Each place is more of the same. Nadura City, Faecliff City, and even post-apocalyptic ruins filled with dead. However, as they continue traveling, that third type of world becomes more common. Terra and Gabriel pass through those quickly, not wanting to look at the carnage again. Clearly, the king of the fanice is exhausted, but he keeps going. Both of them are determined to find that perfect world.
Finally, they find a place that seems empty.
Taking a second to catch his breath, Gabriel glances around the city. "No people. No bodies. That's a good sign."
"Yeah," Terra agrees. "but we shouldn't let our guard down."
He sighs. "I'm just glad we haven't run into any more alternates."
"Me too, but what the professor said, I needed to hear it. I needed to see that world. All this time… I was wondering if I did the right thing."
"What? You mean not killing all of us? I'd say that was right."
"The way the professor talked about her plan… She envisioned a utopia where all of our people's enemies were gone, and they could start over, creating a society that is more friendly to the planet. At the time, when I chose you and the fanice, I was wracked with guilt about taking that future away. Turns out, it never existed."
"Death is never the answer," Gabriel says. "It only leads to more death."
"Yeah, I know that now." She meets his kind turquoise eyes. "We can do it. We can find the right way."
"Of course. Let's investigate this place."
The two fly around the city, and it truly looks like the place is abandoned. No bodies, fanice, or humans are hiding in the buildings. Plants have sprouted in the city, but they're too small to have grown due to fanice influence. The only things that remain are the crashed ships and ruined technology: a perfect place for her people to start over. Their society would become advanced again in no time, saving thousands of lives. However, something is holding them back from celebrating.
She and Gabriel land on the mountain that holds the Faecliff Village entrance. He stares at the empty ruins below. "This feels… too good to be true."
Terra was thinking the same thing. "Where did everyone go?"
"I don't know, but we cannot make the transfer until we verify what happened." He walks toward the village entrance, dusting off the old wooden doors leading underground. "Come on. If there are any answers, they'll be down here."
They walk down the dark tunnel, with a fire in Gabriel's hand lighting their way. It reminds Terra of when they first met—how terrified she was every time he said a word. That feels like years ago.
They pass the cliffside cottages, which look just as abandoned as everything else, and tread deeper underground. The two take an unfamiliar tunnel Terra hasn't been to before: one below the statues of Gabriel's parents. As precious minutes tick down, she thinks of asking Gabriel where they're going, but it all becomes clear when she sees the familiar bright blue fungi.
This must be a shortcut to the server room.
The place where everything changed.
Unlike in their world, the screens are all off. Even the main computer appears to be broken and has been for a while. Its screen is covered in dust.
Gabriel stares at the barren room blankly.
"What… does this mean?" Terra asks.
"The good news is, human technology should be operational now," he starts. "The bad…" She waits for him to continue, but he doesn't. "Let's just keep going. I have one more place we can check."
They head deeper into the caverns, rounding corner after corner, passing through door after door until they come across a single, rickety wooden one. It has a sign on the front. In children's handwriting, it reads: "Gabriel's House."
"Is this…?"
"Yeah," he says melancholically. "This is where I hid most of my life."
The door opens with a loud creeeaaakkk, and as they head inside, the dirty cave floor transitions into tile.
Inside is an underground bedroom with large wooden posts holding up the walls and roof. The ceiling is huge, spanning at least fifty feet high, but it's empty. There isn't even a light hanging up there. The ground floor of the cavern doesn't look any fuller. Despite there being several square feet of space, there's only a wooden dresser, a hand-carved twin bed, a bookshelf, a trunk stuffed with clothes, and a desk with a single journal and pen sitting on it. Gabriel walks around, lighting torches hanging on the walls.
"You lived here… most of your life?" she asks in disbelief.
"Yeah," he says. "With the royals under threat, I was their backup plan. I had to stay safe and hidden, even from other fanice. I used to practice flying to that ceiling when I was little and read. A lot. That was all I had to do unless the royal guard or a family member needed me. Although when I got slightly older, I did sneak out. That didn't last long, though. As you know, I met that half fanice girl up there. Then, well, you know the rest."
Dabria, Terra thinks. The professor's secret daughter, and the spark that ignited her revenge plot. "I'm sorry."
"It's ancient history now," he says, drifting to his desk. "Besides, if that hadn't happened, my relationship with my father wouldn't have become strained, and I wouldn't have taken the half fanices' side."
She shudders, remembering the nightmarish reality where he had no empathy. "Wow. I can't believe one event can change that much."
"Indeed." Gabriel picks up the journal from the desk and opens it. He flips through the pages until he reaches the last entry. His eyes scan the page, and he gasps.
Terra peeks past his shoulder. "What is it?"
"It's an entry I wrote right before The Vanishing. Take a look." He hands the book over.
Entry #84, The Big Day
In a few hours, my father and I will take the risk of a lifetime. The emergency protocol was never meant to be used in this way, but we must do it. If we perform this spell even slightly wrong, we could end up in that void with the humans. It is a chance we must take, though. We are running out of time.
"That's basically word for word what I wrote in my journal back at home," Gabriel explains. "Yet it worked for us. I guess it didn't for them."
"What do you mean?"
"Back when we were still in the planning stages, Michaela and some guards were worried about one risk: if we tried to use the emergency system on humans, it might also transport the fanice. After all, it was never made for a different species. But my father went ahead with the plan anyway. We felt like we had no other choice, and our window was closing. The Nadurian government was only going to be distracted for so long."
"So, that means…" Terra says, her face lighting up. "Both the fanice and humans vanished from this place?"
"Yes. This world is exactly the same as when The Vanishing first happened. So, that's the only explanation. I can't believe it. After it was a success for us, I didn't think it fail like that in another world." He takes the journal back and slams it shut. "This is the place. I'm sure of it. We must head back to the mountain!"
"Wait, this is it? We did it?" she asks in disbelief.
"We did! Come on. We need to hurry!"
Not wanting to ricochet back before they can make the transition, the fanice and human rush outside.
But by the time they get there, Terra can already feel the pull on her body. "Oh no," she says, looking out at this perfect world from atop the Faecliff Village entrance. "We're going back, and Michaela's deadline is almost up."
"It's alright," Gabriel says. "Now that we have the place, we can do this. I'll make sure it happens, no matter what."
Terra jumps into his arms. "I can't believe this is happening. We found a way. We actually found a way!"
Gabriel spins her around, and she feels like she's flying. When he lets go, he bends down and places a hand on her cheek. "You found a way. I couldn't have done it without you."
Tears well in Terra's eyes. "I guess we're the best versions of ourselves, huh?"
"We are. I'm so excited that your people will be okay. The Vanishing would have been a shadow on my legacy, on all of our legacies. We had accepted that, but you inspired us to see another way. I'm so glad I met you."
Terra smiles. For some reason, Gabriel's encouraging words make her heart skip a beat. The way he is touching her right now has her blushing. He looks so beautiful in the city's twilight, his blonde hair and turquoise eyes reflecting the sunset's shining colors.
Without thinking, she leans in, wanting to be closer.
And their lips touch.
At first, Gabriel's body stiffens, and Terra wonders if she's made a mistake. She pulls away, ready to make the apology of her life. However, Gabriel stares at her hungrily. "Why'd you stop?"
"Y-You didn't seem to like it. I'm sorry. I—"
"Nonsense," he interrupts. He wraps his hands around Terra's waist and pulls her body back in, kissing her passionately. Terra moves closer until their bodies are touching. Fireworks go off in her stomach.
She's wanted him for a long time, but because of what he did, because they were enemies, she pushed those feelings down.
Now, none of that matters anymore.
They kiss deeper. Even as the world around them goes dark and the air around them turns cold, they stay entangled in each other.
A voice in the back of Terra's mind tells her to stop. They're going back to their own world, and the mission isn't complete. Her body doesn't listen, though. The feel of his root-covered arms around her is intoxicating.
She can feel the snow appearing around their feet and the frigid wind hitting their skin. They've arrived back home. They should stop now before—
"Oh, my word!" the voice of the professor shouts.
Terra's eyes shoot open, and the two let go of each other. Standing in front of them is her worst nightmare: Michaela, Ariel, Professor Faramund, and Eila. By the looks on their faces, they saw everything.
Gabriel takes a step back from Terra, his face bright red. "U-Umm…" he stammers. "We have good news!"
"Looks like it!" Ariel teases. She's the only one who isn't in total shock. There's a huge grin on her face.
"Y-You're time is up," Michaela manages. "Did you find a suitable world? If not, I won't be able to keep the people away for much longer. They're wondering where you went."
"We did," Terra announces. "It's just like this one, except no one is there. Our people will settle into it nicely."
"Well then, you'd better hurry and do the transfer. Gabriel, you have enough energy, right?"
The fanice king rolls out his shoulders. Right now, he is bursting with energy. "It will be difficult doing it alone, but I'll manage. Is everyone ready?"
The professor and Eila haven't said a word. Professor Faramund keeps looking between them, her face pale as a ghost. Meanwhile, Terra's little sister is glaring at Gabriel.
One of them is in shock. That makes sense. It's already difficult for the professor to wrap her head around the fact that the fanice are their allies, but this… it must have broken her brain.
Terra has no idea why her sister is angry, though. "Hey, Eila, what's wrong?"
She opens her mouth, but her jaw is shaking.
"I think she's in shock," Gabriel whispers. "She's little. She probably didn't know what was happening."
"No, she's smarter than you think," Terra whispers back. "I think she's… mad at you."
"What? Why would she be mad at me?"
Terra shrugs.
Finally, Eila takes a deep breath, puffing her cheeks. She does it so long that blood rushes to her face. When it seems she's about to burst, she lets it all out. "King Gabriel!"
He stiffens. It's the first time she's used his title.
"When you two get married, you'd better be the best husband ever! My sister's been through enough pain because of you."
Somehow, Terra's embarrassment gets even worse. She rubs her hands on her face, trying to cool it down. It's as if her cheeks are on fire.
Gabriel stares at the little girl in silence. He doesn't seem embarrassed at all—more in shock.
Then, he starts laughing. He laughs so loud that the sound echoes through the mountains. This lasts for several seconds until everyone stares at him quizzically. When he calms down, he turns to Eila. "I promise, little one. I care deeply for your sister. She will always have a home here, so don't worry."
She crosses her arms. "I'm holding you to that. If you don't keep your promise, you'll have to answer to me."
Gabriel approaches the little girl and pats her head. "That, my friend, is more than enough motivation to keep me in line. Thank you."
…
After telling their loved ones about the awaiting realm, Gabriel and Terra take their positions at the center of the mountain one last time. Numerous footsteps have completely flattened the snow around them. For the last time, everyone stands together. Their hands are linked; Terra's family says goodbye to their old world.
And hello to their new one.
Ariel and Michaela come with them, helping to fly the professor and Eila down into the vacant city. They land in the town square, which is the most open space: the same place where they all prepared for the Celestial Festival in their home world. Everyone looks around at the empty city in awe.
"This looks almost exactly like our home," the professor states. "How did you find such a place? I thought we were going to a new world."
"There was a change of plans," Gabriel explains. "None of those were suitable, so we looked at the parallel worlds. Then, we got lucky."
Michaela scans the ruined buildings, noting that they are abandoned, but not covered in plants. "What happened here? It looks like The Vanishing… got rid of everyone."
"That's exactly what happened," Gabriel says. "We're not sure why, but we don't care. This place is what we need: a place for your people to start over."
Professor Faramund smiles. It's a sight Terra never thought would see, her smiling at a fanice. "I was wrong about you. About all of you."
"Is that an apology? I never thought I'd see the day," he teases.
"Don't push it."
Gabriel smirks, glancing at the stagnant water fountain in the center of the square. A memory of him playing with the water, trying to get it to start flowing again, comes back to Terra. That, too, feels like an eternity ago.
The fanice king meets the professor's eyes. "May I ask one more thing of you?"
"What is it?" she asks cautiously.
"Can you take away Terra's immunity?"
Her face pales. "What? Why?"
"What we're about to do is different from simply going through a portal. I need to use the system to bind Terra as the anchor, and I cannot do that if I'm blocked."
"Oh… right. That makes sense." She approaches Terra, her hand shaking. It's clear she's still uncomfortable.
Terra guides the professor's hand, placing it on her bandaged shoulder. "It's okay. I trust them."
Professor Faramund looks between the fanice and sighs. "I never thought I'd see this day. Me, trusting them with you."
"Me neither," she says. "I do, though. This is the best way. I've seen it."
The professor raises an eyebrow. "You've seen it? What does that mean?"
"There are other worlds: some where the fanice were successful, some where we were. Although almost none did so without mass casualties."
"Wait, does that mean…" her eyes widen. "How many parallel universes did you visit? Did you see a world where—"
Terra cuts her off, knowing exactly what she's going to say. "Yes, we did. And it was not… ideal." It's difficult to explain the horrors they saw in the worlds where the professor won.
Professor Faramund looks like she wants to ask a million questions, but then she makes eye contact with Gabriel again. He gestures for her to hurry up.
"You can tell me about it later," she says. "I just want to know one more thing." Leaning in, the professor whispers something only Terra can hear. "Is this what you truly want?"
She nods without hesitation.
"Very well then. By order of my authority, I revoke your immunity."
Terra's body glows red, and she can feel the spell fade. It leaves her vulnerable and cold, but she knows she'll be okay.
"It's done," the professor says. "You may proceed."
"Alright, Terra. Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she says nervously. She looks at the professor, Eila, and her fanice friends. Then, she glances around the city. "Where will you… put the people? They won't fall out of the sky, right?"
"Heavens, no. Just like with the last place we put them, they will all be transported to ground level. Some might be in buildings, but they won't get stuck between walls. I'll make sure of that."
"Good," Terra says. "Just checking."
"Don't kill yourself," Michaela adds. "If it's too much for you, stop. We'll find another way."
"I appreciate that," the king answers, "but I can do this."
Ariel claps her hands together. "I believe in you! Let's solve this. Let's have peace for all."
Gabriel asks for the others to give them some space, and they walk far away until they are only specks standing on one of the neighboring streets. Terra stands in front of him, feet planted firmly on the pavement. The water fountain next to them is as lifeless as the rest of the world. She tries to hide her fear: her doubts about this plan working.
"Stand right there," Gabriel says, and she doesn't move a muscle. "Good. Okay, you're going to see a pretty massive shift in reality. Even more so than before. I'm just warning you. Don't freak out."
"Got it. I'll stay calm."
With that, Gabriel holds out his hands, and that familiar black hole opens. The hole in reality grows larger and larger until it swallows them both. They arrive in the void dimension, surrounded by people curled in fetal positions. It's even creepier up close. Terra can even see some of their pupils moving under their eyelids. Some are grimacing in their sleep. Then, all their bodies start glowing red.
Next, Terra's body glows. Her heart swells with the presence of millions of souls passing through her. She feels surrounded by people, yet Gabriel is the only one in view.
The world begins to shift. One moment, they're in the void. The next, in the vacant Nadura City. The two worlds flip back and forth with each other as if glitching out. The transition happens faster and faster until both places seem to blend together entirely.
Finally, she, Gabriel, and the humans appear in the new world. The people's sleeping bodies collapse onto the ground with a large thud. They're splayed out in awkward positions, but they're alive and unharmed.
They've done it.
The red fades from Terra's body, and she feels a euphoria like no other. Her veins are coursing with power.
Meanwhile, Gabriel collapses to one knee.
The professor, Eila, Michaela, and Ariel rush over to them.
"Sire!" Michaela shouts. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," he says, out of breath. "I just need… some rest."
The captain of the guard helps her king up and throws her arm over her shoulder, keeping him standing. Her hand turns red, and she places it on his forehead, no doubt attempting to alleviate some of his exhaustion.
Terra embraces her family, unable to hide her tears of relief. They hug her back just as passionately. Even the professor is starting to get emotional.
Then, all around them, the people begin to stir. This takes the fanice off guard. They must not have been expecting them to wake up so fast.
A woman a few feet away lifts her head. "What happened?" Then, she spots the fanice. "Wh-What the hell are those things?"
"Terra, we need to go," Gabriel says, glancing around at the awakening humans. "We can come back later."
She keeps her arms around her family, refusing to let go. "Please, a little longer."
"Alright," Gabriel agrees. "We're going back now, though. See you there." He opens a portal, and Michaela and Ariel waste no time jumping in.
As more humans wake up, the professor breaks away to help them. They ask tons of questions, and she gives them extremely vague answers. Terra wonders what explanation they'll come up with for this situation. Mass hysteria? A disease causing everyone to pass out? Is the government putting something catastrophically harmful in the air? In the end, it doesn't matter. They're safe.
Eila's arms are still around her. "I'm going to miss you so much."
"I know, but I'm happy." She rubs her sister's back. "I'll have a life, and so will you. You'll be able to grow up with your friends, and one day, you might even start a family of your own."
Eila lets her go. Her brown eyes are wide. "You have to visit! Promise me."
Terra holds up her pinky and intertwines it with her sister's. "I promise. Gabriel and I will visit as much as we can. I love you, Eila, and I'll see you again—sooner than you think."
She hugs her again. "I'm holding you to that."
For a few minutes, Terra helps the professor and Eila in aiding the confused people. Some wake up and immediately try to turn on their glasses, only to find that while they are working now, the Wi-Fi has gone down in their time away. Others try to walk to their houses, complaining that insurance will never pay for the damage to their vehicles. There are a few, however, who are persistent in questioning the situation. They ask anyone who will listen. Professor Faramund answers their pleas as vaguely as possible and starts separating people into groups, instructing them to find workers skilled in architecture or construction. Their first priority is to begin rebuilding the city.
When task groups begin to form, Terra walks around, checking if anyone is injured. Most only have minor scrapes and bruises, but one man has a twisted ankle. He fell on it wrong when he was transported back. As she wraps the injury for the man, she feels that familiar tugging sensation: her home world calling her back.
No, Terra thinks. It feels too soon. Surely, she has more time.
But that feeling, the one creeping into her soul, reminding her that she doesn't belong here: she knows it's real.
There isn't much more she can do here.
Terra finishes treating the man and heads toward the professor, who is standing a few feet away from Eila. A woman breaks down about her missing time, and Eila comforts her. The little girl's reassurances are surprisingly effective.
"I'm going to leave soon," Terra announces. Her sister and the professor look up. They immediately stop what they're doing and step into an alleyway to talk privately.
"H-How long do we have?" Eila asks, tears returning to her eyes.
"It could be any minute now," she says, tousling her sister's hair. "I'm sorry I can't stay, but I know you guys can do this. Please, make a better world."
The professor places a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so proud of you. You saw what I couldn't see and rose beyond my pettiness. You've given everyone what they wanted without an ounce of innocent bloodshed."
"A lot of it was luck," she says, recalling their journey through the multiverse. They really got the best-case scenario.
"Don't sell yourself short," the professor corrects. "It takes a lot of strength to do what you did. More than most people can muster in a lifetime."
Terra nods. She doesn't see herself as brave, but perhaps after everything she's been through, she should. "Promise you'll take care of each other. It's going to be rough but," her voice cracks, "I-I know you both can do it."
The professor grabs her hands. "We will. We all will. You're still part of this family. No matter where you are."
"Goodbye, Terra," Eila says, giving her one last hug. "Don't forget us."
"Never," she says. She wants to say more, but then the world around her turns black.
And she appears back on top of that snowy mountain.
Gabriel is waiting for her. He wears a thick jacket, and he holds another in his arms. "Hello."
"H-Hey," Terra says. Her body won't stop shaking, and it's not because of the cold.
The fanice king brings her the jacket, draping it over her shoulders. Then, the waterworks come. Terra collapses to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. She's not sure if it's from joy or sadness. She just cries.
And the whole time, she can feel Gabriel's warmth. For a few minutes, he says nothing. He just holds her. Terra can't help but be comforted by that. By his now floral scent, kindness, and relentless understanding.
Once she's calmed down, he finally speaks. "I know it's hard, but this is your home now. We will take care of you."
Terra looks up to see Michaela and Ariel standing several feet away. Although the two are standing very far apart, they can bear being in the same place.
Ariel smiles. Then, she narrows her eyes at Michaela as if they've been talking about something. The large woman crosses her arms. "I'm sorry. I was too harsh. I shouldn't have said all those awful things, and I definitely shouldn't have… punched you. It's been a… stressful couple of days."
Standing up, the last human on Viatrix nods. "I hope we can become friends."
The captain of the guard scoffs. "I wouldn't go that far."
Terra laughs. She supposes that's the best she'll get out of that stubborn woman.
"Yes, things have been challenging," Gabriel agrees. "But those problems are behind us. We're all in this together now. In the cover story to our people, make sure to portray Terra in as good a light as possible. We don't want a repeat of what happened before."
"It will be a tough adjustment period, especially considering…" Michaela looks between the two of them. "Will you two be… public?"
Both of them turn red. "W-Well, I hope so," Gabriel says, looking at Terra. "If you're okay with that."
"I absolutely, uhh, I mean, yes, that is fine."
"Right," Michaela says, sounding unamused. "But sire, I'd still recommend holding off on such news until our people feel safe again. They can only take so much insanity at once."
"It's not insane," Gabriel corrects. Then he sighs. "but you have a point. They won't see it that way. We'll take it slow—let them know when the time is right."
Terra is stiff as a board. "I agree. Let's do that." She's trying to keep from looking embarrassed and failing miserably.
For several agonizing moments, no words pass between the four of them. The only one who doesn't look like she wants to crawl into a hole is Ariel. She still has a big grin on her face.
"See, Michaela? Look what happens when you're open-minded."
"Yeah, whatever," the captain of the guard says, rolling her eyes. There may be hope for those two after all.
The four of them fly back into the city, with Terra riding in Gabriel's arms. She closes her eyes, taking in his scent and feeling the wind whip past her face. When they separate from the two women, Gabriel takes her to his cottage atop the spiral tree.
"What are we doing here?" she asks.
The fanice king is out of breath. "Well, first of all, I need to rest."
"That makes sense, but what about…" Terra trails off. She was about to ask if he'd take her home, but where even is that? That dreary cottage in the abandoned village was a prison, even with her family around.
Gabriel opens the door, and warm air drifts from inside. "I'll take you wherever you want after I lie down for a bit. You're free to rest here too, if you'd like."
Terra stares at the cottage's cozy interior. That couch in the living room looks very comfortable, and she would love to take off her coat. Feeling her own exhaustion setting in, she walks into the home. Gabriel closes the door behind them.
In a way, this day marks the end of her life. The future she envisioned as a doctor supporting her sister; that's gone.
This doesn't feel like the end, though.
Her human life may be over, but her life with the fanice is only beginning.