“So, you said you were transported here against your will, then you are probably part of a crossover event. How many are there in your group?” Quinzel spoke finally after a long silence between him and Valentine. When they had exited the cave Quinzel sent a flair into the sky and almost immediately a group of 5 elves dressed like Gunther came in response. They took the 6 girls that had been kidnapped and disappeared with them as fast as they appeared.
“There is me and 12 others in my group. We got taken along with the library we were in.” Valentine answered the question, assuming that these details had been relayed to Quinzel by Professor Roxanne last time.
“Interesting, one of the largest groups of surviving people caught in a crossover, things must have sped up again.” Quinzel looked slightly worried about the amount of people in Valentine’s group.
“Well, what do we do now, do you have a way to send us back?” Valentine already knew the answer to the question, but he couldn’t be too calm and had to act natural. He had already decided that he would keep his time travel a secret, in case he might be seen as insane or worse.
“Currently no, but we will try our best to help you.” Quinzel gave the same response he had given last time. After hearing the reason he was here Valentine felt slightly annoyed that Quinzel slyly lied like this to keep him hopeful. Though he guessed that this was the best way to keep people cooperative while they adjusted.
“Okay, I will inform my group of you and we can further discuss the situation tomorrow, how is that? They are all probably tired and anxious, especially since I just disappeared after a fireball hit our defenses.” Valentine again tried his best to act natural, trying to buy himself to sleep as well since he was mentally drained from his death and revival.
“That is a good plan, I have to make a report on this ordeal as well. I will meet you outside your wall tomorrow morning, though without a fireball this time” Quinzel slightly smiled as he spoke, and upon finishing began to walk away from Valentine, who in turn walked back towards the library.
After reaching the wall he found a group formed outside the entrance, looking around at the battle aftermath desperately. Michael, Terran, Kaedric, and Professor Roxanne being the members.
“What are y'all looking for?” Valentine’s nonchalant question startled the group who had not noticed him walking out of the tree line.
“You! Where the hell you been idiot?”Kaedric ran towards Valentine smiling, unlike the group behind him filled with worry and anger. Valentine was suddenly glad he befriended Kaedric before being stuck in a crossover.
“Where did you go? Why didn’t you wait for anyone else before disappearing? Who was that you left with and where are they now?” Terran was the next to ask questions, judging by his questions Valentine figured he had gotten a look at Quinzel.
“Well, I met an Elf outside the wall. He said he was looking for some kidnapping victims and I helped him look for them. We found them, and he said he would be back here tomorrow to help us.” Valentine mixed truths and lies together to create a believable story that left some parts out.
“Well, I suppose that is all we’re going to get out of you isn’t it. We’ll have to find out more from this Elf.” Professor Roxanne was surprisingly accepting of Valentine’s answer, not even questioning the Elf part. Valentine was confused but decided to not challenge it since it played in his favor. “Everyone get inside, since Valentine and Terran’s shift is up next is Michael and Kaedric.” At that there was a groan from Kaedric.
Valentine awoke the next morning much more rested and refreshed than he had expected, he assumed it was because his physical body was now like it was when he first got transported, and not tired from 3 months of wilderness survival. Looking around the library he found that , though early in the morning, most of the group was awake. Only a few of the first years were asleep.
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“So your finally awake, took you long enough.” Kaedric was first to greet the now awake Valentine.
“Yep, I assume you were all waiting for me to go outside to talk?” Valentine figured that he was going to be a key figure in this talk since he was the first to meet and talk to Quinzel this time.
“Yes, we aren’t sure the elf is out there, but they will probably show when you do.” Kaedric relayed the information that seemed to have been spread between the group while he was asleep, the rest nodding along.
“Ok, well I guess we can go talk.” Valentine stood up from his makeshift bed and stretched as he walked out the door to the exit of the wall, followed by the rest of the group.
The group that went outside was made up of everyone who was not a first year, this was decided simply because they should remain safe in case a fight breaks out. While Valentine did not expect one to occur, he still needed to act naturally, so he agreed with the decision. As the group exited the wall with Professor Roxanne in the lead Quinzel appeared walking out of the woods as predicted. Behind him was the same group that had been at the river the first time they met, with the addition of 2 unnamed guards with outfits like Gunther’s.
Valentine felt a painful feeling of guilt and pity seeing Zylphia behind Quinzel this time. He promised himself that this time he would do more to protect her if they came into danger. Quinzel was the first to speak, and the meeting went similarly to the first meeting. Professor Roxanne greeting, Quinzel casting the translation spell, Valentine skipped the protective spell since there was no need, and then Kaedric’s rude comments. Once Quinzel had finished his genteel greeting with Professor Roxanne Valentine remembered the first time he had greeted Zylphia, with a sign of courtship. While the conversation went differently due to the lack of mysterious note, Kaedric’s comments had still brought Zylphia to a slightly angry state.
Not knowing anyway to get the conversation to progress the way it had before without fighting, and not having time to think of one, Valentine decided that the previous method would have to be used. Placing his hand in front of Zylphia and greeting her with a sign of courtship Valentine’s embarrassment was not any lower after the second time around, though it finally brought the tensions back down and started the real conversation.
“So, it's obvious you aren’t from around here, and judging by the conversation I had with Valentine last night, I think I know what has happened to you.” Quinzel spoke in the same eloquence that Valentine was familiar with, unlike the hurried desperation of last night.
“And what would that be?” Professor Roxanne asked
“You are victims of a crossover, an event that pushes two worlds in different dimensions into each other. This is one of the largest cases survivors wise, but it is not the first.” Quinzel answered
“We should finish this conversation inside the wall then, where everyone can hear our predicament, and we can decide together what to do.” Valentine moved the conversation towards the interior of the wall, not wanting there to be some unknown danger inside the wall that would greet them when the conversation finished. Though with Terran alive and well and Valentine on high alert Valentine felt as if they might be able to survive the second time around, just barely.
“Agreed, that would be for the best.” Professor Roxanne agreed and opened the bulkhead in the tunnel, allowing the entire group to enter the walls. After which she gathered the first years so that the entire group of crossover victims was now able to hear the conversation.
Quinzel then explained the story of Evarim, similar to how Zylphia told it, though much less story-like. By the end of the explanation the grim looks on everyone’s faces had cemented. They now understood that even if they could return home, there would only be about 3 years until the worlds fully combined.
“So were stuck here, in another world, with just 13 people we know. This is a fucking hell.” Kaedric was the first to speak up, though crass his sentiment shared by everyone.
“Kaedric watch your language, but you do have a point. I also don’t think we can stay here in the library for 3 years, so what is the plan?” Professor Roxanne was next to speak, first reprimanding Kaedric, then addressing Quinzel.
“Well, as I said before, you are not the first group of survivors. Previously we brought them all into our territory, made them citizens, and set them up with jobs and housing so. If you wish we can do that to you.” Quinzel answered Professor Roxanne’s question while looking at the group as a whole.
Without any hesitation everyone agreed with this plan of action. While Quinzel and the elves were unknown to them, it was the best bet for safety. This made Valentine relieved as it put them 3 months ahead of the pitch-black creature’s attack and moving them somewhere safer. Though he was unsure of the reason for the attack, he hoped that a change of location would avoid it, or at least prevent casualties.
“So were agreed then, we will move into the territory of the Von Brecket family and live there.” Professor Roxanne summed up the meeting and decision, addressing the group for any last concerns or objections.
“Well, we will be leaving now, we will send a transport that will arrive within 2 days. I will also leave with you Dorred and Gunther as guards so that no problems arise, it will be good to see you then.” With that Quinzel stood up and began to walk out the door followed by Zylphia and the 2 unnamed guards. As Zylphia walked through the door Valentine could only look at her with that same sense of guilt, though this time filled with determination to do better.