Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

He weaves between people, working his way through an alley.
“You still here?”

 

Shadow Stephanie tries sneaking back through the vent while her target is distracted.


The water guardian waves as her dragon leaps up and dives into the ocean.

The fire guardian seems to have left.

 

"Maybe. We can ask her when we're there."

He stops a moment.
"Now, where was her shop again?"

 

“Yep.”
I hurry a bit, making sure to keep him in sight.

 

There isn’t a vent in this room.
“Okay... you’ve got three marks, and your rat seems to know this place better.” He whispers, glancing at her. “You need my help, or you good?”


Xlentia watches the other beach-goers.

Ask someone, I guess?”

________________________________

It doesn’t take much effort to keep up, and Mitch emerges from the alley to a farmer’s market.

 

"Aren't I supposed to be killing you?" Shadow Stephanie asks.


Younger humans and guardians run about happily on the beach, playing with frisbees or balls. Some guardians swim out in the ocean with the water guardians, while others explore rockpools on a rocky area further down the beach. A couple kiss and hold hands as they walk across the sand near to the ocean, waves crashing across their feet.

 

I follow him, looking around and checking it out.

 

“I gave you the contract, no you’re not supposed to kill me.”


Xlentia sighs, walking out into the water enough to get her feet wet again.

There aren’t many filled stalls, mostly fruits visible in stock.

 

"What?" Shadow Stephanie asks, confused.


A few water guardians move out of Xlentia's way as she does this, her splashes in the water making huge waves.

 

"Usually you kill the people that the contract says to kill, not the person who gives you the contract." He sighs. "You new?"


She tries slowing her movements to minimize waves.

 

He looks around.
"I remember a certain lady. Do you see her anywhere?"

 

I look around at the rest of the area, looking for a sort of garden.

 

"Traditions of killing summoners aside, you could've made who you wanted me to kill a bit clearer." Shadow Stephanie says flatly.


The waves shrink to normal size, though water guardians warn of Xlentia's oncoming presence to divers.

 

“I didn’t summon you and you know it. Have you even looked at the pictures?”


Xlentia puts her head down underwater, looking around.

Mitch walks a wide circle around the market, a few small flowerbeds visible.

What certain lady? How do you remember this stuff?”

 

"I don't know. I just remember a lady telling me the way."

 

"I'd call requesting me to kill as summoning." Shadow Stephanie says, checking her pockets for pictures as she twirls her dagger.


A vast coral reef outlines the edges of the beach, water guardians and scuba divers swimming around in the sealife-infested waters. An earth guardian walks across the ocean floor, a blue necklace a little like Xlentia's hanging around his neck which appears to give him the ability of water breathing. A pair of younger water guardians chase each other through the waters, swimming incredibly fast as they try to tag each other.

 

I continue to trail him, but pay more attention to the flowers.

 

We could always just ask a random guard.

There are three, along with the diamonds.
"I mean, you signed up for it. If you feel like backing out, I'll slip you out of here and bring someone else in." He shrugs.

"You are not a shadow in this game, the NPCs aren't programmed to know anything about... whatever you're going off about." Lenka's voice echoes in the back of Shadow Stephanie's head.


She opts to swim back out to deeper waters, albeit while staying near the surface.

They're simple, monocolor flowers organized by color. A group of tulips, then buttercups, then daisies. Whoever planted them had no ambition whatsoever.

As you walk, the most spectacular thing you see is a larger, circular patch of flowers that has two colors - green and white, which seem to be this kingdom or castle's colors - arranged in a simple chevron emblem.

 

"Yeah. Let's just do that."
He looks around, searching for some guards that is willing to help.

"Excuse me."

 

"Alright alright." Shadow Stephanie moans, looking at the pictures.


The quantity of other guardians begins to lessen, eventually only water guardians about. The coral reef seems to extend into the deeper ocean, more underwater life and fish about.