—Zabelle— Just like Helen said... like a hole in the world... —Polyta— You think it's Proteus' doing? —Zabelle— ...No. —Zabelle— I don't sense his influence on this at all... no traces of his magic signature... —Polyta— Agh. I suppose I can take solace in knowing he hasn't pierced our defenses yet. But it also means we're dealing with two existential threats instead of one. And we have no idea what's causing the second... —Zabelle— It's funny... it looks just like... —Polyta— ...The world Nix came from. —Zabelle— Oh... I was going to say Jiro's video game... Coral * You guys have video games?? —Zabelle— Obviously... what would be the point of having magic if you can't even be a gamer... —Polyta— Coral! I didn't see you arrive. It's... good to see you, even in times such as these. Coral * Hey, Polyta. * Really hope I'm not interrupting, but you're the only one I can ask... —Polyta— ...Ah. —Polyta— Your friend, she's... let me preface this by assuring you that she wasn't in immediate danger when last I saw her. I think. Coral * Polyta that is not a comforting way to start a sentence. —Polyta— ...Sorry. —Polyta— Look. Jiro, Sunny and I ended up somewhere deep, deep below the island, maybe not even of this realm. We found ourselves in a strange land inhabited by bird-lizard folk. Sunny blended in well enough they mistook her for one of their own, but Jiro and I were imprisoned. I... wanted for us to escape together. I did. Coral * You... left them behind? * But why? —Polyta— I... there was no other option. I tried to go back for them, but there was an altercation, and Jiro... Something's happened to him... he's been acting strange, ever since that flood-- Coral * Polyta... Coral *...I'm sure you did your best. Don't grind yourself down. * Do you know anything else about that world? With the bird guys? * Like, ways to get there, or... I don't know, just anything at all. Anything useful. —Polyta— I don't, but Nix might. She's been claiming that world we visited is the same as a game she was playing, which... Coral * Wait she what-- * What!?!? —Polyta— Uh. Look, I don't know how much stock to put in that, but-- Coral * That makes... too much sense!! Or, no, It doesn't. Does it!? What!!?? Coral * And Zabelle said Nix's world looks just like Jiro's game... * Then that implies... but then...!!!?!? —Zabelle— I wouldn't jump to any conclusions if I were you... Art imitates life, and all that... or was it life imitates art...? Coral * Right... there's... Coral * a lot... we don't know... —Zabelle— Coral...? Coral * You girls mind if I. Just lie down in the dirt a minute. —Polyta— Don't lose faith, Coral. In the time I've known Sunny she's proven herself to be nothing if not resourceful. I've seen her simply talk her way out of situations that, if it were me, I'd have expected to end with my head on a pike. And not only was she unharmed, she ended with more advantage than when she began! Coral * Hah. Yeah, that's Sunny... Coral * I appreciate it Polyta, I do, but... God. * It just feels like everything's... fucked up right now. * Sunny's still gone. Home is a mess. * This island is supposed to be a paradise, but even here... —Polyta— Don't count us out just yet. It might look... quite grim around here, but the reality is we've exceeded even my expectations at protecting ourselves! Between Helen's shieldwall and the weapons we received from Mercy, every assault Proteus has thrown at us has ended with their total devastation. We keep up our defenses, then our fate will surely be-- —Goddess of Love— My island!! Oh, my beautiful island! —Eladea— Goddess you didn't graciously let us know you'd be out of your temple today!! —Casandra— It's cool! Everything's cool! Smiles, everyone! —Goddess of Love— Oh, no no no, it's no use! This was meant to be a lovely place, with beaches and summer fun, but-- but-- Oh, this horrible wall! These awful spinny blades! What has happened to our home? —Goddess of Love— I've-- I've FAILED!!! I've FAILED to keep our island LOVELY!!! It makes me feel-- O, I feel, just so--!! Coral * Hey now, Goddess! There's no need to feel down! —Goddess of Love— A-- ah...? Coral * Yeah!! * I'm sure you'll feel better in no time if we just... talk this out!