Chapter 3.17: The Plane In Between

“That would be amazing!” Mero jumps enthusiastically. “What kind of body? Is it taller?”
Oslando quickly walks up to him and puts his hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down.
“Is that safe?” The troubled half-elf looks at Oanoa. “Can you just do that? And how?”
Mero shakes his head.
“Don’t be a party pooper, Oslando. This is so exciting!” The pure joy in his voice is childlike, so innocent.
“Yes, it is safe. Yes, I can do that. Don’t worry about the ‘how’. It’s not that difficult. Maybe a bit painful, but it will only take a moment.”
Bruq taps Oslando on his back.
“If this is what he wants, we shouldn’t try to talk him out of it. Besides, I trust Oanoa. You do too, right?”
Silently, the half-elf takes the satyr’s hand away from his shoulder.
“Why do you do all these nice things for us?” Lyssa smiles sympathetically at their host.
“I can’t do much about all things evil in the dimensions I can see. I am restricted to actions within this observatory-like demiplane. I am tired of watching worlds burn, wars being planned and corruption spread. I can give you the tools to fix these things. I can help you from a distance. You are the instruments of good. I’m not pulling any strings, I merely push you into the right directions.”
Dargothoth nods his head.
“Indeed, you don’t pull any strings. We are not your puppets. I will not stand for an upgraded version of Hadriel, sending us on quests for a bigger plan. I will go to Abaddon, but I do this out of my own will and with my own intentions. Your need and desire to fix everything come second. You are nothing more than a sidequest in my journey. Do you understand?” His politeness made way for hostility very quickly.
Oanoa smiles at him.
“Of course, shapeshifter. I’m most certainly no Hadriel. You can do it exactly the way you want to do it. I’m just here to help, as I mentioned.”
How the Beholder keeps his temper while being treated so rudely fascinates Oslando and Mero. Being someone so ancient and wise, they guess it comes from an unlimited amount of patience.
“But there’s something I like even more than to help people, even if they are the heroes of vague prophecies.” He smiles again, this time slightly more mysterious. “I like to be entertained.”
As he says this, they can see a spark in his eyes. They don’t know if they’re going to like what’s coming up next.
“The problem is, sadly, I know everything that happens here. I control everything. So it’s a rare event the be surprised or entertained.” He turns his head to Cyrzana. “And if I get visitors, most of the time I find them more annoying than entertaining.”
The princes raises her eyebrows.
“You’re not very entertaining, either, old man. Voyeur.”
He ignores her and turns his attention back to his guests. A cheeky smile runs across his face.
“I will give you your new body, Mero, but you have to test something for me. I have been tinkering in my laboratory and built a mechanical variant of my spectators. I think I’ll send those to Abaddon instead of my actual children. They are precious to me, while this automaton is expendable. I would like to test it and you five seem like the perfect opponents for it. Care to join me on the training grounds?”
“Quick question”, Bruq says with his hand raised. “It can’t actually hurt or kill us, right? I don’t feel like fighting if I don’t have to.”
(Persuasion 21)
Oanoa shakes his head. “Before it can seriously hurt you or even kill you, I’ll call it back. You will be fine. Cyrzana and I will take care of the minor scratches and flesh wounds you might acquire.”
He can see the doubt in their eyes.
“I have shown you my very best intentions, granting you a place to sleep, guidance, magic, resources. See this as a way to test your new abilities in a controlled environment. It will help you prepare for whatever awaits you in Abaddon.”
“Alright”, the half-elf says. “You can have your entertainment if you promise you’ll guarantee our safety.”
The Beholder turns around and floats towards the door, ready to go to the battlefield.
“Of course. I promise.”