Chapter Text
The storm kept raging in the valley, blocking out the mountains and forests from view. Creaking wood and howling wind had kept Aydan awake the entire night. Not that he had problem sleeping already. Idly he stared up to the roof of the little cliff, eyes not focusing on anything.
He sat on the cold stone floor, knees pulled up to his chest. Arms rested on his knees and his head was turned back against the door, hair loose and gently flowing in the less rough breeze of the ravine. The wind wasn't that bad down there but the echoes of the wind kept him alert.
Aydan hadn't felt like sleeping but he still drifted off every now and then. His cape draped over him, keeping him secure and warm. The cold nor the heat bothered him but he'd rather be tucked in his cape than just sitting in the cold ground.
"Your story is still unfinished."
"Oh. Right, yea sorry."
"You don't seem like continuing."
"No no, I'll finish the story. Where did I left it?"
Aydan sighed quietly, closing his eyes as he waited for his friend to speak up again. As much as he had patience, he still found the silence irritable at that moment. He didn't want to feel alone in someone's presence. But he didn't want his door friend to be alone either. Turns out they both had been woken up to the storm. Aydan mostly to the nightmare but the storm was there to make it even worse.
"You're troubled by something." The friend replied, sounding more like a statement rather than a question.
"No."
Aydan was more blunt than he intended but he wasn't going to be on the ledge for long anyway. He might as well just go home. But talking had gotten most of the nightmare out of his consciousness, yet still lingering.
"Are you lonely, mage?"
"I'm not. Not now."
"Now you're not alone but you are lonely. Most of the time you are."
"I'm sorry?" Aydan laughed bitterly, opening his eyes to stare back at the icicles. "How do you know that?"
"I can sense it from you. Your feelings are so strong, so out there. You wear your heart on your sleeve and let someone too close and next thing you know, you find yourself yet again in your little tree building. But this is another case; someone was found by you but you weren't quick enough."
Aydan felt his breath cease as he listened to his friend, pointing out the obvious.
His little dimension was the safest place to be alone in, but also the most dangerous. If Aydan wasn't there and the portal opened letting someone in, there could be less opportunities to find a way to get out. He regretted it, he hated it. He loved to see others in his little lonely world, but he hated to find them too late. Either the wolves or the environment had gotten to them first.
Just like earlier that day. The storm had made it impossible to find the lost soul. The wolves had helped Aydan, trying their best to track down the traveler. But they were still too late. The wolves had told him not to worry about it too much, he was still a savior to many. But not to this lost one, Aydan had replied.
"No more graves."
"No more graves."
A small rumble echoed inside of the ravine. Most likely an avalanche nearby. Not that he was in any danger. The ledge on top kept him and the door safe.
"Do you wish to be less lonely?"
"...Of course. Do you?"
"Most certainly."
"Why are you even here?"
"You keep asking that."
"I know. I want to know why, I've already told you where I came from and what I am."
"That is true, it's fascinating."
"Why can't you just tell me? Are you afraid of something?"
"Are you afraid."
"Constantly. And you know why."
"And I know why. But." The voice sounded much closer, circling around Aydan's head like it was right by him, looming over him. Hot air seeped from under the door, making Aydan jolt violently. "You're not alone anymore, are you?"
"N-no...and neither are you."
"Neither am I."
Aydan exhaled loudly, closing his eyes to get the tension off of his mind. But he still felt like his friend was only steps away, staring right at the back of his head. His voice was so strong now, so close.
"You're close."
"I am."
"Why? You've always been at the back of your little hideout."
"I don't want you to feel lonely."
"...Thank you."
"My pleasure, little mage."
The heat was still there, circling around Aydan in a rather comforting way. His friend seemed concerned about Aydan, to which he was grateful of. But also felt guilty for making the other worry over him.
"I'm sorry, friend. I don't want you to be too worried of me."
"Why not?"
"...This is just a temporary feeling. And I'm just a wreck."
"I am making it even more temporary."
"But why do you care? You don't usually seem to care about whatever I need to say."
"I care. I listen. You care, you visit me, you listen to me. You're interesting. So of course I care."
Interesting. How is one loser made out of space dust and weird humor "interesting"? Aydan frowned, processing what his friend had said. He cares about his friend, of course he does. Never seen the friend, not even sure if the friend was even alive. Maybe the friend really just was a door. And he himself was a lonely lunatic talking to stone.
"What if I do get you out someday? Will you kill me?"
"Why would I kill you?"
"I dunno. A spacemonster guy, whose powers I had allegedly stolen, tried to kill me and entirety of my home planet. Anything is possible."
"Do you not trust me, little mage?"
Aydan bit his lip nervously, pulling the cape more tightly around him as he thought about it for a while. He had visited his friend for quite a long time now. Perhaps for two moon spins*. Maybe three? He didn't visit daily, but he did try to keep company whenever it was possible. It was a lonely place, they both knew it. But it was also a lovely place. Aydan knew it, but it seemed his friend knew too. How though?
"I don't even know your name."
"Of course. Do you want to know it?"
"I'd love to."