Episode 85 - Ghurt Intentions

## Synopsis

Mira and Delnys, accompanied by three animated croissants, walked through the hidden tunnels. On their way, they discussed why Angelika and Allena would have started the Enchantment department fire. Mira suggested they had been forced to by something, as neither had seemed particularly happy about it. She also thought the woman who had asked her to go to the sewers might be behind it.

They continued on in silence. Seeing Delnys deep in thought, Mira made a bold move and reached out to hold her hand, which she gladly accepted.

The other group of students headed towards the kitchen, as they approached the door they heard loud sounds of things being broken from within. Artis asked if this was related to anything that happened the night before, and Winsler hesitantly admitted he had his suspicions.

Artis suggested he go ahead to confirm his suspicions. As Winsler creeped up to the kitchen door, he slowly opened it to see purple smears covering the walls, floors, and counters, as though something had been smashed apart. Grabbing and smashing objects, was Yog. They turned to their creator, lowering the jar of spices they had been about to throw and asked, “*Creator, do you have further instructions?*” Yog held up the yoghurt recipe Winsler had given them.

“*I have been looking for the ingredients,”* they said, *“there was a creature in here, but I destroyed it.*”

“*What kind of creature?*”

Yog pointed to the mess of purple ooze on the ground. “*That creature, it’s carcass is strewn about the room. The yoghurt is on its way.*”

Winsler excused himself, closed the door gently, and sprinted back to the others. He told him he was right, but the situation was more drastic than he thought. Artis asked what had happened, and Winsler grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the kitchen, the other students following close behind.

Winsler opened the door again, and walked into the kitchen. Yog was still digging through the spice rack when Winsler told him he needed to stop and put the spices down, Yog immediately dropped the jar they were holding on the ground. Behind him, Winsler heard Artis swear in disbelief, before he turned his attention back to Yog.

The rest of the group apprehensively entered the kitchen, seeing the carnage that had been wrought. Serinepth saw her food goo friend smashed apart and scattered over the kitchen, and set down the part she carried in a jar to rejoin itself.

Winsler explained who Yog was, and told them that Artis and the students were all friends, even Angelika. The fact that this clarification was needed worried Artis. Yog asked if he could continue his search, to which Winsler agreed provided he didn’t break anything else.

Yog returned to their work. Artis suggested the group should continue inwards, pointing to the shelf concealing the entrance to the Sunken Hatch. To distract everyone from noticing him opening it, Integrity went over to the kitchen goo and started requesting random food. The wall near Artis clicked open, and they all descended into the Hatch.

Mira’s heart pounded for multiple reasons, as she and Delnys found the ladder into the sewers. Around them they saw the stonework had been broken up, iron railings bent, and they smelled a sickly sweet perfume coming from one hallway.

Delnys asked what would happen when they reached the chamber, and Mira admitted she wasn’t quite sure, but knew she would be getting another jar to take care of.

They arrived to a newly enlarged hole on the wall, through which the sweet smell still emanated. Walking through, they found themselves in an identical room to where they had fought the Oblex. Circular, with a domed roof and pillars holding up the platform they currently stood on, dark green sand filled the pit below them, with a small circular platform in the middle.

Mira called out, “*Um hello, it’s me, Mira from the dreams. I’m here to talk to you? I brought a friend I hope that’s ok, and I brought some little croissants, so if you want to eat someone eat them not us.*”

In the back of her head, a voice hissed, “*You took your time*.”

Neska instructed Mira to go down into the pit. Delnys asked who she was talking to, as she couldn’t hear anyone. Together they jumped of the edge, Mira magically slowing their descent.

The sand beneath them shifted, they saw two large, dark green eyes peering at them through the sand. In a voice that seemed to be out loud this time, Neska said, “*Another one came and saw me last night-*“ before Mira interrupted her.

“*Oh you mean Integrity?*”

Neska confirmed this, and asked for her last name. Mira realised she made a mistake, and quickly said it was “*Integrity*” again.

Satisfied, Neska told Mira she would give her another urn, but this time it was very important that she not open it. Mira asked, “*What is it, like I know there’s a body in there?*”

Neska sighed. “*I am an Ascendant, child.*” The sand beneath them shifted again, and her large serpentine head emerged from the ground. “*Part of that is leaving behind the mortal limitations, to be able to be reborn countless times. The urn contains a body for me, so that when this form dies, I might rise again*.”

Mira tried to ask more questions, but was cut off Neska asking who Delnys was. Mira explained that she was there to make sure everything was safe. Meanwhile, Delnys had been clinging onto and digging her nails into Mira’s arm, absolutely terrified.

“*To keep you safe, from me?*”

“*Well I don’t know, when my friend came down here she said you wanted to kill her, so…*”

“*Integrity, she had ran from me yes. I had offered her all my teachings and she ran from me. Cowardly, arrogant. Will you and your friend learn what I have to teach you?*”

Neska became more agitated, accusing Mira of coming with ill intentions, saying she was safe supposed to be there. She told Mira that Empress Terassis was a liar, that she could have ascended but chose to remain as a mortal. Her head dipped below the sand as her body shifted, guiding the two students towards the central platform.

Neska continued to speak, telling Mira that the dust surrounding them could allow them to see the goddess Meaphidae. Mira asked what would happen to her if she did, the voice told her that provided she was worthy, she would be safe. Unsatisfied, Mira continued to question what would happen, until the angered breathing in her head disappeared, and she turned to see Delnys looking even more terrified than before.

Back in the Sunken Hatch, the group continued down the spiralling staircase as Angelika fished Serinepth for information about the school’s secrets. They passed the ancient statues of sages and warriors, and arrived at Teb’s cave.

Integrity asked, “*Hey Teb, do you remember this place?*”

Teb looked at her and mumbled, “*Stone for net*.”

Artis reached into his robes, and pulled out the Orb of Reverence. Teb immediately began thrashing on the floor and reaching for the orb. As Artis returned it, his whole body relaxed, and he looked to Artis and Integrity. “*I was in the desert, how did I get back here? Artis, why am I tied up?*”

Integrity explained what had happened in the sewers, and untied Teb. He looked at the net Integrity held and said, “*That’s her net, right? That’s Fidan’s net, I found it.*”

Back in Neska’s chamber, Mira yelled out for Neska to talk to her, not Delnys. The voice in her head returned. “*If you don’t want me to speak to her, why would you bring her here?*”

She asked if Mira would prefer if she hurt Integrity, or Delnys. Mira managed to persuade her to instead kill the croissants, and they were destroyed with a single flick of the snake’s tail.

“*Now, will you partake in these teachings I offer you?*”

Before agreeing, Mira asked if she had killed Underbough. Neska admitted she had, saying he wouldn’t return her knife, so she took his heart. However, she had no idea about the fires.

Mira agreed to take some of the dust, and after a moment of resistance, Delnys also agreed. They scooped up some of the sand below them, and ate it.

Delnys immediately collapsed, and as Mira knelt down to try and help her, she felt as though she was sinking into the floor and her vision turned green and her other senses faded away.

When her vision returned, she found herself standing in a garden in a horrible rainstorm, around her she saw a grand palace. She felt uncomfortably aware of her physical presence, and when she looked down her left arm was missing.

As she looked at the building around her, she realised that a room that overlooked the garden was the same room that she spoke with Terassis in, though she did not see anyone in the room.

Mira also felt another presence in her mind. It was Delnys, terrified and trapped in the same body, as they could hear what the other thought, and felt how the other felt.