witchesreign | 001 // [action; lobby]

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001 // [action; lobby]

[Hermione? Is very, very confused. She's read the letter over and over again until the paper has been nearly worn down from how hard her hold on it had been. The course catalog is clenched in the same hand, her bag held tightly in the other as her wand had been stuffed into the back pocket of her jeans as soon as she had read the warning about 'unusual powers' in the letter-- she's quite sure that being able to cast magic qualifies in that category and doesn't want to take her chances.

She's sitting on a bench in the lobby now, brows knit in concentration as she reads over the letter for the umpteenth time. Time Compression? By the work of a Sorceress? There's just no way-- while she doesn't doubt that some form of time magic is probable due to her experience with the Time Turner, she is quite sure that not one person is able to possess the power to be able to shift time and space completely.]

Impossible... [The word is muttered to herself mostly as she's still baffled by this completely improbable explanation as to how she has wound up in this place. And where is Ron and Harry? She looks up, the perplexed expression melting into one of worry as their current situation seems to settle back down on her shoulders.]

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[Where is Ron? Why, Ron's actually just stepping out of the elevator. He's dressed in the same clothes he'd worn just before preparing for bed at the camp, his heavy rucksack slung over a shoulder with a pant leg of his maroon pyjamas hanging out.

Ron has read the letter and course catalog almost as much as she has, the paper and booklet now gripped in a hand where his wand should have been. He figures there's no need for it as no one's jumped out to attack him since he found himself there. He's tucked his wand into the slot on the inside of his zip up sweater, safe and sound.

The ginger-haired wizard hesitantly steps out onto the main level of Garden and throws a cautious look back over his shoulder as the elevator doors close and the cart rides back up to the 2F. Is he in a place of Muggles? The letter said something about 'unusual power', which he had automatically assumed meant 'magic', magic he was familiar with maybe...

But he pulls his backpack up higher onto his shoulder and faces the directory, blue eyes sweeping around before he hops down the steps.

Elevators... sounds like something his dad would have a fanciful fit over, yeah?

Ron idly taps his acceptance letter and course catalog against his thigh as he comes to a stop in front of the directory, staring down at it with his brows deeply knit.]

...Wonder if this'll tell me where Harry and Hermione are...

[Her eyes had just been scanning the vicinity when it finally picks up that tuft of red hair belonging to a person standing just over at the directory. It's hard no to tell who it is, not with that height, red hair, the clothes he wore as well as the rucksack slung over his shoulder.

Initially, all Hermione feels is shock-- she was beginning to worry that she'd been the only one who wound up here. But immediately she stands from the bench and calls out to him.]

Ron!

[Never mind-- instead of simply standing and waiting for him to notice her, she makes her way over to the directory.]

Have you seen Harry?

[Who the hell knows his name here in this place? Unless there's someone else with the name 'Ron'... But that voice...

Ron looks around and his eyes widen as soon as he spots Hermione approaching.]

You're here as well then? [He shakes his head.] I figured he was with you.

[Then he shows her the letter and booklet in hand, noticing she has one too.] What d'you reckon this is all 'bout? Time Compression... 'unusual powers'...

Feel like I'm in some sort of loony bin, this place is mental.

I'm not sure-- the letter didn't tell me much at all. [She sounds both worried and frustrated; Hermione doesn't like this situation at all.]

Regardless, I don't think they'd appreciate it much if they knew we could do magic; we should keep our wands out of sight unless we really need to use them.

[She opens her bag then, depositing both the letter and course guide inside before drawing the strings shut.]

We should look around and see if we can find Harry-- I don't know how this could have happened! I know I had a clear vision of the forest when we apparated away...

What? [His look was one of utter confusion.] We didn't apparate anywhere, you were already in bed. And Harry - he was there as well.

[Ron shakes his head, looking around at the cadets who are eying them warily as they pass them. He's not wearing his uniform and by the looks of it, neither is Hermione.] I remember gettin' ready for bed, then I was here.

Getting to bed? [The expression Hermione is wearing? Confused, unimpressed, and of course rather annoyed.]

What are you talking about? We weren't getting ready for bed-- we had just barely escaped the Death Eaters! We were apparating away from the Lovegoods', don't you remember?

[But Hermione's always unimpressed and annoyed with him. Ron knows by now how to deal with it, although her moodswings are another thing entirely.]

No - Hermione, we were getting ready to tuck in for the night. You don't remember? Me and Harry came back from destroying the Horcrux. We never got 'round to going to see Luna.

What? [The look of annoyed bewilderment never leaves her-- she obviously doesn't believe a word he says.] No, that was days ago-- we all agreed to go to the Lovegoods to ask Xenophilius about the marks in the books, don't you remember? We barely escaped the Death Eaters that Xenophilius summoned to try and capture us.

We've been here one day, 'Mione, and you're acting completely mental. [He notices the look she's wearing and returns it with a frown.] We'll find a way back home, and we'll find Harry, you'll see.

One day? [Alright, Hermione is just getting annoyed now.] It's been days since you've returned! We stayed in the forest for several days following your return before I brought up the idea to go to the Lovegoods to Harry, then we apparated to their home! You-- you must've hit your head as you arrived here or something, that's the only reason why you can't remember.

No, I don't remember any of it because it never happened. [Ron stresses the last two words on a scowl now, hiking his pack up on his shoulder.]

[Out of habit, Hermione's nose flare for a brief second as her body visibly straightens, lips pressed into a straight line.]

Never mind, then. [Her tone is quite snappy.] We need to find Harry, then we can figure out whatever has happened. I'm sure Harry will remember everything as clearly as I do.

Bet you're wrong.

I bet that when we do find Harry, he'll be just as messed up from where we all come as we are now.

[If she wants to play the lip-press game, Ron can do that too.]

[]

Read that letter one more time, and I'll burn it. You're not going to get any more information out of it, and it's practically useless anyway with how vague it is.

[Hermione's head snaps over towards the girl, her brows knit and expression mildly affronted by how impolite the stranger was being. Instead of snapping back a retort, though, Hermione simply straightens her posture and adopts a dignified look.]

I was simply trying to figure out what exactly is going on here. I've never heard of such a thing as the Time Compression-- surely such a thing can't be possible.

If it weren't possible, you wouldn't be here.

And if "figuring it out" is what you're trying to do, rereading the same sheet of vague and near useless information isn't going to get you any closer to understanding it.

[Her lips are pressed into a very thin line at she listens to the girl. Nonetheless, Hermione attempts to remain as civil as she can be, though there's a little flatness in her tone when she speaks.]

Well, you seem rather familiar with this world. Since this letter is so vague, could you perhaps tell me a little more about it?

All right. How detailed do you want it?

Where I am, why I'm here, what exactly they mean by 'unusual powers' in this letter... everything you can, really.

If I told you everything, I'd be here forever, and I was going to the library.

[]

Alright. First, you're familiar with the concept of the multiverse, right? The idea of numerous possible realities all existing on seperate dimensional planes. This is a different "reality" to the one you're familiar with.

A powerful sorceress with the ability to manipulate time and space used a spell that warped it. Both time and space were severely damaged as a result, to the extent it has affected other dimensions as well. The damage to said other realities is really quite minor when you think about it on terms of scale - a handful of people slip into this reality, and some slip out. You just got unlucky.

[]

The "unusual powers" are anything unfamiliar to this reality - or genuine magic, like the type the sorceress used, though that is due to a combination of time compression and two "Sorceress Wars." Of course, here in Balamb Garden, a lot of people don't care - they got used to it. Outside of Garden, though, people will notice and kick up a fuss.

You've followed it so far?

[Hermione is hanging onto her every word as she explains, her brows knitting further and further as she spoke. Alarm struck her at the mention of sorceresses and genuine magic; her hands clenched out of reflex as she could practically feel her wand burning a hole through her jeans.

She nods at the question though, confirming that she was in fact following along.]

So does that mean everyone who has come to this world through-- though Time Compress -- possess unusual powers?

No. Some are completely ordinary.

Despite the suspicion, though, Garden's training actually provides "unusual" powers. The use of a Guardian Force and Para-Magic are what many of the off-worlders would call "unusual."

Guardian Force and Para-Magic? [The confused expression never fades.]

What are those, and how are the different to the 'unusual powers' that off-worlders may possess?

The only difference to me or you is that it's something this world's already familiar with.

A Guardian Force is best described as a "spirit" which acts as an energy source people can connect to. Para-Magic is a technique which replicates sorcery for military use, though there are a limited number of techniques and they are nowhere near as powerful as the real thing. You can't compress time with Para-Magic, for example, but you can cause a localised, temporary time-freeze.

[There's a pause as she lets the information slowly sink in. When it finally does, the question she poses comes out slowly.] So, can anyone in this world use this 'para-magic'?

If they invest the time in learning how, just about anyone can use Para-Magic, though typically you need to use a GF as well. The system is quite user-friendly.

Of course, it has its own pros and cons, and some people would prefer not to use Para-Magic at all. Personally, I use a mix of Para-Magic and my own Magic Artes.

[]

[Well, this is certainly interesting information; she's never heard of magic that could essentially be used by anyone should they have the interest and dedication. How is that even possible?]

I see...

Thank you for explaining everything to me.

[Ninja art of appearing and making sagacious observations!]

Not at all.

[That from the -- well, by wizarding OR Muggle terms, rather outlandishly-garbed ninja leaning casually nearby.]

But if there's anything I can help with, I'd be happy to.

[There's a gasp of surprise when the stranger addresses her-- she hadn't seen him at all, so it's a bit alarming to Hermione when someone appears out of nowhere, especially with how jittery she already was due to being on the run for quite some months. Seeing that the male isn't out to attack her or anything, though, Hermione calms down before addressing him, a troubled expression on her face.]

I think there's been a mistake-- I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not even sure how I got here, but I can't stay. Is there... is there really no way out of here?

Nothing that anyone knows. Nothing reliable. I'm sorry.

[She's a cute girl. He's allowed to offer sympathy under than condition.]

Since you're stuck here, would you consider helping this world out? It needs it.

[That's a rather strange request for someone who has just popped into this foreign world. Her brows are knit with confusion, obviously unsure of what he means.]

Help the world? What's happening?

[Strange, perhaps, but a good way to judge people in his mind. The world was in danger -- what could be the proper response but to deal with that danger? Even if the only way is to go through training and become a SeeD... who would walk away?]

Time compression, global political crises, threats of a Sorceress, and everything resulting. You don't know the story, I guess, if you're this new here?

['Threats of a Sorceress'? That causes Hermione to momentarily freeze up, before she tries her best to seem relaxed and calm, though she's anything but.]

I'm afraid I don't know what you speak of. Could you please explain? I really don't know anything about this world or the state of things, considering how I've just... arrived.

I'll do the best I can. I'm not of this world myself either.

[He straightens up from his generally awesome pose to a more comfortable one, clearing his throat.]

In this world, there are certain people called Sorceresses. They have the gift of magic, and pass it on from woman to woman. Twenty years ago, an incredibly powerful Sorceress cast a spell that would compress time. Squish together the past, the present, and the future. A group of heroes defeated her... but time compression is still affecting the world. It's pulling in people like you and me.

[With him so far?]

[Fascinating. Hermione hangs onto his every word, absorbing all the information; of course the little bit about magic and passing on sorcery from women to women makes her uneasy, hitting a little close to home, but she tries her best to not let it show.]

But if the heroes defeated her, why is Time Compression still in affect? Shouldn't it have ended after her defeat?

Ah, but the spell affected time itself! That one casting touched all points in time. So the spell hasn't really 'ended' because it never really had a proper beginning or end as we know it. Like crumpling a piece of paper. Even if you stop what's crumpling it, the paper won't ever be quite smoothed out again.

[He catches that word, because it's a new thing to him-- he's seen quite a lot of expressions before but not something like this.

This girl's a new face, he can tell, but usually the new people are ranting and raving, or wandering around with dumbfounded expressions as they take in their surroundings.]

I think that it's not impossible now, since it's already happened. [chaos wanders over, giving her a small smile.] But don't worry-- you're not alone. There's a lot of us here, some who've been around for a while.

[She looks up to the person who was addressing her, a bit taken back by the stark white hair-- it's not all that common in her world. But her eyes only return back to the letter for a quick glance before she lifts her gaze to address the stranger.]

How long has this been happening?

Edited 2011-02-11 06:30 (UTC)

Longer than I've been here, definitely. And I've been in this world for more than a year.

[chaos points to the space on the bench beside her.] May I?

Oh! Of course.

[Hermione shifts a to the side to allow him more room on the bench, gathering her small bag as well as the letter and catalog into her lap.]

Would you mind telling me a little more about this place?

[He smiles as he sits down, clasping his hands on his lap like a school boy. Old habits, they die hard.]

This place is called Balamb Garden, but I think you know that already. There are two others like it, Galbadia Garden and Trabia Garden. I haven't been to Trabia yet-- it's a little far off than Galbadia. They're all training people to become SeeD-- mercenaries, really. Battle, weapons, ships, para-magic, summoning... It's what we do.

[Hermione nods as she follows along, a little habit of her own that she has never managed to shake off.]

Do these other schools take us people like us? People who aren't from this world, I mean?

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001 // [action; lobby]

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