Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

The armoured guardian doesn't seem to notice Iris. Iris finds the building the strong guardian was outside of, marked by the boomerang symbol.

 

She approaches it, checking inside its walls for familiar souls.

 

“Alright.”
I look for his leash.


“Hey, I’m not that bad of being.”

 

She recognizes the guardians she was with yesterday, as well as the Earth Guardian from the crystal; among a few other unknown souls.

 

"Torture?"

I'll investigate the blood.

 

It's sitting on the bench you had been on, across from Serra.


Keila chuckles.
"Fair enough, but I wouldn't say you set the bar too much higher."

It's fairly fresh, just enough so that touching it leaves a thin layer of blood on your hand.
"I don't know. It doesn't look like they put up too much of a fight, though." Anne says, hopping back onto your shoulder.

If unlocked, she opens the door. Else, she knocks twice and keeps quiet.

 

The door is unlocked, seeming to be an academic building where air guardians train. The entrance seems to be fairly empty, though she can hear activity from another room.

 

"Think this has something to do with it?"
I show her the blood stain in the book.

 

She tries to follow the sounds, going through any unlocked door necessary (and knocking otherwise).

________________________________

"Could be whoever did this got curious about the bookmarked page too, or maybe there's some sort of hint from the page. I dunno."

 

She ends up in a small dining room of sorts, about sixteen air guardians sitting around eating breakfast, in addition to the guardians Iris already met. The Earth Guardian sits with the female air guardian from the day before, both communicating through hand signs. An open book rests beside the air guardian, presumably to teach her sign language.

 

"Morning." Iris says, red wisps retreating from her eyes.

 

I'll read the page.

 

Iris ends up catching the attention of a few guardians with her statement, though most just ignore her.

"Oh hey, it's you!" The other air guardian from the day before says happily, recognizing Iris. He motions for Iris to sit beside him, the tables containing long benches beside them. There seems to be a bit of space for Iris to sit down.

 

I go get the leash to put it on Buddy.


“Why do you think I live by myself?”

 

He remains fairly still, which winds up being a bit annoying to get a good angle to clip the leash on.


Keila laughs.
"I don't think anyone else would put up with you."

Iris walks over, her appearance slightly creepier up close as blood seems to be pulsing between her scales. On the matter of her scales, each one seems to have a tiny etching depicting a murder.
"Is the crystal still functioning as per mostly normal?"

After a while, you notice that there are small scratch imprints on a few letters on the page:
"thEexeGesIshAsreTurneD"
"The... exegesis has returned?" Anne mutters. "What's an exegesis?"

 

The air guardian's expression changes slightly as he sees Iris up close, though he clearly tries to hide it.

"We checked this morning, it seems to be recovering on it's own. The crack even started to heal." The air guardian says happily.

 

"Good to hear. Do you still need help caring for the earth guardian, or might I be able to take my leave?"

Iris links with him telepathically.
"I'm a shadow, bud. My counterpart's the flowery girl, not me."

 

"We found out he's deaf, so Amy has been trying to talk to him through sign language. She's not very good at it though, but the earth guardian is surprisingly fluent." The air guardian says, trying not to let the shiver sent down his spine show.

 

Iris' staff blinks blue as a gem appears in her hand, and she hands it to the guardian.
"That'll open a portal to people who may be able to help. It sounds like you've got things under control, so it might be best I return to the battlefield at home."


Ihra enters the realm of shadows, seeming a bit weary. A yawn suggests she just hasn't slept in a while, however, as she approaches the palace guard.
"Hey, is the king around right now?"

 

The air guardian looks at the gem curiously, confused.


"He left quite a while ago, mentioning something about the only mortal he'd bow to. You seem tired, Miss Ihra. Shall I escort you to a room?" The guard offers.