(Jesse pov)
The first thing I noticed wasn't the gentle warmth of Remedy's presence or the familiar weight of the Director's chair beneath me. It was the sound of soft scratching that seemed to echo through the air and ring out into the distance. My mind woke up from the depths of what I realized had been an unplanned nap, my mind slowly cataloging the sensations that filtered through my damaged senses as my 'sight' filled in.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
The rhythmic sound was oddly comforting, like rain on a window or the quiet turning of pages in a library. Through the landscape that had become my new sight, I could perceive Remedy still perched on my lap, scrunched and curled into herself as her small form continued precise movements that created distinctive patterns in the air around us giving an air of intense concentration.
I stretched carefully, rolling my shoulders to work out the kinks that had developed during my impromptu rest. I was careful not to disturb Remedy too much as I adjusted my position in the chair and ended up itching bandages around my eye sockets shifting them slightly with the motion.
Through the field acting as my sight I could see something that made me pause. Where before the Directors' desk had been mostly clear, now there was a large stack of objects on the leftmost corner.
"How long was I out?" I murmured, more to myself than to Remedy, though I felt her blocks shift along my legs slightly before stopping as I spoke.
She didn't look up from her work, her pen continuing its steady scratching across what I assumed was another form. "About three hours," she replied softly, her voice carrying the satisfied tone of someone deep in their element. "You looked so peaceful, and I was having so much fun with the paperwork, I didn't want to wake you."
I turned my head toward the corner to focus more precisely on the paper accumulation and I could roughly make out a stack of easily fifty to seventy sheets, all neatly arranged and organized. The sight left me genuinely impressed.
"Remedy" I said, unable to keep the amazement out of my voice. "Did you... did you fill out all of those forms while I was sleeping?"
Her blocks shifted against my legs again in what I was thinking as a pleased wiggle. "I did! There were so many different types in the desk drawers, and each one was more distracting than the last. I documented everything properly from the acquisition forms for the angel blades, incident reports for the battle, personnel evaluations for the angels we encountered..." She paused, her voice taking on a slightly sheepish tone. "I may have gotten a little carried away."
A yawn threatened to escape, and I stifled it as best I could while wrapping my arms around Remedy's small form. The texture of her cloak was warm against my skin, and I could feel her contentment through our connection. Despite everything we'd been through, despite the trauma of the angel attack, she'd found genuine joy in this simple, bureaucratic task. Somehow.
"What are you working on now?" I asked, curious about what had captured her attention so completely.
"Sticky Note Acquisition" she replied, holding up the form so I could sense its general outline. "I'm requesting a full catalogue of samples for all possible sticky notes. I noticed a distinct lack of them around here and they are useful!"
I leaned forward slightly, intrigued. I could make out the neat lines of her handwriting, the careful attention to detail evident in every stroke. "Thats nice sweety. And you've been doing this for two hours?"
"Time flies when you're having fun" she said with a little laugh. "But this is the last form in this particular batch. I've documented everything from the battle—weapons acquired, enemies neutralized, environmental impact assessments, casualty reports..." She trailed off.
The mention of it made my chest tighten slightly. Yet I could sense through our connection that while Remedy had found the paperwork interesting, the shadow of what we'd experienced still lingered and I decided at that moment she needed something that would actually help.
"After you finish this form" I said gently, "I think you've done enough for now. It's time to stop."
she protested, her voice carrying a slight whine. "Nooooooooo, I was just getting into the rhythm of it all! There are requisition forms for office supplies, and maintenance reports for the building's infrastructure, and—"
"Remedy" I interrupted with a chuckle, "you've filled out more paperwork in one afternoon than most office workers do in a month. I think it's time for a break."
She deflated slightly, her blocks settling into a more compact arrangement. "But I was having such a good time..."
"Tell you what" I sighed, knowing this plan would be a hassle. "I have a surprise for you. Something to help us both process what we went through the other day."
Immediately, her form perked up, the geometric blocks shifting into excited patterns. "A surprise? What kind of surprise?"
"The kind you'll really enjoy" I said teasingly. "But there's a catch. You can only have it if you can materialize your body inside the Oldest House."
The reaction was immediate and dramatic. Remedy's entire form lit up with excitement, her blocks rearranging themselves so rapidly I could barely track the movement through my enhanced perception. "Really? You want me to manifest in the House? I can do that! I can totally do that!"
She turned back to the form with renewed urgency, her pen moving across the paper with reckless speed. The careful, precise handwriting I'd observed earlier gave way to rapid scrawling as she rushed to complete the documentation. Through our connection, I could feel her impatience building like pressure in a steam valve.
"Wait, wait" I said, trying to slow her down. "You don't have to rush. Take your time and—"
"No, no, no!" she exclaimed, her blocks practically vibrating with anticipation. "I need to finish this NOW so we can get to the surprise! The sticky samples are for... um... various departments... with different pictures on the corner..." She scribbled frantically, making several small mistakes in her haste but clearly not caring about perfect penmanship anymore. I watched as she rushed through the remaining fields, her previous methodical approach abandoned in favor of speed. The pen moved across the paper like a blur, leaving behind words that were barely legible but technically complete.
"There!" she announced triumphantly, setting down the pen and spinning to face me. "All done! Form completed! Let's gooooo!"
Before I could react, she had jumped off my lap and was spinning around in the space beside the desk, her cloak swirling around her in elaborate patterns.
"Remedy, calm down" I said with a laugh, reaching out to steady her. "Yes, we're going to the House, but we need to be careful about the transition. And you need to remember that manifesting a physical form there is going to be different from how you appear here in the Astral Plane."
She grabbed my hands, her hand warm against my skin. "I know, I know! But I'm so excited! What's the surprise? Is it more paperwork? Different kinds of forms? Maybe filing systems?"
I shook my head, amused by her enthusiasm. "It's not more paperwork. It's something... softer. Something that might help us both heal from what we've been through."
Her movements stilled slightly, and I felt her attention focus on me completely. "Healing?"
"Trust me," I said, standing up from the Director's chair and keeping hold of her hands. "But first, we need to get back to the House. Are you ready to try materializing there?"
She nodded eagerly, her entire form practically bouncing with excitement. "Yes! Let's go! I can't wait to see what you have planned!"
As we prepared to leave the Astral Plane, I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. Despite everything we'd been through, despite the trauma and the pain, Remedy had found joy in the simple act of bringing order to chaos. Her passion for paperwork was utterly endearing, and I made a mental note to make sure she had plenty of opportunities to indulge in it.
But for now, it was time to show her a different kind of comfort. Something that would help us both process the violence we'd experienced and find peace in each other's company.
"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" she chanted with each spin, her blocks rearranging themselves in excited configurations that created rippling patterns through my enhanced perception. "I want to see what the surprise is! Can we go now? Please?"
I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm, her joy infectious despite everything we'd been through. "Remedy, calm down," I said, reaching out to steady her spinning form. "Yes, we're going."
I took a deep breath and focused, feeling the familiar sensation of leaving the Astral Plane. The impossibility of the inverted pyramid began to fade around us, reality softening at the edges as I opened my eyes back in the Director's office.
The first thing I noticed was that I was no longer naked and bandaged with makeshift materials. Instead, I found myself fully clothed in clean Bureau attire, a fitted black jacket with the FBC insignia, dark pants, and sturdy boots. The bandages around my ruined eyes had been replaced with professional medical wrapping, clean and precisely applied. Even the wounds on my body were properly dressed with what felt like actual medical supplies rather than torn fabric.
Through the vibrational landscape that painted my world, I could sense a familiar figure near the door Ahti's distinctive frequency, calm and steady as always.
"Ahti" I said, turning toward where I sensed him standing. "Thank you. For the clothes, the medical attention... for everything."
His weathered chuckle filled the office. "Is no problem, Director. Cannot have you running around like wild thing, yes? Is not professional." There was warmth in his voice, the genuine care of someone who had seen too much suffering and chose kindness anyway. "Besides, someone must look after the ones who look after everyone else."
"I'm going to try and appear now!" Remedy announced excitedly, her voice carrying both determination and anticipation.
"Wait" I said, holding up a hand. "Let's move to the surprise location first. We should get settled before you attempt the manifestation."
"Where are we going?" she asked, practically bouncing with curiosity.
I smiled, knowing this would confuse her even more. "Anywhere where Ireland used to be would work."
"Ireland?" Remedy's voice carried a note of puzzlement. "But... Ireland still exists, doesn't it? What do you mean 'used to be'?"
From his position by the door, Ahti shook his head with an amused sigh. "Overactive kids" he muttered though the words carried through the room with perfect clarity. "Always wanting to go places that exist only in when-was-time."
I stood up slowly, my body protesting slightly from the lingering effects of our battle with the angels. The professional medical treatment had helped, but I could still feel the echo of celestial wounds beneath the bandages. "Come on" I said to Remedy. "Trust me, you'll understand when we get there."
Together the three of us made our way through the corridors of the Oldest House, my enhanced perception guiding us through the familiar pathways until we reached the front entrance.
The view through the entrance showed gentle slopes that would one day become the characteristic Irish countryside, but for now appeared as rugged, ice-touched wilderness. In the distance, I could sense the distinctive vibrational signature of forming moraines—hills of glacial debris that marked the boundaries of ancient ice sheets. The glaciation was still thousands of years in the future, but already the landscape bore the scars and gifts of earlier ice ages, creating a terrain that was simultaneously familiar and utterly alien.
This was Ireland, but Ireland as it had existed three hundred thousand years ago. During the Middle Pleistocene, when the landscape was shaped by advancing and retreating ice sheets, when the terrain consisted of tundra and glacial valleys, and when the familiar green hills of the modern Emerald Isle were nothing more than raw geological potential waiting to be sculpted by millennia of climate change.
"This is beautiful" Remedy whispered, her voice filled with wonder as she took in the view.
I turned toward where I sensed Remedy standing beside me, her excitement making it easy to feel her excited vibrations he emitted in anticipation.
"Now" I said gently, "it's time for you to try and appear."
Remedy took what I could sense was a deep breath, her geometric blocks shifting into more concentrated patterns as she prepared herself for the manifestation. "Okay" she said, her voice carrying both determination and nervousness. "I've never tried this outside the Astral Plane before, but I think I understand how it should work."
The air around us began to vibrate with a low, harmonic frequency that I could feel. It was different from anything I'd experienced before not the sharp, violent resonance of angelic power, nor the chaotic energy of paranatural phenomena, but something more architectural, more fundamental. It was as if reality itself was being gently coaxed into accepting a new configuration.
Then, slowly, a section of the floor near the entrance began to rise. The movement was gradual and deliberate, concrete and metal flowing upward like water finding its own level. It formed a rough cube, perhaps three feet on each side, the surface maintaining the characteristic brutalist texture of the Oldest House's architecture.
For a moment, the block simply stood there, solid and imposing. Then, with a sound like distant thunder mixed with the whisper of shifting sand, it began to crumble. But this wasn't destruction—it was transformation. Each piece that fell away revealed something beneath, and gradually, through the dissolution of the building material, a familiar form began to emerge. At certain points the pieces that fell away would form back into the block before crumbling in a cycle.
Remedy appeared as the last of the concrete dust settled around her feet. She stood in the space where the block had been, her form unmistakable even in a physical manifestation. Her body was still made up of countless small blocks, shifting and realigning in constant, subtle motion. They weren't quite the same obsidian-like material I'd perceived in the Astral Plane—here, they seemed to have adopted properties of the House itself, maintaining their geometric nature while gaining a more solid presence.
Her hooded cloak flowed around her just as it had before, the fabric appearing to be woven from the same block-like material, creating patterns that shifted like a living kaleidoscope. When she moved, it was with a fluid grace that belied her angular construction, each step creating small harmonic vibrations that painted beautiful patterns through my perception.
Both Ahti and I immediately burst into applause, the sound echoing through the entrance hall of the Oldest House. The genuine joy and pride in our celebration seemed to overwhelm Remedy for a moment—through my vibrational sight, I could see her blocks shifting into tighter, more compact arrangements, a physical meaning I would have to make sure to learn the meaning of.
"That was incredible!" I exclaimed, still clapping. "Absolutely perfect!"
"Ja, is very good" Ahti agreed, his weathered voice warm with approval. "House likes you very much, I think. Usually takes weeks for new manifestations to work so smoothly."
Remedy performed a shy little twirl, her cloak spinning around her in elaborate patterns that created rippling waves along the fabric. The movement was endearing and childlike, her geometric blocks rearranging themselves in configurations as she smiled.
"It feels different" she said, looking down at her hands and flexing her fingers. "More... solid. Heavy, but in a good way. Like I'm really here."
I took a step toward the entrance, gesturing toward the ancient landscape beyond. "Are you ready to go explore?"
She nodded eagerly, the blocks along her arms shifting as she raised them. "Yes! I want to see everything!"
We turned toward Ahti, who was already moving toward them with his arms open. Despite her typically reserved nature, Remedy didn't hesitate—she practically launched herself into the janitor's embrace, wrapping her arms around his stocky frame in a hug that seemed to surprise him with its intensity.
"Thank you" she said, her voice slightly muffled against his stomach. "For everything. For taking care of Jesse, for helping us, for... for being kind."
Ahti's expression softened considerably as he returned the embrace, his weathered hands patting her back gently. "Is no trouble, little one. You take care of each other out there, yes? Ancient worlds can be tricky places, even for ones as powerful as you."
He waved dismissively, but I could sense the warmth in his gesture. "Is what family does Director. Now go, before old man gets sentimental."
With final farewells exchanged, Remedy and I stepped through the entrance of the Oldest House and into the ancient Irish landscape. The transition was remarkable—one moment we were surrounded by the architecture of the modern world, and the next we were standing on a windswept ridge overlooking a view that held no equal. The air was crisp and clean, carrying scents I'd never experienced—the sharp bite of glacial ice, the earthy richness of untouched soil, and something else, something wild and primal that spoke of a world where nature reigned supreme, I could feel the vast openness around us, the rolling landscape stretching away in all directions without the geometric interruption of buildings or roads.
"This is amazing" Remedy whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "It's so... quiet. But not empty quiet. Full quiet."
I knew exactly what she meant. The silence here wasn't the absence of sound, but the presence of natural harmony—wind through grass, the distant call of creatures we'd never see in our own time.
"We're looking for something specific" I told her as we began to walk, my enhanced senses scanning the terrain ahead. "It should look like a circle of mushrooms. I have a vague idea of what they look like, but in this time period, they might be... different."
Remedy's face shifted with curiosity. "What do they do?"
"If the legends are right" I said, stepping carefully over what my perception told me was a small stream, "they're supposed to be places where fairies dance. Portals between worlds. Scientists always thought they're just naturally occurring fungal formations, but..." I paused, considering our current circumstances. "Given where we are and what we're doing, maybe the folklore has more truth to it than people realize."
We began our search in earnest, moving slowly across the ancient landscape. The terrain was more varied than I'd expected—not the flat, featureless tundra I'd imagined, but a rolling countryside of low hills and shallow valleys, with patches of hardy vegetation and clusters of rocky outcroppings. As we travelled I could perceive the subtle signs of geological activity, places where ice ages had carved valleys and deposited moraines, creating a landscape that was both raw and beautiful.
Remedy whispered, pointing to something I couldn't see but could sense through the disturbance as the air currents moved the trees. "Those birds..."
I listened as Remedy described what must have been enormous birds, their wingbeats creating pressure waves that spoke of creatures much larger than any modern raptor. They soared overhead with a grace that seemed almost supernatural as they twirled and flew around each other, their calls echoing across the landscape with haunting beauty.
"Don't worry they can't see us" I explained, noting how the creatures showed no reaction to our presence. "Remember how our powers work. We can observe, but we can't interact. It's like we're watching through a window."
We continued our exploration, admiring the raw beauty of this ancient world. The grass beneath our feet was different from modern varieties—hardier, more primitive, adapted to the harsh conditions of an ice age climate. Flowers that had no modern equivalents dotted the landscape in small clusters, their simple beauty unmarked by human cultivation.
"There" Remedy said suddenly, her blocks shifting into excited patterns. "Over there, near those rocks. Do you see it?"
I looked towards where she was pointing and felt my breath catch. There, in a small depression between several large boulders, was a perfect circle of mushrooms. Unlike the neat, cultivated fairy rings that might appear in novels, this formation had a wild, primal quality. The mushrooms themselves were larger than their contemporary counterparts, and they seemed to glow with a faint, otherworldly light that I could perceive through the unique frequency they generated.
"That's it" I said, excitement building in my voice. "That's our fairy ring."
But as we drew closer, a nagging suspicion began to creep into my mind. Through my enhanced perception, I could sense the perfect symmetry of the mushroom formation, the almost too-convenient placement in this sheltered depression. It was exactly what we'd been looking for, appearing exactly when we needed it.
I paused about ten feet from the ring's edge, probing the area around us. The vibrational landscape was remarkably calm—no hidden threats lurking behind rocks, no unusual energy signatures that might indicate a trap. The creatures we'd observed maintained their natural patterns, showing no signs of disturbance or unease that might suggest danger.
Still, something felt... easy. Too easy.
"Remedy" I said quietly, extending my hand toward her. "Would you mind holding my hand?"
She tilted her head slightly, her blocks shifting in a pattern that conveyed mild confusion. "Of course, but why? Are you worried about something?"
"I'm not exactly worried" I clarified as she linked her fingers with mine. "But there are some important rules we should remember if we're going to interact with fairies. Things could go very badly if we mess this up."
"Rules?" Remedy's voice carried both curiosity and a hint of concern. "What kind of rules?"
I turned slightly toward her, wishing I could see her expression properly rather than just the shifting patterns of blocks. "Three main ones, and they're absolutely critical. First—be polite and respectful at all times. Fairies are ancient...well I guess not ancient yet but still powerful beings who place enormous value on courtesy and proper behavior. Even a perceived slight could have serious consequences."
"Second—never lie to them. Not even small lies or half-truths. Fairies consider dishonesty to be one of the worst possible offenses It is better to just be quiet if you can't say anything."
"And third?" she asked.
"Don't tell them your real name" I said firmly. "This is the most important rule of all."
"Got it" she said, her voice steady despite the nervous energy I could feel through our connection. "Polite, truthful, and no real names. Anything else I should know?"
"Just... follow my lead, and if anything feels wrong squeeze my hand. We can leave quickly if we need to." I paused, then added, "And Remedy? Whatever happens, don't accept any food or drink they offer."
Together we approached the fairy ring until we stood just at its perimeter. Up close, the formation was even more impressive than I'd initially perceived. Through my vibrational sight, I could sense that each mushroom was perfectly positioned, creating a circle about eight feet in diameter. The fungi themselves were unlike anything from our modern era—larger, more robust, with an otherworldly quality that made them seem almost luminescent.
I took a deep breath and called out, feeling somewhat foolish but determined to try. "Hello? Is anyone there? We're travelers, seeking guidance. We come in peace and mean no harm to any who dwell here."
My voice echoed across the ancient landscape, carrying farther than it should have in the still air. Then... nothing. The wind continued to whisper through the primitive grass, the distant calls of prehistoric creatures carried on the breeze, but there was no response from the fairy ring. No shimmering air, no sudden appearance of otherworldly beings, no mystical signs that we'd been heard or acknowledged.
We waited in contemplative silence for several minutes, my enhanced perception straining to detect any change in our surroundings. The mushrooms remained perfectly still, their supernatural frequency unchanged. The air above the ring showed no signs of dimensional disturbance or supernatural activity.
"Maybe they're not home?" Remedy suggested quietly, her voice carrying a note of uncertainty.
"Maybe" I agreed, though I was beginning to wonder if we were approaching this wrong. According to the folklore I'd absorbed, fairies were notoriously cautious creatures who might test visitors before revealing themselves. Perhaps our straightforward approach wasn't what they expected.
"Let's wait longer" I decided. "Maybe they need time to... assess us."
An hour passed in quiet observation. I found myself cataloging every detail of our surroundings from movements of creatures that had no modern equivalents to the subtle shifts in wind patterns across the landscapes plant life.
Beside me, Remedy maintained admirable patience for the first thirty minutes, her focus on the fairy ring unwavering. But as time stretched on, I could sense her attention beginning to wander. Her body began shifting in small, experimental patterns—not restless exactly, but the kind of idle movement that suggested she was becoming bored.
"You can explore your new form a bit if you want" I told her quietly. "Just stay close enough that I can sense you."
Her relief was palpable through our connection. She began experimenting with her physical manifestation, and I watched with fascination as she discovered the flexibility of her new body. The blocks that composed her form were apparently more malleable in this manifestation than they had been in the Astral Plane. She could make small adjustments to her configuration, extending her fingers to make them more delicate, then compacting them again for greater strength.
At one point, she managed to alter the texture of her blocks, making some areas smoother while others became more angular. Her cloak responded to these changes, flowing and reshaping itself to accommodate each new configuration.
"This is really weird" she whispered, studying her own hand as she made the fingers expand and contract. "I can feel each individual block, but also the whole thing. It's like... like being a symphony where you can hear every instrument but also the complete song."
"Does it hurt?" I asked, still maintaining my vigilant watch on the fairy ring.
"No, not at all. Actually, it feels really good. Like stretching after sitting still for too long." She paused in her experimentation. "How are you doing with... you know... this?" She gestured vaguely toward my bandaged eye sockets.
"Better than I expected" I answered honestly. "I can perceive things I never would have noticed with normal vision and It's... different, but not necessarily worse."
After another thirty minutes of waiting, with still no sign of fairy activity, I made a decision. "Remedy, if you want to explore a little, you can. Just stay close enough that I can sense you"
"Really? Can I look at those rock formations over there? They have such interesting geometric shapes."
"Just don't go to far away" I cautioned. "And if anything feels wrong anything at all come back immediately."
She nodded eagerly and began making her way toward a cluster of boulders about thirty feet from our position. I could track her movement easily enough, the distinctive frequency of her geometric form created clear patterns against the landscape.
As I continued my vigil by the fairy ring, I found myself wondering if we were missing something fundamental about the process. From what I remembered, it suggested that fairies were cautious, mischievous creatures who might test visitors before revealing themselves. Perhaps our straightforward approach wasn't what they expected.
The waiting was becoming almost meditative. I let my hands drop from their vigilant position and, driven by curiosity and mild restlessness, reached out to touch one of the mushrooms forming the ring's perimeter. The moment my fingers made contact with the pale fungal cap, I felt a subtle shift in the air—not dramatic, but like the faintest whisper of otherworldly energy acknowledging the contact. Emboldened, I began gently poking and examining several other mushrooms around the circle, feeling for any variations at all. Each one carried that same warm, expectant energy, as if they were waiting for something to happen, some trigger to activate whatever mystical properties they possessed.
I was so focused on the fairy ring that I almost missed the other frequencies that had appeared in my enhanced perception. It was only when I turned to check on Remedy that I noticed them—and the sight made me freeze in shock.
Two small, brilliant points of light were dancing around Remedy's form, moving with impossible grace and agility. Through my vibrational sight, I could perceive them as tiny feminine figures with delicate wings that sparkled like captured starlight. They were tinks—the fairy-like beings from the research I'd absorbed, but seeing them in person was entirely different from reading about them.
But they weren't alone.
As I expanded my enhanced senses outward, scanning our surroundings more carefully, I finally perceived what had been hidden from us all along. My heart rate accelerated as the scope of our situation became clear.
Surrounding us in a loose but definite perimeter were dozens of figures that had somehow managed to remain invisible to my enhanced perception until this moment. Small graceful beings with angular features made them seem like living sculptures. They stood perfectly still among the ancient landscape, their forms blending so seamlessly with the environment that they might as well have been part of the stone and vegetation itself.
But it was the others that made me catch my breath.
Figures emerged from behind rocks and from beneath what I had assumed were simply natural depressions in the ground. They looked like compact, weathered people with red or brown clothing, their faces marked by centuries of cunning intelligence. And they were armed.
I sighed and ran a hand down my face and couldn't help but think.
'Of course the fairy BS already starts.'