After I effortlessly break free from the bed of rocks, I shake myself to rid my body of the lingering dust. It’s a reflex now—an automatic rejection of anything trying to weigh me down, though the heavier burdens always linger unseen. With how long I’ve lived, I’ve developed a knack for observation, along with a quantity of powers and abilities that would put to shame the full length of digits of π.


    Yes, I calculated the whole thing once. It was during one of those centuries-long lulls where time stretched endlessly, and I needed something—anything—to occupy the void. By the time I reached the final digit (because, trust me, I found it), I realized the number itself didn’t matter. It was the distraction I needed. A way to avoid staring too long into the nothingness that eternity tends to offer.


    Anyway, back to my burial—it’s clear to me that I’ve been resting here, absent-minded for over 700 years.


    As for this place… it’s solid, real. That fact alone carries monumental implications: it exists.


    And existence, in its simplest form, means one undeniable truth—the theory of Universe Creation. After nothingness persists for an unimaginable span of time, a new reality births itself, a reflexive act born from the flaws inherent in existence itself. Of course, there’s also a faint, absurd possibility that, in regaining control of my body, I somehow regurgitated the reality my monstrous self had devoured. But given my state of motionless slumber, the odds of that are laughably low.


    Heh... Not zero, but close enough.


    The thought makes me shiver. The sheer freakishness of it demands distraction, and so I seize the opportunity for conversation.


    “Hey, Ryna, what is this place? Where are we exactly?”


    “You don’t know, Lucy? You’ve been here yesterday when I visited, and the day before as well!” That caught me off-guard. I ignored that fleeting moment of brilliance she had in hopes she’d continue her idea, which she did. “These ruins are called the Wicked Well,” she answers, her voice brightening. “People come here looking for treasures!”If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    “Treasures, you say? Like that shiny stone over there?” I ask, pointing towards a glass-like object embedded in the ceiling above us.


    Ryna’s ears perk up, and her tail swishes with excitement. “Ooooh! You’ve got good eyes, Lucy! But the problem is… Ryna can’t reach it. The ceiling is way too high!” She gestures dramatically to emphasize the vast height.


    She’s right; this place is massive. The object is about eleven meters above me, which likely feels even farther to someone of Ryna’s stature. But to me, it’s hardly an obstacle.


    “What if I just grab it for you?” I say casually as I stretch my arm toward the ceiling, elongating it like pliable rubber to pluck the stone from its resting place. It’s a calculated choice; I could have used my wings to fly up there, but revealing those grotesque appendages, even in a modified form, seemed unnecessarily risky. This method was simpler, safer.


    I bring the object back and offer it to Ryna. “Here you go.”


    Her eyes widen to saucers, her mouth falling open in shock. “W-Wha… WHAT?! You’re giving it to Ryna?! Lucy, this rock is important and expensive!”


    Ah, so that’s how it is. I’ve unintentionally handed her something of great value. That complicates things. Clearly, I need to establish some sort of trade.


    “It’s not free, Ryna,” I say, letting a faint smile play on my lips. “I have one request in return.”


    She tilts her head in confusion, her ears twitching curiously. “A request?”


    “Yes. I need a guide.” I pause deliberately, stopping myself before using the word ‘world.’ “I need someone to show me around town. If you agree to help, the stone is yours.”


    Her face lights up, her tail wagging furiously behind her. “Deal! Ryna will show you all of town, Lucy! You''ll love it!”


    Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I can’t help but smile. The truth is, I don’t need the stone. I could replicate it with my boundless power or find another one just as easily. Sustenance? Unnecessary. Water? A forgotten luxury. Sleep? I’ve already indulged in over 700 years of it, plus the time before.


    But a companion? A guide? That’s something I can’t conjure or replace. For now, her company and this fresh world are more than enough. And who knows? Perhaps this girl, with her boundless energy and sparkling eyes, will lead me to something I’ve long since lost—a reason to believe in existence once more.