Chapter 8: No Escape
THUNK.
By accident or not, Dracnoir landed on Link's foot. "Ow!" he yelped.
"Is—is the guy immortal?" Tetra asked, shocked.
"...I'm unsure," Lora muttered. "His lifespan is one of the many topics of wonder surrounding his reign. It's been said that Emperor Noh wears a mask of the realm's biggest secrets...he especially does not want anyone questioning his might. Even that is grounds for extreme punishment."
She moved her finger to the right. "Now…look at the edges of the map towards Serenala, the last kingdom in the far east...what do you notice?"
"There's—" Link began, only for Tetra to shove him aside for a better look herself.
"Water!" she cried.
"That's what I was going to say…" Link grumbled, getting up.
"That means all we gotta do is head over there, find a ship—hopefully mine—then sail outta this dump!"
"Sail into the abyss, you mean?" Lora asked. "The blackness you see is as real as the rest of it…"
The entire perimeter of the map was undetermined, fading into a dark void that was only halted because of the table's edges. The hair rose on the back of Link's neck as he realized something very uncomfortable. After all, everything on the map was hovering on the sea of black.
"It's—the entire realm is…floating?" he asked carefully, and Lora nodded.
"So we're in the sky?" Tetra asked, skeptical.
"Not even that. There is just no habitual space beneath the landmasses. No solid ground. Technically...anything above the ground we walk on now would be considered 'being in the sky'." Lora said. "And yes...that means that certain bodies of water do not have floors. And so, if you dive too deeply in them, you will plummet into the abyss."
The bizarreness of it all made Link's head spin. Tetra wasn't having any of it.
"Okay…? Then what happens if you fall or whatever? I bet there's ground down there somewhere. With like...I don't know, a gift shop or something." Tetra said carelessly, making Link snort to himself. "Or something really obscure, like the ultimate secret to the realm."
"Maybe. No one has ever come back to relay experiences," Lora said. "You could fall into the darkness endlessly, or there could be some sort of bottom out of sight and mind…it isn't clear. Just relatively speaking, older and more experienced sailors have gone off the edge in those particular parts by accident, misdirection, or by foolishly daring the risk…the waves turn extremely violent around the eastern outskirts…"
"They're not too experienced if they're flying off the edge into a giant ditch!" Tetra argued.
Link caught the slightest, slightest twitch in Lora's eye. "Tetra…" he urged nervously.
"I have to question these things since apparently I'm the only one who could be bothered," she snapped. "It's one stupid thing after another. I still don't believe there's no way of leaving. There has to be a way. What sense is...how can a place like this exist where you can go in, but not go out?"
"It depends on if you come to believe in the deity that was said to bring the realm into existence...Ziraj. Don't speak his name. It and any worship of him has been outlawed. Only the Emperor is to be revered to such heights," Lora said. "But some say Ziraj had a sense of humor."
"Oh, yeah! Hilarious! I'm dying over here." Tetra scoffed, clenching her jaw. "What a complete joke..."
"Whatever you have to think or say in opposition is to stay in your head. Permanently," Lora said. "That starts the moment we leave here. Link, what did Roxy tell you about how the Emperor views Outsiders?"
"She said he didn't like them," Link answered.
"At all. And you should so realize, girl, that the Emperor takes no mercy on children. None. In fact, he hates children especially. By you both existing here…you're already in graver danger than over ninety nine percent of the population here, including other Outsiders."
"That sucks, then," Tetra said, kicking at the ground. "Why is the guy the way he is? Is all this an expression of his ego? You think he's overcompensating for something he wants, but doesn't have?"
Lora hitched slightly, seemingly stopping herself from speaking a sudden response. "You could be right," she said. "And I know neither of you ever wanted to be here. But the Emperor's will is what has precedence here, and that's how it will be until the day you breathe your last. I don't intend for it to be any time soon."
She fell silent, looking between them sharply; Tetra avoided looking at her but Link didn't. He just stared at her face as usual.
"Link, you are still listening, right?" Lora asked, annoyed by his blank expression. "Or do you have a question?"
"Yes. Um...what does the Emperor do to people like us?"
"That's nothing you need to know. Don't you ever ask me that again." Lora said, then looked towards Tetra, who was scowling. "And I repeat, you don't have to believe there's no way out. Yet. For now, you can at least understand the danger of simply being here."
"I get that. I don't want some old freak after my head." Tetra said, taking a moment to finally pick Dracnoir up. "But…Link, you know what we've left behind, right? And our crewmates won't have a single clue about what's happened to us."
"How can you be sure they haven't ended up here as well?" Lora asked, pulling out her watch.
"I'm almost positive they haven't. Link and I were by ourselves."
"Doing what?"
"Stuff," Tetra said carelessly, then jolted and shook her head. "I-I mean not stuff, just…"
She peered sideways, but Link was too busy in his own thoughts to notice.
Lora was now checking the time. "Alright…before we get moving, I have to ask. How familiar are you both with magic usage?"
"Magic? If we're talking about how Link can clear an entire buffet table in under five minutes, then I'm already on deck," Tetra cracked, making him roll his eyes.
"Well, you get the gist," Lora deadpanned. "Understand that casual use of magic is strictly prohibited for commoners. Only royal servants of a certain class are an exception."
"Oh, like you?"
"Yes, like me."
Link was curious. "What do you do, Mo...Lora?"
She gazed at him steadily. "I'm the Executioner, Link. Remember? You woke up in my office."
"O-Oh, I forgot…"
"Sick!" Tetra said. "I bet you torture people to spice things up!"
"Tetra!" Link complained.
"Keep focus," Lora stated plainly. "Do not speak of anything from your world—events, locations, the deities you may have worshipped, not even people from your family. Back to magic—don't mention or even think of it. If I am to find out that either of you have done or merely attempted to use magic, you will regret it. Another indicator you are not a native of the realm is your general ignorance of this society and its cultures. There is never any need to voice your ignorance. The best thing to always do is to hold your tongue and watch what you say. No one can ever force you to say or admit anything. You must take accountability for the words that leave your mouth."
"Yeah well, what about you?" Tetra asked.
"Pardon?"
"What makes you different from anyone else who could turn us in? Just because you said you've helped others like us doesn't mean jack because we don't know if that's the truth."
"That's right." Lora agreed. She wandered away from the table, staring at the ground as she spoke. "You don't know. And at the end of the day, you both really only have each other to trust and count on. I won't ever ask the world of you, but I do need your cooperation and trust. It'll help me help you.
"Because you both are so young, however, I need to adjust my methods. And so, I have decided that I will be the one to watch over you, at least until you have grown enough to be able to survive without me."
There was silence. When Lora faced them she wasn't surprised to see Tetra scowling again.
"So you want to be our guardian, basically," the girl said stiffly. She groaned, slapping a hand to her face. "...seriously?! Is this really what we're doing?"
"That's right."
"No! I'm not used to that!"
"I've realized. What's more important than you remaining covert?"
"Well..."
"That and staying alive, both of which are no longer mutually exclusive?"
"I'm just saying! You don't even understand! Having my freedoms taken away and being cared for like some dumb kid isn't my thing."
Tetra shot a sour look at Link. He had his arms crossed and was eyeing her sideways, unimpressed.
Seething, Tetra snarled, "Oh, of course you would be down with this, fine! I get it!" she yelled at Lora. "You wanna keep us safe and we're likely stuck here but not, it's all nonsense, and no matter what we have to trust someone like you who chose torturing and murdering people as a career path? Okay, sure! Yeah, that sounds great! It's the best course of action and Mother always knows best, right?"
"Not always," Lora said softly. "...Link. And you?"
"Wha...what the heck are you asking HIM for?" Tetra cried. "Isn't it obvious?"
"I still need an answer."
"He already gave it to you without the words and you know it! He trusts easily. Oh, my gods, that's part of what got us in this stupid mess in the first place!"
"What?" Link asked, surprised.
"Oh, so, that's right? That's how you are in general, boy?" Lora asked quietly. "I suspected that from the beginning...I was still hoping you had made an exception for me…"
"I did," he said truthfully.
"I honestly would've preferred if you had shown me more resistance from the outset like she's doing, though not with the same level of insufferable snarking. But you did have several potent things working against you. Against your mind. You have learned since then. And you now know to make wiser choices regarding whom you put your trust in, so...don't go thinking you can make any more exceptions. Not without my input."
"Ah ha," Tetra mocked. "If a professional murderer is telling you to not be so gullible, that means you'd really have to watch what you hear and believe!"
Link grunted, feeling as though he was being picked at. "I take words for face value..." he said stubbornly. "There isn't anything wrong with that..."
"There's no lack of silver tongues here. They can confound you before your instincts detect something is wrong," Lora said. "On the other hand, I'm thankful you're much calmer and quieter. I'm more concerned with Tetra being a loudmouth and saying something she isn't supposed to."
Link flashed Tetra a grin, adding, "Me too!"
"Oh, whatever." Tetra said grouchily. "Can I go shoot a crow or something?"
"Not today," Lora said.
"Why?!"
"Because I said so."
"What'd you give me a gun for if I can't use it?!"
"You wouldn't be able to fire it. The chamber is empty."
"What? Then how did you do it earlier?"
"Magic. Which you can't use. Do you have any more questions, or can we move on?"
Tetra bared her teeth, bristling and growling like an angry chihuahua. "You need rest," Link said with a smile, patting in several stray hairs on her head. "Do you want to take a nap?"
"Do you?" Tetra asked roughly. "YOU'RE the one who just about drops dead every other hour."
"That sounds nice right now." Lora said. "But it's getting later in the day and I have official matters to deal with after—"
"Is someone else gonna die?" Tetra cut in.
"Not today," Lora repeated. "We have work to do. I've got a place for you to stay until I work out where to house you next. There's an empty shack near my friend's restaurant that's been rented out by a Zora named Pisces."
"A Zora?" Link and Tetra gaped at each other.
"Yes…maybe the first one you've ever seen? He's not around at the moment, but we need to clean his place up before night falls…"
Lora swept towards the adjoining room. Tetra cut her eyes to Link in annoyance before following her. He rubbed his head, beside himself as he trailed behind.
Clearly, it wasn't as if Tetra was shy about what she approved of and didn't…that was just normal for her personality. Though, he realized, things right now weren't exactly normal even by the standards they were used to. He couldn't think of anything that he'd have done to make her this upset!
And especially not tell me what it is, he thought. Or was that it? Was he just overthinking it all? What in the world could be something that Tetra wouldn't confront him about?
Wait...! Link remembered suddenly. Didn't she say it was my fault we were here? But why wouldn't—
Tetra suddenly turned on him. Link stepped back quickly, half expecting some sort of attack.
"Hey…what, why'd you jump?" she whispered. She now seemed hesitant and her expression was unusually demure. "Hey, uh…sorry for…being so grouchy. All this is just a lot to take in."
"O...kay...?"
"I mean it," Tetra said, looking at him closely. "So don't go moping around or anything."
"Oh...oh, I wouldn't," he said, turning lax. "I don't think I can be sad if I'm with you, Tetra..."
She pulled a grimace, looking off awkwardly. "I should have known you were going to say something like that. You know, with how sentimental you are."
"That's just fine," he said evenly.
"Look at her, by the way. What's she doing?"
Lora was presently staring at the back wall of her chalet. The rather bare and uninteresting wall, as Link and Tetra thought. They glanced at each other in bewilderment.
"Uh…I mean, are we gonna be walking through it or something?" Tetra spoke up humorously.
"…hm? Oh, no, I decided not to go that way after all," Lora said, facing them. "...I was trying to remember—ah, yes. I meant to ask you both and I'm sure I already know, but…you two aren't related, are you?"
When they both shook their heads she held the hem of her robes out. "Grab ahold firmly...it takes more concentration for me to teleport others alongside myself. And unless either of you want to be spliced in half or wind up with your internal organs displaced to the outside of your body, hold on like there's no tomorrow."
Link and Tetra jumped on her, each clinging tight to one of her legs.
Hearthstone - The BASE
It wasn't pretty.
The wooden shack was past the Octowok's eastern door and the group of three appeared on the short, fenced-in battered path that bridged it with the restaurant. The path was damp and cluttered with things too caked down in dirt to identify.
Lora tried to open the door. It separated from the knob and fell in, slamming into the floor of the shack and creating an explosion of thick dust.
"Well, that's a despairing first," Lora remarked, letting the doorknob fall out of her hand. She stepped over the threshold but Link and Tetra loitered at the doorframe, squinting in cautiously. The interior was old, cramped, and poorly filtered. Daylight drifted in from a tiny octagonal pane of glass, illuminating countless little particles of filth within a single sunbeam.
It was nearly impossible to see where the walls were! Clearly the shack had just been used for storage. Many objects were stacked yards high and it was hard to take a single step without bumping against something. A thick layer of dust covered everything like fallout.
There was back closet, though it was excessively boarded up and a large antique dresser had been pushed in front of it. A flimsy ladder leaned the back wall, leading up to a small hatch. The ceiling dipped in slightly. Every step they took the floorboards creaked in agony, making them tread gingerly for the fear they would fall through.
"At least the foundations should be fine…" Lora said, looking down carefully.
"Wouldn't you break the floor first if they weren't?" Tetra asked, glancing to her left. "...wh—AUGHHH!"
She had looked directly into a mirror, then got startled by her own shadowy reflection and jumped so hard she fell to her back.
"It's a good thing the dust broke your fall. There is an attic but I wouldn't try going up there at your own risk," Lora said.
"Oh, believe me," Tetra said hazily, sitting up. "I'm not trying it. I'm...I'm already in here at-at my own...ahhhh...!"
She began sneezing. Link's eyes darted and narrowed.
"I just saw a rat," he said tersely, eyeing the back wall near the closet. "Bless you," he added to Tetra, who was having a fit.
"Thank—choo!" she shuddered. "Is there a…win…window? Oh, I'm gonna choke in here..."
A faint breeze happened to pick up. The small glass pane fell inwards and shattered on the dusty ground.
"Wonderful," Lora said. They had a lot of work ahead of them.
