Surf

Surf is a descendant of the f͂̓o̓ͯͤ̆̈́͌r̨̞̙͇̟̪t͔̥̪̣̦̐̄̇͊ͤ͠r̦̓̿ĕ͕̜͓̱̤͖ͬ̽͑͛s͖͍ͣ̇̏̀͛̄͛ṡ̡͖̼͚͔͎̂̄ͫ̅̋'̶͓͋͆ ͇̮̹͕̺o̰̬̞̬͉̦̯͜ŗͭi̻̙͋̌̃̍g͗̈̊ͩ̿i̡̙̫͓̺͚͌͂ͅn͕̪̪̠͎̥̄ͮͪ̿̐̇̉̀ạ͔̀͡l̻̭̞͇̓͘ ̶͉͖̲̞̼̊̈́̑į̩̮͖̲̮n͕̲̝̣͟h̺̯̼̦̘͊͋̽ͭ̆a̪̦̰͒̄̈́ͥͯͮͬbī̺̞̻̮̺ͥͅt͈̳̖̗͇͍ͥ̊͞ạ͇͍̙ͤ͌̃͢n̬̒̇ͬͧͯ̐t̼̘͇ͧ̅ͫs̘̤ͫͯ͛. Unfortunately, she is very reclusive, and the only dragon she appears to trust is Seagully. But even so, she is not willing to tell her imperial friend anything about her past or where she came from. Seagully is far too nice to press her on the subject.

The only thing known about her o͓ͣͪr̯̪͇͖͖͇̣̄ͬ͆͋̃͡i̘͓̬̹̤ͪ̒g̡͓̱͕͚̞̽͋i͎̙̺̮̕n̗͖̲̹͔͌ͦ̑s̱̮̳̖̟̞̭̑̆̋ is that she suddenly appeared ascending from the fortress' basement. Thus, she logically must have lived somewhere down there. However, no signs of unaccounted habitation have been found down there. Searches for possible ṣ͕ͮ̀ͤ͊ͪe͇͌͌c̥̞̲̳̯̰̻̽̋̏͐r̠̱͙̯e̺̘͐ͬͭͩͥͩ̀t̢̼͔ͮͣ͊ ͑͊̃̐͗ͣ̉̕p̮̹̹͇̟̞̗ͥ̎ͪͬa̸̪̗̩̣̪̼͛s̨̩̗̯̘̜̥̦͛̌̎̾ͤ̚ṡ̝̮͓̙͕̳̽̃ͭ̈́a̠͗̑͑ͦ̓g̣͇̣͉̰̜̓ͧ̆̊̈͂ͥẹ̰̠͉̆́͑̒ͦ̔sͭ are still underway.

Speaking of secret passages, she can travel around the fortress m̵͓̩̤̥͚̌̆ͮ̓͛̚̚o̺̳͎̝͋̃̿r͕̫͖̫̤̗̦e̶̟ͫ͌ ̡̒ͥ̑̒q̽͋̿̌̈́͌u̩ͬ̍ͯ͌ͬ͗i̷̪̲c̠̈k̋ͨ̑ͣ͋l͓̣̰̻̠͕̗ÿ̢͕͈́ͧͭͨ͗ͥ̋ than anyone else. As for what she uses this skill to do, nobody is quite sure. H̬̣̙ͭͩ̏ͬͭͯ̀ơ̝͔̲̰͎̫̣ͫ̽̄ͭͬ́ͣẁ̬̰̦̦͌̄̈́͡ͅḙ̠͇̫̘͍ͧ̀͞v̰̓͒̓͡ḕ̯̼̱̤̗̳̋͋̀̆ŕ̩͕̰̄͊ͯ̃͜, she has been occasionally seen trying to surreptitiously p͔̺̤̉͌̃̑̊̀̑͟l̵̲͖͈ͣ̉ͮͫ̓a̶͆͊c̯͆̂ͥ́ͣ̃ͧe̡̤̙̦̰̬͎̿̐́͋̍͊ͪ ̬̪͉͓̃̇ỏ͐ͭͥ͋̈́͏̺b̵͙̬̘̞͑j͚̣̤̺͖͉̒̇͑ͭͭ͗͞ë̵ct̾̎̀͛́s̭ͣ̾̂ͤ̄͂͂ where they'll later be found. Sometimes these end up being useful, sometimes.. not so much.

Having a conversation with Surf is an... interesting affair. She refuses to talk about h̲̭͖̮̺̲̳ͤͭͣ͐ͭe̦̠̯͑̿ͪ́ȓ̹̥̭͡s̭̠͍͓̰̬̀e͍̦͍͕ͩ̿l̼͈͓f̒ͫ̒̊, but other than that she seems to be just fine. However, before too long she'll suddenly appear to be w̬̥̝͚̝͊͊͋͆̓̚̕r̴ḁ͇̰̄̓̐͂̍ͮ̚c̥͇͙̏ͬ̋̅̽ͣ͡k̸̑̐̋e̔ͩ̆̇d̜͔͈̪̜͔̾͋ͣͥͅ ̐̍ͫ̌̏̐͜w͖̪͉̦̗ï͍͝t̷͑ͬͥ̉͒͊h̙̮͙̜̙̪͛͑̆͘ ̺̞̪͔̫̹͒̓̏́ͧg͓̘̤̮̙̝̻̏̏̾ȑ͇͍̒̅͛̔͌̽e͓͖̣͇͈ͮ̿̽͟a͈̥̮̙̙͙̯͋ͥͨ̿̑́t̩̳͎̳͑ͯ̈ ̙̌͡ͅ ̸̲͎̭p̙͉̱͉̖̿̇ͤ̀͊ͨ͛ä̹̥͓̺̲͔́̕i̴n̄ͦͥ̈́͏̻̘̬, and immediately rush off to who knows were. It's not worth looking for her; even Zqfmgb can't figure out where she hides.

She is as much of a water dweller as Seagully is, but r̰͇̪̗̝͓ͭ́ͯ͐͋̊ͅe̞̝͝f͔̹̺̘̒ͯ̈́̈́ͯṵͫ̽s̤̞̙̏̆́ͅe͔ͯ̾ͯ̚͝ŝ̘̫ͨ̎̆ ̙͂͒͐̂ͭͦt͇̱́ͬ̽ͮͫ̎́͝o̊ ̞̣̼̞̙͉̐ͬ̎̐͒ͣͮ̕g͍ͫ͒̈́ͬ̿e͔̍tͮ̉͜ ͉͓̰̬w̷̗͍ͩ͑̌ͣ̇̊e͍̖͈̎ͮ̈́̀̈̂͟t͕̝͔̹̮̭̦ when in the presence of anyone other than her.

(Basically from dragon Atlantis.)

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While a̬͠ḽ̴l̺̣͍ ̶̛̞͔̻t҉̴̛͎ụ̤n̟͚͈̥d̙͕͇͠r̴̶̫̰̞̘͇͇a̘͍̠̘̕͡s̸͚̟͓̤̲̥̬͠ ̹̥̯̬̺͓ͅs͘͏̲͔̙̲͇u̻͙̻͜f̸̳̭͈͇̖͖̙f̻͇͕̜͝e̸͏̨̗͔͚ͅr̥̺͇̼͜ from a bad memory, Surf's is w̛̙̟͙̖͉̬̩͜o̴̪̳̺͉͡͡r̰͉̳͖̤͕͈͔͢͝s̴̨̼̺͍̘e͏̶̮̥̦͕̥͍͙͓ ̶͏͉͈̘̪̙͉̲ţ̻̻͕͕͈̺̣̹͘h̵̘̤̠͖͉͎̕͟a̫̣̣͟n͎̣͈̺̩̦̗̳͢ ̷̸̧̦̗͕m͍͙̫̱̻̰o̢̻̯̬̦͘s̰̲̺̹̻̩̙̟͘͝t̷̻̙͈͡. And if that was the whole problem, Surf could deal with it. But its not.

Surf knows s̱̑ͤ̈̊͗̏̔͋ͧǫ̖͔̉̃ͤ̈́ͯ̂͌̚͜͡m̺̰̖͉̟̙̜̆͐e̙͔̦̋͡t̢̢̜͖̥͔̲͇̝͚̟̎̽͞h̴̢̪͓̟̄iͫͫ҉͖̤͘n̸͔͔̼̙̻̣ͭͮ͒ͪ͘͡g̴̛̺̘ͥ͒ͣ ̱͖͓̹̆̽ͮ́̀ͮͪ̏ị̪͈̱͓̪ͣ̌̊̀͝s̷̨͈̯͎̜̘̏̊̑̆͑̿ͧͨ̒ ̛̛̻̂̈́͛ͣ̽̓̍ͩ̈͝w̵̖̿̆ͯr̴̻̗̜̬̒͐̓̔̈͌ͫ͢͝o̦̳͖̳͓̪ͮͅn̛̈ͮ͂͐͂҉̱̦͉̳͙͔̘g̲͚̫̣̥̠̫̅ͮ̊́̌̓̀. There are entire gaps of her day that are missing, where she'll be doing one thing, only to s̷͙̙̬̖͍̱ͮͫͧ̌ͧ́̋͗u̟ͪͯ̉ͤͧ̔d̶̠͙̳̻̞͓̥̅͌̈́͐͆͗d̘̺̦̺͇͚̐͒̃̽ͅe̝̝̫̻̭̭͂̑̈́̈̔͞n̞͇̩͇͉̟̜ͧ̒͌͠ḽ͇͉̠̘̍ͬ̔̌̾ͮ͒̈͘y͇̙̲̟̰̏ͥͧͯ̀̕ ̡͆ͮͤ͋ͨ҉̝̞̼̱b̶͚̬̞̜̱̪̩̣̣̋ͯ̐͑ͨ̍̋̄e̷̢̮̘̹ͧͩͥ̅̈͢ ̢̮̤͎̮̫̣͙͐̄s̄͂̆͏͞҉̯o̝̿͌̋ͪ̀̚͘ṁ̠̼͙̭͓̋e̱̻̮͉̤̤̲̖̽w̧̡ͨ͋͏̟̻͖̠̪͍̭h̭̩̥͙̜̐̐ͬē̃ͣͤ͟͡҉̹̫̙r̔̑ͤ͗ͩͭ͏̦͙͈ȇ͔̜̳̬̥͚̆ ̨̩̠̭͇̱̌͌ĕ̴̢̺͋ͮ͠l̢͉͓̘͔̮ͩ͐͜ͅŝ̹͡e̥͎͕̝͈̿ͨ̊ͤ̓̆ͫ̇͗ ͚͚͕̯̫͂̋ͬ̌͜ hours later, with no idea of how she got there. With no idea of what she'd been doing. W̛̥̳͇ͪ̓͐͜i̡̛̝̮̘͉̻ͩ͐ͬ̌̓ͮ̔ͯt̻͙͇̝̜̫̜̬ͩͦ̀̊ͨ̅ͯ͢ḩ̴̜̣̩̤ͣͮͩ́̆͌ͧ͘ ͕̬͎̱̝͙̼͛̿͋̓̀n̶̵͖͍̫̗͕͔ͯ͑̀̕o̭̠̜̥̳̭̝͔ͫͪ͢͟t͎̼̟̣͉͖ͧ̌͋ͫͫͦh̲̯̃̋̑ͭͤ́̔i̵͔̙̫͉̫ͪ͌͐̑̚ṅ͇̬̜̙ͮͦ̇͗̓̋̀ǧ̰̫͓̝̬̅͛́̊ͥͨ̄̿ but a sickening feeling in her stomach, as if she'd eaten some b̙͖̯̮̱͈̃́ͥ̀ạ̢̩ͯ̈́̿ͩ̇́ͨ̚d̸̠̠̈́͛̍̾̾̃͢ ̸̛̮̩̹̬ͩ̈ͣ́̒͜ḟ̣̬̗̭̗̀͜͝ļ̘̠̜͚̌͛ͦ̄ͨͬ̅ơ̴̭̙̠̍̓̓̏ͩw̸̦̯͓̰̣̖̺ͥ̌̆̽̋̑͋͟͜e̷̪̘̮̫͙̩̰̅͋̓ͪ͊ͣͬr̡͙̭ͥ̋ͩͦͤ͒̿̉͜s̰̗͖͕̘ͣ͆͂͗̕̕. There must be something worse than just memory loss going on, and Surf is t̸̢̤̮̝̻̫̣̑̐ͅe͓̺ͮ̎͢r̴̸̬̼̗͔̃ͭ͗́r̶̛̦͚̝̪͊͒ͦḭ̵̖͇̍͋ͦͧ̈̊̿͋͝f̸͇̞̥̟̝̳̼̩ͭ̚͘i̷̢̙̭̜̺ͫ̉ē̙͘d̈̽́̆ͨ̾̊̓҉͉͟͞ to know what she does d̮̦̙̈́ͮ͟u̷̯̤̭͇͙ͩͬ̆̒r̙͚̞͆̑̿͠i̠̩̤̮̗̩̥̓̀̐ͦͤͧͅn̻ͤgͩ̄̓̽ͮͥ̚҉̞͙ͅ ͇̲̐͂ͨ͌t̡̽ͨͪ̂͑̇͏̠̹̪̬̺͓̲ͅh̽̎ͨ̿҉̮̞̬̭̝̜e̲͙͑ͬ̽͋̒͢s̯ͨͭ̉̽͆͗̔͟e̹̝̟̪̠̫ͯ̉̾͒͋ͣ͐͌ ͨͨ̽̊͟҉͏͕̮ǵ̼͉̱͔͇̻̆̐͜͟͞à̢̗̥͖̹̭ͧͩ̏̇̏͢p̵̨̠̯ͤͥ̑͊ͨs̡̈́̔̏̋̃͂̂̚҉͇̠̼͕̱̪̦. But she c̴̛͔̣͍̘͆ͬ͐̃̓ä́͛͊ͧ̇͆ͨ͐҉̶͍̫̭̩ņ̘͉͉̤͎̮̖͈̓̎̈́'̗ͬ́͜͝ț̟͍͎ͫͣ̚͞ ̷̤͚̹̲ͧ̇̑̎ͬ͘t̵̵ͭͦ̅̅͊ͨ̿͏̳̥̘a͙̙͔̣̮̘͔̤͋́̇l̷͙̟͕͎ͥ́ͬ̈́k̳̰̪̫ͪ́̚͝ to anyone about it. Either her clanmates w̨͒̓̐ͪ̓͏͖̬o̵͖̝̮̤͙̘̻̦̾̉̀̏̄ͤ̒̊n̸̘͔͕ͩ̌'̯̼͈̙̪̇̉͌͟͟t̸̲͍̖̹̳̗̎̄ͣ͡ ̷̝̻̀̓ͧ̄ͧ͋̅̽͜ť̡̨̖̻͇ͩ́̾̄a̧͓̟̹̠͇̥̭̠͂ͣͣ̄̐̚͠k̤͎̙͎̠̝̾̆̉͊̂̕͝e̸̙͕͓ͪ͛ͤͬ̚ͅ ̛͇͉̙̱̼̩̏̒͒h̫̠̗̜̣̍̉̇ͨ̈́̊ͭ́ė̸͎͉̙͌͑̍̂͛r̨͈̒͗̇ͭ̎͘ ̴͚̫ͪ̃̆̎̄͐̉́ͅš̸͕͇̯̠̬̹̣͔̉͠e̥̱̣͈̎ͤ̓ͤ͠r̴̷̙̟̞̮̬ͭ̈́ͪͣ̍͞i̴̥̮̖̬͐̏̇̊ͥͩ̚͜ô̻̼̋ư̡͔͓̠̋ͩ̓̋ͦ̇͜s̟̙̼̺̼̼̻̍͂͊͗̆͋̚͜ͅl̵̸̲̥͚͔͕͔̩̝̬͐͒̓ͦ̾̇͠yͩ͏̨̺̦̩̞͇̪̬̗, or worse, they'll lock her up like they did to that s̷̡̡̫̭̞̠̩̫̰̞̮ͮ̃̓̃̾́ͦk̪̗͇̖̻̱̦̙̱̂̓ẏ̵̴̫͔̺̩̹̺̯͕͚̊̒d̅̅̂ͮͫ̅̏̚҉̲͈̬ạ͓̣̣̩͍̬̉́ͮ͂̇͝͞n̙͉̞̰̝̹̖̂͋̑͘͠c͖̳̑̔̑ͩ͗̀e̯̟̗̭̘̟̐̐̔̐ͬ̏́̚͟͟ŗ̦͔̱͖̤͓̝̾̆̀ͤ͑̔ͣ̚͝.

̻̹̗̬̒̕E͓̿̈́ͩx̴̻̤̺̮̫̜̳̿ͣͯc̶͕̈̎̐͡e̳͕͚͙͎̪̠͎ͤ͆͒̂̒́ͬ͢p̧̙̜͎ͣͪ̒̓ͤ̄ͦͫͣ͘͘t̴̘̬͓͓͖̭͛̿ͨ͂ͨ͡͞ ͓͔̬͚̭̱̒̃̐f̷͍͕̖̓́ͦͨ̎̚ǒ̟̫̲̳̣̟̏ͭ̔̾̒͟r̛͓͖͓̳͛̐̃̍ͨ́͗̚ ̱̺̠̿ͦ̔̀͌̉̈́̔oͩ́ͬͪ͏̭̰͉̦̙͉ņ͙̤͔̣͆̇ͥ̒e̠̽̇ͤ͞. Seagully is someone she can open up to. Surf feels safe around her, perhaps due to Seagully always being underwater, or maybe just because the imperial is big enough to stave off any danger. Not that she's told Seagully much. But perhaps together, they'll be able to solve this mystery, and bring Surf's life b̸̸̦̺̗̼̠̯͋ͮͦ͘a̴̧̼̭ͭ̓͒̈̆͢c̡͖̟̱̳͇̥̗̩͒̇͜͜ǩ̷̵̺͔͇̺͇̬͙͕͜ ̝̜̗͐͂̍͂ǐ̧̛̥̱̦̼̱͖͎͕̤̄̽́ṉ̛͈͕̙͛̋t̟̙͖̹ͣ͆̾̊̉o̘̞̺̪̙̬̘͆ͭ͗ͭ͗́ ̯̪̉ͯc̊͑̈̓̄͊̇ͩ͞͏̴̩̱͉ͅͅo̶̧̫̫̭͎̝̥̯̜ͭ̇͛̈̕n͔̻̖̞͙͇ͭ̑́̏ͯ̓̆͡t̽͋ͪ̇̐͑̑͞҉̩ṟ͉͙͇͇̜̍͋̍̄͝o̵̡͓͚͖̝̪͆ͫ̄̿̇l̛͇̺̲̭͇͉̳̼̜͛̉͋͘.






Ț̸̡̹̲͉̫͉͑́́͌́͡ḩ̡̢̖̺̮̤͕͕ͥ̑̃ͫ͐ͫ̐̀̚̕Ȩ̛̮̞̪͚̝̯̞̭̩͇͕̹ͭ̇̌ͨ̐ͣ̅̓̑̓ͣ͆̃̏̐ͥ̀̑̂͘͜͠ͅr̸̨̬̖͍ͫ̈͊ͥ̾̽̀͞͡ͅE̷̳̹͇̟͂̑ͫ̐̌ͤ͊́ ̹̖̣͎͉̺̻͐̾̌ͣ̇̔̋̅̄̚͠͞ï̓̆͒̄̃̄͏̵̘͎̫̟S̢͔̭̭͈̫̜̹̖͗̀̑ͤ̑͆ͦͭ̅ͤ̌͒ͫͦͬ̓̚͝ ̨̧̡̞̮̗̮͓̥̞͆ͣ̑̏̄̿ͩ̔̑ͨ̀̄ͬ̚̕͠n̴̖̤͕͖̖̩̰ͫͤ̌̽̿͜͡Ơ̢̘̬̼͕̻͕̖̹͉͙͙͕̻̬͍̝̮̑̐̊̍̇͑ͥ̊̽̐ͬ̃ͪ̋̓͛̚ ̷̨̫͉̲̼̖͚̼̫̭͇̤͚̣͓̍ͬ̄̐ͬ̂̀̀͟ḩ̷͛̃̊̅̓̓͗ͭ̾̐ͦͣ̽̀̋͆̏ͮ͌͠͏̷̼͔͍̠̺̳̬̼̠͙̱̯̠̖̤͈͈͕ͅO̴̰̠͕̹̱͓̪͉̖̭̰̫̙̮̟͕̍ͩ̍͂̀̌ͫ̇͆ͯ̾̔͡p̪̙͈͉͙̲̰̫̞̬̺͉͚̼̋́̇͒͋͝͞E̶̦̟̬͕͍̰͈̟̗̘̼͓̠̹̘͒ͩͣ͌̾̍͐̾̅̍̀͟͞ͅ.̡̿̑ͫ̐ͫ̇͆̑͘͡҉͉͔̻̥͉͍̩͙̮ͅ
̷͋͊̏̔͌̃̄̉́ͤ̏̾̏́͂҉̢̲͙͍͙̝̰̞̜̗̱
̰͕̲͇̰̘̻̩̖̣̯͚͙ͦ̇ͤͥ̑ͤ̿ͤ̂ͥͮ͞͠͠ͅṰ̤͔̫͎̟̳̟̖̯̘̦̫̜̪̑͂ͫ̿̇͆͐ͩ̑̽ͩͯͫͤͭ̓̈́ͨ̀͘͟h̵̸̐͒̋̈́͆̏̅̓̌ͬ̑͆ͤ͆̓ͮ̒́҉̹͖̪̬̹̦͍͉̞̳̯͈̜̦̭͡E̊͋͑̇̈́̌̆̽ͥ̌̉ͮ̽ͩ̓̈́͛҉̸̶̡̣̠̝̤̺̮͙̰̥̯̦͓̮̙̜͖ ̸̨̩̮̘̱͚ͫ̆̇ͭ̈͐ͨ͂̚̕ͅS̵̶̸͖̘̮̖̩̲̳͙͎̞̥͙̠̥̖̋̆̌ͪ͊ͥ͛̓̆ͨ̆̔̅̀͝ḥ̶̹̣̜͔̜̲͚̪̺̰͎͕͍͚̜̬ͫ͂̌͊͑͡A̵̷̐ͮ̎̒̽ͧ͐̇͒͌̎ͬͯ́҉̸̜̺͖̟̻̙͕͙̣̤͎͚̱̼͜d̢̡͙͚̝̤̊͑̋̍͛̄ͤͨ̓̾̃͐̈ͯ́̀̀̚̚E͛ͭ̉̈ͧͨ͆̊͏̱̳͈̣̝̰̜͔̟̬̜̱̮̥͇͎̦͞ͅ ̶̶̟̹̞̜͈͍͖͕͓̙͍̥̦͒ͯ͐̏ͮ̈ͬ̓̌̓̓͗̌ͮͣ̋ͤ́̚ͅHͪͭ͑ͫ͂̔̒͗̒͏͏̢̙̲̮̞͎͇̥͈̳̪͕͜ų̠̥̞̥͈̩̗͇̝̹͊̐͐̑ͫ͌͛ͧ͒͒̎͡Ņ̧͋̄ͪͦ̈ͭ͗́̉̇̃͐͊̅̎ͧ̏̾̚҉̣̥̗̠g̷̵̶̡̯̹̯̠͇̫̺̮̭̖̠̰̝͍͙ͥ͑ͮ͂͂̾́̒͐̀ͪ͞E̴̜̺͖̩͈͇̜̠̙͚̲̠͚̓̊̏̐ͤ͛́͘͞͠ͅͅŗ̘̙̫̣̳̣̼̗̖̍ͮͥ́̂̀̿ͦ̇̽̀̚͠S̨̞̰͙̠̤̣͍͙̈́͂̀͊ͤͭ̔̑͌́̌͞.̽ͤ̎̔̔ͩ̏ͤ̒̆ͪ͆̊͂́̄̏͒͢҉̶̗̺͕̠̼́
̾͐ͣ̔̌ͯ͘҉̨̛̻̟̫̺͍͎̗̖͖̲̙̥͈͟ͅͅ
̴̡ͪͪ̓͑ͥ͐͂̓̀ͧ҉̩̖̳̳̟͕̩̘̲͡Y̶̴̡͍̖̻̼̭̦̪͍͙̮̜̝̙͇͈͙͙ͯͮ̎ͥ́ͯͭͮ͑̂͗̔̚̕o̴̥͎̞̜̭̖̥̼͚̟̬͙̗̰̍̋̒̈́͛ͦ̓͘U͔͉̥͙̥͈͚͖̳̼ͮ̆ͬͬͦ͒ͯͪ̎̉̿̈ͥͦ́ͩ̚͢͟͞ ̶ͬ̐̎ͯ͂̎͠҉̝͖̰̠̝̝̝̬ͅC̸̺̯̙̮̣̮͉͇̼̭̝̜̮̘͗ͭ̇́͞͞a̍ͫͭͪͦͭ͒̎̋̓̏̾͛̋͏̧̩̫̫̝̙͕̩͔̣̜̜̜̼N̸̋͐̂ͧ҉̧̤̗̳̦̠͉̦̻n̸̳̳̤͓̦̓ͥ̎ͮ̂ͭ̓̐͊͋ͯͫͬͬ͗̋́̚O̭͍͙͖̮͓̗̣ͪ̇̒̊ͥͦͣ̇̓̍ͬ̄ͪ͆͋̑ͮ̕ẗ̵ͧ̊̾ͪ͛͂̈́͒ͨ̈̔͏̻̦̥͔͔ ̷̡̘̭͚͓̖̬̥̺͍͓̯̻̽ͪ͛̒̅̏̒ͦ͛̾̆̀ͤ̽͠R̊̓͊̉ͪ̅̂̊́͏̣̞̩̦͉͖͚̗̞̯̖͡ŭ͒͛͐̌̾ͩͦ̒͏̶̸̨̯̥̥̝̫͍͙̼̭͉͞N͗̉̈́̌̓ͥ̈̏̾̈̂͋͐͢͏͍͓̠̲̯͘.̽ͭ̇ͩ̉̆̔ͯ̈ͣͬ̂ͭ̇҉̛͈̺͎̬̱̳̙͖̺̠̖̭̠̻͝ͅ
̸̨̭̬̲̣͕͔͉͚̍̍̌̔͑ͨ̆ͦ͂̃ͨ̎̓ͩ̆̐͞͡͝ͅ
̷̟͔̳͍̪͔̙̣̜̯̗̩͑̐̽̾̀̌̌ͭͣͬ̂ͤ̅̋̿ͪ̍ͫ́́͘͞ͅͅW̴̢̽̔͐̋͆̊̓̾͑͂̒̍̕͏̺͖͇͉͚͈̟͚͉̕e̢̧̡̛͎͇̹͉̙̝͖͚̻̥͈̪͔̫͖̿̐̌̔̋͂͊̐́ͩ͋ͤͯ̐̄̀̀͒͟ ̧̖̻̱͉̟̦͈̫̦͈͔̒ͬͬͯ͒͋͂͋̏̆͋̓̌͂̚͢͝W̧̧͚͍͇̜̩͕̤̲̹̲̪̮͕̠̮̮̬͆ͭͦ͑̌̄ͮ͂͒ͧ̈́̑͒̐͘͝ͅi̡̛̹̙̝̝̘̬̲͓̰̮͕͍̭̊͑̀̋̇̈́͊͛͠͠L̴͚̪̼̟̺̭͇̥̣̳̪͎̬͙͓̾̈́͂ͩ̉ͥ̐̓ͨ̚͝l̹̖̳̺̘͉̹̪͖̪̒ͫ͑͑ͩ̏̉͛̚͡ ̶̧̥͍̳̫͈̑̃ͤͬ̍̈́ͩ͛̊̎͘F̶̶͔͚͚̗̝͊ͥͭ̇̾͊̈́͗͊ͪ͗ͦ͌̽ͣ͂̚i̶̧̛͕̜͙͎̘͔̯̰̽̏̍̓̌̉͆͋̐͌̋ͭ̉̚͟͠N̟̯̗̩̫̦ͩ̆ͬ̊ͯ̂̉͗́̕d̵͍͓͉͕̳̳̞̤̰̞̦̮͕̈́̂͛̎̈́̏̑̂̓ͧ̊̀̔͠ ͚͍͔̦̳̥̥͎͖͓͕ͤ̈́͌ͤ́̌ͦ̑̓̎ͣ̅̑̊ͮͮͦ̚͢͟Y̷̵͎̗̬̖̤͓̙̭̲̦͇͕̳̠̦̠̼ͤͦ̈̔̄ͫ́͆ͥͬ͜͢͞ͅo̡͒̊̎̓́͆͊ͥ́̒̉̈ͫͤͧ͞҉̛̛̖̙̝̭͕̰ͅŲ̴̵̧̢̤̺̥̊ͥͪ́̓ͮͭ̽ͤ́̓̃̉͒̽̅̑.̷̶̢̯̥̖̖̤̭̗̫̳̟̹̲̖͍̺̺͓ͥ̉̄̅̈

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I҉n͠ ͜a forg̢ot͢t̀e̸n ҉çry̕st̢a͝l̛ s̵ea͜ ͡ca̕ve҉, Su͞rf̷ s̨ti͝r͘red͞. Sh҉e̕ d͞idn'̶t e͡ve̶n ͠need҉ t̶o ̛òpe̛n͞ he̴r ̶ey͠e̢s to knơẃ ͠w͜herę ̕s҉he̡ w̕a̡s. A͞ ̸p͢l̴ac͘e f͞org͏o͟t҉ten ͠a͜nd ̡fo̕r͏sa͢k̕e̷n̴ ̶b̨y ͜ȩv̸ȩn̛ ̵th͢e ̴go̕ds. Not̛ onl̵y ͡d̴i̡d the r͘es̨t҉ óf͘ the c̡ĺan ̧n̕ot ͞kn̨ów of ́t͏ḩis ͡c̛av͡e҉, ̡but s̸h̀e ̀d̸i͞dn̵'͏t e̕it̷h҉e͢r̴.́
͜
̧Not tr̷u͘l͟y.
̢
Su͞r̕e, sh͠e ͠k̴n̕e̸w̸ o̡f ͞i̕t n̷o͘w.́ Bu̢t̵ ̸w͞hen̴ ͘she ͏wąs̴ se͟nt̷ ou̴t͟ ͝of̧ ͢thís p̡la͏ce̸, when͠ ̡her ̀mi͡n̛d ͟w̧a̕s̵ ful͞l ̸o͟f͞ ̨sh̶ado͞w̕y͜ ́fo͢g,̧ ͠w̧he͝n̢ ̵it w͞ás͠ inf̛lu̧encin͘g h̴e͏r͡, s̡he woúldn͏'t͞. ͡Shé'̡d ̢rętu͏rń ͜t͡o w̵a̢ndering ar̷o̸uǹd̛ ͘th͘e̶ ͘f͡or̢tr͞e̵ss, s̡t͜rugg͜li̢ng to̧ r̛e̷m̨e͘mb̨e̸r̵ w͟h̷a҉t ̧she'd ̡bee͟n ͠doin̛g ̧m͠ere ḩơur͠s a͠g͟o͜.̀

Bu͘t̵ for̷ ͡th͘i͞s ̢short͏ mome͡nt͜, ̀he͡r̡ min̶d w͡ould҉ ͡b͞e ̛clea̛r.̛ S͡he a҉lmost́ ̛w͏ish̶ed̷ ̢i͞t ̡was͝n̴'t͘. ̢A̵s͠ f̸ar̶ ́a̛s̕ ͟she c̨oúl͜d̴ t́e̸ll i̶t̢ h͝ad ̢to ͠u̡nd͝o̢ ̧wh͠at͏ ͘it̀ ͝had͟ ̸d͏on͟e ̢to͢ her҉ ̶t̕o̧ ̵gi҉ve h̡er ǹe͏w c̸ơmm̧and̴s. ̷So ͝S̵ur͘f ͡w͝ou̶l͘d ̵h̡av͞e a̶ w͠h̨įl͢ȩ ͜e҉njoy her̴ ͞c͡la͟r̶itý b͢efor͢e̢ it ̀was͏ t͏ak̕e͞n ͏a҉way͟ y͜e̴t͟ a̢gai͘n.

̵Śh̡e d͞i͠dn'̴t̕ d̷ęs͏er͜v͟e̢ ̵t̕hi͡s͠, ̷s̵he̷ t̴o͢l͏d̛ ͏h҉ersel̡f͠.͟ Not even͜ ͘if̧ s͜he'̧d͘ pr͢o̧fąned ev͘e͞ry lást͝ ơne of͜ t͡he͞ ͠El̛e͡ve͡n͢.̢ ͟S͜he'd͞ ͜h̷a͘d̸ a͝ hap͡p̸y̕ li͠fe͜ i̵n her̶ ͡old͟ cl҉an͟. ͠H̀id͏den below͢ ̷t̡he ̨súr͢f͟a̧ce of ́St͏a̶r̀wi͜n͟d͘ Ba͘y,҉ ͝that ҉cļan ̀h҉ad̷ be҉en ̨ev̧e̴rỳt͜h͞i̸n͘ģ ̛s̛hé eve͜r coul̴d̢ ̢h͟a̵ve ás͜ķed ̢for. Wi͢thi̴n͞ a̶ h͢u͏m̢o͘ng̢o̧us b͡u̡bb͜l̛e ́o̡f͘ w͢ind mag͜ic, i̵t ̸wás ̸prot̢ec̸t̴e̷d àn̴d ̀sa͘f̛e̷. ̵Śhe ̶s͠h̶ou͡l͜d͏ h̢av͟e ͝l̶i̵st͞éned̡ to͢ ́t͜he̛ e͜l͝d̛e̵r̴s,̕ ̵a҉nd ̡fo͡rg̸ot͡ten̨ ̧aļl a͟boųt t̀h͢e̢ ͏cu̴rs̴ȩd ͏fo͜r̕tr͟es̸s̛, ̡l̷o̶ng ͝ab͏andone̡d̴ on a͏ d͘ista͏n̷t is̢ļa҉nd.̸

B͜u̢t ̷how c̕ǫu̴l͡d̕ ̶s҉he? ̛Heŗ g͟rea̸t-̢g͜randmoth͏e̛r͜ ͘h̸a̧d ̛liv̢ȩd in͟ ̵t͢h̀e̷ fort҉r͢e̡ss, ͢on͏c̸e,͢ ͞th͜ou͝g͜h̀ ͡s͜h̛e w̧as̶ n͜eve͝r wi͢l̀li͟n҉g ҉to̢ s̸pea̵k ̸a͟b͜o͏u̷t͜ w̶h͢at ̕ha҉pp͘en̶e̡d́ ͘th͜e͡r̶e.̨ ͢So͞ ͠wh̸e̸n a͜ tr̨àvell͢e͜r ̀sh͢ow̨ed͞ ưp in͠ ͞the̛ ͘cl̸an, ̨car̀r̶yi̡n̷ǵ ́à s͘t̸ac͏k ͘o̧f ͞o̸ld jo̸u̶r҉na͜ls ͞t̡hat̸ h̕ad̢ o̷n̨c͘e͏ ͏bélo̶n͏ged ̢to ano͟th̶er͠ d̢r̸ago͡n fr̢om tha̧t ̷fo̧r͞tre͟s̶s,͞ ̛she'd ḩa̧d҉ t̵o ͜buy̷ t̨h̸em̛.͜ Su͞ppo͘se̷d̢l̶y̸, ҉t͢hat d͞r̛ágon̡ ha̵d͠ g͢i̧v͟en͞ ̡t̡hem ̶to ͏ano͏th͜er̛ cl̴a͡ņ ̀f҉or s̡**͝e̕keep͘įng l͏o̧ng ͏ago͘, ̀a͝n͢d̷ ͡the ͢t͠rave̢l̕ler͝ ͢wa̡s҉ loo̴kin̕g ̷for a͜ ̷rel̢a͞ti̶ve̛ w̷h̵o ̴m͟i̡ght ̶ẁant ̕t҉hęm. We͠l҉l̡,͜ ̕S͘u͏r҉f ͝d̸ècideḑ s͠he͠ ͠was ̷clos̸e e̕n͠o͟ug̸h.̵
̴
҉Sh̢e͢ q͜uic҉kly͟ ͏d͞ev͞ou͢re͘d ͜th́e ́c͏o̶n̵t͝e̢n͏ts ̷of͢ ̕t͜ho͢se jo͡ur͠n͟ąl̕s,͟ a̵n͞d̛ ͞tḩe͜ tr͝a̡g͝ic t́a͡le ̀of t͢he̶ir ̸o͢w͡ne̴r. B͏ut ̡the̡ ͢s͘t͡o̶ry wa̢s unfiníshe̛d,҉ ҉th̸e͟ ̴j̶o͏urnalś h͝avi̕ng ̨bee͟n ͢give͢n awáy fo̶r safeke͘ep͘ing̀ b҉efòre th́e͡ dr͠a͡g̛òn͝ ̧m̧e̛t͘ ͢t́he̸i͞r u͏l͡ti̶ma҉te fa̶te. T̴h̶e͠ last̷ ͢b̸oo̶k ̶ended͜ wh͡e͘r͠e ͢t͡he̡y left t͘he͘ now̴-͞c̶urs̛e̷d͜ fortre̸s̛s͢, w̴i̛th th͘e̸ ̵i̵mp̢lic̶ation ́th҉at ą f͏inal j͞oưrnal wa͞s s̨t̸i̡ll iń pr҉ơg͢r̶es͠s͘ ̵and̷ ҉t͟hus̛ ̢ķept i̢n͟ ̵th͝eir ̕po̕ss͝e̕ss̨io̡n͘.
͢
S̴u͞rf̡ ha̧d to̧ kno̢w ͏w̢ha͡t͜ had ̢h͠a҉pp̵ened ͞tò ͏them͟.̨ I͝t ͜would̴ ̀be ̢a͜ da̴nger̸o̴us jou͘rn͢ey,͞ f́o̸r͡ ҉s̸u̧re, ̀bu͜t̛ no ̢W̴i̴n͢d̢ ̕drag̨ơn ̡h̴ad tru̷l҉y liv͜ed͜ without͏ g͞oi̛ng ̡o̡n ́at ͡ĺe͠ast ̡o͝ne ͡adventu͝re͏.͡ ̡Sh̵ȩ se͟t͏ ou̡t̴, tal̴k͢in͠g ̢wi͢th̸ the elde̷r͘s͡ of e̴ve͟r̡y ͝clan̢ sh̕e ̧c͝a͡m̸e ̢a͘cros̸s͟,̀ fol͝lòw͡in͝g̀ à ̧t͘ra̢įl òf ol̨d sto̵ríe͟s ͟a̴n̨d̀ n͢ea̴r-̷forgot͢t̷ȩn͢ ̧ev̷ent͠s.҉ ̨
͞
T͝h̡a͡t̵ pa͢th ͝to͘ơk h̕er all ̛t͞h̡e wày t͞o͏ ̨th͏e ̨Shi͟fti̕n͝g Ex͟p̷ans̶e͠.́ Th̀eŗe s̷ḩe fòu̷nd ͟the ̛rųin̷s̡ o̷f͡ a̢ ͡cl̡ań, ful̸l҉ of͠ cru͠mble͡d bu̢il̸d͡in̵gs ͜a̡nd un҉i͠d̀ent͘ifiabl͢e ̷p͟iéce͠s ̵of̨ me͏t͟a͘l,̷ ͟all҉ hea͘v͏ily͡ ̧w̷ȩa͘t̸h́e͟r̶ed ̨by s͘un a̢ņd ̡s͘a͠nd.͠ ̶ ͟H͢ad҉ t̴h̡e ̛dŗagon̶ ͝fr̨om̶ ̸t͜he ̢jo̷ur͠nal̸s li̕v͏éd͝ ͟h̵e͠re? ͞Sh͢e ͏spent͏ a ͏few ̡d̶a͠ys͡ sca̵v͠en̢g̸in͘g ̢th̡r̶ou͠g͡h t҉he ͏rub͜bļe,̷ b͢u̧t f͜o͏un̷d ͡no̕t͠h̸ing͞ ҉ęxpec̶t̀ ̀f͜or̷ ̛ev̵id̢enc̶e th̀a̶t͘ ҉othe͡r͝s̛ ̶ḩad̶ ͟loǫt̡eḑ t͢h҉e pl҉ace f͞ìr͞s̷t҉.
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A̴fter͡ th̷at͡,͏ she̶ ̴beg͡a͞n͏ ͠e͢xp͜a͡ndi͜ng ͜her̷ se̛ar̨ch̶.̛ S͢urf͜ com͠b͝ed ͢th̛ȩ d̢eśert̢,̢ w͏o̴rk̸in҉g ̛o͟n̸l̡y̧ a҉t ni͢g͟h̢t a̕nd͡ stil҉l̶ ͡needin͜g ͏t̶o t͝a͟k̀e ̢c̀o̷ǹst̴ant ̴br͝eak̴s͟ t̢o p͝re̢ve̛nt o͠v͏e̛r͞h̴ea͝ti̸n͞g ͝d͘u͟e to̴ he̢r̛ ͠lo͜ng,͢ saņd̶-cak̢ed͞ fur̕. E̛vent̶ual̶l̸y s͏he di̷s͟co̧v͢e̷ręd a ̴d͡a͞r͢k ca̸vę, hidde͟n̴ ìn̵ a ̸s͏ha͠llo̷w ͢c̕an͜y̛o͢n. ̨C͜au͏t̢io͟usly,̸ s̕he ͜put ̷o͠n͞ ͏a ̀h̕e̛adĺamp̷ shę'͟d͢ ̕b͏ou͘g͟h̶t ͟o͟f͝f ̴a ̀L͞ig͠h̀tn̷inģ ̷c͘la͜n, ͝and ļi̸t it̷ b̡e͢f̷o͡r̀e ͡s̛li̴n̡k̢i̧n̷g͢ ̶i͝n͞t͜ǫ t͜h̴è ̶ca҉ve. ̴It̷ ́cle͝aŗly wàsn't͞ ͠a v҉er͏y ̧g͠o͘o̴d͜ ̢one, barely l͢i̸gh̀t͜ing͘ ͜t̡ḩe ͠càv̨e̛ a̴ ͏f̸e҉w̷ ҉f̨ee̵t͘ ͏i̷n frǫnt́ of ḩe̢ŕ f̀a̛c̵e. ͡
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̕Bu̷t̸ ͜t͞h̀a̡t͢ ҉woul͢d̸n't̵ stop h̀e̕r̨. Su̡r̶f͞ ̧pưsh̴ed̕ ͞onw̶a͏r̶ds͠, de͘spit҉e ͟t̕hȩ ̡cr͠eepįng ͠f͏e͢a͜r͟ ̵t̛h̶at ͘fi̕lled͠ ̧h͡er̀ as th̸e c̡ave̴ got ̧colde͘r̴ a͏nd̢ ̶d͠ark̀e͟r̛.͝ F̛r̶o̸m̕ b͞eh̴i͞nd,̨ a ҉guśt o̕f ͡ẃi̷nd̡ blȩw,̸ cąu͢sińg ̨her ͘lam͜p ́to̕ fl̡icker̸.͘ St̛a͠rt͢e͘d͟,̵ ͘Sur͢f͡ turne͡d ̶a͟r̡ou̵nd͏, j̢u҉st ̷in͏ ̵t́i͜m͟e ͝to͝ ̨s͜e̶e͝ t͜h̀e g͞r̶i͝m̡ v̛i͟s̴a̸ge͞ ҉of̶ ̸an̕ ͏i̕mpe҉r̀ial's ͡s̴k͡ull͝ ̡b̢ef̸o͢r̢e ҉t̷he ͝l̸am͘p͏ ̕we͠ǹt ou͞t̕ f͝or ̡g̸ood̴.

The͠n ͜s͠he̴ w͜oke ̧u͡p͠ ͝in̵ ̕this c҉av̀e ͘f̢ór ͢the̕ ̴fir͏s͡t̶ ̡time͟. ̡Tr̛y ̸as s̵he͘ ̴mi͝ght̀, she can'̷t ̸r̶e͢m͘emb͟eŕ ͟the j͡oúr̀n͠ey͟ śhe͝ ͢m̧u̢s̨t͏ ha͏v̸e ̶t̶ake̵n t͏o ͜g̵e̵t h͜ere.̢ ̸B͞u̕t́ ̀tha̷t mak͢e͢s ͜s̷e͢n͡se ̛t͡o̸ he̴r͠.̡ ͟It wa̕s in̸ ̷fu̸ĺl c͞o͟ntrol ́of̧ her̷ ͢ba̕ck̴ ͟t͝hén. ̷B͘ut n͡ot̛ a͘ǹymore. So͡me͜bód̀ỳ w̶o̷u͢lḑ no͝t̷i͡ce͡ i͘ts͏ pre̷s̨ȩǹce ͘s͘ho͠ul̨d͝ ͢Su̕r̛f͝ ҉re͏m҉ai̡n ̛fu͟lly͢ und̀e̵r͝ i͏ts co͢n̵t̶r͟ol͟.͟ S͏o i͞t ̴lef͠t her̛ b́od̀y͏, tak̢i̵n̨g s̛he̵lt̡e̸r i͘n̶ th͏e crỳstal͢ wall͜s͠ ͜of t̕hi͜s ͘cur̢s̶ed ͞cave.
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̵Ųn̶der ҉its in҉f̢lu͜ence,̨ Sur̵f ̡h̢a̡s̨ don͞e̵ ̸thin͠gs̕ th͟at́ s̷h͡e ̡d̨o͏esn'͝t͝ tŕul̛y ̴und̢er͠s̕ta͝nd̢. ̛Of̶ten, she̸’̷s͠ ͝ma̸d͜e͘ to ͢do̴ ́m̨i̶nor̷ thi̛ǹg͟s,͞ such̶ ́as͞ ̷mo̷v͜i̢n̸g ͝obj̡éct̡s a͝b͟ǫut̶ ̸an͡d ̛s̢teal̕i͡ng ̵un͡w͝atc͟h̢e͠d ̷p̵ape̕r̡s. ̵Buţ a͠s ҉far͝ ͡a͠s S҉u̶rf͜ ͝c͡an ̶telļ,̧ ̡thos͡e j͢o͝u͝rn̸al̴ś t̵ha̴ţ lea̷d h̴er ̷a͠s̡tr̨a̵y f̀o͢r͝ ҉were ́t͠he m̸o͡s͠t ͟i͝m̡por͢t͜an͝t. It ̷was ̨f̶a͘r͢ mo͘rę for̛cęf͠ul͝ w̵h̡en th́o͏s̡e̵ ̢bơo̡k̛s̨ ͠wer͘e in̶vo͢lv̡ed́. ͞O͞n̡e̡ ҉b̵y ͢one̵,͝ she͘ p̸la̵ced ̧th̢e̡m a͝r͞oùnd͏ th҉e̛ f̡o̶r͢t͡re͝s͜s,͠ i͟n ͜p҉l̛ac͝es w҉h͘e̕re͟ ́th͡ey'd be qui͘c͝k̡ly̢ ͏f̴o̢u͢n͟d͝,̢ but̢ it͞ ̛w͜ou͡ld ́b̵e̶ ̛b̛e̕li̛evabļe̷ t̛h̛a̕ţ tḩe͝y͟'̕d bee͘n ther̸e̴ th̨e whol҉e t҉ime̵. By̵ n͏o̧w,̧ ̵ev̢e̡r͘ỳ la̧st͜ jo͜urn͘a͞l̸ h͞ad b̸e̕ȩn͜ ͏plan͘t͞ed̶, i̧nc҉l̨udin͟g͝ o̶n̨e҉ ̵she̴ do̴e̵s͢n'́t ͝re̛m͟e̛mb̨er g̛ett͘in̸g ̨fr͡om ͡th͞e tr͞a͟vel̢l̛er͝. W͘a̴s ͟t̕hat ͡w҉hat̶ ̷sh̛e fou̴n̸d ̕i̷n the c̡av̴e? N̵o. Th̨e̕r̡ę ͞mu͞st̴ ha͢ve b̸een͡ ̕so͞met̶ḩín҉g͜ eĺs҉e͝. ̕No͘t҉h̵i̴ng m͏a͟de͡ s̕e̵n̕se ̢other͡wis̢e҉.͏
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̕D́e͠ép͡ ͡in ̕he͢r͞ own̴ thought͞s̨,̢ S҉ur͡f͢ ̸f̢ain͠t͜l̢y n̶o͞t͞ic̶ed he͟r ̷bo͡d̶y ͘gétt͝i̵ng͟ to ͏i̡tś ̕feet̡.͝ So̵me͟th̴i͟n̸g͏ ͞wi͞thin͟ t̷he wal̡l̛s͝ ̧st̀i̸r̴red̨,̨ ͢daŕk̷ ͏p̶arti҉cl͢és̢ r͢i͡sing fro̡m҉ b͝e͝low̛ ańd͝ coale͞s͠cin̛g in̡t͡o͡ a ́s͟t͞r̷oņger͏ ̷pr͘e͝seņc̨e.͏ S̡urf ͠s̛tr͢u͞gg͘led to̴ k̡ęep he͘r ͝he͘ad ́d̡o̕w͡n a̡n͡d̡ h̛er ̀e̛ye̵s c̸l͢os̶e̷d, ͏b̸ut ͞her ̨body̨ ͘w͠ou̴l͝d͞ ͢n̕o̶t ̵r̢e͏f̡use ͞t̶he̛ cal̷l͜.͡ Şlo͠wl̵y, ͢sh͜e r͝os̕e,̡ ̛fàci̢ng̀ th́e ͘c͟rys̸tal̸ ̸w͜al͜l. S͢h̢e ͏looked̵ a͝t it.
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͟O͡nc̸e ̵ag͢a͏i҉n͜, e͜v̶eŗythi̕n͢g̴ ́went͏ da̕rk a͡ş h͏er ͝m̛i͞n͞d clo̴ud͏ed o͢ve̢r͘.̸