2. The Friendly Arm Inn

"I don't know where you were brought, but this will not plunge you back into your mind or that space." Ida moves her hand in front of Dieter's eyes and gently closes them in a soothing voice she reminds him "Breath Dieter it's ok... you are safe, I've got you" With the young boy's eyes closed she gently puts her forehead to his and slowly moves her head back away from Dieter. Between the two a string of glowing light forms as she moves away, floating and shimming before she plucks it out of the air gingerly. In her hand, it pools not unlike a liquid but it also seems more solid than that.

"I do not think that I can share the vision I am about to see from your thoughts but I will let you know what I see" Ida then closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she opens her eyes she is in Deiter's Memory.

Ida tries to take in her surroundings and is alarmed by the lack of clarity around her. The only times she's ever had her sight dampened it was with nefarious magic. Unable to see beyond the darkness she focuses on the floor to steady herself.

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"It should not be here..." The voice hisses from the impenetrable darkness, rasping against stone like a snake's discarded skin.

"It will be consumed..." Another voice, eager and threatening.

"It has wandered far..." This voice is more feminine, in the sense of a crone's dry wheeze. "Let it speak."

"Yes... Let it speak..."

"...Speak!"

Ida struggles in the darkness fear creeping in unwilling to look up from the stone floor in case her eyes would meet whatever was with her

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But impressed on her ears and mind is the command:

Speak

Taking a breath and removing her fear she looks into the darkness " I am Ida Silverleaf; outcast of the forest, unwelcome of the great mines. I am here to restore the memories of my chosen cousin and will not leave until that which plagues him is removed.

now it is Dieter watching with concern "was this what I was like?" Dieter asks Stella

Despite the encroaching darkness Ida straightens her shoulders and ignores the countless eyes. Her hand reaches for her holy symbol "I am outcast no longer for I am a child of the light. You will tell me your secrets" Ida stands defiant against the tendrils and calls upon her spiritual guardians hoping and silently praying that Lythander could still hear her even in this liminal space and that true darkness would not be her demise.

Ida can feel her body starving of oxygen as the tendrils ravage her body a tear rolling down her cheek as fear consumes her.

Stella jolts, eyes wide as purple viens stretch across Ida. "What?! How...?" For a moment, she sees phantasms of Ida, images of possibilities, some collapsing this way or that. She sees one that stays firm and strong and Stella focuses on that one. "Peace, Ida," Stella breathes, trying to focus. If this didn't work, she'd take her to Miss Mirrorshade.

"Ida! Breath!" Dieter begs unsure of what to do.

Ida eyes fly open as she gasps almost as though she has never consumed air, coughing and choking as her soul returns to her body. Panic in her expression as her eyes scan the room before landing on Dieter. Ida moves her mouth but still cannot make a sound as though still gaged by the darkness.

"What did you see?" Dieter asks

Eyes still fixed on Dieter shes is able to speak in a ragged voice "Di-Dieter... You're... not from here"

"Well none of us are from the friendly arm…, what do you mean?" Dieter ask with confusion.

Beginning to come back to herself a little Ida rolls her eyes at the boy "Obviously you're not from the inn..." She huffs, a little out of exacerbation, a little to still catch her breath. "I don't think you're from this plane of existence... I think you were pulled from some other world... Ida begins to describe to Dieter and Stella where she was and what happened trying to suppress the all too real fear. "Dieter I don't think I entered your memories, I think I entered the space between worlds."

"…..and this between place is inside my head" Dieter asks afraid that he is starting to track what Ida is saying.

Ida feels sick to her stomach and retches on the floor