Amber: (she looked impressed at the magic) Woah.. that's so cool! Makes me wish we had magic back at our world.. Do you guys use potions at your world? We kinda do but only the creepy witches and warlocks can do that.
Haruka: Is this a friend of yours? *Hayate rises to his feet while keeping a watchful eye on Agnes. He staggers a bit as he gets up but soon stands steady on his feet* Hayate: All plants on Chouwa have magic as well so there are a few potions we use. Most are medicinal though. The Youkai frequently uses a potion that can make them look like Chouwans. Luckily it wears off in a couple hours so they can’t hide forever. Haruka: That is why I was locked up. They wanted to see of the potion wore off. After a while they did finally believe me when I said I’m not a Youkai.
Solvi: I wouldn't call her a friend, but... *Agnes glares in Haruka and Hayate's direction. She points at them, and the tip of her finger lights on fire.* Agnes: Let me guess, you're more of her supernatural acquaintances? Where do you keep finding these strange friends, Evensen? They look like nothing of this world. Solvi: Well, you're not wrong on that last part. Put the fire away, Agnes, you'll burn someone.
Hayate: *addressing Agnes* You might want to be more careful about who you threaten. *he makes a motion with his hand and the fire at Agnes' fingertip is snuffed out.* Fire can't live without air. And air happens to be my element. Haruka: Calm down, Hayate. Maybe you shouldn't write her off as an enemy just yet. *address Agnes* If you don't mind me asking... Who are you exactly and how do you know Solvi? My name is Mamoru Haruka, by the way, and this here is Hayate Uta.
*Agnes stares at her extinguished finger in shock. Her eyes flick back to Haruka and Hayate.* Agnes: I am Agnes Carter, second-ranking officer of the Society of Spiritual Connections, and Solvi Evensen's former coworker. Solvi: Don't forget, "unwanted rival". Agnes: Shut it, Evensen! Nobody asked you! Agnes: *turns back to Haruka and Hayate* Now, as for you two. Have you been harboring these fugitives? How long have you been helping Evensen and her faerie? Solvi: They were here when we teleported, Agnes, they have nothing to do with us. Agnes: Darn it, Evensen! You know what, I should just arrest you right now and get it over with! Ferelith: Then what will you do, teleport us back with you and incinerate us in the process? Agnes: AAGH! Just forget it! I'll figure something out! Anyway, would you mind explaining to me why all these people are in this void? Is this some kind of inbetween-space guild?
Solvi: Yeah, we have potions. I've never been good at making them, though. You have to set tons of timers and make sure your ingredients are exactly the right quality, then you have to run back and forth between ingredients and your cauldron, always checking the time of day and what moon phase it is... It's much too overwhelming for me. Agnes can do it, though. Agnes: *flips her hair dramatically* It helps when you can control the flames that your potion is boiling over.
Amber: Wha--? That sounds complicated, the local witches make it look easy if that's the case. *to Agnes* Sooo, are you their friend or something? How did you get into this place?
Agnes: I am Agnes Carter, second ranking officer of the Society of Spiritual Connections, and Evensen's former coworker. Solvi *Muttering under her breath* Wouldn't hurt you just to say my first name... Agnes: My team of scouts and I ambushed Evensen and her faerie while they were performing a teleportation spell. When the spell malfunctioned and they disappeared, I knew they had to have gone somewhere, but it was a wild guess on where exactly. Solvi: *Whispering to Amber* She takes forever to explain things, hang in there. Agnes: Then I remembered the rumors of the inbetween-spaces. It is said that a teleportation spell gone wrong has a chance of warping the spellcaster into an inbetween-space. So I tracked the magical energy of Evensen's spell, pinpointed her location, and teleported myself through the void until I found this room. *She snaps her fingers as she finishes, making a small flame flicker and disappear over her hand.* Solvi: Wait, you teleported yourself through the void to find us? Ferelith: We knew you were dedicated to your job, but that is insane. And very characteristic of you! Agnes: *glares at Solvi and Ferelith as the flame on her hand returns*
Agnes: I specialize in the element of fire. I've been performing spells with fire since before I became a wizard, so I can assure you that I have my powers under control. Solvi: But still, don't make her too angry, she'll absolutely lose it. Agnes: *ignoring Solvi* In fact, I can even do things such as this. *She holds out her arm and her entire sleeve lights on fire. The fire disappears and her sleeve shows no sign of burning.* Ferelith: *impressed clapping*
Haruka: *addressing Agnes* We all ended up here in ways much pretty similar to yours. In our case, we were on the way to the art room when the door we opened just lead here instead of where it usually leads. But even if people here are nice and all I don't think anyone would say that we are close enough to be called a guild. Hayate: I'm more curious about her magic. *addressing Agnes* Are you saying that you chose fire as your element? Because that is not how it works where I come from. I was born with air, no matter how hard I train I can never control fire. It is simply not possible. And if you chose it, does that mean you can control more than just one element?
Agnes: In that case, I may have to study this room in the future. Perhaps it could be of use to the Society. Agnes: I didn't exactly choose it, more like it chose me. I always had a knack for controlling fire, so I decided to make it my primary element. I could do something different, but the other elements and spellcrafts don't mix well with me. You said that you were born with only air magic? I thought that only the supernatural were like that. You are human, right? Ferelith: *to Hayate* Back in our world, most supernatural creatures have a specific set of powers, or just one. My powers are shapeshifting, illusion, and gairm spiorad, but I can still help Solvi do other spells.
Hayate: No. Haruka would call me human, but I'm technically not. I'm from a planet we call Chouwa, and my people refer to ourselves as Chouwans. Or we refer o ourselves after the domain we are from, which in my case is Rekka - making me a Rekkan. And yes, I was born with only air magic - it is the same for all beings born on Chouwa. Some get different elements than me, of course. Haruka: I'm from Earth, so I'm human. But it seems like I'm from a different Earth than you. And I have no magic at all. I'm pretty decent at karate, though. Not that it would help much against magic... Hayate: Sounds like my people have more in common with your kind than with humans... But gairm spiorad? What kind of magic is that?
Agnes: Chouwa... Evensen, do you have any paper with you? I should be writing this down. Solvi: Unfortunately, no. *to Haruka* Is there any kind of spellcraft at all on your Earth? And what time period are you from? For us, Earth is in the 1870s. Ferelith: Ooh... Gairm spiorad is the manipulation of spirits. It's an old power that came from the Tuatha Dé Danann faeries, but nobody outside of the underground kingdoms really knows about it. Gairm spiorad allows me to not only communicate with ghosts and spirits, but to control them, too. Solvi: I remember you telling me about it, but have you ever actually seen it in use? Ferelith: Only once, a long time ago. I think it was back in 1623. I was with Lord Searthra, one of the rulers of the Underground, on a battlefield just minutes after war. We came across a man on the side of the road, barely breathing and injured beyond healing. Lord Searthra released the man's soul from its body with a wave of his hand. Made me realize just how powerful we faeries can be. Agnes: *stares at Ferelith with a slightly disturbed expression*
Haruka: As far as I know magic doesn't exist at all on my Earth. I suppose it could be very well hidden, but I have only heard of such things in stories. Ending up on Chouwa was quite a shock, I can tell you that. As for what time I'm from... The 1870s was a very long time ago for me. I'm from the year 2018. Hayate: *stares at Ferelith as well* You can speak with the dead?!! Is... Is it something many of your people can do? Is it something others could learn to do? Do you think it could be possible for me to learn how to do it?! Haruka: Hayate? What...? *realizes what it is about* Oh... Your mother... Hayate: *nods before addressing the others* My mother passed away when I was only ten years old. I know this is weird after she has been dead for so long but there are still things I never told her... Things I never asked her... I guess I would take any chance to see her again if I could... But such magic doesn't exist on Chouwa... Haruka: *places his hand on Hayate's back* It's okay. I think all of us would think like you in that situation.
Solvi: No magic at all? Wow. Day-to-day life on your world must be very different from life in ours. Agnes: 2018?! Your Earth must be so technologically advanced!—Well, it would be for us, at least. *Ferelith's expression falls. She looks up at Hayate and smiles sadly.* Ferelith: I'm sorry that happened, Hayate. I may not know what it's like to have a parent or to lose one, but I can tell she was very dear to you. I don't think it's weird at all to want to speak with her again. Solvi: *Glances at Hayate and Haruka, then smiles and puts a hand on Ferelith's shoulder.* I agree with Ferelith. *Agnes adjusts her hat and turns away with a bitter expression*
Amber: Wait...huh? If Earth's in the 1870's, and you were alive in 1623...how old are you? More than 100?
Ferelith: Oh, let me think, I'm, uh... 300? No... 400? *Ferelith holds up her fingers and starts counting* 800? I think that's it? Yeah, 800! It gets hard to keep track after a while.
Haruka: Yeah, I would imagine that daily life would be different. I had to adjust when I came to Chouwa as well. If you remove the magic part they are pretty close to the fourteenth or the fifteenth century. And I suppose we are very technologically advanced compared to the nineteenth century. In fact, things have advanced pretty fast even during my lifetime. Hayate: Thanks, it is okay, really. It has been twenty-one years since she died, after all. But, Ferelith, you say that you know what it’s like to have parents? How exactly are fae born and raised? Haruka: You are eight hundred years old?! Well, you certainly don’t look like it. *looks at Hayate* How does age work on Chouwa again? Hayate: *addressing everyone* When we compared we Chouwans live as long as you humans do, around one hundred years. Some Youkai species have shorter or longer life spans than that. I think the shortest life span is the Bjuma, a Youkai species that lives for ten-fifteen years at the most. The longest is the Lochadraryuu, a Youkai species which have a life span of five hundred years. *addressing Ferelith* How is it to have such a long life span? Does it feel strange seeing the world change around you and those of shorter life spans die? How do you cope with it?
Ferelith: Fae aren't born in the same way that mortals are. We are created from nature itself, be it from a breeze over a flower field or the waters of a marsh. Most Daoine Sìth are born from stone and crystals, or waterfalls deep underground. We're usually raised in a community, with every more experienced faerie helping the younger ones. The closest thing I have to parents are the rulers of the Underground, but I'm more like a student in a huge school to them. Ferelith: Well, at first I didn't see a long life span as being a big deal. Mortal creatures would come and go, leaving almost no trace that could be noticed after a few decades. Why would I care about them? But then I left the Underground for the first time. I remember sneaking off from the groups I traveled with and befriending human kids, over and over again in every civilization I visited. Sometimes I would return to a city and rush to find my old friends, before I realized that they had all either moved on from their childhoods or passed away a long time ago. Then there was civilization itself. I've witnessed many inventions come and go, kingdoms and cities rise and fall, events that would be written down in history books. It gets hard to keep up with when you're not paying attention to it. I once took a nap and woke up to see that everyone was moving to a new continent! I didn't even know that continent existed before then! I've gotten used to all of that, though. I just remind myself that it is the natural order of things for life and society to change, even if that means death and destruction must follow.
Katsumi: You live a long time, then? Humans in our world generally live as long as you would expect a human to--it seems you're all familiar with us, so I won't bother to explain our lifespan. Sapphire: Elves can live to be about two hundred, give or take a decade or so. Either species can extend their lifespan with powerful enough magic, though.
Ferelith: I've heard about people who have tried to make themselves immortal using magic! It's never ended well, though. They all end up turning into some altered creature that's nothing like what they were before. Solvi: Using healing spells to slow down old age is much more common. Ferelith: And did you mention elves? In our world, elves are a legend of sorts. They're said to have been faeries who distanced themselves from all the early clans and kingdoms to live alongside mortals in peace and prosperity. Nobody's sure what happened to them, but I like to think there are some still living in our world today.
(My other OCs aren't here anymore. Don't ask where they went. Their story's going nowhere these days, so they're leaving now.) A motley-looking group enters. Three of them appear to be elven, two looking incredibly similar to one another. One has an ethereal look to her, with light blue skin and black hair. One looks to be a completely normal human. Sarelia (elf): Uh, where are we? Saelith (elf): Don't ask me. Avani, you're well-traveled, right? Avani (blue): I was a pirate, you idiot, I'm not well-traveled on land. So no, before you ask, I don't know what this place is. Saelith: Damn. Worth a shot. Kali'vareth (elf): It was truly not. A moment's consideration would have answered your own question without forcing us all to hear your voice. Saelith: My voice is lovely. Just because you have no concept of beauty-- Kali'vareth: I know beauty; I view it in the mirror every morning. I simply do not see it in you. Sarelia: Knock it off, Kali. Nelis (normal): So, uh. Anyone else here?
A group of young adults enters. They're composed of a beautiful pale woman, a purple haired girl with a mask hiding her face, a pointy eared man with long hair and another man, one with skin like wood and green flames as hair. Green Fire Man: Where the hell are we NOW? Pale Woman: Relax, Hans. I don't think we left Baba Yaga's hut. This is probably just another room. Hans (grimacing): Tell me, Hime, since when is that reassuring? Long-haired Man: (points calmy to the other group) Hime: Hey, there's people here! They look rather fey too, don't they Edrish? Masked Woman: !!! (tries to walk backwards, gets dragged back by the other woman) Hime: Don't run, Blanco, this is a good chance to socialize! Hello there!
Sarelia: Fey? Well, they do say elves are distantly related to fey, but those are just theories. Avani: I'm half-fey, though. My mother's a nymph. Name's Avani. Sarelia: I'm Sarelia Vethalas. Saelith: I'm Saelith, her more attractive brother. Sarelia: We're identical twins, idiot. Kali'vareth: I apologize for these fools. I am Kali'vareth Nessal, of the city of Syvaren. And no, you may not call me Kali. It is beneath me. Saelith: What, are we doing that now? We're of Ryndor, then. Kali'vareth: No one has heard of Ryndor. Saelith: That's not the point. Nelis: You guys done? I'm Nelis. Well, that's subject to change, but right now I'm Nelis. Avani: What do you think, Ellie, are these guys trustworthy? Sarelia: Don't call me Ellie. But...I can't hear anything. Avani: What do you mean? Sarelia: Their minds. I can't read them. It's not even a shield there--there's just nothing. It's like their minds are completely inaccessible to me. Perhaps it's part of being in this strange place.
