Jake was sincerely hoping he wouldn’t come back to hysteria. That the worst thing he’d come back to was Kyrie berating him. That after she was done doing so, they could simply move on with their, or rather his, goal of getting back to Roger.

That’s exactly what happened, he simply hadn’t expected quite how long she’d berate him.

[...why pretty much everything is your fault right now.] Kyrie’s aura finally relaxed after what felt like an hour of nonstop ranting.

[I… don’t even know what to say. I legitimately don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone complain about me for such a long uninterrupted time. I’m sorry, sincerely.] Over the period of her rant Jake had slowly shrunken in on himself, only now feeling safe enough to grow back to full size.

Kyrie sighed softly, hopefully a sign she had calmed down. [I won’t tell ya it’s fine, ‘cause it definitely isn’t. I will tell ya that we gotta move on if we don’t wanna end up as chow for some random insane Intent. Which, by the way, I’ve fought off about three of while ya stayed asleep doin’ who knows what.] Kyrie’s aura briefly became pointed in slight annoyance before relaxing into a more casual state.

[Oh, that’s simple. I was getting to know the being I’d added to my Soulscape. Her name is Flynn.] Jake spoke with a casual air about him, along with a small amount of pride. After Roger had appeared in his Soulscape, he figured other beings could do the same and may as well give it a shot.

[Flynn? And whaddya mean ya added her to your Soulscape?!] Kyrie’s voice was filled with shock, her aura looking as if it was about to explode.

[Heya Kyrie, I’ve heard… well not that much about you, to be honest. But I know who you are, and I think that counts for something.] Flynn shocked both Jake and Kyrie as she spoke up through the symbiotic connection between them. [What? Oh right, this isn’t normal. Well, to make a long story short, I’m talking from inside Jake’s Soulscape, which is super cool let me tell you. Well, not the Soulscape, but talking from it. His Soulscape’s just a big white nothing with nothing to dooooo.] Flynn giggled to herself, clearly amused by the echo in the Soulscape.

[I can’t believe this. Ya pop up from a Dark Intent, get me kicked outta my home, turn me into a loser, and ya bring other beings into your Soulscape?! Who are you?] Kyrie was barely even speaking to Jake at this point, floating away in the general direction they had been going while her aura flailed wildly. [I’m sorry, hi Flynn, nice ta meetcha. I wish it was a more normal meetin’, but considerin’ you’re literally supposed to be dead, that’s fine.] She paused mid-flight to say this before continuing on ranting in the distance.

With no other real choice, Jake followed behind her. Since she was heading in the right direction he saw no real reason to interrupt her.

[Not to be rude, but what exactly do you see in her? She seems a bit… neurotic?] Flynn sounded like she was trying her absolute best not to anger her own house.

[She attempted to do right by me and tell the truth so my sentence was lessened. When that failed and she was sent out with me, not only did she not kill me immediately, she even saved my life from… well, you. She’s a good person… being… Wisp… you know what I mean. She’s good. Plus, I like hearing her laugh, and her aura is the most wonderful and unique thing I’ve ever seen.] Jake was starting to ramble by the end, which he realized and promptly stopped. [Why, do you not like her?]

[No, I do, I just wanted to make sure you knew why you fancy her. It wouldn’t do good if it was just a case of rose-colored glasses. I have to be a good faux sister to you since Greg isn’t around to keep you in check.] Jake could feel Flynn cover her mouth, but what was said was said.

[It’s fine to talk about them. I think about them all the time, therefore it only makes sense you know about them. I hope he and Mother are doing well, and yes, even Kain. He may not be my father, but he’s still a good man. By the Cosmic, I left so many issues behind. Enemies. I need to get back to them, even if I’m... no longer human] The only thing keeping Jake’s tears away was his inability to cry.

[Hey, Locke!] Jake’s attention was pulled away at that, Flynn sinking back to do other things. [We’re at the heat vents if ya wanna do some gatherin’. Just, uh, please try to be quick. It’s really hot.] Kyrie was floating a small ways above the heat vents, their heat many times more intense than when they first passed through.

Jake opened his Status, unsure if he even possessed the room to do so.

Status

Name: Jake Ryder Lockstead

Race: Inferior Soul Intent (0/2)

Class: N/A

Vigor: 20/20

Spirit: 20/25 (Water 20), Dark 4/5, Fire 0/5

Insight: 10/20

Skills: Advanced Reason 1/20, Basic Time Awareness 1/5, Inferior Spirit Gem Creation 2/5, Inferior Spirit Manipulation 1/5, Inferior Vigor Armor Creation 1/5, Inferior Vigor Gathering 4/5, Mental Speech (Innate), Minor Insight Control 1/10, Minor Spirit Gathering 2/10, Minor Spirit Symbiosis 1/10, Sleeping (Innate), V.S.I. Sense (Innate)

[I don’t mean to be a bother again, but I may need to go to sleep. I only just have enough capacity for one more Fire Gem.] He was beginning to feel like a burden again, which was the last thing he wanted.

[Why can’t Flynn do it? She’s in there, right?] Kyrie didn’t sound like she was trying to be rude, yet it still came across as such.

[It wouldn’t be fair to her for me to simply delegate my Soulscape business to her. Besides, I enjoy doing it myself.] Making Soul Gems was a very intricate process, though that didn’t detract from his enjoyment in the slightest.

[It’s fine, Ja-er-Locke, I don’t mind doing it myself.]

Kyrie’s aura narrowed in suspicion, but she stayed quiet. They both hoped it wouldn’t be an issue in the future.

[It’s something to do in this great big sea of nothingness. Besides, the Water Spirit looks really pretty!] Flynn was audibly becoming giddy, likely hopping up and down as she spoke.

[Very well then, but are you sure you can handle it? It’s a ve-]

[It’s fine, it’s fine, I have access to your skills in here! I’m sure I can handle it!]

Before Jake could say anything, he felt the connection weaken, a sign she was no longer paying attention. He decided he wouldn’t worry about it for the time being. If she said she could handle it, then she could handle it.

Inferior Water Spirit Gem successfully created; Water Spirit Capacity +5.

Spirit -10

Spirit: 10/25 (Water 10), Dark: 4/10, Fire 0/5, Water 0/5

Inferior Spirit Gem Creation increased to 3/5

Jake paused just as he was about to absorb the Spirit around him. That had been unbelievably fast, leaving him wondering whether she was skilled or he was subpar. He hoped it was the former, as the latter had multiple implications he didn’t like.

[Kyrie, how hard would you say it is to make Spirit Gems?] He metaphorically grit his teeth, preparing to feel like a fool in the coming moments.

[Anything that isn’t Water is beyond me. I’m honestly jealous of Kate, she figured out Earth Gems like it was nothin’. Why, did Flynn make a Gem faster than ya thought she would?] Kyrie’s aura had taken on a mischievous tone as she cautiously floated over to Jake. [Feelin’ a bit weak, huh? Haha, well I wouldn’t worry. Everyone has different stuff they’re better at. Just so happens you’re better at makin’ everyone else good.] She quickly flew away cackling like a madwoman before Jake could respond.

Jake was sincerely wondering what he did to be surrounded by so many people who threw him off like this. With a mental sigh Jake gathered Fire Spirit around him carefully, making sure not to burn himself while still being within range.

Fire Spirit +20

Spirit: 25/25 (Fire 15, Water 10), Dark 4/10, Fire 5/5, Water 0/5

Minor Spirit Gathering increased to 3/10

[Gah, warn me before you start flooding the area with Fire Spirit, now I have to start over on this… huh.] Flynn began on an irate note but quickly ended up on a confused one.

[‘Huh’? Why ‘huh’? Did something happen?] Jake was mildly alarmed, believing she had somehow lit something on fire.

Fire and Water Spirit combined to create Steam Spirit

Fire Spirit -10, Water Spirit -10

Steam Spirit +1

Spirit: 6/25 (Fire 5, Steam 1), …

Inferior Spirit Manipulation increased to 2/5

[Kyrie, I think I may need to go to sleep after all. Flynn just made Steam Spirit by accident.] Jake waited for her response, becoming concerned when none arrived. [Kyrie?]

Kyrie was still floating in the same location, so Jake quickly flew up to check on her. Her body wasn’t moving at all, her aura gently swaying with the current. Jake quickly realized she must have gone to sleep and thus decided not to disturb her. She looked lovely as she was, floating peacefully without a care in the world.

Mentally shaking his head, Jake went back to where he had previously been and gathered as much Fire Spirit as he could. He then immediately went to sleep.

Fire Spirit +19

Spirit 25/25 (Fire 24, Steam 1), …, Fire 5/5, …

* * * * *

Jake opened his eyes to a misty haze covering everything around him. He wasted no time in getting up and making his way out as quickly and carefully as he could, for once not hurting himself.

“Flynn, what happened? How did you even do this? And why is there so much of it?!” He found Flynn off to the side playing with some Fire Spirit that she quickly let go of with a guilty expression as he approached.

“Well, when you absolutely filled this place with fire, I freaked out and threw the water in my hands at it. It put the fire out, leaving steam behind… then I remembered it was all Spirit. So yeaaaaah, sorry about that.” She flashed Jake as innocent smile as she could manage which, while it had no effect on him, made him concerned for anyone else she might use it on.

“Please try not to do that again, it took twenty Spirit to do!” Jake squeezed the bridge of his nose in mild annoyance. “In any case, it’s fine, at least now I both know it’s possible and how to do it.”

Insight +1

Insight 11/20

“How nice, I even gained some Insight. It all worked out in the end.” Jake smiled and sat down next to her, then pulled over Fire Spirit to make Gems with.

“Woah, I never would’ve thought to make that. The Water Gem was much simpler, I just made a glassy orb.” She looked on in wonder and disbelief at the Spirit Gem in the making.

“Glassy?” Jake paused for a moment to look at her, then quickly refocused as the Gem threatened to spontaneously combust.

“Here, let me show you.” Flynn then proceeded to call over the most confusing thing Jake had ever seen.

It was perfectly smooth and in the form of an orb much like the Dark Spirit Gem, but that was where the similarities ended. Unlike that one, this one was a transparent blue, causing Flynn to giggle uncontrollably as it distorted Jake’s features. It had hundreds of thin cylinders from the top of the orb all the way through to the bottom. Extending out from that orb was a secondary layer that connected at the top, bottom, and four equidistant points along its equator. This enabled the Water Spirit to constantly cycle through it, going up to the top, flowing downwards through the channels, then back up from the bottom.

“How did you come up with this design?! It’s phenomenal!” Jake finished the Fire Gem and released it into the air, where it proceeded to float by the other one. “I don’t think I’d be able to make this even having the design right in front of me.”

Inferior Fire …Capacity +5.

Spirit -10

Spirit: 10/25 (Fire 9, Steam 1), ...Fire 0/10...

“Well it’s the same with the Fire Gem for me. I’m not sure where I’d even start with it.” Flynn was selling herself quite short, making Jake realize the truth behind Kyrie’s words.

“I suppose Kyrie was correct then, as per usual. Speaking of Kyrie, I should go back to the real world.” The smile on Flynn’s face evaporated as Jake stated this. She silently stood up with a frown on her face and walked off. Jake got up after a moment and followed after her, unsure what caused her sudden shift in mood. “Flynn? What’s wrong?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Flynn continued walking into the distance, refusing to even look at Jake.

“Flynn, don’t do that, it doesn’t help either of us.” Jake fell to his knees as Flynn suddenly turned and gut checked him with a look between anger and sorrow.

“I said don’t worry about it! Go back to the real world and deal with real problems. I’ll just stay here and be your good little imaginary helper.” Hot angry tears were running down Flynn’s face as she looked down on Jake.

Jake stayed down there for a moment as he thought about what to do. Leaving certainly wasn’t an option, the problem would merely fester. He had his suspicions that there was some underlying issue that caused the sudden outburst, but unfortunately their memory link only went one way. So he went with the only option he thought would help, as corny as it felt in his mind.

Before she could react, Jake got up from the floor and hugged Flynn. It was tight enough she couldn’t escape, but soft enough she could still hit him. Which she proceeded to do a lot of, as it turned out. Eventually the blows softened as she devolved to merely crying on his shoulder.

“Ple-please don’t forget about me. I’m here. I’m real too. I just… I-”

“I promise, I’ll never forget you. I may not know you as well as you do me, but I’m your faux older brother. I should treat you with care regardless.” Jake pat Flynn’s head softly as she quietly sobbed into his shoulder. She’d tell him why she had these worries when she was ready.

“Hehe, I doubt you’re older than me, but that’s okay. Can you show me how to make the Fire Gem?” Flynn wiped her face on Jake’s clothes as she still had none of her own to do so with. She then gave him the best smile she could manage.

“Of course I can. Only if you show me how to make the Water Gem later, though.” He stated the last part with a wink, knowing what her answer was even before she said it.

“A lady should keep some secrets!” She mimed an offended pout for all of five seconds before breaking into a fit of giggles. “Sure, just let me know when you have time.”

With that they sat down and Jake went through the lengthy process of teaching her how to make a Fire Gem.

Inferior Fire …Capacity +5.

Spirit -10

Spirit: 1/25 (Steam 1), ...Fire 0/15…

Inferior Spirit Gem Creation increased to 4/5

* * * * *

When Jake returned to the outer world, as he henceforth decided to call it, he found that he was no longer by the heat vents. He also found himself surrounded by a bubble of Water Spirit currently in the process of dragging him along the ocean floor. The bubble vanished the moment he stirred and the symbiotic connection between himself and Kyrie was recreated.

[Glad you’re finally back up. I would ask why ya fell asleep anyway, but I can see the Steam Spirit in there. Guessin’ Flynn made some and freaked ya out, huh?] Kyrie continued floating on as she spoke, her aura oddly unreadable to Jake.

[Um, yes, that’s correct. How did you know it was Steam Spirit?]

[Made it by accident a while back. Couldn’t really figure it out, so I ditched it and stuck with Water Spirit. Anyways, I think we’re here, though the place looks real different from before.] Kyrie slowed to a stop, her aura filled with quiet awe at the sight before them.

And what a sight it was. A yawning cavern previously hidden beneath Roger’s enormous form was now visible for all the ocean. Above the entrance, however, was also a massive rose etched into the wall along with a multitude of smaller roses branching downwards surrounding the entryway to said cavern. At the entrance was also a bush of roses made entirely of Dark Spirit gently swaying from side to side. Deeper in the cavern was what could only be described as a mass of black tentacles that came flying out by gripping the edges of the entrance and catapulting outwards.

[Ryder, it’s so dope to see you, man! I hope you dig what I’ve done with the place.]

Jake could indeed ‘dig’ what Roger created, almost entirely forgetting how he was recently ousted from his own ship.