Irina was gone.

Ember worked on closing the game, as she finally exited it.

--On Ashi

Kankei looked at the panther in surprise as it transformed into a young woman...and a beautiful one, at that.
"Oh. Well. You were still in my way." he muttered quietly, taking his hair out of its long ponytail and shaking it out a bit. He pulled it back quickly and glanced at the girl for a second, then turned slowly to walk away.

The dark green Mythril Golem looked down at the village elder. A aged short pudgy gnome with leathery skin and a few white strands of hair on his wrinkled head. He leaned heavily on his staff and looked like he would break if one blew on him too hard.
He was reporting what Ardais had already seen for himself. The crops were doing well and the village would probably have a surplus this year. Surplus that would be distributed to the Empires forces evenly.
The Elder suddenly caught the Golem’s attention when he began speaking of strange happenings in the area. A contingent of the local peace keeping force had disappeared and not been seen for several days.
"Where?"
"North and east. They left and never came back." The elder replied quickly stepping back as the Golem’s dark cape transformed into rigid metallic wings. With out another word the Golem took to the air. Flying over the village and following the road that headed north and turned east in the distance.

--On Earth

Phillip had sat for hours on his front steps, with a small kitten resting on his shoulder, wondering what to do. All his friends were on some kind of environmental trip that Phillip didn't have the money to go on. "I guess I could go play that game again...Nothing better to do." He stood up slowly and walked back inside his apartment and to the computer desk. The game was on, flashing again that he was dead. He frowned in thought. He could of swore he turned the computer off. He shrugged it off and took a seat to start playing again. After dyeing 3 more times he decided to take a nap. He had been up most of last night trying to earn some extra money at a nearby pawn shop. He stretched a little before standing up and heading towards his small pallet he made on the floor out of several blankets some time back. He kneeled down and set Liga beside the pillow where she curled up and quickly fell asleep. He smiled softly as he lied down slowly falling to sleep and into a very strange dream...

--On Ashi

Phillip looked around where he was. It seemed to be an old town. Very old. All of their clothes were alien to him and it wasn't difficult for him to feel a little out of place. He tried to walk, but he couldn't move at all. He was petrified. He couldn't tell if it was himself or an outside force that was holding him in place, but either way, he was becoming very scared. No one seemed to notice him. Even though he looked very different from these people when it came to clothing and cleanliness...One thing was on his mind. *Where the hell am I?*

Phillip appeared just in time to see something made of dark blue metal turn it’s back to him. A great black cloak covering most of its form. The great cloak then changed. Warping into demonic wings that opened and flapped. Lifting the great metal creature into the air effortlessly. It moved with a speed and agility belying it’s great size and bulk. Moments later it was flying low toward the horizon. A shrinking speck in a strange sky.

The Gnome Elder watched the Golem leave. Glad that it had left their village in peace. Though he prayed for whatever fool had attacked the Emperor’s men. Turning he started walking toward his hut. Half way there he ran into something soft. Stopping he looked up. Squinting up at the tall creature before him. His vision had been getting worse lately. Now, he could only make out a blurry form of people and things. Judging by the persons dark clothing he guessed it was one of the men that had traveled with the Golem.
As was always appropriate he quickly apologized profusely to the person he had run into.

--On Earth Phillip gulped and took a few steps back, tripping on his own feet. He fell hard onto the ground and blinked. He was in his own room again. "I'm not going back to sleep. That felt too real." He slowly stood up and glanced over at the computer screen, thinking a bit. That town looked almost like the one in the game...maybe he was just playing it too much. It was pretty addictive, though. He had the urge to play some more, so he did just that. He walked over to the computer, sat down, and began playing again. "Maybe I can beat the first level this time..."

Ember sat on her bed, sighing deeply. She decided that the day had been... way too weird for her tastes. Feeling tired, she lied down on her bed, staring at the ceiling for a little bit. Footsteps raced past, most likely Danii running through the hallway for something or another. Ember sighed deeply once again, closing her eyes. Instantly, she saw a place she definitely didn't recognize. Her eyes flashed open again, as she sat up on her bed, glancing to her computer screen. Was Irina right? Or was she having delusions after a long day?
"Whee... definitely being delusional..." She grumbled, rolling onto her side. Ember closed her eyes again, drifting off to sleep.
--On Ashi

Waking up, she looked around. *Ok... maybe not awake..?* Definitely wasn't home, for the mere fact that people that odd... in appearance weren't around and everywhere. And she knew that there were no buildings that old-looking or oddly-shaped around Japan.
"Hai... most definitely delusional..." Ember slowly reached over to her other arm, pinching the skin, "Ow!" She grumbled, rubbing her arm, then blinking for a moment. If this was a dream, how come she felt that...?

Ashi watched Kankei walk off, noting his actions, then looking to her hand again. She flexed it, noting that it didn't feel as painful as it did earlier. Standing up in a easy movement, Ashi stretched, looking around with her emerald eyes. Lowering her arms from the stretch, she leaned against the castle's wall, her eyes scanning people that walked past silently.

Ardais flew low over the road searching for the missing detachment of men. After over a hour he came to another town. He began to glide down toward it. Intending to land in the town center and inquire about the missing men.
Then, as if by magic, a fire headed woman in strange clothes appeared where he had intended to land. Stopping his decent he frowned. There were no sorcerers or witches in this area. Nor was there a reason for one to be here. All of the objects of power that had been in this area had been removed and taken to the palace. Magical tomes and items had been plundered from the area as well.
He didn’t recognize the cut of her clothing. And only a sorceress would dare wear something that revealing in one of these back water towns.
The Golem decided to wait and see what she did.

Ember closed her eyes once, then opened them again, only to see more people staring at her, "Eh..." She tried pinching herself again, only feeling worse off than before, since it hurt even more than the first pinch. She turned to one of the people staring at her, smiling slightly.
"Um, could you help----" She was cut off, as the guy retreated, running into a store nearby, "Or not..." Ember sighed deeply, putting a hand to her forehead. *This is not my idea of a good day...* She looked to someone else standing there, opening her mouth to say something, when they ran away too.
"Son of a..." Ember grumbled, trying to come up with a better idea of communication without people running the other way.

He watched a number of people run inside after she apparently said something to the people around her. Mothers held their children and ushered them inside, men hurried inside, the only things that didn’t run and cower were the lose animals. Windows closed, doors were barred, shops closed, people stopped working.
Personally he could care less about what she did to the town or the threats she was throwing around. But, a rouge sorceress was extremely dangerous. Magic was the one power that would allow the populace to rebel if they learned how to use it. He at least had to find out what she was doing.
Flying down the Golem settled down over twenty feet away. His wings turning back into a cloak the last few feet of his journey. The ground cracking as the Golem landed. A dust cloud wrapping around the dark blue automation as it stood and faced the sorceress.

A young looking girl ran out from one of the houses, stopping between Ember and Ardais. She turned to face Ardais after glancing at Ember to make sure the other girl was alright. It was Irina. She looked much more solid then she had on Earth. In the girl's hands a glowing ball of energy appeared.
"You leave this girl alone Ardais," said Irina softly. Irina looked rather pale, tired, and thin but she held her ground. The girl was wearing a simple black dress.
"You know what I can do to this town," said Irina. "I'll turn it against you, the entire town. I'll turn the world against you as well."

Ember stood in shock, staring for a moment at Ardais, then looking to Irina, "Just to let you know, I have a ton of questions to ask you... the main thing being.." She looked at Ardais again, "What is that?" Ember glanced around again, recognizing this town as the one she had gotten through in the second half of level one on the game. Ember leaned forward, closer to Irina, her voice sounding a little angry, "I thought you said that this wouldn't happen when I turned it off... so how am I here?"

The Golem would of sighed if he had had the capacity to do so.
"You couldn’t turn a wet nosed puppy against me, much less a village." The Golem replied raising it’s arms toward them. Liquid metal tendrils ejecting from the recessed holes in his wrists. Silver tendrils slid over and around their bodies and clothing, wrapping around them in a snug lattice work of steel. Summarily dumping them on the ground. The Golem’s foreboding frame standing over them; as he looked upon the pair in utter distaste. He was not happy to see this ageless child again. Much less find out she had acquired a new companion in her never ending quest to annoy the Empire.
But, today, she might of escalated her activities against the throne. Something that would not be tolerated.

"Do either of you have anything to do with the disappearance of a detachment of peace keepers?" The Golem knew that Irina wouldn’t lie to him on a matter such as this. Something he considered a lie would result in the death of local live stock and breaking of farmer’s legs. Which would hinder the villages capacity to make enough food for them and their families. With the guard keeping trade and supplies out of the village. The approaching autumn and long winter would deliver the death blow to the town’s dilapidated resources. The people would die slowly.
Nothing so quick as raising the town. Though he would happily destroy a hut or two to prove his point to her. He had done so in the past when they first met over a decade and a half ago.
He alone had desiccated the village. All that had remained afterward were melted stones and charred corpses. Something she had at least heard of. If not seen it for herself.

"I didn't get rid of your stupid peace keepers," said Irina. "And don't you dare take anything out on this village. They have nothing to do with any of this and you know it. Now let me and the girl go," said Irina angrily, even though she knew she was probably going to end up in the dungeon again...

"I know nothing, sorceress." The Golem stated. Unmoved by her petulant glare. "Other then the fact that you have tried to instigate rebellion using your magic on a number of previous occasions. The fact that this woman, a sorceress as well from the way she appeared, knows you is reason enough to detain her."

"She's not a sorceress..." said Irina with a sigh. "She's a kid who's lost and I'm trying to help her get back home."

"I poorly clouded lie. But, in any case, give me your explanation for her appearance anyway." The last was not a request but a order.

"No idea why she's here..." said Irina. "I met her in my world."

"I very much doubt that." Ardais didn’t want to hear about her strange delusions again. Though she was very imaginative and her thoughts were interesting, if not a little scary. He didn’t have the patience for this utopian story world of her dreams today. He could guess that what he had done to that rebelling village and it’s inhabitants had mentally scarred her. But that wasn’t his concern right now.
"I also warned you about lying to me…"

Ember's look of confusion only gained more to it, as she opened her mouth to speak, "I'd.. like to point out I don't know where I am... how I got here.. and I definitely don't know magic... And I definitely have no clue what is going on," she then looked to Irina, "And last time I saw you, you looked all.. ghostly. No offense, Irina, but if we get out of this, you have a lot of explaining to do..."
Ember then looked at Ardais, "And please stop calling me a sorceress..."

--On Earth

Phillip yawned and laid back down on his pallet. He had played that game for hours and only had beaten two levels. It was past midnight and he was extremely tired, even though he had taken a nap earlier. He hoped he wouldn't have that strange dream again.

--On Ashi

He reluctantly closed his eyes and appeared in almost the same place he was before. But, this time, there were no people in sight except for two girls arguing with some kind of...thing.
Phillip stared wide eyed at the humongous creature talking to the two girls. His palms grew sweaty and one thought was in his head: Run. But, he couldn't move. His legs sat steadily in one place. He had ever been this scared in his life. He was in a strange place that, he guessed, was very far from home, and he was looking at the biggest, another guess, human he had ever seen. He had no idea what to do...They didn't seem to notice him, yet. He was quite a few yards away from them. He could barely hear their conversation.

The Mythil Golem didn’t take well to being asked or told what to do. The metal bonds began contracting, slowly beginning to crush her as little sharp edges formed on the inner side of the metal. Making small shallow cuts into her skin.
"Then, how do you explain your miraculous appearance? How do you know one another?"

--On Earth

Aoi rubbed her eyes as she paused her sister's game. Midori laid on her bed which wasn't surprising considering her sister was only 10. Aoi yawned and checked the clock. "12:15?" she thought with a frown. she turned her glower back to the video game. The two sisters had been playing for four hours and they were only close to beating level three. It was really starting to annoy her. Not to mention that she kept falling asleep with the controller in her hands and having really weird dreams. Aoi stood up and stretched, straining her muscles to get the kinks out of them. She then turned off the TV, leaving the game going though. After throwing on a white button shirt over her short jeans and shirt, she laid next to her sister and closed her eyes.