Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

She opens it, hopeful.

They seem to be watching, deep in thought.

"I'll make sure you know when my next outing is, darling. Take care of yourself until then." Xlentia says, smiling.

 

I, like them, continue to watch the fight.

"Thanks!"
Crystal starts to walk off.
"Is there any map I could use around here?"

 

Arrows are cut in two, and knives are shot out of the air.
It's an absurdly precise fight.

"Look on the walls. There should be some at various intersections."

 

I look at the bow wielder.

"Thanks!"
Crystal says, going over to the hallway to the training area, looking for one of the maps.

 

The letter reads:
"Dear Alice,

Your new job as a detective starts on the 16th of Xice, at 2pm. I suggest you take some time to get ready before then, since this will be your first day of work there. I've got a simple case for you to cover, and it should introduce you to what you're expected to do as one of the palace's detectives. Don't worry about needing to buy anything, as everything you'll need will be provided to you on the day. Just show up and be yourself.

You've made quite the impression on the Queen and I, so if you feel like the job isn't working out for you, or something happens that gets you kicked out of it, just come to me or the Queen. We can sort out a new job for you, or fix any issues you may be having.

Best of luck, Alice.
The King of Shadows."

 

She's firing about five arrows a second, each one precise.

The palace is in a rectangular shape, rooms on each side of the halls.

A celebratory screech comes out of Alice.

...who soon goes back to sleep for the night.

Oddly enough, she skips breakfast the next morning, sleeping in.

 

I observe the dagger wielder, impressed by the bow wielder.

Crystal looks at the names of the places he can go, if they appear.

 

Alice finds a plateful of waffles with butter and syrup and a cup of raspberry tea outside her bedroom when she eventually gets up, both still warm.

 

They're throwing daggers, cutting arrows in two, and darting about, trying to find any opening on the bow wielder.

She laughs, taking them inside and eating at home.
...before heading out to wander the gardens.

 

I take in some features of the two, such as gender.

*cough cough*

 

A fresh aroma fills the air as Alice wanders the gardens, the gardens themselves much larger than the pathway to the palace would show. Various forest guardians work in the gardens, planting and tending to flowers, saplings and other plants in the gardens. As Alice explores, she finds a gazebo made entirely out of trees and nature, with a familiar forest guardian reading a book within with a death guardian. A few clouds roll over the sky, but not enough to block out the sunlight.

 

Dagger user is male, bow is female. The bow user has an earth emblem on their robe, and the dagger user has an ice emblem.

Seems Crystal can go to a lab, a bunk room, the gardens, and some medical rooms.

________________________________

Alice just looks at the flowers, relaxing.

 

The flowers near to Alice are pretty shades of blue and purple, a few natural looking bees flying between the flowers occasionally before flying off to find more flowers. Time almost seems to slow down with the serenity of the gardens.

 

After exploring the rest of the garden, Alice goes home, spirits lifted, double checking that she starts tomorrow.

 

The letter hasn't changed, and Alice does indeed start tomorrow, giving her the rest of the day and part of the next to do whatever she wants.

 

She checks the time she starts again before finishing sorting out a clump of papers on her table.

 

The letter says she starts at 2pm.

After sorting out her papers, Alice hears a knock on her door.

 

Alice opens the door.

 

It's the guard from outside the throne room, holding Alice's jewellery.

"Terribly sorry, Alice. I didn't have a chance to return your jewellery after you passed out speaking to the King and Queen. I hope I didn't inconvenience you at all." The guard apologises.

 

"Oh, thank you. Not at all." She says, putting the jewelry back on.