A wave of absence pulsed from the tower, covering the space in a single blink. They all floated in that void without anything to give them direction or purpose. A few words were yelled, but they couldn't be heard. Moments stretched without context, and each of the three was lost in their own thoughts.
Yana was frustrated that he was stuck in this situation since he was sure it could have been avoided. Pyra wondered why her instincts didn't work this time when they told her to just go up and touch it. Finally, Marshall was comfortable for the first time, truly relaxed from all the stress. Sure it could have been a better situation, but they were trapped now. And, it didn't even seem like they would starve with time.
There wasn't much time to reflect as figures rippled into existence after an indeterminate moment. One was a large, silvery armored man wielding two black swords dripping with blood. His stance one of battle and fighting, as if he was just torn away from such. Another was a beautiful woman with accents of ice and ruby horns curving from her head, streams of water fading into the void. The third, was a boy who was spinning rapidly in the air, so it was hard to see what he looked like beyond the gold and green hair. Lastly, an aged old woman with glowing veins sat down in the space, looking around.
No words were spoken, because none needed to be spoken for them all to feel who each was. Pyra's eyes were wide in delight as she looked upon her much larger family. While, Yana looked contemplative. Of the ones they could read their sister of water was delighted, and the sister of light seemed content to wait but had a gentle smile.
A wide crack of white suddenly appeared above them all. Followed two ovals of similar white to create a widely smiling face of white within the void. A sudden, crushing force slammed into the whole space, and ripples of colored light reached out from each of them in response. All besides Marshall who felt the full force of it on his mind and soul, his body felt nothing, but he knew that there wasn't much time for him.
"Welcome to the Core, little Elementals." A deep voice boomed from all around, the smile never changing, but no one else could speak, "It has taken many years, and soon you will be transferred to the Cradle. Where you will unite with the rest of your people. The Tuatha are waiting."
Just as suddenly as it appeared, the face vanished and the void became filled with colors. Along with the colors came sounds, and they each realized that they could talk now.
"Sister!" Mirabella rushed forward to hug Pyra in a cold and yet warm hug. The others began to find their feet on this new floor and made their way over. Pyra seemed confused but very happy with the contact. Even if the frozen hair of her sister and her own smoldering hair weren't playing nice. A moment passed, and then another before Pyra realized that this girl had no intention of letting her go.
"Yes, now if you don't mind I would like to meet the others?" That caused a rapid shift, and Mirabella stepped back to take a more straight posture. Her face a cold visage of regal power.
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"Yes, of course dear sister, brother." She nodded towards Yana, who was shifting away from the old woman. Who seemed to be playing by taking a full step every few of his own, "I am Mirabella, Daughter of Mother blessed by Water." Then she gestured to the large armored man.
"This is Kalos, Son of Mother blessed by Earth, and my sworn knight." The man in question bowed respectfully to Pyra, the swords having faded long ago.
"It is an honor to meet you Empress of Flames, Named for Joy." His words were like the Earth he was made from, strong and deep, with a resonate tone. Next the boy was waved at, and he jumped forward to give his own bow.
"I am Gaoth, Son of Mother blessed by Air, and Architect of Veridian's Fall." The boy sounded pleased, not smug, just excited to share something, and seemed to be waiting for the expected question.
"What do you-" But Pyra was cut off by Kalos.
"Pay the lad no mind," The man's voice sounded tired, "Gaoth was born from the spirit of the War Queen who was granted a wish from Mother." Pyra was confused, but Yana was interested, he remembered the ghosts. Mirabella motioned to the last of them, but the old lady spoke first.
"Solas, is my name. I am blessed by light, which is why our elder brother is running from me." Solas said, her voice far younger than her form, and clearly having a good time. Though Yana wasn't.
"If you are light than we are opposed and shouldn't touch." He almost shouted, but the old woman laughed.
"Only in the broadest sense. Even Light and Dark mana mix to create new forms in nature. You are just a worrier." Marshall was catching his breath, and half-sitting and half-laying on the ground. The others looked at him when he groaned loudly.
"Is this the time for all that?" He gestured to the shifting colors, "Pretty sure we are going to meet the System, and likely a whole group of people like you. If that face was right." That seemed to splash some cold water on the rest of them, but the boy only shrugged.
"Not much we can do in the moment, it would be a tactical blunder to throw ourselves into trying to escape. Best to conserve energy, and blend in once we get there. Its unlikely they will be expecting trouble from us. So we can set up a plan to sever their leadership or put ourselves in a position to manipulate them." Marshall felt those words shouldn't be coming from a young boy's mouth. They were so cold and calculating, almost like a north wind in the feel of them.
Then, he realized that all of these people were like Pyra. They HAD introduced themselves as such, but it was in that moment that it sunk in. The appearance was only an expression of mana, it wasn't what or who they really were. He glanced over at the old woman, and mentally compared her to Yana. In a way she was his opposite, he was male and just getting out of being young. She was female and just getting into being old. Each of the pairs of elementals were their own opposites. Pyra was shorter than Mirabella, and their whole color scheme was the inverse of the other. Not to mention their difference in personalities. One shifted like water, while the other burned and only changed with great difficulty.
While his mind was wondering the others had returned to chatting about the events with Mother, and the general state of things in the region. As well as hinting that Mother had found a way to travel herself, and was planning on coming to them. Though how that was going to work Marshall shuddered to consider. His mind conjuring a massive, floating mass that crushed the capital of Masire.
Then, the lights became dull, and they rapidly faded away. Leaving them standing on a runed platform in a vast open space. In the distance, a mountain of crystal seemed to shine.
"That's a dungeon core." Pyra said with a whisper.