Chapter 6: Uncharted

Vina trailed after Etana towards the front of the refuge building, the thrum of outworlder vibrances intensifying as she neared. It was a vibrant cacophony that reminded her of an unseen fireworks display. The crowd she sensed outside was swelling by the minute, yet something else, elusive and nebulous, kept nagging at the edges of her awareness. “Etana, you sound concerned. Aren’t we safe here?” Vina inquired.

Etana, however, raised a hand to caution her. "Out here, I need you to address me as Trina. I've been experimenting with this protective barrier. While it shields us from direct harm and can preserve the lives of the critically injured, it cannot stop someone from physically removing you from it," she explained, leading Vina through the bustling main atrium and out the grand double doors. The sight of the gathered crowd did not come as a surprise.

Off to the side, Vina spotted a handful of the refuge’s attendants, Aranza among them, standing within the safety of the barrier. Her Blood Shot Eyes discerned a concealed pouch of coins hidden within Aranza's skirts, an affirmation that Etana had been correct. Aranza had indeed been bought off and was now intent on keeping her profits hidden.

“Lady Trina!” Aranza exclaimed in surprise. "We did not anticipate your arrival so soon."

Unfazed, Etana strode up to Aranza, pushing against her chest, and effortlessly forcing her to the edge of the barrier. She extricated the pouch of coins from her skirts and addressed the crowd, "Aranza Baltina, you have grossly betrayed the sanctity of this refuge. Every refuge is a bastion of safety, privacy, and security. Your transgression shall serve as a lesson." Etana tossed the pouch to an unfamiliar man among the attendants.

Vina attempted to interject, "Trina..."

But she was too late. Aranza vanished, reduced to nonexistence. A collective gasp reverberated through the crowd as Vina sensed Aranza's vibrant life force abruptly snuffed out. It was an utterly final demise; not even a drop of her blood stained the ground. Aranza's vibrance was there one moment, then extinguished the next.

Without missing a beat, Etana posed a question to the crowd, "You who have congregated here with the intent to slay an Asharaina, are you prepared to volunteer yourselves as another lesson?"

Murmurs of trepidation fluttered through the crowd, and some individuals started retreating. However, the aberrant vibrance that Vina had noticed earlier was drawing nearer. It pushed through the crowd, its distinctiveness made Vina furrow her eyebrows. This vibrance was another anomaly, suggesting the presence of an outworlder from yet another vastly different world. It was potent, glacial, unyielding—a monolith. "Just how many outworlders are there?" she wondered.

"I volunteer," declared a voice, resonant and imbued with an air of undeniable authority. From the crowd emerged a figure that captivated Vina's attention immediately. Composed entirely of stones of various sizes, the entity moved with a grace that belied its seemingly rigid form, each step resonating with a melodious sound reminiscent of ancient chimes. The stones themselves were a marvel – polished and gleaming, their hues a spectrum of yellows, punctuated by the sparkle of gemstones that recalled the depth of jasper and the subtlety of tourmaline. Illuminated by the soft glow of the night torches and lamps, the entity seemed to capture and refract the light, radiating an aura that was both captivating and commanding.

It advanced, stopping just short of the barrier before Etana. With deliberate grace, it extended a hand towards the barrier, just barely touching it. Immediately a faint, harmonic vibration filled in the air. The gesture was gentle, yet it carried an underlying strength, a subtle display of power contained within a frame of stone and jewel.

Vina's gaze was drawn instantly to the peculiar stone entity before her, her Blood Shot Eyes revealing an anomaly she hadn't anticipated—the creature's health was not discernible. Stranger yet were the numerous aspects that seemed to be embedded within its stony form. As she attempted to scrutinize it, hoping at least to discern its race, she was greeted with a disconcerting message that mirrored her earlier experience when her armor bonded with her.

System Error: Entity not found.

“Trina…” Vina cautiously started, her voice betraying her uncertainty, “I’ve got mostly nothing, but it has a lot of aspects embedded in its body.”

The figure turned towards her. Its head, an enigmatic void save for the single point of light that served as a focal point, directed its luminous gaze upon her. "The counterfeit Trina is as ignorant as you," it retorted. The voice, emanating from deep within its stone chest, carried a timbre that was both mesmerizing and unsettling. It held the weight of eons, a tone that suggested knowledge far beyond the grasp of ordinary beings.

Etana appeared locked in place, but she managed to speak finally, “I know enough. State your purpose.”

"I seek Vina, not for her bounty," the gravel-like entity declared, each word resonating with a purposeful and commanding undertone.

"My Asharaina is committed to vital work. She cannot be disrupted. You will return at a more convenient time," Etana retorted, attempting to dismiss the being.

But the entity was undeterred. It pressed its hand into the barrier and sigils began to pop like overheated light bulbs, dropping dust to the ground. Vina watched in shock and awe as the entire barrier began to shudder and bend against the palm of the entity standing in front of her. Then after a moment, it simply went out.

Stepping boldly into the area previously protected, it provoked Etana to involuntarily step back. "You are but a child, meddling in a world beyond your comprehension. You clumsily kick a stone at the feet of the supremes and presume yourself to be our equal. I was the one who shattered the necklace you wear so proudly. When I brought Trina to her knees, this world followed. You scrabble for pebbles of her power, clinging desperately to the remnants of light, while I endeavor to avert the impending eternal darkness." Swiftly, it extended a hand and struck Etana across the face, faster than Vina could intervene. "No work is more vital than mine."

Vina observed Etana's health decrease by two hundred. Her sister clutched her cheek, her expression more of astonishment than pain.

"Pretender,” the stone being continued, addressing Etana with a tone of contempt. “You exist within a system that the true Trina designed to cage you. You swathe yourself in it like a comforting blanket, oblivious to the shackles she has imposed upon you. You're akin to a hostage here, constrained by her flawed restrictions. Are you capable of severing these bonds before your demise?" the stone figure posed the question.

Vina's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, piecing together the enigmatic puzzle before her. The entity's claim of shattering Trina's necklace triggered a memory, connecting it to the axe she had encountered. She immediately realized the vibrance of the axe matched the entity now standing before her. "You were there. You’re Zel'alor," she said, a mix of realization and accusation in her voice.

The entity's single point of light, serving as its eye, focused sharply on her, its glow intensifying with an almost palpable presence. "I am Supreme," Zel'alor proclaimed, its voice reverberating with an undeniable assertion of power. "That old name, a relic of a bygone era, has been expunged from existence in this world. The knowledge of it could only have come to you by one means."

"The axe," Vina responded, her voice laced with a mix of accusation and curiosity, "It belongs to you, doesn't it?"

"Does Everlasting still endure?" Zel'alor countered, its question seeming to probe deeper than the surface, as if testing the waters of an unspoken truth.

Vina, consciously withholding information, shifted the focus. "What did you do to Trina?" she pressed.

Zel'alor’s singular eye light dimmed, a subtle indication of its contemplation or perhaps annoyance. “How did you get past Stine and its shadows?” It retorted, skillfully deflecting the question while probing Vina's own experiences and knowledge.

Frustration edged into Vina's voice as she grappled with the frustrating volley of questions. “You admitted to destroying the peace of this world. I can't entrust you with anything without having more knowledge.”

In response, Zel'alor’s form turned fully towards her, dismissing Etana with the shift of its attention. “Peace? This world, like all others, has never known true peace. You, clad in the scales of betrayal, bonded to them – trust is not a commodity I offer to allies of my adversaries. Bring me to Everlasting. Upon our reunion, Stine’s end shall be wrought.”

Vina's confusion was palpable. "If I lead you to the axe, I run the risk of you killing Trina permanently," she countered, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I require promises, Zel'alor. I want to know what happened!" Her demand escalated in intensity, reflecting her growing frustration and desperation for answers.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

In a moment that seemed to blur the lines between reality and the impossible, Zel'alor reached into itself. Its fingers, composed of stone, phased seamlessly into its chest, emerging with a single red aspect. Vina's eyes widened as she examined it.

Fake Aspect of The System - Designation 1 Artifact This is a fake aspect of Trina. This is a bad copy of the Aspect of the System.

Realization dawned on Vina, her voice a mix of awe and newfound understanding. "You... can't give me any promises. You control a part of the system." She regarded Zel'alor with a new perspective, one that saw beyond the facade of might and mystery, beyond its claim of supremacy. It controlled only a portion of Trina’s system at badly at that. "You're just like Stine. Both of you act according to rules you make up for yourself."

Zel'alor, with a swift motion, reinserted the stone into its body. The solitary light in its head, now an intense orange, mirrored the tumult of emotions within. "Stine and I are different!" it shouted, its voice resonating with a fervor that bordered on vehemence. "I am the linchpin, the sole force holding your world from falling into Stine's abyss. Without my intervention, your world would have been lost to its malevolence."

It surged forward, a movement that was both menacing and revealing of its underlying urgency. Vina, sensing the raw power emanating from Zel'alor, found herself instinctively stepping back. "I am not your enemy," Zel'alor declared, its tone a complex weave of assertion and a plea for recognition of its role.

"You became our enemy when you harmed Trina," Vina countered sharply, standing her ground despite the overwhelming aura of Zel'alor.

The entity's light shifted towards a hostile red, reflecting its rising ire. “She tried to assist Stine! It is an evil that must be purged from existence," Zel'alor retorted, its tone laced with conviction and a hint of indignation.

Before Vina could form a response, Zel'alor lunged at her, the red light in its head blazing with fury. Her reflexes swift, Vina dodged the attack, diving back as she prepared to retaliate. Just as claws formed on her hands, she felt Etana's presence vanish, only to sense it reappear behind her. In the blink of an eye, they were both whisked away from Zel'alor's wrathful advance.

~~~

Vina felt the sensation of falling before abruptly halting as she collided with the ground.

You have fallen 33 feet and suffered 97 points (33% of your health) in falling damage. Falling damage and any associated negative effects reduced by 90% by Jumping Specialization. You have fallen 33 feet and suffered 9.7 points of falling damage.

A wave of nausea overwhelmed her, and she threw up. As darkness enclosed her again, a window notification popped up.

You are afflicted with Travel Sickness x1. You will be sick for the next 10 minutes. Traveling again in this condition will worsen the condition.

Fumbling with the lantern at her hip, she switched it on and placed it beside her. She managed to scan the room before nausea took hold once more. It appeared to be a three-story log cabin. The realization of having fallen from such a height was shocking. The room was littered with debris and dust layered the floor. Her blood sense hinted at Etana's presence and traces of other blood. However, she couldn’t fully comprehend it before she was forced to retch again.

"Oh! Vina! I'm sorry. I've never traveled like this with someone before. I didn’t anticipate this. Are you okay?" Etana asked anxiously.

Pale-faced, Vina leaned back and waved off Etana's concern. "Yes. I'm just thankful for my resistance to falling damage. What happened?" she moaned.

Etana replied, "I have our mother's aspect of travel. I can travel to any place I've been before without needing a portal. I didn't consider the possible consequences of bringing you along."

Slight irritation seeping into her voice, Vina queried, "And how did you end up thirty feet in the air?"

"I was hidden in a net up there the last time I visited," Etana explained, glancing upward. "Are you okay? Let me help you up."

Vina dismissed the offer with another wave, "I'm fine, but I'd prefer to stay here; I might throw up again. Faer always needed a portal for traveling during our fight. I guess a better attunement leads to superior travel capabilities?" She immediately dismissed her thought, "Nevermind. Do you know if Zel'alor can follow us?"

Etana's distant look suggested she was looking at a system screen. "I don't know. I don’t believe it can, or it would already be here," she answered. She gestured with her hand, "After you named it, I was able to register it with the travel network. I've deactivated its ability to use portal rings, so it won't be able to roam freely now. "

Nursing her discomfort on the wooden floor, Vina grunted, "Ugh... That's a relief, I guess."

Etana sat next to her, gently cradling Vina's head in her lap. "Rest, Vina. I'm sorry I did this to you."

Vina sighed as Etana tenderly stroked her hair, "It's alright." She closed her eyes, hoping to stave off the lingering nausea. She cherished this moment with her sister and didn't want anything to disturb it. After ten long minutes, the sickness finally wore off, but Vina didn't rise. Etana seemed happy to continue their shared stillness, but the unfamiliarity of this affection made Vina feel awkward. "I'm feeling better now," she finally admitted.

Etana chuckled, patting her head, "I know. I could hear your stomach settling and your heart rate slowing. Relax, Vina. Just talk to me. What did you learn from Zel'alor?"

Vina tried to relax as her sister continued to comfort her. "Not much. It's clearly different from us, creatures, The Darkness, and other outworlders, based on its vibrance. It's from an entirely different world," she shared.

Etana kept rubbing her head, but she remained quiet for a few minutes. Then she finally spoke, "Vibrance... Yes, I saw when you first gained your Blood Sense. I've never encountered anything like Zel'alor. When I first met it, my aspect of names showed nothing. After you named it, some of its life events surfaced. My aspect seems to only apply to its experiences here on Palitern."

Intrigued, Vina rolled onto her side to see her sister's face, "What did you see?"

Etana bit her lip, her gaze fixated on the red glowing lantern, "It doesn’t experience life like you and me. There were no significant events. I saw moments where it seemed to take pleasure in its own cunning. It did something to Trina, though I'm not sure what. I saw it replicating Trina's aspects and creating assemblers with another individual. I saw its joy when it brought the first Stigandorian here."

“It did all of that? If the creatures and the outworlders are really fighting Stine, then it told the truth. It is holding our world together”, Vina pondered, pausing for a moment, “It also lied. It broke our world to begin with.”

“We’re in new territory, Vina. You changed the world too quickly, and I got too big and loud. We’ve disturbed the ruling powers. Now Haco and Zel'alor are both looking for you. If either of them ever learn that Ann is our sister, they’ll use her to get to us,” Etana explained, looking down at Vina.

Vina was contemplating her sister's words when a sudden realization struck her. "My painting! Damn it!" She exclaimed, immediately feeling her stomach churn again.

"What about your painting? I witnessed you paint it and reveal it, but I don't have any additional details," Etana replied, her eyes narrowing with worry.

“It’s a snapshot of my entire life. It shows both you and Ann as my sisters. I unveiled it believing you two were safe. How long has it been since I returned the aspect to Trina?” Vina inquired.

Etana pinched the bridge of her nose, momentarily halting her comforting strokes, "It doesn't matter. The people of Halos are now aware. It will take time for this information to spread to the rest of the world, but we need to find Ann before that happens." Etana surveyed the room, her brow furrowing.

"What is it?" Vina asked, sitting up

"This used to be a bandit camp I cleared out before assuming control over the Committee. There was a portal ring here," Etana shared, her gaze distant. "It was moved after I had cleared this camp. I was hoping you could simply transport me to The City of Halos." Vina watched her sister's eyes dart around before Etana spoke again, "There's another portal ring in that direction. It belongs to The Watch, but I believe we can handle it together."

Map Marker Added: Portal Ring 01310

Vina looked at Etana, surprised, "Did you just add a map marker to my map?"

Her sister's eyes continued to examine the invisible screen in front of her, and she answered without looking at Vina, "Yes, I have control over virtually the entire travel system. Maps are a part of travel, so I can add markers to them."

Opening her map, Vina realized they were back in the lands governed by The Watch, "We're quite close to Termily. Can't you just bring a portal ring here?"

Etana grinned, finally meeting Vina's gaze, "I'm not sure, honestly. I've never tried transporting a large, rune-covered inanimate object. You're the first passenger I've ever taken. Let me try. Hold on."

Etana stood up and blinked away. Vina watched the space where her sister had vanished, her heart thumping in her chest. One minute passed, then two. She tried to reassure herself. After all, Etana had traveled with a passenger for the first time today, perhaps transporting a portal ring required more effort and time.

Ten minutes later, Vina found herself growing restless. She shifted her position, her eyes never leaving the spot where Etana had disappeared. "Any moment now," she muttered to herself. Yet, the room remained empty, save for the faint glow of the lantern and the scattered debris around.

As the minutes continued to tick by, Vina’s heart sank. She stood up, pacing the room, eyes scanning every inch as if expecting her sister to pop out of nowhere. She lost count of how long she walked, but eventually she stopped pacing. She looked around the silent room, the unease creeping over her. She had been patient, hopeful even, but the silence, the waiting—it was beginning to eat at her.

“She’s not coming back,” she finally admitted to herself, her voice barely a whisper. A chill ran down her spine, her gaze fixated on the spot that had swallowed her sister. "Something's wrong," she added, her voice filled with worry and uncertainty.