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Volume 5: Chapter 11

  The day is here, The Dark Mirror Shard has finally been recovered and thus, it is finally time to unveil its secrets. In the planning room, the Dark Mirror stands erect, ready to be completed by being rejoined with the shard.

  The standard people who normally occupy the planning room are here, with Boone in the planning room to complete the mirror

  Boone: Are we sure this is a good idea, like aside from the fact we need to complete it so we can go to a White World temple and learn its secrets.

  Acantha: We aren’t sure this is a good idea at all

  Lilac: Me personally, I forward the notion

  Acantha: I just have my reservations, that’s all

  Lilac: I wish you had reservations about possessing my body for your own ends

  Acantha: Excuse me?

  Lilac: Nothing…

  Olivia: Well, it’s a risky plan, but learning about the mirror is what we came here for, so we aren’t going to just stop when the answer is almost right in front of us. Also, Hadane’s echo is still inside of Relic

  Boone: Right, we need our friend back

  Centus: Regardless of what might have led to these circumstances, we need to do right by ourselves and finish the mission

  Acantha: Weird of you to say that

  Centus: Why?

  Acantha: Uhm…nevermind

  Centus: If you say so…

  Olivia: Ignoring that old crone, we’re all in agreement of what must be done

  Boone: Agreed

  Lilac: Let’s do it

  Centus: All in

  Acantha: Whatever

  Olivia: Boone?

  Boone: Here’s the shard

  Boone hands over the shard to Olivia, who walks over and places it inside the Dark Mirror. The Dark Mirror begins to spark and charge, it hasn’t been complete in a little bit. The Dark Mirror’s dark patterns begin swirling fast, signaling that it is active

  Acantha: Yeah, that doesn’t look good

  Lilac: Olivia? What is your plan to get to the White World?

  Olivia: In hindsight, I should have brought someone else with me that would make my life easier

  Lilac: Huh?

  Olivia: I am going to have to make the portal myself

  Lilac: Like, right in the camp?

  Acantha: Nuh uh, no way I let you do that

  Olivia: Well despite the possible risks that come with it, we already know this camp is far from secure as the Buzzard flew through here and anywhere else has even more unknown variables. This is, in reality, the safest option.

  Lilac: I must say, that is some sound logic

  Centus: It’s risky, but then again we risk the chance of Hollow or Rahihi or Sextant incursions anywhere else, and we don’t have to worry about defending the portal and the camp at different locations if they are in the same location, not spreading manpower too thin

  Boone: Should I get everyone ready?

  Centus: I’ll go with you, and get the word out

  Centus and Boone leave the planning room, leaving just Olivia, Lilac and Acantha

  Olivia: Lilac, I want to thank you for trusting me the whole way through, even when at times it sounds like you shouldn’t

  Lilac: No problem Olivia, I’m glad that you and your guild came, really opened my world for me…

  As Boone and Centus get the rest of the camp ready for the incursion, Nest is sitting near where Hadane is resting

  Nest: Listen, I know half your soul is missing, but you need to come back to me, we found the shard and we’re about to enter the White World

  Hadane’s body sat still for another second longer

  Nest: Come on, get up, we’re gonna get you back in one piece together

  Hadane’s body finally, at last, began to move

  Nest: Yes….

  Hadane, still halfway unconscious, finally woke up from her day long slumber

  Hadane (Groggy): I’m awake now…

  Nest looked at her friend, who looked back at her

  Hadane: How long was I out?

  Nest: About a day

  Hadane: What’s happening?

  Nest: We recovered the Dark Mirror shard, we’re about to enter into the White World and go to the Temple of Echoes

  Hadane: How did you do that so fast?

  Nest: You can thank me, Boone and Larkin, The Buzzard was easily taken care of, although he’s still active

  Hadane: Well, we’ve got a job to do

  Nest: I’m so glad you’re back with us

  Hadane looked at Nest, and then looked at the ground

  Hadane: You remember how I said I thought here I could fill the part of me that was missing?

  Nest: Yes, I remember that conversation

  Hadane: Well…maybe it was more like…the current form I’m in…isn’t who I’m meant to be

  Nest: What do you mean by that?

  Hadane: In a way, I might be witnessing the end of me, but the beginning of something else…

  Nest: Hadane…

  Hadane: We’ll deal with that when it happens, let’s get to the temple

  Nest nods her head solemnly, as the two of them join the rest of the group in the center of camp. The walk to the center is short, as people are quick to notice Hadane is once again conscious.

  Centus: Look who’s awake

  Hadane: Yes, I am indeed awake

  Centus hands Hadane her staff, they had taken it into their own safekeeping during their spell of unconsciousness

  Centus: I believe you need this more than I do

  Hadane: I believe I do

  Hadane grabbed hold of her old weapon, feeling ready enough to do battle once again

  Ba-Bayost: Good to have everyone with us once again

  Yoni: Nothing says adventure like all of us in one place

  Hadane: I guess you’re right

  Oiyrr: My plant buddy likes you, which would be unwise considering your skillset

  Hadane: Heh, I guess I have that effect on everyone

  Oiyrr: People liking you against what’s wise?

  Hadane: You could say that

  In the distance, only Hadane can see the ghastly pale figure of Iseri, barely making it over the horizon. The figure doesn’t move any closer, instead waving back. Hadane doesn’t respond, instead keeping the smile on her face.

  In the retreating silence, Centus speaks up

  Centus: I’m going to address the camp, while Olivia and Lilac get ready for the portal opening

  Hadane: Sounds like a plan

  Nest: Oh alright

  Olivia and Lilac leave the planning tent, and prepare for portal creation, while Centus goes up to the stand and begins to address the crowd

  Centus: Everyone!

  Many members of the Century Corps camp begin to turn towards Centus as they continue their address

  Centus: As you have been told, just a few minutes ago, we are about to head into the White World for the revealing of the Dark Mirror. The portal is being readied, stand by for movement

  Olivia, in silence, begins opening the portal to the White World, with Lilac and Acantha watching

  Acantha: I’ve got a bad feeling about this

  Lilac: Let her work

  Acantha: In the White World, I saw a terrible vision, locked underneath a seal of darkness

  Lilac looks at Acantha

  Acantha: This aspect of torment, rendering hope useless and seeding woe in all it encounters. The Buzzard’s aura felt similarly to this dark vision

  Lilac: Acantha, what is this?

  Acantha: In the Red Realm I confessed to seeing a powerful force of Darkness, one worse than Optica, or one that seemed scarier to me. Whatever secrets that foul White World holds, clearly should never be uncovered, but our friend wanted to discover the truth.

  Lilac: Listen Acantha, this might be dangerous, but clearly it’s a risk worth taking, let’s let Olivia open the portal

  Acantha: I can only argue so many times before the whole thing becomes irrelevant, fine, do as you want

  During Olivia’s opening, and preparations being made to enter the portal, a sharp noise is heard, a bunch of Hollows begin raiding the camp

  Olivia: They’re after the Dark Mirror, stop them or else we’ll have done all of this for nothing

  Lilac: Yes Ma’m

  Begin Mission: Out of Darkness and Into Light

  Select your party and unit reserve, Olivia is not available for this mission

  The Century Corps rush to defend the Dark Mirror and portal from the attacking Hollows.

  Wave 1 of Hollows advances

  When Wave 1 is defeated

  Nest: We’re not going to let this all be for nothing

  Hadane: Agreed

  Boone: Alright, we just need to defend for as long as Olivia is generating the portal?

  Olivia: Well, it’s not done yet, give me more time

  Wave 2 of Hollows Advances

  When Wave 2 is defeated

  Yoni: So, my wonder is how many Hollows did the Buzzard send at the camp?

  Centus: He likely sent his whole army here, as much as he could

  Ba-Bayost: I love a death defying stand

  Oseci: I for one, would like to defy death, instead of just stand

  Hadane: It can be done…

  Wave 3 of Hollows Advances

  When Wave 3 is defeated

  Mygin: Upon further investigation, I believe the link between this valley and the White World is intrinsic, the two places have a fate entwined

  Oseci: What makes you say that?

  Mygin: I’m looking over the magics, over the history, over the records. There’s a link between the Dark Mirror and this place, a link between the White World and the Dark Mirror, every datapoint ends up linking, everything intersects.

  Olivia: If you believe that to be the truth, the answers you seek lie just ahead

  Wave 4 of Hollows Advances

  When Wave 4 is defeated

  Uruo: With how many Hollows he’s sending, you’d think the Buzzard himself would be about to show up?

  Lilac: Two of our own members went off and beat the tar out of him, he’ll only show up as a last resort, seeing two people stand up to him probably made him feel fear for the first time in his life

  Boone: Yeah, when his pulse attack did nothing to us, he was terrified.

  Nest: We’re really those guys

  The Soul Falcon emerges from Nest’s armor to screech at the Hollows

  Nest: Look who it is

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  Wave 5 of Hollows Advances

  When Wave 5 is defeated

  Olivia: It’s almost open, defeat the remaining Hollows and we’ll be good to advance

  Hadane: We’re going to make a statement

  The Final Wave of Hollows Advances

  When they are defeated, Olivia finally completes opening the portal, leading to the White World

  Olivia: Well, we did it

  Hadane: Just…give me a minute

  Lilac: Well, do you think it was worth it?

  Acantha: I don’t believe so, but I believe my objections are definitively mute, so I’ll let you take point

  The apparition of Acantha vanishes back into Lilac

  Nest: Looks like she finally gave up the fight

  Centus: We’re about to take one more step into the abyss, we better get moving while we have the chance

  Yerod: I think some of us are going to stay behind while the rest of you head into the White World.

  Ba-Bayost: Why would you do that?

  Yerod: More Hollows might attack while in the White World, we want to secure the flank

  Lilac: Ah, so just the main force will be advancing?

  Ohss: Hey, you’ve got this

  Hoard: So we do

  Proceed the rest of the mission without unit reserve.

  Olivia: No need for further delay, I’ll…just

  Olivia picks up the Mirror with her abilities and incorporates it into her set

  Olivia: Handle this artifact of darkness myself

  Centus: The primary objective will be defense of the Dark Mirror until we reach the Temple of Echoes

  Olivia leaves your party if she was in it, she is replaced by a random member from the pool of Party Members.

  Larkin: Last one into the White World is a chicken

  Larkin jumps head first into the White World portal

  Hoard: HEY

  Hoard follows Larkin into the portal

  Yoni: I’m not going to be a chicken

  Yoni also jumps through the portal. The more immature members of the Guild begin rushing through Olivia’s portal

  Olivia: I guess I’ll be a chicken

  Oseci: If that’s important to you

  Nest: I like chickens

  Oseci: I’d assume so

  The rest of the adventuring guild members go through the portal, with all of them ending up in a world of light unfamiliar to some

  The White World

  Larkin: I feel like this place is brighter than I recall

  Olivia: Optica’s removal made this place more, well, light in a sense

  Larkin: I don’t understand it

  Olivia: I don’t pretend to know either

  Lilac: How can you not understand how your own world works?

  Olivia: I just don’t know

  Centus: Well, how far is the Temple of Echoes from here?

  Olivia surveys the surroundings, deciding on a path through the White World

  Olivia: We’re going to have to traverse the Canyon of Spite.

  Centus: The Canyon of Spite?

  Olivia: A craggy structure made of the long suppressed spite and resentment of this world, it’s an interesting and tricky thing

  Kutok: Look at “Ms Travel Guide” over here, trying to take my fucking job

  Olivia: Thank you?

  Yoni: You have a real future in the tourism industry if this goes wrong

  Kutok: If this goes wrong we all die

  Yoni: That prospect is a little scary

  Aiden: “A little scary”, this place is terrifying

  Mygin: I find this all fascinating, so how far is the “Canyon of Spite” from here

  Olivia: By my estimates, not too far

  Hadane: Heh, getting in a light stroll

  Boone: It’s never that easy

  Trek to the Canyon of Spite

  When the party is halfway there, a strange howling noise can be heard

  Mygin: What was that?

  Olivia: That might be the primal scream of the canyon itself

  Nest: It has a scream?

  Olivia: All the spiteful voices, shouting their agony in tune

  Uruo: Are you sure this is a “World of Light” and not a nightmare realm of the damned

  Olivia: Sometimes it feels like a nightmare

  Lilac: Well that’s ominous

  Hadane: We need to press on despite this

  Olivia: Agreed

  Resume the trek to the Canyon of Spite

  When the Canyon of Spite is reached, it’s howling cries can be heard, voices in the wind

  Lilac: This is very foreboding

  Mygin: It’s fascinating

  A glowing purple figure appears with a familiar image to the members of Lilac’s Century Corps

  Lilac: Holy shi-

  Uruo: It can’t be?

  Boone: What do you see?

  The figures get closer

  Hoard: Wow, we finally found Jumay, is she ok?

  The figure Hoard addressed as “Jumay” takes a step forward

  Jumay (Spite): Old family, old friends

  Lilac: Uhm, you’ve got those splotches of weird static on you, want to explain that?

  Jumay (Spite): I have reached a peak of further enlightenment you couldn’t hope to ever achieve yourself

  Purple Figure: She and I are united in spite, Acantha

  The corporal apparition of Acantha appears again from Lilac

  Acantha: How do you know my name and sound like me?

  The purple glow diminishes slightly

  Acantha (Spite): I was your “echo”, your other half, I was left without purpose when you entered this child, being just the vestige of your memory, my other half was filled by spite

  Lilac: This is unnerving

  Acantha: I left you here “echo” to see what I could not

  Acantha (Spite): My spite was wasted on a scheming witch such as yourself, in spite, we are united

  Jumay (Spite): In spite we are free

  Uruo: You are not free, you are shackled to your own vices

  Jumay (Spite): I let reality consume me, I let spite set me free, I let it control me, so I have someone to blame

  Acantha (Spite): I let spite make us stronger

  Jumay causes a powerful reality rippling effect

  Uruo: We have to run

  Olivia: That’s obvious

  The Century Corps makes a break for it as Spite tries to attack them. Moving erratically and in an unorganized fashion, leading Spite to not be able to see where they moved next.

  Lilac: I think we lost them

  Uruo: How are we going to free them

  Lilac: I don’t know…

  Olivia: I’m out of my depth here

  Hadane: Maybe there’s a purifier somewhere in the White World

  Olivia: That’s going to have to be a discussion we table for later

  Aiden: It really sucks seeing Jumay like that

  Hadane: I wonder if we can reunite Acantha?

  Lilac: Is there another physical body for her to inhabit, I felt shackled around that other Acantha, I felt like I was losing my own sense of identity

  Hadane: No clue, but we’re going to reunite me

  A black mark of death appears in Hadane’s horizon again, only she can hear it

  Death: You have a duty to fulfill

  It vanishes just as quickly

  Hadane: I have a duty to fulfill

  Centus: I guess you’ll see too it

  Another whisper of the Canyon can be heard

  Hadane: We still need to keep moving

  Olivia: Agreed

  Begin moving along the Canyon of Spite

  When the party is 10% through the Canyon, The canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Phote: My lord, Spite is a monster, you can’t unleash it upon the world

  Memory of Optica: Lowly Phote, Spite isn’t meant to leave this place, I give it dominion within my realm to unleash my will upon those who would betray me

  Memory of Hedal: My liege, no one would dare betray you, you are perfection

  Memory of Optica: They won’t, their fate is to be bound by my spite

  The memory ends

  Mygin: So if Spite was the manifestation of Optica’s spite upon her enemies, why would it infest Jumay

  Olivia: Perhaps it evolved and changed to a greater purpose

  Larkin: I’ve never seen a threat like that

  Resume the trek across the Canyon of Spite

  When the party is 20% through the Canyon, The canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Jumay: I’m just going out for a little adventure

  Memory of Lilac: Why do you insist on pursuing this “feeling”

  Memory of Jumay: I’m trying to achieve true enlightenment in regard to my light magic

  Memory of Lilac: Why do you insist on further understanding?

  Memory of Jumay: BECAUSE, I always felt like my power can be greater

  Memory of Lilac: If you insist on pursuing this power, you may do so, but don’t expect to find anything in return

  The memory ends

  Aiden: You drove her away Lilac?

  Lilac: Not intentionally, but she wanted to pursue her own power, I thought she was reckless for just thinking about how to make herself stronger, it turns out I was right

  Mygin: She might have been right in her own right, she appears to be able to pull at the strings of reality itself

  Lilac: Well, now I’ve got to save her from her own ambition

  Resume the trek

  When the party is 30% through the Canyon, The canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Acantha: Why do you resist, my plan will free us all from the bounds of the ground, my army will make sure the world is safer for everyone

  Memory of Gladian: Do you realize how insane you sound, making this city fly high up into the sky just so that you can have an army, you already built an army?

  Memory of Indica: You’re insane

  Memory of Acantha: Am I insane or just enlightened

  Memory of Gladian: Definitely insane, do you hear yourself, you’ve totally lost it

  The memory ends

  Lilac: You do sound insane Acantha

  Centus: That is the Acantha I remember from years ago

  Acantha: That was ugly to relive, not my proudest moment

  Lilac: You sure deserve every bit of shit you get for this

  Larkin: Yeah she’s a real bitch for that

  Olivia: I’m gonna say I never did anything like that

  Acantha: Whatever that was like 8 years ago

  Resume the Trek

  When the party is 40% through the Canyon, The canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Death: It might be time for me to explain what your friend made me do to you after he won our fight

  Memory of Hadane: How interesting…are you coming because my end is near

  Memory of Death: In a way, it might be the end of you, the beginning of something else

  The memory ends

  Nest: What the fuck was that

  Olivia: The canyon howls with memories of not just those connected to Spite, good to know

  Nest: No, no, no, no, we’re not just ignoring what that was

  Hadane: Yes that’s the Angel of Death, or the manifestation of death, it’s an entity that wears a cloak, has hollow eyes and calls itself Death.

  Nest: Well what’s this “beginning of something else”

  Olivia: Phoenix

  Nest: What?

  Hadane: There’s very real evidence to think that due to my fire affinity from before I had a soul, that when Iseri dueled Death to save my life, that Death put the soul of a Phoenix in my body, to ensure I had a further purpose in life and a soul to call my own

  Mygin: Yeah you have a “soul of fire”

  Nest: So that’s what this is about

  Hadane: I’m sorry

  Nest: No…no I get it, I understand

  Resume the Trek

  When the party is 50% through the Canyon, The canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Rahihi: You are banished from my realm

  Memory of Uruo: What?

  Memory of Rahihi: You clearly have no respect for my authority, so you can starve in the wilderness

  Memory of Uruo: Have it your way, I shall oppose you every single living day

  The memory ends

  Uruo: The canyon is really picking best hits right now

  Yoni: Having an evil dad must be the worst. I've conflicted with my dad plenty of times, but I can’t say he was ever “evil”. My sister on the other hand…

  Uruo: It’s not fun when the object of hatred in your life is you own kin

  Olivia: I can attest to that

  Larkin: Same here, it was not fun

  Uruo: Even though I hate that man, he is still my dad, and I have positive memories of him from my youth, I just wish maybe he saw the world the same as I do

  Resume the trek

  When the party is 60% through the Canyon, The canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Ayev: NO NO NO, DAMM IT, No!

  Memory of Lorenza: Catch it you BUFFOON

  A noise equivalent to a glass shattering is heard here

  Memory of Ayev: Damn it! I failed again, all thanks to the Century Corps!

  Memory of Lorenza: Oh Ayev, you disgrace

  The memory ends

  Yoni: Speak of the devil….

  Centus: Ayev saddens me deeply, they simply cannot see the grander picture, why they should let go of their resentment

  Mygin: They sound like they would be the perfect avatar for Spite.

  Centus: You would think so

  Resume the trek

  When the party is 70% through the Canyon, the canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Acantha: Well Lilac, I think I have an idea for you, a pitch if you will. We can find all the strongest warriors we can, and lead them in defense of evils that might arise. This world is full of people who are evil but also full of those who commit just acts and want to feel like they belong. You can help them, with my assistance of course.

  Memory of Lilac: I think I see what you’re saying…

  The memory ends

  Acantha: I think that pitch has worked out well, in my opinion

  Lilac: You sold a young girl an idea of adventuring after inhibiting her soul

  Acantha: I get it, I’m checkered, what you can’t deny is that we are succeeding our mission purpose

  Hoard: We are powerful and mighty together

  Lilac: Well Acantha, I can’t say it didn’t work

  Resume the Trek

  When the party is 80% through the Canyon, The canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Optica: Your purpose

  Memory of Relic: My purpose

  Memory of Optica: Capture my essence

  Memory of Relic: Capture your essence

  Memory of Optica: And restore me

  Memory of Relic: And restore you

  Memory of Optica: If I die, so I may rise again

  Memory of Relic: If you die, so you may rise again

  Memory of Optica: Ah Relic, you will restore me to life

  Memory of Relic: Yes Optica

  Memory of Optica: Sleep now

  The memory ends

  Olivia: Well, that’s why Relic wanted to acquire my essence

  Acantha: Hmm I see, you didn’t willingly surrender yourself to the creature to facilitate it’s return

  Olivia: Yeah and

  Acantha: Well if you really were a scheming witch trying to revive that old terror, you would have surrendered your soul to the creature

  Olivia: I maybe could have, but are you saying you trust me now

  Acantha: I think I do, I’m going to help however I can to stop the Relic from absorbing you

  Lilac: Now that’s some teamwork I can get behind

  Resume the Trek

  When the party is 90% through the Canyon, The canyon howls again with a memory from the past

  Memory of Atoll: What do you mean by that?

  Memory of Earth: My child, I believe the one you fought earlier survived those events, I no longer feel their presence swimming around below my exterior

  Memory of Atoll: Well Earth, is there something we should do about it

  Memory of Earth: I may be the voice in your head, but if you wish to pursue this lead or figure any further, that is your decision to make

  Memory of Atoll: Noted, and if anything else happens I should know about please let me know

  Memory of Earth: You can count on that

  The memory ends, with everyone in the party looking at each other confused

  Larkin: Ok, show of hands, who here knows an “Earth”?

  Nest: I think that was the Planet, like…Planet Earth.

  Hadane: There’s no way…the Earth is a living thing

  Mygin: Unless there is…

  Nest: Maybe like a symbiotic relationship….

  Olivia: Ok but that is crazy

  Nest: Is it, the White World is realm linked to Optica’s soul, is it not possible the Earth has its own soul, its own memories, this White World is connected to the Earth’s own memories via their brief connection.

  Olivia: Wait…when you put it like that

  Larkin: Wait, why was Atoll talking to it?

  Centus: We can pontificate on all of this later, we need to keep moving

  Olivia: Right, we’ll speculate on this when we get back

  Resume the Trek

  When the party has crossed the Canyon of Spite, the figures known collectively as Spite stand in their way, like they were waiting for them

  Lilac: Well crap

  Jumay (Spite): This canyon is spite manifest, it is our demain, did you really think you could leave without us interfering

  Acantha (Spite): We will make you into marooned souls lost in the world of Spite

  Hadane: Alright I think I have an idea on how to free them, it’s improvising but I think

  Hadane falls over for a bit, but gets back up

  Hadane: I think it’ll work

  Jumay (Spite): Free us? We are already free in spite?

  Olivia: Alright Hadane, your plan

  Hadane: If I am indeed linked to a Phoenix, maybe my flames can purify them?

  Olivia: Well it can’t hurt to try

  Acantha (Spite): Try all you might, you will fail

  Fight against Spite to free those it has captive

  When Spite is at 75%

  Lilac: I might have been wrong to dismiss Jumay’s enlightenment so soon, I can admit that now

  Jumay (Spite): Spite is my enlightenment

  Lilac: Well that still proves me right

  Acantha (Spite): Our collective spite is against you, Acantha

  Acantha: Lilac is her own person, you may just consider me her shadow, her own echo now

  Acantha (Spite): You dare leave me behind!

  Resume against Spite

  When Spite is at 50%

  Hadane: Let me try this

  Hadane unleashes a rift of healing flames out to Spite, trying to cleanse them of the energy. The fire crackles and burns brightly, trying to free them from the grasp of Spite

  Nest: Wow…

  The flames appear to put a dent into Spite

  Jumay (Spite): You will never shackle us back to our old lives

  Acantha (Spite): We are free here, we don’t need curing

  Resume against Spite

  When Spite is at 25%

  Aiden: We were worried sick about you Jumay

  Jumay (Spite): Not enough apparently

  Centus: This Spite thing is noxious

  Boone: Those malignant entities appear to often bring out the worst of us

  Olivia: My biggest fear is that The Buzzard is such an entity that was sculpted by Optica into her own whims.

  Jumay (Spite): The Buzzard??

  Aiden: Huh?

  Acantha (Spite): We are similar in nature, although we don’t know it as The Buzzard

  Mygin: What is “it”?

  Acantha (Spite): Wouldn’t you like to know

  Resume against Spite

  When Spite is defeated

  Jumay (Spite): We will NOT be shackled

  Hadane: Let’s try again

  Hadane unleashes another, stronger wave of healing fire, using all her might to push out the wave of flames forward. Every member of the Century Corps backs away to avoid the blinding flames. By the end of the sequence, Hadane falls to the ground drained, but Spite seems to be purged from the bodies of those known as “Spite”.

  Jumay: What, where am I now?

  Jumay turns to look at the Century Corps

  Jumay: Guys?

  Jumay, Aiden, Hoard, Oseci and Uruo all get into a big group hug

  Jumay: What happened, how did you all get here?

  Lilac: Long story

  The group hug around Jumay disperses to see Lilac

  Lilac: Do you feel enlightened

  Jumay: I walked into this world and sat in a “Well of Truth” absorbing the greater knowledge of myself, gaining this true power I might have always been meant to have. I can feel the fluctuations of the universe now and manipulate them to a certain extent.

  Lilac: Well, it founds like you found your inner power, note that our potentially Phoenix friend is on the ground because we had to save you from a malignant entity

  Jumay: I guess I got carried away, what do you mean Phoenix friend?

  Hadane: Hi

  Jumay looks around past her group to see the “other” Century Corps

  Jumay: Who are those guys?

  Acantha: The real Century Corps

  Jumay: The real Century Corps?

  Lilac: Mygin can you give her the summarized version of events

  Mygin: Basically we’ve got this Dark Mirror here, (Mygin points to the Dark Mirror, which Olivia is showcasing to Jumay), that the other guild came to the valley to decipher, and they’re the real Century Corps who Acantha led for years before she got turned into Lilac’s echo

  Jumay: Ok, so is it Dark Mirror secret reveal time

  Lilac: Almost

  Lilac and Acantha turn to the former Echo of Acantha

  Echo of Acantha: This feels weird

  Olivia: You will now be free to choose your own path now

  Echo of Acantha: What do you mean by that?

  Olivia: I was the Soul of Optica, but in separation I made my own identity, it’s time for you to maybe do something similar.

  Acantha: You’re free to make your own fate

  Lilac: I wonder if my “real” echo ever got the chance to decide for itself what it wanted when you supplaneted me

  Another figure manifests from Lilac

  Echo of Lilac: Hello Lilac, I was suppressed by Acantha, but I’m still here

  Acantha: I didn’t even know she was here

  Lilac: That is strange

  Echo of Lilac: Yeah, if you’re giving me the opportunity to be another person, I will take it.

  Echo of Acantha: We were two different people, now forever intertwined

  Lilac: Is it time for some recombination

  Echo of Lilac: We need a physical body for that, I think?

  Echo of Acantha: Oh right, where are we going to get a physical body?

  Olivia’s face lights up with an idea

  Olivia: I think I know

  Acantha and Lilac look at Olivia

  Lilac: If we’re thinking of the same thing, you are either a genius or completely insane

  Acantha: But…in theory it could work

  Echo of Acantha: What’s the plan

  Echo of Lilac: I would like to know

  Olivia: For now, get in…here

  Olivia opens up one of her mirrors, allowing the two echoes to fit inside

  Echo of Lilac: No objections here

  Echo of Acantha: I will oblige

  The two echoes enter the mirror. Everyone turns to face Olivia, Hadane is currently being carried by Nest

  Olivia: Alright, the Temple of Echoes isn’t too far from here, let’s depart for it and learn the secrets of the Dark Mirror.

  Mission End

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