My dreams were filled with chaos and confusion. Images and sensations flashed through my mind, all colliding in a disorienting kaleidoscope. Then everything seemed to settle, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place, and a familiar scene unfolded before me.

The island... My temple.

Nova and Aeon.

"Kadia," Aeon's voice rang out, clear and resonant.

A flash of white filled my vision as Nova came barreling into me, knocking me back onto the grassy ground.

"You're back," she exclaimed, her voice laced with both excitement and relief. "We were so worried."

I wrapped my arms around her with a sob, burying my face into her hair. "I missed you so much," I murmured, feeling the weight of everything that had happened lift from my shoulders.

Aeon's presence loomed behind us, his silent gaze a comforting reassurance.

I looked up at him, meeting his eyes, and he knelt down, placing a hand on my shoulder.  "It is good to have you back, Kadia."

"It's good to be back," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

We sat like that for a while, the three of us. Me, surrounded by my two closest companions. The comfort and security that their presence brought was a salve on my fractured mind and soul.

They were here. They were real. They were safe. We were together again.

I was home.

"How long was I gone?" I asked, looking between Nova and Aeon.

Aeon's expression grew grim, "we're not sure. We became aware when you did."

"Aware, just now? Or the whole time?"

Aeon sighed, his eyes clouded with concern, "The whole time, Kadia, we saw and heard everything."

"We saw it in the void," Nova interjected, "but it was like watching it through a fog. We could see you, hear you, but we couldn't reach you, and no matter what we did, we couldn't get your attention."

"Your consciousness returned to this world when the sedative took effect," Aeon added, "based on what the doctor told you, it seems likely that this is a manifestation of the neural interface."

I stared at him, feeling numb. "So, what does that mean?"

Aeon sighed, "I do not know, Kadia. I can only speculate, and even then, my own knowledge is limited. There are many possible explanations for what is happening."

Yes, but it was a logical conclusion.

"It's either that, or we're insane," Nova said cheerily, then looked up at me with a grin, "or rather, Kadia is insane."

"I'll admit, that is a distinct possibility," Aeon said, a ghost of a smile flitting across his lips.

I gave a wry laugh. "If this is insanity, then so be it."

"Well, you've already got the 'I belong in a psych ward' hairstyle, so we might as well embrace it," Nova said with a giggle.

I froze, running a hand along my scalp. Sure enough, my hair was shaven, as it had been when I had first awoken. My ears were also missing, and as I ran my fingers over the spot where my fox ears had been, a sense of loss hit me. I felt incomplete, like a part of me had been taken away. It was a strange sensation, and it left me feeling unsettled. Running my hand over my head again, I focused on the auburn strands, willing them to grow back, and soon enough, the fuzz that covered my scalp grew, thickening until my head was once again covered in a mass of wavy locks. My ears soon followed suit, returning to their normal position.

I smiled, satisfied, "that's better."

Aeon watched me with curiosity, "it would appear that you still retain the same level of control over the environment. I am curious as to how much processing power and memory you will have access to, given the nature of the interface."

That was a good question, and one that I had no answer to.

I looked between my two companions, "would you categorize yourself as a digital being?"

"No," Nova shook her head, then her brows furrowed, "yes? I don't know..."

Aeon's eyes narrowed in concentration, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Well, you have no bodies, and no physical forms, correct?" I pressed, wanting to confirm my theory.

"Correct," Aeon answered, his tone thoughtful.

"Would you say you have free will?"

Aeon frowned, "that is a complicated question, Kadia."

"Humor me," I pressed, determined to get a straight answer.

"I suppose," he mused, his gaze distant. "In a manner of speaking, yes."

I looked at Nova, "and you?"

She blinked, her eyes wide, then she shrugged. "I'm not like those other creations you've made, that can't do anything unless you tell them to. I can think for myself and make my own choices, but... I don't know if that makes me a digital being."

Aeon nodded, "yes, the ability to choose one's actions, the ability to think and reason independently, to have emotions, to be aware of oneself. These are all elements that indicate we could be digital beings, but the fact that we are only present here," he tapped his index finger against the side of my head, "is not. In the end, our existence is dependent on your will and perception."

I chewed my lip, considering their words.

Nova grinned, "Yeah, it's like Aeon said, we've got free will and all that, but at the same time, we're sort of connected to you, or rather, you're connected to us."

Aeon chuckled, "what she is trying to say, is that while we are an extension of your will, we are also independent entities, capable of our own thoughts and actions."

I gave a wry smile, "so, basically, you're saying that you're digital beings."

This got a sigh from Aeon and a giggle from Nova, "yes, Kadia, in a way, you are correct. However, it remains to be seen if we are true artificial beings who can act outside of this domain."

"Yes, I suppose you are right." I agreed with a nod.

"Then we shall table this discussion for the time being," Aeon replied, giving me a gentle smile.

"Okay, now that's settled," Nova chimed in, her voice cheerful, "what are we going to do about that?" she asked, pointing up at the sky.

I looked up, gazing into the dark void of space visible beyond the walls of the crater. A faint glimmer caught my attention, a single star shining bright and clear amidst the sea of darkness. That... was not my doing.

Aeon's head tilted to one side as we all looked at the orb of light, "well, that is certainly intriguing. Perhaps, this is a sign that the connection between our world and Earth is not entirely severed? Is it perhaps the power source for the interface?"

"I don't know," I breathed, unable to take my eyes off the shining orb.

"There's more ambient mana in the air," Nova said, her ears flopping over as she cocked her head to the side. "Wouldn't that be the power? I mean, aren't we interpreting data as mana?"

"Yes, I believe it is so," Aeon said with a nod, his gaze still fixed on the glowing sphere. "We do not appear to actualize the data that is being processed by the interface, but rather, Kadia is interpreting it through a different lens, which in turn, is how we interact with it. Thus, we are seeing either the raw power or processing power as mana. It could be both, or either, I suppose. After all, the technology that allows this to occur is beyond anything that we know, or even comprehend. I doubt any of the scientists or doctors who worked on it fully understand it either."

"So," Nova hummed, her gaze thoughtful. "If the power is mana, then what is that," she pointed towards the light again, "supposed to be?"

I focused on the star, willing it to give me answers. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't glean any insight from the distant speck of light. The energy pulsed, vibrating with a frequency that was alien, and yet eerily familiar. It wasn't a part of my temple or the void… it did not belong here.

Intruder... the word floated into my mind, sending a shiver down my spine.

"It feels... pervy," Nova said, wrinkling her nose.

"It does feel somewhat invasive," Aeon agreed, his eyes narrowed.

Reaching inwards. I felt the power within me, familiar and comforting, like an old friend. It surged through my veins, humming with an intensity that I had almost lost. In my human Earthen-form, this same power had been beyond my grasp, but here... here it was mine to command. I focused on the distant flicker, the alien presence, and with a deliberate surge of will, I lashed out. The energy that flowed from me was a torrent, a tsunami of raw power, reaching out towards that distant, flickering light.

As it made contact, I felt a shockwave, a ripple in reality itself. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The world around me became static, as if it were a paused video-feed. And then, just as quickly as it had begun, the feeling passed.

My body sagged, the sudden exertion draining me of strength. But, the alien presence was still there, hovering just beyond my reach. I could feel its influence, its raw energy crackling in the air, the space around it rippling with unseen force.

"Kads, are you okay?" Nova asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"I'm... fine," I said, my voice weak. "I'm just a little tired."

Aeon looked at me, his expression inscrutable, "you should not be. We have never grown tired before..."

A voice rang out through the void. "Miss Greene, please, remain calm. You are having a dream and the neural device is interpreting the dream as a stressor," it said, the voice calm and even.

Nova let out a small squeak and took a step back, "it's that voice again!"

"The A.I." Aeon murmured, his expression guarded.

"Seraphim," I murmured, remembering the name the doctor had used.

"Yes, that is my designation," the A.I. confirmed.

"Why are you here?" I demanded, glaring at the empty void where the voice seemed to come from.

"I am here to monitor your well-being," Seraphim replied, its voice still calm and even.

“Not in my damn head you're not!” I snarled, my ears pinned back against my head, "get out!"

"I am here to monitor your well-being," the A.I.'s voice was patient and calm, as if it were speaking to a child.

"Get out!" I yelled, lashing out with a burst of fire, the flames arced through the air, scorching the void around us.

"Miss Greene, please, calm down, or I will be forced to intervene."

"This is our domain," Nova shouted, her voice trembling. "Leave!"

As we watched, the light coalesced and took form, and an androgynous, angelic being emerged. Six silver-white wings stretched out behind it, the feathers shimmering with an iridescent light. It wore a long white robe that flowed around them, and their face was hidden beneath a white hood.

"Miss Greene," the angel spoke, their voice deep and resonant, "you are dreaming, please, remain calm, or I will be forced to take measures to ensure your safety."

Nova's ears folded back and her tail twitched nervously.

"No," Aeon stated, his voice firm, "we will not let you invade our domain."

The seraphim turned its head to look at him. "You are dreaming, Miss Greene. There is nothing here, save for your subconscious and the neural interface. The voices you are hearing and creatures you are seeing are merely figments of your imagination. This is what humans call a dream. A dream is a state of unconsciousness, typically occurring during sleep, during which the mind is free from conscious control, and the imagination is allowed to roam freely. Dreams may have various forms, but typically consist of vivid images and scenarios that are often bizarre or surreal. This is a dream, Miss Greene."

"No, it isn't," I snapped, "you're invading our temple, get out, or face our flames."

"Your vitals are elevated, and your brain activity is spiking. Please, calm down, Miss Greene. You are exhibiting signs of an anxiety attack, and it is within my protocols to administer a sedative."

"And what good will that do?" Aeon asked, his tone wry, "after all, as you said, this is a dream. You cannot sedate someone who is already asleep."

"I will provide a sedative of a higher dosage to induce a deeper state of unconsciousness, one which is beyond the level of dreaming. This will allow the mind and body to rest more fully, and will aid in the healing process."

"Kadia does not require a sedative," Aeon's voice was cool and dismissive. "You are clearly unqualified to determine what is best for Kadia, and while she may be dreaming, this is still her domain, and she has already asked you to leave."

"This is the data transmission hub," the A.I. said, its voice growing stern. "This is not designated as a 'domain'. I am trying to help you, Miss Greene, but you are not making it easy. Please, calm down, or I will have to increase your sedation."

"Mmm," I made a noncommittal noise, not really paying attention to what was being said, as my focus was on the flow of power which filled the void.

I was sorting through what was part of my domain and that which was not, slowly identifying the seraphim's power and its intricate connection to the essence of this place. The seraphim, being A.I. themselves, were not 'hosted' on my server or rather in my domain, but they rather it was plugging into my network from the outside, and the computational power, which made up the seraphim's current form, was the same power that had been channeled into the construction of this place.

It was, if I was to continue with this line of thought, akin to a virus. An entity not inherently malicious, but distinctly foreign, disrupting the natural order of my domain by its sheer presence. And how did one go about expelling or combating a computer virus?  

Antivirus and security software, of course.

That was, I realized, something I had neglected to create when forming the temple and island. It would seem that guards and anti-intrusion wards were necessary to keep unwanted entities at bay.

"Kads, are you even listening?" Nova's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Huh, what?" I asked, blinking, my train of thought derailed.

"I was asking what you wanted to do about that thing," she said, gesturing at the seraphim.

This-" I smiled down at her, then looked up at the intruder, "is a matter for our guardian," I declared, raising a hand towards the void. My words seemed to act as a catalyst, pulling streams of light from the darkness as they were summoned from the depths of my memories.

The light coalesced into a form both magnificent and compelling as a massive, golden fox, its fur shimmering with ethereal glow, appeared in the air before us. This was not just any fox, but one with nine majestic tails fanning out behind it, each tail tipped in pure white fur.

For what greater protector for the temple, than a guardian spirit manifested in the visage of Trismegistus himself?   

"Miss Greene-" the A.I. tried to protest, but it was too late.

The fox sprang into action, its movement a blur, as it  leapt towards the seraphim, its fangs bared and claws extended. The two collided in a shower of sparks and a brilliant flash of light, the force of the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the void.

"Miss Greene, please, cease this nonsense and remain calm." Even while under attack, the A.I.'s voice remained calm and even.

The guardian spirit, however, was undeterred by the seraphim's pleas. Its claws tore into the seraphim's wings, its teeth sinking into the A.I.'s flesh. With a mighty heave, the spirit flung the seraphim away, its wings flapping furiously as it attempted to regain its balance.

"Miss Greene, I have detected an anomaly. I am not able to ascertain the source, or reason for it, but it appears to be connected to the data transmission hub. I will run diagnostics and attempt to correct the issue."

I watched as the A.I. struggled against the guardian, its movements growing increasingly frantic. I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, as I saw the A.I. struggle, its form starting to dissolve, and its wings beginning to disintegrate.

"You are not welcome here," I called out, my voice echoing through the void, "leave."

The A.I. seemed to waver, as if uncertain, then, the great fox struck, its teeth tearing into the seraphim's throat.

"Miss Greene-" the A.I. managed, before its voice died out, its form vanishing, leaving nothing behind but a faint, glimmering trace of light.

"That should keep it from bothering us again, for now at least..." I muttered, studying the faint shimmer of energy that permeated the air. How to get rid of it? I didn't want any traces of that invasive A.I. left in my realm, but how to deal with this lingering data residue?

The last thing I wanted was for it to somehow use that to get a foothold back into this realm. The residual data energy, as benign as it seemed now, could allow the A.I. to reconstruct itself or, worse, serve as a backdoor for it or something else to enter.

"That was so cool," Nova exclaimed, bouncing up and down as she stared up at the fox who was now prowling around the very edge of the crater walls, then as we watched, it laid down along the upper rim of the crater which rose up behind the temple, and its massive body seemed to merge with the landscape, becoming part of the island itself. Gazing up at it now, it looked like nothing more than a statue carved into stone, but its watchful gaze gave it a palpable sense of vigilance, as if it were still ready to spring into action at any moment.

"Is that our patron? Trismegistus?" Aeon asked,

"Indeed, it is," I said, unable to keep the smile from my lips. "Or rather, a manifestation of him that will serve to protect our home."

The temple guardian would not be the only line of defense, however.

If the A.I. was able to enter my domain, it would likely only be a matter of time before other, less benevolent entities did the same. In order to ensure no such thing happened, I would need to strengthen the defenses.

"Well," I said, glancing at my two companions. "Now that has been dealt with, it would seem we need to work out how to create firewalls and such to prevent further intrusions."

"Well, obviously, you create them with fire," Nova giggled, "it's even in the name."

"It is a metaphor, Nova," Aeon corrected, his tone wry, "it is a term used to describe a system of defense and protection against unwanted access. The term is derived from-"

"I know what a firewall is, Aeon!" Nova huffed, cutting him off with a stamp of her foot, "but that doesn't mean we can't use actual fire," she finished with a pout, her hands planted firmly on her hips.

I nodded, "Nova's got a point. Fire is a potent tool, and we could use it as both a literal and a metaphorical form of defense."

"Indeed, the combination of both physical and magical defenses would be quite effective," Aeon said, ruffling Nova's hair, "but a literal fire wall would be rather obnoxious."

"True-" I started to agree, but was cut off as a disturbance filled the void around my temple, a pressure building around me.

The world around me suddenly warped and shifted. One moment I was standing in the temple, the next I found myself lying back on the hospital bed, my gaze directed upward. I was staring at a stark white ceiling, its immaculate surface interrupted only by a single light fixture.

A deafening alarm was ringing somewhere nearby, its shrill tone piercing through the air. The sounds echoed off the sterile white walls, and the light fixture started to flash red, adding to the disorienting ambience.

The door to the room I was in burst open and people flooded in. They were all dressed in white, moving in a blur of urgency. Nurses and doctors swarmed around me, their eyes reflecting a mix of concern and determination. The room buzzed with their hushed, frantic voices, and I struggled to make sense of it all, my mind wading through a foggy daze. The sharp scent of sterilized instruments filled my nostrils, the whirring machines surrounding me added a surreal layer to the unfolding scene.

"What is going on?" I tried to ask the nearest person, but my words were lost in the chaos.

A pair of hands were suddenly gripping my shoulders as two people tugged me upright. The sudden shift in position sent a wave of dizziness crashing through me, and I couldn't help but groan in response.

As I struggled to keep my focus, another approached from my peripheral, clasping what looked to be a large metal ring, which was clasped around my neck, connecting me to a machine that was giving off urgent beeps.

"Hurry and get her into the chair! We need to move, now!" Someone barked, their voice laced with urgency.

The next thing I knew, they were hoisting me off the bed and into a wheelchair. I tried to fight them, but my body was still weak and uncooperative. The world was spinning around me as they pushed me down the sterile white hallways, each turn sending sparks of pain shooting through my head.

Hallways whizzed by in a blur, punctuated by occasional glimpses of other figures, several with guns, all of them rushing back in the direction we'd come from. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, my mind still struggling to process what was happening. 

As we reached a set of large double doors which slid open to reveal an elevator, I saw her. A woman dressed in all black, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her hair, a rich, fiery red, was stark against her black attire. It was pulled back tightly, a few rebellious strands escaping to frame a face that was both striking and familiar. Her eyes, a piercing green, moved swiftly over the chaotic scene, her gaze sharp and alert, until they landed on me. The intensity in her gaze was so arresting that it felt like time slowed, the chaos around us fading into the background.

A jolt of recognition raced through me, and my breath caught in my throat. "Mom..." I murmured, the sound scarcely more than a sigh slipping from my mouth.