"MISTRESS!"

Sofia runs towards her.

She croaks: "I'm fine!"

She slowly gets in a sitting position, her head still spinning.

"Cynthia, I think I can't do a big one from your world, you should try it. Let's hope it works for you."

Cynthia shrugs, touch her hands to the hangar doors and... willing to lead Elsewhere? She really doesn't know what kind of mental motion she's supposed to make.

It works on the first try. It takes no effort on her part, just a gentle mental nudge.

The bar is further away than where it was when they tried with normal doors, at the end of a corridor as wide as the hangar door she just opened.

"Oh God, this is genuinely slightly terrifying. Well, one of you might be able to open the door, so... please do? And get some people to walk over through, so we... know slightly more to make a plan?"

"I know some people that would follow me."

She walks to the end of the corridor, where there are some smaller doors, and opens one. It opens to Sana's house, which... appears to be exactly as it was two days ago.

"Keep the door open for me?"

Cynthia nods at Sofia, looking slightly tense. She instinctively places a hand against her right thigh.

After almost an hour has passed, voices can be heard from around the corner.

"How long have we known each other, Agnese? Why would I pull such a prank on you? And why in my mistress home of all places?"

As they round the corner, Cynthia can see that Sofia is walking with three other people, who to Sana's eye are clearly dressed as servants of House Sarini.

Cynthia waves at Sofia and the others. "Welcome! You'll be happy here, trust me."

"And she's the very Good person I was telling you about, she's the reason why I can even offer you the opportunity."

The three servants are staring agape at the door. "That's an illusion, isn't it?"

"Well, if it was, you'd be already screwed, so might as well give it a chance, no?"

"Mistress, I had been thinking, because you're on the other side and can reopen the door anyway, you don't really need to keep it open for me. Plus, I may be able to open another door that's more convenient than... your bedroom door?"

"Ok, let's try this. I'm going to wait for five minutes, if you haven't opened the door from the other side I'm going to reopen it from here."

Sofia didn't manage to open the door, unfortunately. But Sana manages it. "Wait, I can see that they haven't shifted positions even slightly. I think time stops for the people on their side when we haven't opened the door leading there! We can take time to prepare and be ready."

"Yeah, to me it looked like the door closed and reopened immediately."

Cynthia gives her friendliest, warmest smile at the trio of servants behind Sofia. She doesn't want to scare them off by seeming too generous. "Welcome to my homeworld! There's so many new things that you'll get to see! And I can guarantee you'll have work if you want to stay!"

They all step through the door, which Sofia starts closing behind them.

Just as it's about to close, she stops and says: "I still think you should pray to one of the Good gods, Cynthia."

"Good gods? Like Iomedae? But I don't even know who that is." Cynthia thinks "Iomedae, if you hear me, I am but a humble woman happy to devote myself to the end of tyranny and for wealth and happiness to be enjoyed by all", more confused and shrugging than anything else, to herself.

Uh.

That spark is definitely looking in Her direction, even though she is calling for Iomedae. She sends a packet of information Her way, anyway. And another to Desna, because the spark comes from unfathomably far away, and She may know something about it.

Cynthia feels - <Warmth. Resolve. Redemption. Happiness. Hope. Pride. Hug. Intrusion-Permission?>

Cynthia accepts anything that happens to her, not really trying to resist the bundle of emotions and concepts coming her way.

Permission given, She reads the bright spark's mind, trying to be as gentle as possible but sending a <Sorry> because She knows that it will be painful for her, even at Her gentlest.

The spark is an emotional healer, who is dedicating her life to giving warmth and love to people who are recovering and healing. <Pride>

She tried to contact Iomedae because of a suggestion from the local spark standing next to her, who is... oh poor soul, I'm so happy you found a healer.

And her plan to end tyranny is...

IOMEDAE, LOOK THERE!

-oh.

Cynthia will feel like falling backwards off a cliff, dropping into ice cold water, and struggling to breather until...

She is in a mostly empty room, with a couple chairs and a table. They look incredibly... simple.

The walls are white and featureless, and the floor is made of faux-wood. There is a big window, overlooking forested hills and a small lake. There are no people visible outside, nor buildings.

The rooms looks at the same time familiar and... weird. Like someone tried to create something familiar for Cynthia, but had no context on the æsthetic, or architecture, or her society at all.

Standing next to the window there is a woman, looking similar to Sana, although more muscular and tanned. She is wearing metal armor, and has a red cloak on her shoulders. At her hip sits a scabbard for a sword that is more than a meter long.

She turns around, and smiles at her.

"Hello, I'm Iomedae. Yes, Gods are real on this world. They probably aren't where you come from, no.

And you... you are the best news I have received in my whole existence so far. Sarenrae told me you come from a different world, and have the technology, soldiers, and will to free Cheliax from the clutches of Hell. I think we could do much more than that, if we succeed in working together - and I'm hopeful we can.

Sarenrae is the Goddess or Redemption, Honesty and Healing, and when you prayed She heard you because you were thinking about helping people, and sharing happiness, and those are more her domains than mine, but as soon as She got your permission to read your mind, She could see your plan, and told me to talk to you, because I am the Goddess of Winning against Evil.

I'm sure you have a lot of questions. I am refraining from reading your mind, because I will not assume your consent. If you give me explicit permission, I can read them and answer them directly, otherwise you can just ask, as if you were speaking to me."

Cynthia gathers her mind in another gesture, blinking two times, very, very slowly. "Why are you speaking to me? I'm not a warrior, or even a leader. Or even someone who really has the courage to truly fight evil."

"And yet there you are, terrified but willing to be on the front line of this. Not believing in gods yet willing to trust the suggestion of someone from Cheliax, because it might allow you to save more people, sacrifice less lives. Being there because you can't accept that people are living like that, without love, in fear, oppressed.

You say you're not a leader, but it was you holding that door. I will communicate with your warriors, in time. But I wanted to tell you I'm proud of you."