Darkness Dive

'Can't see'

In a world of darkness, she struggled. The longer she kicked and headed towards the thing she had noticed, the greater the panic. Her heart desperately beat, pumped away inside her chest as she flailed in all directions, hoping to make contact in such shrouded darkness. 

'Where. Which way! I don't...'

She couldn't swim. Perhaps no one in the entire kingdom could swim. Even approaching the ocean had been taboo for who knows how long, so why bother? 

She'd been told that since she was just a child. After hearing about the ocean's existence and after being told she was a fool for even thinking about it, she couldn't help but wish to learn more. 

She hated giving up on an idea. She just couldn't do it.

The plan, the raft, and the idea. They all came from a place of deep selfishness. But all too quickly, her dream had been swallowed by the darkness of a nightmare.

###############

Before meeting Amelia, Asteria already understood. Her life was burdensome for others. 

Growing up in the kingdom, on the very outskirts of the residential plaza, her parents had been very protective of her at first. This was self-evident. After all, they had managed something others would have likely deemed, impossible. 

Somehow, they had hidden the very existence of their only daughter. 

Her parents had always been a solitary pair. They didn't attend church. That choice alone had alienated them from the others inside their tight-knit community. Asteria could only assume they liked it that way. 

Though she did not remember the details of her birth, she could only imagine it had been deeply traumatic for her parents. They had never shared the details of what it was like to give birth to a sleeping child. 

In fact, they had almost entirely kept it from her. Did they think she was dead? Why didn't they bury her? Why not tell anybody? She'd likely never get the chance to ask.

Fortunately, her slumber must have lasted mere months or years at worst. After all, she had memories of those years. They were mostly an erratic blur to her now, but they were there, maybe since she was around the age of three.

However, by the time she had developed any real grasp on her circumstances, she was afflicted with madness. At least, that was what her father had named it. 

Waking up in a dreadful sweat started out only as a weekly occurrence. But soon, every night, she would wake, uncertain of who or where she was. After all, inside her own visions, she did not exist. 

Partaking in some made-up life never felt natural. Each instance was original and dreadful in its own wicked way. Witnessing the worst of what 'could' happen to someone so often. It was always so terrifying.

However, she was always saved.

Her parents would rush in and wrap their arms around her. Remind her that she was safe, that she was alive. Telling them all about what had occurred in her dream made the whole thing much more bearable. Crying within her mother's gentle arms, she was grateful every single time.

Yet, her parents were only human. Capable, strong-willed humans at that. That is how she would have described them. However, a decade of dreaded futures. They inevitably proved too much for them both. At first, they had only insisted she keep her visions a secret from those outside the family.

But by the time she had reached age ten, her parents had changed. 

They would still cook together, eat together, talk and bathe together. Yet, no longer did they embrace her. Invite her to sleep alongside them. Or console her after her visions. Sometimes, one would come and listen to what had happened, where she had been, and who she had been. But every so often, neither would appear. 

Soon, it was all but common. At some point, without her even noticing, they had stopped appearing altogether. Though Asteria had forgotten most of her early childhood days and nearly all her past visions, there was still something from her childhood, that she would never forget. 

Awaking with frantic screams, Asteria stared at her roof with fright. Usually, her yells would be only brief, but this time was different. Barging into the room, her father looked down on her screaming figure from above as he slowed and approached her bedside cautiously. 

Delighted and relieved, her volume started to dwindle. Hearing her father's footsteps approach comforted her beyond belief. It had been so long since he had come to console her; it warmed her heart immensely. 

This was no ordinary dream either. In this vision, she had been her mother. She was sure of it. This had never happened before; she didn't fully understand her powers, whether they were based on proximity or danger; what determined her visions was still unknown. Not to mention, only today had she confirmed her suspicion, that her visions were real. 

But Asteria remembered. 

She remembered the air that entered through the holes in her mother's waning clothes, the sadness with which she looked upon her only daughter and the pain. The overwhelming pain as she slipped, smacking her head against the kitchen wall. 

Left alone on the floor, she felt the numbing, slow release of blood flow from her skull. As her vision dwindled, it felt as if her conscience was escaping from within her skull ever so slowly. 

But woken by her father's entrance. She knew all was well. Simply put, avoiding this outcome would be easy. Relieved, she cast her grateful gaze upwards at her father's face, shrouded in the dark. What she saw made her freeze. 

Her father's face, his lips, they were quivering. 

The reliable hazel gleam of his eyes was now replaced by utter fright. Looking up at him, it felt like a hand had pierced her straight through her chest. 

"...Dad"

On the verge of tears, she stared at his pitiful drooping eyebrows. As his stiff figure reeled from her words, he swallowed.

"You-, you're ok, now. I'm going back to bed, ok Teria."

Her father wheezed out those words with a smile, without taking even a moment to breathe, as he promptly turned and left. He left just in time to miss the tears she could no longer hold back.

"Dad, I, didn't know. I'm so-"

Asteria couldn't bring herself to finish her words as she turned over to drown her tears in her pillow. Her muffled cries were loud, but no one came to comfort her.

The following day was like a dream, for the first time, even though her vision affected them directly. She kept everything from her parents. After preventing that crisis, she no longer screamed in her sleep. Stubbornly, she chose never to disturb her parents again. 

Eventually, one day, unable to hide their curiosity, they asked her, why? Why had she stopped screaming at night?

"They're gone now. I've not had a vision in ages. I, I think I'm cured."

Asteria received exactly what she desired. Those relieved smiles from her parents were invaluable to her twelve-year-old self. Nothing could match the short-term value of her joy that day.

But still, it seemed, she was too smart for her own good. Looking at her parents, the aching concern in their postures as they hesitated to embrace her was not missed. Slowly, the moment turned awkward until her father laughed it off.

'...They don't believe me.'

Asteria was glad. Glad that it was all over. She knew now that, as a daughter, she shouldn't burden her parents. But things didn't go back to normal. 

Every so often. Just sometimes. She'd fail, and let it out. 

A loud sniffle, a desperate gasp, or even a brief groan. Every other night, they would sound out before she could manage to grab her mouth in shock. The sound of shuffling that followed from her parent's room, it terrified her. 

Too much was left unsaid between all three of them. 

Slowly, as she grew up, she would attend a school of sorts. Though her parents were well-off, they weren't so that they could attend classes inside the inner walls. No, her class was instead more like a gathering of sorts for local children during the day.

She had no real friends. Her inquisitive, unfriendly demeanour made it difficult for her. But it was fine. After all, her parents were her friends. Yet, as the days passed started to see it that way less and less. She didn't notice it at first, not for a long time. But when she did see them, their pale, nervous smiles made it painfully clear. She was a burden.

Soon, she found herself staying longer and longer at the local nursery. Only the youngest of the children stayed as late as this, under the care of nannies and other adults. 

Meanwhile, the others ventured off in their various cliques long before the day's end. She was especially alone without those brief encounters with the more mature children. Relying solely on the sympathy of any adults who'd give her the time of day. 

But this day, the latest she'd ever stayed, she watched as the various parents appeared to retrieve their children after a day's work. As she silently watched their affectionate display with envy, she spotted someone. 

She only noticed the man after everyone else had gathered around him. They were unnaturally drawn to him as even those who refrained from speaking paid him their full attention. Various parents approached him one after another, children in hand, as they spoke with gentle reverence to the young man. 

As appreciation and respect battled in the eyes of the parents, Asteria found herself shaken. Desperately she rubbed her eyes, rejected the sight before her, but it was pointless. It was only brief instances, yet, in those bright flashes, she saw something unimaginable. 

Dark shadows spiralled around the young man. With him, as their epicentre, they flashed, swirled, swarmed and vanished. Yet, no one paid it any attention at all. Asteria couldn't spare a moment to breathe as she sat away from the gathering, shocked. 

Resting peacefully against a tree, she soon discovered its presence to be deeply disturbing as the large, thick trunk barred any escape. As the man smiled charismatically and waved away the nursery's parents, he started to approach. 

At first, it was just him. A dark-haired youth in simple black attire with slight tinges of shadows that nestled neatly beneath his eyes. But after every other step, his figure shone. Her entire vision was doused with darkness in those brief instances, causing her to stare blankly. 

By the time she recognised his words, he was already looming over her. His stance was both relaxed, yet indomitable, and his eyes entertained a deep concern that had been totally absent previously. 

"You are Asteria?"

Asteria could only nod her head nervously as the frightening man repeated himself. 

"Oh good... Then would you come with me?"

Like magic, a kind smile had replaced his inquisitive gaze as he gently leaned in as he spoke to her. Recognising she was uncertain how to respond, he squatted to her level.

"Asteria... I'm told you are quite a clever one for your age. Is this true?"

Asteria didn't know how to respond. Her stubborn side wished to affirm his words, and her more stubborn side desired to rebuke him. 

'For your age'. If anything, he was younger than she was. Now that she had a better view, she guessed he was a little older, maybe thirteen, but a kid nonetheless. But the haunting flashes that encased the man far outweighed either desire. So, she simply responded with nothing. 

"Ah, that isn't for you to say, very humble. Your parents have informed us of your talent for learning. It's quite a...Useful trait, after all; I was quite curious. I had to come see for myself."

Machia reached out to stroke her head with a chuckle before pausing awkwardly, noticing her sulky frown. As he laughed awkwardly, the sun decorated his dark features. This was the first time someone of a similar age had approached Asteria first. This kind of attention was quite a rarity for her, but she couldn't help but remain a little frightened. 

"It's true that I do learn pretty quickly."

"Oh, good. Well, if you'd agree to come with me, together, we could see what sort of talents you might have. 

Machia released a friendly smile once more as he rose to his feet. Noticing her apprehension, he outstretched a hand as the evening sun blinded each of them a little. Deeply sceptical as usual, she pondered for a moment, hiding from the sun's rays behind her hand. After a short while, she took his hand. Surely, it couldn't be worse than returning home again.

Glad she had taken his hand, Machia gently pulled her to his feet, placing a considerate hand on her shoulder. Slowly, he led her through the nursery grounds as the parents watched nosily. 

"How did you know all these people. It sort of, looked like you knew everyone personally."

Machia sent a discerning glance at their surroundings as he nodded. 

"So you noticed. I just do my best to help people out when I make the rounds. But their reactions are a bit much. Honestly, they treat me like a prince."

Machia grinned at her as she listened to his humble words. She didn't understand where exactly he was taking her, but his demeanour made it negligible. She was simply glad to talk to someone who could match her pace for once.

Machia noticed her intrigued stare, discerning its meaning in an instant.

"Are you not used to these sorts of conversations."

A little embarrassed, Asteria looked away as she considered his words. Machia released his hand from her shoulder, but still, he paid her his full attention even as she avoided his gaze. 

By now, they had left the confines of the nursery grounds as they tracked through the opposite side of the residential area. Slowly, as Asteria glanced up, she recognised where it was they were heading. Glancing back at Machia, she also noticed, somehow, the strange darkness surrounding him was now completely absent.

'I must have imagined it.'

"I understand your parents are the isolated type Asteria. They must be if even I had never met them before. Does that bother you?"

As Asteria digested his question with puzzlement, she scanned the giant looming gate they approached. Its giant metal frame was lidden with sharp, thick black bars that prevented entry. Yet despite their intimidating presence, she felt compelled to continue forward. 

"I guess they are a little. Have you met them before?"

"That I did. I was quite curious why a girl had decided to apply. So I had to come ask myself."

Asteria dismissed the reserved awe plastered on her face as she tilted her head, probing his features with her uncertain hazel eyes. Before she could respond, a silent whirring sounded as the steadfast, almighty gate in front of them started to churn as it steadily rose from the ground. 

Typically, a smaller side entrance would have opened for personnel. The main gate was reserved only for carriages or incredibly large numbers of, at least, it was supposed to be. Yet right now, those overwhelming metal beams rose from the ground just for the two of them.

Only now did she notice something was wrong. Ignoring Machia's question, she looked around for any carriages.

"But still, I'm having a very hard time understanding your case, Asteria."

Machia's hand reassuringly returned to her shoulder as he guided her towards the gate that continued rising higher into the air. Machia's touch had been so warming and gentle before, but now, she could tell it was backed with force. His grip was different now too. It was both firm, yet relatively gentle nonetheless.

"I mean, clearly, it was your parents who applied in your stead I'm well aware. They tried so hard to have their voices heard by the officials, to prove you were a genius and be rid of you, so I got a little curious..."

Disoriented, she attempted to reel away from both Machia's strange words and the gate that rose before her. But his hand remained on her shoulder, pushing her forward. It was unnaturally strong.

"They did something that cruel to you, Asteria. But strangely, they really tried quite hard to keep the most important thing from me. I had an inkling after speaking to them, but honestly, it was your reaction that really gave it all away."

His cold tone was undertoned with an element of sympathy as he spoke. His boundless confidence that had impressed her had slowly twisted into a knowing arrogance. She didn't resist. She was smart enough to tell it wouldn't matter. Instead, she desperately sought out the truth behind his words as she kept her feelings together as best she could. 

Impressed, Machia's eyes widened for a moment before they returned to their typical assertive stare. 

"So what is it? Out with it already, tell me what kinds of things can you do?"

Machia's keen eyes observed Asteria in her entirety. He was on edge for some reason, as if he expected her to retaliate through some unknown means. But rather than scream or attempt to flee, she gazed nervously back into his daunting black eyes. 

Recognising her intention, Machia reluctantly released her. Despite that, they continued at the same pace as he chose to give her a little space. He gave her time, too, and patiently waited in silence for a response. 

As they passed through the walls, one building in particular stood out beyond the rest. Anyone would recognise it from anywhere within the kingdom. A hint of fear rose within her as she laid her eyes upon the castle's daunting spire. 

But slowly, a sensation of relief challenged and overwhelmed her anxiety. Casting one final glance back through the gate and the cluster of houses that made up the residential area, she felt that she could just about make out her father and mother's tiny figures nervously standing and waiting outside the front door. Turning back again towards Machia's patient black pupils, a slight smile curled on her lips.

"... I can see the future."