December 22, 1502 AD. Divulging the secrets of ice-cream.

Being in Uthica's head changed the moment she activated the runes in the hidden chamber beneath the stairs. I went from being a helpless passenger to being a guest. I can still see through her eyes and hear through her ears, but her thoughts no longer overlay my own.

And more importantly, she can hear me!

Once Uthica informs me that we should be able to visit for a couple days, I can't stop telling her everything I know about making ice-cream, which turns out to be more than I expected. When I concentrate on it, I'm able to recall everything I've ever watched online or read on a wiki. Am I using Facet or Focus to enhance my memory, like I would when I'm trying to recall a memory clearly?

When I attempt to access my Status to check, nothing happens. Not that I expected it to. Seeing my Status while I'm a voice in Uthica's head would be weirder than being in her head.

As Uthica finishes her notes, we end up chatting. Just chatting. About nothing more important than rain and how it feels when it drenches hair, or fur whichever the case may be.

And it's natural. As natural as shooting the breeze with Sab or roughhousing with Rufka.

Several hours later, we’re discussing the required energy phase of a quantum Ripple generator (a topic I knew about only in the abstract from some of my codices when we started) when a bong emanates from the closed door.

Uthica keeps explaining the importance of the seventh parallel’s linkage while I try to shake my non-existent head. Another bong shakes the room, but Uthica still doesn't notice, asking me if she needs to break the concept down. Interrupting her, I ask, "Do you not hear that?"

In response, I feel her ears perk up, as she looks around before asking, "Hear what?"

"That bonging sound?" I'm not even finished asking my question when it happens again.

Uthica shakes her head. "I hear nothing. Perhaps we're experiencing-"

BONG!

Okay, it's getting louder. I don't know what Uthica said, and I'm literally in her head.

I'm trying to figure out if there's something happening that only I can see when I feel my insides twist. A second later and it's gone but everything seems hazy.

"Uh, something's happening to…" Uthica stands up and wrenches at the door as the next bong hits. There's a moment of confusion as the door remains shut. I lose track of what's happening after that until Uthica is back in front of the statue.

…TPWM…

Uthica was unsure of what happened. She only knew that the stranger, no Lexi, had started talking in nonsense words before starting to scream. She'd exited the room as quickly as possible, afraid the field had broken something important.

Even as she turned, searching for any sign of her missing companions, she heard a scraping sound behind her.

Turning, Uthica's eyes went wide as her advisor Pelthin drove a spear sparkling with purple and black lightning through her chest. Uthica stared blankly at Pelthin who stood with tears in her eyes as she mumbled, “I’m sorry my queen.”

Uthica wasn’t sure if it was Pelthin’s betrayal or the spear in her chest that hurt more as she lost consciousness.

…TPWM…

I gasp awake, the feeling of the spear in Uthica’s chest causing me to clutch my chest, trying fruitlessly to pull it out. The pain doesn’t fade as I realize Rufka and Rose are both hovering over me.

I feel Rufka pull me into a rough hug and I can’t help but flinch at the pain.

“Where have you been?” Rufka demands, tears in her eyes as she pulls back to look in my eyes.

“Uh? Right here?” I try, rubbing awkwardly at my breast to try to get the pain to diminish with no luck.

“Nope.” Rose shakes his head. “You kind of… cracked?”

“And floated away in pieces.” Rufka pulls me back into her arms.

“I have no recollection of the event in question?” I manage to squeeze out before I cringe as the pain spikes. “Uh. How long was I gone?”

Even as I ask the question, I realize my time sense is messed up. I don’t even know what day it is. After having such an innate sense of time for the last couple months, the loss is almost as disorienting as the pain.

“Three days, give or take,” Rose supplies. “Rufka refused to leave. Even to get the others.”

“What if we hadn’t been here when she came back?” Rufka demands, glaring at Rose who holds his hands up in surrender.

“Hey, I agreed. Just thought she’d like to know.”

I nod my head which turns out to be a mistake, as it causes the pain in my chest to spike again. Which also causes me to hiss through clenched teeth.

“Lexi? What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” Rufka asks in a half-scream while scrambling away from me in a panicked flailing of limbs.

If I couldn’t see how worried she was, it’d almost be funny.

“I visited Uthica. Like, actually met her and talked to her. Then something went wrong. I’m not entirely sure of everything that happened, but she was stabbed. Right here?” I wince as I poke myself in the chest, but this time it doesn’t make it worse.

“That doesn’t make sense. You’re at full health? You’re not able to be hurt when you’re at full health,” Rufka states while closing all her eyes and scrunching her forehead together in thought. She’s so adorable I just want to ruffle her ears.

Speaking of ruffling ears. “Where’s Smoulder?”

“She disappeared when you did,” Rose answers, his eyes narrowed as he stares at my chest. Then he realizes where he’s staring and quickly turns away.

Reaching for my bond with Smoulder, I find it… weak. Incredibly weak, as though she’s on the other side of the world.

“The hell is going on!” I swear as I attempt to stand. Only my legs don’t support me, turning to jelly as another spike of pain stabs out of my chest.

Even as Rose suggests I check my status, I grab my chest in pain again.

When I do check my status, none of my resources are low except Facet, but that makes sense. Maybe I have a condition?

Current Conditions: Temporal Resonance

"Temporal Resonance: A strong Resonance linking you to another object or entity. May have additional side effects."

Wait, so does that mean I’m still connected to Uthica?

[Alexis] “Wyonna? You.. Ugh… You there?”

[Wyonna] “Yes, Alexis, I’m here.”

[Alexis] “Any clue what’s going on here?”

[Wyonna] “Not yet. All I’m able to determine is that there’s a rupture that seems to be leaking Facet almost as fast as you’re regenerating it.”

[Alexis] “Seriously? I’m leaking Facet?”

[Wyonna] “I think so. Or perhaps you’re just using it to maintain the bond? I suggest you explore the connection.”

Taking a deep breath, I almost nod at Wyonna before thinking better of it.

“Okay. I’m going to try to figure out what’s going on,” I tell the others before closing my eyes then focusing on the status condition. Once more, I cheat by using my Status as a guide to the actual bond. Which surprisingly isn’t centred on my chest. It’s attached directly to my soul in a similar fashion as my interface itself, pervading every aspect of my being.

When I attempt to follow the link, there’s a restriction in my chest. I’m back with Uthica, the spear still protruding from her chest. The pain causes me to lose focus, snapping my eyes open with a scream. I’m with the others, yet I can almost make out the outline of Pelthin moving in the background.

The vision wanes, and the pain fades slightly. I’m about to try closing the connection when I see Pelthin smashed backwards by a tiny ball of furious fire. Then I see Smoulder’s face, looking into Uthica’s eyes.

I can feel her worry and satisfaction for a moment but then the vision fades entirely.

“Wha… Smoulder?”

“Where?” Rufka asks, her voice gentle beside me. When did she get there?

“With Uthica… in the past.”

“Ho boy. Here’s hoping that we don’t blink out of existence.” Rose frowns as he starts pacing.

I nod, and this time there’s no spike of pain. The pain is even receding. I don’t have enough Facet to attempt to reinforce the connection again, so I don’t know what’s going on. But at least I know Smoulder’s okay. For now… for then? Ugh.

The pain keeps diminishing and I sigh in relief until I realize that the bond has almost closed. Which would be good, except the already weak connection to Smoulder is likewise almost gone. If I let the bond close, am I going to lose Smoulder?

I attempt to reinforce the connection. But I don’t have the Facet.

After a few seconds, the pain is completely gone.

And so is Smoulder.