Perhaps you don’t remember, but you were quite rude during our last conversation. Such foul language.I heard her tongue click in disapproval. You owe me an apology, and a promise that when we talk again in the future, you’ll maintain an appropriate level of civility.
I’m...sorry, I managed, swallowing my pride along with the bile I tasted at the back of my throat. I’ll be...nicer in the future.
A light, melodic laugh filled my head. That was a terrible apology, but I guess it’ll have to do for now.A sudden rush of energy crackled down my spine like ice, and my stolen memories returned one by one. I saw Val’s smile as we watched Lia try her first beer, felt Alda’s silver hair between my fingers, and tasted the mint on Lia’s lips as her face hovered inches above mine, flushed and smiling. Each memory slotted into its appropriate place with a jolt of electricity when the neurons flared back to life.
As the final, precious memory of my wedding to Amaya returned to me, a second memory played out alongside it: blood dripped down onto the rusted shortsword from the Shadebinder’s collection, obscuring the familiar pair of blacksmith’s stamps engraved at the hilt. They found a way to bring this here, from Alderea. Our worlds are linked. I felt my heart flutter in my chest at the thought. I can find a way back to you.
Now then, I imagine you’ll also be wanting my help getting out of here. Unless you’ve suddenly decided you’d rather spend eternity in darkness,Amaya’s voice laughed, amused by her own joke.
No, wait. My throat tightened as a wave of panic washed over me. I can’t go back. If I do, that...thing will take over again. I won’t put Lia and Val in danger like that. Even with the immediate threat of torture removed, hopelessness continued to fill me. I can’t go back anywhere, anymore.
Oh, you don’t have to worry about that, love,the voice said dismissively.That thing is back where it belongs, locked up nice and tight in the back of your head. It’ll stay there until you go searching for it again.
I won’t.
You will, she countered. You’ll always go back to it, eventually.
I processed the information quietly for a long time, until my curiosity got the better of me. What is it?
We don’t have the time for that kind of explanation, love. Let’s just say...you know more about the void than you think you do, but you only know it with certain parts of your mind. I waited expectantly for the explanation to continue, but the voice remained silent for a brief moment, then laughed. Satisfied?
No.
Good. My stomach lurched as I was flung through the darkness, tumbling end over end in a directionless freefall.Now, it’s about time you went back, don’t you think? You shouldn’t keep your wife waiting. I heard a sudden, distressed inhale of breath as her voice paused. Oh, sorry. Your second wife. Your first wife...well, she’s used to waiting by now, isn’t she?
While I was just barely able to hold back the torrent of obscenities on the tip of my tongue, I couldn’t stop the enraged growl that thrummed in my chest.Oh, this is going to be SO fun, Elden.A sudden whirlwind raged in my ears, and the darkness around me turned to a swirling mess of blinding, colorful lights. Amaya’s voice continued on in my head, perfectly audible above the din. Go back and have your promised adventures with Lia. You still have lots of work to do before you’re finished there.
A familiar shift in the storm told me the trip would be over soon, and I braced my body for the transition between realities. Don’t forget what you promised me: the next time I check in on you, I expect you to be on your best behavior.I covered my eyes and ears with my arms as the storm grew too powerful to withstand, and I felt my consciousness momentarily slip away. When you’re finally done, we can talk about what comes next. I have all the time in the world to wait for you. If I have to...I’ll wait forever.
---
I appeared in what looked like an inverted version of the Shadebinder’s study, with the bookshelves firmly anchored to the white marble ceiling. My head connected with the floor before I had a chance to fully understand my situation, and I fell into a jumbled heap on top of myself.
Oops,Amaya’s voice whispered in my ear before finally disappearing with a soft giggle. For what felt like the first time in years, I found myself entirely alone within my own head: all traces of the dark presence had vanished, as promised, and the chilling grip that accompanied the shifting voice faded from the base of my skull. I let out a contented sigh of relief and gingerly rubbed the top of my head.
Two pairs of footsteps rapidly approached from the adjacent room in response to my ungraceful return. Before I had a chance to right myself, Val and Lia appeared in the doorway. Lia let out a wordless cry of relief and dove forward, pinning me to the ground. Her fingers dug through my hair as she pulled me into a passionate kiss. Golden mana washed over me as I returned the kiss and embraced her, and I felt her powerful emotions pressing at the edge of my mind: fading despair and overwhelming joy.
“Lux,” Val said breathlessly. “You are back.”
I smiled against Lia’s lips, breaking the kiss. “I’m back,” I affirmed, nuzzling my nose against hers. She helped pull me up to a sitting position, and I was dismayed at the effort it took me to maintain the position; my body ached from head to toe, and my remaining mana was in dangerously short supply.
“What happened?” Lia asked, caressing my cheek. “Where did you go? I thought that, maybe, you were...gone. For good.”
My smile faded as I shook my head. “No.” I knew
