Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"It depends on the strength of the contract. Some are just guidelines they're free to disobey, while others employ magic to make it almost impossible for those weaker to rebel." Stephanie says.

"We do. A lot of the females have been known to be particularly dangerous, taking the...lewder, contracts and turning on their since fairly incapacitated summoner after it's complete." I respond, "But...not everyone's bad. Had I followed my usual routine with those that summon someone as powerful as I with the one I take my form from, I wouldn't have ever met Artemis or the others."

 

"What? How? Did I hurt them at all? I poisoned one of the enemy wells. What's going on?" I wait for a response to my questions.

 

"That's horrible! What if the Hive or someone like them did that?"

"I still hope Artemis wasn't spying on us. Where is she, anyways?"

________________________________

"They figured as much and used a different well. Hurry, go!"

 

"Well, they'd need to know what to do, and avoid being turned on by the Shadow or Shadows they summon. If they're lower tier, then they'd most likely bow to Aj if we were to run into them. If they're higher tier and somehow agree to it, I doubt they'd turn on another Shadow or those they protect." Stephanie says.

"She's training with her mother. I doubt she'd be spying on us; the most I could see is Myria spying on us, and I didn't sense her," I respond, "Can't you use your powers to see where she is, anyway?"

 

I reluctantly gallop off towards the Nii-Tan village to warn them.

 

"Good point. That's not as cruel as it seems, maybe."

"So, the only problem with that is that I wield life magic. The less energy I have, the more dead I am. The aura is to keep the regen in check; the more energy I have, the faster I generate it. The less, the slower. So no, I can't check on her like this."

________________________________

It's a longer ride than you remember. However, it looks like they already know. The village is abandoned.

 

I ride to the closest human settlement, Reen.
OOC: Reen is a friendly fishing town that is fully self sufficient.

 

Stephanie takes a page out of her sketchbook, getting up and walking to Ihra.

"Here, I finished it." Stephanie says, handing Ihra the drawing.

"Well, I'm sure Artemis and her mother would make quite good allies to you; since they're to do with healing and life," I respond, "Well...they're death guardians, but that doesn't mean they can't use their forest guardian powers. They're just more to one side"

 

The guards block your way.
"Who are you and where are you from?"

"It's... What is it?"

"I'd rather you not tell them. If they go to drain the life out of me... We'll both have problems."

 

"It's a drawing of the hive master. At least, what I think he looks like." Stephanie says.

The drawing is of a large-horned draconian, glaring evilly. He wears a dark cloak and golden clothing, and an army of dull-eyed draconians stand around him, extending into the background. Strangely, a golden honeycomb pattern is used for the background.

"Alright, I respect your wishes. I won't tell them about your deal with life and magic." I respond happily.

 

"That looks... Nothing like the Hive, but it looks pretty good. He's a chameleon of sorts, with his coloring only. So, I can't complain about the coloring... Looks really good, actually."

"It's just that I'd melt and they'd overload and die too. I know she's your girlfriend, and I... I know what it's like to lose a partner. Though, I do wish to ask you keep something a secret..."

 

"Thanks!" Stephanie says happily, returning to the shade of the tree and continuing her other drawing.

"What's that?" I respond in shadow tongue, to confuse anyone attempting to listen in.

 

The cloaked man releases a bolt, hitting the apple dead center and knocking it off. "Prepare target Number Two." The cloaked man says, reloading his crossbow. I place a gelatinous gloop on my head.

 

"Do you do art when you aren't practicing magic?"

"So... You know the Blood Rites Ihra spoke of?

The preservers were pit against each other. We had a plan to escape, and I was to bust open the exit.

Only thing is, I made an oath to Xlentia.
And I was the one they trusted the most."
She replies in shadow tongue, hoping the same thing.

________________________________

"Don't shoot yoursef."

 

"Yeah, it takes my mind off things and calms me down." Stephanie says happily.

"I don't follow. You betrayed the other preservers?" I respond in shadow tongue.

 

"Huh. That's nice."

"Yeah. I was the one who killed them. I was still loyal to Xlentia, I didn't know she was corrupted then. That's how my strongest spell got its name; Blood Ruby. It killed them all in one sweep."
She pauses.
"I still regret that."

 

Stephanie smiles, drawing and humming to herself. Her bracelet turns black.

"I'll keep your secret safe. You did what you thought was right for Xlentia, and you didn't know," I respond in shadow tongue, "I've got a lot of regrets too. I've ended the lives of so many, and it just feels wrong. Ending someone's life like blowing out a candle...It's why I've tried to change myself."

A thousand petrified faces, men, women and children, flash before Ruby's eyes. Each face meeting their own death at the blade of a dark katana.

"I don't know why I killed them. It's not like, in our world, it's kill or be killed. They were innocent. At least you had reason to kill those preservers, you were acting under your oath to Xlentia; I was just killing." I respond in shadow tongue, regret in my voice.

 

"This is a very skilled practice session to help hone my aiming." The cloaked man fires, hitting the gloop dead center, causing it to explode into globs of slime. "Target Number 3" The cloaked man says, reloading his crossbow. I nod, placing a smaller Apple on my head. It wouldn't be hard to miss.

 

"What happened there?"

"Finally, someone who understands... I assimilated all of them. I feel both sides. It's horrific."
Pause.
"At least you're able to change yourself."

"Still, don't shoot yourself. If you do, I'll have an 'I told you so' moment."

 

"Yes yes, and I'll have one if you cause me to mess up my aim." The cloaked man says, firing upon the apple, just barely grazing the side. The force is enough to knock it off though. "Ugh, Target Number 4." The cloaked man says, reconfiguring his crossbow. I nod, placing a grape on my head.