The Mat-Zemlya Companion, Part 1

 "So, this is the group, eh?" The black fennec fox asks as she jumps on the Time Walker's shoulder. They both watch as the large group travels out of the religious sanctuary they met in and into the world of Mat-Zemlya.

    "This is them." The Time Walker confirms. They remained surprisingly intact for their first time walk. Only a few minor changes here and there.

    "Good. And I take it you will be leaving soon for your own group?"

    "Yes, in a bit. I just haven't visited and experienced this space in a while. To think this is a Nodo Fati."

    "Always has been." The fox leaps from the shoulders of the Time Walker to the kneeling rail around the sanctuary altar. "You know I found two of the other Creators here, after all. Talk about a Custodius crossover."

    The Time Walker ponders the information as she sits. She takes in the surroundings that creep into the dreams of her Creator from time to time. The dust on the green carpet. The sun resisting stained glass confinement. Oak pieces full of stories of sacrifice and celebration. Just grazing her fingers against the off-white tiles by her side takes her through so many visions of threads and experiences that her and her Creator have been through. And will go through. "Does Andrei know-?"

    "Not yet. But I suspect he will soon enough." The fox answers. "His energy originates here, but prefers X-Elia's embrace as his home. So he is just as fairly new to this place just as much as the others are. You know."

    "Otito being Otito." The Time Walker laughs. She flops backward to lay on the tile in peace.

~ ~ ~

Dearest Gerald,

Thanks to that menace of ours -Amethyst Eventide- I have been separated from you. Again. I have been told by that fiend that you may not even remember me anymore. That alone broke my heart, but I did not have time to grieve as I adjusted to this new world. It is called Mat-Zemlya, from what I could tell. Or, what I’ve been told by my new ally. 

        I met him when I was taking my daughter (Yes, it seems I have a daughter here. More on that later, darling.) to school. He introduced himself as Doctor Mellan Lavadi. He is a quantum physicist that teaches a few subjects at my daughter’s school. I guess a quantum physicist is a scholar who experiments with time and how time can possibly be changed, from what he basically explained to me. He said that he heard I was interested in learning about his area of expertise and offered to help. My daughter said it sounded like he was flirting with me, but Mellan assured her and I that his intentions were innocent, pointing to his own wedding band. 

Speaking of new acquaintances and the like, about my daughter. Our daughter? I’m not sure. She definitely looks like what a daughter of ours would look like if we had one. After being pushed into this world, I was blessed with this almost-adolescent delight, along with a note that stated this was my (our) daughter, Elise. She is a sweetheart, just like you are. She is also hiding some latent magical ability. She says she can see things. Things that look like layers of silk veils on top of our reality. She says she can touch them too. She knows -somehow- that you are her father, but you are in another veil. But she says she can place things in the veil you are in. With that in mind, this letter is a test concocted by the three of us -Mellan, Elise, and myself- to see if her magic truly is as astounding as it sounds. 

If this letter reaches you, there is a way to confirm it. Our mutual menace -Amethyst Eventide- will be in a tavern with her adventuring party in a town near you. Go in disguise, find her, and tell her this: “The Nodo Fati resides here, Time Walker. Are you prepared?” If she answers affirmatively, then Elise will hear you both and be able to confirm our test. Then we can work to reunite and get rid of our troubles -and those who cause them- once and for all. I’m not sure why Mellan wants you to say that specifically, but he says it is important and that he will explain why on another visit. Elise says that if this works, I can pass letters to you and you will be able to write and send letters of your own back. I hope that she is right. I miss you -and your letters- dearly.

Forever Yours,

Vivian