World Between: Chapter 3 Part 3

“Nothing, huh?” Jen asked, and Jill shook her head. Jen sighed, and sat on the bed. “Is everyone doing okay, at least?” Jill pointed to a board covered by plus signs that were burying some equal signs.

“This has been…” Meisa lifted up a trash bag. “Complicated.”

“I’m starting to feel bad.” Jen turned sharply to her right as a boy spoke “My came back days ago.”

“Jime, correct?” Meisa asked. “You were a part of the third non-native group to enter?”

Jime nodded. “Yeah, but that group hasn’t talked much either...”

“Not at first.” Meisa corrected. “But some-” She caught another boy as he struggled to walk. Propping him up, and helping him back to his bed. “...You got lucky. That’s not your fault.” 

Jill flapped her wings a few times. The soft, beating keeping her just above the floor. Jen Wrapping one arm around her waist. “You tried that yesterday. Come on we’ll get breakfast together.” Jen stated as Jill reluctantly followed with a growling stomach.

“Not eating?” Meisa questioned as Jime sighed, and flung himself back into bed.

“There’s plenty of food.” Jime replied. “I.. it’s hard to eat with so many families around…”

“three?” Meisa questioned. Jime got up again looking at her. “There’s three families, if you can even call them that. Actually we were kind of worried.” Meisa extended a hand. “Let me show you.” She sat at the table with Jime. Reciting several dozen groups and fractions, and pointing out the other 2 pairs of siblings.

“There’s close to a fraction per person..” Jime replied.

“With all the chaos it just wasn’t a priority.” Meisa replied. “Then we found out about this.”  full plates dashed across the table as everyone got their food. Every ate and conversed into the evening. Until the ruckus of singing and preaching blasted into the area. Meisa laid her head against a wall before slugging her way outside.

“Do you not see what happens when we seek outsiders?” A male draped in robes standing on two fruit boxes shouted out to the passerby

“They openly preach against themselves?” Meisa questioned, and she walked through the crowd. “Come on, Nolk, find a different hobby would ya?”

“Do you deny the problems that have come from this world adapting, outcast?” Nolk replied.

“It’s a standing offer… wait adapting?” Meisa perked up. “Wasn’t the theory still being tested? And aren’t you guys protecting the Light Gem?”

“The Light Gem has offered us truth in this time of hardship. It has charted the stars and-”
“Nolk!” Meisa interrupted. “Get on with it.”

“Lydur has not woken.” Nolk replied. Those that could hear Nolk stopped walking, and even Meisa went wide eyed. “You have seen it.” Nolk pointed to Meisa. “You never wrote of it, but you have seen it.”

“I was like...I don’t know 40? It’s been hundreds of years.” Meisa rebutted. “I’ve seen him sleep through danger too.”

“Never without reason.” Nolk replied.

“So you talked to him?” Meisa asked. “Or was he affected by the Water Gem breaking?”

“I… I... “ Nolk sighed. “Lydur has not spoken with our church for many decades.”

“Decades… Around the time you rallied against-” Meisa began.

“About yes…” Nolk got down from the boxes. “No one for certain, but seeing as he does still communicate with similar groups.” Nolk sighed.

“...Could I try?” Meisa hesitated as the crowd murmured. “We’re both protectors… or suppose to be. So maybe he would talk to me?”

“...Fine…” Nolk said to the surprise of everyone around him. “I don't have the power to deny you the attempt… even if I wanted to…”

The whispers howled throughout the church as Meisa walked through. “Couldn’t we have gone around?” She asked, and Nolk shook his head. As she was led into the courtyard she stopped.
“Here?... why?”

“He woke up a few years ago, and went back to sleep right under the crest. Waking him has been as impossible as ever.” Nolk summarized as 2 platoons of choir members walked back inside. “But he is still a holy dragon, so I have no idea wha-”

Meisa walked past him, and took a deep breath. “Oh, Siren Dragon, you who foresees the storms, and foretells of their danger. I ask for your aid as one who breaks through the realms. I ask you to lend your aid and protection once-” 

“As one who breaks through the realms?...” Lydur sniffed the air. “Have so many years passed that a young child grows into her own strength?”

“Well… I met Talmo that day too and… how was I supposed to do any different?” Meisa rubbed that back of her head as Lydur laughter thunder.

“Yet so many did,” Lydur replied. “Both then and now, but then so few storms come these days.”

“Then...” Lydur tilted his head as Meisa looked at him confused. “You don’t want to help?...”

“You awaken me for a dark sky, youngling.” Lydur yawned. “Should the storm come, then so will I.” Lydur collapsed, and closed his eyes once again.

“Wait but-” Meisa protested repeatedly before sighing. “I don’t know what to do…” She admitted. “What to think… couldn’t you at least say something?... anything?”

“I have said many things. I have answered all you could ask many times.” Lydur answered with eyes barely open. “Repeating myself no longer interests me.”