Creation Of All Things

Ostarius

The gateway peeled open like a page turning through space, shimmering with a low hum that faded as they stepped through.

In one moment, they were in the forest.

In the next—

—stone arches, silver walls, and the vast, empty interior of Ostarius.

Still.

Quiet.

Echoes stretching like soft ghosts across the floor.

Eli stumbled slightly as the world settled back into real motion, blinking at the vast chamber around him. His brother was still in Aurora's arms—unconscious, breathing softly.

They were alone. Or so it seemed.

Eli looked up at her. "Where… is this?"

Aurora didn't answer right away. She just kept walking forward, her bare feet tapping gently on the stone. Her dress still drifted like it wasn't bound by air. She moved like someone who had done this a hundred times before—no hesitation.

Eli jogged a little to keep up, looking around. The place felt like a cathedral… if the cathedral had been built by gods who didn't care about religion. Everything shimmered faintly, like mana was just soaked into the walls.

He was about to ask another question—

When a voice echoed behind them.

"Okay… who's the kids?"

Eli jumped.

Aurora didn't.

She didn't even turn.

Eli twisted around and saw the other woman standing a few paces back, arms folded loosely, a slight grin playing on her lips.

She looked casual. Almost too casual.

Her eyes flicked between him and his brother, then up to Aurora again.

"Found some orphans in a tree or something?" she teased, taking a slow step forward. "Or did you finally decide to settle down and adopt? I mean, it was either that or tame a celestial wyrm, and I figured the wyrm had better odds."

Aurora said nothing.

She didn't slow.

Didn't glance.

Just kept walking.

Eli looked between them, confused. "Um… who—?"

"Don't mind her," Aurora said softly.

"Wow." The woman—Alexandria, clearly not used to being ignored—smirked. "You finally bring guests through the gates and I don't even get an introduction? Rude."

She jogged up beside them, matching pace. Looked down at Eli, then leaned in a little closer to Aurora. "Seriously though. Who are they?"

Still nothing.

"Come on, don't be like that," Alexandria pouted. "You never bring people through here. Last time you showed up with someone back in our home universe, they were bleeding out and half-shadow and you said, and I quote: 'Temporary.'"

Aurora shifted the boy in her arms slightly. Her expression didn't change. "Still none of your business."

"Ooooh, she speaks." Alexandria threw her hands up like a miracle had happened. "So formal. So icy. So Aurora."

Eli blinked up at her again. "Do you live here too?"

Alexandria's eyes flicked to him, and for a moment her playful grin softened.

"Something like that, kid."

Aurora moved past another archway, her fingers brushing lightly against the runes engraved in the wall. They pulsed faintly—recognizing her, maybe.

"Where are we going?" Eli asked quietly.

"Resting hall," Aurora said.

"It's empty," Alexandria added, hopping up onto a raised edge beside them and walking it like a balance beam. "No one's here. Whole wing's sealed. Which makes me wonder—again—why you of all people are suddenly bringing children to the most locked-down part of the Realm."

Aurora didn't reply.

"Like, really?" Alexandria kept going, arms out like wings. "You don't even like people. You barely like me, and I'm amazing. But now you're carrying this dramatic sleeping beauty over here and walking like it's your job."

Eli tugged at Aurora's sleeve. "Is she always like this?"

"Yes."

"Still here," Alexandria said, grinning. "Still talking."

They reached a wide open doorway—arches of silver stone carved into strange curves that didn't follow normal geometry. The room beyond was glowing with soft blue light. Beds lined one wall, magical fabric folded neatly at their sides. Crystals embedded in the ceiling shimmered with slow, pulsing breath.

Aurora walked straight to the nearest bed and gently laid Eli's brother down. The older boy stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent before going still again.

Eli stayed close, fingers tightening in his shirt. "He's okay, right?"

Aurora nodded. "Sleeping. Healing."

He didn't move for a while. Just watched his brother breathe.

Behind them, Alexandria leaned against the wall, arms crossed again, this time quieter.

"Where were they?" she asked, her voice less teasing now.

"Out," Aurora said.

"Out where? There's a difference between a bad street and a death forest."

"I said—" Aurora turned slightly, her expression blank. "—not your business."

Alexandria rolled her eyes, sighed dramatically, and pushed off the wall. "Fine, fine. Goddess of Silence wins again."

Eli glanced at her. "She's really not gonna tell you anything?"

"Nope," Alexandria said cheerfully, plopping onto a low bench. "She's like that. Keeps things to herself. Secrets, names, the fact she once crashed an entire celestial corridor with just a flute and an attitude problem—doesn't matter. She won't say anything unless she wants to."

Eli tilted his head. "What's a celestial corridor?"

"That," Alexandria grinned, "is a story for after dinner. Or at least after someone stops looking like a ghost with a trauma cloud."

He smiled faintly. "You're weird."

"Thank you."

Aurora adjusted the blankets over Eli's brother, her face still unreadable. Then she stood again, walking toward the arch.

"Where are you going?" Eli asked.

"To get water."

"I'll go!"

"No," she said. "Stay."

He paused. Looked down. "Okay."

Alexandria watched Aurora disappear into the corridor, then turned to Eli, lowering her voice slightly.

"…She's probably gonna disappear again after this," she said. "She always does. That's her thing."

Eli frowned. "Why?"

Alexandria shrugged. "Because she doesn't know how to stay still. Or because she doesn't think she deserves to."

Eli didn't answer.

He just looked back at his brother.

A minute passed. Maybe two.

Then Aurora came back, holding a crystal bowl of glowing water. She handed it to Eli.

"For him," she said.

Eli nodded, gently tilting the bowl to his brother's lips. The older boy drank slowly, even while asleep.

Aurora watched. Then turned again.

Alexandria sighed. "You're leaving again already?"

Aurora paused at the doorway. "…Not far."

Eli looked up at her. "You'll be here when he wakes up, right?"

Aurora stopped. Her eyes met his.

"…Yes."

Then she walked out, vanishing into the soft glow of Ostarius.

Alexandria leaned back and exhaled.

"She's lying, you know," she muttered.

Eli looked at her.

"She always says yes," Alexandria said. "And then she walks until the stars change."

"…Maybe this time she won't."

Alexandria blinked at him. Then smiled. "You're not bad, kid."

"Neither are you."

"Don't ruin my reputation."

They sat there in the silence of a realm between worlds.