The water inside Granix swallows Smith as they swim in it.

  If there is one thing Smith is going to miss the most once they get their real body back, it’s definitely going to be the sensation of water on their skin.

  They want to remain in that water forever. To let it consume their body until they morphed into something new and different and emerged to greet the Forge in celebration.

  But the words of the rusted Mystic still ring in Smith’s ears, and they emerge from the water anxious and tired.

  They slide on a loose blouse and a snug pair of pants, the only clothing they have come to feel suits them, and make their way over to Nadeden.

  “You cheated.”

  “I am not capable of such dishonest practices!” Granix argues as they shift the stone gameboard back to its former state.

  Smith stands by a tree and watches their friends from afar, not wanting to intrude on the pair’s fun, even if Granix is still firmly and constantly aware of their presence.

  Nadeden lifts one of her game pieces, inspecting the rock. “How do I know you aren’t screwing with these? They are part of you, right?”

  Granix manifests an apparition of their body at the question. The rocky fingers take the piece from Nadeden and turn it into an even smaller version of themselves.

  Nadeden is unamused. “I’m guessing that’s a yes.”

  Granix crushes the game piece and glances at Smith. Hoping to avoid the confrontation, they call out with a wave, “Hey, Smith! Did you enjoy your swim?”

  Nadeden turns to Smith with a welcoming smile before glaring at Granix, “How did you know they were swimming?”

  Smith stretches and scratches their neck before finally approaching the pair and sitting next to Nadeden.

  Granix’s apparition shrugs, pebbles fall from their shoulders. “Well, you two are inside of me. We’ve been traveling together for quite a while. I thought you would have figured this out by now.”

  Nadeden goes red and lifts a finger, flustered. “Do we actually have any privacy in here? Just curious.”

  Granix laughs at her shaking voice. “Well, I don’t watch you urinate if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  Nadeden’s embarrassed silence indicates that is indeed what she was wondering.

  Desperate to shift the topic of discussion, she snatches one of the jagged game pieces and dangles it at Smith.

  “Wanna play with us?” She asks, a wide grin making its way onto her face.

  “Sure.” Smith smiles, placing their head onto their folded knees. “Can three people play it?”

  Granix’s apparition disappears back into the ground at Smith’s question. The gameboard then extends toward Smith, who folds down their knees, crossing their legs to better access the board.

  “Yep.” Nadeden nods, handing Smith the game piece.

  “The rules are simple, the game is war, and just like in a real war, the goal is to take out your opponent, more specifically,” Nadeden lifts a newly arisen piece on her side of the board, “The leader. Only certain pieces can move vertically or diagonally to take out the other soldiers, but the leader piece has to remain frozen in the back. Take out the leader,” Nadeden places down her leader. “And you win.”

  Smith grips their own leader piece, tightening their thin fingers of flesh around it.

  “I made the vertical spaces of the board and the accompanying vertical pieces out of granite.” Granix speaks up, further explaining, “The pieces that can only move diagonally are made of sandstone, the spots that they can move on are similarly marked.”

  Smith sets down the leader. “I understand, but who goes first?”

  A granite piece moves one spot toward Nadeden’s side of the board.

  “Cheater.” She grumbles.

  If Granix’s face were visible, they’d be wearing a smirk.

  Nadeden moves a sandstone piece toward Smith’s side.

  Smith lifts a granite piece toward Granix.

  “How did you even learn to play this, Granix? Wasn’t your planet pretty isolated?”

  Granix moves a sandstone piece. “I learned from watching the Republic soldiers who drilled into my planet.”

  The reminder of Quandroiz saddens Nadeden as she moves a granite piece. “Do the Machinists play any games like this?” She asks Smith, both trying to keep the discussion away from negative subjects and attempting to drag her friend out of their rut.

  Smith freezes. Do? Not did? The word rattles in their mind.

  Nadeden somehow believes that the Machinists are still alive despite the rusting. How can she hang onto that hope after everything her and Smith have been through together?

  Even if Smith has kept what the Mystic said a secret, Nadeden certainly does have a positive outlook on things. Although didn’t Smith once have the same outlook?

  They move the granite piece again, “We did. Play games, I mean.”

  Granix moves a granite piece toward Smith, who doesn’t elaborate on their previous flat comment.

  “Like what?” Nadeden urges Smith on with a smile, lifting her sandstone another space toward them.

  “Basic ones, catch the orb, race to the wire, and whatnot.” Smith lifts a sandstone piece and places it one space forward in no direction in particular.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “What about those crazy abilities of yours? Ever do anything fun with them?” Granix stays quiet as Nadeden speaks, uneasily observing the conversation as they move another piece.

  She said ‘Do’ again. Smith thinks, watching Nadeden’s sandstone soldier close in on their leader.

  Smith moves a sandstone piece to defend themselves. “We mainly just used our abilities for our designated occupations.”

  Unsatisfied with Smith’s answers, Nadeden persists.

  She’ll break down that cold exterior of theirs, slowly but surely.

  “Really? If I could summon metal and open portals, I’d be doing all sorts of crazy stuff! Just imagine infinitely jumping through portals in one spot and then making a throne and crown for yourself!” She laughs.

  Granix moves a game piece.

  Smith is unamused.

  Nadeden slides her piece forward, taking Smith’s sandstone soldier off the board.

  Smith weighs their options before choosing to move toward Granix, knowing that Nadeden will overtake their leader with her next move.

  Granix moves a piece to defend themselves from Smith.

  “Are you alright?” Nadeden’s eye holds on Smith’s somber expression as she slowly makes her final move.

  “I’m fine.” Smith stands as their leader falls, walking off to a tree in the distance. Granix’s concerned face manifests on the bark, “A fine person typically isn’t a passive one.”

  Smith halts as Granix collapses the gameboard and springs into another rock formation of themselves. “You’re thinking about that Mystic, Machinist, aren’t you?”

  Smith’s head lowers as the stone giant stands over them.

  Nadeden walks over to the pair, placing a hand on Smith’s shoulder as they fold their arms. “Smith,” Nadeden leans closer to comfort them, “What’s wrong?”

  Smith looks to Nadeden, then to Granix. Worry rises in each of them.

  Smith trembles at the memory of the darkness of the ship and the coldness of those words.

  “Back on that ship…” Smith averts their gaze from the others as their breath slows, becoming heavy. “They told me things about the Forge… About the Machinists. Terrible, horrible things.”

  Granix lowers their apparition to match Smith’s height, helping Nadeden support them.

  “They said it was destroyed. That it was all gone.” Smith slumps down to the ground, their voice shakes along with their feeble human body, “Even worse than that, they told me that only our lives were precious. That everything I believed was a lie, that there’s no reason to look out for anyone except ourselves.”

  “Oh, Smith…” Nadeden wraps her arms around them. Granix does the same.

  Smith unfolds their own arms, welcoming the embraces.

  “I still need to see for myself.” Smith chokes but steadies their voice, “I need to know if all of this was for nothing or not, even if the Rusting did destroy everything, somewhere out there, one of my siblings has to be alive, right? I can’t be the only one? Can I? I…”

  Smith grips Nadeden’s hand, holding it tightly. “I don’t want to be alone.”

  Nadeden and Granix both keep Smith company for as long as they need.

  The three each stay by each other's side for quite some time.

  Lying on the stone ground within Granix as they drift through space, the universe begins to feel small.

  The stars may be vast and endless and full of infinite horrors and infinite wonders, but somehow this trio has become all that matters.

  Nadeden’s fingers curl around Smith’s, intertwining as they rest their head on her shoulder. Nadeden leans against Granix, sitting up as she smiles.

  “Everything is going to be alright, Smith.” She mutters, “After all, I still want to see you summon metal. I bet it’s pretty cool.”

  Smith gives her a tired grin, “It is.”

  “I would also like to see it!” Granix joins in, more enthusiastic than their weary travelling companions.

  “You will, Granix.” Smith chuckles, full of life again, “You both will.” They clutch Nadeden’s arm.

  She watches as Smith gently falls asleep at her side.

  She touches the bandage covering her stomach, a tear swelling in her eye.

  She presses her head onto the stone as Smith’s chest rises and falls with each breath. She doesn’t find it difficult at all to adjust to this new bundle of warmth beside her.

  She knows exactly what her plan is now. Smith comes first. No matter what.

  Their life is precious.

  She loosens her grip on them, and for the first time in a long time, Nadeden sleeps peacefully.

  That night, Adamus awakes in his bedchamber in confusion.

  He splashes water on his face that still reeks of mead and gazes into the mirror in his washroom, trying to determine what stirred him.

  The beast twists within him. His hands begin to shake as his door opens.

  “My lord, I did not expect you to already be awake.”

  Adamus glares at the servant in annoyance. “And I didn’t expect to have you wander into my room uninvited.” He yawns, stretching as he forces himself to be more courteous, “What is it? Did my Father send for me?”

  The servant steps into the bedchamber, keeping his head down and his demeanor calm. “No, he was speaking to President Soryu when one of her representatives got the news. He wanted to tell you himself, but he locked himself in his own bedchamber.”

  Adamus squints through the darkness of night. He’s unable to make out the servant’s face, but something tells him that it’s a sad one.

  “What is it?” He chokes on the question, knowing that he won’t like the answer.

  The servant lifts his head, looking Adamus in the eyes as he gives the news.

  “Davon Yemer is dead.”

  Upon spotting the metal, Granix slowed down and circled a desolate gas planet.

  “Smith, Nadeden.”

  The pair paused their meal of food supplies they had taken from the village as Granix’s voice echoed, bringing them the news. “We’re here.”

  Smith tosses the food aside, sprinting across the stone pathways up to Granix’s head. Nadeden follows behind them, running into the steam that surrounds the waterfall and shortly meeting Smith to gaze out of Granix’s eyes.

  “There it is!” Smith points toward the rings of metal orbiting the giant clump of light and wire.

  Nadeden’s eye widens at the sight.

  The metal is illustrious, shining against the light of the planet’s fire.

  There is no visible rust.

  Smith turns to Nadeden with a wide, joyful smile.

  “We made it!” They shout, leaping into the air and hugging her in celebration.

  “We made it.” She says back, smiling as she puts her arms around them.

  Smith quickly breaks the embrace, calling out to Granix, “Take us down! There’s a transfiguration field of nothing but flat metal in the southwest, away from the smelting pits! It's that area right there!”

  “There?” Granix points.

  “Yes! Yes! Right there!” Smith leaps again, “Go! Go! Go!”

  Granix swims forward through the dark of space, now illuminated by the glow of the Forge.

  Smith can hardly contain themself, bouncing up and down in sheer joy.

  “I can’t wait for you two to see it! I have so many things I want to show you! And you’ll get to meet everyone, too! And don’t worry, Nadeden, the air is breathable, but it’s probably hot because of the lava and stuff, but, oh! The temples! I have to show you all the temples! There are six of them! Six!”

  Nadeden continues to smile at Smith’s enthusiasm as they tell her all about the Forge. She nods and laughs along with them as Granix descends.

  She’s never seen Smith this happy.

  She wishes that she could always see them like this.

  Their energetic words and spectacular explanations all wash over her. She’s become preoccupied with her own joy. Her own pride for this person she’s guided on this grand and fantastical journey.

  It was all worth it.

  All the pain and sorrow and suffering for this single moment.

  Where she got to see Smith smile.