The Library, Part 41
The Witch doesn't even try to sleep. Through all the twists and turns of their recent adventures, the Witch managed to keep her dosimeter attached to herself. She checks it. She finds it is no longer working. Gingerly removing the device, the Witch places it on the bed stand in her room.
The Witch decides to leave her bedroom and go read a book. Upon opening the door to her room, the Witch is confronted by a sight. Standing perfectly still in the middle of the central lower level room is That-Came-From-Before. The Witch wonders if he was waiting for her.
"He," the Witch thinks, "I still think of him as he."
"Why do you wear his face?" The Witch asks That-Came-From-Before.
The entire form of the Mold shifts to more fully face the Witch, the eyes and face sinking into the general biomass and reemerging, his new eyes locking with hers. That-Came-From-Before answers, "Why do you only think of him when you see me?"
The Witch doesn't give an answer. Has it been her this entire time? She has to know.
The Witch asks, "If I think of another person, will you take their form?"
"If you project their image as strongly as you project your former teacher's, yes, I will."
"Why do you take form in such a way."
"I accept all thoughts and emotions from those contained within my overmind. I reflect what you send out, what is projected by your auric field. I do not hide you or your feelings from yourself."
"I am not in your overmind."
"You are. All human beings are. You have been since the beginning. My presence on Earth far predates your own."
The Witch concentrates, focuses on clearing her mind. That-Came-From-Before's facial features melt away, leaving only a blank face with two eyes.
"You can be very frightening." The Witch says.
"All Humans are terrified of their own shadows." That-Came-From-Before answers, "Where do you think your conceptualizations of magic come from?"
The Witch stares at the blank face. That-Came-From-Before continues, "We bestow the Knowledge of magic and all that is upon Humanity. We are the key to unlocking your true forms and existence. We do not consume you as food. We only protect ourselves. We work to bring an end to the war against us once and for all."
"I'm sorry." Says the Witch.
"There is nothing to apologize for." Says That-Came-From-Before.
The Witch gives a tired smile, and pausing for a moment turns to the bookshelf nearest her bedroom door, picks up a book, and returns to her room.
"So, are you ready to get to work?" A voice asks the Witch before she fully enters her bedroom.
The Witch sees Ailuros sitting on her bed, reading a book. The Witch says, "I was thinking of only doing a little light reading before getting some sleep."
"You should be far enough along that you don't need sleep anymore. The Bishop hasn't slept in many, many years."
"So I'm becoming. . ."
"You are becoming, yes."
The Witch sighs, "What would you have me do?"
Ailuros smiles, standing up and placing her book down on the nightstand next to the dosimeter, "I would have you follow me. I have some books you'll find very interesting."
The Witch shrugs, "Alright, lead the way."
Ailuros opens a portal and motions for the Witch to step through. The Witch walks to the edge of the portal, turns to Ailuros and says, "I will be able to sleep when the desire hits, right?"
"Yes, and when time allows. Time does not allow right now."
The Witch takes Ailuros's words and steps through the portal, Ailuros follows as the portal in the Witch's bedroom collapses into nothingness, leaving the room empty once more.
The Witch decides to leave her bedroom and go read a book. Upon opening the door to her room, the Witch is confronted by a sight. Standing perfectly still in the middle of the central lower level room is That-Came-From-Before. The Witch wonders if he was waiting for her.
"He," the Witch thinks, "I still think of him as he."
"Why do you wear his face?" The Witch asks That-Came-From-Before.
The entire form of the Mold shifts to more fully face the Witch, the eyes and face sinking into the general biomass and reemerging, his new eyes locking with hers. That-Came-From-Before answers, "Why do you only think of him when you see me?"
The Witch doesn't give an answer. Has it been her this entire time? She has to know.
The Witch asks, "If I think of another person, will you take their form?"
"If you project their image as strongly as you project your former teacher's, yes, I will."
"Why do you take form in such a way."
"I accept all thoughts and emotions from those contained within my overmind. I reflect what you send out, what is projected by your auric field. I do not hide you or your feelings from yourself."
"I am not in your overmind."
"You are. All human beings are. You have been since the beginning. My presence on Earth far predates your own."
The Witch concentrates, focuses on clearing her mind. That-Came-From-Before's facial features melt away, leaving only a blank face with two eyes.
"You can be very frightening." The Witch says.
"All Humans are terrified of their own shadows." That-Came-From-Before answers, "Where do you think your conceptualizations of magic come from?"
The Witch stares at the blank face. That-Came-From-Before continues, "We bestow the Knowledge of magic and all that is upon Humanity. We are the key to unlocking your true forms and existence. We do not consume you as food. We only protect ourselves. We work to bring an end to the war against us once and for all."
"I'm sorry." Says the Witch.
"There is nothing to apologize for." Says That-Came-From-Before.
The Witch gives a tired smile, and pausing for a moment turns to the bookshelf nearest her bedroom door, picks up a book, and returns to her room.
"So, are you ready to get to work?" A voice asks the Witch before she fully enters her bedroom.
The Witch sees Ailuros sitting on her bed, reading a book. The Witch says, "I was thinking of only doing a little light reading before getting some sleep."
"You should be far enough along that you don't need sleep anymore. The Bishop hasn't slept in many, many years."
"So I'm becoming. . ."
"You are becoming, yes."
The Witch sighs, "What would you have me do?"
Ailuros smiles, standing up and placing her book down on the nightstand next to the dosimeter, "I would have you follow me. I have some books you'll find very interesting."
The Witch shrugs, "Alright, lead the way."
Ailuros opens a portal and motions for the Witch to step through. The Witch walks to the edge of the portal, turns to Ailuros and says, "I will be able to sleep when the desire hits, right?"
"Yes, and when time allows. Time does not allow right now."
The Witch takes Ailuros's words and steps through the portal, Ailuros follows as the portal in the Witch's bedroom collapses into nothingness, leaving the room empty once more.