Conrose sat at the base of the steps to the Embassy, staring into the swirling energies of the portal towards the center of the plaza. Around the edges of the disc was a steel ring with golden plating. Silver runes were set into the gold in a language that was foreign to the young man... but he understood the purpose of the device. "By feeding mana flow into the portal more efficiently, it stabilizes the Aether Tube against disturbances within the Abyss," he explained out loud to no one in particular.

"I heard that magical items and artifacts are something of a specialty of yours," came a small voice from the top of the stair case.

He shut his eyes, blocking out the images around him and focusing instead on memories. "Specialty," he questioned, pondering on the meaning of that word. "More that it was one of the few things I could actually learn." He turned back towards the unseen gaze he has come to expect of the Blind Seer. "Tell me, is nostalgia one of the emotions your vision allows you to see?"

The young woman nodded affirmatively. "I know that you feel lost, if not trapped."

Getting onto his feet, he winced in frustration. This girl could read him like an open book, but there wasn't anything to be done of it. He simply looked onto her, his eyes looking with almost a plea. "You would tell me if I was wasting my time wouldn't you."

"If I knew for certain, then yes; but even I am not entirely sure." She then carefully stepped down from the top of the flight, carefully feeling for each step with her feet while grasping the rails. But each step was with purpose, "But even as I am not entirely sure that each step is there, I have faith enough in them to take each one."

The young man let out a deep sigh, "So you are telling me to have faith that this is the right direction."

The angel shook her head; "No, just that you should have faith that you are grasping at more than straws with this."

"So then tell me why I have to escort your friend, instead of going directly to the Featherkeeper on my own?" the silver eyed man demanded angrily. "I could get my answers swiftly, and yet you chain a stone to my feet."

She answered with but a smile.

Shortly after the Seer stepped down the staircase to meet with Conrose, Aiden left the embassy. He'd hoped to share a few final words with the angel before they stepped through the portal, but upon reaching the top of the staircase and looking down to see the two locked in a discussion, he stopped in his tracks. Pressing his lips tightly, he started to take a few steps back, willing to let the two of them finish before cutting in.

Konsa shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, anxious already. Although he tried to distract himself with looking at the art, it wasn't really working now. He glanced over at Novaus who didn't seem to be doing anything and Aiden had gone after Blind Seer. There wasn't much for him to do at the moment. Konsa sighed lightly "Will things be OK?" He muttered to Novaus, not really expecting an answer.

"She can see things in others that often they themselves don't," he replied. "If nothing else, she'll disarm him for a time." He then turned his own sight on the spear that Conrose had crafted. "But the man does have his merits to be certain. I am actually curious to see what can be done with this in Seraphina's hands." He felt the around the knot, noting how perfectly smooth it felt.

Konsa followed Novaus's gaze to the staff, it looked very well-made. The thief acknowledged it would fetch a high price on the market, but quickly snapped himself out of that train of thought. After living his life that way so long it was almost instinctive. "Seraphina is the angel-to-be, right?" Konsa asked, just making sure; he was a little nervous to meet her though.

"Yes; Seraphina Lunasdiei, an old friend of the Blind Seer's, and the daughter of the Seraphim Galric." Novaus looked past the small demon as he recalled his own memories. "Unfortunately, their fathers perished together in defense of Kanas." The mercenary turned a pained gaze upon his right arm, knowing the scars that lay concealed beneath. "If not for the sacrifice of those two, I would not be standing here... and thus why I have served as the protector of their daughters."

The demon was a little uncomfortable by this talk, especially by the pain in Novaus's voice. He swallowed before opening his mouth to say anything. But no words of use really came to mind. "Oh..." Was all that he managed out, turning his face away from Novaus.

Aiden, who was standing near the entrance of the embassy, managed to overhear the conversation. Well, part of it, more like; he caught Seraphina and her father's name and something about the Blind Seer's father, at least. Seraphina... quite the name, really. It was elegant, befitting of a Caelestine, and yet, it sounded... powerful, in a way. Authoritative was probably a better way to put it. She must've been the pilgrim he was assigned to escort. Aiden wanted to know more about this Seraphina, and his best bet was the Seer.

Heading back over to the top of the staircase, he began to descend, hoping that the Blind Seer was finished with Conrose. Hopefully, she was alone as well; he had an apology to make, but he didn't want to say it around Conrose. Her outburst was due to everyone distrusting the artificer, after all.

Conrose looked up at the young man descending the stairs, and narrowed his eyes on him. "What do you want there kid?"

The Blind seer turned around to acknowledge the newcomer's presence with a courteous nod.

Damn.

Of course Conrose hadn't left. Why would he? He would be leaving through the portal with them after all. "Conrose," the human responded to Conrose with a neutral nod, before turning to the Seer and giving her a slight, respectful bow.

"I, um. I came down here to talk to the Seer... I wanted to apologize for what happened in the lobby," Aiden stated, frowing a bit. Well, there was no way around saying it in front of Conrose. He'd just have to speak his mind and prepare for whatever response the artificer had. Still, even if he reacted poorly, the Blind Seer was here to stop him. He hoped she would, anyway.

"I had no intention of angering you. I just..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I was just concerned. I want to keep our VIP safe as we travel, and I needed to know that no one will put her at unnecessary risk. Really, I believe your words wholeheartedly, Blind Seer. I shouldn't have doubted you, especially after I agreed with you in the office..."

Conrose narrowed his gaze on the explorer, then started laughing to himself as the Blind Seer let out a sigh. "I'm impressed kid, I was begining to think her a perfect saint, but you managed to bring a little bit of anger to boil to surface I guess." He then turned and excused himself, chuckling a little bit to himself.

The Blind Seer glanced back as the laughter faded, before turning back to Aiden. "Your apology is accepted, though I imagine you just made your travels more difficult in regards to dealing with that man." She then smiled at him. "But I sense there is more on your mind than guilt.

The explorer sighed. The last thing he wanted was to make things more difficult between him and Conrose. Oh well, couldn't be helped now. Besides, he wasn't the villain here; if Conrose wanted to make an issue out of this, Aiden would be perfectly willing to defend himself.

"Maybe I did, but I had to get that off my chest. If he wants to cause a problem over that, well, he'd better not expect to just walk all over me. Anyway... aside from that, I wanted to ask you about the Pilgrim. Her name's, eh... Seraphina, right? I overheard your bodyguard talking to the Dalimos about her. Can you tell me more about her? What's she like?"

He paused for a moment to consider what he just said, and winced a bit. "I mean, I'd just like to know a bit more about the person I've been assigned to protect. Helps with the job, is all."

She smiled widely, "Seraphina, the daughter of a Seraphim and the truest friend one could hope to find in a lifetime." The Blind Seer, then slowly made her way back up the stairs, feeling with her feet for each step. "She is filled with benevolence and seeks always to do what is right to prove herself to all." She then stopped short of Aiden, "And though she was quite pretty when last I saw her with my true eyes, I am told she has grown to be quite breath taking with her beauty." She tilted her head slightly, "as though the goddess herself chiseled her from a stone of perfection."

Aiden couldn't help but smile as the Seer described Seraphina. She clearly had a great amount of respect for her. However, he was a bit perplexed when she proceeded to describe her appearance. He certainly didn't doubt that Seraphina was beautiful, but the Seer was oddly fine with depicting her best friend as being unbelievably gorgeous to a man she had just met the day before. Maybe she felt that she could trust Aiden enough to do that, since she could obviously see into his inner nature. Or maybe the Seer was trying to tease him again. The explorer couldn't tell; it was really hard to read her sometimes. Well, he wouldn't allow himself to be flustered by her. Either way, he was now even more interested in learning about Seraphina. Of course, that would come once he finally saw her face to face.

"I see. She does sound like a wonderful person. I can't wait to meet her," He said, sharing the Seer's widened smile, "I'll enjoy accompanying her to the Featherkeeper with the others, and I swear to you that I will protect her from whatever threats we may come across, even if it means my life."

"I certainly hope it doesn't come to that," she said reassuringly. "I'm certain she will do her part to prevent such a thing... she is quite adept at healing and protective barrier magics."

"Ah, excellent," Aiden exclaimed with a short laugh, "Perhaps I shall record instances her magic usage for future study by my people. Er, if that's acceptable, anyway." Taking a moment to glance at the nearby rift, he sighed. "Alright. I'm prepared to carry out my task. Is there anything else I should know?"

She smiled, "It would be no issue... as long as she's fine with it." She then looked beyond the two and called out to her bodyguard. A few moments later, Novaus showed up in the doorway. After an exchange of nods, he called to Konsas back in the lobby.

The demon quickly scurried after them when he heard he was called. He seemed hesitant to approach the portal and stood on the other side of the room of it. Konsa glanced behind him, the thought of ditching them has crossed his mind more then once. But he surpressed that urge and merely shifted from foot to foot nervously, unable to keep still.

With everything settled in the embassy, Aiden took a few moments to make sure he had everything he needed for the mission on him, and headed for the rift. His gaze remained fixed on the green tear in reality as he approached it. Beyond that portal was a world filled with wonders beyond his wildest dreams. No doubt, it would also be filled with countless new dangers, but with a full party traveling with him, he felt more secure about his chances of survival. Traveling through customs didn't take much time, as the team was cleared by Sokolniki for immediate passage. Soon enough, he stood right before the rift, taking a deep, shaky breath. Turning to his companions, he asked a simple question, "Is everyone ready?"

Konsa glanced the others and nodded briefly, crossing his arms over his chest. He was as ready as he could be at this point. The Dalimos was frowning and staring straight ahead.

Novaus waved his arm in confirmation as Seraphina fluttered her wings with a smile.

Conrose looked towards the Embassy as Sokolniki stepped out hurredly. "You may want these before you try passing through or that witch of a guard on the other side will have her fun with you."

The Mercenary nodded as he took the folder from the Grand Ambassador before following the angel down the steps.

The younger swordsman stood by the portal, tapping his foot impatiently, eager to get underway.

"Alright then." The human faced straight ahead, gathering the courage to step through his universe's metaphysical border. "Let's go." He stepped forward, leaving the physical world and entering the beyond.

Before him stretched a hallway, circular in shape. The walls seemed almost as glass, though speckles of light flowed through it. Eight solidly colored streams of energy swirled about the tube. Looking back revealed the glow of the portal's entrance obscuring the world beyond. Looking out, other similar structures could be seen radiating from roughly a single central point and shot off in different directions and onto eternity until a dark mist between obscured it the further away it got. The ground at the bottom of the tube had been filled with dirt and pebbles, allowing for travel on a flat surface rather than the round surface of the tube.

Aiden smiled, turning to the others and motioning for them to follow. He always enjoyed traveling through this mysterious realm of almost pure energy. In a way, it was calming to him. As the group walked through the tunnel, he suddenly began to speak.

"You know, in a weird way, I find riftwalking to be rather... calming. It gets me thinking about the nature of reality. I often wonder to myself, who created these rifts? What was their purpose? Or perhaps they were always there, as a natural formation in all our universes, cleverly hidden away by nature. I have endless questions pertaining to the subject, and while I may not find the answer to them in my lifetime, the possibility of finding them are what drives me, what fuels my desire to explore and discover."

He chuckled to himself, shrugging as he walked. "That's why I became a state-certified explorer... heh, I realize that I've gone off on a bit of a tangent. I do apologize."

"You like mysteries don't you," Conrose stated with an inquiring look on his face. "I'll provide you with several possibilities on the purpose if somebody did indeed create the rifts; and you tell me how each one sounds to you." He held up his hand to count down the possibilities before something caught his eye. "Well, count me impressed, 8 spirals on this portal, 4 clockwise and 4 counterclockwise... this one is pretty stable." He then more closely inspected one of the spirals, before turning his eye back towards the Aiden. "But back to the discussion on the purpose of these, one possibility is as Ashremalk use it for, the spreading of the Empire."

Conrose's response caught Aiden by surprise. He stared at the artificer as he spoke, unsure of what to make of it. He knew that the man came from another realm, he knew that he was capable of things that other beings weren't, but his comment on the spirals indicated that he was quite knowledgeable about the rifts. Spirals were what kept a portal stable, much like the cables of a suspension bridge. Many rifts had different amounts of spirals supporting them; the more there were, the less likely it was to break down due to stress, and vice versa. Conrose was correct in his observation that the Akreaus-Ceciderunt Dea portal was stable; eight spirals would require a significant explosive magical force to breach. Really, anything above four was relatively stable. Few common folk could really tell the amount of spirals a portal have just by sight; Conrose clearly had extensive riftwalking experience.

Part of Aiden wanted to address that, but he felt that pressing the artificer on the subject wouldn't end well, so he focused on the question instead. "The Ashremalk using the network for expansion... well, it's an unsettling possibility, if it's true. It's certainly ambitious, that's for sure. I... think they're capable of trying it. Whether they can support such an endeavor, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about that. I think they'd spread themselves too thin to keep it up."

"Not exactly what I was asking, but you do have the right idea," stated the artificer as he stepped nearer to the Explorer. "Then how does the idea that it was to spread the trade of goods and ideas strike you?"

Aiden paused to think on that. "Hm. Could be. I mean, all these different worlds, with unique resources, cultures and technologies... it's a merchant's dream, to be honest." He tilted his head curiously. "Why are you asking me this, Conrose? What's your angle?"

He smiled, then reached into his satchel and withdrew from it a book that was bound in a strange metal and a unique seal to lock it shut. A thumb sized hole where one would expect a keyhole where the book was latched shut, a strange glow emanating from within. "If I told you that this book holds the answers to these questions, would you believe me?"

At that moment, the explorer just stopped, his eyes locked on the tome. "... What is that?" He looked up at Conrose, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How do you know this? Where did you get that book?"

Conrose smiled, then laughed for a moment. After collecting himself, he put his finger into the glowing locking, and after a wooshing sound came from it, the lock disengaged and opened up. The Artificer flipped through a few pages before showing it to Aiden. "I'm certain you recognize that from my workshop... the mana lathe you saw me carving inside a ruby on your first visit to my shop." In the pages was the diagram of a contraption that had gems set at two locations and a beam of light converging on a stone set in a series of clamps. "You are gullible... this book is nothing so impressive as the history of the portals."

At the back of the group entering the portal, the Blind Seer's gaze intensified momentarily as if to focus on the Artificer, then she raised her eyebrows, expressing a sense of curiosity. "But you do have some insight into the subject regardless."

"Indeed I do... and a little bit of logic does go a long ways."

Aiden looked closely at the tome. It did look familiar... of course. He did see that book during that one visit. He just kept memories of those visits in the back of his mind. They weren't pleasant experiences. He bristled upon realizing that he had been played for a fool. Scoffing, the human proceeded to retort, "You know, Conrose, I never really stuck around long enough to care, so it's no surprise that I couldn't remember it."

He then walked ahead of him, his mood having darkened a bit. "Don't even bother with the third question, let's just go."

Conrose smiled as the young Aiden walked away, visibly flustered. "Then the third is one for you to ponder on but need not answer, that lay in plain sight, but doubtful you ever asked yourself... why was but a single ruined building found at any of the portals rather than the extensive remnants of any civilization." The Artificer flipped through a few pages of the book, as if to remind himself of something important. He then whispered lowly to himself, "Erinshke fe Zalph herendia... we as a people did what was necessary." A low pulse shot through the spirals of the portal as the words were spoken, and he brought his eyes towards Aiden.

Once again, Aiden slowed to a stop. That... was actually a very good question, one that he couldn't find the answer for. However, he didn't bother responding to Conrose, and prepared to walk forward again, but then he heard the whispers. He couldn't quite make out the words, but it was enough to make him turn back to the Artificer, confused. He opened his mouth to ask him what he was doing.

A pulse shot out through the spirals. Aiden froze up, gazing up at them in shock. "What..." He breathed. No way. There was no way he just affected the spirals just then. The explorer lowered his head to stare directly at Conrose. Whatever happened just proved that he was far more than a mere artificer.

"Who are you...?"

Novaus stepped between the artificer and the Blind Seer instinctively as Conrose approached Aiden, though the Blind Seer gently pushed the bodyguard aside. "He is someone with knowledge, that much is apparent; and he did that to force you to believe that he has more answers than you believed him to be in possession of."

As the mysterious man reached the young explorer, he gestured further down the tunnel. "And if who I suspect may be around this part of the Abyss, one of the portal's creators may bless us with her presence... are you familiar with the Shadow Dancer?"

"Well. Count me convinced," Aiden said, shaken by the sudden turn of events. He struggled to remember something in his studies that could possibly help him identify just what Conrose was, only for his mind to come up blank. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

Aiden recognized the title 'Shadow Dancer'; the Shadow Dancer was an enigma to Akreaus. Only a few explorers ever encountered her during their travels, and she rarely stuck around for long. She always moved through a dance through the Abyss and the Aether tubes, her wings enshrouded in a dark mist. That was the extent of their findings. "I am... but I'm afraid the only thing I truly know about her is her name. We don't know a thing about the Dancer, only that... well, only that she is." He blinked. "Hold on... you're not saying that you just... summoned her right now did you?" He then laughed briefly out of disbelief and nervousness. "Okay, Conrose, I may have just seen you mess with the tubes in some form, but you're seriously stretching my suspension of disbelief here."

Conrose smiled, "To say I summoned her is a stretch... I merely sent out a call." He then pointed up.

Aiden raised a brow at that, and then proceeded to look upwards...

Pressed against the roof of the tube, a feminine face peered in from the Abyss with curiosity as a darkness increasingly obscured the background light of other tubes around her, roughly forming a human like silhouette and stared down at Aiden, then briefly over Conrose and then to the rest of the pack by the Blind Seer who held the creatures gaze longer than anyone else.

Novaus and the Blind Seer may have kept their composure upon seeing the face above the tube. Aiden, however, reacted with pure, unadultered terror.

"OH MY GOD!" The human felt his legs give out under him, causing him to fall onto his rear and scramble back a short distance before managing to stop himself. "Holy shit," he whimpered, looking upon the strange being in fear, nearly hyperventilating, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to regain his composure. "Wh...wh-wh-what is that?! Is it..."

Konsa had been watching Conrose and Aiden, observing them and trying to figure them out better if ever needed. He was deep in thought, only half paying attention to the events although when Aiden cried out Konsa followed everyone's gazes. He yelped, another reason for him to fear portals. He had never seen anything quite like this and trembled at something so unknown.

The Blind Seer stepped forward, looking at the strange face and smiled, waving up at it as she cheerfully greeted it as it returned the smile in kind. Novaus walked until he stood over the frightened young man. "That's the ever elusive Shadow Dancer... our world sees her at Triluna every ten years for the Festival of the Third Moon... she shows up and simply dances until the third moon fades, and vanishes." He looked up as the creature waved before pushing off from the tube's surface and back into the darkness. "Nothing to be afraid of, but the more important question is..." Looking back down, the mercenary saw Conrose already moving far ahead of the rest of the group. "How did he know how to draw her here?"

Aiden's quick, deep breaths steadily leveled out, until he finally ended with a long, relieved sigh. He'd just seen the Shadow Dancer, a being that defied all logic and boggled even Nexulai's finest minds, a being he never expected to see on this journey. To think that all this could've been a simple trip to Ceciderunt Dea... Aiden didn't know what to think anymore.

"God..." Now that he was able to think clearly again, he realized that the Dancer's appearance really wasn't all that frightening. It was just that he never saw it coming. That's when he realized something incredible; in all previous accounts, the Shadow Dancer simply danced on by, ignoring the explorers that saw her outright, but here, it actually reacted to the group's presence. Not only that, but it showed a degree of sentience by waving back at the Blind Seer! The human was at a loss for words. This was a significant discovery, one that would warrant further research into the Dancer by Nexulai's scientific community, and Aiden hadn't even properly begun the mission yet.

"Yeah... no shit!" He frantically pushed himself onto his feet, pushing past Novaus and stepping up to Conrose, looking none too pleased. "I'm tired of these constant tricks and deflections, Conrose! I want some answers! Just what the hell are you?!" Aiden was yelling quite loudly at this point, pointing aggressively at the artificer.

The Artificer turned towards him in the distance, crossing his arms. "I could tell you what I am, and it would mean nothing. I could tell you the truth, and you would listen but never believe your ears, I could show you, but you would not trust your eyes." He then turned to face towards Ceciderunt once more, a light at the end of the tunnel. "But if I am right on my suspicions, then you will know the absolute truth." He then broke out into a full sprint towards the portal.

There he went again, deflecting his demands with enigmatic bullshit. Aiden gritted his teeth, curling his right hand into a fist. He was sorely tempted to knock this man out, even if the Seer didn't approve of it.

Then Conrose inexplicably took off towards the other end of the tube at full speed. "Wha-, hey! CONROSE! Son of a BITCH," Aiden growled, sprinting after the artificer. That settled it; he didn't care what the Seer said at this point, he was going to kick Conrose's ass. In fact, he was pretty sure that Novaus would join in, since he had a bone to pick with the man, too.

The Artificer laughed far ahead as he made it to the other end of the portal and vanished behind the veil of light at the end.

The Blind Seer shook her head in dismay and waved Novaus to give chase after the other two. She had walked the path numerous times and still had Konsa to assist her if she needed any. The Mercenary obliged and gave chase after the two younger men.

By now the thief had leveled his breathing and managed to calm himself down, which was difficult with Aiden and Conrose fighting over pointless things. He watched Novaus follow them and Konsa approached the Blind Seer. He stood by her, glancing at her beautiful silver wings. He knew she sensed the fear of his to go through that portal, and he knew it was a little ridiculous but it was still going to be hard for him to go through it. Konsa glanced at her, fidgeting.

The angel turned around and stared him in the eyes with her blindfold, her eyebrows raised in sympathy, "You've grown increasingly scared since my first mentioning returning to our home world... just take my hand and it'll all be alright," she spoke reassuringly as she held out her hand.

The demon bit his lip and forced himself to still his fidgetty movements. He hesitated, just like the last time she offered before taking her hand. Although this time it wasn't nearly as long as a pause. Konsa squeezed it tightly, glancing back over the portal as he tried to calm himself down and tell himself he was just being paranoid. It was hard for him though because he had been paranoid for most of his life. And that was what kept him alive for the most part. Konsa dearly hoped no one would recognize his face back in his homeworld.

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Looking back, their angry shadows painted the walls.

Her head was against the counter, her lungs inhaling one long, last audible time before she looked up with musty eyes. She didn't know why, but she knew like as by instinct.

"YOU'RE ASS IS MINE, YOU STUPID BLOODY CUNT!"

She caught his throbbing, veiny hand holding a blackjack; his friends sort of looked confused at what just happened, but it was clear that wasn’t going to be the case for very long. Jerking her fingers into his eyes he retreated like a wounded dog with his tail between his legs. Shooting up from the stool, she swerved off out of the pub; she spared no time to look at the hurricane of anger chasing right behind.

Steel toed boots clapped against the cobblestone road, away and anywhere

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Looking back, their angry shadows painted the walls.

She took a hard right and decided to run between the alley ways of two buildings on her right side; when her boots scraped against the gravel in a near-slide, she found she was flanked, already occupying the space.

Fight or flight?