There's always a lighthouse

[wheremst]

And just like that, you wake up in the basement of a lighthouse in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There's a circle of 25 pods in the middle of the room, and two more in a room off to the side, and you can imagine who is in which.

An elevator to the side of the room leads up to the ground floor (or to the first sub-basement, if you want to check out the machine that brought you here), where you can for the first time in weeks look out a window and see the sky. Its a beautiful sunny day, with a strong breeze on the grassy ground of the island where the lighthouse stands. Have you ever been this happy to hear seagulls?

You're free. Whatever comes next, you're free and you won. Take some time to relish your victory, won't you? Reunite with friends you thought you had lost, go forth and just... well, enjoy this.

Comments

[baitless]

Well, I did tell you, didn’t I? Hobbies are good for the soul.

[...]

What are your plans from now on, actually?

[emberserker]

I'm not going back home, that's for certain. Therion wanted me to see his home -- I suppose a place like that could work out, even if they haven't invented indoor plumbing. And Rhea offered to teach me some things now that I'm not in a world where magic is all but sealed off. What of you?

[baitless]

Given everything you’ve said about things going on back home, that is likely for the best. I know what you were working towards meant a lot to you, but I hope you can find something you can be as passionate about that isn’t so... patently unfair and existentially horrifying.

[emberserker]

I'd destroy Magiaconatus myself if I knew I could resist it, but... [She balls her fists at her sides and looks away in shame.] The last thing I ever wanted was to find something else to do with my life. It's what everyone else wanted me to do. But I still won't give up on magic just because I'm "untalented," and if it's between this and being a puppet to be thrown away, I'll go with this. It's not like anyone will want me back anyway.

[baitless]

That does make sense. Since it means so much to you, you should continue to work on it for yourself and for your own satisfaction rather than for anyone else’s or for some grander purpose. I imagine that is what would make you happiest in the long run.

[emberserker]

...ugh. Everything's all upside down. I just want to destroy something.

[baitless]

...

You could ask the rescue team what is and isn't essential to restore the people whose memories have been altered already...