The Dream Quest: Eternity

     “How about I tell you the quick version while we get Xantan cleaned up and fed, then later I can tell you the full story?” Solanza bartered.

     Domria let out a sigh, but she was already moving over to the stove, where a pot full of cream of mushroom soup had just finished simmering. She could never hesitate to help someone in need, an instinct which had only grown stronger when she had taken on full-time employment as a nurse at the hospital. Her sister, of course, was already familiar with how to use that to her advantage.

     As she pulled down an extra bowl from the cabinet and began ladling servings into all three, she looked back at the living room, where Solanza was quietly murmuring something to her guest. The guest, which looked like an amorphous blob of mud and debris aside from his wide yellow eyes, was surveying the brightly colored furniture with interest.

     “You can start explaining now,” Domria called over her shoulder as she poured tall glasses of Braku berry juice at each seat. The Faerie Draik arranged the place settings as she waited for her sister to speak.

     Solanza guided her guest- Xantan, she’d called him- over to the table and appeared to be thinking deeply about her words. “Okay, I want to preface this by saying I’m not crazy,” she began.

     “Of course not,” Domria said, naturally falling into a soothing tone.

     The Eventide Xweetok took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then sighed. “Basically, when I was playing NeoQuest a couple of years ago, I had a dream one night that I was in the world of NeoQuest itself, which ended up not being so much of a dream after all. I helped Xantan save the world, and I saved his life, and then I came back to the future- or rather, our time. But he became so powerful after I brought him back to life that I thought maybe… maybe I would find him again. And so I did.”

     Domria took a long sip of juice and wished for something stronger. “Well, I have about a million questions, but I guess those can wait until after dinner. You both must be starving.”

     “You’re the best, Domria,” Solanza said, beaming as they all tucked in to eat.

     Xantan lowered his muzzle and began to lap at the soup. Beside him, Solanza made a noise in her throat and gestured pointedly at the spoon when he looked at her. Domria politely averted her eyes as the newcomer struggled to hold the utensil. She didn’t want to make him feel ashamed.

     They all made short work of the meal, Xantan in particular scarfing down his bowl like he hadn’t had anything to eat in ages. But when Domria offered him seconds, he winced and shook his head. “Probably shouldn’t eat too much too soon,” he said, the first words she’d heard him speak aloud since he had arrived bedraggled on her doorstep. He had a strange, old-fashioned accent that Domria had to work to decipher. “I haven’t had anything this good since… I don’t know when.”

     “Well, if you’re still hungry after you get cleaned up, there’s plenty more to go around,” Domria said.

     “Thank you, ma’am. It would be nice to feel clean.” He took a cautious sip of the juice, wrinkled his nose in surprise, and then downed the rest.

     Solanza ran upstairs to start running the bath, and Domria was left alone with Xantan for a few moments. She took the opportunity to study him, the way he was twisting a large silver ring that was somehow untouched by grime around one finger with the absentminded ease of long practice. His gaze flicked to her, and she flushed. “I’m sorry. I know it’s rude to stare.”

     His golden eyes crinkled in a smile. “It’s a strange situation for you to be in. I don’t blame you.”

     Domria laughed. “You’re hardly the first stranger that Solanza’s dragged through these doors, although usually she sticks to stray Doglefoxes and Spyders.”

     “Hey! I haven’t done that in years!” Solanza objected from the stairwell. “Come on up, Xantan, the water’s hot, and I dug up some of Domria’s favourite bubble bath.”

     “Bubble… bath?” Xantan looked perplexed by the concept, but rose and followed Solanza up the stairs.

     After drawing so many fresh baths that they ran out of hot water entirely, Xantan turned out to be a rather dashing White Lupe beneath his layers of grime. Swaddled in a fluffy pink and purple bathrobe that had once belonged to Solanza, he didn’t look much like an ancient, all-powerful being. If anything, he just looked tired.

     “Here, Xantan, you can sleep in my room tonight. Domria and I will share,” Solanza said, leading him toward her bedroom.

     He stopped at the doorway, and a visible shudder ran down his spine. He looked… well, terrified, and Domria knew he couldn’t be afraid of Solanza’s colourful and cluttered furniture. Where had he been all these long years, anyway? Had he been alone the whole time? Had he been sleeping in the mud and darkness for centuries?

     “Could you… Stay?” Xantan whispered to Solanza. “I…” He shuddered again and recoiled back a step. “I can’t be alone again.”

     “Of course,” Solanza murmured, brow furrowed in sympathy. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think.”

     Domria felt like she was intruding on what was clearly a vulnerable moment and seized the opportunity to hunt down a spare inflatable mattress. By the time she returned, Solanza was tucked under the covers of her bed, and Xantan was curled atop a pile of blankets on the floor. He shook his head when he saw what she was carrying. “This is fine, thank you, Domria. Sleeping in a house, with real blankets… It’s already enough of an adjustment as it is.”

     “All right, if you’re sure,” Domria said. “Come and grab me if you need anything, okay?”

     “Thank you,” Xantan said, nestling deeper into the blankets. His gaze drifted to Solanza, as if to reassure himself she was still there, and some of the tension eased from his face. “Goodnight, Domria.”

     “‘Night, Domria!” Solanza chirped.

     “Goodnight, both of you. Solanza, I haven’t forgotten about that story.”

     —

     The next morning, armed with a full pot of coffee, she finally heard the whole story. Domria had to admit it was a little strange to hear Solanza’s descriptions of beasts and battles, but she took it at face value when the lavender-scented candle on the table blew out halfway through, and Xantan set it ablaze with a careless flick of his finger. Was that an actual mini fireball?

     “Okay,” Domria said when Solanza had finally lapsed into silence. “So… I guess, what now?”

     The Xweetok looked blankly at her, absent-mindedly tearing a croissant into crumbs. “I… I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it this far. My only goal was to try to find Xantan, and, well, I achieved that.”

     Domria turned to Xantan. “Any thoughts on what you want to do now that you’re here?”

     Xantan looked equally lost.

     Domria sighed. “All right, let’s start with baby steps. Why don’t you two go outside today? Take a little walk around Neopia Central? There’s that shop that sells magical goods- maybe that will remind you a bit of home.”

     Solanza seized upon the suggestion with open gratitude. “That’s a great idea! Xantan, I bet you’d like to see the Rainbow Pool. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. And then we can pick up some snacks from the bakery- I bet you’d like Lupe treats!”

     “That sounds great,” Xantan said, looking bemused. Domria had a feeling that he would’ve agreed with anything Solanza said.

     Solanza clapped her hands together. “All right, it’s settled. Let’s finish eating breakfast, then we can hit the road, and I’ll show you all of the highlights of the new world.” She flashed him a bright smile. “I’m sure you probably miss your home a lot, but hopefully you can find enough here to still be happy.”

     “I lived in that cave for thousands of years, but it was never my home. I haven’t had a home for a long time,” Xantan said softly, and the shade of memories passed across his face. “I’m happy to be somewhere new.”

     After they finished eating, Solanza raced upstairs to grab a jacket while Xantan helped Domria clear the table. The kitchen sink appeared to be a source of fascination for him, and he watched the water keenly as Domria washed the dishes.

     By the time Solanza came back downstairs, Xantan was waiting for her by the door. “Ready?” she asked, beaming.

     Xantan looked out the doorway and smiled, too. “Ready,” he echoed, and together they stepped into the sunlight.

To be continued…