[ Emerek smiles warmly at Kor's response, and nods. That's just what he was hoping to hear. A soft, golden glow surrounds him, growing slowly brighter. ]
Then we'll leave this in your hands. Merisia is very lucky to have made such a good friend. I can't do much anymore, so...look after her for me, will you?
[ The light brightens, blocking out everything around Kor, replacing it with the familiar scene of a tent in the desert.
A young Merisia appears sitting next to a rolled-up sleeping bag of sorts, hugging her knees and staring at the ground, a canteen in one hand. She looks incredibly distraught, perhaps even shocked, and reluctant to move. A blanket has been draped over her shoulders, her hair is disheveled, and her shoes have been kicked off and sit in a pile nearby. Emerek sits next to her, looking equally messy, but it seems he's far more concerned with Merisia's well-being.
"A fire?"
Merisia nods, continuing to stare at the ground. "It was just... Suddenly everything was going up in flames. Everyone was running, and screaming... The next thing I knew it was all gone again, and I was back with you and the survivors at the crash site. I-I was so scared, it all happened out of nowhere, a-and it was all over before I even knew what happened..."
Emerek pauses, looking worried suddenly. "I see... So you have it too, then."
The vision shifts, suddenly, as though disrupted. There are snippets of Emerek scooting up next to Merisia, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder, explaining something to her. But the more he says, the more anxious Merisia appears to get. Finally, the vision settles, and it's clear that not much time has passed at all. But as it resumes...
"...need to promise me to be careful, alright?" Emerek states. "If anyone discovers you have this gift, it could be dangerous."
Merisia freezes. "Dangerous?"
Taking a deep breath, Emerek averts his gaze. "I was told once," he begins, "That the Empire sees those that have the Echo as enemies. For them, to be able to communicate with the beastmen makes you one of them."
The look on Merisia's face is nothing short of horrified. She nearly drops the canteen in her hands, and her shoulders tremble. "WHY?!" She protests. "I-I didn't ask for this stupid gift! I never wanted to see these visions or...or watch the sky fall apart! I-"
Her words are cut short as Emerek lays a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're going to be fine," he says, though Merisia hardly looks convinced. "Listen, I'll explain everything else I know once we get back to a proper inn. I just wanted to warn you before anything else happened." He smiles, patting her gently. "As long as no one finds out, we'll be just fine. So don't tell anyone, okay?"
Merisia hesitates, then nods. "R-Right. I promise..."
And then, quite abruptly, Merisia's normal voice cuts in, reverberating about the void.
"I promise, Emerek. I won't tell anyone."
"No one will find out about the Echo. As long as I keep it a secret, I'll be safe..."
When the vision fades, Emerek is gone, and the canteen disappears as well, shrouded in light before dissolving into small particles. Kor is left in the enormous Crystal's abyss, with only the exhausted blue Carbuncle curled up in his arms. It's awake now, its eyes cracked open, but it seems reluctant to move just yet.
There's no more guide to show him the way, no one else to offer him hints or answers. Everything is silent, waiting. ]
no subject
Then we'll leave this in your hands. Merisia is very lucky to have made such a good friend. I can't do much anymore, so...look after her for me, will you?
[ The light brightens, blocking out everything around Kor, replacing it with the familiar scene of a tent in the desert.
A young Merisia appears sitting next to a rolled-up sleeping bag of sorts, hugging her knees and staring at the ground, a canteen in one hand. She looks incredibly distraught, perhaps even shocked, and reluctant to move. A blanket has been draped over her shoulders, her hair is disheveled, and her shoes have been kicked off and sit in a pile nearby. Emerek sits next to her, looking equally messy, but it seems he's far more concerned with Merisia's well-being.
"A fire?"
Merisia nods, continuing to stare at the ground. "It was just... Suddenly everything was going up in flames. Everyone was running, and screaming... The next thing I knew it was all gone again, and I was back with you and the survivors at the crash site. I-I was so scared, it all happened out of nowhere, a-and it was all over before I even knew what happened..."
Emerek pauses, looking worried suddenly. "I see... So you have it too, then."
"Have what?" Merisia asks, finally looking up. "Emerek, what's going on? W-What's happening to me?"
The vision shifts, suddenly, as though disrupted. There are snippets of Emerek scooting up next to Merisia, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder, explaining something to her. But the more he says, the more anxious Merisia appears to get. Finally, the vision settles, and it's clear that not much time has passed at all. But as it resumes...
"...need to promise me to be careful, alright?" Emerek states. "If anyone discovers you have this gift, it could be dangerous."
Merisia freezes. "Dangerous?"
Taking a deep breath, Emerek averts his gaze. "I was told once," he begins, "That the Empire sees those that have the Echo as enemies. For them, to be able to communicate with the beastmen makes you one of them."
The look on Merisia's face is nothing short of horrified. She nearly drops the canteen in her hands, and her shoulders tremble. "WHY?!" She protests. "I-I didn't ask for this stupid gift! I never wanted to see these visions or...or watch the sky fall apart! I-"
Her words are cut short as Emerek lays a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're going to be fine," he says, though Merisia hardly looks convinced. "Listen, I'll explain everything else I know once we get back to a proper inn. I just wanted to warn you before anything else happened." He smiles, patting her gently. "As long as no one finds out, we'll be just fine. So don't tell anyone, okay?"
Merisia hesitates, then nods. "R-Right. I promise..."
And then, quite abruptly, Merisia's normal voice cuts in, reverberating about the void.
"I promise, Emerek. I won't tell anyone."
"No one will find out about the Echo. As long as I keep it a secret, I'll be safe..."
When the vision fades, Emerek is gone, and the canteen disappears as well, shrouded in light before dissolving into small particles. Kor is left in the enormous Crystal's abyss, with only the exhausted blue Carbuncle curled up in his arms. It's awake now, its eyes cracked open, but it seems reluctant to move just yet.
There's no more guide to show him the way, no one else to offer him hints or answers. Everything is silent, waiting. ]