Following a set of cryptic condiment mysteries, we return once again to this wasteland here that is likely hell reincarnated.
Xaniel, Cyprian, and Kiro all sat at the hand-carved wooden table inside the captain’s quarters watching television from the boxy tv. There wasn’t much on. Vines were growing on the walls of the ship. A few days ago, Cyprian accidentally unleashed his nature magic and the whole ship was infested with plants. It made for a lot of good salads and veggie-burgers, but it was also pretty annoying to clean up.
Suddenly, the door burst open, with Hyatt standing with a bewildered expression on his face. He had a scrying bowl in his hands, and it was obvious that he was making an effort to not spill any of the liquid-- he even used his foot to kick open the door.
“Guys,” Hyatt said excitedly, “I got a message!”
Immediately, Cyprian and Kiro turned their attention to Hyatt. Xaniel did too after Cyprian grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.
Hyatt reached into whatever arcane scrying liquid was in the bowl and a piece of yellowed paper emerged from it. Immediately, it dried in the air. Hyatt placed the bowl of scrying liquid onto the wooden table and began to read from the paper.
“One word is not a post. One word is not an action. One word does not sustain the air around someone,” Cyprian read, “I will not waste my inspiration on a world like this. Until the foreseeable future, I leave this rotting world to you.”
“The gods don’t like how things are, eh?” Kiro chuckled, “I can’t blame them. I wonder what this inspiration is for them?”
“More importantly, we’re on our own,” Cyprian said, “And do you feel that in the air?”
Kiro and Xaniel stared blankly at Cyprian while Hyatt tried to perceive some unperceivable idea. Cyprian didn’t blame them for their inexperience. This was the first world that Kiro had been in. Xaniel had been forcibly ejected rather than seeing the world come to a slow end. And Hyatt, while he did experience it, only felt it once. As a Professor of the Circle, Cyprian had dealt with the feeling of the energy of the world fading time and time again.
“It’s the taste of stagnation,” Cyprian said, “It feels almost like the air itself has become still.”
“Does that mean we succeeded? Whoo!” Xaniel tipped backward in his chair, and one of the legs broke, causing Xaniel to crash against a wall. His skull was thick enough to withstand it though.
“Not quite,” Kiro guessed, “If this is what stagnation feels like, this world has survived through it before. Remember that feeling a few months back?”
“Huh, you may be right,” Xaniel said as he got back up and took another vacant chair next to him. It was usually Hyatt’s chair, but they had more to worry about at the moment. “Why is it that you’re always the smart one? Why can’t I get to understand the deeper meanings of this world?”
“Well, first off, stop bonking your head into walls,” Kiro said, “Invest in a proper weapon rather than a barstool--”
“Says the person using bananas as a weapon,” Cyprian chuckled.
“Fair, fair,” Kiro admitted. He turned his attention towards Xaniel, “Dude, take notice in how you’re already much smarter than you care to admit. And you have the resilience of a bull. I could never compete with that.”
Before Xaniel could sink too deep into the flattery, Cyprian turned their attention to something in the corner. It was like a hospital bed, fully encased in glass. There seemed to be some lasers protruding from the glass on the inside.
“This is a body-copier,” Cyprian said, “If we are truly left on our own, and we want to go elsewhere, this is what we’ll use. We can send copies of our bodies into other worlds, and once they return, we can assess their memories.”
“Memories…?” Kiro asked, “Wouldn’t that just be a sensory overload for us when we get back?”
“No, it’s kinda like the opposite of forgetting your dreams,” Cyprian explained, “We should be fine. And our bodies here can still chill out while we’re doing it.”
“Fantastic,” Hyatt, who had been listening but not participating, suddenly chipped in with a smile, “I’d just like to say, I’m glad to have spent time in this hellish world with the three of you.”
“Yes, I suppose I am too,” Kiro said. It was a funny thing. Originally, the four of them had exact opposite goals. Hyatt and Cyprian opted for the conservation of this world while Kiro and Xaniel opted for its destruction. Then, slowly, bit by bit, the four of them found themselves bonding together as friends. Those opposing opinions were just a drop in a pool of water now. The four of them would still together like glue, regardless of their differing ideas.
With the future uncertain, the four of them (after repairing the broken chair) leaned back and relaxed in their floating ship. Cyprian made everyone some Diet Cokes (which was very easy for the nature alchemist), and the four of them basked in the feeling of contentment. If the world around them crumbled to pieces, then their purpose in this world would be fulfilled.
If not… well, June 31st, 10AM JST. Mark that day and time on the calendar. It's after stupid online school will be over.
Also, you foolish munchkins should understand that you can’t let a roleplay die because of one person’s lack of participation. Find an alternative route. Make new characters and see the world in another point of view.
I have hope for you, even if I do long to see the end.