Momentarily, an initially grumpy Azure showed up, to begin their typical routine for easily finding out where the location was. The Naugite quickly lost her grumps as she silently gazed at the ruins. She walked up to the top and her hand moved toward some exposed stone… she stopped short of touching it.

  “Did I cause this?” Azure murmured, almost too low for Sammy to hear. Her hand dropped and she turned around, eyes haunted, to address her girlfriend. “My love, could we do what we need to and leave, please? I fear that lingering here will draw me away from this path you’ve set. This place… calls to me.”

  Sammy nodded in sympathy. “Of course, Blueberry. One second.”

  As quickly as she could, Sammy dematerialized and shifted to the spirit world, tracking Azure out over the planetary mass.

  “It’s the West!” Sammy sent to Azure, Jeeves, and the rest of her realm that was not sleeping. “Yes! Fucking hell yes! It looks like I’m smack in the middle of the Dramines. It’ll put us fairly close to that frontier town, Greenway, where we already have a foothold.”

  Archangel Michael was ecstatic. “Perfect! We can funnel people for the war effort! Er. Hmm. We need you for it, don’t we?”

  “Damn. Yeah. So far, anyway. We can go ahead and take advantage for some scouts and such, though — before we leave.”

  Jeeves popped in. “An ambassador to the fae here is another bonus possibility, especially with the access speed increase. We haven’t had luck from the Followers in Greenway, but you have free Faerie Dragons and Sirens at this point. I’d planned on arranging a summoning.”

  “Hmm. Let’s pop it over to Redberry for advice. We can send an emissary from the Pantheon, too, potentially. That’ll be for after we get back, though.”

  “Wisely concluded, Madam.”

  “Hey, Jeeves? You’re going to do fine. I promise! You practically run everything already.”

  “As you say, Madam. We shall endeavor to think Goddessly Thoughts and Do As Goddess Would.”

  “Heh. I could make a case for you guys being even better at the shot-calling on your own merits, but I’ll save my ego!”

  “Wisely concluded yet again, Madam.”

  Sammy wrapped up matters by summoning some Servitor scouts, as Azure quietly waited in the forest. When it was through, Sammy went after her to tell her ‘It’s time.’ Azure’s body needed to be somewhere, and that spot was out, so they’d have to make one more short trip back to the hideout.

  Azure was by a tree, looking up into the branches. As Sammy approached, the Naugite pointed for her benefit and said, “See the band?”

  “Huh?” Sammy took a moment to notice it. A green band of faux leaves was wrapped tightly around a branch, facing the opposite direction from the hills. “Oh. Well, I guess there’s civilization. What do you think it means?”

  Azure gestured at the forest. “This is obviously a path through the forest, and that is a warning. Almost certainly. The leaf chosen has a jagged edge, and the material used has a glossy surface. I believe that pretty much anywhere, that is indicative of a poisonous plant.”

  Sammy stared at where Azure had gestured and saw absolutely no signs of a path any different from the other directions. “Uh. Right. Yeah. So… the place is definitely…” She trailed off suggestively while nodding as if she knew, waiting for Azure to finish.

  Azure turned to Sammy and grinned. “Toxic, symbolically. Taboo. Best stayed away from.”

  “Exactly. I was just about to say that.”

  “Mm-hmm. You should let another naturalist verify.”

  “Oh, no need at all! I trust my girlfriend implicitly.”

  “Indeed. And someday soon, your wife.”

  Sammy’s jaw dropped. “Uh… yes,” she managed faintly.

  Azure just nodded and turned to look back at the path. “Ready when you are, dear.”

  If a goddess could sweat, she would have.“Huh? Well there’s- I’m sure there’s lots of- I mean, I don’t even know the-the process expected-”

  Smiling without looking back, Azure interrupted, “I mean to leave here.”

  “Oh. Right! Ha-ha, yeah, I was just playing around, haha! Gotcha. Heh. Ahem! Okay. Going now for realsy!”

  Phew, that was close! Marriage. I really need advice. Do I find out how Naugite society works, or the Southlands? Southlands, definitely. Redberry. Yeah! I’ll consult Red on this.

  Momentarily, Sammy exited by way of Mirror Walking to the Bridge of Edges, then exited out of the Bridge near Yura. She then took the mirror array network back to Geirkos. Back in her room, Azure materialized. Sammy braced for some teasing or other commentary about their prior convo, but Azure said nothing, just went to her bed and laid down, nodding to Sammy as if to give the go-ahead for the mission.

  Okay then! No rush. Rushing into things is bad! I always say that.

  Sammy dematerialized to the Bridge of Edges once more, with Azure there waiting for her. Someone else, too, dressed like a steampunk spelunker, headlight shining and her goggles down. Ozra.

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  “Just a couple of things real quick!” the gremlin said, slapping her gloved hands together and rubbing them. “First off, it's best I stay out of the place you’re going, so I just wanted to forewarn you that if you want to try questions, you better do it now. And please don’t summon me there! I already know you’re going to go to the projection, and she’ll be able to say more on specific subjects of relevance. I have gaps, shall we say.”

  Ozra turned to gaze at Azure, and specifically down to her belt. “Secondly, you’re currently bringing another sapient guest like a rider. I’m sure he thinks he’s clever, but there is no way for him to partake in the challenge room. Consider whether you actually want him anywhere in the facility at all due to the liability.”

  Azure nodded soberly. “I appreciate the warning, Ozzy. I’ve been assured this intelligence is exceedingly honorable and tends to limit its communication with anyone but its possessor. Moreover, it might help our relationship, so to speak.”

  “Hmmm,” Sammy mused. “Questions. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been there. I think the second challenge series will be more difficult, right? What should I expect? Any advice?”

  Ozra grinned. “I thought you’d never ask! Yes, your first series was practically a warm-up. Put on your game face for the next! That goes for both of you. We’re talking high risk, high reward. In fact, based on my observations, Azure should consider sitting them out completely to avoid hosing herself.”

  Azure’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me? Why so little faith? Just because I had a hiccup the last time?”

  The light went dim, and a shadow passed over Ozra’s face as it drew down. An ominous voice declared, “When you have to confront yourself, you’ll fail. You don’t really know yourself, or you’re afraid of what stares back in that mirror.”

  Azure stared. Her mouth opened but it just hung there instead of words coming out.

  The light came back and Ozra smiled, then continued cheerfully, “But hopefully the current series isn’t too heavy there! Samantha, in contrast, almost entirely embraces who she is, and gleefully. She might be weaker in terms of being an actor but makes up for it with creativity. But, Azure, I just want to warn you, I think the odds are really, really against you on the third challenge, and you might not mentally survive the fourth. If relevant.”

  “Is it truly so hopeless?” Azure asked quietly, her eyes begging Ozra for answers. “What can I do?”

  “Oh, I think you know. A long, hard road, and one to think twice about taking.”

  Azure grimaced and looked away.

  “Um, can someone fill me in on what you’re talking about?”

  “No!” came the answer from two mouths.

  “Oookay then. Forget I asked.” After a pause, she regarded the moody Azure and said, “You don’t have to come, babe. It doesn’t seem safe, and-”

  “I’m going!” Azure exclaimed with intense passion, her fists clenched. “I need a fucking win. I’m going to get one.”

  Ozra sighed and blew air out from the side of her cheek. “Odds might be fifty-fifty about coming out better than you went in. Sometimes damage can be mended, too. Sometimes.”

  Sammy squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “Okay. Advice? Especially for her, but I’ll take whatever you got.”

  “Mmmn.” Ozra held one elbow with a hand and tapped a finger on her lip, apparently looking between them. “Hm. Hm. Hm!” The finger pointed at Sammy. “You first! I believe your odds are higher than usual for overall success for the second challenge. Go for Silver! Perhaps even Gold. Just remember that there are times to play the role and there are times to transcend it and utilize your creativity. Instrumental points, hmm?”

  “And now me,” Azure said, drawing herself up and bracing.

  Ozra turned her gaze over to the Naugite and crossed her arms. “You. To improve your odds, play it safe. No need to go for Gold, just get through it and secure the Bronze. And try to stay disaffected while still acting the role. It’s tricky to pull off, but if you fall into it too far, you’ll lose the gamer’s edge and not be ready for why you’re there in the first place.”

  Azure nodded slowly. “Gamer’s edge,” she repeated.

  “Yep, see, Sammy is from a world with sophisticated simulation games already. Even just a filthy casual like her who couldn’t even finish a Zelda game has inborn understanding, reflexes, and separation instincts from youth that you do not. Mediocre though her skills are, and despite that she gave up almost instantly at any confusion or frustration, the familiarity is priceless.”

  “Thanks so much for your vote of confidence, Ozzy,” Sammy commented sarcastically. I didn’t give up instantly… It’s not my fault when a game isn’t designed right…

  “You’re welcome!”

  “Despite my lack, I will succeed,” Azure said in determination. She met Sammy’s eyes and nodded confidently. “I will beat this game, Chestnut. I promise.”

  “I believe in you, too, Blueberry.” Sammy smiled supportively despite the anxiety in her gut. “Do your best.” She turned to Ozra. “One last thing. How long will it be? In reference to Calrenazzod.”

  Ozra shrugged. “It varies. One, Two, Three days… not much more than that. Odds are around sixty percent for two days.”

  “Good. Primarily, I just can’t have it go five, six, seven, or something like that.”

  “That isn’t possible due to the design accounting for the assumption of a world needing us. The third challenge is no different, and the fourth, well…” Ozra looked down. “You’re an unusual Iteration. That is a very cloudy eventuality I cannot logically inform you on. Sorry about that!”

  “It’s… alright. Any idea what triggers the third and fourth?”

  “It isn’t information available to me to tell you outright. As the Fortuneteller might say, ‘you being you’ will naturally lead to it.”

  “Noted. Well, it’s time to get this show on the road! You coming along, Ozzy?”

  “Nope! Being in this place is a bit strange just floating here, much less trying to travel!” She stood up straight and saluted. “Good luck, Samantha! I’m rooting for you!” She went hazy, turned into multi-hued smoke, then evaporated.

  Sammy held out her hand silently to Azure, who took it and squeezed. They made their way down the long and strange road back to the underbelly of the palace construct once more. Engineering.

  She was going to finish Ocarina... honest! But then, you know, college! And then transport to another world!

  Next Chapter... (Vol 6) Chapter 22: Not the Boss of Me

  Unexpectantly meeting a new occupant...

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