Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"For the most part."

Linoa heads to the east wing, going up a flight of stairs before opening a door that lets the smell of salty poolwater rush out at her and Crystal.
"Well... smells like a pool."

 

"Yeah. Well, we'll worry about it, if we come across it. Have a good day."
I say, starting to leave.

"Why does a pool smell different than just water?"

 

"Be careful." They say, pressing a button on a remote to open the door for you.

"Oh, can you not smell? They add a few chemicals in pool water to keep it in good condition. So you don't find icky stuff like mold or bugs living in the pool water. They don't harm the swimmers, though."

 

"Is Lucy the same as Beth?"

 

The sorceress snorts, giggling.
"Ah, I'm sorry... I just... give me a sec."
She takes a breath.
"No, Lucy isn't the same as Beth, but I'm under Lucy's dominion and not the other way around like Beth. I do have thirteen others, if you've got any contract breakers who'd care to meet some real demons, though."

 

"Goodness, if its sacrifices I may have to invade a kingdom again."

I contact my second in command.

 

Artemis just pats Sgavrinn lightly.

A while later, I appear behind Artemis.

"You're mostly good." I say to Alice.

 

"I will."
I say, leaving, and heading to the portal room.

"Okay."
Crystal says, opening his mouth.
"Oh yeah, that does smell different."

 

"We don't need sacrifices. If we do, not many. Look, if you're gonna have a colony here, you may as well start on good terms with the demon queen, so I suggest you take my offer seriously."

"Yes, sir?"

"I'm not going to have to hurt anyone trying to get to the statue, am I?" She asks, raising an eyebrow.

Again, no interruptions, except for Ytir visible on the other side of the portal, pacing about.

Linoa chooses not to question it, walking out of the doorway and sitting down.

 

I step through the portal.
"Hey."

Crystal takes a seat next to Linoa, watching the pool.

 

"Not unless you want to ruin your name again." I say.

 

"I am opening another portal. Send an unarmed messenger who is willing to make compromises but puts the kingdom first."
I say, opening a portal.

 

"Is she okay?" Ytir asks hastily.

Eight people are swimming back and forth, cheering slowly increasing as two swimmers make the final turn neck and neck.

A messenger steps through, bowing to you as they step through.

"So I can get to the statue without being attacked?"

 

"Yeah, you'll just be watched." I say.

 

Alice nods.
"Thanks." She says, forming a small portal to the front of the palace and diving through it.

Wary, she keeps an eye on her back as she approaches the palace gates.

 

"She will be. You seem extremely worried."
I point out.

Crystal keeps watching, excited.

 

The guards keep a close eye on Alice as they open the gates for her.

"Cause no trouble." One of the guards says.

 

"I'm praying and I'm out." She responds, heading to the statue room.

"Yeah, I sort of am. That stuff could jeopardize our shot at getting rid of that stupid kingdom."

It only last seconds, but they both finish at nearly the exact same time.
"...The winner of the 4 by 400, by a tenth of a second, is number 5, with number 7 in second place!" The lifeguard announces.

 

It's quite a walk to the statue room, and Alice feels a pair of eyes on her at all times as she walks there.

Once she reaches the statue room, Alice finds a few other Shadows praying.

 

Alice opts to let them finish.