... She could have returned to far worse places, probably, so Asaraanda can stay calm for the moment. She spares the chai and biscuits a glance and refocuses on her surroundings, kneeling by the flowers with her staff to the ground.
"Where are you?" she calls, fingertips brushing over the flower petals, absently counting them. "You brought me here, the least you can do is greet your guest."
"I was giving you time to adjust," says a calm female voice. An eight-armed woman slowly appears in view, before she too kneels by the flowers and places her weighty spear on the ground as well. "Greetings, Inquisitor Asaraanda, and welcome back. I am Durga, Eight, Strength.
"Just 'Inquisitor' or 'Asaraanda' works, if it's all the same," she answers, glancing at the 'woman' and eyeing her many arms. "What should I call you?"
"Asaraanda, then. Inquisitor is... a title, not a name." Her fingers open and she offers her many palms upward, in friendly greeting. "Whatever you wish. All are my names this round."
"... Durga, then. That seems the most name-like," she shrugs. Though she's not quite sure what she's meant to do when faced with so many hands, blinking confusedly before cautiously rising to offer one of her own to shake.
"Many of my Chosen prefer it," she answers, amused. Durga's lowest right hand reaches to return the handshake, only after one of her left hands takes the spear.
"I have Chosen you in Synodiporia. Sadly you cannot yet return home. You are needed still for Phase Three. You will compete in Phase Three. For me, in my name. I cannot compete directly, but I can help. You, and others. We are... a good match, you and I. You represent my idiom."
"Because I'm big and a Qunari?" she asks, just a bit drily. "What's this 'Phase Three' entail, then? I take it this is when all the Trump-marked are actually put in competition against each other, but what are you expecting us to do, and for what?"
"Because you exemplify my values," she answers honestly, looking a bit bemused. "Physical strength means nothing. If there's no spiritual strength behind it. I chose you because you're Compassionate, and Kind."
She twirls her spear to her left set of hands, who all grasp it loosely. "Not against each other. You will do much the same as before. Conclusions will determine who moves on. Into the next bracket of the tournament. We Arcana are competing for the World."
"Mm, that's not a terrible choice, but..." she trails off, thinking on some of her friends. "Would you give leeway to those who might not want to return to their own worlds to instead go with others? Would we even remember our time here?"
She seems to consider it. "If they do not wish to return. I will allow them to stay. The friendship among you is... quite strong. It is admirable." She smiles, then, and nods at the last question. "Indeed, for I am not Zero."
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"Where are you?" she calls, fingertips brushing over the flower petals, absently counting them. "You brought me here, the least you can do is greet your guest."
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"So, why am I here, Durga?"
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"I have Chosen you in Synodiporia. Sadly you cannot yet return home. You are needed still for Phase Three. You will compete in Phase Three. For me, in my name. I cannot compete directly, but I can help. You, and others. We are... a good match, you and I. You represent my idiom."
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She twirls her spear to her left set of hands, who all grasp it loosely. "Not against each other. You will do much the same as before. Conclusions will determine who moves on. Into the next bracket of the tournament. We Arcana are competing for the World."
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