Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Hmm, very well. I'll show you what I can relating to guardian culture." Myria says, glancing around the forest for a moment before changing her direction.

A while later, the pair come to a much thicker part of the forest, trees so close together Myria has to warp their shape to let her and Xephyr through, the ground thorny instead of mossy, and various forest and death guardians keeping a watchful eye on Xephyr. Myria has to move two extremely thick trees apart, creating a small enough hole for Xephyr to see through.

"This is the heart of this forest. It's what keeps the forest, and the life within it, alive. It is the duty of a forest and death guardian to protect their forest's heart with their lives." Myria explains, letting Xephyr look through.

 

Xephyr watches in awe.
"It seems so... calm. How would you stop something Xlentia's size from damaging it on a rampage?" She asks, curious and almost completely unnerved.

 

"We would use the forest, and our powers, to prevent Xlentia from ever getting close to touching it." Myria says.

The forest heart glows a bright green, fading and brightening as if beating. A few forest faeries lazily float around the heart, growing flowers whenever they touch the ground. Being in the presence of the heart makes Xephyr feel a lot calmer, and even a little healthier.

 

"I don't mean to be implying things, I'm just curious how you'd fare against something like a rage-blinded Xlentia. It's so... drastically different from my home." Xephyr says, content with the sightseeing.

 

"My point is that routine doesn't have to stick subconsciously."

"There's going to be a celebration?"

 

"Different worlds house different cultures and beings." Myria says, smiling as she starts to walk away, hoping Xephyr follows.

 

Xephyr, still holding Myria's hand, follows.

"Well, this one does."

"Uhm... maybe?"

 

Myria walks Xephyr through the forest, away from the heart. After walking for about an hour, the pair come to a rather hidden away spring, a large waterfall running into it with crystals that shine in the light behind it. A few water guardians swim about in the spring, and one even manages to swim up the waterfall.

"I find this to be one of the hidden gems of this forest." Myria says happily, "Mortals can never find this, as the forest shifts to lead them out of it."

 

"That sounds... complicated."

 

"It's a method of protection, and saves us from having to kill people who stray too far into the forest." Myria says calmly.

 

"A lot nicer of a defense as well. Sages, upon detecting intruders, grow paralyzing flowers around the edge of the forest, then start chasing the intruder out towards the ring."

 

"If we can sense someone who's stumbled into the forest doesn't harbour hostile intent to it, we generally just shoot them with a dart or arrow that puts them into a state of unconsciousness. We'll then just take them out of the forest, and when they wake up, they'll think they just dreamed about going into the forest and actually fell asleep at it's edge," Myria says, smiling, "If you'd like, we can continue the sightseeing trip. I was considering showing you some of the Earth Guardian's culture next."

 

"Why not? I won't have long to dwell on it, anyways.

 

"With your time so close, if you wish, I could make it as easy as possible for you when it comes." Myria says, giving Xephyr a kind look.

 

"The alternative is my blood vessels burst and I melt from the inside out... so please."

 

"I can make it a lot more pleasant than that I can assure you. It'll be like falling asleep, but you just won't awaken in the morning." Myria says calmly.

 

"I trust you will. My end in your hands." She sighs.

 

"I am but a guide of fate." Myria says, before growing a large flower under herself and Xephyr.

"I assume you won't mind travel by flower?" Myria asks.

 

"No, not at all."

 

The flower closes around Myria and Xephyr, and everything goes dark. Xephyr can feel the flower sinking into the ground, before being dragged along.

A few minutes later, the flower emerges and blooms in what appears to be a rather barren mountain range, a cold wind blowing past. Oddly, the sun seems further along in the sky than it should be.

"Sorry for the long trip." Myria apologises.