No response. Instead, she folds her arms over her knees and rests her head on them.


________________________________________


You follow the marks on the floor, leading to another tunnel. Blasted gates and more bodies, until you reach another chamber, this one hundreds of times larger than the previous.

Bright, faintly yellow lights partially illuminate the cavern, with large stone buildings throwing wicked shadows across the roads and walkways that make up the ground.

It looks like a battle was fought right by the entrance, and you can faintly make out the occasional loud noise in other parts of the cavern.


________________________________________


You move your arm to pat someone, but you're not sure if you succeeded.

You try to tell them you're okay, too, but you're not sure how well they heard it.

Everything feels hazy, almost dream-like. Your senses dull, your vision full of darkness and color.

The sounds of water reach your ears.


________________________________________


Baltir: "Good luck."

Looks like that's that. You, Monk, and Miimas leave the shop and head to the capital building, and then towards Elizabeth's office.

Aucupe-wearing-Lucida seem to be part of the room guards now. Walking in, you see six black mages, two blue, and the armored form of Torrent with someone not too familiar inside.

Elizabeth is at her desk like usual, with Linna? standing beside it with a push-cart holding drinks and snacks.

John seems to be missing, along with that red-eyed woman in the black and gold cloak.

Elizabeth: "And Horoma, yes. We're slightly ahead of schedule, but the sooner the better."

Linna?: "Coffee? Snacks? We have crackers and meats and sweets."

Black Mage: "I'll have some."

The maid wheels the cart over to the mage group, with a couple picking out foods to nibble on.


________________________________________


You panic and gasp for air, trying to stay on the surface

You think you feel your limbs being held tighter, preventing you from struggling

The sounds of water are all around you


________________________________________


She doesn't stare at you, so you approach and sit down in front of her.


She's silent for a bit before replying, sounding a bit stressed.

Horoma: "A little."

Linna?: "Sorry, no bananas. What about apple wedges? There're oranges too."


________________________________________


You summon your inner calm, trying to lower your heart rate and breathing

You keep it up for several minutes

You still feel your limbs firmly held, but after some time the sounds of water fade


________________________________________



Horoma: "Not really."


________________________________________


You point your finger at a pillow on the couch, make a motion of picking something up, and then point at the ground in front of you.

Kuori obediently walks over to the couch and picks up the pillow, then quickly walks over to you and holds it up in the air.


These training sessions have been going well. After you informed the lord of your spirit capabilities and showing off Kuori as proof, you've been trying to teach the doll how to be more communicative - and useful.


Taking the pillow from Kuori, you give her a headpat to reward her good behavior. She's not too reactive, but she seems to have learned to interpret it as a good sign.

It takes a while, but you feel yourself being let go

You seem to be lying on something

There are bright lights everywhere, and colors


________________________________________



Horoma: "Go back in time and kill people."