RESTLESS

As everyone resigned for the night, Marshall was left to toss and turn in his room. He couldn't fall asleep for the life of him. 

So the disciple showed up in Wyn's room in the middle of the night. The snow deity was woken up to him crawling into the bed. 

"What are you doing?" Wyn groaned.

"I can't sleep," Marshall whispered, sitting on top of the blanket.

Wyn sat up in the bed, rubbing his eyes. He stared at Marshall, half-asleep, then sighed. "What do you want me to do?" he asked, no bite in his tone.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Marshall asked, looking at Wyn hopefully.

Wyn's brows tightened. "You are not a child. Go back to your room."

Marshall chuckled impishly, leaning back against the wall. "I was kidding. But I do have some questions."

"I am in no mood to chat. It is late," Wyn muttered, lying back down with his back facing him.

The disciple tugged at the covers, "Come on, don't be like that."

Heavy steps rung out behind the door and Marshall froze. The hassle must have woken up Mrs. Mei. Marshall quickly slid under the covers, pretending to be asleep.

She opened the door with a grumble. "What's going on in here?" Mrs. Mei questioned, seeing the two boys in bed together.

Although his eyes were closed in pretend-sleep, Marshall could feel her staring at him.

"Marshall, you seriously should not be running around until your feet heal. Aren't you in pain?" Mrs. Mei asked in an interrogative voice.

The disciple sighed quietly, hesitantly opening his eyes. Underneath the covers, he hid his feet, which were covered in healing cuts and scratches. "I didn't walk, I crawled here," he told a small lie.

"What nonsense are you going on about?" Mrs. Mei folded her arms over her chest. "Don't be a bother and go back to your room."

Wyn interjected, "He is not bothering me. Everything is fine, Marshall can stay here for tonight."

Mrs. Mei opened her mouth to protest, but then let out a huff. "Fine. Both of you, keep it down." 

She then left, closing the door behind her. As soon as the footsteps disappeared, Marshall turned to face Wyn.

He lowered his voice, grinning, "So you enjoy my company, eh?"

Wyn turned back to face the wall. "I just said that you are not bothering me. Do not make me take it back."

"I won't, I won't," Marshall said, laughing.

The bed was small, so the two of them were squished together under the covers. Marshall snuggled closer, getting on the snow deity's nerves on purpose.

Wyn let out an irked sigh. "Do not breathe down my neck."

"I'm just trying to get comfortable," Marshall played dumb. One of his arms swung around Wyn's waist harmlessly.

"Personal space," Wyn complained, but it fell on deaf ears.

"Mhm," Marshall mumbled in response, snickering under his breath. The room was quiet, occasional sound of crickets coming through the window.

It was difficult to tell, but it seemed that Marshall's breaths were starting to slow. He was drifting to sleep. Wyn stayed still, not wanting to move too much and wake him.

After a while, Marshall's breathing was steady and consistent. His grip around Wyn's waist loosened slightly. He was probably asleep. The stillness of the room had been restored.

It wasn't long until Wyn's eyelids drooped and the sleep claimed him as well.

➳ ➳ ➳

A few days later, Marshall stood at the entrance of the basement, taking a deep breath before going in.

The dull ache in his feet had subsided, and Mrs. Mei had given him the permission to move freely. He exhaled and turned the doorknob.

As he descended the stairs, his gaze settled on the crystal, then teacup, and the rock. 

"I told you I'd be back," he mumbled under his breath, chewing on his cheek as he prepared himself.

Mei Lihua was busy arranging supplies on a nearby shelf, while Wyn stood silently near the table, hands clasped behind his back like a mentor.

"Hey, Marsh," Mei Lihua greeted with a smile. "You ready?"

Marshall nodded, bursting at the seams with eagerness. "I'll get it this time."

Wyn raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his gaze fixed on the disciple with a sense of curiosity and reserved optimism.

"Start with the crystal again," Wyn instructed. "Focus on aligning your spiritual flow. Remember to remain calm and centered."

Marshall approached the table and picked up the crystal with a clear mind. Whatever happened last time, had already been scraped off his memory and discarded.

He closed his eyes, taking deep, steadying breaths. Mei Lihua paused in her task, letting silence settle over the basement.

The disciple could feel his energy slowly begin to swirl in his chest, flowing through his shoulders, down to his arms. 

This time, he focused on patience. Marshall allowed the energy to travel freely, mingling with the faint vibration of the crystal. 

The familiar warmth began to spread from the crystal, but this time it was different. The searing pain that had previously overwhelmed him was replaced by a more controlled and manageable sensation. 

His spiritual flow was aligning with the crystal's energy, creating a harmonious connection. 

Memories of the crystal flashed before his eyes. Marshall could faintly see the image of the cave where the crystal used to be.

Wyn's voice broke through the mental imagery, grounding him in the present. "What do you see?"

Marshall's eyes remained closed as he delved deeper into the connection. He gained full access to vivid images of the crystal's past, and could feel the energies of everyone who had touched it. 

"The cave," he began describing the first memory of the crystal. "Endless darkness. Rugged an uneven walls... A soft glow emanating from the crystal embedded in the rock."

"...Then a flicker of fire. Someone approaching with a torch." his brows furrowed. "A splash of water." 

As the torchlight spread in the memory, a black water pond was revealed. It was right in the middle of the cavern, dark energy emanating from it.

The person carrying the torch raised one arm towards the ceiling. Rocks above the pond rumbled, grinding against each other as an opening unfolded.

A broad ray of sunlight poured in, dust twirling in the brightness.

A redwood shrine sat near the pond, oozing with unthinkable gloom. Tendrils of pitch black smoke scraped the wood with greedy fingers, wailing for something.

Marshall recognized it immediately. The suffocating demonic energy... The redwood shrine...

He had fallen down that exact cavern many years ago, and encountered the apparition of demonic energy.

Although, back then he had been completely clueless to the consequences of it.