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The spotted soul was manic. Scratching at the wall, crazed, potentially rabid – the Empress grimaced, unable to accept the display she was watching. It was vulgar in a way that made her uncomfortable, and there was very little, save the desecration of innocents, that made Yue uncomfortable.

He looked at her, desperation leaking from every orifice. The Empress stepped forward, planting her feet into the ground like flagstaffs, momentarily forgetting that she was alone and speaking as though she had an army behind her. “Be calm I say! Stow your hand!” and, just as she said that, she watched the blue thing plunk into the water.

It was only a moment from when it appeared to when it disappeared, but they both had seen it. He only turned to look at her, eyes unfazed, uttering that he needed it. But how could he need it, when it was she who needed it?! “No, NO–” she shouted, her composure unraveling in an instant.

The Empress lunged forward, only to see the spotted desert creature plunge into the depths. If he found the thing, then it was his. The dreams, the voice that entered her head at night, they all told her that she could not let that happen. The Empress had only a moment to think, but made her split-second decision in half the time.

“Oh, gods…” was all she said, before steeling her resolve, bunching her muscles, and diving into the churning waters. She stretched out her body and forced her eyes open, hoping to locate a gleam, and hoping equally as much that the other soul had not already set itself upon it.

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