Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Crystal looks to where the rocks are coming from.

I nod.
"Understood."

 

The sound of bones clicking together starts to be audible a fair ways ahead.


“But do you know the oncoming threat?”

 

Katie immediately panics again, seeming terrified.


"There's always going to be a threat. I just have to be ready to face it." I say bluntly.

 

"We're close, that's the beast keeping itself entertained." Ihra says happily, picking up her pace.


Iris smirks.
"No wonder Ihra likes you. Seriously, though, don't lose yourself in this training either. Becoming the hero people need is different than becoming the hero people want."

From up on the mountain, it seems like a few just tumbled off. If anything's hiding up there, it's hiding too well to see through the fog.


"I've let the crew know of your leave." Stella says, a portal opening in place of your room's door.

 

"I-It's not going to hurt us, i-is it?" Katie asks, scared.


"I don't care what the people want. All I want is that hive master's head on the end of my blade, detached from his body." I say, seeming aggressive as I manage to actually damage the training dummy with a stab.

 

"No, they defend things smaller than they are. Just don't lash out at it and everything will be fine."


"And that is what you must be wary not to lose yourself to. The impending disaster I speak of comes from inside, not out. You are a living being, not a weapon. Never forget that, lest you become no better than the Hive Master." Iris says, serious and critical. "You have friends, not tools. You wield weapons, you are not the weapon. You were not made to lay waste to all you approach, only to decide if such action is necessary. Never forget who you are and why you fight."

 

Katie still seems terrified, though musters the courage to continue.


"My apologies for trying to be empathetic towards my partner in killing," I say, holding up Shadow Katana with some symbolism, "It is important to become one with your weapon, to understand your weapon, to wield it."

 

*deep sigh*
"Thank you.."

"Jeez.. that is a lot of information coming in very fast."

 

Crystal, upset, just looks ahead.

I step through.

 

After another minute of walking, an utterly massive pile of bones comes into view, along with what seems to be a wall of hide.


Iris snickers.
“Shadow Katana is sentient, understanding how to use it is different than understanding its will. Regardless, you’ve come this far, so I’ll trust you won’t break too many things. Well, that, and I’m gonna be running late for starting a wildfire. Challenge me to a duel once you finish training, it’ll be fun!” She says, vanishing with a wink.

You can hear Anne frantically scratching at the door.
“It should be fireproof... anyhow, let me know when you’ve recollected your thoughts.”

He can see a four-winged dragon-like creature with six legs drifting calmly above, though it doesn’t seem to notice him.


As you return to the dimly lit Void, Stella’s hologram flickers a bit before reappearing.
“Okay, you’re looking for a hare whose fur is stained blue on the tips. Follow it into the Void outlands, it will lead you to a portal. They should be waiting in the palace garden.”

 

"Linoa."
Crystal says softly, looking up at it.

"Now where would I find a hare like that..."
I say idly, walking around.

 

Katie tries to stay brave, though clearly isn't confident approaching whatever lies ahead.


I smile, before continuing training.

 

"Yeah, give me a bit."

I'm gonna think about this for a minute.

 

“Hello? We have a package for you, I think?” Ihra calls.

A deep hum causes Katie and Ihra’s body to vibrate as a supermassive spider-esque head cranes down to look at the duo.
“Friend of Sapphire, right?”

The head nods, seeming content as it reaches down for the box.

“Take your time, mice scratch at that door all the time.”

Anne’s clawing seems to be getting progressively more desperate.

“Hmm?” She asks, before glancing up.
“...Oh. Uh... ask Shack when we land.”


“Garden. Go outside.” Stella reminds, before her hologram vanishes.

 

Katie starts crying out of fear, the situation proving too tough for her strength of will.

 

The edge beast hesitates, looking worried.

Ihra takes the package from Katie’s hands, offering it to the beast.
“She’s fine, just scared.”

Ihra tries resting a hand on Katie’s shoulder to help comfort her.

 

"Okay."
Crystal stops staring at it, but occasionally looks up.

I head to the garden.

 

"It's difficult. I came here to find that potion or charm that would help me figure this out. But now that I got an answer, I'm not sure what to do with it."

"She said that she only charmed me in the beginning. But for how long..? And what would have happened if she didn't charm me?"

 

Katie just seems terrified, either petrification out of fear or a will to fulfill the task at hand the only thing preventing her from running away.

 

“If you met her in beast form, she may have thought you intended to kill her.”

The beast delicately takes the box with clawed tendrils, opening it with four more appendiges.

After a minute, it looks down and nods.

Ihra pats Katie on the shoulder again.
“It’d be easier to leave if you, uh... well, moved.” She sighs.

It just peacefully drifts along, seeming to be in a fairly deep sleep.


Once outside, you notice a few rabbits hiding in the sparse foliage, but none of the ones in sight are blue.