Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"And? Seems pretty trivial after what you've done to her." Shadow Stephanie asks.

 

Xlentia groans.
"No forgiveness for whatever I do? I'm trying to ask you and her what I need to do to make up for what the Hive Master left me with. Realm-wide revival preventing true death, a favor for each of you, full use of my facilities... hell, maybe I should ask Tenebrae what she'd do, because you're acting like my gifts of fifty times your kingdom's worth is dirt." She sighs, portal beginning to close.

 

"I forgive you, she doesn't though." Shadow Stephanie says casually.

 

Xlentia seems shocked.
"W-well, I guess that's the first step..." She utters, portal closing.

 

Shadow Stephanie throws a small, shiny metal sphere through the portal right before it closes entirely.

 

Xlentia looks at it curiously.

 

It's just a small metal sphere, reflective in the light.

 

Xlentia seems suspicious, being there isn't much light for it to reflect...
She then drops it and gives up on trying to pick it up again.

 

The sphere rolls a bit from the drop, but stays level on non-slanted ground.

 

Linoa, being smaller and thus able to see the hardly moving object in the first place, picks it up and looks for any etchings or spells before rolling it into Xlentia's treasure heap, her leaving as Xlentia busies herself with something else.

 

The most Linoa can make out is that the ball appears to be made out of nickel, though there's nothing else to it.

 

Linoa starts to leave, but has Muffy cough up one last portal.


Stephanie sees Linoa peek her head through again.
"They're dead." She says before slinking back.

 

"Good." Stephanie says from her bed, looking a little healthier.

 

"Your shadow also wanted to make sure you were okay. I think I just told her you were going to be okay." Linoa says. "They also had a dumb conversation about Xlentia talking behind your back, but she pretty much just exaggerated what you asked of her and said she'd go lighter on her subjects. So, I guess, whatever you got her all worked up about, thanks."

 

"Oh, ok. What was Xlentia saying about me exactly?" Stephanie asks.

 

"Let me just use a hologram..." Linoa says, pulling out a crystal and closing her eyes.
---
"After Stephanie, I don't know if I'll have the patience to ever try and appease a mortal. I'll certainly be lighter on my subjects if I'm anything close to as demanding as she was!" Xlentia says, exasperated.
"It's not nice to talk about people behind their backs, you know."
"Sorry. People do it to me all the time. It's not normal?"
"It's pretty fucking rude."

 

"I see. Thanks." Stephanie says, amused by her Shadow's attitude.

 

"Your shadow forgave her, but said you don't. I don't doubt that, but I... uh... wanted to make one other thing clear. Xlentia didn't quite tell you absolutely everything when she told you what was needed for her to revive Ihra. Linoa says, the crystal glowing again.
---
"I'm just not used to a mortal demanding so much of me. I'm glad your group saved me, but demanding something of me that can easily kill me? I... I don't know if I've ever been that grateful in my entire span of existence."
"What did she 'Demand'?"
"She said she'd only forgive me if I revived Ihra... which requires ripping my soul in two."
---
"I wouldn't say you were demanding, but you certainly have kept her awake for the past few weeks." Linoa adds.

 

"I wish she'd told me that. I'm not even sure if I can get all the charges needed, either." Stephanie says, sounding defeated.

 

"To be honest, she told me immediately after she just wanted you to offer her a shot at forgiveness. I was asked to warn your friends that everything needed would also endanger you as well - other relics would be needed to complete the process with absolutely no side effects." Linoa adds, a bit frustrated with the prospect as well.
"Hell, the power isn't the problem. You know the preservers? Emerald goes through three thousand charges a minute!" She groans, before hesitating.

"I-I'm sorry... I just... heard so much about Ihra, that I really asked her to let me join you to get a chance to meet her." Linoa admits.