the spires before him. "... you live in this ice?"

"Yes."

"Okay, uh... wow..." he smiled, disbelieving as he looked around again. "Why am I here?"

"You must help us, human." the Nyduh commented again. "Our home is fading."

"Fading?" he looked at the Nyduh, somewhat alarmed.

"We approach the end of our time." it pointed up to the sky, prompting him to do the same. The night sky was beautiful, thousands of stars glimmering in unforetold patterns... but far above him, he could see the Earth, standing large and proud. If he squinted, he could just make out the moon. "The sky comes to swallow us."

"That's not the sky, that's Earth." he replied, looking down to the Nyduh again. "It's where I live."

"Truly?" the Nyduh's sorrow seemed to mount as it turned away again. "Then I have brought you here for nothing. I had hoped you could answer our plea."

"W-wait, what's going on?" he asked, walking to follow. The chill that had surrounded him now went ignored.

"It is approaching us." the Nyduh replied. "Our magic and our prayers are unable to stop it. It is all we can do to find our peace."

"W-wait, the Earth's coming to you?" he blinked, confused. "I mean... what can I do?"

"What can you do?" the Nyduh repeated, the sorrow tinting his voice. "All you can do is leave. Before we crash."

"N-no, wait...!" he started to object, but a brilliant glow was already enveloping him, blinding him from the city's beautiful architecture.

"I trust we shall remain in your memories." The Nyduh sighed, walking further down the street. He tried to object but found himself bolting upright in his bed. He spent a moment realising what was going on, then bolted to the window and threw the curtains open. A single shooting star shot through the sky, glistening against the darkness of the night sky.