Firmament

Don't message him back, at least not yet, or else he'll know know you're up to something.

Your Dad usually messages you like this when he wants to chat about something. What if he suspects something is up? Maybe you shouldn't drop a line. Why skip lecture hall, if you're just going to let your Dad lecture you instead?

>Have a nice chat with dad, it doesn't seem like he cares much if you're skipping class.

Resist the urge to cringe at your father's overuse of emojis. Fail to resist that urge.

Wait, no. That's totally silly. Calling him back should be fine. Besides, he doesn't know your schedule, so he can't know that you're skipping. One of the benefits of living so far away from home, you suppose...

You decide to call your Dad back, as you continue your walk toward the Cafe. The line hangs silent for a bit, then rings for a while. A long while. Long enough that you get ready to leave a voice message.

Then, you hear a click.

---

Dad:
If it isn't my little Cassowary! I wasn't expecting you to call. Usually you just write back, and I don't get to hear your voice!

---

Cassie:
I was gonna text you back, but your facepix kept creeping me out.

---

Dad:
Oh come on, they're not that creepy, are they? I think they're cute. Though, if texting with facepix gets you to call back more often...

---

Cassie:
That's... surprisingly devious, Dad.

---

Dad:
Devious, huh? How about that. Perhaps I missed my true calling, as some kind of silver-tongued Rogue-for-Hire.

---

Cassie:
More like silver-haired. And aren't you a bit old to think about switching careers?

---

Dad:
You're never the wrong age for a mid-life crisis, dove. But maybe you're right. I'm too wise and worldly to just drop everything, and start freelance adventuring.

I'll have to enroll in the Academy with you. Get a proper Rogue's License.

---

Responding would only encourage him, so you stay quiet.

...you really hope he's not serious.

---

Dad:
Speaking of school, how are your classes going?

---

Cassie:
Oh, you know. They're fine.

---

Dad:
That's good to hear. Got a sec to tell an old man about it?

---

Cassie:
Well, Aerobatics has been easy. I already knew most of what we've covered. I hear the flying gets "more advanced," but it's probably just stunts and air-lifting? It's an elective, though, so I get to meet students from the other programs. So that part's nice.

---

Dad:
Oh, yeah. That sounds like a good way to meet new friends. Have you been sharing that aerial expertise with the newbies?

---

Cassie:
Nah. Not yet. I'm one of the only aviform fliers there, and the rest know the basics. I have been helping a friend in Mathematics and Cosmology, though. Alchemy's going well too, though my new lab partners are... kinda difficult? I'm starting to think they don't like me, for some reason.

---

Dad:
Hmm. If it's a new group, give them time. I'm sure they'll warm up to you. Sounds like things are going pretty well apart from that, though.

---

As your Dad talks, you wait at a crosswalk by a bus stop, on the edge of Campus. A handful of bored townies, and a few tired students wait for a ride across town. Before long, the light changes. You cross the street, and leave Campus proper. The classes you should be attending today are officially behind you.

You've already committed fully to taking this Mental Health Day. That doesn't stop you from feeling a little guilty about it, though.

Your dad loves you, you know. It'd be good to talk to him.

Hmm. You don't really want to come clean about taking today off. But... maybe you could talk to you Dad about what's got you down lately? As much as you don't want to think about it, he might have good advice.

---

Dad:
Oh, Cassie, I've been meaning to ask. How's the Spirit Arts going? Last time we talked, you were having trouble with your Pneuma. Have you worked out whatever was tripping you up?

---

Cassie:
Not really? Still having the same issues...

Actually, Dad? Could we talk about that for a bit?

---

Dad:
Sure thing. What's on your mind?

---

Cassie:
Well, my Professor asked me to meet with the Nurse the other day. He says my Mana Gates look healthy. Pneuma's bright and clear, and all that. But I still can't manifest anything, let alone do the stuff we're supposed to be doing by now. I keep asking my Professor for help after class. At this point, we've tried everything. Nobody's got any clue what's blocking me up. So, I've been thinking...

Maybe something's still wrong? With me?

---

Dad:
...what makes you say that?

---

Cassie:
I mean... I got sick when I was younger, right? And I was really messed up. I hardly remember, but you said I was in and out of the hospital for years.

I know things are better now, but... maybe something's still messed up? Like, something they missed, or didn't know to look for?

---

Dad:
Oh no, Cassie... don't think like that. You can do this. I know you can. It's like flying, right? Anyone can learn. All they have to do is practice.

---

Cassie:
Not everyone has wings, Dad.

---

Dad:
Fair point, but you know what I mean. Everyone's got a Soul, right? That, plus some training is all you need to be able to channel magic. Not to say that it's easy, but anyone can learn.

---

Cassie:
Sure, but everyone else can manifest their Pneuma. A few are already channeling? Most students could at least do something magic-adjacent before they enrolled. But I still can't. I'm seriously behind the whole class, and keep falling more and more behind.

I'm starting to wonder if I should drop the program, you know? If it's not something wrong, maybe I'm no good at this.

---

Dad:
Dove, the Academy invited you to apply to their Magic Program, didn't they? They're experts, and they don't just take anyone. So that means they know you've got potential.

Still, if you really want to switch programs at the Academy? I'd support you.

---

Cassie:
Well... maybe I could just fully drop out of school? Stop worrying about getting a license, and just get a normal townie job somewhere. I mean, big cities always need air couriers, and I'm good at flying. I could start a business or something.

---

Dad:
...I'd hate to see you drop out before you got a Guild License, Cassie.

I'm sure your Mother would be saying the same thing, right now.

---

Cassie:
I know, I know. And I do want my License. I really do. But... you know...

---

Dad:
As a kid, you always told everyone you wanted to be a Wayfarer, like your Mom. Isn't that part of why you decided to enroll, and live so far away? And you've been at it for years now. The last thing either of us would want is for your accident to scare you out of finishing school.

---

Cassie:
It's not that I'm scared, though. What if I just can't?

---

Dad:
Well... if it turns out that something's wrong, and you really just can't... Once you know that for sure, then you can figure out some kind of Plan B. I'll help any way I can too. I promise. But you can't cross a bridge until you come to it, so there's no use fretting. Right?

Until then... do you think you can keep trying?

---

You don't know what to say to your Dad.

You're feeling something. It feels complicated? Frustrated. Sad. Sorry. Maybe even a little scared? But it's not because of your accident. It's probably just because you don't want to disappoint people, or something.

Or because you don't know what's wrong with you, right now.

Heck, you don't even remember the accident. Not at all. Sometimes, you try to remember so hard that you get a headache. It's all hazy. So is everything that happened for a long time after.

You've had weird nightmares after thinking about it, though. Maybe about the accident? You're lost, far from home. A big black dog is chasing you. It's a dense woods, but you can't put any trees between you. It just walks into them. Everything it touches just melts.

So you run and run. You're almost out of the woods. You know it can't leave. If you can only make it...

Then, something sharp hits your neck from behind. Your back explodes with pain, as something drags you down. Sometimes, you wake up as soon as that happens. Other times, everything goes dark and cold.

You die, or whatever.

Everything stays dark for a while. But there's these quiet voices. They say stuff about being here to keep you company, or here to help. Others don't make much sense. Talking about jobs, duct tape, angels and devils. Making some crass, insensitive, and extremely offensive bird noises? Heck, you're pretty sure there was an airhorn at one point... so it's probably not worth putting too much stock in. But that's all you know. You can't remember what really happened.

And how could you be afraid of something you don't even remember?

Shhhh. Nix. Nix. Shhhhhh...
Why shhh? Startink to think...
No! Is one; sleepy one yet one. Same-same.
Tired. Confused? Befuddled.
Deeeeeeep breathinks.

You're not entirely sure why you're remembering this, right now. You do some deep breathink, and do your best to put it out of mind.

I don't believe it'd do cassie much good to be aware of us.

Honestly, it doesn't do Cassie much good being aware of this nightmare stuff, either.

Thankfully, the dreams with the voices haven't happened for a while. This is a good thing. The part where everything goes dark always hurts. And you wake up feeling sore where she gets hit. Which probably isn't normal?

Caw. "Normal" is often used in special situations, and therefore, you must be special.

You'd honestly rather not have "special" pain nightmares. You'd rather not be "special" at all. "Special" in a way that makes you awful at what she's going to school for. Or needing "special" days off, because she just can't even, today.

She'd rather be at the Cafe right now, shitposting and having a good time. Heck, she'd rather be in Spirit Arts class right now, if she wasn't so terrible and behind. You know this by now. And yet, you're reminding herself about it when you decided to take a mental health day from all this.

Yeah guys keep it quiet. Finding that there are separate voices that are kind of in your head would be Not Good.

A little late for that, she thinks. But she's been telling yourself a lot of things, haven't you? You tell herself to do things that would hurt people. Or put her and others at risk. Didn't she promise yourself you'd never hurt anyone ever again? Or let them be hurt?

And didn't the demon you don't remember meeting tell her something about oaths? For spirits like her, they're important, or powerful, or whatever? That breaking them was bad?

SpoilerShow

Maybe this will work and we'll be able to talk between each other without obliterating Cassie's sanity.

Maybe. And maybe there's just something about Cafes that brings out the worst in people. You know they're just a place to get pastries, coffee, and net access. To hang with friends. Why do bad things keep happening around them? Is it the eating?

You probably shouldn't have called her Dad back. Should've just gone quietly to the Cafe, then gone home. Just like she should've gone into that green Cafe with your friend. But now they're dead. Now you feel weird. Weird and bad. Dreams about killing. Dying in darkness.

She feels that way too. She's scared you're thinking about this. Feeling memories of what you did. You're having a hard time understanding her own thoughts right now. Let alone keeping them separate from her own.

You're kinda haunted. Guess we're gonna try to break that news to you now. but it's a good haunting! we've been tasked with looking out for you.

Anyways, you should probs disregard those rogue thoughts and talk with your dad.

She breaks that news to yourself.

Neither of you understand, even though you both already knew.

---

Dad:
...Nineteen... twenty... infinity... twenty one... you still there, dove?
Sounds like we got disconnected. Make some noise if you can hear me.

---

Caw.

---

Dad:
Is that you, Cassie?

...and did you just make a crow noise at me? I am surprised! I thought I raised you better than that, young lady.

---

Oh, yes. Hello phone-person!

---

Dad:
There's my girl.

I'm sorry about that. I think the connection went wonky. For the last minute or so, the line sounded like muffled muttering. Couldn't make out what you were saying at all.

---

Cassie:
Actually Dad? I've gotta go. Somebody else is... here? And they want to talk?

...we'll call you back soon.

*blip*

---

Alright.

Who are you?

Where are you?

What are you doing?

And WHAT the ACTUAL HECK just happened?