Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Once she reaches them, it's clear the Stephanie's gotten far better. She sits on a curved tree, covered in vines, while Artemis seems to be tending to Katie.

 

@Exvhius

 

"I see you're recovering well." Lidnis says happily.

You steal night vision.
Oh boy so useless.

 

"Yeah...I feel a hole lot better." Stephanie says, trying to smile.

 

"There has got to be some kind of curse forcing me to take night vision." Helianthus says, before using it and continuing his search.

 

Lidnis seems oblivious to humor.
"That's good. The shadow being is recovering, though it took some convincing to get him to go home. How are the others?"

Actually, being able to see everything in the caves and crevasses isn't so shabby.
You find several decent-sized jewels, but nothing that stands out. Maybe you could try quantity over quality?

 

Helianthus grabs as much jewels as possible, still continuing to look for any more valuables.

 

"Katie's being healed, and I would assume Abigail is better." Stephanie says.

 

You find a few small fossils, but still nothing you think the group would risk life and limb for.
However, it doesn't take long to fill your hands and your backpack with jewels.

"That's good. Well, Ihra's... napping, so I'll just leave her with you and pardon myself. If you need anything on our end, come down to city hall and let me know." Lidnis says, turning away.

 

"I don't especially want to stress you on anything from the state of your city, but thanks for the offer." Stephanie says, wincing and putting her hand on her torso as she moves slightly.

 

"Death is inevitable, sweetie. Don't stress it too much." Lidnis says, carefree. "You and your friends just happen to have something you need to do before it comes to that." She says, raising her voice as she walks away.

 

This seems to hit Stephanie like a truck, and tears start running down her face.

 

Through her tears, Stephanie can see Lidnis helping a groggily tired Ihra back to the group before vanishing.

"Morning, everyone... uh... Stephanie? Are you crying?" Ihra asks wearily.

 

Stephanie just falls to her side, some blood leaking through the vines in the process, crying.

 

Ihra casts a spell to slow the bleeding.
"Stephanie, what's wrong?" Ihra asks, worried.

 

"I...I don't want to...d-die." Stephanie mutters through tears.

 

"W-what?! You're not going to! Definitely not soon! We can stop the Hive Master and then live together after! We can do so much, but I won't let dying be one of them!" Ihra says, somewhat panicked as she tries to rush Stephanie's healing.

 

Stephanie just bursts into floods of tears, her tears starting to drip onto the ground.

 

Ihra uses the vines to pick up Stephanie, sit her upright, and then hugs her, wiping her tears.
"It'll be okay... I promise, we'll be okay... just don't cry... please..."

 

As Ihra hugs Stephanie, she feels her shaking. Stephanie weakly wraps her arms around Ihra, still crying.