Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Inside, the community centre seems even worse. The wooden flooring looks to be torn up in various places exposing dirt, what looks like a fish tank is shattered and broken, the wallpaper on some of the walls is torn and peeling off, and the windows that aren't boarded up are broken an old.

"This is...what's left of the place. I don't doubt your prowess with building, but it seems to only get worse when we've sent people to try and fix this place. That store, Lision, has been hounding me to sell this place to them so they can use it as a warehouse to store their goods. With how unused this place is, I've considered selling it." Louis explains, walking to the centre of the main room.

The floor creaks under Alice's step, and one of the ceiling boards falls down, causing a crash.

 

"I used to be a soldier and a detective, not a builder." Alice admits. "However, I am curious now... what do you mean, it only gets worse when people try to fix it?" She asks. "Like, what happens?"

 

"Ah. Thank you."
I nod, leaving the lab and walking to the library, keeping track of time.

 

It doesn't help that there isn't a clock in the library. At all.

 

"I'm not really sure, it just seems to be the structure of this place. Our carpenter has given it a go, but her progress was just set back to square one when most of it fell apart." Louis says.

Alice notices something glistening in the corner of her eye, next to what looks like a small hut.

 

I don't seem to mind, walking around and trying to find Emerald.

 

Alice turns to it.
"Hold on... can you hold this?" She asks Louis, holding out her parasol, trying to get closer.

She's not out in the open, and the archives are locked. Knocking merits no response this time around.

 

Curious, I look around a bit more before making my way to Xlentia's chambers.

 

Louis takes it, turning to where Alice is headed.

The glistering thing disappears once Alice approaches.

"Hm, I guess the kids must've been in here." Louis says, noticing the hut.

Alice sees a slight light coming from behind the hut.

 

Alice blinks towards the hut, then turns towards the inside suddenly in attempt to find the thing.

No Emerald, no clock.

Xlentia's laying on her back, bouncing a coin between her claws.

 

I knock on the door as I enter, letting Xlentia know I'm there.

 

For a brief moment, Alice can see what almost looks like a faerie looking at her, before it seemingly disappears.

"Find a rat? Those things are probably scurrying around here," Louis says, "I'll leave this place unlocked from now on. You're welcome to give rebuilding this place a try. Maybe you can do something about the rats while you're at it."

Louis turns to leave, heading toward the exit.

 

"Thanks. Leave my parasol at the door, please." Alice says, trying to trace any teleports.

She lets the coin bounce off her stomach.
"Hi, hon."

 

"Hey. Do you happen to know where Emerald is?"
I ask politely.

 

Louis gently rests Alice's parasol on the wall near the door before he leaves, though Alice does notice what looks like a small, white figure near to it once Louis leaves.

 

"She's not in the library?" Xlentia asks.

Alice glances at it.
"Hey, little one. Sorry I scared you." She says softly.

 

"If she is, she's locked herself in the archives. She's probably busy doing something, come to think of it."

 

The figure doesn't seem to be a faerie. It seems to have a normal looking body with arms and legs, albeit completely white, though it's head appears to be an odd shape; with black eyes and a black mouth. It's head turns slightly, before shaking back and forth with a clicking noise. The white figure walks toward one of the corridors in the community centre, fading away rather quickly as it does, however.

 

"She's always busy."

Curious, Alice tries checking if the figure is still visible on the spirit plane.

 

"Yeah, figures. Well, thanks anyways."
I say, starting to exit the room.