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Niko was sat on the oversized chair, feet hanging down as they swayed their feet in joy. They had just finished a plate of pancakes from mama, who had a warm smile on her face, looking back at their giddy child.
The child noticed large sphere of glass at the corner of their eye.
Their heart dropped. It was the sun from the other world.
It was shattered.
Niko's eyes opened.
They were in the bed of the library. The silence of the room almost deafening as they stared at the ceiling and got back their bearings.
The moment they realised where they were, they clutched the sun and made sure it was still shining.
It was.
They clambered out of the bed and asked their guide "Hey... ________?"
"I guess... you saw my dream?" They knew the answer.
"Yes." The voice replied.
Niko's face turned distressed, they had seen what they had saw. "It was..." They didn't want to talk about it "..."
Putting on a brave act, Niko calmed themself. "Come on, let's go..."
The child headed out of the room back to George's office, they passed the shelves of books towering over them, and when they turned the corner, they saw the usual dice headed librarian with... the head engineer?
Both grown-ups had a tense serious expression, as Niko approached them, George's expression changed into her happy self. "Had a good nap, dear?"
"Mhm!" They lied, sure they were well rested. But good wasn't exactly the right word.
"Wonderful!" George replied, then her tone slightly changed. "Sweetie? Can you cover your ears? I want to speak to ________... Without you hearing."
"... Ok..." They had a bad feeling. But they trusted their guide. Niko placed the sun on the floor and covered their ears.
The librarian's face changed an Aww expression with a hand where her cheek would be.
The librarian took a few steps away from them.
Niko saw George's mouth move, but she was too quiet to hear.
"Yes." The guide's voice spoke.
"Huh?" Niko responded in confusion.
"Niko, say yes." ________ replied.
"Oh, sorry... ________ said yes." Niko spoke out loud.
Niko saw both Kip and George's face change to both excitement and curiosity.
The child stood while they saw Kip's mouth move and then heard the voice saying "No, I wish I did. I can only guide Niko. And access some information that may be outside of this world. But that is all."
Niko asked, "... Should I say all that out loud?"
"Yes please." The voice replied.
The child spoke. "They said no... but they wish they did... They also said they can only guide me and... get information... outside of this world?"
Niko waited again while Kip spoke.
The voice replied "Yes, that was right."
"Yes, that was right." The child copied, they now knew what was being asked of them.
The child stood still, for a while. ("They are saying something big... I have to pay attention to what ________ is saying properly... They might say something big too.")
________'s tone was panicked. "No no no no no, that can't be right. Are you sure that is what was written."
Niko's eyes widened at the change of tone. It frightened them. In a rushed monotone voice, Niko said, "No no no that can't be right, are you sure that is what was written?"
Niko's body tensed up while they waited for whatever the next thing the voice said.
"Sorry for scaring you Niko, everything will be alright. And Kip, I just cannot do that." The voice replied.
Niko repeated. "Sorry for scaring you Niko, everything will be alright... And Kip, I cannot do that."
"You weren't supposed to say the beginning part." The voice light-heartedly said.
"I know... but just in case." Niko replied. Their mood improved.
The child stood again waiting.
The voice said, "No, there must be another way."
"No, there must be another way." Niko said.
Niko saw Kip's face to something extreme, though they couldn't tell what.
"There are so many people here, I have to try." The voice said.
"There are so many people here, I have to try." Niko said.
Niko waited again, they were tempted to listen in, but their trust in ________ was stronger.
"Of course, I would do anything to make sure Niko goes home." The voice admitted.
"Of course..." Niko hesitated, "I would do anything... to make sure Niko goes home." They were starting to tear up, but kept their hands covering their ears.
Niko waited, now with blurry vision.
"Ok... I agree" The voice said.
"Ok. I agree" Niko said.
The child wanted to wipe their face.
"I will make sure of it." The voice said.
"I will make sure of it." The Niko repeated.
"You can take your hands off your ears now." The guide told them.
"You can tak- Oh" Niko moved their hands to wipe the tears off their face.
George approached the child. "How are feeling dear? That must have been a bit scary."
"I... am fine." Niko assured her and picked back up the sun.
"What would you like to do now?" George asked.
"I ... should probably try to get to the tower." Niko replied.
"Change of plans." Kip chimed in. "We found another... better way to get you home."
"Don't I need to go to the tower?" They asked.
"George translated the journal, and now we decided that you will stay here for a little while. Then... you can go home." Kip explained.
"B-But the tower, and the sun and the squares... Don't I need to be quick?" They worried. "I... I don't understand."
George tried to calm them down, "Honey, listen. This stuff is complicated. I need you to trust us. You can ask ________ if you would like to."
Something didn't feel right to Niko, they asked. "________ , am I not going to the tower anymore?"
Niko heard the voice, "They are right."
________ had always helped them, so their agreement was all that the child needed.
"Ok..." Niko still felt something was wrong. "Umm... I am a bit hungry... I haven't eaten since I got here, can we go to the café? The one at the top of the elevator?"
"You haven't eaten?" The concerned librarian asked. "Come on let's go dear." She rushed Niko out of the room while Kip followed.
They passed the deactivated Library bot.
"Why is it off?" Niko asked.
Kip let out a sigh. "It was being problematic, and I was in a rush." The scientist gestured at George, "As someone refused to answer the phone they called me on..."
George did not react.
Kip continued, "I had to take matters into my own hands to get in. Since you had my library card."
"Sorry." Niko replied.
"I gave you the card, you don't need to apologise." She assured.
They left the library.
"Niko, is there anyone you would like to stay with?" George asked.
"Like... a sleepover?" They questioned.
George confirmed. "Yes... Like a sleepover."
"Umm..." The smile grew on the child's face, "Calamus and Alula!"
"Gosh, what enthusiasm. Can you tell us more about them, and where they are?" The dice head asked.
"Yeah! They are from the Glen, Alula is younger than me and I saved her from the squares with ________'s help and Calamus is her older brother" Niko remembered something, "But... when I got here, more squares came so I couldn't go back." They then mumbled, "I... don't think I can get to their house."
"Is Calamus also a kid?" Kip asked.
"Mhm." They nodded.
Kip thought to herself, ("Of course Niko would want to stay with kids their own age.") She asked, "Do you think their parents would let you stay with them?"
"They... Don't have any parents."
"Oh." Kip responded
The three of them continued to walk to the elevator in silence.
Niko heard a few whispers between the grown-ups while in the elevator. But they couldn't figure out what was being said.
Kip spoke "I am going to try to get to the Glen from the gate while you two get some food. Where do your friends live exactly?"
Niko thought for a bit. "The big building with water inside... I think it is called the ruins?.. They had a big garden next to their house where they hung clothes."
The elevator doors opened
"I think I know where that is... That is actually a not a bad place to live." The scientist admitted. "See you later Niko!" She rushed off to the gate.
Niko wasn't able to say anything before she rushed off.
George left the elevator while Niko was stood there, ("Something isn't right, she is acting weird.") The child thought.
"Little one, come on." The dice head encouraged.
Niko followed to Ling’s café.
As they entered the empty building Ling called out, "Oh, Hi George! What brings you here?"
"Getting food the little messiah. The poor thing hasn't eaten since they got here." She explained.
The cook asked, "What would you like?"
Niko set the sun down and climbed up to the seat at the counter. "Do you have pancakes?"
"Yes we do." He answered,
Their eyes lit up. "Can I have some!"
"Coming right up!" He said in the cheery consumer service voice.
Before Ling could say anything, George asked "Can I talk to you while you make the pancakes?"
"Oh, umm... sure." Ling answered in a concerned tone. "Come around."
George entered the kitchen with Ling, leaving Niko alone.
The excitement of the pancakes had gone. "________?" They asked.
"Yes." The guide replied.
"I'm scared..." The child admitted, "Everyone is acting weird, Should I have not given the book?"
The voice hesitated, "... Giving the book was the right choice... The thing is that... everyone else is also scared."
"..." Niko sat in silence, processing it all. "I guess... that makes sense..."
"Niko." The voice spoke.
"Yeah?" They replied.
"I know you are also confused about everything that has just happened. It seems that everything has changed and we are not going to the tower, but... Niko do you trust me?" ________ asked.
"Yeah..." Niko nodded.
"Everyone needs to do some stuff before we can continue. So please let me worry about everything, I am here to guide you. You just need to keep the sun with you. Can you do that?"
"Mhm." They nodded.
________ continued, "Great, now let's eat some pancakes and have a sleepover until everyone does what they need to do."
"Ok..." The talk helped.
Niko waited, swinging their legs on the chair while the smell of pancakes filled their nostrils.
The dice head exited the kitchen. "The pancakes are almost ready dear." While she walked around the counter to sit with Niko, she noted, "Miss Silverpoint isn't back, she must have made it to the Glen!"
Niko nodded, they didn't have much to say.
Eventually the stack of pancakes arrived. Their eyes visibly widened as the plate was served.
"Thank you!" They said without looking up and started eating immediately.
Ling and George watched the child eat, the first pancake was eaten almost instantly, then the second, they started slowing down by the third...
The chef had made way too many for any person to eat, let alone a child.
Niko was struggling to finish their plate.
"You don't have to finish it, I made a lot for you." Ling told them.
"Don't let gluttony take over." George joked.
"But it is sooo yummy..." They whined.
Niko looked at the pancakes, struggling to bring themself to eat more.
"... Finnnneee" They listened to their body.
George face smiled. "Should we go to your friend’s house?"
"Mhm." They jumped off the chair and picked up the lightbulb.
George took a napkin and held it towards the child, "Niko dear, your face. You have a few crumbs on it."
Niko pushed up their face towards the napkin.
There was a second delay until George realised Niko wanted her to wipe it off, ("Awww").
When George cleaned their face, she started to head off with Niko.
"See you later honey." She called out to Ling.
"Yeah, thank you!" Niko added.
Ling smiled back, his eyes didn't match the smile.
George and Niko got to the gate between the Refuge and the Glen.
"Oh deary me, this place is full of squares..." George noted.
"I told you." Niko muttered.
The librarian suggested, "We could squeeze through, that is what our trusty scientist must have done."
Niko looked into the squares, then took a step back.
George noticed, "Do you think you can do it? It looks scary, but I don't know of any other way... If our dear Kip used another way, she would have rushed to the café and told us."
________ chimed in, "Niko, don't go if you don't think you can do it."
Niko nodded, "I can do it." They were a bit stiff.
"Let me go first." She insisted, ("Just in case Silverpoint didn't make it though. The baby shouldn't have to see that.")
George squashed through and managed to get past unharmed.
Niko followed behind, their small body made it a bit easier for them, the fragile sun was the difficult part.
They made it to the Glen.
"Lead the way." The dice head said. Slightly out of breath.
Niko marched past the green gatekeeper and into the ruins, holding in their excitement for the sleepover.
George followed as their footsteps echoed around the stone walls. She considered talking however she didn't want to interrupt the child's joy.
She eventually saw a small blue glenfolk near a body of water.
"ALULA!" Niko ran towards the blue bird. "Have you heard? I am staying for a sleepover!"
"REALLY?!" Alula's voice echoed around the whole ruins. "A tall lady came here looking for Calamus and while they were talking Calamus told me to wait outside for you to come."
George caught up to the bickering children, "Sorry to interrupt you two, is the tall woman with red hair in this passageway?"
"YES!" Alula shouted.
George winced at the volume, "What an energetic thing you are. You two can wait here while I see what is going on with Miss Silverpoint."
"Ok" Niko and Alula said in unison.
The librarian entered the passageway towards Kip, leaving behind the chatty children.
George caught up to Kip, who was inside Calamus' house and sitting at the table with the older brother.
Calamus was avoiding eye contact with Kip, who told him, "Are you sure you want to do this, it is a big ask. And no one will be angry with you if you say no."
George walked.
"... I will take Niko till they return home." Calamus stated, "I can do it."
"Calamus, dear." George spoke. "Do YOU want to?"
"..." He paused, "Yes, I would be honoured."
The scientist and Librarian shared a concerned look.
Kip got up, "We shouldn't keep the kids outside waiting. I have been here for a while. Calamus, do you want anything?"
"Like?" He asked.
"I don't know... money to make your time with Niko better. Maybe you want to visit the lab, I could get something arranged." The scientist suggested.
"..." An idea came. "... Can... you get me a boat?"
"Why would you need a boat?" George asked.
"I... want to go to the graveyard..." He quietly stated.
Kip added that as a priority, "I will see what I can do. I will come back if I get something."
"Thank you..." His voice was weak.
Kip started to leave, "I will try my best, but no guarantees. And remember tomorrow at the library, same time as now."
Calamus nodded.
The librarian asked. "Thank you too, should I delay the little ones from coming in for a bit?"
He nodded.
George left with Kip.
In the corridor between the house and the noisy children Kip asked, "What are you going to after you leave the Glen?"
"There is a book I want to finish, the author's work can be put on hold." The librarian answered. "What about you?"
"... I need find someone." Kip told her.
They had reached the messiah and the bird. Who were talking away.
Kip told everyone, "I am going to go, bye!"
"Bye!" Niko responded,
"Bye tall lady!" Alula replied.
Kip headed out of the ruins while George stayed with the chatty kids.
Kip had arrived at the Barrens. "I hope this goes well." She muttered to herself.
She traversed the quiet waste land. "There is a non-zero chance she is past the gas. And that will be a problem. She should be at the lookout point, but it has been so long, she might have moved."
The scientist passed the inactive gas vents and got to the lookout point.
She found her greatest experiment. A near mirror image of herself.
"[What brings you here?]" The robot asked.
"Silver!" Kip was relieved to find her.
Silver's expression not changing, asked, "[How did you get here? To the barrens.]"
"The same way you get letters." Kip answered.
"[But isn't that Illi-]" The robot was cut off.
"Almost everything is run with robots. I can easily get them to do what I want." She said with a cocky smile.
Silver tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "[That is very unlike you... I imagine this is urgent. So I will put personal feelings aside.]"
"It would be nice if you weren’t so blunt with me." The scientist exhaled, "You are right, this is something serious. About the messiah... Can I go over what happened over a game of chess?"
["..."] Silver smiled, "[You know me well. Ok come in.]"
"Of course I know you well" Kip replied.
After one game, that Silver obviously won.
"You should have done better." Kip analysed. "You could have beat me a lot quicker."
"[I have no one to play with here, I have gotten rusty... figuratively.]" Silver told her.
"Still you shouldn't get rusty by not playing rece-" the scientist was cut off.
"[Please do not diagnose me.]" The robot harshly said.
"Oh... Sorry. Bad habit from work." Kip continued, "Anyway I wanted to ask if you wanted to come to see Niko off."
"[I don't see why I should.]" Silver replied, "[Sure I helped them, but I don't think I am really needed. They will emotionally be fine without me.]"
"I think it would be nice... and I would like you to be there." Kip admitted
"[...]" The robot was unsure.
"Do you want to help me with something else while you think?" Kip asked.
"[Go on.]"
"I need a boat, or anything like a boat to get to the Glen. It needs to hold 3 children. I was thinking I could tie it to rowbot and it would drag it along, we could even use it to get over the weight limit." She had thought is this before. "Do you know anything that would work?"
"[I have a few scrapped boats from old rowbots. We could weld them together so that 3 people can fit.]" Silver suggested.
"... That could work." A problem came to Kips head. "But that would be too heavy to carry on land."
"[Is this is for the messiah?]" She asked.
"More for Calamus, the glenfolk Niko is staying with."
"[I will come, to help deliver it.]"
The scientist rushed to tell her, "It will be very difficult to get back here."
"[I...]" She looked away, "[Also think it would be nice to see Niko off.]"
Kip smiled, "Let's get welding."
Silver brought 3 boats which all had a missing rowbot.
Kip found some safety equipment for welding, "I didn't think you would have any. Since you don't need them."
"[I just... didn't get rid of them.]"
In unison they both worked of attaching the three boats together. Silver was a perfect clamp that held positions perfectly and Kip was able to work without worrying about moving heavy metal. They worked flawlessly together.
Silver noticed a few mistakes that Kip made, and Kip ended up teaching her some new tricks.
A perfect pair for working together.
"That got done quicker than I thought" Kip told her companion.
"[I know.]" Silver agreed, "[Now let's take it to the rowbot.]"
Silver lifted the functioning abomination of three boats fused together.
"I wanted to rest for a bit, but I can do that on the boat ride." Kip sighed.
They headed to the rowbot. Passing past prophetbot.
Kip wondered "Should we take them?"
"[They are not tamed, it will cause more problems.]" Silver said rather harshly.
"You are right. I just feel bad for it." Kip admitted.
"[...]"
They reached the rowbot, Kip and Silver tied a rope between the rowbot and the abomination of a boat before telling the rowbot to go the glen.
The red headed pair sat in their creation, leaving the rowbot's boat empty.
While looking into the water, Kip told Silver. "You know... the beauty of the water never gets old."
Silver didn't reply. Kip wasn't expecting one.
When they got to the Glen, they untied the rope from rowbot, leaving a rope dangling from the triple boat. Silver lifted it up with ease
"[FAREWELL.]" The rowbot announced, before returning to its station in the Barrens.
Kip lead the way to the children's house.
Silver analysed the surrounding, having to recalculate how she walked now that the ground was different.
The pair entered the ruins where the metal footsteps of Sliver echoed around each room.
The scientist eventually made it to the corridor before the house, she could hear the sound talking, she peered into the house to find Calamus standing and acting to Niko and Alula.
The boy was in his own world telling his story "Now I was ready to feel another pull," He was holding an imaginary fishing rod.
("He seems to be doing a lot better") Kip thought to herself.
"LOOK IT IS THE TALL LADY AGAIN!" Alula shouted while pointing at Kip.
Calamus instantly stopped acting and faced Kip. ("Oh my stars, she saw me acting.") his face started to go red out of embarrassment.
"Sorry to stop story kids, I got a boat for all of you." Kip looked at Calamus, "Where should it go?"
"Umm, in the courtyard... inside of the building... Let me show you." He began to walk out of the house.
"No no, I will find it." The scientist quickly said, "You continue your story." She headed towards the courtyard.
Silver who was just out of view this whole time followed the scientist.
Alula saw the robot clone, "THERE ARE TWO TALL LADIES?!"
"Shhhh, don't say that." The brother told his sister.
The children were curious about the boat.
"Can we go see it?.. the boat?" Niko asked while grabbing the sun.
"I also want to see it." Calamus added.
Alula ran to the house door. "Let's go!"
Niko, Calamus and Alula exited the house to the courtyard and entered the building. Just in time to see Silver splash the three-boat into the water.
Kip noticed the children. "Look good?"
"Yes, thank you!" Calamus had no complaints, not that he would say if there was any.
"Is that three boats stuck together as one?" The messiah asked.
"[Yes, Kip and I welded together 3 rowbot boats.]" Silver answered.
"What about the rowbots?.." Niko questioned. "Did you... pull them out?"
Kip realised the child's concern, "Oh, no these were spare boats that already had no rowbots."The scientist smirked, "No rowbots were harmed."
Niko nodded.
Kip stared to head out, "Well, that is done. Do you need anything else?"
"N-no." The Calamus said. "...Thank you again."
"Don't mention it." Kip reached into her pocket. "Actually... Take this too..." She knelt down to the boy and placed what she had into his hand.
It was money.
"I... can't take this. You did enough." The boy said.
Kip stood back up and ruffled his hair.
It felt nice, the Calamus resisted a smile.
"I want it gone by tomorrow." Kip left the building before the red bird could object.
Silver followed behind her.
Calamus was grateful. "Let's... put this somewhere safe... Then... I can finish my story"
"What are the boats for?" Niko asked.
"I wanted to visit mom's grave..." Calamus answered, "So I asked for a boat... I want to go but... Maybe after the story."
Niko was silent. They hugged the sun slightly tighter.
"Oh, sorry... You don't have to come. Or..." his face lowered, "I could go another time..."
"I will go." The messiah stated.
He assured "You- you don't have to... It is a bit selfish for me to go while yo-"
"Nuh-uh." Niko corrected. "Let's go now!"
"YEAH!" Alula agreed.
"Oh, Umm... Ok." Calamus agreed. "You two get in, I will come back. I will quickly put the money away."
The boy ran out of the building and into the house.
He placed the money somewhere safe. "Everything is going well..." He whispered to himself.
Then ran back to the courtyard and back into the building.
Niko and Alula were waiting inside of the boat, Calamus just had to get in.
The boy climbed in. There were paddles inside. He grabbed it. "This will be difficult." He noted out loud.
The boat started moving automatically.
"________ said they will move it." The messiah told them.
"Oh um, Thank you ________." Calamus rushed to say. ("I forget they are here too.")
Niko stared blankly before saying, "________ said don't mention it."
"Can I speak to ________?" Alula asked.
The messiah had a delay until they replied, "Sure."
Calamus' mind started to wonder while his sister interrogated the high being. ("What should I say to mom... I should have brought some flowers, or something.")
Blue fireflies illuminated the air.
"________ lives in the ground?" Alula asked.
Niko was able to answer that "No, I thought the same... thing..." They got distracted by the flying lights.
The boat was silent.
Alula saw a firefly approach her brother, "Look! It is on top of you!" She leaned to point at it, shaking the boat.
Niko clutched the sun and Calamus turned to Alula.
The sister realised what she did and sat back down, "Sorry."
"It's fine." The brother sighed.
The rest of the ride was silent, a peaceful silent. Everyone was in their own worlds.
The three arrived at the graveyard. Calamus tied the rope from the boat to the legs of the docks, then he and Alula climbed out.
Niko stayed sat, they weren't sure if they would be intruding.
"You can come if you want." Calamus told them, "We will just be up head, this place isn't too big."
The siblings walked off.
The messiah also climbed out. The gravestones towered over them, all much bigger than them.
The idea that all the stones was a person saddened Niko, they saw the Calamus and Alula standing in front of one of the stones.
Just another one of the stones, not even the biggest. Just one of them.
Niko stood next to the Calamus.
Alula started talking, "We have the messiah with us and their name is Niko and- and they are having a sleepover with us... There was also a tall robot lady that gave us the boats to get here... She looked just like another tall lady that came to us before. The tall lady, not the robot one, came to our house and was talking to Calamus."
Alula continued listing off everything that happened going further back in time as she spoke.
Calamus' eyes were watering.
"Do... you want to hold the sun?" Niko offered. It was the only thing they could think to do.
"... No... I don't this I should..." He wanted to hold it. "... Actually... Can I?"
Niko handed over the bulb. Calamus took it with delicacy.
The warmness of the sun spread over his chest. "It is... warm." Similar to a hug from someone bigger.
Calamus sat down with the sun. He hadn't had this feeling in a long, long time.
Niko sat down next to him.
Alula kept talking while Calamus listened and hugged the sun.
After a few minutes, Calamus told the messiah, "Thank you... Because of you I can see mom."
Niko didn't say anything.
"You... can have it back." He passed the sun and Niko took it.
Calamus stood up and waited for Alula to finish speaking.
Niko stayed sat down.
It was silent when Calamus stared speaking. He didn't say much. "Hi... I am going well... I am sure Alula told you everything that has happened... I am glad to be here to see you one last time."
Niko's ears perked up, but they didn't interrupt.
"I... Don't wanna go, but... I don't know what to say." He stood for a few seconds. "Let's go..." He told everyone.
Niko stood up.
Alula stared at the gravestone, "Bye!"
With a sad smile, Calamus said to the grave, "See you tomorrow..."
They all headed back to the boat.
While walking back, Niko stopped in their tracks, then nodded.
Calamus also stopped and looked at Niko.
The messiah set down the sun and walked up to the older brother.
"This is from ________." Niko hugged Calamus.
While in the hug they added "They also said that they know and they are sorry... I don't know what means but they told me not to worry about it."
"... I know what it means..." Calamus hugged back, "I... will be fine... and Niko, I hope you get home safely."
Alula watched, they didn't exactly know what was going on. But they were content waiting.
Calamus released the hug and Niko followed suit.
The messiah picked up the sun, and everyone sat in the boat.
The older brother untied the rope from the dock leg waited as the boat slowly moved back to their house.
"Are we gonna go tomorrow?" Alula asked.
"... Yeah, we will see mom tomorrow." He replied.
They all got back to the house, all three of them were starting to get tired.
Niko yawned, Alula next, then Calamus.
"Let's go to sleep now." Calamus suggested.
"I don't wannnaaa." The little sister complained.
"We should sleep." Niko agreed.
"..." Alula got an idea, "You didn't finish your story! The fishing one."
"Nice try." He knew her tricks. "Come on, go to sleep."
"But..." She tried again. "Niko hasn't heard it."
"..." It was true, Calamus negotiated. "Let's all get in bed first, then I will tell it."
Alula nodded.
The children were all ready to sleep, the house already had 3 beds. They moved one bed closer together so that the story could be told without Calamus having to shout.
The fishing tale continued with everyone sitting in the bed, "Where was I?... Oh! So I was waiting for another pull, but nothing had happened. I could see the fish next to it, it looked like it was eating the bait." He was back to using imaginary props.
He talked into the night, Niko would share their experiences with animals and Alula talk about her adventures that were usually dangerous (and Calamus had no knowledge about). Alula spilled a lot of secrets that night.
They all peacefully drifted off to sleep.
Calamus woke up before anyone else, he checked that his sister and his guest was fast asleep, then started to make breakfast.
"Wait... I how much money did Kip give me?" He checked where he left the money.
"This... is too much!" Calamus did some quick maths, ("All three of us could eat in a restaurant more than 5 times.")
He smiled and said to himself. "let's go in the Refuge for all of today."
Calamus got out a book he was reading, "I... won't be able to finish it." He sighed, then continued reading where he left of anyway.
Alula got out bed. and ran up to Calamus who was sitting at the table reading.
"Where is breakfast?" She asked.
"We are going to eat in the Refuge today." He answered.
"YAY!" She shouted.
"Shhhh, Niko is sleeping." Calamus reminded.
"Sorry." Alula whispered.
The siblings heard Niko get out of the bed and talk to themself.
("They are probably talking to ________") Calamus thought.
The messiah met the siblings at the table.
"Calamus said we are going to have breakfast in Refuge!" Alula shouted in excitement.
"Really?" Niko asked.
Calamus nodded. "Let me know when you are ready to go."
They left the house, Calamus stared in their living space before leaving.
The gatekeeper didn't stop them from going to the Refuge.
"Squares..." Calamus said with worry.
"Oh, we can just go around them." Niko said as they stepped dangerously close to the hazard.
Alula followed with enthusiasm, her older brother didn't shout at her to slow down of fear it might make her move into the squares.
Calamus slowly copied Niko's movements. He had never been this close to the squares. It terrified him.
Calamus made a final jump out of the death trap. He was out of breath.
Alula was smiling, "That was fun!"
The brother shook his head.
When Calamus was ready, they all headed to the Lings café. Actually, it was more that Niko led the way to the café.
The moment Niko entered their destination, they ran to the seat they were at before, placed the sun down, then jumped up onto the seat.
Ling looked at the enthusiastic customer.
With the biggest grin, Niko said. "Pancakes plaeeese!"
The chef hesitated while Calamus and Alula also got onto a seat at the counter.
"Ummm... What have you eaten before?" Ling asked.
"Nothing. I am here for breakfast!" They stated with the same enthusiasm.
"Sorry Niko, you can't just eat pancakes." He told them.
Their face immediately frowned, they quietly muttered, "But... I wanted some... They are my favourite."
Ling felt bad. "Fine, but only two. And you have to eat something else."
Niko's smile grew back, "Deal!"
("That smile was quick... Were they faking?") Ling wondered. "What would you like?" He handed out menus to Niko and the siblings.
"I will have the one with the eggs and hashbrowns. And that... toast thing with chocolate inside." Niko said.
"Umm... I will have the same thing." Calamus said.
"Me too!" Alula added.
("Three of the same order, that makes it simple.") Ling smiled, he asked. "Are you fine with orange juice?"
Niko and Alula nodded.
"How much extra-" Calamus stopped himself ("I will have enough"). He nodded as well.
"That is good to see." Ling noted in his customer service voice, "Don't worry, no extra cost." He looked at the worried boy.
Ling disappeared into the kitchen.
Alula got off her seat and looked out of the window that overlooked the Refuge.
Calamus and Niko stayed sat.
Ling exited the kitchen, somehow holding 3 plates filled with food. He set it all on the table.
Alula ran back to her seat while orange juice was also served.
"Pancakes?" Niko asked.
"I am making it now, it will be ready by the time you finish your plate." He wouldn't usually serve like this, but Ling saw the gluttonous child before. He wanted them to be healthy.
The chef entered the kitchen again.
"EWW mushrooms" Niko complained. The plate also had some beans with the food Niko asked for.
"I will have it." Calamus offered.
Niko added it to Calamus' plate.
"EWWW mushrooms" Alula copied.
The brother looked at his sister disapprovingly, "Alula... You like mushrooms."
"I do?" She asked.
"Yes... you do." He said blankly.
Alula had a taste. "Oh. I do like it!"
Ling heard the commotion while in making the pancakes. ("They ordered a breakfast option and complain what is in it... Did they not read it?") He wasn't angry, just amused at the situation.
Niko had gotten halfway through their plate when 3 plates with two pancakes each was served.
"We all didn't order pancakes..." Calamus corrected.
"It is on the house, try it. If you don't like it you can give it to Niko" Ling told him with a smile.
The chef told Niko, "You can eat what you want, but please finish your plate before eating your pancakes."
Niko let out a dissatisfied "Hmm."
The messiah was well behaved, the plate was finished and then the pancakes were eaten.
Both Alula and Niko had finished eating and had gone to stare out of the window together. There were some quiet giggles between them, what they were doing was unknown.
Calamus was slowly eating while Ling was at the counter.
"You don't have to finish it if you don't like it." Ling told him.
"No, no. I like it... I just... don't know what to do after this." He worried, "Do... you know what is happening?"
"Yeah..." Ling sighed. avoiding eye contact.
"I... don't know what to do between now and when we need to go to the library." Calamus drank a bit of orange juice.
"Kip gave you money, right?" Ling asked.
"Yeah... how do you know that?" He was surprised.
"She told me what happened when she had some coffee here. With the robot that looks like her." Ling explained. "She hoped you would spend it in the Refuge... even in this decaying world, there is still arcades and stuff... She gave you a lot of money. You three could spend a day in there." He remembered Calamus' worry about money. "I am not charging you by the way."
Calamus immediately replied "No... I insist."
Ling gave a look "You know it would be silly to make you pay."
"... I know." He admitted. Then continued to eat.
The boy finished eating. The plate wasn't empty and he only had a small piece of one of the pancakes.
"Are you sure you don't want the pancake?" Ling asked.
"It's... too sweet" He answered.
"And your plate?" He asked, "Your sister ate more than you."
"I... am full now" Calamus said.
("He should be eating more.") Ling told the boy. "Oh, ok that is fine. You could call Niko to finish the pancakes."
The boy nodded, then turned around to face Niko, "Umm... Niko. You can have my pancakes." He remembered his sister, "Alula, you can have it too."
Niko and Alula ran to the counter. Niko set down the sun and jumped onto a seat, Alula jumped on the seat next to them.
Niko looked at the edible gold, then at Calamus. "Can I really have it?" They asked.
The boy nodded.
Calamus slowly continued eating from his plate, despite saying he was full.
The other two were sharing the two pancakes between them.
When the pancakes were eaten. Calamus also stopped eating and got off his seat.
Ling handed out some napkins, "To clean your face." Calamus didn't need it. It was for the other two.
Faces cleaned, Niko and Alula got off their respective seats. The messiah picked back up the sun.
"Calamus, it would be on at the ground of Refuge." Ling told them
The boy tilted his head, "Ummm... what will be?"
"The arcade." Ling reminded, "If you want to go there, ask the residents, they should give better directions."
"We are going to the arcade!?" Niko shouted.
Calamus nodded.
"I always wanted to go in one!" Niko said, "Come on, let's go!" They were excited.
"Yeah!" Alula didn't know what it was, but joined in the excitement anyway.
All three started to head out.
"Have fun!" Ling waved off, "And Calamus, come back if you feel hungry."
The boy weakly smiled.
"BYE!" Niko waved.
"BYE!" Alula shouted.
They had left the café.
Ling sighed in the quiet room. He cleaned up the plates and cutlery. ("I really feel bad for them... They are just kids")
Time passed.
Ling served a few customers here and there. Nothing of note happened.
Eventually a tall sleep deprived man walked in.
("Oh, there is Plight.") Ling internally noted. ("He works too much... I should tell him.")
"Umm... just the coffee, please." Plight mumbled.
"What would you like to eat?" Ling asked.
"Oh ummm... nothing... I um, just want coffee." The tired man replied.
"Oh the house today." He offered.
"OH." Plight wanted to take the opportunity. "I would like to... but... I have to get back to work."
"At least sit down and drink your coffee." Ling suggested, "I want to tell you something."
"Ok?..." Plight sat down while Ling made his coffee.
"You met the messiah, right?" The server asked while making the fairly simple coffee.
"Yeah..." He replied.
Ling served the coffee, Plight always got the cheapest coffee, so Ling only has to pour out a liquid.
"Thanks" Plight started drinking.
While Plight felt his tiredness go away, Ling told him the whole ordeal.
"So, will you eat?" Ling asked again. "I think you can be a bit... selfish today."
"... Ok... I will have a sandwich." Plight agreed.
The server smiled, "Great to hear... You would need to be a bit more specific though."
Plight looked at all the options, "I will take... a cheese and onion sandwich."
The chef looked in disappointment. "You have all the options, and you chose the most basic one."
Plight got a bit defensive "I um... know that I like it... ok?"
Ling smiled, "That is fine." Link took out the premade dish.
The lamplighter ate in almost instantly.
"Woah, slow down." The chef told him. "Do you want another one?"
"Umm... I will have a tuna one." He ordered.
"Got it." Ling was happy to see him be a bit indulgent, who could blame him. He served the sandwich with some water.
Plight ate slower this time.
A few more costumers entered and Plight watched as Ling did his job.
Over some time, the lamplighter got more comfortable with Ling. Talking about work and shared interests.
It was nice.
A few hours had passed, Plight didn't realise it until Ling started clearing up.
"Do you want to come to the library... To see Niko off." Ling offered.
"I can go?" Plight asked.
"Niko knows you, so yes. You can." He answered.
"I ummm..." The lamplighter wasn't sure if he should.
"I think they would like to see the tall elevator man." Ling chuckled.
"Do you think?" Plight asked in surprise.
Ling started packing some sandwiches and water, "Yes, I do think."
Plight got off his seat and stretched his body. "Why... are you taking sandwiches?"
"One of the kids that Niko stayed with... Calamus. He didn't eat a lot. So if he is hungry, he can eat."
"That's... nice." A small pit of sadness appeared in Plight. It faded as quick as it came.
Ling and Plight exited the café.
Ling stared inside for a few seconds before he closed and locked the door.
They headed to the elevator and then down to the library.
When they entered the library they were met by George. "Oh, Ling, darling! You made it here. And who did you bring with you?"
"This is Plight, they are a lamplighter that Niko met when getting the elevator down." Ling answered.
"Plight. I see..." George processed. "Nice to meet you dear. Thanks for keeping the Refuge bright!"
"Oh... Umm... Thanks..." George calling him dear threw him off. "Just doing my job..."
"We just need to wait for the little ones." George mentioned, "Feel free to wonder around while you wait."
Ling walked around the library with Plight nervously following.
Kip and Silver were near the front desk, both talking to each other.
After some time, the children entered the library.
Niko and Alula were bickering away while there were both holding oversized plushies they had won in the arcade.
The messiah had managed to hold onto both the sun and their plushie, they had an impressive grip.
Calamus was mesmerised by the shelfs of books that towered over him.
George watched the boy walk up to shelfs, reading book titles and pulling them to glance at the cover before returning them.
Every book he slid back made him sadder. It was visible.
The librarian thought ("I feel it too...")
Calamus slowly walked up to Niko. With his head down he pleaded, "Niko... Can you stay a bit longer?... There are... so many books I want to read..."
George headed towards them.
Alula tried to comfort her brother, "You can read after Niko goes!"
"... Yeah..." The boy agreed. "You are right... Sorry Niko."
("The little boy doesn't have anyone!") George pulled him to the side between some bookshelves and wrapped her arms around him into a tight hug, away from everyone else. "Calamus dear, I am so sorry for all of this. There are so many books I want to read too."
Ling saw what was happening and started talking to Niko. Stopping them form going to Calamus.
The boy, within George's arms stayed quiet. "..."
"Cry little one, cry while you still can." She advised.
Calamus' eyes started to water, he held it back. As he always did.
"You aren't weak if you cry... You will feel a lot better if you do. Please dear, do it." George pleaded.
The boy listened, he let tears leave his eyes. "I..." His voice hitched. "I..." The words couldn't be found.
"Take your time..." The librarian gently told him.
"I want... to read it all... there is so much..." Another hitch came. "I... everything has been so hard... and- and it is supposed to get easier... I... don't want it to end..."
"Fate has handed you a cruel hand..." George agreed. "We... can have Niko stay a bit longer."
Calamus shook his head. "N-no... It- it is fine."
The boy stayed in the librarian's embrace.
Calamus leaned back, indicating he was done with the hug.
George released the hug. "Are you feeling better dear?"
The boy nodded.
Ling noticed that Calamus wasn't in a hug anymore and finished their conversation with Niko.
Plight took over talking. "So... Um... Niko, what is home like?"
"Oh there is a sun in the sky... it isn't in a tower. " Niko reminisced about their world. They weren't oblivious to the fact they were being distracted, but grown-ups normally did that when a friend is being comforted alone.
Alula listened intently to Niko's description of the world. They had talked about it in the house, but they still listened in case anything new came up.
Ling walked up to the recovering boy. "I got some sandwiches... if you want some... I have tuna."
Calamus initially hesitated, then accepted. Ling also gave him a bottle of water.
The boy silently ate. George and Ling silently sat beside him.
"Are you not scared" The Calamus asked.
"Oh, I am terrified." Ling admitted.
"Same here, dear" George noted. She chucked at the accidental rhyme.
Calamus finished his sandwich, "Let's go." He put on a brave face.
"Are you ready?" George asked.
"... Yeah" He replied.
George ushered everyone, Calamus, Ling, Plight, Niko, Alula, Kip and Silver into her office.
The library bot had been tweaked by Kip herself. Letting the group through without issue.
Everyone was gathered, the librarian had the room as messy as when Niko first came.
George inhaled, then got straight to the point. "We are all to here see out dear Niko off back home."
Calamus pulled Alula in front of him, and wrapped his arm around her chest.
"Niko." George told them.
"Yeah." They replied.
"To return home..." The librarian hesitated. "You will have to... break the sun."
"Huh?" Niko felt the atmosphere of the room. Their heart dropped, they weren't joking. "B- But... Wouldn't tha-"
"We will be fine." Kip interrupted.
("No no. That can't be right.") Niko looked around the room. Everyone looked sad, even if they hid it well, Niko could tell everyone's expression was wrong. "You- you are..." Niko wanted to say ("Lying.") But they couldn't bring themself to make the accusation.
They looked around. Calamus was sad, Alula looked shocked.
Calamus did a little nod down to tell Niko to drop the sun.
"[Whenever you are ready.]" Silver told them.
"Go on Niko, go home." Ling told them.
The messiah was paralysed. They were confused and scared. They had to ask someone else.
Niko closed their eyes. "________... Do I have to break the sun?"
The voice replied. "Yes."
"But... wouldn't that destroy this world?" Niko asked.
"No." The voice lied, as confidently as they could.
"..." The messiah didn't believe them.
"Niko, break it." The voice ordered.
"No..." They replied.
"Niko. They all want you to break it." ________ told them.
They instantly said, "But prophet bot sai-" .
"The book sai-" The voice got interrupted themself.
"You didn't let me know what the book said!" Niko argued. "I- umm- This feels wrong. The- the sun should go in the tower, I-I can't just... break it."
"..." The voice didn't know what to say. "Niko... Please. They want to you to do this."
Niko opened their eyes. They weakly asked, "Do you... really want me to break the sun?"
The messiah looked at everyone individually.
Silver nodded,
Kip nodded,
George nodded,
Ling nodded,
Plight nodded,
Calamus nodded while tightening his grip around Alula.
Alula looked at Niko for a few seconds, then nodded.
"I... don't like this." Niko muttered. They lifted up the sun. "I'm gonna drop it." Niko let go of the sun.
SHATTER
Niko was now in a black void. "Where is everyone!?" their eyes darted around. "Calamus? Alula?" They started rapidly breathing
"Niko." The voice called out.
"________!" You are here!" They smiled, but it didn't last. "W-where is everyone?"
"They are safe." The voice lied.
"..."
The child saw a light, then heard a voice. "Mama?.." There was a smile if relief, "They are calling me!"
Niko ran towards the light, "That is home..." Their smile grew, "I am home!"
"Go on, and look after the plushie." ________ told them.
Niko realised they were still holding onto the oversized plushie they won. They had it the whole time, they had gotten so used to holding it with the sun that it was second nature. "I will! And umm... Bye!"
"Bye!" The voice replied.
"Thank you for helping me!" They put on a brave face, "I will miss you... And say goodbye to everyone else for me!"
Niko walked out of the oneshot program.
They got back home safely.