A pebble dances toward me across the stone floors, lightly hitting my forehead and falling away. It rolls to a stop and catches the moonlight.

"Is this supposed to scare me?" I ask the darkness. It doesn't answer.
I think I'm alone, just me and the shadows.

"Am I haunted?" I ask it, "Did I do something wrong..?" My voice drops to a whisper, "Have I offended the heavens?" The last syllable dips into painful laughter. Everything having fallen apart. It's laughable.

"You called my name before." I pressure, a weary smile on my face. I reach a weak hand and flick the pebble back toward the endless darkness.
It stares back at me, waiting.

"Are you trying to tell me something?" I ask slowly. I stare into the dark until my stomach is full of nervous knots. I glance away and tuck into myself tighter.

The pebble trickles over, singing a song against the stone.

"It's your fault I'm here..." I breathe against the cold stones, "You should help me." I shiver.

"Are you here to kill me?" I ask.

"Was I never meant to wake up?"

"Am I already dead...?"

The dark doesn't answer.

"Am I mad?"

"You're so quiet..." I say, "I wonder if the Serics somehow keep you at bay." The thought sends a jolt of fear through me. If not my inky monster- who am I tossing pebbles to in the dark?

I struggle to get on my elbows. I duck my wobbly head down and use my fingers to tuck my filthy hair behind my ears.

I steady myself and reach for the pebble, I flick it back.

"Janus..?"

"Nia." Janus replies in greeting, voice cutting through the darkness.

My face and ears burn with embarrassment.
I wonder again if I could hate myself to death...
I wonder now if I somehow bring this all upon myself? All this hatred goes somewhere.

"Stop crying." He tells me, "If you're really just a girl you need to stay hydrated."

I cry harder. Sobbing through the gritty fingers pressed to my face.

"I'm sorry." I sob, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I repeat into my palms until they are screams and shrill screeches.

Until the list of endless everythings that's crossed through my mind to apologize for has come to an end.
The stars, the skies, the rains, goddesses, shadows, people, things, until there's nothing left on my list-

"I'm sorry, Janus." I say, sorry that he has to look at me like this, "Sorry.." So unbelievably sorry that he'll have to move my body from the floor if I die here. Sorry that he had to bring me here because- there's something wrong with me.

The barred wall creaks open. Janus' cloaked form comes forward, he catches the soft moonlight on his dark livery.

He stares down at me a moment, releasing a heavy sigh before lowering himself beside me in my prison. He sits pressed with his back against the wall, listening to my sniffling as I try to compose myself. I manage to push myself onto my side.

He moves toward me, offering his hand. I don't really know what to think, but I take it. He helps me adjust against the wall, taking my immobile ankles in his hands and slowly aiding me in steadying my feet to the ground.

He says nothing and returns to his spot beside me. I wrap my arms around my weak legs pulled to my chest. I tuck my damp and dirty nightdress beneath my cold toes.

I'm so filthy, yet sitting beside the pristine. I inwardly wince. Another thing I want to apologize for that I won't dare mention aloud. I'm so sorry I smell.

"She arrives tomorrow."

"Who?"

"A Priestess of Koruck." He tells me.

"How does this person compare to a Seric?" I ask curiously, leaning my head back against the grime-covered stones.

"Entirely different breed." He laughs under his breath, "So to speak. Serics... have a more direct connection to Umbria, but the people of Koruck have a deep spiritual understanding." He continues, "This Priestess, in particular, is famous for her spiritual abilities."

"Direct connection?"

"In order to become a Seric, one must not only have a connection to the descendants of the throne but must also be able to survive consuming a piece of Umbria itself called Irruh."

"Irruh." I repeat.

"Yes," He pauses for a moment, "The ink-like substance."

"Oh!" I exclaim, "What the shadows are made from?"

"Correct." I make a face.

"So, you ate one?" He tenses, but relaxes when he notices a smirk on my face. I giggle at my jest.

"I drank it." He tells me, I stick my tongue out in disgust. "Tease all you like, you're the one eating gruel in a cage." My face twists and it's his turn to laugh.

"What did it do to you?" I ask, "After you drank the Irruh?"

He lifts his hands. I watch ink gather from the shadows, pulled together into his hands. A ball of darkness spins in his palms, it splits as he moves his fingers shaping into stars and planets.

A universe spins alive in his grasp.

"I can manipulate the Irruh at will." He says, spinning his hand around.

"Is that it?" I ask. He must've taken me for unimpressed because he laughs loudly this time.

"Most of it." He admits, shrugging, "Makes for good defense against the Strings, besides that it's a rare ability. Some have more aptitude than others."

"Top of your class, huh?" I prod, recalling Janus' soft-voiced companion.

"I'm tied for first." Janus says, I hear his smile beneath his mask.

I stare at him for a moment, considering.

"What do you think is the matter with me, Janus?" His mask catches the light again as he moves his gaze to meet mine.

Why was I born?

"I don't know, Nia." I make a terrible face as he calls my name and my face drops to my knees.

I can identify only as pain. Who the hell is Nia anymore...

"Do you remember dreaming?" He asks, I turn my face to him, still resting my heavy head on my knees.

"No." I say softly.

I don't remember anything. But I desperately feel like there is something to remember.