Sosiqui
They were dancing, Eibhilin had said - a strange group of lights, flooding, flowing around a small house on the outskirts of the city that housed the Pantheon. Lights like swampfire, classic will-o-th'-wisps. Unusual enough to send Illumin away from Solde-on-Palecliff, enough to tempt him into venturing out into the world again.He had seen them before, memory said. Long ago, such lights had danced at the Dread Gates. There were dim echoes of a time when contracts and bindings were made, dealings for souls and their keeping. He had made sure, once, that his followers went to the right place once they died... before it had become something delegated to Aoidei, who had in their own turn become traitors.
Even as you are now, the guilt nagged, as Illumin followed the lights, trying to ignore the voice. Had he not aided the mortals in Solde-on-Palecliff even though he had no obligation to do so - other than being divine? It was nowhere near enough atonement for what he had done, but if Underworld was waiting at the end of the trail of ghostlight, the next step would be at hand.
He landed in front of the house, brushed away at a few wisps, and raised one hand to knock. The decanter was held close to his side, wrapped carefully. He carried it with him always, now.
Zero Dream
After the god had knocked, there was movement inside of the house. At the very least, the flight there would not be completely worthless as there was indeed someone inside.
Tempo was honestly welcoming the distraction, as the... current events... proved to be somewhat distracting. It was hard for one to train when he was hearing them very well. At least for now, they seemed to have stopped.
He opened the door, carefully at first, until he realized this was another of the divine, which caused him to open it fully and sidestep, head hung low in respect. "I apologize, lord. It is not quite safe anymore, outside. How may I help you ?"
Tempo was honestly welcoming the distraction, as the... current events... proved to be somewhat distracting. It was hard for one to train when he was hearing them very well. At least for now, they seemed to have stopped.
He opened the door, carefully at first, until he realized this was another of the divine, which caused him to open it fully and sidestep, head hung low in respect. "I apologize, lord. It is not quite safe anymore, outside. How may I help you ?"
Sosiqui
Ah, an Aoide. That was a good sign. "I have come seeking Underworld," Illumin said, firmly, though not impolitely. He wasn't in the mood for overelaborate pleasantries right now. Such things could wait until later. "These lights signaled his courts, once." He gestured at the will-o-th'-wisps. "I am Illumin, Piercing Radiance. If Underworld is here, I must see him at once about a matter of utmost importance. If not, tell me where he is - if you know - and I will leave at once."Zero Dream
Oh dear, this seemed... important indeed. "He is.... with my lady." He didn't get into details as to what exactly was going on. "If you would take a seat, I would go see if he is available ?"
He made sure Illumin was settled before heading toward upstairs. If he was not there, then he probably would be on his side of the house. Given the.... situation.... He probably would not stray far.
"Lord Nergal ?" He spoke, after he knocked at the door of the bedroom. "There is a visitor for you. The matter seems to be extremely important..."
It was a good thing, at least, that Underworld did not sleep.
He made sure Illumin was settled before heading toward upstairs. If he was not there, then he probably would be on his side of the house. Given the.... situation.... He probably would not stray far.
"Lord Nergal ?" He spoke, after he knocked at the door of the bedroom. "There is a visitor for you. The matter seems to be extremely important..."
It was a good thing, at least, that Underworld did not sleep.
Thabara
"Mph.." He had indeed not been sleeping, at least, not really. But he had been resting rather comfortably, his limbs closely intertwined with Music's, and just about to doze off."Who ...?" he mumbled drowsily into his pillow, not aware that his voice was too muffled for poor Tempo to properly overhear what he was saying. There was another present, however. Unseen, unheard, by anyone but him.
_____Light..
__________It is Light who has come to seek your council..
Nergal stilled, and then muttered a quiet curse under his breath, looking up just in time to catch a glimpse at not one, but several ghostly shapes quickly dart off and vanish by going straight through the wall, their giggles echoing after them. Female, all of them, from what he could see. He seriously hoped - for their sake - that they'd possessed the decency to not. watch. But..
Light. He had been waiting for the god's return from his journey for.. how long? Too long.
It seemed so distant now..
He untangled himself from Echo's sleeping form with excruciating care, trying to not wake her up. "I will be right back," he whispered, breathing a kiss upon her brows, and then - as an afterthought of sorts - another one on her full, purple lips, before he left the bed.
He fished for the yukata which served as his dressing gown, hastily slipping into the crumbled garment and tying the belt before he stepped out into the hallway. The braid Echo had woven into his silvery hair before things had sort of.. gotten out of hand and escalated, had long since started to come undone.
He hastily rushed down the stairs, quite sure Tempo was smirking as he passed him by.The way he tried to smooth out at least some of the crinkles in his garment, his rather ruffled appearance, just about everything screamed that Illumin's timing must have been.. rather unfortunate.
"Greetings, Radiance," Nergal muttered, politely inclining his head when he managed to at least somewhat regain his composure, but his tone was everything but friendly. Why NOW?
Sosiqui
Illumin had waited while the Aoide went off, and spent much of his time idly playing with the wisps, spinning off tiny constructs of his own light to mingle with them. They blinked out when Nergal entered. "Ah - you are Underworld, then. I am Illumin." He returned the respectful nod with one of his own. So pale, this other god was, though he couldn't deny it was appropriate. "Music spoke with one of my Aoidei while I was away. It seems we have been on the same path and not known it."He reached down to his side and produced the crystal decanter, the key chiming against it as he held it up. "This is a fragment of Aristogeiton. It was... obtained at very great price." Too great, perhaps. There was a coldness in his stomach; what would this Underworld, implacable, think of what had happened? What he had done? He remembered, from old, bits of this silent lord's reputation. Judge.
"I fear the search for this relic triggered the calamity around us. I also believe that completing this quest is the only hope we have to stop it."
Zero Dream
The sleeping goddess let out a small whine-like sound as Nergal moved out, but the kiss seemed to quiet her once more. In her still-asleep daze she did not notice him getting dressed and sliding out of the room, but slowly, she seemed to awaken, ears tilting at an angle when she could barely hear words from below her room...She did not move or stirr just yet, still somewhat in between sleep and awake.
Thabara
On the same path? Nergal frowned, not sure what to make of it. Echo had not mentioned any of this, not yet at least, probably not wanting to burden him any further until he had recovered some. The question was answered on it's own, however, as Illumin continued to speak, and the haze of confusion was slowly lifting from his mind now that he had something to focus on."So this was the reason for your long absence," he said intrigued, looking at the decanter with open interest, thin white fingers picking up the key-thing and turning it over for closer examination. "I knew Panacea was looking for the fragments, and I hoped to find out more about her whereabouts from you. I was unaware you too had joined the search." He let go of the key-thing, carefully, and looked up at Illumin, gray eyes narrowing slightly as he searched the other god's guilt-ridden face. "That price you speak of.."
He still felt.. terribly out of the loop with everything, so many things having changed in his absence, and he'd barely been out of Echo's room, lest alone out of the house since his return. But he had a good idea what Illumin was referring to nonetheless. He had heard the trumpet blow in the far distance, the glass shattering. He had felt the nature of everything shift afterwards. And he was very, very much aware how many had died. He straightened, beckoning the ghostly wisps to come closer, his face serious.
"These are the souls of children, Lord Illumin." There was no accusation in his tone, it was kept carefully neutral. "The innocent ones, the weakest. Those who die first. And these are not the ones who used to accompany me before my.. my absence." Those were gone, their tiny soul flames easily extinguished by that violent surge of power which had swept All, lost to him forever. If it truly had been Light who had triggered this..
"Luckily for you, I only judge the dead." He sighed and stroke back a strand of silverish hair behind his ear, suddenly looking tired. He had hoped for a bit of a break after everything he had gone through, some time to recuperate. Not physically, but-- "Besides, I would never pass my sentence without knowing the full story," he added.
"Tempo," he looked at the aoide who was still standing by, "some tea please for me and my guest. We will be over in my half of the house. If the Lady wakes, please ask her to join us." He turned, motioning for Illumin to follow him. "The scepter is there," he explained, looking over his shoulder, having no doubt that Echo must have mentioned it, "and the 'fragment' I found as well. Apparently there is much we need to talk about, much for me to catch up on."
Too much. Now that he had mentioned her, all he wanted to do was to crawl back into bed to rejoin Echo, see if she was up to--
Perhaps he should have ordered the aoide to prepare a bucket of ice-cold water as well.
Sosiqui
"I know," Illumin said, simply, though he looked haggard for a moment. How many accusing faces had there been in Solde-on-Palecliff, mothers clutching dead children, children carrying pieces of dead parents, and worse? "The price of this piece was freeing one long trapped. We were tricked, Hunt and I. I still do not know what she did, only that I am quite certain she was the one." He shook his head, sharply. "I will atone for this in my search." The old guilt and pain swam in the back of his eyes. "Then, when I have done what I can, and when we have the luxury of time in which to render judgments..."He closed his eyes. That thought was terrifying, but he would rather be alive and branded then dead. Again. He wondered if this Nergal could judge dead gods as well.
"Another, the host of Fire, has gone in search of Panacea and what she found. The only piece I knew of is this one. According to Pana's journal... there should be seven..."
Thabara
Nergal nodded. Whatever misfortune Light had brought upon them all with his actions, he was willing to atone and to accept the consequences. That was enough for him."Lucius spoke to me of fragments, but did not say how many of them there were. The one I found was surprisingly close." He led the way, into his own half of the house, down the stairs and into the makeshift crypt.
The light of numerous burning candles greeted the two gods, and the scent of incense. The body was resting on a low long table fitted with cushions, and covered by a length of white, finely woven silk cloth. This was the Crown's consort, after all, a part of him at the very least.
Nergal bent down to pull back the shimmering fabric a little to reveal the young man's face - the youth looked as if he was resting peacefully, yet there was strange air of sadness about his features - and then stepped back to allow Illumin to take a look.
"This is but an empty vessel, soulless," he explained quietly. "It never had one to begin with."
Sosiqui
Illumin followed Underworld downwards, then stopped, breathless as the other god pulled back the fabric to reveal a face. A body.It made sense, he supposed - foolish to think that all Aristogeiton's essence had been tied to knick-knacks like the one he carried, but he had not been expecting anything like this. The very face, the visage of the one Harmodius so loved. "I... daresay that's more impressive a result than what I found," was the only thing he could really think to say. Illumin took out the decanter, then put it down next to the body, wondering if anything would come of it.
Maybe there was a little extra gleam on the crystal.
Maybe not.
Illumin sighed. "Two, then. And Panacea... I do not know how many she found. More than one, I know that, but not how many more. What is this scepter you speak of?"
Thabara
For a moment, Nergal held his breath as well, wondering if anything would happen. Nothing did, of course, how foolish of him to expect that. He could not even remotely guess at what means would be necessary to reunite the fragments to a being which was whole once more, and it was probably not wise to even try before they had all the parts."The scepter is an artifact which was handed back to me by.. a dedicated servant of old." He gave a slight nod at some point behind the makeshift altar, as if greeting someone, only.. that no one was there. Or so it seemed. The shadows weren't quite right in that part of the room.
"It was made once the pendant's power had dimmed, to aid in the search for Aristogeiton - or Sanatruces, which was the name he bore last. It bore a powerful enchantment by Gaia, Universe, Death and myself, but.." He shook his head. "Its power faded as those who cast the enchantment did, and the search was futile. But now that so many of us have been reborn.. Both Gaia and Lucius lent a hand in restoring its power," or an eye, rather, he added sarcastically in his thoughts, "which is how I was able to find this part of him."
The pendant.. He had not seen it upon the Crown, now that he thought of it, making him wonder if it had been given to Panacea to aid her quest.
"I keep it upstairs, in my own rooms." He turned, once more leading the way, but after a few steps stopped, looking at Illumin over his shoulder, his expression one of open curiosity. "I have been meaning to ask this for a while.. Why are you looking for him, you and Hunt? I.. feel responsible, especially given the circumstances of his last death, and I would guess Panacea's motivation is a similar one. But what reason do you have?"
Sosiqui
Illumin hesitated, then left the decanter where it was - no sense in carrying it all about the house when it was perfectly fine here, next to something of equal price. He followed Nergal upwards again with a quiet relief; the soul-less body was beautiful, but highly disconcerting all the same."I see. Such an artifact is priceless to the search... if you would have it, I would work with you. I am convinced that Aristogeiton is our best hope for righting what has gone wrong."
He paused at Underworld's question. "Because Light is the child of Creation. Because I was there when Lucius betrayed Lord Harmodius; because I fought with the others to bring Universe down that day." Words that had once held self-assurance, self-righteousness were tainted now; would other gods look on him the same way he had seen Lucius at that time? "Because Panacea had gone so far in search, and perhaps by helping... she might come back faster."
All those motivations seemed distant, inconsequential now. "That was how it was, at first. Now... it is because I am afraid," he admitted.
Thabara
"I see." Nergal acknowledged the reasons with a slight nod of his head. He understood most of them, much more so than he would have before his rebirth. If Echo had embarked on an endeavor like this..Kore had, a malicious voice in the back of his mind whispered, and you did nothing.[/b}
One thing, however, kept puzzling him."You speak as if you believed the Twin Crown's consort would be able to remedy all of this," he said, tilting his head thoughtfully while he walked. "He was.. blessed by many of us, and the scepter's enchantment proves how dear he was to Our Lord. But.." He shook his head, his skeptical.
"My own reasons are.. were.. are rather selfish. A soul lost.. Something I cannot have happen under my rule, especially if it is one treasured as much. And then that strange illness which led to his demise striking while he was a guest in my realm, under my protection." He pushed the door to his rooms open, with more force than it needed be, sending it to slam into the wall. The death god stopped dead in his tracks, somewhat startled by the display of his own annoyance.
"I.." He paused, and breathed deeply. "If there is reason to believe there's more to it, please tell me. If finding all the fragments will truly help to right things.."
Sosiqui
"Panacea... before she left, she told me that Lord Harmodius had told her Aristogeiton could restore balance." Illumin shook his head. "I do not know if that's true, or if things have now progressed beyond what he could do... but there is nothing else I can think of. Besides, the world is now suffering because of that quest." There was anger in his eyes, for a moment. Damn Samyaza. "If I do not complete it, then I have unleashed something terrible upon All for no reason whatsoever. I could not bear that. I can hardly bear it as it stands now."Zero Dream
The voices had moved, going further away. Her ears innately leaned in whatever direction the two gods found themselves going, until she finally was awake enough to realize what had been obvious for quite awhile now.Nergal was gone.
She muttered something under her breath, and lifted herself, gathering her dress from the desk on which it had been carelessly discarded during their... playing. There were two voices, Nergal and someone else, so they probably had a guest. The voice seemed oddly familiar... but she could not quite pinpoint it yet.
She smoothed the dress out until she looked at least presentable, slid on her shoes, and left the room, only to be redirected by Tempo as he had been ordered to. Illumin... The last time she had seen Light had been a long... long time ago. She wasn't even herself then.
She moved to the direction their voice came from, her hairs trailing behind her like a never ending, ever shifting sea of bright blues and purple. She hadn't even bothered to try to find the pin to put them back up again. She stopped right in front of the door to do her best to comb it with her fingers and, when she deemed herself at least presentable, she entered.
"Lord Illumin." She said, with a smile. Subdued, as it would be obvious to Nergal, but there, nonetheless. "I apologize for not coming to greet you any sooner."
She felt into silence for a moment then, ears dropping backward. "I... I overheard some, I apologize. I do not know if he could help at this point." After all, they were gods, and lacked so many memories... Lover of the crown or not, Aristogeition was still a mortal. For a moment, she looked haunted, as if images were replaying themselves in her head. "...But there is little else I can think of that could help."
So he will.... just leave again. Her ears dropped even more. This was more upsetting, more painful to her now than anything else. She shook her head, as if to make the thoughts go away.
Thabara
"Balance ..?" If only I had known. But would it truly have made much of a difference? He'd never cared much for Balance, not back then. His search had been mostly driven by his desire to set things right again, correct a mistake of the past. To satisfy his own pride and vanity under the guise of righteousness and dutiful responsibility. No small wonder the Crown had seemed so angered by his words."It may be too late. The Crown, he.. told me.." His voice trailed off when Echo entered, his attention immediately absorbed by her appearance, his gaze tracing the curves of her body underneath the flowing fabric of her gown. Her blue-blue eyes seemed to be alight with an inner fire, shifting with the highs and lows of her voice as she spoke, every word a melody of it's own. If it hadn't been for Illumin's presence, he would--
Illumin.
Nergal blinked, snapping out of his quiet reverie rather abruptly. "The scepter," he muttered, a familiar heat burning on his cheeks. "I will go fetch it. Take a seat, please, both of you," he said, motioning at the couch and armchairs. "I know of the circumstances of Aristogeiton's final death, told to me by the one who handed me back the scepter. There is strangeness to it, I always thought, more than what could be explained by the first signs of the Fading, but it will take time to tell."
He nodded to both of them before he ventured into the darkness of his own private room, only to return little later, carrying a lengthy bundle wrapped in silks and brocade. "This is it," he said, laying down the bundle on the coffee table to swiftly undo the knots of the wrappings, before he handed the actual artifact to Illumin. "Careful, it is quite heavy."
He had accepted it without a second thought, back then, on the peak of that mountain, this heavy burden. He vividly recalled the sense of urgency of his quest, the longing for a piece of a past which no longer was. But he had not truly cared.
Quietly he sat down next to Echo, leaving the scepter with Illumin for him to examine as closely as he wished. It was hard to resist the urge to lean against her, to seek the warmth and comfort of her body, so at the very least he reached for her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. Just like Illumin, she was a child of Creation, he thought, taking notice of that distraught expression of hers. He might not have cared back then, but.. Hells, did he care now! If there truly was even the slightest chance that Sana-- Aristogeiton's return would help right things..
"It.. may be too late now," he said quietly, picking up where he had left off earlier upon Music's entrance. "But in my time among the living, I have learned quite a few valuable lessons about hope." He smiled, his white fingers tightening slightly around Echo's. "If it truly is within Aristogeiton's abilities to restore balance, he will not be alone in attempting that feat." He was not alone anymore. He had Echo at his side now, and his brother had been reborn, bound to join him again sooner or later. To remake his realm, to take care of all the countless souls of the dead - it seemed less daunting of a task now.
"Let me tell you about how I found the scepter, and this fragment of the Consort. The circumstances of his last, untimely death." Underworld leaned forward slightly, his gray, solemn eyes settled upon Light's visage, never blinking. "If you would tell us, once I am done, about how you obtained your fragment, and the nature of this calamity you spoke of.. the repercussions of which we felt all.. I must admit, I have spent quite some time away from everything and only returned last week," he added, his tone apologetic. "And since then I have been quite.. sheltered, recuperating. Perhaps this will help to shed some light on the whole picture."
Sosiqui
Illumin was startled by Echo's sudden appearance - of all the deities to find at Underworld's side (for Nergal's reactions to her made that quite clear), he had not expected Music. How long had it been since he'd seen her? Zero and Memi had been close..."It may be too late." Those words drew Illumin's attention away from Echo, plunged his heart down into the pit of his stomach again. It couldn't be too late, it simply couldn't. And that brought with it a new trail of thought - had it been too late when he and Eamnonn plunged into the Ashlands? Had it all been for nothing from the start?
Nergal's tale was a very, very welcome distraction. It seemed Underworld's trial had been no less difficult than his own, Grigori not withstanding. Ghosts and whispers; when Endenis was mentioned, Illumin surreptitiously glanced around the room to see if any such spectre materialized, but he saw nothing.
And yet... in the end, Underworld sought redemption as well, it appeared. Who was this mortal, that such extraordinary ends were sought to keep him at the Crown's side, that such vast events hinged on his very existence?
When Nergal had finished, Illumin was silent for a moment. "Thank you," he said, finally. "That... fills in more pieces of the puzzle. As for myself... Eamnonn, Hunt, and I cooperated together to seek the piece we found. Research led us to know of a place called the Ashlands, a place set apart from All except for the touches of Gaia and Universe. The Grigori... a people who sought 'freedom'... lived there. Were exiled, perhaps. There was a war." Why, why had the Crown granted them that mercy? He should have wiped them all away at the start. "There is more to it, of course. But Eamnonn and I traveled to the Ashlands, through Kishara's own form, and traded a Grigori's freedom for the fragment. And she came back with us, and did... whatever she has done." He gestured to indicate the whole room, the whole world. "Their treachery, our folly. My folly." The god spoke the words dully. They were too familiar, beaten into him.
"Ea went after her, that night. I know no more, myself." The scepter was heavy and cool in his hands. "Fire's host has gone to seek Medicine and what she found. And I searched for you..." He stared into the globe atop the scepter, willing it to give forth its secrets. "What can I do, now?"
Zero Dream
Echo was silent, her hand never leaving Nergal's as she listened to the two recount their sides. Even on her lover's part, there was many things she did not know. This.... far from surprised her. But it wasn't time for that now. She listened.... Listened and quite suddently understood."But Eamnonn and I traveled to the Ashlands, through KIshara's own form"
Oh gods.... Her fingers tightened around Nergal's hand in obvious panic. She had never been good at hiding her own emotions, and when she saw the two staring at them, she knew that it was her time to recount.
"...I was there. With Hunt, when that happened." She hadn't been very smart, either... but that wasn't important. Her voice was heavy, tainted, vivid with barely repressed screams and tears, and it made her look at the more haunted for a few moment. "I cannot prove she was the one to wound the Crown, but I am very certain that she has. There.... is a cocoon where he should be. Flayed open and closed upon itself." The image was all but burned into her mind, after the days she had spent there. "Alive, but..." Her voice choked down. This had far from been a good sight. Her distress was apparent.
"Kishara was there, too. She must have went with the grigori. She... is alive, but not well. One of her arms is missing. I did not understand then.... but I think I do, now." She took a sharp intake of breath, trying to calm herself down. She should have stayed, instead of leaving. But, many were tending to the Mother. She would be safe, and as for herself, she would have probably have only been in the way. She seemed to very good at that. "If the pathway to the Ashlands is through Kishara's flesh... She might be trying to bring the rest of her people out. She was much to eager to flee the scene, even if it honestly looked like she could have ended us all so easily. We could not stop her. I tried to stop her, but... It did not work." Too weak, not experienced enough... not when it all mattered.
Sosiqui
"Yes," Illumin said, quietly. "Eamnonn told me that much, that small bit. I am quite certain that Samyaza caused... that thing... to form, and wounded Kishara. And we, exhausted, wounded by other Grigori-" he stretched his wing, still missing a good chunk, greyed and eroded at the edges, "-we let her go with the Empress. She fought for us when the other Grigori attacked us. We... trusted her." The thought was bile in his throat."But the past has been beating on my mind ever since." He shook his head, sharply. "I must move forward, now, and return later to my failings if I am to have any hope."
Thabara
"These are quite serious news," Underworld said gravely. Grigori. The name of these people meant nothing to him. But if they had indeed warred with the gods, they were not to be underestimated.He squeezed Echo's hand one last time for reassurance before he let go of it and got up, unable to stay put any longer. Kishara wounded - badly, from the sound of it. The Crown injured as well, they all had felt the backlash of that. And - if that 'cocoon' was any indication - He was changing once more. Creation, Destruction.. But what else was there, what would He become now?
He stepped up to the window, peering outside as he tried to quieten his mental turmoil, to digest all these news.
"There is something I would like to know, Lord Illumin," he said finally, deciding to focus on open questions first, to get a better picture of the whole. "That fragment you obtained in the Ashlands, how did you come to know of it? How did it happen to come into the Grigoris' possession in the first place? Do you know?"
Sosiqui
"I know... part of it, perhaps." Illumin shook his head. "When we researched, we found scraps of information. It seems that when the Grigori were first exiled, Aristogeiton went with them and remained there for fifty years, along with one of the Dragon Kings, Mang. I... had thought that perhaps he died there, but that is clearly not the case." What was it Samyaza had said, in that barren land? "... 'A piece of him whom you seek, from when he dwelt here and grew weak.' That was what she said." His eyes narrowed. "Perhaps it was they who orchestrated the whole thing."That was a cold, dark thought. How long ago had that been? Was it possible for such a plan to have been laid, let alone carried out?
Zero Dream
"Is is quite possible." Echo nodded. She felt so frazzled and useless now, but she did her best to think. "If they knew it would affect the balance... They could find a way to use that in their advantage, I presume." Oh, how she wished she could remember...She felt guilty, and somewhat upset... mostly for Nergal. She had hoped to put off telling him of all this - hold off enough for him to rest and recover because she knew full well that he would simply leave again as soon as possible if he knew. But.... this seemed so much more serious that she had thought, now.
Thabara
"I agree. Perhaps a last measure taken to ensure their return, knowing full well that piece would be sought after sooner or later? I wonder why no one noticed something was amiss.." We were still busy licking our wounds from that war, perhaps. And the Fading.. how soon after did it start?He remained standing at his place at the window for some time, his expression absent, deep in thought. Finally he straightened, and returned to the seats to stand behind Echo, letting one hand rest lightly on her shoulder for reassurance.
"If you would have me, Lord Illumin, I would like to join forces with you in search of the remaining fragments. The reasons to do so are many, we both recounted ours.. And the urgency is even greater now." Underworld's expression was grim as he spoke. How much time did they have even left? "We should leave as soon as possible."
"Furthermore, word needs to be brought out about this Samyaza, and her intent, to the others. If she alone was able to wreak such havoc, she cannot be allowed to free her kin. I can have the dead be on the lookout, but I do not know yet how far my powers stretch now, or if they would even be able to perceive her."
What else was there..? "You mentioned a war," Nergal added throughtfully, "records of this may be kept in the grand library, perhaps a weakness could be found.."
Sosiqui
"I think it is I who should join forces with you - I have no other clues, not right now. You... have this." He turned the scepter over in his hands again. "But I would help you, yes. The parts that remain must be found, as soon as we possibly can... as you said."Another journey. He would be more careful, this time. An empty promise.
Illumin stood up, and held the scepter out to Nergal. "Perhaps there is knowledge elsewhere. I do not know, but I must bend all my attention to this task. Please... show me." He nodded towards the scepter.
Thabara
"Of course." He gave Illumin a small, polite smile when the scepter was handed back to him, the weight heavy in his hands. "There is not much to it, really." After a moment's thought he beckoned Illumin to follow him onto the balcony, waiting for Echo to join them as well before he held the staff aloft. "This should be a good spot as any.. Inside, or outside, it does not really matter. But as the ceiling inside is quite low-- Ah. There, it begins."Within seconds, soft light had started to gather within the blackness of the orb, dim at first, but quickly brightening.. There was a certain coldness to its glow, not unlike that of the stars in the night sky. It no longer seemed to point at the fragments they had gathered in the crypt under their feet, or the light would have been blindingly bright. One beacon showed up surprisingly clear, pointing skywards. "That, I assume, is the trail Panacea has been going for, and Fire's host is following now, as it seems closest, clearest." Perhaps she had found more than just one fragment, he wondered, maybe that was why this path was lit so brightly.
"But the others.." Nergal's brows pulled into a frown. As before, the other paths the orb showed were a fragmented mess, pointing into all directions and none, ever shifting. Why?
Zero Dream
Echo had felt silent, listening to the two. There wasn't much more she could think of, much she could say to make things better. In fact, the only thing she could think of would make things worse.
They're taking him away from me again.
It was such an horrible, selfish thought. Especially now. And yet, she could not stop it. Thankfully, the demonstration of sorts distracted her from that unpleasant train of thought from a moment. She had never gotten to see how it worked... Curiosity overcame bitterness easily, but her ears shifted again when one signal was completely clear and another seemed muddled.
Hopefully that did not mean ashes scattered to the four winds, or something. That would be... rather complicated and bothersome.
Stop this. We need to hurry. We lost too much time already.
Adrian was not -happy-, no. He had been extracted from Kaelin's presence by a rather pushy deity who had apparently still recovered his bearings. He hadn't wanted to move one wit ! He grumbeled to himself as he turned the corner, hair still wet from assorted underwater... adventures. Yes. Adventures.
Heh.
He stopped suddenly when he saw the very clear beam of light point upward. Damn, if this was another catastrophe in the making... What... the hell is that ?
Your guess is as good at mine. Hurry !
And so, he did. The crow perched on his shoulder gave a croak of protest as he broke into a run, and by extension got a few beakfulls of long, wet red hair. He stopped right under the balcony, yellow eyes wide. That woman.... Echo ? The lavender-haired one was unknown to him. And the one holding the scepter... No idea.
Unknown for one, not for the other. Well... so much for news, it seemed. He must have found his way home somehow. Ankou knew - from the wisps, from the familiar energies, from the way everything felt a bit more like home around the house. But... they seemed busy. Perhaps they should come back later...
They're taking him away from me again.
It was such an horrible, selfish thought. Especially now. And yet, she could not stop it. Thankfully, the demonstration of sorts distracted her from that unpleasant train of thought from a moment. She had never gotten to see how it worked... Curiosity overcame bitterness easily, but her ears shifted again when one signal was completely clear and another seemed muddled.
Hopefully that did not mean ashes scattered to the four winds, or something. That would be... rather complicated and bothersome.
Stop this. We need to hurry. We lost too much time already.
Adrian was not -happy-, no. He had been extracted from Kaelin's presence by a rather pushy deity who had apparently still recovered his bearings. He hadn't wanted to move one wit ! He grumbeled to himself as he turned the corner, hair still wet from assorted underwater... adventures. Yes. Adventures.
Heh.
He stopped suddenly when he saw the very clear beam of light point upward. Damn, if this was another catastrophe in the making... What... the hell is that ?
Your guess is as good at mine. Hurry !
And so, he did. The crow perched on his shoulder gave a croak of protest as he broke into a run, and by extension got a few beakfulls of long, wet red hair. He stopped right under the balcony, yellow eyes wide. That woman.... Echo ? The lavender-haired one was unknown to him. And the one holding the scepter... No idea.
Unknown for one, not for the other. Well... so much for news, it seemed. He must have found his way home somehow. Ankou knew - from the wisps, from the familiar energies, from the way everything felt a bit more like home around the house. But... they seemed busy. Perhaps they should come back later...
Sosiqui
Illumin made a face at the shifting lights. "How many of the lights looked like this? Do you remember?" He paused, and a thoughtful look came over his face. "The piece in the Ashlands... I wonder, if you remember what that one looked like. If one that looked a certain way, pointed in a certain fashion, is now gone. Perhaps we can use that to discern where the others are."Heaven help them all if there was another piece still in that forsaken place.
Thabara
"I.." Nergal hesitated, but then shook his head. "It looked fairly much the same, only now.. it seems to show less of the fragmented paths. The ones that vanished, were.. dimmer." He pursed his lips, wondering what to make of it, but quickly got distracted when he caught sight movement down below from the corner of his eyes. Something, no, someone down below? Someone attracted by the scepter's glow perhaps.. It might not have been such a good idea to wave it about out in the open.His concerns evaporated at once, however, when he caught glimpse of a fiery red mane of hair, his thin lips pulling into a smile almost immediately. At least someone he recognized immediately, who hadn't changed during his absence. Brother. Spirit Guide. Wanderer.
"Ankou. Adrian," he called out softly. No need to alarm just about everyone on the street. "Come up and join us please. This.. You should know about this as well, and perhaps you can help."
Zero Dream
Ahhhh... So there he was. Both host and deity seemed in one piece. This was definitively a good thing, through the boy looked tired and weary. Echo instinctively reached for Nergal's free hand as she waited.
He had just turned to leave again, turned to skitter off and flee back in Water's more-than-likely awaiting arms, when he was finally noticed. Damn.
This is more important than... other activities. Hurry.
The fire mage grumbled, but listened - at least in some way - he slid his way inside, and upward. Why did his timing always suck so much ?
He slid his way to the balcony, giving a small half-bow of respect to the unknown deity before peering at the orb. "What the heck is that thing ?"
He had just turned to leave again, turned to skitter off and flee back in Water's more-than-likely awaiting arms, when he was finally noticed. Damn.
This is more important than... other activities. Hurry.
The fire mage grumbled, but listened - at least in some way - he slid his way inside, and upward. Why did his timing always suck so much ?
He slid his way to the balcony, giving a small half-bow of respect to the unknown deity before peering at the orb. "What the heck is that thing ?"
Sosiqui
Ankou? The name was unfamiliar; Illumin peered down at the red-haired figure below. Two names... ah. A host. That much was clear.As the young man vanished from his sight, Illumin turned back to Nergal and gave the scepter a grumpy look. Here was Light indicating a pathway, but poke it as he might, he could not make it give up any more secrets. "The Ashlands was on a plane far different from our own... so separate that only a thread of Being kept it afloat. Perhaps the dim lights indicate a distance of a similar nature..."
When the red-haired host reappeared, Illumin offered him a thoughtful nod of greeting. Apparently he was familiar enough to both Underworld and Music to not require introduction. "I am Illumin, Light. And you are...?" Some pleasantries were needed, even if they had no time for pomp and circumstance.
Zero Dream
This was a good thing, honestly - if there was one think Adrian hated, it was never-ending exchange of politeness and pleasantries and blah. Deities seemed to good at that, well, some of them. Some of them just seemed much more accessible than others.
"Adrian." He answered, almost absentmindedly, until it occured to him that this probably wasn't what the god was really asking. "Host to Ankou, the Spirit Guide. But hey, still, what the heck is that thing ?" He tilted his head in direction to the scepter.
"Adrian." He answered, almost absentmindedly, until it occured to him that this probably wasn't what the god was really asking. "Host to Ankou, the Spirit Guide. But hey, still, what the heck is that thing ?" He tilted his head in direction to the scepter.
Thabara
"My brother," Nergal added with a slight frown. They both seemed to have had bad luck when it came to their hosts' manners. Maybe it was a family thing. "To escort the souls of the dead into my realm was part of his tasks once, so he might know.." He slightly moved the scepter to have it out of Adrian's reach, because it really looked as if the obnoxious young host might be severely tempted to do something silly. Like trying to poke it."It is an ancient artifact which points the way to the fragments of certain soul - that of the Twin Crown's consort. The god you bear may remember, perhaps has seen this before. For reasons we can only guess at, that soul is not whole anymore. The path to one fragment is clear, but one of us is already following that trail. The other, or others.." He motioned at the set of fractured lights.
"A place too far away, or too separate from ours," he added, addressing Illumin. "Another world-plane. That may be. But how would we get there, or even find the correct one ...?" He had crossed the world-paths when he had finally escaped that place he had been held in for so long, but he barely remembered what he had been doing then, lest alone how.
Sosiqui
The Spirit Guide, huh. That was a divine sphere that Illumin hadn't ever really thought about before. He nodded companionably to the host, then frowned at the scepter once more. "When Hunt and I went to the Ashlands, we quite literally cut our way there, through Gaia's flesh. I... certainly hope such things are not needed again." From what Ea and Echo had said, he doubted the goddess could weather another such injury.He glanced at Adrian, hoping the god slumbering within the young man knew more than he did. Travel was not his forte.
Zero Dream
]Fragmented soul. Finding pieces....
"My greetings then, Light." The voice that came out was wholy different that the host. If anything, sounded more like Nergal's than anything else, but there was, as the time time, something so different that it almost set them world apart. "It goes seem like like it is trying to reach for another world."
Adrian. I... I need to do something.
If there was one thing, one good thing about the world as is was now, it was that tiredness and disgust basically destroyed fear. Fine. Let me know when all this's over.
Even if he saw it coming, being suddenly left alone on the surface still had the effect of being catapulted into something foreign. He had no time to get used to a body before now, so willing to respect his host - his knees gave in.
Thankfully, behind him, the goddess had moved - and caught him before he could truly hit the ground. "You are overexerting yourself." She whispered in pointed ears, tone worried. Mules, they were all mules. That must have been another family trait of those two. So similar yet to different.
"I know." He whispered back. Damn this - damn being so weak. In front of his brother, even. "Please... Carry me.... I must try."
And she did. He was thankful and, by the time he was standing in front of the scepter, he had managed enough muscle control to stand, at least. Nergal seemed twitchy - he could only hope he would not try to swat him away. Blank, golden eyes fluttered closed as his hands cupped loosely around the orbs of the scepter.
Trailing, trailing, trailing. The threads that linked the fragments to the scepter - and to each other, were a proverbial mess. He ignored the stronger ones and dwelved in. He followed them, but the farther they got, the harder it was to follow them. He knew how to do this, but it was hard, so hard, so-
Tell me where you lead.
It felt like hitting a brick wall. His control slipped again and this time, Echo did not react in time, He felt down like a rag doll, but there was a tired smile on his face.
"Wellhaven. You are looking.... for Wellhaven."
"My greetings then, Light." The voice that came out was wholy different that the host. If anything, sounded more like Nergal's than anything else, but there was, as the time time, something so different that it almost set them world apart. "It goes seem like like it is trying to reach for another world."
Adrian. I... I need to do something.
If there was one thing, one good thing about the world as is was now, it was that tiredness and disgust basically destroyed fear. Fine. Let me know when all this's over.
Even if he saw it coming, being suddenly left alone on the surface still had the effect of being catapulted into something foreign. He had no time to get used to a body before now, so willing to respect his host - his knees gave in.
Thankfully, behind him, the goddess had moved - and caught him before he could truly hit the ground. "You are overexerting yourself." She whispered in pointed ears, tone worried. Mules, they were all mules. That must have been another family trait of those two. So similar yet to different.
"I know." He whispered back. Damn this - damn being so weak. In front of his brother, even. "Please... Carry me.... I must try."
And she did. He was thankful and, by the time he was standing in front of the scepter, he had managed enough muscle control to stand, at least. Nergal seemed twitchy - he could only hope he would not try to swat him away. Blank, golden eyes fluttered closed as his hands cupped loosely around the orbs of the scepter.
Trailing, trailing, trailing. The threads that linked the fragments to the scepter - and to each other, were a proverbial mess. He ignored the stronger ones and dwelved in. He followed them, but the farther they got, the harder it was to follow them. He knew how to do this, but it was hard, so hard, so-
Tell me where you lead.
It felt like hitting a brick wall. His control slipped again and this time, Echo did not react in time, He felt down like a rag doll, but there was a tired smile on his face.
"Wellhaven. You are looking.... for Wellhaven."
Thabara
Wellhaven. A name even, of that far away place. That was more, far more than he had been expecting. He crouched down to gaze at his brother's exhausted face, the scepter leaning heavily against his shoulder. "Thank you," he murmured, the words coming from the bottom of his heart. To achieve such a feat, when he was just barely able to control his host's body.. But still.. "You would not, perhaps, happen to know how to.. actually get there?" he added, with a weak smile.Zero Dream
The "snapback" had left him a bit dazed. For a moment he did not answer, before he regained enough bearing to look away from the floor and to his face instead. One arm went to the ground to support him. "The doors can lead you there. If they work as they once did, a name will be enough."
Sosiqui
Illumin watched, startled - the young god was doing something that much was clear, something difficult - but the result was a name, a single precious word. He crouched down next to Ankou/Adrian and offered a hand. "Thank you," he said, quietly, but it was heartfelt. In one instant the god had revealed something that might have taken many days, weeks of research. "What doors do you mean?"Zero Dream
"The Doors... The doors to the pantheon act as a link in between worlds... A gateway, if you prefer." Forgotten... They had all forgotten, it seemed. It almost made him feel better for having done so. "Any door that does not lead to a chamber... work in that fashion. As long as one connect their mana to all that is and know where they want to go..."
There were dots dancing in his vision. He had overdone it... Overdone it big time. He stumbled almost blindly until his free hand finally caught Illumin's and, with his aid and Echo, he finally worked himself back to standing. His legs felt like jelly. And it had been something so SIMPLE ! For the first time, it seemed, how utterly powerless he was seemed to be hitting him in the face. He had expected at least some measure of power upon taking over this body fully, but if this was any indication, he had been greatly, GREATLY overjudging it.
And Adrian looked like he wasn't ready to come back out just yet...
There were dots dancing in his vision. He had overdone it... Overdone it big time. He stumbled almost blindly until his free hand finally caught Illumin's and, with his aid and Echo, he finally worked himself back to standing. His legs felt like jelly. And it had been something so SIMPLE ! For the first time, it seemed, how utterly powerless he was seemed to be hitting him in the face. He had expected at least some measure of power upon taking over this body fully, but if this was any indication, he had been greatly, GREATLY overjudging it.
And Adrian looked like he wasn't ready to come back out just yet...
