‘Hmm? Where… Am I in my cottage...? I cannot seem to recall. Why do I feel as if I have been in a circumstance similar to this recently…? Some ale might stimulate my mind.’

  A somehow familiar ethereal and feminine voice echoes from every direction.

  Beta Entity 1-3-2-3 seal loosening. Fully integrating into the Cosmic System now.

  ‘Who is speaking? Oh, aye... I remember now. Earl? Is that thou? Wait, Earl has never spoken before.’ I attempt to open my eyes. ‘Why… Why can I not open my eyes! Nay, I cannot be in darkness once again! Pray thee; I cannot be back he—’

  ERROR.

  Analyzing Error… Cause Determined: Kiln Soul Interface is already operating within the Entity.

  Searching for a Solution… Solution Found: Blend the system with the interface.

  Beginning process...

  The voice vanishes, replaced by the white words of a wall that intrudes upon the darkness that surrounds me. ‘Aye, I… I do not appear to be in the Tenebrous Place. Oh, Earl, how I love thee.’ I place my hand on my chest, finding it oddly heated. My blurry vision clears. ‘Wait, this is not the purple wall; it is blue. Is this the wall of that voice that was speaking?’

  ‘The what?’

  The blue wall fades, and in the distance, a white light glistens before bursting, illuminating everything around me. I swing my head from right to left when I find myself standing in a peaceful, barrel-shaped room constructed entirely of stained glass. Hundreds, perhaps, thousands of different shades of color surround me as I gaze at the gorgeous chamber in awe. Finding myself near a section of clear glass, I stare outside, discovering the world is shrouded in a familiar heavy black haze.

  ‘The haze surrounds this place… but what about me?’ Lifting my arms, I see they are still blue, warm, and smooth. ‘I am still the girl of glass.’

  I tap against the glass wall with my blue fingers, creating a sound reminiscent of two mugs bumping against one another.

  ‘It would seem I am.’ Turning, I gaze upward, where an intricate display of glowing glass floats gracefully. ‘Yet, should I not be the haze girl by now? More importantly, where am I?’

  My hand finds its way to my forehead as I attempt to gather my thoughts, that is until a blue wall appears.

  ‘I… I do not understand so much is occurring at once. If it was not for Earl nearly causing my head to burst with the “forced knowledge,” I am afraid I would be totally incapable of comprehending anything. Still, this conversation is difficult to follow.’

  The blue wall fades, replaced by another.

  Moving my eyes across the message, I move close to the wall, stunned by my ability to understand what this ‘Cosmic System’ is saying. ‘I suppose this is what was meant by “improving language comprehension.” Did the Cosmic System understand I was having difficulties?’

  I return my attention to the wall and give a small nod. ‘Aye, I shall remember that… not that thee had to warn me.’ I recall the information Earl forced upon me and discover some inconsistencies. ‘Art thee not the Cosmic Mana Stream?’

  Studying the message, I roam the room while my feet of glass clink against the floor. ‘I am grateful… I think.’ My attention turns toward the kiln in my abdomen. ‘But what is meant by my ki—’

  I am interrupted when a new wall appears.

  ‘Individual questions are not permitted.’ I stop and stare at the beautiful glass floor, finding myself gazing at my reflection. Wringing my hands together, my expectations for this conversation sink. I take a moment to count to ten and hope that they can be revived. ‘What is meant by my kind? And battle portion? My combat skills are not particularly great. I was always more of the crafty type. Could thee please explain further?’

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  A new wall appears.

  ‘These questions were posed by others in this ‘Beta’ thing.’ I pause, but I do not receive an answer as expected. ‘Art thee related to Earl? He is not one for questions either. Although these five answers are already much better than him... Even if they are not particularly helpful, and seemed to be from scared and panicked people.’

  Shaking my head, I give up asking any more questions, but it’s only a moment later, an even greater blue wall appears.

  ‘This is the wall called Status? This was in Earl’s forced knowledge. If I recollect correctly, this represents me in a sense. This is a lot of information, though, if I recall, this is only part of it.’

  As I study the thing called ‘Status,’ committing what I can to memory, it vanishes before I am able to read the lower portion of the wall.

  ‘Wait! I… I am a bit slow of reading! Please, bring the “Status” wall back! That bottom portion seemed rather important! I would very much like to finish reading it!’

  Alas, my pleas go unheeded as yet another wall appears.

  This time, wishing to avoid the wall disappearing, I read through the information several times over before allowing my thoughts to wander.

  ‘Aye, I believe I understand, at least fundamentally. But...’

  As I am about to again attempt to pelt the ‘Cosmic System’ with questions, the wall changes.

  I wave my arms as the black that surrounds this room starts to push against the walls. ‘What!? But wait! Wait! I have dozens, nay, hundreds of questions! For instance, what do the numbers mean?! I did not even get to study the “Status” thing adequately! Moreover, how do I check the other thing thee spoke of!? Just tell me more about anything! I am a rather excellent listener!’ The glass room starts to crumble around me as I run to the center of the room. ‘Prithee! I require more knowledge! Anything! Anything thee can make me privy to!’

  The Cosmic System ignores me, and as the darkness squeezes my glass body, it begins to snuff out the light of its glow. I sink to the floor and pull my legs in close to feel their warmth for one last brief moment.

  ‘This is the final time. I will not allow myself to be swallowed by the murk again… One. Two. Three…’

  Soon, yet again, the darkness reclaims my sight and then my awareness.

  Join the Discord