[ at the sound of vex's voice, astoria seems to return to herself. briefly, and she looks . . . startled. her brow furrows, and as she inhales, the magical energy that broadcasts her image seems to waver. as if the network itself is responding to whatever she is feeling, and doing. ]

You made it.

[ faintly. ]

You made it, so she -- she was wrong. Incorrect, wrong. [ murmured to herself, her hair falling into her eyes. ] She was wrong, and you are all fine. Here, at the Temple, but Akvos . . .

[ disconnected from her. she can't feel it anymore. ]