Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Snap out of it!"
Ihra nudges her again.

"Just look at Ihra. I've killed, I've backstabbed. She's not even trying to hurt people."

 

Stephanie looks at Ihra, her eyes wide with fear.

"Hel-" Stephanie faints.

"Ihra's probably one of the purest beings I've ever met. No wonder she's this 'Chosen one' or whatever, she's too good for this world. Too good." I respond.

 

"Stephanie!"
Ihra hugs her.

"Too good for what?"

 

Stephanie remains limp in Ihra's arms; unconscious.

"This world. There's corruption, brain washing, genocide...she's just too sweet to be able to fit in. She cares and supports everyone around her without second thought; one of us gets hurt, she heals them," I respond, "Heck, she half thought the deal with saving you was a trap, but still wanted to because you were part of her race; and she wants to save it."

 

I angrily stay still, waiting for the men to get their captain.

 

"Crap. Wake up!"

"She is the Fragment of Innocence..."

He returns by sundown.
"You're allowed to come in, but no more trouble out of you. You're no chief here; is that clear?"

 

Stephanie remains unconscious, despite Ihra's demands.

"That makes sense, considering how innocent she is. I guess if she's going to 'cure' Xlentia, it's going to be by restoring Xlentia's innocence in some kind of 'Oh my god I wasn't a big evil dragon, I was actually a young girl with a loving family. WHAT HAVE I BECOME!?' way."

 

"Wake up!!"
Ihra shakes Stephanie.

"Actually, you're not totally wrong... She used to be part of a loving family. She wasn't always that big, either."

 

"Whatever." I reply. I open my pack. A few coins of their currency. Enough to buy a room and a meal for a while. As I search for an inn, I silently pray that some from the villages survived.

 

Stephanie remains unconscious, her cloak's hood falling back from the shaking.

"Imagine we're not communicating telepathically, and I'm drinking water. I just spat that water out. Wait, I can just..." I trail off.

Ruby sees a vision of me sipping water, before suddenly spitting it out in surprise.

"So what was she like?" I respond.

 

"I've become used to it. The reflection used to just give me horrible nightmares and use its position of power to make me unable to move or make me do things I didn't want to. But recently it has tried to fully control me several times."

"Maybe she just hasn't found something that she likes to talk about for a while. Then again, I have seen her sleep a lot."
---
I say, "Having another Chrono Lee- ugh, I have to stop calling them that... especially since those bracelets only stop Anna from using magic, not physical attacks. But anyway, having a Krontyri can help us, especially with the threat of another one. Not only that, but I'm having suspicions that Anna has a reason for likely being a better one..."
---
Arnold goes to the nearest draconian.
"Excuse me, but I found a note in the back of a book in a language I know, called the Dark Script. The book itself was about a crime story but the note was signed by a King which seems out of place for a book such as that. Sadly, the note was burnt, but I was wondering if there would either be a way to restore the note or books with spells which could help to restore the note in this library."

 

There's a run-down one near the gate, but you have a bad feeling about this all.

"No..."
"KATIEEE!!!" She shrieks.

"She was a bit of a problem child. She liked collecting shiny things and statues. And collecting. Virei'tus liked seeing what she'd bring back to the Void, and he'd try to end wars to pass his time."

 

Katie runs over almost immediately.

"What's wrong!?" Katie asks, panicked.

"She sounds so...innocent. I'd like to see her like that, but...I sort of made a promise not to do time shenanigans in this world; so I guess it's impossible." I respond.

 

"I'm sorry... If I can help, please let me know."

"She likes to sleep. Especially on me."
-----
"Well... Maybe she'd cooperate if we weren't so hard on her?"
-----
"It'd be in the archive. I'm not a librarian, but it's on the twentieth floor, opposite from the entrance. Not many people are allowed in, though."

 

I decide to stay in the inn, since I don't have enough to stay at a nice one for a long time, like I might have to. I enter, greeting the barman. I say to him, "I'll have some a pint of ale. Any will do." I pass him a few coins. "I could also use some information." I add, sliding a couple more coins across to him.

 

"Stephanie passed out."

"She wasn't. She robbed several museums in curiosity, but her brother managed to get her out of trouble every time."

________________________________

The keep comes back with a cup and jug.

"Depends on what you want to know."

 

"Oh..." Katie says, rather confused, "Is she hurt?"

"Haha, she sounds so cute. Maybe I could try invading her memories some time to see what she was like, albeit from a spectators perspective." I respond.

I realise I may have just contradicted myself, "When I said it was impossible to see her like that, I meant to actually meet her. Not 'see', I guess." I add.

 

"It's fine. The reflection seems to be linked to Arnold, though I'm not sure how."

Aura smirks.
"Are you sure you were given to her? Because it sounds like she was given to you, along with the task of being a bed."
---
Daras says, "I would try that, but I don't see any other way to stop her from escaping for now. Once we've convinced her to stay, then I'll take the bracelets off."
---
"Ah, thank you. Do you know who is allowed into the archives?"

 

"Where can someone like me get a large force of soldiers, big enough to wipe out two tribal villages." I say in a hushed voice. "Preferably non-racists." I add.

 

"I don't know."

"That doesn't sound kind. She is kind of used to being either revered or feared as a god."

"Wait... the robot?"

"No, I was woven by a spell. By her. Made for her, by her."
-----
"Well... What do we do with her now?"
-----
"You can ask. Most are allowed limited, supervised visits."

"Mercs? I'm not sure, their prices have exploded as of late. I doubt you could afford them. Keep your coin, looks like you'll need it."
He gives you back your bribe for information.