"Seconded," says the keriol – apparently that's the name of the colorful stoat-like creature – after a delay.

"Part of us how?"

… Can an animal shrug? Because apparently the keriol has tried to give the keriol equivalent of a shrug.

"Hmm. The word I want to use is soul."

"That's ridiculous."

"And yet."

"I want to second that that's ridiculous," says the keriol. "… But I agree."

"...What now?"

"Somehow weirdly related to you, is an animal, happens to mysteriously appear when you get teleported by a weird mirror? I'm gonna say either I'm your soul animal or I'm some weird furry brother you never had," says the keriol. "Oh, and I'm a keriol, if he didn't make it clear earlier."

"And do you have a name?" asks Thario.

"Why would I have a name?" asks the thinks-it's-a-soul-animal. "I just mysteriously appeared."

Sigh.

"Doesn't seem to be terribly in touch with his soul, does he?"

"He does not."

"I'm just being awkward," says the keriol. "I feel like I deserve the chance to do that, seeing as I just recently came into existence."

(Sigh. Again.)

"Seems somewhat cruel. The poor boy is obviously distressed."

"He can deal," says the keriol.

Thario… is not really sure whether to be offended or complimented here? So he goes for a slight glare.

"Anyway. Perhaps we should explore?" suggests the animal.

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

There is another door in this room. Would they like to go through it or would they like to explore the current room? (It has a chair, a table, and a small filing cabinet.)

Through the door? Through the door.

Through the door is: an underground… something? It looks a bit like a ravine. With rushing water.

"… Well that's somewhat new," says Thario.

The keriol jumps up onto his shoulder, causing him to make a bit of a noise, and then decides to settle curled up around the back of his neck.

Thario does not look super happy about this, but he doesn't brush the keriol off either.

Elleira and the lizard share a silent look of agreement that they will not be doing that.

"Upstream or down?"

"Upstream, probably?" He shrugs.

His animal doesn't seem to have any input. Seems rather content just curled up on Thario's shoulders, actually.

"Upstream it is."

Elleira and her lizard start walking.

Thario also starts walking.

"… Aleir," says the keriol.

"Huh?" asks Thario.

"My name. I think Aleir works."

"It's got a nice sound to it."

"Thanks," says Aleir. "… I also seem to have the weird translation thing. Which is neat, but a bit weird."

"Well, I can sense the Force, so we're matched on the weird magic front."

"I can do lumen, too. As shown earlier with the green thing."

Theo sighs.

"… Sorry about that," says Aleir.