healedbythelight | First page

Current Location: New Feather Station A

Entry tags:

intro,
journal fail

First page - [Video]

[The journal suddenly starts recording to catch a young woman's voice in mid-sentence. Sadly, the camera is directed towards the ground.] -at this button does... Is it broken?

This is hopeless. I'll never figure this device out. [A deep sigh.] If only Pascal were here...

[The image shakes, then tilts harshly until the camera is directed towards a stone ceiling instead. A hand swiftly moves past the screen.] ... Ah? What's it doing now?

[And finally, the journal is tilted one last time to show a girl with long pink hair, wearing a New Feather dress and staring into the camera with a confused expression.]

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[Rydia smiles sheepishly.]

I'm sorry. I should have warned you. It's a fair distance from here to town, so...this way is faster. It doesn't hurt.

[She relaxes a little, though she still looks cautious about this whole thing.]

That was... some sort of magic?

[She nods.]

It's called a Warp spell. It takes me where I need to go, as long as I've been there before.

[A smile dawns on Cheria's face.] That's amazing. To be blessed with such magic... It must come in handy many times.

[Grin.]

It certainly does, and I'm glad to be able to put it to use for newcomers, too. Ready to go, or did you need a moment?

Ah... [She glances around one last time, then pushes herself to her feet. With a bit of difficulty, mind you, because her back is stinging painfully.] I suppose I'm ready to go.

[She nods and concentrates. A moment later, they're both standing in the main room of the Welcome Center. Plenty of comfortable chairs abound, and the windows are open to the spring breeze. On the wall are maps; one of the town only, and a few others of the larger area outside it. There's also a list, of homes and apartments already taken. One of the largest tables has a few open boxes, supplies Rydia is yet sorting.]

Please, have a seat. I know those wings can ache, but at least that should only last for the next day or so. Then you'll be fine.

The wings... [She pauses, then cranes her head to try and look over Rydia's shoulder. She has a nasty suspicion, which is soon confirmed.]

Ah! You have them as well!

[And hers are a rich emerald green, much like her hair.]

That's right. Everyone gets them upon arrival. They're a combination of lifelife and translator, so they're very important. Please treat them gently.

[Getting wings upon arrival? Lifeline and translator? It just keeps on getting stranger.]

... I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't understand. What is this place?

[Rydia smiles sympathetically.]

It's a lot to take in, isn't it? Well, there's a lot more I ought to tell you.

You're in Luceti, a realm which is home to many people, from many different worlds and times. None of us arrive here of our own will, but awaken much as you did. The town is the center of it, but there's also this forest, the mountain range to the east, and the beach, facing the ocean. We can travel a bit in each direction, but ultimately we're stopped by a barrier. The Malnosso -the people who trapped us here- made it, and so far nothing of our making has breached it. In fact, it dampens what magic and abilities we possess.

Everything is provided for us here by the Malnosso; food, shelter, most items. There's no need for money, since whatever we need appears here sooner or later. They also gave you those wings. It may seem generous, but there is a price for all that. Essentially...we are their test subjects.

[By the time Rydia reaches the part about the barrier, Cheria raises her hands to stare at them. Dampened magic and abilities? Well, that explained why she had such a hard time easing the pain in her back with healing magic. This barrier sounded like something the people from Fodra would create.

Rydia's last words snap her out of her thoughts again.]

... Test subjects?

[She nods, not thrilled about the topic, but the newcomer needs to know.]

Yes. Sometimes, they send automatons to take us away for individual experimentation. There's no pattern for that, and it could happen at any time. They also have a town-wide experiment once a month. Sometimes, a few people are immune...but there's no way to predict that and you can't count on it. More often than not, you'll be participating.

What is the purpose of these experiments?

You know, I'm not sure. Some say it's to learn how to travel between worlds or whatnot, but a lot of the experiments that happen bear no relation to that that I can see.

[Cheria's gaze lowers to the ground.] That seems so strange. To travel between worlds, all one needs is the right technology. Why experiment on humans?

Well, there's more than just humans here. A lot more.

[She tilts her head, curious.]

You can easily travel between worlds, where you're from?

Ah... [Her and her big mouth. Well, Rydia seems nice enough. It doesn't seem like Cheria will have to withhold information from her.]

Not so easily, I'm afraid. We had to repair a special shuttle developed by the Anmalcia to break through the seal surrounding our planet.

Still, that's more than what some worlds have...mine included, admittedly.

...I wonder if something like that would be of any use here. The Malnosso are confined to this world as we are; they're not natives, nor did they arrive here of their own will. They're certainly taking advantage of the situation, though.

Then, they are prisoners, holding others prisoner? If that is the case, why won't they allow us to stand on equal footing? We could work together to find a way home.

That would be ideal, wouldn't it?

[Rydia sighs, raking a hand through her hair.]

They don't seem very interested in the idea, however. Perhaps they think their technology makes them superior, enough to treat us the way they do. Still, even with all their advantages, they don't show their faces around here. I think they know how many people would attack them, if they did.

That's... [She can't even think of a word to describe this, so she just trails off instead.]

And no one has ever escaped this place?

No...at least, not of their own will. Sometimes, people disappear. You can tell this is different from a kidnapping in that while if they're just kidnapped, their possessions remain behind. When they vanish...their belongings do, as well. We assume they return home, but...we can't always be sure.

[She pauses, trying to let it all sink in.]

... How long have you been here, miss Rydia?

[Rydia stares off, calculating.]

Over two years...two years and three months, if you want to be more exact. A lot's changed, but then much has stayed the same, too.

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