Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Yeah, 'slong as someone you care about isn't with you anymore. That should do it."

 

"Alright, thanks."
I start heading off.
"Oh, and, do you want to come with? We might need you to check her visual state to make sure she's okay."
I ask.

 

"Nah, I... I think I'm just gonna hit the library. Plenty of space and stuff to forget about this mess..." They grumble, waving as they dart off.

 

I decide to waste no time trialing them, and go back towards the doors.
On the way back, I look for the few that went back, before.

 

They're in awe at the door.
"How the hell does she even...?" One utters.

 

"What, too scared to see what's inside?"
I ask, loud enough for them to hear me.

 

Startled, they jump.
"Y-yes, actually... you know what she does to nonbelievers? S-she binds their wings and sticks 'em on a wide open door and lets it c-close!"
"I ain't risking that for any bounty!"

 

"Wow. Gives you a right to be scared, then. Well, I'm going in, now."
I say, approaching the door and cracking it open.
"Oh, and, don't take too much gold. It's kinda rude, y'know?"

 

"W-what? She erases you for that!"
"For TOUCHING it!"

 

"Does she count every gold coin each morning?"

 

"That's how she kills time!" They shout in unison.
"Y-you better not frame us!"

 

"Unless you take advantage of her being unconscious and take took much, I won't. You got it?"

 

They nod frantically.
"I'm not even touching any..."
The other quickly agrees.

 

I shrug.
"Works for me."
I say, opening the doors and revealing Xelentia.

 

They both just stare in awe.
"Holy shit..."
"She's huge..."
"You... actually managed to beat her?!"

 

"Well, no."
I say, honestly
"We kinda had a lot of help."
"Hey!"
The thing shouts from the top of Xelentia."
"Are these the guys helping us?"
"No!"
I shout back.
"But I did get good info."

 

"Still..."
"You came out on top..."
"...but why didn't you kill her when you had the chance? Wasn't she, like, trying to kill everyone you know?"

 

"Well? Spit!"
The thing says, but I hold up a finger for him to pause.
"Yeah, she was, but we kind need her to not be dead. For several reasons."
I tell the both of them.
"She'll all good!"
I shout back to the thing.
"According to an honest-seeming draconian, we needed a sacrifice of someone we cared about, who I'm assuming is Ihra in this situation."
I explain, trying to hold back feelings.
"So, we should be good, but I'm not sure if we should speed this up or just wait!"
"I'm not sure, but I kinda feel like waiting now. I'm not sure that I want to tamper with the beast."
The thing says, descending to our level.

 

"Ah, you must be the entity inside the rock. Greetings."

 

As Sapphie turns to leave, she sees a bloody, broken winged Aeris, smashed out of her vat looking up at her, betrayal in her eyes.

Or...she doesn't? It appears to just be a trick of her mind. As soon as the lights turn back on, she sees Aeris - still broken winged - unconscious in her perfectly fine vat. Perhaps staying in the 'healing room' too long isn't good for a being's state of mind.

Sapphire has no trouble leaving, the doors at the end of the room twisting in the cente and sliding open when she's close.