Distractions Galore

The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the clearing that had become Ryder’s sanctuary. His powers were back, stronger and more refined than ever, and he had dedicated himself to magical studies since that fateful day when he had finally sealed Erryd away. This clearing was his refuge, a place where he could experiment and push the boundaries of his magic in peace.

“How has Aetherealm been coming along?” Alice asked, watching Ryder as she idly petted the flames on Bastian’s head while he sat in her lap, purring with a contented, crackling hum.

Ryder’s focus broke, and the faint glow of his magic faded as he recalled his levitating spell book to his hands, closing it with a snap. “Actually,” he replied, a thoughtful look crossing his face, “now that you mention it, I can hardly focus on this new ward spell. It is all I have been thinking about lately — Aetherealm, I mean.”

Alice chuckled softly, and Bastian gave a small nod, hopping up to a low branch in a nearby tree, his flaming form leaving soft embers in the air as he landed. “We’ve noticed,” she said with a smile. Rising to her feet, she approached Ryder with that familiar, almost sisterly look in her eyes. “Maybe give the magic a rest for today. Why don’t you work on some of the story details instead?”

Ryder didn’t hesitate. “That sounds like the perfect plan. Let us gather up everything and head back to the cottage — I have all my notes there.”

With a renewed spark in his eye, Ryder tucked his spell book into his pack, picking up the mushrooms he’d been experimenting with earlier. Alice and Bastian shared one last look before, in unison, they dissolved into a scatter of glowing pixels, their forms dissipating into the air as Ryder floated back toward the cottage, the image of Aetherealm vivid in his mind, ready to unfold onto the page.

The front door of the Rothmore cottage burst open as Ryder flew in, shutting it behind him in haste. Before he could process his surroundings, a pair of startled yells filled the room.

“Ryder! Oh god!” Evan’s voice rang out, filled with shock.

“Oh gods, Ryder, we didn’t think you’d be back so soon! Wh-why are you—?!” Reuben stammered, scrambling beside him.

The two had jumped up from the couch, hastily grabbing for anything to cover themselves. Ryder’s eyes widened in horror as he took in the scene of his guardian and roommate scrambling to shield their dignity.

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His hand flew up to cover his peripheral vision, his face flushed in sheer embarrassment. “Gods, indeed! I thought you two would have the decency to be doing that somewhere private! I lay on that couch!” he shouted back, desperately avoiding eye contact as he floated through the room and straight toward his bedroom. He kept his hand firmly over his eyes, muttering apologies until he safely shut and locked his bedroom door behind him. Leaning back against it, Ryder took a huge, steadying breath and rubbed his eyes as though he could somehow erase the memory of what he’d just witnessed.

He drifted over to his desk, where a different notebook lay with notes for Aetherealm. Opening it, he took a shaky breath, hoping to refocus his mind.

“Well, that was…unexpected,” Alice’s voice cut in, and Ryder glanced over to see her manifesting on the edge of his bed, her expression slightly amused. “Never thought I’d see either of them in that state, but Evan, he’s—”

“You mustn’t,” Ryder interrupted quickly, his face flushing even deeper. “We came back here to work on Aetherealm, remember?” he added, clearing his throat and diving into his notes, though his mind spun far too quickly to focus on any one thought.

Alice chuckled softly but took his hint, disappearing into pixels to leave him alone.

Yet the evening didn’t get easier. Ryder found himself staring blankly at the notebook, his thoughts a whirlwind between his magical studies, the story he was trying to develop, and the unwelcome image now burned into his mind. Any ideas he tried to jot down quickly dissolved into the chaos in his head. He spent the rest of the evening holed up in his room, struggling to push aside the distraction that refused to leave him.