Tidal Florette - A Painted Soul I

Yumi - 35

No... that isn't fair! I don't even understand how this is happening! You can't just die! Yumi clutches onto Sapha, her own hands trembling just as much as Sapha, as she tries to come up with any possible solution. Her eyes glow brightly enough it tints the red glow from the stone. "Nox, please, you have to help her!"

Nox seems slightly taken aback, resting a hand on his chest. "Me? What do you mean I have to help? How do you know this isn't my doing?"

"I... I don't care if you did! Just... Please stop this! If you helped me you can help her, can't you?"

Nox steps closer, holding out a hand at the stone and its glow is extinguished as it gets consumed by shadow. He murmurs something under his breath and the shadows fade as the light returns. "Her soul is being consumed with flames not of this realm. They have bonded with her... grown with her cultivation... and now they turn on her."

Yumi is confused how something that sounds so metaphorical would manifest physically like this, but doesn't have the time to question. "Can you help her or not?"

Nox shrugs with a casual smirk that frustrates Yumi. "Breaking this bond would kill her all the same. If she cannot bend the flame to her will then she will die in.... Maybe an hour."

Yumi tries to get Sapha's attention, but she barely seems conscious. "Sapha? You have to listen to me! You have to fight it! Please..." There's no indication of a response.

Nox crouches down behind Yumi for a closer look. "What a shame, seemed like a lot of potential in this one."

Yumi's grip tightens. "Please... You're an elder god, you have to be able to help her..."

Appearing in front of her, the mischievous smile on his face disturbs her. "And what would you do if you really want her spared?"

Yumi doesn't hesitate. "Anything. What do you want?"

He laughs darkly, "Hardly the stakes of our last bargain, my dear."

She can faintly recall the pain from the wound through her chest. "Just tell me."

Cocking his head curiously a shadow forms a doorway behind him. "All I ask is that the two of you accept this as an invitation and join me for a cup of tea." He stands and the tails of his robe whip around as he steps into the shadow.

Yumi is uncertain if following the god is wise. Looking down at Sapha whimpering in her arms she decides whatever is through the door is worth the risk. She picks Sapha up, cradled in her arms, and steps through the door.

There is no sign of a doorway behind them, only a dark void filled with deep hums of unseen forces. There's no discernible ground beneath her feet, yet she still stands. The air feels freezing cold and stale. Yumi can hear approaching footsteps from all directions, but only from one does she see Nox emerge from the darkness. "Welcome to my realm."

"This is your realm? There's nothing here..."

He laughs as she now notices a table, ornate with gold embellishments, has appeared by him as he turns and begins tending to making tea. "I believe, under your duress, you've suffered a poor first impression of my home. Perhaps you will relax knowing your little girlfriend is stabilized."

Yumi looks down and Sapha has fallen asleep, labored breathing confirming she is still alive. At least you didn't hear him call you that... "But... now we can't leave. Can we?"

"An astute observation, but you are not welcome forever."

Yumi sits down, seemingly on nothing, and keeps Sapha close. "Why not? You said you'd spare her if..."