The silence of the void was absolute, broken only by the sound of their own ragged breathing. Limbo's smile was small and a bit hesitant. She took a slow, modest step toward Nova, the clicks of her heel seeming to echo too loudly in the infinity.
"Oh, my," she murmured, her voice echoing from everywhere at once, which seemed to embarrass her. "You've been busy, haven't you?" She fidgeted, "You're finally here again, you, me, and your baby sister."
"I'm not a baby!" the woman bit out, forcing herself to stand. The fatigue was still heavy, but the adrenaline of sheer determination became her crutch.
"I'm so sorry, honey." Limbo stopped, looking concerned. "You've always been the more capable, Luna."
"She doesn't deserve to be called by that name or any name of that matter," Nova declared.
Limbo flinched, her gaze soft. "Oh, please don't say that..." She turned into red mist and floated behind Luna, pressing her hands on her ears. "She's... well, she's sensitive," she mouthed, as if sparing Luna's pride.
"Alright, this is pointless, let me go back to the real world," Nova demanded.
Limbo looked startled, almost hurt. "Leave? But... you just got here." When Nova took a step, she flinched and raised a hand, her power reacting instinctively, freezing him in mid-air. "Oh! Goodness. Stay, just for a bit?"
Luna chuckled, "That looks familiar."
Limbo gestured awkwardly, and Luna was hurled backward, skidding across the expanse until she fell into a soft armchair that materialized to catch her. Nova fell upwards, only to land in an identical chair right next to Luna. The siblings were extremely disoriented. "Sorry about that! I never know how to get you both together like this quietly. Let's... let's sit."
Limbo clasped her hands together, looking at them nervously. "So... what should we talk about?"
Nova and Luna looked at her uncomfortably, but Nova decided to speak up first, "Let's talk about getting me out of here. "
Limbo pouted, "But I just want to talk." She buried her face in her hands.
"Oh, I know!" She brightened slightly, pulling out a thick, leather-bound book of children's stories. "We could... be a proper family?" Without looking up, she waved her hands. Instantly, the endless void dissolved, replaced by the impossible architecture of a cozy sitting room. A plush, worn rug spread out beneath their feet. A brick fireplace appeared on one wall, a fire crackling merrily within it, radiating a palpable warmth. Bookshelves crammed volumes without words like they were props, and the air filled with the scent of the faint smells of baking. Limbo settled deeper into her own chair, opening the book with no title.
"See? Isn't this nice?" she murmured, her voice softer, not looking up from the book.
Her smile widened a bit. "I saw your friend? He was so polite when he fell here."
"Not a surprise he ended up here," Nova remarked, sniffing the air, which was now thick with competing aromas. "Are you baking cookies?"
"Cookies!?, It's the smell of sourdough." Luna countered, sniffing as well. A doorway to a kitchen, previously not there, was now visible.
The two of them stood up and had a screaming match about which smell was coming from the illusory kitchen.
Limbo looked between them, her panic rising. "Please... please don't fight." They ignored her. "I said... please stop!" Her voice cracked, and on the last word, her power flared. "QUIET!" she shrieked, almost by accident. The cozy house itself seemed to crack and flicker, the walls thinning. The siblings immediately stopped bickering.
Limbo immediately shrank back, horrified at her own outburst. "Oh, goodness. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout."
She fidgeted, smoothing the front of her pristine business suit as the room solidified again. "I... I designed this house to be comfortable. I read that... different people like different smells... so you're both right. See? No need to argue." She offered a small, hopeful smile.
"No," Nova objected. He attempted to leave but found that the front door only led him directly into the kitchen. "What the?" He turned to Limbo. "You can't be serious, Limbo."
Limbo barely moved, her smile flickering. Cracks began forming again. "You can't keep this up." Indeed, Nova's realization that Limbo's control mirrored the state of the room gave him an advantage.
"I just want to talk," Limbo whispered, looking at the floor. "Please... just for a bit?"
"Stop calling me your child, you're not my mother." Nova snapped.
As a result, the house's walls faded a bit, becoming partially see-through, the white void shimmering just beyond the illusory bookshelves.
Luna looked at Limbo with absolute fear. She whispered to Nova, "I think her act from earlier is coming apart; she might be a bit overstimulated to see us both in the same room."
"Is that realization truly just hitting her now?" Luna shrugged, "How would it know? It's mostly just a theory."
"I just... could I just have a hug? Please?" Limbo's voice was small and achingly sincere, her arms held out slightly. "I haven't seen you in so long." Nova looked uncomfortable, but after a moment, he slowly walked over and offered a hesitant half-hug. Limbo immediately squeezed him tightly, as if forgetting her own strength, making him feel as though he might burst.
"Please, Limbo," Nova managed to whisper. But instead of letting go, Limbo squeezed her eyes shut and clutched Nova even closer. He felt his head growing lighter, his arms weaker, and his vision beginning to blur. "Please… Mother."
"Oh!" She jumped back as if scalded, letting him go. He fell to the floor with a thud. "GAH," He huffed. "I'm so sorry! I... I didn't mean... I just..." She fumbled with her hands, looking horrified. "Before I go, answer my question: how exactly did you find me?"
Luna looked over Nova, her face stone cold, "Nothing is suppressing your signature. The cloak has an enchantment. Where is my cloak anyway? You better not have lost it."
Nova face-palmed and pulled himself up from the floor, "That makes so much more sense."
"Yeah, it was specially tailored for a real assassin, not some hobo." Luna looked Nova up and down again, "Then again, I guess a hobo could wear it though."
"Let's not get into this right now, Luna," Nova deflected.
"You're right. I want you out of here right now." Luna declared, stomping over to Limbo, "Do the thing."
"She's right... You have somewhere to be." Limbo looked at her feet. "I hope you'll visit again? Maybe?"
"I suppose," Nova affirmed, "I'll try to let you know when I'm in, but remember what I said."
"I will, " She snapped her fingers.
Revealing the bone throne in the next room, Nova walked in and sat on the throne. Luna disappeared. Limbo gave a small, hesitant wave goodbye. When Nova didn't wave back, her face fell, and she lowered her hand.
Nova woke with a choked gasp.
"Easy, easy!" a sharp voice ordered. "You're going to tear your stitches."
Nova blinked, trying to correct his vision. A woman with the medical patch hovered over him.
"You're in the infirmary," the nurse said curtly. "You're lucky Ourania reached Asher when she did. We're just finishing the treatment."
"He's awake!" another voice called.
Nova turned his head, wincing. Sam sat in a chair by the bed, reading a book that actually had words on it; beside him was Bishie, sleeping upright in a chair.
"How long has it been?" Nova asked
Sam stood up, looking at his watch, "About 6 or 7 hours." He looked up from his watch to see that Nova had passed out again
"Alright then, Bishie, it's just me and you… again," Sam sat back down, crossing his arms and dozing off.