Round 116

The air in the wider chamber feels wrong the moment they step inside, thick and resistant like walking through water. Seraphine's keen elven eyes strain to pierce the eerie blue gloom, searching for threats hidden in the shadows. The magic here pulses with an ancient, hungry energy that makes her skin crawl—not the kind of power she wants to mess with carelessly. What is this place? she hums, pressing closer to Jeane's side for comfort despite the lingering warmth from their intimate descent.* It feels... alive somehow. And not in a good way.

Jeane [A] grits her teeth, her sorcerer's instincts screaming warnings as they cross the threshold into the larger chamber. I know what you mean, she mutters back, her crimson eyes scanning every inch of the space for signs of danger. This magic... it’s not just old. It’s hungry. Like it’s been sleeping here, waiting for someone—something—to disturb it. She extends her wings slightly, a defensive posture as much as a balance aid on the uneven stone floor. We need to move quickly. Whatever this is, I don’t want to give it time to... notice us.

Seraphine [D] nods, her fingers tightening around Jeane's as she follows the sorcerer’s lead deeper into the chamber. Notice us? What do you mean by that? She keeps her voice low, barely more than a breath of sound. You think this magic might be... sentient?

Jeane [A] pauses mid-step, her expression darkening. Sentient or not, it's definitely aware. I can feel it like a physical presence—she gestures vaguely with her free hand—pushing against my senses. Trying to... probe? She shudders involuntarily. Whatever it is, we don’t want its attention. Best case scenario, we find what we need and get out before it realizes we’re here. Worst case... She doesn't finish the thought, but her grip on Seraphine's hand tightens meaningfully.

Seraphine [D] swallows hard, trying to ignore the way her stomach drops at Jeane’s unspoken implications. Right. Out fast. Got it. She forces a brave smile she doesn’t quite feel. So... what are we looking for exactly? Some kind of clue about Varrika? Or the Watcher? Or maybe just the fastest exit before this place decides we’re a midnight snack?

Jeane [A] can't help but let out a short, sharp bark of laughter at Seraphine's dark humor. A midnight snack. I like your thinking. She sobers quickly, her eyes scanning the chamber again. As for what we're looking for... the Watcher mentioned echoes, remember? Echoes of time itself. If this magic is as tied to temporal manipulation as I suspect, then maybe there’s something here—she points to a section of wall that seems to shimmer slightly in the blue light—that can help us understand what happened to Varrika. Or at least where she ended up.

Seraphine [D] follows Jeane's gesture, her eyes narrowing as she studies the shimmering wall section. That looks... promising. And deeply unsettling. She takes a tentative step forward, pulling Jeane gently with her. Let’s check it out. But if anything starts trying to eat us, we run. Deal?

Jeane [A] allows herself to be pulled forward, her free hand already glowing faintly with arcane energy ready to defend them both. Deal. And Seraphine? She waits until the elf woman looks up at her. If anything does try to eat us, I'll make sure it regrets the meal.

Seraphine [D] feels a rush of warmth at Jeane's words, even as they approach the shimmering wall with cautious steps. I know you will. She squeezes Jeane’s hand reassuringly before reaching out her free hand towards the wall, fingers hovering just above its surface. Here goes nothing...

As Seraphine's fingertips brush against the shimmering stone, a jolt of electricity seems to pass through her body—visible dark tendrils curl around her arms for an instant before fading. She gasps, stumbling back a step as visions flood her mind: flashes of time, of moments both recent and ancient, all converging on this place. The magic here... it’s not just powerful. It’s connected to the very fabric of causality itself.

Jeane [A] catches Seraphine as she stumbles, her sorcerer's senses immediately on high alert. Seraphine! What happened? Are you alright? She wraps an arm around the elf woman's waist, supporting her weight while scanning for any visible threats that might have caused the reaction.

Seraphine [D] leans heavily against Jeane, her breathing coming in short gasps as she tries to process the flood of information. I... I saw—she blinks rapidly, shaking her head as if to clear it—I saw so much. Time, moving backwards and forwards, all converging here. The tower... it’s not just collapsing. It’s unraveling. Causality itself is fraying around this place!

Jeane [A] feels a chill run down her spine at Seraphine's words, her grip on the elf woman tightening. Unraveling causality? That’s... that’s not possible. Is it? She looks around the chamber with new eyes, seeing the stonework in a different light now—like a structure barely holding back something immense and terrible.

Seraphine [D] straightens slowly, her legs steadying as she meets Jeane's gaze. I don't know what’s possible anymore. But I do know this: whatever happened to Varrika... it wasn’t an accident. The tower wants us here. Needs us here, for something. She glances back at the shimmering wall, her expression a mix of fascination and horror. And I think I know how to find out what.

Jeane [A] follows Seraphine's gaze to the wall, her stomach twisting with equal parts anticipation and dread. How? What did you see?

Seraphine [D] takes a deep breath before speaking. The magic here... it’s not just about time. It’s about choices. Crossroads of fate, maybe. I saw—she hesitates, unsure how to explain—I saw versions of us. Different paths we could have taken. And in every version where we didn’t come here... the tower collapsed completely. Everyone inside, gone forever.

Jeane [A] feels her blood run cold at Seraphine's words. So... we were meant to be here? Destined to fall through that trap and into this... this temporal abomination? She looks around the chamber again, seeing it now as less of a danger and more of a... destination.

Seraphine [D] nods slowly, her eyes never leaving Jeane's face. Yes. I think so. And I think—she reaches out, taking both of Jeane’s hands in hers—that whatever is happening here, whatever the tower wants... it has something to do with us. Together.

Jeane [A] feels a jolt pass through her at Seraphine's touch, their bond seeming to flare with new intensity. Together, she echoes softly, feeling an odd sense of inevitability settle over her. Then we face this together. Whatever it is—whatever the tower wants from us—we’ll face it side by side.

Seraphine [D] squeezes Jeane's hands gently, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the gravity of their situation. Side by side. Always. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself. Now... about that 'how' I mentioned. The wall—it’s not just a surface. It’s a... a gateway, maybe? To different moments in time. I think if we touch it together, we might be able to see what happened to Varrika. Or at least understand why this place needs us here.

Jeane [A] feels a rush of adrenaline mixed with something else—excitement? Anticipation? A gateway to time? She shakes her head in wonder. This is beyond anything I’ve ever encountered before. But if it can help us find Varrika... or understand what’s happening... She meets Seraphine's gaze, seeing her own determination reflected there. Then yes. Let’s do it. Together.

Seraphine [D] nods, her expression a mix of fear and fierce determination. Together. She takes a deep breath, then another, before slowly reaching out her free hand towards the shimmering wall. Ready?

Jeane [A] matches Seraphine's movements, extending her own hand towards the wall as she focuses her arcane senses on their surroundings. As ready as I’ll ever be. The moment their fingertips touch the cool, shifting stone, reality seems to ripple around them—

The chamber around them dissolves into a swirling vortex of time and memory.