Something's Wrong With the Different Realms

Twenty-Seven: Malum

I extended a hand to Malum and pulled them onto their feet. They wrapped an arm around my shoulders and we made our way across the track, Malum limping the whole time. When I passed Horizon, I gave him a wink and tilted my head, motioning for him to follow us. Malum shot me a skeptical look but I just shrugged.

Once we were out of sight, Malum dropped the act. Horizon emerged soon after. I took note of where I was sitting. of the long grasses and speckled flowers and drew some more energy. I held out my hands and Malum and Horizon clutched my arm without question. I had a feeling that Cassie would want to increase the pain so I had to form a protective shield. I knew that Cassie didn't want us to talk so it made sense.

"English or," I lowered my voice and switched the language to the Shallngsean common tongue, "or the Shallngsean common tongue?"

Malum glanced around and noticed that everyone was out of earshot. "We can talk in the common tongue if we want to. Though I'm fluent in both languages speaking-wise, it might be easier for your friend."

"Okay," I muttered, still keeping my voice in a low whisper, "but let's whisper just in case someone overhears us, okay?"

Both Malum and Horizon nodded, "okay," they agreed.

"Oh, and by the way, I'm Horizon and that's Allaira," Horizon introduced us to Malum."

"I'm Malum, at least that's the fake name that I chose for myself because my real name is too difficult to pronounce," Malum stated before asking "do you know why I was avoiding you?"

"Sort of, I guess I have an idea. Is it because Cassie was controlling you and you were afraid that you were going to be in pain?" I tried.

Malum shook their head. "Yes but no. Yes for the pain part but no, because it's not Cassie that's controlling me. It's Minra who's controlling me."

"Minra?" asked Horizon.

"So... you've probably figured out this by now but Earth isn't my home," Malum started. "Like you guys, I had been ripped away from my home and sent to wander around in strange realms. I've been trying to get back ever since but the portals don't seem to be working and now I'm stuck on Earth!"

Oh," I said.

"Did you know that there are thousands, maybe even millions of creatures like Cassie out there who are doing this?"

"Actually?" I asked, horrified.

"Minra is one of them. And from my time traveling around in different realms, I managed to figure out that Cassie and Minra are part of the same species. A species called Cassilynya and many of them are intent on making creatures from different walks of the universe meet. And I overheard from a young Cassilynya that I met on Faellie that those Cassilynyas think that they're helping us. They think that different creatures will be able to help each other or something!"

"Wait a minute," I said, making a thinking face, "so Cassie is part of a species called the Cassilynya and many of them want creatures from different planets to meet each other because they think that we'll benefit from each other!? So they're manipulating us?"

"Yes, that's the gist of it, yes."

"That's horrendous!" Horizon exclaimed, making a sour face.

"I agree," Malum nodded. "And—"

"Wait..." Horizon muttered, interrupting Malum, "how are you surviving on Earth?"

"What do you mean by that?" Malum asked.

"I mean that Earth is a very complex place with cameras everywhere and people who 'arrest' you if you break laws. So how are you alive? How are you not dead? How are you not in this place called 'jail?' And how are you not being dissected as some sort of freak show science experiment?" Horizon asked sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm just curious."