The Orb And The Onslaught {COMPLETE}

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    The scenery around them changed dramatically, from fancy marble houses to run down ruins within streets of certain towns. The people and their attire became more bedraggled to the point that it was questionable whether they were in the same Region. Florence could see the disgust on Quentin's face and she knew it certainly wasn't directed at the poor people here. His disgust and hatred of the divide in his home Region just seemed to grow the longer they were there.

     "They need help," he muttered when they passed through a small village that was made up entirely of old ruins.

There wasn't a single building that was in one piece; cloth and other materials were draped over missing roofs. The people hid or scowled as they drove by, they were dirty and underfed. Much like the people of Nuplax, except nobody here was pretending to care for them. They were on their own and Quentin seemed ready to make it his mission to change that.

    "They do, but maybe you should limit yourself to one life-changing mission at a time. Especially when the one you're already on is dangerous enough without your focus being elsewhere."

Quentin frowned and turned to her, "But your focus is somewhere else too."

    She knew he was talking about her spacing out before.

"I was thinking about Pondley and my childhood, which is exactly on topic and focusing on what we may need if we're to find whatever we're looking for." Quentin turned away and Florence knew he wasn't happy at her response. "But like I said before, you can come back to save them when we're done with the quest..." 

   Florence paused but received no answer. "... or you could always stay here now and save your people. There would be no nobler reason to bow out of the quest for the Orb." 

Florence waited, she meant what she said but she had a feeling Quentin would find a problem with it. 

    He turned to her and he looked utterly miserable.

"You know I'm not going to do that, our quest is far too important. It will save everyone in the end... I just wish we could do something about this now, like we did back in Nuplax."

Florence sighed and watched Roxy jump forward to sit on Quentin's lap, she nudged his hand and he stroked her head.

   "I'm sorry we can't do anything here, yet... but we were sent to Nuplax and everything else just happened, but there was a reason for that. There's also a reason why we didn't find anything in your home and why we have to go to mine now. Trust me, I don't really relish going there and would much rather stay here to help these people, but it's taken so long already. The situation here may require at least three or four seasons to change things, the politics and internal structures aren't as shaky as they were in Nuplax, it will be difficult." 

    Quentin nodded slowly, still scratching Roxy's head, it seemed to be helping. Florence looked to Skyrah through her mirror. She'd been quiet through their conversation and was busy staring out of the window. She had these moments where she said nothing and moved very little- Florence assumed it was residual effects from being locked away in that horrible prison.

"Skyrah, is everything okay?"

     Skyrah turned slowly to gaze at Florence, catching her eyes through the mirror.

"Can we talk about the magik you've experienced and what it was like?"

Florence and Quentin exchanged a surprised glance, that was definitely not something either of them had expected her to say.

     They silently agreed to discuss it however, there was no reason not to and if it helped to prepare Skyrah for what may come then that would be to their advantage. They talked through the night, telling Skyrah all about the magik they'd seen, or felt used on them. And in turn Skyrah asked many questions, it was probably the most she'd spoken in one sitting since they'd met her. It was easy to see that magik fascinated her but Florence wasn't sure why, she didn't have enough information about Skyrah's home to know.