"So let me get this straight," Zephyr started as she crossed her arms together. "So you're saying that you basically come from another world entirely, and you came here through some magical gate in some underground facility after walking to the light, so to speak."
"Y-Yes." Etherei rubbed the back of his head, aware of just how ridiculous this all might sound. "And... I need to find some way to get back to my home world. My superiors..." He thought of his companions lost to the Shadow Flux. "Need to know of what happened during our expedition. My people are in grave danger."
Skeptical as Zephyr appeared to be, it wasn't as if she could disprove whatever he had to say. At the same time, she hadn't shut him down yet, thankfully... Though perhaps she was just being kind enough to give him the benefit of the doubt while being cautious at the same time.
"I ain't no expert in this sort of thing, I'll be honest. But I do know of a village nearby that might know someone who can help you. Why don't we start off there?"
Etherei was in disbelief. "W-Wait, you really want to help?"
"Yeah, if escorting you back counts as help. I'm on my way back there anyway. Besides, you don't really have anything to lose by asking someone. The folks back in Plume might have more answers than what I have to give. Maybe someone there knows a friend of a friend. You get what I mean?"
"I... I do." Social connections, things he's never been good at having... Nor keeping. "I'll take whatever lead I can get, so long as I can get home swiftly."
"There you go. Not sure about the getting home swiftly part of it, but we can get you some information for a start." Zephyr stood, helping her shorter companion up. "Now let's mosey on back to the village—"
The earth rumbled suddenly at their feet, nearly causing them both to fall back to the ground they sat on. At the edge of the clearing, a glowing, rust-orange orb floated into the air, hovering. The soil below it began rising into a lump, before being molded by an unseen hand into some kind of gargantuan figure. Stalagmites rose from its back and forearms, and Etherei could almost swear it just looked like a living, breathing mountain with legs.
Its crystal core glowed once, and it was enough to stir the creature to life. It let out a deep, deafening roar that shook the surrounding area, causing boulders to materialize and hurl towards them both.
The blue-haired knight felt his stomach dropping faster than the rocks coming right at them. "Ah..."
"What the—Don't just stand there gawking!" Zephyr barked. "Run! Find some cover!"
Quickly snapped out of his frozen stupor, Etherei scrambled for the bushes, easily finding shelter in the foliage. Boulders crashed onto the ground, smashing craters in their wake; Etherei prayed his little hiding spot was sufficent enough for the giant to ultimately ignore him, or that the trees were sturdy enough to withstand an onslaught of boulder and rock... As unrealistic as it was.
First the Shadow Flux chasing him down, and then the mysterious light in the Prismato Depths... Then him waking up in this world of clouds, getting swept off on someone's flying sail board, and now a massive Terran creature trying to squash him and his new acquaintance.
He just couldn't catch a break.
"Wait..." Speaking of his new acquaintance... "Where is..."
Realizing Zephyr isn't in the bushes with him, he peeked from his curtain of leaves and greenery to the scene beyond, concerned about her well-being. The towering mountain monster lumbered in quaking steps, its head slowly turning as it searched for them. Above, he could see Zephyr high up in the air, her body arching backwards as she held a brandished wide sword.
"Picked a real bad time to show up with your ugly mug..." In one quick swivel, she had both hands on the hilt, and started plumetting down with her sword aimed at her quarry. Wind swirled at her feet, propelling her down along with the pull of gravity. "Let's see how you get a taste of this!"
---
Meeting Zephyr, a carefree human girl sailing around on her Windglider, Etherei explains his plight to her and insists he must return to his homeworld. Though not entirely convinced, Zephyr offers to bring him to the village of Plume in the hopes of finding someone to help him. As they leave, they are unfortunately beset upon by the territorial Earthshaker, who immediately attacks them.
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