8. Bronwyn

8

brONWYN

I can't take my eyes off the breathtaking landscape as we trek across Terramyst. Every step reveals a new wonder, so vastly different from the bleak, ravaged Earth I left behind. The air here vibrates with life and magic, a stark contrast to the deathly silence I'd grown accustomed to.

"What are those?" I ask Zyx, pointing to a cluster of crystals jutting out from the ground. They pulse with an inner light, casting a soft glow on the surrounding vegetation.

"Crystal formations," Zyx explains, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. "They absorb and emit magical energy. Some even communicate with gifted noctari."

I shake my head in amazement. "Communicating crystals. Unbelievable."

Kairos and Naia are just behind us, listening and walking, though they mostly talk between the two of them. I find myself grateful for that, wanting Zyx to myself.

I've never felt that way before.

As we continue, I notice the ground beneath our feet subtly shifting. It's as if the earth itself is alive, breathing. Zyx catches my questioning glance.

"Oltyx's influence," he says with a hint of pride. "The land here is ever-changing, always in motion."

Suddenly, a low rumble echoes through the air. I tense, old instincts kicking in, but Zyx places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Look," he whispers, pointing to our left.

My jaw drops as I witness a mountain literally moving, its peak slowly rotating like the hand of a giant clock. The sight is both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

"Living mountains," I breathe, remembering Zyx's earlier explanations about Terramyst's unique features.

As we walk, I notice strange, glowing fungi dotting the forest floor. Their soft bioluminescence reminds me of the stories I'd heard as a child about fairy lights. Zyx plucks one and offers it to me.

"It's edible," he says with a smile. "A delicacy, actually."

I hesitate for a moment before taking a small bite. The taste explodes on my tongue - earthy, sweet, and unlike anything I've ever experienced.

I turn toward Naia, seeing her eyes wide as she does the same. "Woah," she says. "That's incredible."

I giggle, finding that it's been so long since I could just enjoy myself that I'm clinging to moment. With another human, a demon, and a noctari.

How odd.

We come to a river, but it's like no river I've ever seen. Instead of water, it flows with what appears to be liquid gemstones, a kaleidoscope of colors shimmering in the perpetual twilight.

"Rivers of flowing gemstones," I murmur. "It's beautiful."

As we continue our journey, I find myself drawn closer to Zyx. His presence is comforting in this strange new world, and I can't help but feel safe when he's near. His wings, currently folded against his back, catch the light in mesmerizing patterns.

I'm struck by how different the noctari are from humans. Zyx towers over me, his lithe form graceful and strong. His skin shifts colors subtly as we walk, adapting to our surroundings. It's fascinating to watch.

A deep, resonant hum fills the air, growing louder as we travel. "What's that sound?" I ask.

Zyx's eyes light up. "That's the song of Terramyst itself. The very essence of Oltyx's realm."

I close my eyes for a moment, letting the vibrations wash over me. It feels ancient and powerful, yet somehow soothing.

As we continue our journey, I find myself drawing parallels between the wonders of Terramyst and the myths and legends I grew up hearing on Earth. The moving mountains remind me of the Greek titan Atlas, forever holding up the sky.

"You know," I say to Zyx, "on Earth, we had stories of a giant who carried the weight of the heavens on his shoulders. These living mountains make me think of him."

Zyx's silver eyes sparkle with curiosity. "Really? Tell me more about these Earth stories."

His genuine interest warms my heart. "Well, we had tales of gods and magical creatures too. Like the Norse god Thor, who controlled thunder and lightning with his hammer."

As I speak, I notice Naia listening intently. She turns to me with a bemused expression. "It's fascinating how different our myths are. On Protheka, we had completely different legends."

"Oh?" I ask, eager to learn more. We're both human, but planets apart.

Naia nods, her curly hair bouncing slightly. "We had stories of the Thirteen instead of the Seven. Or I did, growing up with dark elves."

"And what are dark elves?" Zyx asks.

She shudders. "These terrible creatures. Beautiful and deadly with magic." She gives him a look. "Not too unlike the noctari in appearance."

"Apparently they pushed the orcs to Earth," Kairos adds. "That's what I've heard."

"Bastards," I mutter, making Naira giggle. "So you had Thirteen gods," I say, looking at her. "You both know the Seven," I look from Zyx to Kairos. "And the orcs had five gods that they followed."

"It's fascinating," Kairos says.

"Especially since all the worlds seem so connected," Zyx adds.

Kairos and Naia keep talking, though they start to turn to each other as they say something about portals and Protheka and Aerasak that I can't make sense of.

As they drift back, I find myself drawn to Zyx, my eyes tracing the elegant lines of his wings as we walk. I can't seem to keep myself pulled back from him, wanting more in every way.

"Have you always lived on Terramyst?" I ask, genuinely curious about his life.

Zyx's silver eyes meet mine, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes, actually. No noctari ever truly leaves their god's realm. We can visit others, but..." He pauses, searching for the right words. "We're born with our god's blessings, you see. It manifests in different variations that can tip others off."

"What do you mean by variations?" I prompt, intrigued.

He flexes his wings slightly. "Well, take me for example. I'm what's called an Oltyxian noctari - earthborn. I can manipulate the earth to some degree, and I have a deep connection to the land. It's part of why I'm such a good hunter and tracker."

"That's incredible," I breathe, marveling at the casual way he speaks of such power.

Zyx nods, a hint of pride in his voice. "It is. But it also means I'm unmistakably of Terramyst. My build, the tall thin shape of my wings, it's little things like that that other noctari could tell. But while I've never left this realm, I've explored every inch of it with my father."

"Your father?" I ask, eager to learn more about his life.

His expression softens. "Yes. He was a great hunter and guard. Taught me everything I know about tracking and survival." A shadow passes over his face. "He passed a few years ago from a…rare illness."

I reach out instinctively, placing a hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry, Zyx."

He covers my hand with his, the touch sending a jolt through me. "Thank you. It was... difficult. But he lived a good, long life."

"And your mother?" I ask gently.

Zyx's gaze turns distant. "She died when I was born. It's not uncommon for noctari mothers to... not survive childbirth. Especially with twins."

"Twins?" I can't hide my surprise.

He nods. "My sister didn't survive either. It's just been my father and me. Well, until..."

"Until it was just you," I finish softly.

Zyx's eyes lock with mine, and I see a vulnerability there that catches me off guard. "Yes. Until it was just me."

I swallow hard, my heart aching for Zyx's loss. Without thinking, I slide my hand down and squeeze his hand. "It's not just you now," I say softly, hoping to offer some comfort.

Zyx's silver eyes meet mine, a slow smile spreading across his face. My stomach does a flip at the sight. "You know, I quite like that," he says, his voice dropping so low I feel it through my body.

Encouraged by this connection, I take a deep breath. "But I know how you feel. I've been alone for a long time too," I admit. "The orcs... they tore me away from my family, like they did to so many human women." I see Zyx's jaw clench, and he looks..protective. "I escaped four years ago. Since then, I've been on the run, helping hide other humans in bunkers and drawing the orcs away when I can."

Zyx's expression darkens, a fierce look of anger and protectiveness crossing his features. His wings twitch, as if he wants to wrap them around me. "Bronwyn, I..." he starts, his voice tight with emotion.

I shake my head, offering a small smile. "It's okay. It's actually nice to slow down a little now."

As we continue walking, I notice we've gradually moved closer together. Our hands are still connected, and I don't want to let go. It feels so right. I wonder if Zyx feels it too, but I'm too nervous to ask.

The tension between us builds with each step, each accidental touch. I find myself hyper-aware of his presence, the way his wings shift as he walks. I'm mesmerized by their massive size, by everything about them.

There's an undeniable attraction, but also uncertainty. We've known each other for such a short time, yet I feel drawn to him in a way I can't explain.

I'm not sure I want to.