Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Aeris sits in front of the tree, listening to the fae happily.


"If the king has asked you to work here, then you make take up the job position, as long as his opinion hasn't changed." The guard says.

 

The melody doesn't seem to be particularly joyous, but it's still a spectacle.


"I'll ask later today..." She says, turning away and heading back to the Void Palace.

 

Aeris enjoys it, Tirra and the other elites eventually coming to join her.


The guards stay on their duty.

 

Ihra eventually joins the elites, sighing.


Gaia wakes up, lazily opening an eye and looking around.

 

"What's wrong?" Tirra asks.


Gaia seems to be in an overgrown bedroom of sorts, suited to her form. Small birds and animals appear to be living in the room too.

 

"This melody... it's a dirge." She whispers.


She slowly gets up, careful not to crush anything as she looks for an exit.

 

Tirra seems a little surprised.


Any plantlife that Gaia steps on seems to grow back almost instantaneously.

A large pair wooden doors lie ahead of Gaia, vines and plantlife grown all over them.

 

"Have Mortius tell you what he sees inside half of the ornaments, if you don't believe me."


She gently pushes them open.

 

"I don't know how I'd contact him, and I wouldn't much like to meet death personally." Tirra says, a little worried.


The doors creak open, revealing a large, or relatively normal to Gaia, pathway into a gigantic forest; forest guardians and humans enjoying themselves. It seems to be a bright, sunny day.

 

Ihra facepalms.
"Sorry, the... death guardian. Him. They all make me think of Mortius, sorry."


She checks her surroundings to see if they still have immensely concentrated magic, or if she's not at Praecantatia's lab anymore.

 

"Mortimer. Most Death Guardians share some likeness to their father." Tirra says, before turning to Mortimer and asking him what he sees.

Mortimer looks at the ornaments on the tree, diverting his attention from his necklace.


There's strong magic, but far from as concentrated as Praecantatia's.

 

He sees the remains (most of them nothing but ashes) of fae, the tree seeming to be a memorial in disguise.


Gaia opts to grow vines under her feet to lift herself skywards, taking a look around.

 

"This tree is a memorial in disguise." Mortimer replies.


The forest seems to stretch on forever, but to the very north, the slightest amount of difference can be seen with a bit of snow, though it's extremely hard to see.

 

Ihra nods, glancing at Tirra.


Gaia closes her eyes and tries to link with her counterpart.
"...Hello? Is now a bad time?"

 

"But...why?" Tirra asks.


"Oh, are you awake?" Gaia asks.

 

"The forest burning, everything leading up to our somewhat successful defense of Gaia... all in time for the holidays." Ihra whispers. "I suppose they're killing two birds with one stone, but that metaphor probably isn't the best around Gaia's followers."


"Yes, I presume you took me to your domain?"

 

"It just seems so...dark. These holidays aren't supposed to be about death." Tirra says.


"Indeed. I thought it would be safest for you here." Gaia says.

 

Ihra nods.
"Well... it is dark, but... it gives me the same feeling I had when everyone left it up to me to rip Xlentia from the Hive Master's grasp. They were sad with what they lost, but... it's sort of like holding on to hope, holding on to what's left. Even if that's just remains of what you had..." She mumbles, trailing off as she realizes she's rambling.


"It's certainly beautiful. Reminds me of home."

 

"I guess..." Tirra says.


"Thank you, I thought you might like my personal favorite area," Gaia says, "There are also other areas more suited for the other guardians, though they can be hard to get to."

 

Ihra hugs Tirra.
"Well... happy holidays anyways."


"Oh? Such as where I saw snow falling?"