Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

   Stars. There were stars above VR-LA, his body floating in nothing, his head against some soft surface, tilted so he was looking to his side rather than straight up. He felt tired, which he felt made sense. He was dreaming wasn’t he? Just another one of his many, many odd dreams. He felt a hand card through his hair softly, toying with it. He leaned back against the hand, humming happily at the feeling. This was certainly quiet compared to some of his dreams. 

 VR-LA wanted to just shut his eyes again, to stay adrift in this moment of relaxation, not let it change into anything else as he relaxed. He deserved that relaxation. Something pulled him to turn his head though, to look at who he seemed to be resting his head in the lap of, who was playing with his hair.

 An otherworldly woman was looking down at him, one of her hands moving to cup his cheek instead, which VR-LA unconsciously leaned into as he looked up at her. A crown of stars swirling around her head, strands of her hair, which was a purple so dark it was almost black, floated slightly, as though she was underwater. She smiles down at him, and VR-LA thought for a moment that maybe he knew who she was. She felt very familiar, comforting. Her hand was warm on his cheek.

 She opened her mouth, beginning to speak. “What shall I call you this time?” She asks, voice just as familiar as her face felt. 

 “...I’m VR-LA.” He mumbled in reply, hearing her let out a light laugh in reply. It wasn’t the laugh of somebody making fun of him or teasing him, it just seemed like a genuine expression of joy, or maybe even relief. Why would him saying his name cause that?

 “...VR-LA.” She mumbled, looking away from him and out at the stars for a moment. “It’s nice to finally meet you again.” Again? VR-LA felt confused, but his head hurt when he tried to think too hard about it, so he just continued to listen.

 “You’ve got quite the curious fate ahead of you. You’re fated to put an end to a great disaster in the future. Although I know you shall win, I know it will not always be a comfortable or easy journey. I will be here with you for this journey, to help make this journey as comfortable as it can be. I will be here alongside you for as long as you allow me.” She said, still running her other hand through his hair. She kept speaking, VR-LA’s vision getting hazy again. “I am…”

 VR-LA blinked and he was looking at his ceiling, laying in his bed, the start of sunrise faintly lighting up his apartment in a vibrant orange. His window was cracked open just a bit, letting a cold breeze cause a chill to go down his spine. He was still in his clothes from working the previous day, his t-shirt half tucked in and half pushed up to expose part of his stomach, making him shiver even more. He went to tug his shirt down again, only to feel something tumble out of his hand which he hadn’t noticed before. 

 He was promptly distracted by that instead, picking up what fell. A silver ring with an eight pointed star engraved into the metal, decorating the front. He turned it over in his hands, staring at it curiously. When did he get this? Did he pick this up somewhere and just forget? That wouldn’t be too out of character for him, he forgets plenty of other things. 

 VR-LA kept looking at it, turning it in his hand. Was it related to that dream? No, that wouldn’t make sense, dreams couldn’t just give you things and he wasn’t handed anything in the dream anyway. He probably just picked up and forgot when he got home due to heading straight to bed. He had plenty of weird dreams and they hadn’t given him anything before, at least. Lots of dreams about swords and magic, nothing more than dreams though.

 He felt tempted to put the ring on, giving it just another once over before sliding it onto the ring finger of his left hand. It fit him perfectly, comfortably. It felt right there too, like it was supposed to be there. He swears he’s seen this ring before, maybe he had actually dreamt it up. Or he’s just starting to remember where he picked it up. 

 VR-LA thoughts were promptly interrupted as his alarm clock started blaring, making him scramble to slam down on the button to get it to stop. He didn’t have time for the ring then! He had to get started on his day, if he wasn’t early to their practicing today, Finbar would probably give him that disappointed stare and mention something about how he’s supposed to be an example for Kyana! Food comes first! 

 He’ll remember to set his alarm a bit earlier when he gets back! It’ll be alright! It’s not like he’s continuously forgotten for almost a full month now. VR-LA bolted, rushing to just try to get some food. Forgetting a meal would result in a worse stare than what he’d get for setting a bad example. You’d think for a manager trying to retire wouldn’t be so strict about health that won’t be his concern soon.

—

 VR-LA ended up early, poking his head into the studio. Kyana got here earlier than him, already practicing some dance by the mirror. The speaker was noticeably on, but not playing anything. She was humming a bit, probably not even having noticed that her music had stopped yet. Finbar’s stuff was on the ground, but he wasn’t in the room. The usual bag with a first aid kit half poking out and a few snacks. If he was away, he was probably just busy with something. Dani was nowhere to be seen yet, but she always got in the latest of everyone.

 “Kyana!” VR-LA called as he stepped in fully, startling Kyana out of her focus. “Let’s have a good day today!”

 Kyana waved and smiled. “Let’s have a good day today!” She called back, motioning for him to come over. “Can you let me know if what I’m working on looks right?”

 “Of course.” VR-LA headed right over, shutting the door behind him. "What are you working on?"

Chapter Text

 VR-LA collapsed onto his bed after getting back from practicing that day, tugging off his jacket and tossing it over his pillows, not bothering to remove the new ring on his finger as he pulled his blanket over himself in an awkward roll. He didn’t bother to adjust to be facing his pillows, too tired from practicing. Finbar had told him to take breaks, but Kyana kept trying to practice and VR-LA couldn’t just let her practice alone! 

 He curled up a bit around the blanket, falling near immediately to sleep once he let himself be still. 

 VR-LA opened his eyes to seemingly the same dream as the previous night, near immediately. There were no other dreams for it, no hazy fade-in, it was like he was just brought there in an instance as he blinked. A sea of stars surrounded him, but rather than having his head on the woman’s lap, he was held in her arms. He felt weightless, and yet he was curled into her, held like something precious. She let out an airy chuckle. “It seems we’ll have more time for this dream, that’s good.” She said, looking down at VR-LA, her hair falling over her shoulders as she tilted her head down.

 VR-LA felt aware this time, nothing seemed to cloud his mind as he looked up at this woman. “Who are you?” He quietly asks, curious. She had been cut off last time, it’d be nice to learn, even if this was only a dream.

 “Oh? I’m sorry, I must’ve gotten cut off.” She says, seeming more amused than anything. “You may call me Mystra.” She let go of VR-LA, resulting in him just floating, helping him to adjust until he was standing before her.

 VR-LA still felt weightless. It wasn’t like floating in water, but maybe this was what floating in space was like. Could a dream emulate that without having experienced it? Mystra seemed amused by all of this, every reaction VR-LA had. She seemed to study him, eyes sweeping over the whole of him.

 “We may have more time, but that does not make it infinite time, I will not delay us further.” Mystra said, taking both of VR-LA’s hands to keep him steady. Chilly, her hands were distinctively chilly. “I need you to listen closely.”

 VR-LA nodded, a bit awkwardly. He can play along for now, that’d always make dreams more fun. Maybe this story will be interesting. Mystra made an expression almost like she could hear his thoughts. Well, she probably could if it’s a dream. 

 “I have… a counterpart. They refer to themselves as Inva.” She spoke as though she was testing out the words, unsure of how to say what she wanted to say. “They are very desiring of power, any power at all. Be it populations to worship them, lands to burn, or places to completely destroy. I cannot hurt him, and he cannot hurt me, regardless of the want to, at least not directly.”

 VR-LA just nodded, to show he was listening, which Mystra used as a signal to continue. “You though,” she let go of one hand and gently booped VR-LA on the nose, making him blink quickly in a bit of surprise, “can. And you have many, many times. You have spent so many lives fighting to protect the world you were staying in, and to protect me.”

  VR-LA had a bit of a question now, about this dream’s logic. “Is there a reason why it’s protecting you, rather than just the world?”

 “Simple, once that power falls out of balance, the stronger can hurt the weaker. I merely wish to keep him and I as equals. Mortals fall under very different rules though, they aren’t limited by magic like we are.” She answered promptly, like her answer was prepared already, at the front of her mind. “I won’t expect you to truly choose to fight yet, for now, I will merely teach you. You’ll need to protect yourself even if you decide not to take this chance.”

 “...so it’s a choice?”

 Mystra nodded. “Of course it is. I trust in you to make the right choice, as you have many times, but you aren’t the only one capable of making those choices. Others can always receive the same power as you can, even if weaker.” VR-LA really doesn’t understand the dreams he gets, this one seemed fairly toned down at least, even with the apparently high stakes. Mystra chuckled suddenly, pulling VR-LA back into focus. “I will be giving you a guide, a way for you to send along questions for me, although slowly, during the day. A way for you to not be alone in your magic.”

 She let go of his other hand, both of her hands going to hold his face. She pressed a kiss to his forehead, lingering there for a moment. VR-LA felt his face heating up, only getting more flushed as she pulled back and looked at him. “...was that something you had to do?” He asked.

 “I wouldn’t know what’s in your home otherwise, little prince.” Mystra said, tone teasing. “I can’t just create one from nothing yet, they need to be made from something of which you are attached to. That little wasp model will do plenty well.”

 VR-LA could remember immediately what she was referring to. A gift from somebody who he had been very close to while attending college. A man who was getting his second degree while VR-LA was studying for his first, Maxim. The wasp was a parting gift, something VR-LA had kept even after falling out of contact with that friend.

 “You care for it quite a bit, that’s good.” Mystra hummed, seeming to think. “Have a good morning, VR-LA.”

 And VR-LA was suddenly awake, something small and metal repeatedly bonking into his cheek. “...huh?” VR-LA mumbled, voice tinted with sleep, feeling the bonking stop as he started to sit up, looking around for the source. Something landed on his knee and VR-LA looked down, seeing a little metal wasp staring up at him. Shit. The dream stuff was real. Or he’s hallucinating. Both not great options. “...hello?”

 The wasp did a vague approximation of a bow. “Hello.” It spoke very flatly, in a voice oddly mature for its tiny size. There was then silence, during which VR-LA glanced at his clock. Well, he had an hour to deal with this at least.  

 “...so, what’s your name?” VR-LA awkwardly asked. “I’m VR-LA..?”

 “I currently lack a personal designation.” The little bug answered.

 “Do you want one?” 

 “I would not care either way, as I lack emotions.”

  Uh-huh. Okay then. Bug names, bug names. What’s a good bug name? “Well, I think Drone will work for now. It’s nice to meet you.”

 “Meeting you to me is entirely neutral, but I shall also say it is nice out of respect.” Drone answered, little wings buzzing, but not lifting him off VR-LA’s knee. It felt weird seeing a gift he got from Maxim physically animated like this. He wondered if the emotions thing came from being made by Maxim or was just a feature of the magic. “Do you have questions for me to send along?”

 “...I think I just need time to think for now. I have no clue what to ask. I thought this was just a dream until a few moments ago, so…”

 Drone gave a nod, which made his whole body do a motion like a bobblehead. VR-LA tried not to laugh at the absurdity of all this. 

 VR-LA thought of something finally, although only due to a bit of hunger coming up. “...do you need to eat? What can you eat?”

 Drone passed, seeming to think. “I have no need to eat, as I receive my sustenance through your magic. If I were to spend too long away from you, I would deactivate until I have spent some hours close to you. This is to protect any information I could give being unwillingly given.” Drone answered flatly. “I am, however, capable of eating should you wish me to.”

 VR-LA nodded, thinking as well, trying to figure out what to do. “Well… I guess you can come to work with me then in my bag? How long is too long?” He asked.

 “Twenty-four hours, although longer than eight shall begin to cause mild exhaustion.”

 “...right, you should definitely come with me then.” VR-LA replied, awkwardly scratching at the back of his head.

 Drone seemed almost pleased with that response, little wings buzzing as he did a tiny jump, before quickly settling and flattening his wings to his body, looking up at VR-LA. “If you will it.” His tone remained flat. “That order is acceptable.”

—

 As VR-LA headed home after work, holding tightly to his gym bag as to avoid jostling Drone, he noticed somebody moving into the house that was across from the apartment building he lived in. There was a man moving boxes out of a truck, who had shoulder length copper hair. A very familiar style. If really that was Maxim, VR-LA wonders how he managed to keep it so exactly the same for so many years. The man dropped his box off on his porch, heading back down the neat porch pathway towards the truck. He spotted VR-LA on the sidewalk and paused, similarly copper eyes wide as he stared at the other. Definitely Maxim, VR-LA knew that face anywhere. 

 Maxim didn’t walk over, staring for a moment before talking. “Is that you, VR-LA?” He asked, seeming almost shocked.

 “Yes?” VR-LA answered awkwardly. “Is my appearance that common?” He tried to turn it into a joke, but it came out just awkward, and forced.

 “...I can’t say it is.” Maxim answered promptly. “Do you live near here?” He sounded almost as awkward as VR-LA did somehow.

 “I live in the apartments across the street from your place.” VR-LA replied, pointing at the building. 

 Maxim gave a slight nod. “...I should get back to moving my things.”

 “Oh, uhm, yes.” VR-LA replied. “Have a good evening. I hope I can talk to you again another time.”

 Maxim nodded, returning to his moving of the boxes. VR-LA gave only a slight lingering look before resuming his walk back to his apartment, crossing the street. Drone climbed out of his bag, fluttering up onto his shoulder. “...that was awkward.” VR-LA mumbled to him.

 Drone stared for a moment, settling more comfortably. “I recall that man was the one who crafted me. I remember the process.” Drone didn’t say anything more, so VR-LA didn’t ask to know more. He did want to, but it felt like a bit of a breach of privacy against Maxim to ask anything about what he wanted to know.

Chapter Text

 VR-LA’s “dreams” of Mystra continued each and every night, with her carefully guiding him through learning of the powers given to him by his ring. Primarily, he was trying to learn a transformation. Progress was slow, but not frustrating. Mystra seemed to take any excuse to take VR-LA’s hands into her own as she taught, making VR-LA face flush. It only seemed to get more flustering each and every time, as the days passed. Everything about her was familiar, and she held some kind of affection for him as far as he could tell. Although he can only assume it is due to his role and his past lives, something related to all those things she said.

 This dream tonight started the same as any other. VR-LA opened his eyes to being in Mystra’s lap, and he was helped into “standing” in the starry environment. She’d teach him spells, things familiar and yet unusable to him. She’d teach him about the transformation, how it would hide his identity through the magic and how it wove around him. He’d attempt a transformation, and he’d fail. 

 Mystra softly took VR-LA’s hands, humming something. “We have plenty of time for a few more tries. It’d be best for you to learn soon. This isn’t urgent yet, but it soon shall be.” She explained, something he’d heard quite a few times this passing week. “You aren’t the first to struggle with this, it will come with time.”

 “...that isn’t as reassuring of a combo as you think it is.” VR-LA mumbled, receiving a chuckle from Mystra in reply.

 “Let’s just try again, okay? We have plenty of time tonight.” Mystra said, moving behind him and moving his arms so they were stretched out before him. Her hands overlapped with his, slightly cold against his skin. “You’ve almost got it.”

 VR-LA took a deep breath, unconsciously leaning back against Mystra as he tried again, focusing. It felt like a thin web was covering his whole body when he closed his eyes, opening them to see the dim, translucent blue threads, almost too thin to see. It felt like the web was sticking to his skin, and he focused on that. It seemed to wrap tighter and tighter as he focused, the threads growing thicker and glowing bright. 

 “Almost there.” Mystra whispered, letting go of his hands. “Just a bit more.”

 VR-LA heard her move in front of him, but he could see her through the threads anymore. A finger tapped him on the nose and the threads seemed to burst in twinkling lights. Had he falled again? 

 Mystra was smiling at VR-LA still, but it had become something almost giddy. “Hurry, look at yourself.” She urged, and he immediately obeyed, looking down at his hands.

 VR-LA wasn’t in his pajamas anymore, wearing something more akin to a prince from a fairytale or a cartoon. The sleeves of the overcoat were a dark blue, the fabric subtly glittering, little cufflinks attached to them, made with silver and light blue gems. The pants were a perfect white, leading down to black dress shoes decorated with one metal star on each one. The shirt under the coat was the same white as the pants, decorated with a blue tie with a star pin in it, a blue jewel attached to the silver metal, similarly in the shape of a star. There was a caplet over one shoulder, the underside made of glittering silver fabric, but the back made of a dark blue that matched the coat.  Lots of stars. Mystra had a very clear theme.

  “...I don’t have my ring anymore.” VR-LA mumbled, feeling a little disappointed at its absence. 

 Mystra chuckled and pointed to something on its head. “It’s changed. We can’t have it staying the same between your normal self and your transformed self, can we? That’d be far too obvious. You must be incredibly careful who knows of you. Only your closest friends, only if absolutely needed.” She said, her voice teasing. “That is one of the few things that will always stay the same, no matter what new forms you develop. Everything else is a bit more… modular?” She didn’t sound all that sure how to put it, but VR-LA understood what she meant.

 VR-LA reached up, feeling two things on his face. A visor, which he somehow hadn’t even seen despite it covering his eyes, and a circlet. 

 “It’s almost time for you to wake up, VR-LA.” Mystra said. “I’m proud of you. You really do look like a proper prince now.”

 “...thank you.” VR-LA smiled a bit, his cheeks flushing slightly.

 And suddenly, he was awake. VR-LA was laying in his bed, looking at the ceiling. He’d have to go to work. 

-

VR-LA watched Kyana to the move for their dance another time, feeling a bit embarrassed that she had to be the one explaining it to him when she was the newer one. “Do you think you got it?” She asked, smiling at VR-LA like everything was presently right in the world.

 “Yeah, I think I might be able to do it this time.” VR-LA replied, taking a few steps away from her, so that he could actually see himself in the mirror as he gave it another try. He promptly, as he should’ve expected, started to fall backwards.

 Kyana rushed over, catching him before he could hit the floor, noticeably trying not to burst into giggles at VR-LA’s immediate failure. He relaxed and just let himself laugh, resulting in her giving up in holding back her giggles, not letting go of him.

 Finbar and Dani weren’t far from this scene. Finbar had his laptop out, listening to Dani explain something to him about it so that she wouldn’t have to come fix some minor problem for him again. She probably still would, but that’s just how things are.

 Kyana helped VR-LA back onto his feet, still giggling as he regained his balance. “Okay, okay- do we want to try that again?”

 “Maybe a break would be better.” VR-LA suggested, stretching a bit. 

 “We’ve barely done anything though!” Kyana immediately protested.

 “...it’s been two hours.” VR-LA replied, raising an eyebrow. 

 Kyana opened her mouth to say something else, only to pause as the building seemed to shake. Dani was suddenly alert instead, jumping to her feet. “...what the hell. What was that? This area doesn’t get Earthquakes does it?”

 “...no, it doesn’t. Or atleast, not in the past few years, or this big...” Finbar mumbled, shutting his laptop and slowly standing up.

 Dani pulled her phone out of her pocket, starting to quickly look something up. Kyana just looked confused, quickly looking around the room as though it would hold the answer. VR-LA just felt a sudden, overwhelmingly bad feeling. He couldn’t put a finger to it, it just felt like everything was about to go wrong.

 There was a crumbling sound and a glimpse of something black by the window, embers flying up despite there being no visible fire. VR-LA felt himself freeze. The black soon returned, giant eyes looking through the windows of the studio before ramming into the wall, shattering the glass and causing concrete to crumble. Bits of red flared under what was either scales or fur, or some mix of the two, as though they were the last embers flicking within a burning hot coal.

 It rammed into the wall yet again, managing to break through. VR-LA heard Dani and Finbar scream, and Kyana tensed next to him. Finbar started shouting, causing VR-LA to look back at him, seeing that he was trying to shield Dani with his arm. “We need to get out of here! Now!” 

 The thing reared up. Kyana ignored the instruction from Finbar, lunging before VR-LA could think to stop her, very solidly punching whatever that thing was in the maw, seeming to actually startle and stun it. VR-LA’s bag was noticeably shaking in the corner as Drone broke himself out to attempt to help the situation somehow. There was still yelling all around VR-LA as Drone aggressively rammed into his cheek.

 “Transform!” Drone seemed to shout, sounding unsurprisingly panicked. “Transform now! This is why you learned!” It was odd hearing anything other than a neutral voice from the little bug.

 VR-LA squeezed his eyes shut, extending his arms out in front of him as she tried to will those threads of magic into surrounding him like they had in his dream. The process came much faster than it had the first time, it wasn’t like a blanket was surrounding him, but like he was ripping the tablecloth off a table as quickly as possible, like a magician from a show. He could hear the panic be tinted with further confusion around him, but choose to ignore the words for now. He had to try to cast one of those spells. He had never gotten to practice them properly before, but he had to try.

 How did that first offensive one Mystra taught him go again? What was it? Something about focusing on the desire to defend somebody? He had plenty of people to defend here. He had Dani, Finbar, and Kyana. They all needed his protection. He had never cast it though, only been told it.

 The monster was looking at him now, running at him. Kyana was on the ground. Was she hurt? VR-LA couldn’t see well enough to tell.  It ran at him, distracting VR-LA from any other thoughts, ramming into him and sending him painfully against the mirror of the studio, causing it to shatter. None got through his clothes, but he could still feel the pieces against his back. All of the air left his lungs, he couldn’t even scream. The monster turned its back to him, lashing out with its tail and hitting him in the neck. VR-LA made a choked sound as it struck him, but still tried to pull his hands up, still trying to strike.

 Magic gathered up in his hands, and suddenly VR-LA couldn’t see anything, a blinding light overtaking the room. He fell forwards, hands scrambling for the ground as his vision went from pure white to black, frantically blinking as though that would allow him to see.

 “VR-LA!” He heard Dani call out to him, her footsteps frantically heading towards him. Finbar and Kyana were calling too, and hands were suddenly on his back or shoulders. VR-LA let out a shaky chuckle, just glad Kyana was okay. “What the fuck was that?!” Dani asked.

VR-LA’s vision returned to him, and he could finally see his friends. They were all okay. They weren’t hurt. Kyana seemed like she had at most taken a small tumble. Everything hurt though. 

 There were some glittering lights and VR-LA’s transformation disappeared, the clothes he came to work in entirely unscathed. “...I have a lot to explain.” VR-LA mumbled, letting himself lean into all of the hands holding onto him. “Can we get me something for these bruises though..?” He looked down below him at the shattered glass. No blood was on any of them somehow. Probably magic? And he could see the bruise on his neck in the reflections, it wasn’t too bad either. He swore it would’ve been much worse, like it would’ve been more than a bruise. Injured his windpipe or something. Had it healed due to the transformation?

-

 VR-LA let his friends help him check over his bruises, and put ice on most of them, holding one up to his neck himself, thinking the whole time about how to explain. They had already agreed not to say that he had dealt with the monster should the police ask, since somebody else in the building had already announced they had called them, so there was that at least. “...well.” VR-LA began, his friends now all looking at him. “Magic is real. Something is threatening the world, and their counterpart, Mystra, told me I’m fated to save the world. The little bug guy is Drone, he’s supposed to help me.” He went through everything quickly and simply, before individually spending some time to elaborate on each part.

 Silence hung in the air for a long moment before Dani spoke up. “I bet this Mystra’s lady is a demon.” She said, seeming to be joking, getting a snort out of VR-LA.

 “...maybe a spirit or fairy?” Kyana suggested, immediately latching onto any chance for a lighter tone. She did tend to run from stressful things in conversation. “Like in a storybook! And that’d match the buddy she sent to help out being cute!” Dani gave Kyana a look, like she was judging her.

 “Sounds more like a goddess.” Finbar said, rather firmly. “Not that I know much about this kind of thing.” He immediately added, a bit more sheepishly. 

 “...so you all believe me?” VR-LA quietly asked.

 “What else can we do?” Kyana said. “We saw you use magic! And the monster!”

 “...this is all insane, but we can only believe you about this.” Dani said.

 “Oh, oh! What if you started working out with me from now on? If you’re going to be fighting monsters, you’ll have to be strong!” Kyana suggested.

 “...Mystra did say before that how much I can do is still based in my stamina, like with running…” VR-LA mumbled. “That’d be nice, Kyana, I’d love that.”

 “Want me to drive you home?” Finbar offered.

 VR-LA shook his head. “...I want to think. I think walking home would give me the time for that.”

-

 Maxim was in his yard again, seeming to be busy with planting some bushes as VR-LA passed, the kind that grows tall to give privacy much like a fence after some time. He looked up as he heard VR-LA steps, and VR-LA saw him pause with wide eyes. 

 “...good evening…?” VR-LA awkwardly greeted, waving.

 Maxim was looking at the bruise on VR-LA’s neck. Shit. “Are you okay?” Maxim asked, tone as serious as normal.

 “I’m perfectly fine! Just fell!” VR-LA said quickly. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to hurry home. I’m very tired from today. Sorry if I bothered you!” VR-LA rushed to hurry away, hearing no other words from Maxim. Only a seemingly worried expression.

Chapter Text

 VR-LA found himself sitting this time as he awoke to the same dimension of stars that he always saw as he slept as of late, in front of Mystra who seemed to be busying herself with the threads of magic which seemed to make up this place. She took a moment to notice him, only turning towards him after a few seconds of silence. “...VR-LA.” She greeted, her eyes seeming sadder than normal as she looked over him, eyes lingering on the bruises on his neck. VR-LA will have to pick up some new foundation to cover up bruises with in the future. “Drone told me you faced your first fight. I’m terribly sorry it came so soon.” Her voice was smooth, but it was as though she was trying to speak in a hushed tone. It made VR-LA’s chest feel tight.

 “I’m alright.” VR-LA replied, ignoring the pain in his back as he did. “I’m already feeling a lot better.”

 Mystra let out a quiet chuckle, one that didn’t feel all that real. “We have a lot of ground to cover now tonight.” Mystra lifted her hand, initially seeming to go to cup the side of his face, but only brushing the tips of her fingers over his cheek as she hesitated. VR-LA tried not to lean into it. “My power over each world varies, and the same applies to Inva. It seems that this time it is…” She pauses for a moment, thinking, trying to find the right word. “Unbalanced.”

 “Unbalanced?” VR-LA asked, watching her pull her hand back.

 “I can’t defend as many people from their influence as I could in many other worlds, and Inva has begun their attacks far sooner after initial contact than is normal. It seems that this time they’ve built up enough power to ward against my own, although not fully.” Mystra explained, taking a breath. “Inva has some ability to affect the minds of their victims, slowly taking up space until their offers of power in exchange for serving them become irrefusable. If their victims know who you are, they will too. I can protect your friends, those three, but not many more. I’ve already told you to be careful, but I truly must put emphasis on how careful you must be, with how little I can currently do.”  

 “I’ll be careful, I promise.” VR-LA said. “I can hide next time I have to transform.”

 “I know you’ll try your best. With time, you’ll be able to ward off this corruption from others as well.” Mystra seemed to relax a bit. “Now, I have a gift for you. A name. Each one of ‘you’ in the past has had a special name to reflect how precious they are to me, to show my blessings, which they could use in the place of their name to help people feel confident that they’ll be saved.”

 “...what will mine be?” 

 “Crown Jewel Stellate.” She said, and VR-LA immediately felt a bit embarrassed at the name. He’d have to say that? He’d have to introduce himself like that? It’s not a bad name, but it certainly feels over the top. “Stellate, if you wish to shorten it. The more people know it and feel hope from hearing it, the more power will be lent to me and thus to you.”

 VR-LA nodded to show he understood, hearing Mystra chuckle, likely at his expression, his flushed cheeks. 

   “...now, my jewel, how about we resume your training?” 

-

 VR-LA woke up in his bed, feeling weight on one side of his pillow as Drone buzzed in his resting state. Of course, he woke up before his alarm on a day he had off to rest. VR-LA pushed himself into sitting up, sending Drone toppling off the pillow with an startled almost “ack!” sound. 

 “...sorry, Drone.” VR-LA mumbled groggily, stretching. He should probably get ready like it’s a normal day, just for the sake of routine. Routine was good for you, right? Maybe take a walk after, look at the area. If there was a chance he’d be fighting monsters out there, he should get a better idea of his surroundings. Hiding places, wide open areas, that kind of thing. VR-LA carefully scooped up the little metal bug, setting him down on his shoulder.

 “...I am unharmed.” Drone mumbled, settling again, tucking his legs under himself. 

 “I’m going on a walk after I get ready, do you want to come with me?”

 “...” The bug considered the offer for a long moment. “I have no feelings or opinions.”

 “Well, guess I’m taking you then.” Might as well, it’d be nice not to be walking alone anyway. It felt odd being alone, he was getting used to having constant company already.

 VR-LA walked to his little bathroom, pausing in front of the mirror to get a look at the bruise. It was much smaller already, did magic speed up the healing or something? Like how it seemed to reduce the damage he took? 

-

 Maxim was working in his garden again as VR-LA was taking his walk, tending to even more of those bushes for what would eventually be a tall, natural privacy fence. He seemed to be at the end of his project though, placing the last of them into the dirt as VR-LA passed. Maxim waved at VR-LA, a quite serious expression on his face. VR-LA paused and waved back, looking over as Maxim stood up and wiped a bit of sweat away from his brow, taking a breath. 

 “...are you busy today?” Maxim asked, expression remaining overly serious in a way that almost felt silly to VR-LA. 

 “Oh, no?” VR-LA replied, letting confusion unconsciously seep into his voice. “I have today off due to an… incident at my workplace and everyone is taking time off to recover. Why?”

 “Would you have the time to have some tea with me?” Maxim asked. “To catch up.” He hastily added, as though he had only just thought of it. 

 “I’d love to. It’d be nice to know how you’ve been doing.” VR-LA could delay the rest of his walk for a bit.

 Maxim gave an awkward nod, just kind of vaguely motioning towards his house.

-

 VR-LA watched Maxim prepare tea from his spot at the dining table, the familiar scent of what had been his favorite kind of tea back in college wafting throughout the messy little room. Cardboard boxes were partially unpacked, papers and books on the ground or on top of the few still closed boxes, pots and pans seemingly clean but still stacked in the sink, glasses wrapped in newspaper leaning against an empty spice rack. Much of it seemed quite precarious.

 A cup was set down in front of VR-LA, alongside a container with sugar before Maxim sat down across from him. VR-LA stirred in a bit of sugar before taking a sip. Perhaps it still was his favorite, it was almost better than how he remembered it. He should go buy himself some more tea next time he gets the chance, rather than relying on that instant coffee for his caffeine like he had been. He just hadn’t had the time for it in the mornings. There was quiet for just a few more moments before Maxim seemed to decide to speak up, clearing his throat.

 “...do you like the tea?” Simple, slightly awkward. It was pleasant regardless.

 “Yes, it’s good, Maxim. Thank you.” VR-LA replied politely before taking another sip, just to give himself time to think. “I’m surprised you have it around so soon after moving.” More so due to the seeming lack of anything else edible.

 “I just brought it with me as I moved. It’s a good, simple drink when you don’t have much else available.” 

 “That’s true, that is partially why I liked it so much in college.” There was silence after that, still a tad awkward. VR-LA could just pretend to be busy sipping the tea though.

  “Have you gotten married since college?” 

 VR-LA nearly spat out his tea, forcing himself to swallow the tea already in his mouth before he accidentally just coughed it all out. “...I’m sorry?”

 “...the ring.” Maxim said, as though it was an explanation. 

 “Oh- no, no, I’m not married.” VR-LA quickly explained, his face feeling incredibly hot now. Drone was buzzing angrily in his pocket, hopefully Maxim wouldn’t notice. “The ring is just a sentimental item that I keep around. That’s all.” VR-LA realized Maxim’s eyes were on the bruise on his neck when he said that. Why? He didn’t seem to have been looking at it before now.

 “My apologies for prying then.” Maxim said simply.

 “It’s perfectly fine.” VR-LA said, trying to think of a question, only to fill the awkward silence he knew would otherwise follow. “So, how have you been spending your time since college?”

—

 Maxim’s house was quiet in the hours after VR-LA left, the conversation having gone on long and having left Maxim distracted for even longer after. Their cups were drying on top of a towel on the counter, his oven was preheating for the frozen meal he was planning to have for dinner, and the last bits of sunlight for the evening were streaming through his curtains. Maxim had found himself pacing, passing through the rays of light as he moved from one side of the room to the other, mind occupied. It was unusually warm by the window for how late it was, and bright as well, given that the window wouldn’t face towards the street lights and certainly didn’t face the setting sun either.

 He paused by the window, hands clasped together, buzzing with a more anxious energy than what usually took up space within him. It felt like a hand was on his shoulder suddenly, pulling him into the light, and a voice soon followed. It shifted between feminine and masculine, deep and high, gravelly and smooth. “Are you worried for him?”  Maxim didn’t move to follow the motion, instead stumbling back a bit. “An old friend showing up with sudden bruises. I wonder who is hurting him. You seem to wonder that too.” Multiple voices seemed to layer over each other, but they also all seemed to only be one. There was a warmth surrounding Maxim, like flame. 

 Maxim straightened himself and took a deep breath. If he was hearing voices, it’d be best for him to arrange to meet with a doctor soon then. He could look into getting an appointment after dinner. There is no reason to heed words that didn’t exist besides being a sign that he needed to speak to a professional. He’d write his symptoms down as well. A hot flash and voices. 

 …although he was worried, like it had said. Maxim quickly pushed aside the thoughts of VR-LA.