1. Awakening in the Pocket Dimension
The group wakes up inside a pocket dimension and realizes GG is not physically present. They discuss the protection spell, their glowing state, and the need to escape before the magic wears off.
She's not here.Not physically anyway.Eventually we'll become like that, too.
Right, we started to glow.Was that your doing?
Yeah, it was protection magic.But it won't fix everything.Sooner or later the spell will wear off.
Then we must escape before that happens.
Uh, but I already did my steppies for the day.
Come on.I'll drag you along if I need to.
2. Searching for a Way Forward
Liz tries to orient the group by marking their path, but they cannot leave traces in the dimension. With no practical solution, they turn to exchanging stories to pass the time.
Shuri, do you have anything in your pockets?
Some of these buildings look familiar.We should start leaving markers to ensure we're not moving in circles.
Uh, Liz, we're in a pocket dimension.You can't just leave marks here like Hansel and Gretel.
And there is truly nothing we can do?
We could exchange stories.
You heard me.Go entertain me.
Well, I'll share stories, too.
I truly do not understand you.
3. Shuri's Burden and Warning
The conversation shifts into Shuri's emotional exhaustion and distrust of hopeful words. Liz argues that Shuri still cares, then reveals the danger of the creature absorbing powers and gaining forbidden Archiver knowledge.
How about this, then?If we are to share stories, let's start with one about why getting you to help others or even yourself feels like pulling teeth.
You'd be dead by the time I finish that tale.
All right.You're talking to someone who has seen the worst in people.I'm not made of infinite tears, and my emotional bandwidth isn't as strong as it used to be.Honestly, sometimes I wish the story would just end.
Shuri, I'm sorry for what you've been through, but it doesn't change that today and the people that are around are important.
You're not the first to tell me that.At a certain point, those kind of words lost their meaning.
If that were true, you wouldn't have lifted a finger to help Nerissa.But when the time came, you did.You saved her.You tried to protect me.That mattered.
I'm sorry, but it actually didn't.If this creature doesn't just absorb the person, it absorbs their powers.
Then because I left it to you,
it'll gain the forbidden knowledge of an Archiver.With that, the creature will be able to overwrite our timeline.
4. Confronting the Soul-Stealing Creature
Determined to escape, the group confronts the creature directly. It appears to return one of the stolen souls, leading to a shocking and unsettling recognition.
Fine, then.That simply gives me one more reason for us to get out of here.
Those souls you took are rightfully mine.
What?I think it just gave you one of the souls back.
