Endless corridors presented themselves to Lyra, her mouth left ajar at the sight. Her eyes moved rapidly, analyzing the data that was being presented to her, but it was too much—even for her. Her red hair swayed slowly in the empty space as if she was submerged under water. Draven used the tips of his fingers to push up on her chin, closing her mouth, worried that her breath was escaping her.

Again, the images and scenes presented to him were hard to depict if it were the future or the past. All of it was completely new to him every time he entered. Most of the scenes were of a field of tall golden grass swaying under grey clouds. Something about it seemed very familiar, but the two couldn't put their finger on it.

Lyra approached the scene, her hand reaching out but curled as a barrier prevented her from entering. She looked across the horizontal line, the image repeating. She pulled herself, propelling her floating body along the scenes. Her hand tried to push through again, but it rejected her effort. Draven grabbed her arm, and her attention broke from the imagery. He looked up, and a smile grew on her face as she saw a memory she adored—one of her mother. The scene showed them, Lyra receiving a reward due to her discovery of electricity. Lyra's mother held her tightly in her arms.

Even though she knew she couldn't enter the past, she rested her hand on the barrier in hopes that she would be able to feel her mother's warmth again.

"Your mother was so proud of you," said Draven, sacrificing some of his breath.

He pulled her again, going further up and then shooting into a ninety-degree turn. Their speed was incomprehensible as the scenes that flashed by were only blurs. And just as fast as they accelerated, they came to a quick stop. Draven didn't know what he was looking for, but his instincts told him to stop at this destination.

The scenes showed a warmly lit kitchen. A pot boiling the night's dinner. Two redhead women readying the table for four. Draven realized it was Lyra and her mother. Lyra seemed older, more developed, and beautiful. Her smile was radiant like her mother's. He couldn't help but wonder who the other plates were for. But as that question left his mind, it was answered as Senator Elveris Veil and her daughter, Aeris, entered their abode. They all let out a celebratory cheer as they arrived.

Draven glanced at Lyra, tears built in her eyes but never fell, a smile crept on her lips as her hand covered her mouth. Draven imagined her home, and the scene changed rapidly. He opened the rift and allowed them to go through it. As they stepped through, the coin Draven tossed in the air before they entered hit the floor.

Lyra wiped the tears from her eyes and held onto his sleeve, then whispered, "Thank you."

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

After rummaging through her room for new clothes, Lyra went back upstairs to find Draven still by the fire. She hoped the coat she found in her closet would outdo her previous attire.

She made her way beside him. Noticing that one of the kitchen chairs was destroyed, and that he was throwing pieces of it into the fire. Though it had sentimental value to her, she shrugged it off.

"Your magic is amazing. The most unique I've seen or even heard of."

"It's a curse."

"You have access to a dimension that no one has," Lyra's eyes sparkled with the yearning for exploration. "You have a linear corridor that's infinite with the movement of time. You can access the future and visit the past. Every single frame we saw had a new possibility, like a parallel world with nuances to this one." She bit the tip of her thumb, digesting the new information. "But that's just a theory."

"A magic theory?"

"Another interesting development. You knew that the coin would fall once we came back, no matter the duration of time within the rift. So there's a. . ." her words trailed off into silence. She looked at her spherical device, seeing the needle within the gauge's red lining. "Perhaps once I can harness the magic, I can replicate this effect and traverse this dimension."

"I would be careful. Magic and science don't usually mix."

"There's only one way to find out." She began to walk out of the house but noticed that Draven wasn't following. Lyra turned and gestured for him to follow her, but he shook his head.

"This is where I must say goodbye."

"What do you mean?"

"I've already risked my family back home. I can't run from this."

Lyra opened her mouth to speak but saw the determination in his face. Her opened mouth turned to a slight smile.

"You've changed, Draven."

"So have you, Lyra."

Draven walked towards her and held out his hand. Lyra placed her hand on his and they shook. But Draven twisted her wrist so her palm faced the ceiling. He placed another crystal-clear vial in her hand of the same contents as last time.

"For emergencies."
"I know I'll see you again; I can feel it."

Draven gave her a slight smile before he stepped into the rift he created, disappearing in an instant.

Lyra held her spherical device in one hand and the vial in the other. Her research has come at the price of a good friend.