“Heli.” Alma stared at her awkwardly for a moment, her eyes then darting around the room. “You sure look… comfortable. In front of guests.”

“You better believe it. A cleansing like you wouldn’t believe was due after spending days out in that dirty, bug-infested shithole of a forest.” She turned and examined Qu’l-Nia. “Hey, I know I called you a freak earlier, but I actually really like what you’ve done with your hair.”

“You just missed traumatic story time, love,” remarked the Hecatian. “You want a recap?”

“I’m good, thanks,” the witch said dismissively. “So, you’re Alma’s new posse?”

“You could say that. She’s told us a lot about you, yeah?”

“Great things, I’m sure.”

“In her eyes, apparently.”

“Hwalín.” Qu’l-Nia looked at her while Heloise glared at her.

Hwalín shrugged in response.

Alma chuckled nervously. “I think it’s about time we got this all out in the open.”

“Yes,” The witch hissed in response. “I think it’s about time you did.”

“Qu’l-Nia here…” Alma tried slowly to form her jumbled thoughts into a coherent story. "She's a… being. From outside our universe."

"What?" The witch scoffed. "Like a goddess?"

"Not a goddess per se… but sort of?"

"Alma, gods don't just casually hang out in your living room drinking a spot of tea. That'd be like me saying Azotha and me are old gaming buddies. I know there isn't much love lost between you and Macha, but this isn't exactly a healthy replacement." She turned to Qu'l-Nia. "I don't know what kind of cult nonsense you've been spouting at my girl here, but I think it's time for you to leave. Go peddle your bogus religion or whatever crap to some other poor sap."

"You said you'd help us, Heli!" Alma protested.

"Heloise," stated the eldritch woman. She appeared emotionless except for a mysterious glint in her eyes. "I realize all of this is much to take in, but everything I have communicated to Alma is the truth."

"Just hear her out, Heli."

Heloise frowned, wanting to say “no” but biting her lip. She gave a slight nod.

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"My kind's reach extends far beyond your universe. We have been around since before you were in your infancy. Before the spark of life was ignited within the womb of the apeiron."

"The what? You never mentioned that part."

"You were distraught. I had to simplify things for you."

"So, the universe is born like some kind of living baby?" asked Heloise.

"It is much more complicated than that. But your universe’s cosmogony is superfluous information at the moment. What concerns us is what is currently happening right now. In a certain part of the world, dark powers conspire to bring an end to all things. This is no paltry prophecy, as you have said. From an outside perspective, it is plain to see the misalignment of this universe’s cosmological structures. Your world is being used as a catalyst for something inordinately complex. Alma has graciously offered her assistance in helping me stop this ritual from continuing. And by extension, she has also offered yours.”

“What?!” Heloise glared at Alma. “I can’t believe I have to tell you not to offer my services to just any weirdo you meet.”

“Yeah,” the ex-soldier chuckled nervously. “That’s why we’re here. I swear I didn’t make any promises. It’s not even something that hard. I just… You were the first person to come to mind.”

The witch let out an exhausted sigh. “And you really believe what she’s saying? Has she even shown you any proof?”

“Oh, Heli. If you’ve only seen what I’ve seen.”

“Alma, you’re scaring me.”

“I’m serious! I can see things now. You know how I’ve always been able to see things? Well, now I can really see things. They aren’t just blobs of aura anymore.” She pointed at the corner of the room occupied by said things. “There’s one right there. I can see it plain as day. It’s fucking ugly. I’m definitely gonna have nightmares tonight, but my point is, she can see them too. She’s done a lot of weird shit that I just haven’t been able to handwave and it’s opened my eyes. So to speak.”

“You’ve always been a sucker for this shit, huh?” Heloise rolled her eyes. “Wait, so like, you can see even more spooky stuff now?”

“Yes. Not just living things either, you know? I’ve told you all the stuff I could see before. But remember earlier? The nuckelavee?”

“You saw the magic binding it. Right. I almost forgot. You’re saying you can even see magic now?”

“Something like that? The only thing I can see now is that monster in the corner though. Maybe it’s just specific kind of magic?”

“Like… dimensional magic? Wait, when did all this start? The change?”

“Think it was right around when you met us, Alm,” interjected Hwalín.

“That’s right! I couldn’t see those chthonae until after…” Alma slowly turned to Qu’l-Nia. “I heard your song. And it’s been getting worse every day since then.”

“She did this to you?” Heloise pointed to the eldritch woman. “And you’re JUST NOW PUTTING THIS TOGETHER?!”

Alma shrugged her shoulders awkwardly.

“Alma!” the witch scoffed. “You’re supposed to be the smart one! Aren’t you mad? She’s messing you up!”

“I am! I am mad! But there are bigger things at stake right now!”

“This is your proof? It’s just magic, you idiot! I probably could’ve come up with a spell to do the same thing!”

At that moment, the cosmic being known as Qu’l-Nia whistled a small, incomprehensible tune. A dull, penetrating sound completely unlike a whistle that had the added benefit of causing a bottomless churning in the pit of one’s stomach. Strange waves rippled through the air in front of her, causing the other three women to stare at her in shock. Before any further word could be said, there was a slight rapping at a nearby window.

On the other side was Heloise’s winged familiar, Carthas.