Hi, welcome to my first published story! I'm super nervous to put this out there, so any constructive criticism is welcome! Love you all!
The hardest part of traveling through universes is not what I expected.
In my hypothesis, I had predicted that the hardest part would be calculating and refining the spell to make sure I ended up in a universe with air. Or, the research.
Or anything but what the real hardest part was:
Convincing Xeno to let me go.
We stand in the testing room, wands out. The hastily cleared square in the center of the room is bordered by books, charts and diagrams. Xeno stands in front of me, frowning.
"You can't go, Pandora. I'll go first, to make sure it's safe."
"Why you?" I ask. He sighs.
"Because I'm-"
"A man? Stronger? Smarter?" I challenge. He sighs again. Any more and I swear he'll get a breathing problem.
"That's not what I meant, Dora. I just...I just want to keep you safe."
I take his hand. "Xenophilius." He looks up. "Stay here. Take care of Luna. Bond. I'll come back. And if I need help," I pause and point at my head, silently chanting "Legilimens!". I imprint the words "I'll call," into Xeno's brain. He smiles sadly. I pull him into a hug.
"I love you."
"I love you too, honey. Be safe."
I kiss him on the cheek and pull back. "Will you do the honors?" He nods, wipes away a stray tear. Oh, Xeno.
He coughs and points his wand at me. I smile and tilt my head up.
"Cie mea universi aer!"
Universe, here I come, I think as cosmic air whips around me and I feel myself floating.
I catch a fleeting view of Xeno sinking to his knees before I'm swept away.
On an unrelated note, who's excited for Star Wars Rise Of Skywalker? I know I am!
