Part 1
Vordea and Syndra stepped through a crack in reality and arrived in front of the ruin. Syndra felt very nauseous from doing it, but was quite surprised that she didn't throw up.
"How do you do that all the time?" Syndra asked, holding her stomach. "Or maybe it's just the pregnancy."
"You get used to it." Vordea said, laughing. "The first time I used that power, I threw up everywhere. Your magic, as fascinating as it is, won't work to transport someone with a psychic shadow as large as mine, so we had to do that. Where are we?"
"Somewhere in Northern Itari, I'm not sure of the exact location as I was in a bit of a daze when I came here the first time." Syndra answered, walking toward the ruin. "How did we get here if I don't know where we are either?"
"Don't think about it too hard." Vordea advised. "Let's head inside."
Vordea caught up to Syndra and punched the crumbling door to the ruin so hard it ceased to exist. Syndra shook her head and stepped in after her, but then remembered something. That door wasn't here the first time.
"Vordea, that door it wasn't here the first time." Syndra said, whispering into Vordea's ear.
Vordea nodded. "Be on the lookout."
As they rounded the first corner, Vordea spotted the first mystery. She quickly grabbed Syndra with her tentacles and protected her tightly, before whispering to her.
"Do not say anything. Do not even move."
In front of Vordea was one of Agbus's angels, but it was wrong. Its white robes were black, it was wearing a blindfold, and one of the wings was missing.
"Who's there?" The angel called out, seeming to have heard Vordea and Syndra. "I can't see you! Lord, where are you?"
"Angel, what happened here?" Vordea asked in a language so old even the name had been forgotten.
"Lady? Is that you?" The angel cried out. "I can't find you!"
"Come, follow my voice, Angel." Vordea said softly, walking slowly closer.
The Angel stumbled forward, and Vordea delicately caught him in her tentacles. With her hands, she gently removed the blindfold and was sickened by what she saw. His eyes had been gouged out, and his nose was cut off.
"Who did this to you?" Vordea asked gently as she healed his face, her face of a mix of sadness and anger.
"I don't know." The Angel said softly. "Thank you, my Lady."
"The Crystal Halls would reject you right now, I'm sorry to say. Go rest in Hell. They will understand." Vordea said, stroking his face.
"Thank you." The Angel said as he slowly fell through the portal Vordea had opened beneath his feet, and vanished into Hell.
After a few seconds, Vordea released Syndra and they both looked around briefly, before Syndra spoke.
"What happened to him?" Syndra asked. "Angels are supposed to be pure white."
"I don't know, which makes me nervous." Vordea answered. "Something about this ruin seems familiar though. I need another set of eyes, a moment."
Vordea snapped her fingers and Mira Frost climbed out of a portal that appeared in the floor.
"Mira, I need some help in here." Vordea said.
"Sure looks like it. I don't like the smell of this ruin." Mira said, looking around. "Smells like a Demiurge." Mira then looked over at Syndra and smirked for a moment. "Bringing pregnant elves with you now?"
"How does everybody know from a glance except Ryul?" Syndra moaned. "So who are you?"
"I'm a memory." Mira replied. Seeing a look of confusion on Syndra's face, she continued. "A memory of an incredibly powerful being that makes even Vordea look like a child."
"Don't give away too much, Mira." Vordea said, putting up a hand. "Does this place feel familiar to you as well?"
"Now that you mention it yes, which is concerning for a variety of reasons." Mira answered, looking around.
"Why is that concerning?" Syndra asked, as she inspected some shelving in a side room.
"Because Mira has never existed in this world." Vordea answered, as vaguely as possible.
"That's a little vague." Syndra called out, sounding clearly annoyed.
"There are things mortals are not meant to know, Valmaris." Mira responded.
"Let's head for the library you found the book in, Syndra." Vordea said, getting up after checking under some tables.