They cursed their sudden blindness again, but Abdicus carefully soothed the network with reassurances. They knew where it was. Although it would be more delicate now, they had calculated it distance from them already. All they had to do was reach to that particular spot and they could grab a hold of it.

They took their time, conversing and ensuring over and over that they had the right point, and then carefully pointed their magic directly at the place they knew the key to be. And, sure enough, the arcane had a hold of something. Whatever it was, they moved it backwards, feeling for shifting air until the key banged into the bars, making an audible sound.

Maneuvering it around, they slid the key into the lock a bit clumsily, and turned it after fumbling for a moment. The padlock clicked open.

Joyous celebration rang through their small network and even though something in them felt lost, they understood the potential. To grow farther, the become stronger then they had been. Potential potential POTENTIAL. As Emuh disappeared, The Consul returned to them, still looking quite exhausted but awoken to hear the owl's words. There was pride in it, though, to be serving something as strong as them. The Chorus touched its mind fondly as they felt its own congratulations.

A good and loyal servant to us. Rest, now, and then we will return to Eridanus. Our business here has finished. Perhaps they would one day return, in their familiar's eyes, or perhaps in the threads of their mycelia. Perhaps one day they would cover all over the caves..!

The Consul curled around their nest and immediately fell asleep again as the Chorus dreamed of the future.

After a few hours of rest, The Chorus eventually prodded the Consul's mind until it awoke, drowsy, tired, and feeling sore. Some of the voices felt saddened by this and offered their sympathies, but other were impatient. They wanted to return home. Abdicus attempted to compromise and offered to the Consul to take over - they could rest their mind for a while longer and then, when they returned, rest their body.

The Consul agreed, grateful, and this new magic that Emuh had given them...it surged and the Chorus flooded the body of the Consul. The rat's mind was enveloped in their embraced, where it slumbered once again while the mushroom took the motor controls.

It was...very very odd at first. It had been one thing to watch through its eyes and experience its senses, but now it felt everything. The rat's eyes blinked open at the Chorus's command and they knew what it was to have a body.

They were not use to it at first, trying to control every part at once and the rat was suddenly vibrating from the intensity, its paws going every direction, tail whipping, head and ears all moving, sending it stumbling into the ground. Patience, patience, Abdicus whispered as it seated itself in the central control, so to speak. Carefully, like a commander ordering each unit at a time, it made each nerve and muscle move to its command. Trembling, the rat rose back to its feet.

They tested for a little while, moving forward and backwards and turning around, opening its mouth a bit and wiggling their tail. After a few minutes, they felt comfortable enough to turn towards the next. They took the reigns in their jaws and turned, beginning to pull the nest containing their currently sleeping body forward.

It was intense and difficult and they had a new appreciation, now, for the Consul's dedication. They would find a way to reward it when they returned. For now, they allowed the rat's mind to rest as they push its body onwards, back home.

*exit