Round 15 Transcript

The tension in Abandoned church basement tightens for a beat as the interruption refuses to go away. Everyone is forced to stay quiet and choose their next move carefully.

Abby presses herself further back into the shadows behind the wall, her heart hammering against her ribs. She can feel every flicker of power from Jeane's dark orb as it pulses in her palm, see how its light catches on the sharp edges of the sorcerer’s wings. The duplicates haven’t moved since Jeane released Clarice’s chin, both standing rigidly where they are, their expressions unreadable masks under the spell of duplicated life. Silra's voice cuts through the charged air like a knife — cool, logical, demanding answers instead of threats. Abby admires her calm even as she trembles in fear. She knows Silra is right; Jeane’s posturing isn’t getting them anywhere. But then again, Abby has seen what happens when people push back against Jeane's will too hard. The sorcerer's next words send a fresh chill down Abby's spine. Prove it. That single phrase hangs in the air, laden with a promise of violence if the duplicates fail to meet her expectations.
Abby watches as Jeane turns slowly between the copies, her crimson eyes fixed on them with an intensity that makes Abby want to disappear entirely. The dark orb pulses faster now, its rhythm matching the frantic beat of Abby's own heart.
She feels a sudden pang of sympathy for these duplicates, whoever they are. To be so utterly scrutinized, examined like specimens under glass... it’s terrifying. And yet, there’s a part of her that understands Jeane's need to dominate, to test and claim power over everything in her path.
A low whimper escapes Abby's lips before she can stop it. She claps a hand over her mouth, horrified at the sound, terrified of drawing any more attention to herself than she already has. Her eyes dart around the room, looking for an escape route if things were to suddenly turn violent here.
But there is no escape, not really. The only way out leads back past Jeane and those duplicates, past the bound figure still trapped in the circle's center. Abby feels a fresh wave of fear wash over her as she realizes just how vulnerable they all are right now, exposed in this small space with so many unknown variables swirling around them.

Silra kept her hand near her blade but didn't draw yet — Jeane was spoiling for a fight, which meant they needed to find a way out of this standoff before it turned violent and drew attention. The duplicates hadn't moved aggressively despite Jeane's posturing, which suggested either they were genuinely here to talk or their power had limits. Either way, standing around trading threats accomplished nothing. I'm not questioning your methods, Silra said coolly toward her sister, but provocation isn't negotiation. They've duplicated themselves for a reason — that requires significant magical investment. We should determine what they want before assuming the worst and starting something we can't finish here. She glanced at Halie still bound in the center of the circle, then back to the duplicates. Her eyes measured them carefully: no obvious weapons or aggressive stances, but the magic she felt from them was raw and potent. Too much for street thugs, too controlled for amateurs. Let's hear their terms before we test our power, she continued in that same calm tone. If they wanted to fight us, we'd know it already. Duplication magic at this level has limitations — time, stamina, focus. We don't need to waste our own resources proving something we can determine through conversation instead. She stepped slightly away from the wall, positioning herself between Jeane and the bookcase passage exit. If things went sideways fast, that would be their escape route. Besides, Silra added with a pointed glance at her sister's wings and the dark orb still pulsing in her palm, we're not exactly subtle ourselves right now. The more magic we throw around down here, the greater chance someone upstairs notices and investigates. We need to maintain secrecy as much as they do. So why don't we all dial it back before this escalates into something we can't control?

Jeane’s crimson eyes narrow as she considers Silra's words — the cool logic of her sister’s assessment cuts through her anger but doesn't entirely extinguish it. You speak true about limitations, she concedes after a moment, dark wings settling slightly though still extended enough to partially obscure both duplicates from view. Duplication magic at this level does require significant investment and focus. To maintain two bodies would drain even the most powerful sorceress over time. She turns slowly to face Silra directly now, orb pulsing slower in her palm as some of the aggressive energy leaves her stance. Very well — let's hear their terms before we exhaust our own resources unnecessarily. Her tone is cooler now but still carries an undercurrent of suspicion.

Jeane moves toward the bookcase passage exit opposite Silra, positioning herself to watch both duplicates and the bound figure in the center circle simultaneously. We have perhaps minutes before whatever threat they claim to fear becomes relevant — or before our activities here draw unwanted attention from upstairs. She glances at Halie, still unresponsive in her magical bonds. So speak quickly if you wish us to believe your story about protection against some unnamed danger. The dark energy flickers along Jeane's fingertips as she crosses her arms over her chest, wings rustling softly behind her. But know this — I remain skeptical of any offer that requires us to simply trust without proof. You claim collaboration and protection, yet provide no specifics beyond vague warnings and duplicated bodies. Her eyes rake over both Clarice and Julia appraisingly. So tell me: what exactly can you do that we cannot do ourselves? Why should we accept your assistance instead of handling whatever threat approaches on our own? Jeane’s gaze shifts to Silra momentarily, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her expression before it hardens again. And make it convincing. My patience wears thin for magic shows and cryptic threats. She doesn't mention the stranger in the basement or her current plans — let them volunteer that information if they truly wish alliance over confrontation.