[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uurhDHh.jpg[/img][/center][hr][color=mediumorchid]"That’s cute. You’re cute kiddo. I’m gonna call you Ruby,”[/color] the Mysterious Dude said. He paused in his departure to turn back to the overenthusiastic Rose, giving her finger guns with both hands. [color=mediumorchid]“Later little red-whoah, stranger danger!”[/color] The Mysterious Dude cycled his arms in mad motion as he was borderline tackled by Umi and then interrogated. A few tugs away confirmed she wouldn’t be letting go of his coat, not until she had answers that satisfied her.

[color=mediumorchid]“Sheesh Poppet, I think I take back what I said earlier! And I’m pretty sure I don’t know any Mamori Heiwajima too.”[/color] The cloaked man paused before he leaned closer to Umi. Behind his hood and the void that was his face, it was impossible to read his expression, if any at all. [color=mediumorchid]“But even if I did, I wouldn’t say that would be the [i]real[/i] Mamori Heiwajima. You catch my drift Poppet? See, things in this Tower work different than your usual reality.”[/color]

The Mysterious Dude nodded to himself, raising his voice so the rest of the group could hear. [color=mediumorchid]“The people and creatures you encounter here are nothing more than replications of the outside world. Nothing in here is real; for the most part. Everything you face is comprised of data so knock yourselves out in exploring, kiddos.”[/color] He turned back to Umi now, slowly yanking his cloak out of her hand. [color=mediumorchid]“And for the [i]real[/i] version of your friend…who knows. But honestly, copy or real, wouldn’t you be satisfied either way?”[/color]

The man slowly backed away, making sure Umi didn’t try to get the jump on him again. Once some distance was finally placed, he faded away entirely and melted back into the darkness of the staircase. [color=mediumorchid]“Be a good girl now, Poppet,”[/color] were his lingering words. Hopefully that was enough to sate Umi’s curiosity and desire. But probably not. Either way, it was her problem now, not the Tower’s.

Speaking of which, as the group rounded together and discussed their various newly acquired skills, Kanbaru’s card glowed with an ethereal light. A beam shot forward, curving up the staircase, and hit the door to the next room. The doors opened, revealing to the group a sunny backdrop and the sound of birds along with the scent of familiarity. Was that Miso City? It couldn’t be a way out of the Tower, could it? Or perhaps it held some other twist.

Likewise, a second beam emitted from Kanbaru’s card. This one snaked behind the group to the front door, splashing out and coating the barrier like the other door. Only, when these doors opened to beckon forth the group, they could see nothing but a night sky burning with stars. A menacing tension that spiked their heartbeats flourished outwards like a wave. Two doors lay open before them now, but it was up to them or whoever they chose to follow among themselves which they were to traverse.[hr]