Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Alright, he's located at the bay. But I believe everyone is ready, so we can head out when we want to."

 

I step inside, looking around.

 

They’re going through something that has enough encryption to warrant using for an entire network instead of a single connection. It’s sending data back and forth too fast (and too much data, at that) to feasibly track.


“Well, let’s just have a look.” Xlentia says, looking for any signs of warps.

You find yourself in a massive, empty chamber with a holographic gryphon.
“I’m busy, go bother my servants.” It says.

“Let me know when you’re ready to get out of this hellhole.”

 

I look for any exits.
“I would, had I any idea where I was.”

 

Praecantatia sets up her computer to record the data being sent back and forth, allocating a lot of power and space for it.

"Am I connected to them?" Praecantatia asks.


There doesn't appear to be any signs of a way to Gaia's garden, though it's hard to tell with the environments covering up the Earth.

 

"I'm ready. Just tell everyone we're leaving and we can leave."

He stands up.
"Alright, everyone. The storm has layed down. As I already told you, the Leviathan is waiting at the bay, ready to take us to the island. There you'll be safe if any other storms might happen in the future. I say we leave now so we don't leave him waiting for too long."

 

“Yes.” Stella nods, her hologram disappearing.

The space allocated winds up recording five seconds worth of things before maxing out.


Xlentia tries to link with Gaia.
“Hey, can I come apologize?”

“My palace. Three exits off on the ends of the room. Can’t miss them, they’re giant distorted planes that bring you to the spectral plane.”

 

“...Huh.”
I say, curiously making my way to the other side of the room.

 

The dragoness and her mate nod.
“We appreciate your respect for our houserules. Perhaps we can meet again in less savage times?”
The others get up and move towards the lower cave exit.

________________________________

There’s a large, distorted plane on the wall.
“Step through, and hope you know how to move as a ghost.”

 

“Yeah, this’ll work.”
I confidently say to myself, then step through.

 

You find yourself floating weightless in a tunnel of seemingly nothing, thousands of spirits going by.

 

Attentive, I start moving along the tunnel.

 

Moving normally doesn't work, you wind up spinning yourself sideways.

 

I try mimicking how the spirits move.

 

"Hello Stephanie." Praecantatia says with a smile.

"Hey Mum! Um...I have some bad news." Stephanie says, looking guilty.

"Oh, what's that?" Praecantatia asks.

"She used too much of her magic in one go and almost killed herself again." Shadow Stephanie says before Stephanie can.

Praecantatia looks annoyed for a moment, before calming down.

"I told you you weren't ready to use your magic yet, Stephanie." Praecantatia says sternly.

"I just wanted to help my tour guide. He looked hurt." Stephanie says apologetically.

"It's ok. I'm just glad you're not badly hurt." Praecantatia says, smiling.

"Sorry to interrupt here, but I thought I'd get confirmation if I could come and speak to you personally. I wanted to get your help on something." Shadow Stephanie inquires.

"Oh, certainly. You're always welcome." Praecantatia says positively.


"Hm? What for?" Gaia asks, a little confused, "I don't recall you doing anything wrong."

 

Stella keeps out of the way, though a small side popup icon appears on the edge of Praecantatia's display.


"I messed up, I thought you weren't happy with us and what we were doing so I told Idhaenna that. I didn't mean it, I'm sorry!" Xlentia says, half of her tone riddled with guilt and the other half panic.

________________________________

They use a swimming-like motion, which does work. The fast-moving stream of spirits moving through the middle of the tunnel is a bit daunting, though, and all of them seem intent on getting to their destination as fast as possible.

 

I look around for anywhere else that there would be to go.

 

There's just what seem to be twisting tunnels, a few other transition planes visible.

 

Praecantatia looks at the popup curiously.


"Oh, I should apologise for that. I wasn't feeling myself that day, and I think the change in environments didn't help. Let me make it up to you." Gaia says.

A small, hardly significant seed flies up from the ground, landing on Xlentia's back. The seed suddenly sprouts, vines erupting out of it and rapidly winding around Xlentia and Katie. Katie is wrapped up far faster than Xlentia, and the vines seem to crush her, shrinking inwards on her before she's gone entirely.

 

I head towards another plane.