Narsi fell once more to ignoring Lorag and Meesei while they waited for their portal. The only time her eyes left the floor was when she hazarded long looks out the window, into the daylight beyond. Lorag may or may not have noticed as easily as Meesei the way Narsi held herself. Her stillness and shallowness of breath betrayed just how much emotion she was holding back.

When the portal appeared, she turned to look at it and found herself unsure. She looked at Meesei as if she did not wholly believe her reassurances. Still, she acted without further encouragement, stepping up to the portal with her left hand outstretched. Her fingers phased through the threshold. With no sensation but the coolness of the cavern beyond, she slowly stuck her head through, and then stepped all the way through.

Narsi stood without words, panning her gaze around her. She had as much curiosity as could be expected, but her impression remained surprisingly subdued.

"What is this place?" She asked without checking whether Lorag had followed her.

[hr]
Janius wished he had not been correct in his suspicions. The forethought allowed him to temper his reaction, but even then, seeing Kaleeth so distraught, he had to breathe slowly with his mouth ajar not to be moved to tears himself.

He spoke once confident his voice would sound composed. [i]"Zharanthixil, I'm...so sorry."[/i]