Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"She was a newborn then. No, she didn't have a say in it. The alternatives are worse, unfortunately..."

 

I look over to Ihra, shaking my head, "Poor girl, her life was already set out for her. Somehow I feel she's undeserving of such a fate..."

"What about that watch of true time?" Artemis says hopefully.

"We could only view; I don't think I exist in the timeline where Ihra doesn't have the staff. If we were to shift the timelines, then the future would change, and the timeline would switch. We'd either need to return to this timeline, or be erased in place of our new selves." I say grimly, "Ihra's fate is tied to the timeline, changing that would change the timelines."

"Though, I could create a fake timeline; a simulation if you would. We could interact with Ihra and others, and have no affect on the true timeline."

 

"That's impossible. Thing is... we'd already have lost the war if she didn't have it."

 

"The war?" Artemis asks.

 

"We'd be dead. Our world would already be destroyed."

 

"I guess Ihra's fate really is sealed with that staff..." Artemis says, with a slight sadness in her voice.

"What would happen to the relationship between Ihra and the staff if Ihra were to die?" I ask, curious.

 

"Her soul would be trapped in the staff, forgotten by all but the next wielder."

 

Artemis shoots me a frightened look, "I...I don't want to use her staff." She says nervously.

"I don't think that's the plan; Kyrae said you'd use your powers, remember?" I say, trying to calm Artemis, "I'm guessing you could use your clairvoyance on the staff's crystal to make contact with Ihra, then save her."

"Her soul would be trapped in the staff, and her body would most likely be erased by the true decay. I can't recover her soul if it's inhabiting the weapon, and I doubt she'd want to continue her life from inside a wooden version of herself." Artemis says, a slight grief to her words.

I seem concerned, "Maybe I could take her body from a different timeline, and you could swap her souls?"

"Two of the same person cannot exist in the writing present of a timeline; even I know that." Artemis says.

I seem a little stressed out, "Don't worry about it, it's not your burden to bear. What's important is Ihra's alive right now." Artemis says sweetly.

I sigh, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." I say, smiling at Artemis.

 

"It won't be in the way you think it is. Promise me one thing...

...when my time comes, she must be there. I need to keep an eye on someone, I'm trusting you, again. Don't make me regret it; I know your tricks now."

 

I bow down, facing the ground, "I'm deeply sorry for what happened; I'll make sure she stays safe."

Artemis walks over to Ihra, making sure she's not disturbed. I join her shortly after.

 

I fire a dark bolt at Xephyr.

 

After a while, she wakes up.
You're almost used to this. At least she seems conscious and energetic.
"Okay... what were we doing before I fell asleep?"

It lands, and she screams, but the distortion stops.
When the dark field collapses, she looks... well... distorted. Her wings are disproportionately large.
"Ugh... maybe I should just finish this myself..."
A blue glow surrounds her, and the orb expands. When it collapses, Xephyr looks like a normal ice dragon. (but fancier, somehow)
"At least I'm not under their control. Forgive me, master, but I think it's best I stay in this form a while."
She's big enough to the point you could stand on her wing and it wouldn't affect her flight.
"They can't try to backdoor my mind this way, but I'm a... well... bigger target."

 

"Oh, well we were play-" Artemis cuts me off by covering my mouth with her hand.

"You're not supposed to tell her!" She whispers to me with an angry tone.

"We were...um...dancing!" Artemis says, putting on a false smile, "Yes, we split into pairs: You and Rineth and Aj and I; we were having a dance off!"

"A dance off, really?" I whisper to Artemis.

"Well it's a whole lot better than telling her what really happened!" Artemis whispers back.

"I believe it was our turn, Artemis. You got so tired out after dancing you decided to take a nap." I say, turning to Ihra, "Your performance was nothing short of awesome, however. I'd be concerned if you weren't tired out! Haha!"

 

She looks at you awkwardly.
"One, where's Rineth, and two, what's dancing?"

She realizes she has to resummon Rineth, then does so.

 

"My my, Aj! In her exhaustion this poor girl has forgotten how to dance!" Artemis says in a faux-shocked voice.

"Then our only option is to give her the best example she could ever hope for!" I reply.

Artemis and I begin our dance, a little more elborate than the previous one. We seem to be enjoying ourselves.

 

She looks at you awkwardly.
"Are you two married or something?"

 

I almost drop Artemis, "Uhh, heh heh...umm..." I can't seem to get the words out.

Artemis blushes furiously, "Well, we're not...hmm...the thing is..."

We both look at each other awkwardly.

"Uh, n-no we're not married...but..."

"I-is it hot out here? Ha..heh.." Artemis struggles to say.

 

Ihra grins.
I'll leave you two to that. Vei hated it when I walked in on Riihs and her."
Rineth winks at you, then vanishes with Ihra.

 

Artemis blinks, clearly not understanding what just happened. I seem rather befuddled too, especially confused by Rineth.

"I feel like we've just given Ihra a sword to stab us with." I say, feeling like an idiot.

"D-Did that just happen? Like, that was real and not some kind of illusion?" Artemis says, looking at me nervously.

"I believe so. I somehow feel as if it's karma for something I did earlier, though."

"What did you do!?" Artemis snaps.

"W-Well, I kinda thought Vesius and Ihra were...well...like us." I say awkwardly.

Artemis buries her head in her hands, "Great. She's probably telling everyone now."

"You...wanted to keep our relationship private?" I ask.

"Yes...no...I don't know." Artemis says, stressed.

I give Artemis a large embrace, "Ihra doesn't matter. What matters is we have each other." I say, holding Artemis close.

Artemis kisses me on the cheek, smiling, "Thanks." She says.

 

Ihra approaches from a bush.
"Found it! Look, you look similar to them!"
She holds out a photo... Vei's in a wedding dress, and the picture is of Riihs dancing with her.
You hear Rineth groan.