[center][b]Central Ruins, Royal Plaza[/b][/center]

[i]What the fudge-nuggets!? I can totally feel her skin! I can actually touch and feel her! ... She's really soft, and smels nice... Wait! No! Damnit Doug, pull it together, man! Now's not the time to for that. I needa figure out just what the hell's going on an- Eh?[/i]

Suddenly, the woman in the minimalistic clothes came on over and decided to grab Serafaye's hands. The dracokin blinked a few times, confused, as she listened to the woman, who she had met and been itnroduced to earlier, speak and reintroduce herself again. Granted, it wasn't like Serafaye had paid all that much attention to the talks and greetings up in the tower just earlier, but something made the ex-Oubliette player feel like she was being treated like a mentally impaired person. Still, the fact that Annabelle had grabbed onto her, and Serafaye had been able to feel it, was confirmation that this phenomenon wasn't just limited to Cecilia and her cookies.

Before she could respond to the implied need for mental aid however, Serafaye's cheek was poked and squished. This time by the same lizard-bro who had touched her forehead before. He said something snarky about the no-touchy-feely comment from before. What an ass. Couldn't he tell she was trying to figure something out? Hadn't he heard and observed her rather confounded reaction to both taste and touch? He was probably some snotty brat, likely in middle school who wanted to act like a cool kid.

The guy in the fanciful, flamboyant get-up also spoke up. Saying something about how their doom was sealed and that they were all going to die shortly. What a bundle of laughs this guy was. Totally the type you'd bring along to a party or hang out willingly on days off. Was his name Buzz Killington? That's what Serafaye decided to call him mentally from now on in any case. The girl whose cheeks she had squished and gotten a cookie from earlier also spoke up, about something called a Galanon and Imperials and bullies... It didn't make much sense. She also rqquested the boring-looking woman with the horse to give Serafaye a ride... Which was ridiculous, considering Serafaye could probably walk faster than that mangy mare could gallop.

"Uh... Thanks but I think I can walk just fine." The sorceess stated, off-handedly and apparently preoccupied with her own thoughts.

[i]Okay, let's see. I fought Severanoxis, got hit by the Omnistorm right as the server shut down. Then, suddenly, I was in a tower, surrounded by weirdos who claimed I'd been stuck in a crystal... And that some strange light had rained form the sky, seven days ago... And that strange light was apparently the crystal I was stuck in. So, if they're not pulling my leg and this is all some strange, well-plotted prank, that would mean I've been stuck in a stasis-like state for seven in-game days?[/i] Serafaye placed one hand under her chin and tapped her own cheek with the finger of her other, deep in contemplation.

[i]But none of 'em knew about Severanoxis, or the Herculon Gorge... The lizard-guy even pulled out a map! ... Too bad I didn't take a look at it... Then again, it could've just been a blank piece of scroll for all I know, and he was just pretending to have somethig on it. Still, if they don't know about Sevnox, they'd have to be brand new players, but why would anyone buy Oubliette Online and make new characters just as the game's about to be shut off for good? That doesn't make any sense either, and this location.. I've never even seen anything remotely like it before. And my HUD, hotbar, health and mana bars, the player names that should appear over each avatar's head and no verbal commands working... Plus, these freaks all keep saying and spouting out names that don't mean anything or sound familiar at all, like Paladina or whatever, or Gamelon and shit...[/i] Her brow furrowed and she looked to be in even deeper thought than before!

[i]Now add the fact that I can actually feel when somebody touches my avatar, or my avatar touches them, and the fact that I can taste something I eat... And smell others BO.... I can't force a log off and I can't open any tabs or menus... In fact, I can't seem to access anything game-related at all, not even my own inventory, skills tab or spellbook... So, given all of this, and what all of these goons have been telling me so far, the answer is...[/i] She closed her one eye, concentrating so hard, so intently and so single-mindedly that the world around her seemed to vanish altogether, leaving the girl alone in a black void with only her thoughts!

[i]... No. That's... No, that's impossible. That's something that only happens in those weird, out-dated japanese cartoons and comics... Right? That sorta shit can't happen in reality, it defies... Well, Iunno, SCIENCE! Or something? Quantum-physics and algebra and stuff! You can't just suddenly go from one reality to another! That's... That's absurd! It's not possible! No, this is... A lucid dream. Yes, a very lucid, very real, very... Very... Wait! But, if that's true... And I'm really somewhere else... Why am I... Why is my voice so... High? I diidn't have a deep voice or anything in the real world, but I'm pretty sure I didn't sound like... Oh... Oh no... No, no... Nononononononononononono...[/i]

Serafaye's lone eye suddenly shot open. Her face was pale, and she was sweating. Profusely. Her entire body quivered and shook, like she was having a mini-seizure. Her arms fell limp along her sides for a bit, before she suddenly swallowed, very markedly. With a trembling hand, she lifted her arm up and, with an almost overly cautious motion, reached and laid a hand on her own chest. As soon as her fingers touched the soft, squishy, firm and perky substance that was located there, Serafaye's already pale face when even paler... if that was even possible. She looked at each of the people gathered around her, before letting out, in a squeaky, timid and hesistant voice.

"Uhm... Just... Just to make sure... Am... uh... Am I... Am I a girl...?"

The question was rather redundant.

Unfortunately, none of the nearby companions would have time to answer, unless they did so at once and without pause or thought. For not more than mere seconds after Serafaye's inquiry, the gathered group of misfits could begin to hear something unsettling. The sound of footsteps. Many footsteps. Many footsteps walking in uniform tact. That wasn't the sound rough and tumble adventurers, running around a dungeon looking for treasures, made. No, this was the sound of well-disciplined and trained soldiers, marching. And by the sound of it, their steps were getting louder and louder, nearer and nearer. The noise came from all directions, but was most noticeable to the west and north, sounding less prominent to the south and even lesser than that to the east.

Regardless, it seemed that the Empire had finally deemed themselves in control of enough of the Forgotten Ruins to begin their push towards the center. Whethher any adventurers and mercenaries from other places still remained was a mystery and uncertainty. Still, it wouldn't be many minutes before this orchestra of marching footsteps would arrive here in the main royal plaza, and by then, the group would likely be completely surrounded. If they wanted to avoid facing the entire force of the Imperial army sent here, then they would likely need to get a move on.

Serafaye, meanwhile, seemed far too busy trying to come to terms with something internally, to even notice the noise that the marching, oncoming soldiers were making...