Essentia Animus

59-Snow Maiden

It was quick into their defense that Riyxia noticed the enemy had stopped coming, the camp settling into a still perimeter quickly after Sryine ran ahead. Making use of their equipment, she was able to identify that Sryine and Vwyx had begun conflict with Ieqyisa and Fhyernx, but all of the multitude of beasts were keeping their distance as well.

The most obvious answer was so that they would not take any collateral damage in the fight, but the fact that such waiting power sources were getting no usage at all remained slightly unnerving. Even so, this was still an opportunity. With their enemy so devotedly occupied, there was no one left to interfere, she would have free access to the vent.. just as was originally planned. The only change was that she would have to go alone, Sryine and Vwyx were already occupied, and there wasn't anyone else who would have a chance facing such a threat as the vent. The hunters.. everyone else here.. they would have to remain and keep alert, in the off chance things suddenly turned grim before she could return. Resolved as such, Riyxia started looking for a good exit towards her goal.

"So we're all set to go?" "We? Don't you have to stay here?" "Well, I guess we did make you the boss, that would be your call. But I did also offer my help earlier, saying that I would be glad to help you in your own moment of weakness. Really, I've been there before, I know you wouldn't want to ask for help either, it's why I have to offer. Don't even try turning this into something about this being dangerous, I know this is dangerous, that's why I can't let you do this alone. You might be normally an unstoppable force of nature, but right now you're no more powerful than I am, and it's my fault you're left in that situation. If you didn't have to save my life, you wouldn't have to go through this particular risk. Please, let me do this for you, let me help you in return, I owe you my life already as is." "Fine, whatever, we don't have time to argue. Let's just get out of here." After having let a few others know about their plans, Ayzherie led the way for Riyxia, having already expected that being aware of the most direct escape route would have been an important step in the process. She had been watching the map Eqriuxzl was producing intently, making sure she knew the best way out. The simple winds of the path in this direction, it was also obvious that Vwyx had set up the path on this side with the intent on providing Riyxia with an opportune exit. The exit even arrived at a beachside segment, providing them with access to the water as additional cover.

Along the path, Riyxia noticed that Ayzherie was filling up a series of flasks with saltwater, something she had been denied access to earlier due to the mirror maze. The whole thing didn't slow them down at all, but just seemed slightly out of place in the process. Riyxia just expected that Ayzherie was dealing with her own personal needs in the process, and if that didn't slow her down at all, there wouldn't be any problems. Mostly, this wasn't the best opportunity for sparking a conversation, they had to be cautious in case of any potential ambush. This proceeded until the beach gave way to obsidian stone, black rocks surrounding the mound that marked the site of the vent. At this point, there was no other direction but up, the coastline becoming even more dangerous further along. Even their first steps on the black rock caused their boots to hiss, the heat having already increased as the water on their boots reacted to the stone. Somehow though, there was something subtly refreshing about the air, an impression that only increased the closer they got. Eventually, their path led them into the mountain itself, into a passage where even the very walls appeared to glow faintly without color.

Even with just a couple of steps into the tunnel, their Comsets started to go crazy, leaving them without alternative but to shut the gear down and to put it away. It wasn't even just the component for tracking the astral flame, the entire instrument had just been unable to take the climate it was being exposed to without malfunctioning. This made Riyxia slightly alarmed, knowing that she had a lot in common with most instruments, and if her body started to have similar problems.. she would be in serious trouble. Ayzherie however looked to be having breathing problems herself, so Riyxia decided to head back out for a moment and to get a bit of rest before they pressed into such danger. Back into fresh air, Ayzherie recovered quickly but nodded as she pulled out one of the vials she carried.