In front of Oskar, there was a black expanse lit up with blue fire and bright stars. The horizon flickered as he watched; a flare of blue shot up into the sky from the sinking sun and disappeared into a ghost of an outline that reappeared every time Oskar blinked. A primal fear grabbed him that the blue sun was exploding, and they were hours from a world event they might not survive, but then his senses caught up to him and he realized the sky hadn’t changed at all… he’d just finally seen it for what it was. Magic. Spirit magic.
The tiny blue sun was full of Spirit magic and dangerously volatile. Questions popped up one after the other: why was it hidden? What and who had hidden it? More importantly, what could possibly be strong enough to have done so?
And what am I gonna see when the red sun rises in the morning?
Even the hypothetical implications were terrifying. For the third time in the day, the familiar feeling of a Gambit ran down his spine, thankfully dispelling the pressure that had begun building in his head the moment he realized the amount of sheer power he was looking at.
// World Gambit Updated: The Magics Above, Below, and Within
Seek the truth behind the breaking of this world.
Reward: Unknown
Consequences: … //
“What the…”
The Gambit was enough of a distraction that the magic fell apart. Between one blink and the next, the sky was blue, purple and green again. But this time, there was no surreal fear that he was losing his mind. He had seen what he’d seen and had the Gambit to prove it.
He took a moment to check his notifications on what he had done with his magic, and was surprised to see that there was a new spell in his repertoire.
// True Resonance.
You’ve found yourself fully aligned with this world. A balance has been struck, and you are in harmony with the base elements that make up all things. You have much to learn about the magics Above, Below, and Within, but you now know enough to see the truth. True Resonance will allow you to see through magical deception. True Resonance will show you the hidden things. //
Please tell me that was mostly dramatics.
// Unfortunately, I didn’t wax poetic on that one. Not a single poetic was waxed, I promise. //
“Well, crap.”
Oskar could feel Penny getting a little nervous through his bond, and sent back some reassurance that he didn’t quite feel himself.
Bluebottle didn’t have eyes, but the general feel from the creature was somber. There was no telling if it somehow knew what Oskar had seen, he doubted it, but the creature clearly had some way to read Oskar, and likely had picked up on Oskar’s darkened mood.
With a quick smile and a nod to Bluebottle, Oskar looked downward at the Oasis, still shimmering and hidden from his Water Sense.
I hope that’s good enough. I’m not sure exactly how the Seed Forge works, but Bluebottle seems happy enough, so I guess it’ll have to do. Maybe we can check back soon if we’re gonna be staying in the general area. Assuming, of course, Fox’s people still live.
Shaking away that dark thought, Oskar looked back up to the sky, wondering if it was an illusion or a shield of sorts he’d seen through. And if it was a shield… a shield from what?
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He reminded himself that he was doing everything he could and dwelling on things he didn’t even know the questions to were definitely not going to give him the answers. With a sigh, Oskar called sora to himself, and let it swirl around him gently.
The water didn’t move below him, and so he increased the draw of power and added in Talau and Rakiyu to prepare to leave the Oasis behind and make his way back to his friends. Bluebottle swirled nearby and waved a tendril, and Oskar took that as a sign that maybe he’d just made another odd friend.
We’re jelly-bros.
// Yeah, please don’t do that. //
Just trying it out.
***
Emerald eyes drilled into him as he landed gently beside the Fox, and he explained what had just happened with Bluebottle to the best of his ability. There was one stupid moment when he was getting ready to tell them about what he’d seen in the sky and his true resonance when, not knowing what to say, considered saying nothing at all until he had more information, but quickly realized how dumb a decision that would have been.
Even Penny seemed to have questions when he finished speaking, but it appeared everyone understood he’d shared all the answers he had, and they were on top of a mesa still.
“So we’ll hopefully know more when I can use the ability to see the red sun tomorrow morning.”
Fox nodded, clearly troubled, and stared up at the sky herself before speaking.
“There is nothing for us to do but move on, I suppose, until we can learn more.”
“Should I go find a Wayspring? There’s one just west of u-“
“Not west,” Fox said, interrupting.
“Okaaay. Not West. There is another far to the north.”
She didn’t look thrilled with that direction either, but didn’t complain as they carefully made their way down the winding decline to the bottom, where Penny enthusiastically threw her arms up for Oskar to pick her up again.
Smirking beside him, Erik said, “That’s a spoiled rotten Pangolor right there.”
Penny gave him a flat stare, but nuzzled into Oskar’s neck when he picked her up. Again, she was careful with her claws, and Oskar wondered if the Gem had given her an ability of some kind. She’d completely ignored any questions he’d asked her since that night, and Oskar hadn’t wanted to press the issue too much in case the Insight Gem had made her relive the death of her mother over and over as she gleaned everything she could from that battle.
This might be the first secret she’s ever kept. I didn’t think she was capable of it, honestly. Can you scan her and see if you can see a difference?
// Do I seem like the kind of Bracer that would tell you her secret even if I knew? You must think little of me. //
I just thought you were on my side!
// I am, but she’d really cute and I like picking on you. //
With a smile, Oskar sat a reluctant Penny down and started walking. Fox took the lead until they cleared the mesas, and then he led them to the closest Wayspring. Unsually cautious, Fox piled sand on top of the Wayspring before she let Penny take the tube down.
“This area is even more dangerous than the open desert. I would prefer us fill up and then make our way back to the mesas to find a cave.”
“Are there going to be spiders?”
“Why?” She asked with a smile, “do you want to hold one while you sleep like the Kobold cubs do?”
“I, in fact, do not want to be a small spoon in that sleeping arrangement. Or the big spoon for that matter.”
Erik laughed and explained what spooning was. It's an odd thing to explain, made much harder to explain by their laughing at Fox's expression.
“It is too hot to cuddle. Your world sounds awful.”
“There are perks. Bread and air conditioning mostly, but there are perks.”
Touwon excitedly raised a clawed finger and pulled his bag around, digging inside for something. A moment later, he pulled out a hard biscuit and tossed it to Oskar with a crooked smile.
“You have bread?! How old is this?”
“It was in his bag, so probably not too old. We grew up eating this. At times, it kept us alive. Although I would recommend soaking it in water before attempting to eat it.”
“You guys grew up eating this stuff?” Oskar tapped it on his palm, looking at the Kobolds doubtfully.
“Yes. Soaked in cactus water to soften it.”
“The water that tastes like bug spray? Yeah, that’s awful. Thanks anyway, Touwon,” he said as he tossed it back to the Kobold, who shrugged and put it away before taking the hose from Penny and attaching the pump to it.
“Sorry if that was harsh, I know you guys had it hard. Not that things are easy now, but at least we get to drink the good stuff.”
Smiling, Fox said, “You are worth the trouble, human. It is a close thing, though, know that for a truth.”
Oskar laughed at that, but cut it short when Fox looked around quickly in response to the sound he’d made.
“You will want to keep quiet, however, unless you really do wish to spoon with the weavers tonight.”
Oskar shivered.
Weavers? That does not make them seem less creepy at all. I think that’s actually worse.