Storyteller's Universe // Seeking Asylum
In Between



It’s dark and the air is dry and stale. The only light in here comes from uncountable holes back to our reality, all seemingly suspended in mid-air, leading to a variety of unique locations around the world.

“Which one of ya owes me?”

“That’ll be me.”

“How can ya be useful?”

“I’m a thaumaturge, I specialize in charming people.”

The squirrel giggles. We walk past a portal to a frozen log cabin, no idea where it could be except somewhere really cold.

“As in, ya need magic to flirt with people?”

“As in, I need magic to tell someone collecting a favour to fuck off and have them actually fuck off.”

“Perfect.”

Our guide to this pocket dimension walks a couple paces ahead of us. She’s consulting her notes while she walks, but her bushy tail prevents me from sneaking a peek at them.

“Kid, what about ya? What can ya do?”

Previously Shae kept close to me while in here, but now is practically clinging onto me.

“I sense danger.”

“Ooooo useful. Gonna take the offer?”

She remains silent in response. I think it’s a very bad idea and I’ll be lecturing her on it later, but ultimately she’ll have to make the decision herself.

“Myself, I don’t regret it. But I also have nothing besides the Contractors to care about. Or rather, everywhere else would be more of the same, but I can trust a coworker now.”

The squirrel turns a page, then slightly turns to the left when walking.

“Got a better understanding of my own power, I no longer forget where I’ve left my portals, found out I can conceal them and let others open or close them if they know where they are, attach them to moving objects, control their size, I would never figure all that on my own. Wonder what ya could learn about yours.”

“To train yours you need to be in danger. Do you want to be in danger?”

“No…”

“Hmpf.”

The squirrel falls silent. Those notes must be about Shae, I’ve clearly struck a nerve by disrupting her recruitment attempt. After about a couple minutes of walking in silence, she eventually turns around to face us.

“Since ya weren’t eager to tell me where exactly you’re heading, Paris Métro should take ya wherever it is ya need to go.”

The portal before us is clearly leading to the inside of a dirty public toilet.

“I’ll get in touch with ya when I need ya, Spots.”

“Spots?”

“Outta two things cute about ya, I’d rather not call ya Butt.”

I grab Shae by the wrist and hastily step through the portal. I hear a startled squeak next to me and a giggle from behind.