Eva ran her hand along the wall as she descended downwards into the darkness, taking care to mind her step. The last thing she wanted to do was pitch forward and give herself a concussion.

When she finally reached the bottom of the stairs, the girl surveyed her surroundings with a small frown. It was...quite a bit smaller than she had imagined, but it wasn’t only that. The walls, she noticed, were made of little tablets, each with a glowing rune etched into its surface. Unable to resist the urge, Eva reached out and carefully brushed her fingers over some of the runes.

She immediately shivered at the strange whispers that seemed to resonate in her head. Just what were these things?

Hmm, you are...

Eva jerked her head up in surprise, blue eyes wide as she whipped her head around in search of the speaker. However, there was no one in the Cove with her—from what she could see, she was completely alone. Had she just imagined it, then?

So you can hear me.

Eva’s hand flew up to clutch at her head. That voice—it had just come from her head! It was a feminine voice, smooth, calm, and it actually would have been a rather soothing voice had she not been alarmed by the fact that the voice had invaded her mind.

”Who are you?” She asked aloud, brows creasing as she scanned the room, ”Better yet—where are you?” Could that voice have belonged to her partner? When she had been directed here by one of the other hunters, she had been told that the reason she had to enter the Cove was to find her weapon.

...And now that she looked at the wall a little closer, the runes kind of resembled weapons, didn’t they? Swords, bows, maces...

I’m here, The voice suddenly whispered, and Eva felt her feet guide her towards one of the walls, I’m here. Follow my voice. Find me.

As she neared the wall, she found that her gaze was drawn towards one of the tablets in particular. Moving closer, she reached out to trace the rune etched on this particular tablet. It was a...a stick? No, it was a staff of some sort. When her finger met the cool stone, she felt a strange sensation fill her. Was this it? Eva cleared her throat.

”...Hello.” Was all she managed, weakly.

Hello, The voice echoed back, sounding as cool and collected as ever.

There was a long pause where neither of them said or did anything. Finally, the voice sighed.

Well? She sounded expectant.

Eva frowned, staring at the tablet uncertainly. Well what? Alright, she had found the mysterious voice in her head...but what now? Reaching out, she touched the tablet again, eyes widening as she felt it shift under her finger. Oh! Closing her hand around it, she pulled it out, and then promptly began to stare blankly as something formed in her hand.

A staff, and it was really quite a lovely staff as well, slender and topped with a glowing crystal. Not too heavy either, She noticed, visibly pleased. Clearing her throat, she asked aloud, ”Do you have a name?”

Chara, The voice replied, her voice no longer a faint whisper, And you are?

”Eva Valente, but just call me Evie.”

It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Eva. Chara seemed to ignore the bit about her nickname.

Eva grimaced slightly but she shrugged, letting it go. She supposed it wasn’t that big of a deal, and honestly? She was more distracted by the fact that she had actually managed to succeed in finding her partner. Eying the staff curiously, she held it up, and then gave it a little twirl.

Eva, don’t--

”WOAH.” Eva jerked her head back just as a blade sheared through a few strands of her hair. Where had that—!? It was only then that she noticed that the weapon was not merely a simple staff—at the end was a long, thin blade. A long, thin, razor-sharp blade. The young women shuddered at how close it had come to her face as she raised a hand to touch her hair. She had been fortunate that it had only grazed her.
Chara sighed in exasperation. Once Eva recovered, she simply grinned sheepishly.

”...Whoops. W-well, uh...we have plenty of time to practice, right?”

Chara sighed.