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"Weeell, you see.." Asrafel began, taking a deep pause as his body shifted slightly. "It is time you started to think about your future."

The voice that had come from Asrafel's lips was no longer Asra's. In fact it was quite the opposite; emotionless and vague, Halexei's haunting voice continued. "I regret the unfortunate circumstances of our first encounter, Lonan, but.." Asrafel turned around, vacant and sightless orbs raising slightly to meet an equally sightless pair. "I am.. regrettably detained elsewhere, or I would have come to meet you myself. However, this will have to do.. for now."

Lonan, who recognized people not by their looks, but by other characteristics, would likely have realized a different being stood before him than Asrafel now.

Asrafel made no move as Lonan pulled away, his entire facade simply existing numbly, as if the only live part of him was now his lips.

"My name is Halexei. I am the one who brought you, and those like you, to this world. It is plain to my puppet's eyes that your soul has reached the limit of it's physical constraints, and it is my job to relieve you. But first, you must choose the path you're willing to follow. Much like those before you, I must warn you that you should be sure about what your decision. You shall not ever get a chance to return to this moment, and change. I have listened to your words, but your decision is still unclear. Therefore, you must prove yourself."

Here his quietly commanding voice stopped, causing a strange pause between the two.

"Tests will come to you when you least expect it. Your actions will determine which path you wish to take. Until then, you must pledge yourself, to lessen the burden on your soul."

Asrafel's fingers brushed callously along his chest, and the skin illuminated in color. A bright orb seeped out from within him, hovering just inches away once it had been fully released from it's flesh and blood prison.

"Touch it." Was Halexei's only explanation. He was never one to mince words unnecessarily.

"Pledge yourself to this process, to the trial. Only then can you grow, and follow the footsteps you have chosen to lead you, leaving your own in their stead for those who come after you to follow."

Though internally Halexei was a touch annoyed at how long this was taking, when other.. pressing matters were at hand, his voice nor expression showed no sign of this stress.

"You must create your own destiny, Lonan. And then you must follow it. This is the way."

The orb didn't much like his touch for a moment. It's axis spin stopped, but the tendrils of color and light refused to reach out for him. Asrafel's head turned down for a moment to look at it, before his eyes narrowed. A piercing sound filled the air for a millisecond, before the tendrils reached out, wrapping around Lonan. Their soft touch would feel like silk, filling the air with a gentle wind that forced his hair to defy gravity, until the ribbons of light melted into his own skin. All at once the orb was left alone, and returned to it's slow spin.

Asrafel's empty eyes rose up to Lonan, as he pulled the orb back into his body, letting the thin chest devour the bright object. Within the flesh the orb glowed and burned, and just as soon as the moment had begun, it ended as the light snuffed out.

Another awkward silence challenged them. Asrafel broke it with the voice that was not his. "I would not suggest attempting to decipher when you will be tested, or how. It is best left to the unknown, for your own good. I will return to you, when your tasks are done. Then, my dear Lonan, you will choose."

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((Congratulations, Lonan is now on his final growth quest! There are two parts to this quest, the first part being three very special playdates. You must roleplay with three separate people, and within the roleplay Lonan must change the mind of those which he encounters. This change may be a decision, short term or long, but it must be clear that Lonan is accountable for this change. Two of these playdates must be with Shattered that Lonan has little to no experience with, and the third can be anyone, Shattered or otherwise. Once this task is done, the second part of his quest will reveal itself. Good luck!))

The silence continued on, as Halexei offered Lonan what little time he had to ask questions. As Lonan had none, Halexei, however thankful, could not express his appreciation.

"Until then, Lonan." Was his curt goodbye, and without much pomp and circumstance, Halexei was gone. Life filled Asrafel's eyes once more, only to have them roll back and close as the boy fell to his knees in exhaustion.

Cut a puppet's strings and what do they have left to keep them standing?

Asrafel sagged into Lonan's grasp, his eyes closed as he attempted to regain what little strength he could.

"Ah.. oh dear. That must have been quite the talk.." He whispered, a little of his cheerfullness still bubbling out through the exhaustion. He opened his eyes, gazing up at Lonan with a piercing gaze. Hm.. he still looked the same. Did something go wrong?

Asrafel reached up to touch Lonan's cheek, testing it. Yes, he was still there, still real. "Are you all right, Lonan?" The boy asked, ignoring his own state in favor of the worry for his friend, his kin.

Tested? Well, that explained why Lonan hadn't changed, at least. It didn't explain away why Halexei felt the need to possess Asrafel's body in order to pass the message on. Usually, Halexei promised to deliver messages such as this personally.. so Asrafel felt a little twinge of annoyance at such unnecessary exhaustion.

Asrafel rested his head against Lonan's shoulder, nodding softly. "I hate to be a bother.. but as it is, I wouldn't make it home. If it does not inconvenience you too much, I would appreciate accepting that offer.."

His words grew softer every moment, and it seemed as though he was falling asleep on his feet. Should Lonan help him to the blankets, he would flop against them, curling inward and falling fast asleep almost instantly.