Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

“I-I guess that makes it okay, sort of... thanks, though.”
Ihra lets the connection drop if Gaia does, finally arriving to Tiril’s house and looking around once she gets up to it.


“I thought Artemis would be the best person to entrust him to. Where is her home? I want to see him.” I insist, suddenly concerned.


“Not alone you aren’t. The only one of your group that should ever go solo is Aj, and it’d be risky for him. You can’t out-magic the Hive Master when he still has our god of magic on his side.”

 

There doesn't seem to be anyone inside Tiril's treehouse, though it does have a ladder leading up to another floor. A couple of windows adorn the left and right side of the treehouse, one over what seems to be a small kitchen of sorts, and the other near to a comfortable looking - if rather wooden - chair. A gentle breeze blows through the windows, bringing with it the icy bite of winter.


"Well, her home here on Earth is with Aj and Stephanie. She mostly hangs out with Aj's Shadow in his respective realm now though." Katie explains.

"Though good luck surviving in the realm of shadows as a human when you can barely get by in a fire guardian town," Abigail adds, "We might hate humans, but Shadows eat humans like they're cattle."


"I wasn't implying I'd go alone. I understand my capabilities, and I know I need support." Stephanie says, sounding a little offended.

 

“Hello? Anyone home?” Ihra calls, moving slowly as not to blatantly intrude.


“I know what shadows do, I’m not as stupid as you’d like to hope. I don’t mind not meeting Artemis, I am interested in seeing the dragon that I raised.” I say. “The realm of shadows is a hostile mess, anyways.”


“I was counting my aid, and even Aj’s presence. You either get a full group to make a sting attack, or you risk certain death going in pairs to minimize chance of detection.”

 

There's no response, though once Ihra enters further, she begins to feel watched.


"I thought Sgavrinn was something Ihra made?" Katie asks, confused.


"How much greater are the chances of us getting detected with a larger group?" Stephanie asks.

 

Ihra stops.
“Would you happen to know where Tiril’s family would be? I want to relay some good news... at least, I think it’s good news.”


“No, it was her companion before it became Artemis’.”


“I know it’s not the answer you’re looking for, but each person increases it exponentially.”

 

"You're not from around here, are you?" A feminine voice responds, coming from one of the windows.

A rather beautiful teenage girl seems to be watching in through the window, leaning her head on one of her hands. The only strange thing is how she's managing to stay there far off the ground.

"You look like a fire guardian, but there's something...different." The girl says, smirking.


"Well I assume she's had the palace take care of it while she's been busy. Especially since she's sleeping with their king." Abigail says offhandedly.


Stephanie paces about a bit, thinking things through. Her armour is surprisingly quiet, despite how strong it looks.

 

“I’m no guardian.” Ihra says, looking at her.


“Good to know you’re a reliable petsitter.” I joke.


Rose and Miorah exchange glances before the latter leaves, Rose sitting down on a few grown vines.

 

“By ‘pulling and Aj’ he means ‘committing genocide’.”

 

The girl grins.

"So what's your stance on humans?" The girl asks.


"Not my pet, not my problem." Abigail shrugs.


"I guess Aj is really the only other person I can afford to take with me." Stephanie finally says.

"Were you participating, or trying to prevent it?" Eve asks, sounding concerned.

 

Ihra shakes her head.
"Everyone is an individual. I've met humans who are as caring as guardians, and guardians as corrupted as humans. I don't really have a stance for all humans."


"Also precisely why I'm pretty sure you're the only person out of your main group I haven't bothered arranging a gift for. You seem like the kind of person who could kill a fake plant." I say flatly.


"On the bright side, anyone he goes off and tries to genocide is typically reborn anyways. No promises the families won't declare blood feuds with him, though." Rose says.




Scurn seems surprised.
"Y...you're kidding, right? What the fuck was I supposed to do?" He snaps. "It was my hometown getting burned to the ground, you think I told a bunch of other kids that I'd look out for them just to ditch them in the first torched building?! Just because you have the luxury of being able to singlehandedly kill whatever godsdamned army sent at your home doesn't mean the rest of us do!" He growls. "I can barely take on my own kin one on one, forget about an army of killer mechs!"

 

The girl looks disappointed.

"Yeah, but in general. Like if you found a human in this forest." The girl asks, sounding hurt.


"Hey, that's mean!" Katie says, stepping in for Abigail to stop things getting bad.


"Blood feuds?" Stephanie asks, confused.



"Did you succeed?" Eve asks, some of her fingers turning from repair tools back into normal fingers.

 

"What is the human doing?" Ihra asks. "Are they just walking, or what?"


"Right." I say, seeming dismissive.


"Literally people reincarnating with the sole intent of getting revenge on someone. Typically involving enlisting in Atavul's standard boot camp to turn them into a monstrous warrior. It's an ugly thing, but most actually go back to their old lives once the feud ends. Granted, there's a chance that it lasts forever since reincarnation, but..."



"None of them were hurt, but they're orphans unless their parents were out of town."

 

"Yeah, trespassing!" The girl says happily.


Katie doesn't seem satisfied.

"You should apologise." Katie says sternly.

Abigail rolls her eyes.


"So, if we get killed there, we just get reincarnated and can keep going?" Stephanie asks.



"So why did you join Thirteen?" Eve asks.

 

"Okay, why are they trespassing? Do they know they're trespassing?" Ihra asks.


"She's fine. Besides, if you're going to hand out insults like candy you ought to be able to take a few." I say, not seeming keen on changing my stance.


"Yes, but also no. You'll reincarnate... in the standard palace reincarnation chamber. Where they have a full two hours to do with you as they please before you come to. You might wake up in a gauntlet. Or multiple pieces." Rose says. "Death in his realm gives him first say on whether or not to reincarnate your soul through his own means. If he refuses, you die. Best case scenario, he leaves you to rot and you get Mortius or a death guardian to reclaim you."



"He took pity on me, and I figured that while my home was busy burning to the ground I'd go see what all the rest of the reality has to offer. Maybe meet the other Gaia or the heroes from some 'Earth.' I was hoping I could skip the genocidal demon or his creation, but here we are."

 

"Because they're an evil human trying to destroy this forest!" The girl says, sounding annoyed.


"Just...let it go, Katie." Abigail says.

"But he insulted you! Greatly!" Katie says, sounding defiant.

"It's fine. An insult from a human is like someone trying to stab you with a rubber knife." Abigail says.


"What if he finds out I'm a demigod?" Stephanie asks.



"I can assure you, I carry none of his genocidal aspects. I know of the heroes you speak of, too. I can point you in their direction, but I am certain Thirteen knows where to find them already." Eve says, turning to Thirteen ( @Enhanced_Human )

 

"Then I turn them around, warp them away, and wipe their recent memory." Ihra says.


"Bold of you to assume I know how to use a rubber knife." I quip, albeit without changing my tone.


"You kinda screamed 'demigod' when you walked around emitting mana like a damn star emitting light



Scurn keeps quiet, still seeming untrusting of Eve.

 

"That's boring..." The girl says, sounding disappointed, "What are you doing in Tiril's house anyway?"

Ihra gets the sense she just dodged a bullet.


"Was...that like a reference to something?" Abigail asks, confused and unamused.


"Do you think that'd affect my ability to go unnoticed in his realm, then?" Stephanie asks.

 

"I was hoping to find his family to let them know he's doing okay. He wound up meeting three goddesses in one day, and now he has a job and home in the capital Shadow Palace." Ihra says. "He really likes bowing, though..."
She doesn't seem to mind, care, or at least notice.


"Yes, your perception that humans can't do anything right. Apparently that's true because I can't even insult myself properly in front of people who insult humans on a daily basis." I sigh.


"Considering you're like an active rescue beacon attempting to go on a stealth mission, yes I think it'd affect that."

 

"He's pretty paranoid," The girl admits, seeming to loosen up a little, "His parents live in a different part of the forest though. You could probably just tell the people here he's ok."


"Jesus, don't get all 'Oh god my life sucks I'm so depressed' on me," Abigail says, sounding annoyed, "I deal with enough people like you on the internet."


"I guess I'll just have to send people in my stead. I hope mum doesn't mind..." Stephanie says, looking ready to leave.

 

"I was hoping to meet his family, though I assume I've spent a bit too much time off the front lines..." Ihra sighs, seeming hesitant.


"Seriously? I just stick with single player shit, I can't tolerate other people half the time. I didn't expect you to be the more patient person between the two of us." I laugh.


"You don't have a cloak that makes you less of a lighthouse?" Rose asks, a bit surprised.