Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
But I keep my thoughts to myself.
“No. This is my domain, and you’re the strange one here.
Right. They’ve read my mind a few times now. Should have caught onto that quicker.
“Indeed. Your intelligence seems to be lower than your predecessors. They squint at me. “Witches gave more powerful. Wizards devoted themselves to back to magic, and in turn gre learning. Magicians had no interest in living with humans, leveraging their abilities for power.
It’s amazing how many different answers I’ve gotten from different people. History is so murky. Everyone has a different view of it, and it’s so far removed from current time I’m not sure I’ll ever get a clear answer.
“Then how can you tell the difference?”
They snap their fingers. “That bracelet is a legacy of witches, and your soul bears several wards. Very interesting. Only a wizard would put so much effort into a warded soul. Magicians and witches never practiced with glyphs. It’s all in the training, and they never shared.
“I don’t understand, I admit, turning as they turn, until the world spins around me, leaving me off balance. “You say they’re the same, but then explain how they’re different.”
“Mother, these children learn nothing” they mutter, finally stopping. Maybe they’re dizzy, too. “All humans access the same magic. It’s how they learn or what they use it for that creates a difference. Otherwise, you’re all the same. Humans with magic.”
They pause for a second. “Though, Lycans don’t have magic. Are you sure you’re Lycan?” “Positive.” Kind of. I mean, I have SeleneI can’t exactly have a wolf if I’m not, right?
Barring the whole not sharing a body thing, anyway.
“So, they say suddenly, changing the subject without warning. “You could access the sealed magic?”
*Sealed? By the water, you mean?”
“Of course not.” They look irritated now, likely by how slow my brain is catching up to their thought process. The seals, girl”
“So, a lockbox?”
“Lockbyou humans have such odd innovations.” The way they’re peering into my face, it feels like they’re tearing apart my memories to educate themselves.
“In a sense, I suppose. It isn’t that easy” They sit.
In the air.
Floating.
Justthere. As if one would lower themself into a chair, only there’s nothing there.
“Why so surprised?” they ask, tilting their head as they blink owlishly in my direction.
Gesturing toward them, I just say, “You’re floating. In midair.”
They roll their eyes again, a surprisingly human gesture for such an otherworldly being. “And you’re standing on the ground. How extraordinary.”
Their sarcasm catches me off guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus. “I’m sorry. I’ve never seen anything like this before.
“Clearly.” They wave a dismissive hand, changing the subject abruptly once again. “Why are here, girl? This isn’t a place for casual visitors.”
you
Left offbalance mentally and physically, it takes a while to gather the words. “I was… I was trying to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn’t mean to intrude on your, er, world:
The spirit clicks their tongue, annoyance flashing across their ethereal features. “You make quite a habit of coming uninvited, don’t you?”
“Habit?” I frown, confusion swirling in my mind. “What do you mean? I’ve never been here before.
A longsuffering sigh, like I’m an obtuse child they’re obligated to handle. “Not here, specifically. But you have a penchant for barging in where you’re not expected. Grimoire doesn’t like to be disturbed, you know,”
Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid and shallow. “Grimoire? You mean my magic book? How do you know about that?”
The spirit’s expression remains settled in perpetual annoyance. “I know many things, girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don’t belong
“I’m not trying to stumble into anything. I’m just trying to connect with my book. With, uh,
Grimoire?” It makes sense that ithewould have a name, somehow.
But it’s kind of on the nose, isn’t it?
“How did someone like you manage a contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. “Has the world changed so much?”
“How long has it been since you were out in it?” I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human. Much more than their appearance.
“Acons, perhaps?” They shrug. “Time is inconsequential.
I have a feeling further questioning will only lead me nowhere. They don’t seem interested in a two way conversation, only in satiating their own curiosity. “How can I reach Grimoire?” The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small circle of vibrant green, there’s nothing but a vast expanse of dead forest. The contrast is starklife and death separated by an invisible barrier.
But no one else is out there.
“Where is Grimoire, little human thing?” the spirit asks, crossing their arms.
Taken aback, I protest, “I thought you were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn’t like to be disturbed and enjoys his peace and quiet. Wouldn’t they know better than me?
Their eyes narrow. “You’re the one who came barging in here. Shouldn’t you know where your own book is?”
“I don’t know anything about him,” I counter. “You seem to know him quite well. I figured you’d know where to find him, too.”
The spirit groans, dramatically falling flat on their back in midair. It’s surreal, watching them float there like they’re lying on an invisible bed.
“The future of magic is doomed,” they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. “Perhaps I should just set the world ablaze and start anew.”
A chill runs down my spine. This spirit, for all its humanlike mannerisms, doesn’t seem to have any real empathy for my life. I’m sure it’s even worse for a real human.
“Is that… possible?” I ask, unable to keep the worry from my voice.
The spirit’s reaction is like something out of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity that roots me to the spot.
“Obviously not,” they snap. “Or why else would I be stuck in this hellhole?”
Their words hang in the air between us, heavy with frustration and bitterness. I steel myself to request the information again. “Can you help me? You seem to know about Grimoire. How can I reach him?”
a naund that saama ta anha theauugh the tenan
Isn’t just a book you can flip open whenever you please. He’s… particular
“Particular how?” I press, eager for any information.
The spirit waves a hand dismissively. “He chooses when to reveal himself. If he hasn’t shown. himself to you yet, there must be a reason.”
Wrapping my arms around me, I fight off the frustration edging into my voice. “But I need to contact him now.”
“Ah, there it is,” the spirit says, a knowing look in their eyes. “The weight of expectation. It’s always the same with you humans.”
frown. “What do you mean?”
But it isn’t like I can’t guess.
want the book because Magister Orion told me to. Because it can teach me magic. Because it as use for me.
espite the feeling of welcoming from this string inside of me, have my expectations been the all between us?
hey lean forward, still floating in the air. “Magic isn’t about meeting others’ expectations, girl. “s about understanding yourself, your place in the world. Grimoire won’t reveal himself until ou’re ready to see what’s already inside you.”
“Ava?”
Lisa shakes me awake, but it takes a few blinks for my eyes to adjust to reality.
“What is it?” My throat is croaky, and I clear it with a few dry coughs.
*Kellan brought dinner. You’ve been sitting like that for a few hours. I wasn’t sure if I should bother you or not.
My muscles protest as I push myself to my feet, my entire body stiff after hours of stillness. Every joint in my body seems to creak and pop, like I’m twenty years older than I am. Or maybe It’s just the weight of everything bearing down on me.