Four.

> Wait, what were you saying about your previous guide ? She killed someone ? How ? Can we kill for you ?!

AUBREY
"Did you just read my thoughts?"
"Okay, tl;dr: My guide didn't kill with force, nor did they do it directly."
"I don't want to talk about it right now."

Aubrey, I advise letting it go this time.
Ada is still weak from the fight, and I doubt the book has any intentions of being involved in another battle any time soon.

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For Aubrey
Fair enough, fair enough.
In that case, I will take my leave once more.
But if you ever have a change of heart, well.
You know who to call.
-M

>you busted into this person's house uninvited, lured a monster into their living space, and busted it up in a big fight. let them have the core. it's the least you could do

Aubrey grudgingly concedes.

AUBREY
"...Take it, then. But we're even."

RAHASYA
"Very wise. In case you had forgotten, the Book is still under my employ."
"It would not have done you well to fight for the CORE."



With a rubbery arm, Rahasya plucks the core from midair and...

Oh... oh, wow...

Their jaw unhinges like a snake's, and they swallow the orb whole. A sickening 'squelch' accompanies the motion.

AUBREY
"Oh my god why."

Rahasya wipes their mouth with the back of their tenta-wrist. They seem... rejuvenated, and then some. Their third eye melts into their forehead. The lid vanishes.

*CRASH*

The Hearty Box falls through the fragile remnants of the roof. Aubrey jumps. She'd almost forgotten about that.



RAHASYA
"... All this for a little pink box."
"Who is your benefactor, little lost one?"

Aubrey's eyes narrow.

AUBREY
"What do you mean?"

RAHASYA
"You're not native to the In-Between."
"The nature of this world... it siphons the WILL from your kind, weakening and trapping them here."
"You shouldn't be capable of traversing he In-Between freely, nevermind bypassing security measures such as mine."

Rahasya cups Aubrey's chin with a tentacle and tips up her head. They stare into her eyes. Ada, too weak to contest them, simply crackles with displeasure.

Aubrey pushes the limb away.

AUBREY
"I don't have to explain anything."
"I told you, I didn't even want to be here."
"Show me to the Blue World and you'll never. See me. Again."

RAHASYA
"Tell me first what your business is there."

AUBREY
"What's it to you?"

RAHASYA
"Your minion is weak, and you are unarmed. I can easily send you back where you came from, in any number of pieces."

AUBREY
"..."

They drive a hard bargain.