Chương 71: 071

Something gritty pressed between my fingers, dragging me out of the pleasant haze I'd been floating in for who knows how long. I frowned, sinking my palm into the sand beneath me, but didn't open my eyes yet. Last I remembered, I'd been trapped in the cave with Dura and that thing outside. How in the hell was there sand? Curiosity pried the last shards of drowsiness away. I reluctantly opened an eye—only to freeze at the familiar dunes stretching endlessly in every direction. The Inbetween.

"How-." I started, pushing a hand under me to sit up. This shouldn't be possible. Time was in mortal form, Karma was sleeping… Had I died while I was sleeping?

"Calm yourself, Nikolas." I jolted, spinning to see Time sitting in the sand beside me, one hand raised as if to press me down. His expression was taut, controlled.

"You withstood considerable damage in your physical form. You should not add mental strain to it." I shook my head, still not following.

"How in the hell did you pull me here while you're mortal?" His hand pressed to my shoulder, interrupting my attempt to sit up and I ignored it. Seeing I wouldn't be persuaded, he sighed and helped me. Once we were eye level, he explained.

"I did not. This is your mindscape." I frowned, nudging him for more.

"And you can talk to me here because…?" He flicked a hand, and a faint glow burned out from my chest like I'd swallowed a flashlight.

"You still hold my power. This forms a bond between us. I require an intense meditative state to access your mindscape in mortal form, but the others know not to disturb me. They are under the impression I am discussing your safe return with Karma." I nodded, half my attention drifting to the breathtaking landscape.

"Is it normal for it to take this form?"

"It takes the form of whatever you wish," he said, glancing at the sands. Then he looked back at me, expression neutral.

"Though I know not why it chose this form. You only saw this place once." This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Heat crept up my neck.

"It was nice. Peaceful. Haven't had a lot of that in my life, so… I guess my mind latched onto it." He hummed, something unnameable flickering across his features before vanishing.

"Judging by the day's events, I am inclined to agree. That monster did considerable damage. What is your condition?" I listed the injuries from memory.

"Puncture wounds on my back and side. Not deep enough to be concerning. I'll do another round of healing when I wake up. Would've done it all at once, but the staff and barrier drained my mana." His lips pressed into a thin line.

"Indeed. For a moment, when that beast first attacked, we thought you lost. Had Dura not been there…" I winced.

"I would've been toast. I'll thank her once I'm awake." Then I paused, thinking of the cave, and the lack of a way back up.

"Don't suppose you have a plan to get us topside? Because I'm out of ideas." Thankfully, he nodded.

"We are fashioning thicker vines from the trees into a rope to send down to you. The monster weakens the longer it stays in the light. It will retreat soon. That will be our chance. We must take it before nightfall, or it will regain its strength." A chill slid down my spine at the thought.

"Sounds like a plan." Anything to get away from that thing… Before I could ask more, the surroundings flickered. Time straightened.

"You are waking. Be ready to act. The rope will be ready shortly; you will need to climb before the sun sets." Or the monster will regain its strength and follow. I swallowed.

"Got it." The sands blurred. Time's form dissolved with them, and with a jarring jolt, I was lying down again, my head in Dura's lap. The monster still scrabbled at the barrier outside. I blinked, and Dura exhaled a shaky sigh.

"Please tell me you've got enough mana to heal yourself," she said, hand pressed firmly over my heart.

"Your breathing stuttered a few times and I couldn't wake you up. Thought you were fucking dying on me." Guilt twisted through me and I patted her arm.

"Nope, still alive." For now, anyway. Slowly, I sat up, her hand moving to my back to steady me. Once upright and conscious, I asked, "Where's my mana at? There's no mirror so I can't check." She squinted, grimacing.

"Five points." Enough for one round of healing. Hopefully it'd be enough. Pressing my hand to the gashes on my side, I focused, closing my eyes. Mana rose under my skin, buzzing, weaving itself into the wounds.

"Verdant Renewal." Moss grew under my palm and when I opened my eyes, most of the pain was gone. Exhaustion thrummed through me, the cost of using so much mana, but I gave her a thumbs up and a tired smile.

"Still got some healing to do, but nothing's actively bleeding anymore." The tension left her shoulders.

"Good." Her gaze flicked behind me to the barrier, serious again.

"Because we still need to figure out how to get out."