Artifact

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

Mm. And is this chaos the reason you became a general? Or something further?

@Valiance

No, I have a real reason. This planet is a symptom of a much bigger disease.
*Points to the orange planet in the sky, which itself is bounded to several more via the same nebulous material*
It only gets worse from here. And they’re all connected.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

You don't know either, then?

@Valiance

*Shakes my head*
Everything in this universe is the same as it is when I discovered it.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

I suppose the ultimate question is, why? What motivated this level of destruction?

@Valiance

They’ve been driven into frenzy by this universe. I’d like to know how they got here in the first place.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

*Stares at the insects for a moment*
Tch… Bugs.
*Takes in the rest of the sights, turning slowly in a full circle as I do*
Is this what they did?

@Valiance

It is. As long as we stay down here, they won’t reach us.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

*Silently follows you through*

@Valiance

*We step into a thick forest, but all trees are cut off halfway up the trunk, and a canopy of swarming insects obscures the sky except in a perfect circle above us, and in the distance an orange-red planet imposes an oppressive force on this one, connected by thick bands of an unidentifiable shadowy material*
We can’t stay here long.
*My pupils twitch into reptilian slits*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

*Looks down at my plate for a moment, takes one more bite, then scoots away from the counter and stands up*
Okay. I’m in.

@Valiance

*Taps my index finger to my thumb until a twisted, hazy portal reluctantly sparks to life on my left*
I still can’t hold this open for long.
*Steps through*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

*Raises an eyebrow*
Earned? Show me?

@Valiance

I’ll show you the real reason I joined as a general. Just let me know when you’re done here.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

I don’t have what it would take to argue with you. But I try to avoid generalizations, myself.

@Valiance

*Smoothly finishes off the last of the water, thinking something over*
...Alright, you’ve earned it. I’ll show you.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

My condolences.

@Valiance

It's fine. Those creatures are all like that.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

Most are, I’d say. The ones that enough of the masses care about anyway.

@Valiance

That makes enough sense.
*Pokes my head through the main door to make sure Avis is gone and mumbles under my breath*
No respect for the dead...