The Descent pt 7

Jp with Lorem, Lucian, Omni, Winteroak and Bandorchu

Inwardly, the Arbiter stifled a scream of pain and frustration. Her confrontational nature was probably the reason she had very few friends. But outwardly, she exhaled and looked to Gonyaul's eyes. They had calmed her before. She tried to convince herself that she was imagining things that weren't there. His feelings for her were true, she had sensed that before. She worked through it, remembering his calming breaths from that night with the Preacher. This was the same scenario, but something was different. Perhaps an outward source... magik... was exacerbating the fears of unworthiness in her mind?

All the more reason to squash it out. She would at least have to keep her guard up around those two for now.

His eyes were innocent of the accusation. His brow was worried, but his eyes were the same eyes Voah could always find a safe haven. In fact, due to the darkness of his eyes and the lighting from the torch, if voah looked close enough she might even see her reflection.

“All need just breathe.” He advised.

Oh, there was definitely something wrong. Something wrong with Voah and Tarmen. They were acting downright erratic, and to her knowledge that was nothing either of them was prone to.
Alexis could absolutely not allow herself to get riled up alongside them.

She raised her hands soothingly, deliberately NOT going for her blade and deliberately speaking calmly and softly.

“I am very sorry, but I can indeed not feel anything off.”

Besides you two

“So that makes me plain stupid, then. Please.”

She looked Tarmen in the eyes, nothing to hide.

“What’s happening to you?”

Suddenly before anyone can reply or act you all hear a loud noise, coming from the corridor behind you. Deciding to investigate it you take the corridor north until you find two entrances. The south one leads to a small room and the west one leads to a room from where you can feel a cool breeze coming and the sound of water.

To take the edge off, the Arbiter made it a point not to sound too commanding, "Alexis, can you stand guard at the door? Tarmen, Gonyaul... with me please." she led him cautiously into the room.

Gonyaul felt like their groups cohesiveness was on the edge of a knife. He nodded. It seemed for the time being things were back on track. And proceeded to do as instructed.

Alexis simply nodded and positioned herself at the entrance of the room.

Leaving Alexis’s attitude for the void, Tarmen kept his eye on Barrel Boy. After the sound, he had his blade ready and didn’t plan on putting it back.

If magik was causing Voah’s headaches to flair up, maybe keeping a hand on her sword would help. She kept it in the sheath but occasionally, the Arbiter put her hand on the pommel, testing the theory.

Thinking back on that poor child whose blood and spine they used to forge the blade. The vision was more potent now. She saw the Arisha Ikeburer and a face like little Gonyaul’s on the boy crying for mercy and she gasped audibly.

Was Gonyaul Vauxian?

Already on edge, Tarmen was quick to pick up on Voah’s gasp. He edged closer to her, waiting for the tapping sounds to return.
“You alright? See somethin’?”

She shot a quick glance at Gonyaul and searched the stolen memories. She was feeling sure of it but… Was that even possible? It made some sense. The Inquisition had certainly failed before. Normally she didn't consider the failures of her faith a good thing, like the Alossi shipwreck. Those failures could spell all kinds of danger and uncertainty for the new world. But the realization that he may be Vauxian somehow warmed her heart. To know that their people, who were persecuted and destroyed by both faithful and magik user's alike, a people that were caught between a conflict they tried to asuage. To know they had survived gave her hope and warmed her heart.

Not that she hadn’t heard Tarmen’s question, but she was speechless. It would have to wait. Perhaps for a practical test or ‘interrogation’ of sorts.

She noted that the touch of her sword did not relieve the headaches.

Gonyaul noticed Voah was looking at him and thinking something profound. He had no clue what it could be.L, but it did make him blush inside. He was quick to bring his attention though back to their new surroundings. Would they finally see the origin of these noises?

The south room is small. Its damp and smells of damp earth. In a corner you see a few objects leaning against a wall in a pile.

"I'm.. sorry, Tarmen. It's fine. I'm fine. Let's keep looking. I'm sure these ruins still have your curiosity?" Voah urged.

Surely once they were finished her, she would come to her sense. Voah had pretty good spatial awareness, so heading back would be much quicker than cautiously coming in. She walked over in the direction of the pile and inspected it.