Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Everything's still there, except for a single arrowhead.

"You good, or are we going hunting?"

 

"It's ok, it's not your fault." Tenebrae says, hugging Ihra.


Tirra turns the dials in the elevator, before teleporting herself and Ruby to the portal room, heading over to the terminal to activate the portal.

 

"I-if I just kept my mouth shut..." She sobs.


Ruby glances at the portal.
"How's working as an elite? Seems a bit demanding."

 

"Don't worry, Ihra." Tenebrae says soothingly.


The portal is just a frame.

"The work is tough and crushes your spirit sometimes, but we get paid rather well, earn a lot of respect and get large breaks if we need them. Plus, we have a pretty good health plan so if we get wounded, we can be seen to almost immediately." Tirra explains.

 

"Just miss one arrow head. Oh well, can't be bothered by that."
He starts walking.

 

Anne lays down, bumping up and down as you walk.
"You ever going to actually go back and visit Rema?"

Ihra says nothing, trying to enjoy the moment.


"That sounds rough... do the others hold up with it well?"

 

There's a still moment, Tenebrae just hugging Ihra.


"Yeah. Well, apart from my friend Aeris, but I help her out." Tirra says, before the portal opens to a village in the mountains.

 

"...I'm glad you're okay."


"That's nice."
Pause.
"By the way... would you know what ever happened with my sister Tourmaline? I was told she ran off here, but I haven't heard anything of her since."

 

"I haven't been for a long time...I'm glad to be back." Tenebrae says.


"Tourmaline? ...No, I haven't heard of her." Tirra admits, stepping through the portal.

 

"Oh, right... you've... uh, well..."
Ihra takes a moment to collect herself.
"It hasn't really been all that long for us. Not even a day."


"Ah, well... maybe Alice fell down the rabbit hole again." Ruby sighs, stepping through as well.

 

"Oh, it hasn't?" Tenebrae asks, surprised.


The mountain village seems to consist of houses built either partially or entirely into the mountains, Earth, Fire and hybrid guardians of both walking about the village, some greeting each other as they pass. Shops appear to have their signs carved into the stone above them, while cuts into the pathways allow Earth Guardians to telekinetically shoot themselves along on odd looking stone boards for faster travel. Tirra heads through the village toward what looks to be a dormant volcano, greeting a few guardians as she passes them.

 

"No... I don't think it's been any longer than a few hours."


Ruby follows silently, glancing at the occasional guardian.

 

"That's...I don't understand how that could be." Tenebrae says.


A few guardians give her odd looks, though none comment.

Tirra heads into a shop named "Vexa's Smithy", waving Ruby inside.

 

"Temporus."


Ruby enters, worried about a few of the guardians' reactions.

 

"He helped?" Tenebrae asks.


A strong looking female hybrid Earth-Fire Guardian appears to be waiting behind the counter, weapons such as swords and warhammers hung up on the wall behind.

Tirra and the hybrid guardian start talking in a language Ruby cannot understand, though it seems somehow familiar to her...

 

"Yeah. But, uh... I hope you don't take offense, I asked for Lux to not be rushed back to health."


Ruby tries to recall any part of it she recognizes, before trying to subtly cast a translation spell.

 

"Maybe. Got some things I want to do first."
He continues walking.
"Why?"

 

"What if she really is your family? If she's a good enough witch, she could help you speak with your mother's spirit."

 

"I-I can understand why..." Tenebrae says, sounding depressed.


The spell works.

"-hadow Realm, and I've been ordered to get her a job. You should be honored that the queen chose you as her first priority." Tirra says, sounding a little annoyed.

"And you just expect me to be so amazed at this I'm supposed to give her a job for free? Does she even have any experience with making guardian weapons?" The shopkeeper asks.

"No, but I suggest you allow her to at least train here and earn a bit of pay," Tirra says, taking out a dark knife and burying it into the counter, "I don't want to make this any harder on you than it already is."

The shopkeeper seems a little surprised.

"Alright, alright. I'll see what she can do for me. But don't expect me to be doing the Shadows any favours, this is an honest business I run and I don't need any of their kind messing with my stock or my customers." The shopkeeper says.

Tirra turns to Ruby, "You've got the job, Ruby. Best of luck!" Tirra says happily in common tongue.

 

"I'm sorry... it's just... I didn't want you to get hurt, even when you almost killed me a bunch... Lux was... he didn't... I just didn't understand how he was so angry..."


"Thanks."
Ruby turns to the shopkeeper.
"So, am I making guardian weapons, or am I making something that'll actually last?"