Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

I walk through, Crystal following as he talks to the creature near his belly, who is recognizable as Aral'hrah.

"Well, we're going back in."
Crystal says, stepping back into the Shadow Realm.

 

"Oh, great. My eyes just adjusted!"

 

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, Matriarch. I should have been more aware, and not have got lost in reading. Let's go to the art museum, shall we?" Stephanie apologises.

Artemis heads to one of the nearby elevators in the palace, the portal having lead there.

 

"Yes, please." She replies, standing up.

 

"Sorry. We'll be back in a lighter place soon, though."

Crystal and I follow.

 

Stephanie leaves the dining hall, heading for an elevator nearby which a fire guardian appears in front of, heading past the pair.

Artemis starts turning the dials in the elevator to the portal room's code, glancing back at you and Crystal with a smile.

 

Crystal seems to be talking with Aral'hrah, but I smile back.

 

Artemis teleports herself, you, crystal and Aral'hrah to the portal room, heading over to the terminal and typing in commands.

 

We just stand by, waiting for the portal.

 

"I hope."

The Matriarch follows, content.
"I, uh... wanted to apologize. If you're related to the queen here, I have no reason to behave the way I have been."

 

Crystal stays silent, supposedly waiting for something.

 

The portal eventually opens to the void palace library, Artemis heading through it.

"Oh, you shouldn't be the one apologising, I should. I've been so rude, not listening to you in your gallery, not paying attention and getting lost while reading. I am truly sorry I haven't been respecting you more." Stephanie says apologetically.

 

I follow Artemis, and Crystal follows me.

 

"Again, I appreciate your gestures, but you have no reason to respect me as much as you are. There's nothing wrong with admiring a painting, and I would love to be able to read the language books are written in." She says, giving a slightly less creepy mantis-smile.

 

"So how are people coping in Maralune? Are they still burning down forests?" Artemis asks as she walks.

"Well, just judging by your name, appearance and what others have said about you, I thought you were sort of a mantis leader, and I didn't want to be rude or disrespectful." Stephanie says.

 

"You're correct, but I'm not used to such formality from non-mantis. You're also the first one not to call me a disgusting bug at any point as of yet, so bonus points there."

 

"I think they've gotten past that, but I don't think they're past the whole 'we're probably all going to die now.'"
I say, walking beside Artemis.

 

"To tell you the truth, I'm actually quite scared." Stephanie says, entering the elevator and turning the dials.

"I hope I can change that then." Artemis says confidently.

 

The Matriarch hesitates.
"I'm terrified. There's not one person in this palace I could beat in a fight." She admits. "Without my escort, I... mostly just try to keep my composure."

 

"You'll be able to. They mostly need food, then to form a unity, then deal with the situation."
I say.
"All of that is way easier said than done, though."