Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Daggers," Shadow Stephanie says, summoning a pair of black daggers in her hands; they look intimidatingly sharp, "I think I found them when Aj found his katana, but it's so long ago I can't really remember. I just remember having them and using them."

Shadow Stephanie spins her daggers, throwing them up and de-summoning them.

The nurse takes Stephanie into a private room. She carefully lays Stephanie on a soft looking bed, and dresses her in a cotton gown. She covers Stephanie over and turns to leave.

"She just needs time to wake up. She'll be fine, I'm sure." The nurse says, before leaving.

As the nurse leaves, Artemis and I enter the room. My royal clothing, as well as myself, appear to be free of blood.

"How is she?" Artemis asks, concerned.

"She's just unconscious after the operation. She should be fine; Ihra helped a lot." Shadow Stephanie says.

Artemis hugs Ihra, "Thank you, Ihra." She says sincerely.

 

"Alright." I take a deep breath. I focus on the dummy, and swing the sword as hard and fast as possible right when the dummy phases in.

 

Ihra hugs back.
"Maybe I'm not so bad..."

Turns out not to be very hard or very fast.
That thing's stupid heavy.
You cut deep into the dummy, but the blade's weight does much more than you did.

 

"This thing's stupid heavy." I comment, backing up. After several paces, I charge at the dummy and slash at it just before it phases back in.

 

"It's not stupid heavy once you get used to it."

If by "charge" you mean "does this even qualify as walking?," you cut deep into the dummy, but fail to cut all the way through it.

 

"You saved Stephanie; I wouldn't count that as bad." I say, smiling.

Stephanie remains asleep on her bed. She looks peaceful, like she wasn't close to death a while ago.

"I'm sure your mother would be proud, Ihra." Artemis says happily.

Shadow Stephanie heads toward the door, "I need to get something. I'll be back soon." She says, before leaving.

 

"Ugh, this thing reminds me of back when I worked in the mines." I place the sword on the ground and grab my own sword. "I wanna see if I can even cut the dummy without using the broadsword." I back up, take a deep breath, and charge at the dummy, slashing at it just before it phases in.

 

"Thanks. I hope she is..."
She sighs.
"How long has it been? Since we went in the portal?"

The blade barely cuts through halfway.
The material is tougher than most armor, though. And it's a solid block.

 

"Well then. You're probably right about the whole 'I need to train with a heavier sword' thing."
I pick up his sword and sheath my own.
"Though Perphaps I should get out of my armor and remove my bags."
I undo my cloak and un strap all my bags, revealing my golden armor. I then remove my golden armor, revealing some relatively normal clothing.
"I feel so light." I comment, backing up.
I charge at the dummy right as it is about to phase in and slash at it.

 

"About a day. It was night when we got here, morning when we went hunting and it's just about evening now." I say.

"I kind of want to stay here for the night. At least we have a soft bed." Artemis says.

"Yeah; I think I'd prefer that. What do you think, Ihra?" I ask.

 

More speed alone doesn't seem to help much. You still fail to make a full cut, but you're closer than before.
"Don't try full power swings. Learn to handle it first, then it'll come easier."

"Sure. I think I can manage that."

 

"Alright." I start swinging the sword around.
"It's been a while since I've done sword training. I've really been focusing more on improving my crossbow and spear skill, and I've only become a human recently."

 

"Alright, we should probably tell Abigail and Katie our plans." I say.

Shadow Stephanie returns, holding a jar of honey. A small crystal is affixed to the bottom within the jar.

"Here, I don't think this is nearly enough to repay you, but i hope it's suitable." Shadow Stephanie says, handing Ihra the jar of honey.

 

It takes a surprisingly short time to get used to the weight once you've thrown it around a bit.
"Crossbow, eh? I can't blame you, but I can't agree with you. They're pretty handy, but I'm a bit of a sucker for tradition."

"Ooh, thanks!
...what does the crystal do?"

 

"Im not. It's equipped with an automatic loader, so I can shoot one bolt per second. It's a massive hassle to keep though, and it's rather fragile."

 

"It uses magic to refill the honey when the jar is emptied and the lid is put back on. I thought you might like it since you like honey so much, so a technically infinite supply would be heaven for you." Shadow Stephanie says.

"Stephanie, Ihra and the others are going to be staying here for the night." I say.

"Alright, that's fine. If you want you could go now, I'll stay by Stephanie in case she wakes up in the night." Shadow Stephanie says.

"Thanks, I'll go tell Abigail and Katie. I'm not sure what Eras and Idala want to do, though." I say heading toward the door. Artemis follows me.

 

"That's nice. How is it with accuracy?"

"Oooooh!"
Ihra sits down and starts eating the honey, oblivious to you two leaving.

 

"Are you going to stay here, Ihra? I don't think there's anywhere comfortable for you to sleep." Shadow Stephanie says, looking at Ihra.

I wait outside the door, "Come on, Ihra. Stephanie's just going to be asleep, and after what happened, I think you need some rest." I say.

 

"uuh? oh..."
She takes her tongue out of the jar and follows you out the door.

 

Artemis and I head through various medical rooms before getting to the elevator. I begin turning some of the dials and wait for Ihra to get in the elevator too.

Artemis yawns, "I can't wait to lie down on one of those nice beds." She says, tired.