Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Be careful. We were worried when you never came back from the stronghold until after the attack."

Muffy shrugs.
"Mrow."

 

"Why didn't you tell your boss? Or one of us?" The guard asks.

 

"I got locked up by a friend who's delivering a report. He's probably not near the castle... unless he got captured."

"Well,"
Crystal starts, flattening his head and making a bigger platform for Muffy.
"This is for you if you want to."

 

"Hey, people who want me dead. I was wondering if you knew I was running from, like, you." Alice half-mocks. "Plus I'm practically unhireable for treason."

"Sounds like a shity friend."

Muffy just takes the opportunity and falls asleep.
In the mornings, the dragon seems to have woken first and left.

 

"The king cleared your name, mostly." The guard says.

 

"Well, they also gave me a crystal to escape and formed an inside report."
I explain.

Crystal waits for Linoa to wake.

 

"That was recently, not then. I'm looking into arranging a way to stay here since my name's only cleared in the palace."

"Huh... how did they know it was you?"

It takes hours.
"Morning... I think." She yawns.

 

"I don't think there's very many eyeless broadsword-wielding robots in that place."

"Yes, it's- actually, is it?"
Crystal wonders, getting up and looking outside.

 

"No, not just in the palace. He ordered an article for you in the newspaper. Most of the city shouldn't see you as a traitor. The only people that would see you as one would be the other kingdoms and towns." The guard says.

 

"I meant, how did you know it really was a friend?"

Seems it's closer to noon, Linoa following you up.
"Whoops, guess I slept in! Sorry about that."

________________________________

"Oh. In that case, I'd still prefer staying here... I may have busted the gangs, but there's still new signs of activity around my house. A few more paydays and I'll be able to afford something on the better end of town and get out of your hair, though."

 

"She took her disguise off to show me."

"It's fine. I didn't have much to do, but I wasn't bored."
Crystal says, checking for Muffy's location.

 

"Your house here will always open to you. You don't have to move out if you don't want to." The guard says.

 

"You mean like those stupid masks that give you a fake face?"

"That's good."
Muffy's still just a lightly snoring blob of fur on his shoulder.

Alice nods.
"...What kind of shadow are you all?" She asks. "I'm still getting used to this developing body, with no signs of equalling my old strength for months if not years."

 

"Hers cloaks her completely, but to sum it up, yes."

Crystal regrows his head, but keeps some of Muffy's platform.
"So, where should we go now?"

 

"High level greater Shadow, about on par with a mid level Shadow Guardian." The guard says.

 

"What? I... kind of want to see."

"We could go back to the arena. That was a fun way to spend our days resting up while the rest of your friends take their home time."

"Shadow Guardian?" Alice says, scanning for more exact locations of the guard(s).

 

She can just about make out the outlines of guards outside her house, one on the other side of her door, two halfway down the hall and two by the elevator.

"The Shadow of a Guardian. The more powerful versions of them are Dark Shadow Guardians, which are the Shadow equivilent of what a Guardian would be. Many don't accept them as a Guardian, however. Just a powerful Shadow." The guard explains.

 

"I figured. If she comes, I'm sure she'd be fine with showing you."

"We might want to get in some spear practice as well."
Crystal suggests.

 

She tries hiding inside the guard just outside her door.

"When is she coming?"

"We can always do that. We won't always be near the sports arena, though."

 

She manages to, but the guard reaches inside himself and pulls her out, placing Alice down in front of her.

"Please don't mess around." The guard says sternly.