Six Messages
Log Info
- Title: Six Letters
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Seyardu, Zeke, Aryia, Sabina, Aya
- Place: A10: Temple of Daeus
- Time: Friday, September 24, 2021, 1:29 PM
- Summary: Lily is returned. Seyardu brings a pink bundle to Cryo and Zeke, having received Little Fang and a box from Aya. All are overjoyed, Cryo immediately looking over Lily's sleep form for things to be concerned about, and finding none. Aryia barges into the room, spotting Aya's broach on Lily's blankets. Seyardu brings out the box form Aya. Letters, to some of them, and very person. Aryia reads hers, screams in silent rage and rushes out. Cryo reads what is sent to her, a heartbreaking farewell and Aya's thanks for giving her a family, and her wish to give Cryo's back. Seyardu is confused, having just seen Aya, while Zeke and Cryosanthia explain. Eclavdran does not lose in his deals, Aya must have paid a very high price indeed for Lily to return, unharmed, uncorrupted, and as she was. A price that death would not escape, well, not her death. There is one. Cryo promises, Aya will be freed, and Zeke warns for Seyardu to be careful. She leaves, and Cryo, emotionally exhausted, lies down with her daughter in a protective hug.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple of Daeus *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The temple of the Sun Lord glitters golden beneath the same. Rather than walls, the majority of the temple is composed of what appears at first blush to be a raised round platform made of one of the largest slabs of marble likely in existence. Columns rise into the air as if to hold some massive ceiling, though instead of a normal ceiling, one finds the deep blue sky, studded by a disconcertingly close canopy of bright stars. One should not worry, however, as the rain never falls, and the wind never blows on this particular temple, but for a gentle breeze, whatever the weather outside may be.
Despite the austerity of the columns, warmth suffuses the grounds. A grand, marble statue of the Shining Knight stands a the center, a hand outstretched in benediction. Beside Him, the statue of Althea, their hands clasped in love. The central position of the temple to the others gives view to all of their children, and the two look upon one another with the solemnity of love that has been the center of so many tales and legends.
Masterfully designed mana lamps provide further soft, golden lightning where needed, their pedestals carved in the form of the Dragons of Light, over which Daeus is said to have dominion in His form of Draco Solis. Majesty, justice, and welcome suffuse the temple grounds. Around the central temple are a series of smaller buildings, each with a simple function and form. One houses the sacred book depicting some of the earliest known translations of the Laws of Light, which pilgrims from near and far come to visit. Another houses the well-appointed quarters of the Sunguards, and among all the ground bristle the Sunblades.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 7'2" 391 Lb Dragon Female A sickly, white dragon with a crippled wing and tail. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. Zeke 6'8" 239 Lb Sith-Makar Male A blue-scaled sith-makar in white Daeus vestments. Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her. Sabina 5'4" 130 Lb Human Female Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author of the Letters =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Cryo's recovery room, Temple of Daeus complex.
It's just after sunset, although there are no windows from which to see. One can tell by the rhythm of prayers nearby, and the clanging of the bells.
Cryosanthia is stretched out, mostly awake, staring at the wall and willing herself unconscious. The staring is working.
Seyardu had been absent for much of that day, running errands, and other tasks. Or so it had seemed inside the temple. She had been lingering outside in various spots, for almost the entirety of the day.
Despite Cryosanthia's wishes for quiet and rest, it seemed that someone was conspiring against it. Not only was there yelling outside the building causing several daeus clergy to clank around in armor to investigate, but there was also the heavy footfalls of someone sprinting through the halls, coming to a stop outside her room.
The door creeps open, and it was just Seyardu, who was a strange sight, looking stressed, but also rumbling something reassuring. And in her hands was a small, carnation colored bundle. She was looking quickly to see if the whitescale was awake.
Zeke sits at Cryosanthia's beside. He is not... exactly asleep, but almost dozing. His eyes are half-lidded, but he is aware of the room in that distant way that someone who's falling asleep often is. Like Cryosanthia he is willing himself to sleep but having little luck.
The sound of footsteps draws him out of his slumber entirely, and he rouses to the sight of Seyardu. "Peassce on your nessst." He welcomes, his eyes falling a bit belatedly on her bundle. His heart skips a beat. "Sseyardu?"
"Whaaaaaa...?" Cryosanthia asks slowly, raising her head. Cesran's batteries had come in, so there are leads attached to her face and all around her. Another activity where the setup had kept her roused. Zeke's sudden change in tone drags her further awake. Her eyes focus, she inhales scents, echoes her cihuaa, "Seyardu?"
"Apologies, Zeke. This one had business, and could not say more, or come to relieve you for rest." She replies quickly while stepping into the room, slapping the door shut with her tail. "Peace on your nests, Cryosanthia, Zeke. Can you help her get those batteries off for a moment if possible? There is someone here to see her."
Despite the worry, just by scent alone, the silverscale was pleased beyond measure. If it was another illusion, it was an incredibly realistic one. Even the scent of the sleeping kobold were correct.
Zeke is cautiously getting to his feet, helping Cryosanthia remove the odd batteries from her body and staring at the bundle that Seyardu holds with suspicion and no small amount of caution. When Cryosanthia is free, Zeke takes a deep breath of the room, and moves hesitantly toward Seyadu with her bundle. "Isss ssshe..." Alive is the unasked question, one that is answered when her chest rises and falls, and he asks another instead. "Alright?"
Some days are remarkable, most aren't. Most moments in remarkable days aren't either. Time passes, nothing of significance occurs.
It's the moments then, that pluck a random grouping of hours from the calendar and bless them with relevance. The right moment can take a tawdy wash-day and gild it with the glory of the gods, a holiday, a life event that is remains polished and beautiful until the end of memory. Just like that.
Just like now.
A magical transformation occurs.
"Lily?" Battery leads are removed. Whatever Zeke isn't swift enough to catch come off as Cryo rises and moves towards Seyardu. In her haste she steps off the bed and lands on all fours on the floor. She expected it to be closer. She bounds forward and stands, balancing on back legs, one wing unfurled and acting as a support. She holds out her arms, "Little Fang? Is she... yes?"
Breathing! Perhaps she can hope...
"This one, cannot say for certain, but she is breathing normally. I did not want to linger outside." She explains. She watches Cryosanthia pull out of bed, ready to move, but she makes her way over, and stands up. Her tail thumps once against the stone floor. Lily snorts once, stirring slightly before Seyardu hands her over. There is a platinum broach in the shape of a skeletal flower pinned to her clothing.
"Aya had something else to give to you. I promised her I would. But, I was not expecting this."
Zeke has to rush a little, to offer support to Cryosanthia. She might be up for a moment, but he's worried that she's not well enough for all this. He tries to encourage Cryosanthia back toward the bed, but gives up with a slightly exasperated scent and expression when Seyardu hands Lily over to Cryosanthia.
If this is a trap, it is a very good one.
Curious as it was to see so much activity happening at the temples, a figure turned from their usual route and entered the temple of the sun god. A soft knock comes from the door. And opening it would reveal a short figure in a long grey skirt with a long-sleeved green shirt and a black shawl, a wide brimmed sun hat held in one hand with a pair of silver sunglaseses resting atop her head.
Cryosanthia takes the burden carefully, ever so carefully, cradling Lily in both arms, gazing down at her. She moves over to her bed, unnaturally graceful and in perfect synchronicity with her new form, asking it to safely carry her daughter, and she does.
She sets her down on the sheets, noses at the broach, snuffles her, examining her scent through the cloth. "Would someone, Zeke, remove that? What does it mean?"
She faces Seyardu, ecstatic, "Seyardu! Thank you. How, what, how?"
Then it's back to looking at Lily.
Seyardu followed her back to the bed, just in case. ready to catch her, or pull her back, but Cryosanthia manages fine. At the request to remove the broach however, Seyardu reaches into her bag to pull out a wooden box, a few hands long and wide, and relatively shallow. "Aya gave me this box to deliver for you, perhaps it will explain what I can not." Seyardu offers, befire she turns to the door. She steps over to open it, sniffing the air. Relaxing some, she nods to Aryia.
"It is good to see you. What happened were some of the obstacles when we explored the ruins in the farmland recently?" She asks out of nowhere, blocking entry otherwise.
Zeke nods half distractedly to Ayria. "Peassce on your nesst." He offers to her, interested to note that Seyardu is being more cautious now than ever before about the secruity of the room. He supposes that with Lily in residence... It is caution well-warrented. He turns his attention on Lily, then moves to touch the broach. "Isss it Aya'sss?" He asks, cautiously sniffing it. It smells like the mul'niessa woman. "It sssmellsss like her." He looks at the box and nods to it. "Perhapsss you sshould open the box."
Aryia was about to let herself in, but Seyardu blocks entry. Confusion was already present on her features, but it gets further inscribed now. "... I literally haven't thought or cared about it since we got back from that," she slowly gestures with one hand, eventually putting the sunhat under an arm. The elf takes a sniff of the air. It smelled strange. And when it smelled strange with sith-makar present, there was emotions.
The mention of her sister's name makes a silver clad ear flick, her tilting to the side to see past the silverscale. But not really able to see anything. She's really confused now. "... should I go?" <Handspeech>
"A box?" Cryo asks, looking at Seyardu then taking the box with both hands, talons, claw-hands, palms up and then transferring it onto the bed. "Aya's scent is strong on it. Yes. From her, both from her."
"I don't understand, and hello Aryia."
She remains standing beside the bed, a wing on Zeke and one hand on the mattress for support while she very carefully nudges at the cloth surrounding her little Kobold. "Zeke, this one must examine her, and the box, and... open them please. Please hurry. Thank you Seyardu. Thank you!"
"Are they safe? Can you check for magic?" Her thoughts are scattered.
"This one, just wants to know what you remember, Aryia." Seyardu sighs. "Could you perhaps tell me instead who we heard from under the river bridge, and what they said? You should stay for now, if you can tell me. Matters might be important to you as well."
Seemed she was being overly cautious, and wary. She turns away letting them in if she hears a satisfactory answer. "Aya showed this one the broach before, a gift from a friend. And the box was given today."
She offers a prayer after reaching beneath her armor, and her eyes glow slightly, to detect any nearby magic.
GAME: Seyardu casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 7 DC: 13 GAME: Zeke casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 13 DC: 14
Cryosanthia looks inert, magically, her wing and tail like magic sinks. A change from before.
Zeke likewise utters a prayer, allowing himself to see magic and confirm Seyardu's own vision. The child has some lingering magical residue on her, but nothing determineable. It's already faded enough that it's impossible to determine what's been cast on her. Careully, he opens the box first, after making sure that the broach is no danger to Lily. Neither are magical so he considers that a good indication. Though he's still cautious of the box.
Inside the box are four scrolls tied with plain string. Each bearing a different name on the outside. Some he recognizes. One he does not. "They ssseem to be lettersss or sscrolls. To usss." He pulls one of the scrolls out - the one bearing his own name. "And perhapsss sssome dough?" Though that makes no sense.
Aryia's brows furrow. "They said something about you not going to Charn, and it was your mentor. Really, what the fuck is go-"
Aya's broach? That made Aryia stiff arm Seyardu out of the way to slip by. She stills at the scene before her, a hand slowly pulling off the silver shades as shimmering milky eyes glance from pink to white to blue to wood to silver to paper.
None knows what goes on in the mute's head, but she her expression darkens. As do her eyes. <Handspeech>
Scents, there are many. Smells. The room stinks of reptiles to softskins, to the lizard-folk it is a churning mixture of messages and states. Anxiety, elation, suspense, dread. They are all uncertain.
Aryia rushing close evokes a swift response. Cryo turns, instinctively hissing at an unknown. A maternal protectiveness, raw and animalistic. The unfiltered beast fades from the whitescale's eyes, a glint of awareness and intelligence taking its place. "Apologies Aryia, this one has a wounded youngling."
It's all she spares as she turns back to examine the bundle, and the box. "And a letter? Scrolls? From Aya?"
"Silver Empress..." She whispers. What did you trade for her! What's in that letter? "To us? To whom elssse? What are the other names? Can you unroll mine so I can read it?"
Unable to wait any longer, she carefully pulls the blanket back on Little Fang and examines her with every sense she can.
The whitescale continues checking her daughter, searching for new scars and marks, signs of demonic pacts, a scar across her neck, anything to be concerned over. Yet, there is nothing. Little Fang is perfectly herself and nothing else.
Seyardu grunts and growls slightly as Aryia pushes past, but she sighs, processing the response. "This one sees no magic active on either the box and its contents, or Lily." She says, stepping closer as well to take one if the scrolls, and investigate the other names. She holds a hand up. "Peace Cryosanthia. This one believes it is Aryia. When Aya showed up, there was one who appeared to be Seldan, but they took off. This one was wary after hearing rumors of what happened here."
"What is this about dough?" She asks while helping Cryosanthia to check over her daughter, to make sure everything was okay.
Inside the box are four sheaves of paper, a page or two each, rolled as scrolls and tied with plain string. Each bears a different name on the outside:
- Aryia
- Cryosanthia
- Zeke
- Daed
The one marked with Aryia is slightly heavier than the others. The one marked for Daed is the bottom-most and tied to a small flat cheesecloth-covered bundle that smells of somewhat overcooked dough.
"It sssseems attached to thisss lasst ssscroll." Explains Zeke, handing out scrolls. One to Seyardu, one to Aryia, and putting his own aside to pull out Cryosanthia's for her. "Thisss one doess not know a 'Daed' ssso thisss one will have to wait to give thisss to them. Who-ever they are." He unrolls the scroll for Cryosanthia, politely trying not to read it over her shoulder.
Aryia glares at the sith-dragon as she's hissed at. Defiant. And uncaring at this moment in time. She blinks as the scrolls are passed out, a trembling hand reaching out to slowly unravel the string. She loops the small rope around a finger and carefully unravels it. A simple, untarnished, wax candle falls into her hand.
Dimmed eyes stare at it. Then, like a glacier sliding, they move over to the words to read.
And read.
Two reflective moon pools collect and trickle down her face. "J.. J-st... b-c-s-... - s-d th-t...?" she shakily whispers, the candle in her hand trembling. "T-Th- c-dl-... s-sti-... m-m-st... b.. b-b-rn..."
Her eyes cease their shimmer. And drops against the ground waft inky of dark in their wake. "... d... d-d-dn't g-g-v-... p-p-rm-ss-n.. t-... t- d-...
There were no sith-makar in the room. There was no carnation scale. There was just her, ink on the letters. And the encroaching dark. The candle thuds against the ground. Which broke the fragile glass.
"S-ST-R!" Aryia abruptly screams, only to start a coughing fit, blood tribbling out of her mouth. Her hands fly at seemingly nothing, trails of inky shadow roiling around her. "YOU...! YOU...! THIS ISN'T WHAT I MEANT YOU FUCKING IDIOT! WHAT DOES IT MEAN?! WHY! WHY DO YOU LOVE ME? AND WHY CAN'T SAY IT BACK?! "
She scoops up the candle, slams the door open, and sprints off. A flood of shadow dissipating behind her as she goes. <Handspeech>
"Seldan was here and Zeke said his kin was in the woods. Not surprised with Aya too. Seldan is all over the place. This one is sure Serene would have said something." Cryo says, completely distracted, identifying and dismissing a threat in one quick breath.
"Don't know. If Zeke means money or bread." More questions.
The scroll is unfurled where she can see it. Her head whips to focus on it. Torn between her youngling and the scroll, the whitescale forces herself to read. It may explain more...
It may be a trap or a taunt...
A threat or warning...
This may be another hallucination...
Does a candle still burn?
"Aryia!" Her head snaps to stare at her. The impression of Aryia in despair freezes in her mind. Her tears, her blood, her anguish, snapshotted forever.
Seyardu took her scroll, but did not read it yet. She was too focused on making sure Lily, Cryosanthia, Zeke, and Aryia were okay.
Aryia was not okay.
"Aryia, please, steady yourself." Seyardu pleads, but if she could even be heard was uncertain. She did not know what the scroll said, but she had an idea of some of it. Before fleeing, Aya requested that the paladins strike her down if seen.
Aryia was gone. Whatever happiness had shown was immediately overtaken by despair. She looks to the door, but there was no way she could keep up with her. The silver sith-makar hangs her head.
"Just what, what happened?"
Zeke would chase after Aryia himself, but he is no faster than Seyardu - slower in fact - and he will not leave the room so easily. Not with Lily in it. Not with Cryosanthia still injured. The two of them together make too tempting a target. So he lets Aryia go, the mystery of what's in her letter makes him frown and he looks at his own scroll with curiosity but... Cryosanthia is still reading hers. So he holds it open for her patiently though now his eyes feel all but magnetized to it.
Few words could tear Cryosanthia away from Little Fang. Aryia will have to be helped by Seyardu, she will not leave her youngling. Words are something she doesn't have time for. Most words. These words... these words...
Cryosanthia reads. Reads again. Hearing them in her own voice, in Aya's. A hopeful and joyful message where she senses dark depths in the things unsaid. It is a farewell, and a well wishing...
- Cryosanthia,
- You have ever worn your heart upon your scales for all to witness and feel: your joys; your worries; your power; your pain. Endless Winter once compelled you to hide them within, but that season has ended. I believe you stand now in an Endless Spring, with infinite promise, and should never shutter yourself again.
- Often did I wish you peace on your nest, yet the truth proved to be the reverse. It was your nest that brought -me- peace; a glimpse of your world that granted me contentment and the sincere hope that I might discover some small semblance of that for myself. That hope did, indeed, come to pass, and I am forever grateful to you for kindling that within me.
- It is now my sole wish to return all to you: your world, your nest, your hope; that you will again radiate such from your scales to touch all those around you.
- With hope,
- Aya
The whitescale curls down protectively over Little Fang, staring at the letter, an unbidden warble coming forth. A cry, for Aya.
"She rescued her Zeke. Aya... Aya..."
Memories flood to the fore, her times, Lily's times with Tia Nemesis. The initial distrust, the growing acceptance and understanding, when she became family. Their last argument.
"Oh Aya..."
When did you become my strength? What will I do with this hope?
Seyardu did not intrude on the reading. It was something personal, and she needed to make sure that Little Fang was okay. She finally leans down to nuzzle the Carnation kobold before she steps back and hugs Cryosanthia for the briefest of moments.
"The thanks belongs to Aya, yes." She says quietly, letting the sadness and worry flow freely. "This one, did nothing but bring her here. All the thanks belongs to her."
Seyardu looks to the door. "This one should look for her. There are a few places she may be. The docks, the colosseum, the fernwood, tarrace. I will check them."
The silverscale sighs. "And, if this one finds Aya, they will let them know just how much it means to everyone, and how much she means."
Zeke hums and lets Cryosanthia's letter roll up. He's read it without really meaning to, so the best he can do is pretend that he hasn't to avoid intruding on that space. "Thisss one doesss not think you will find her Sseyardu. Aya that isss. The demon would not have given up Lily lightly, and ssso it isss likely that ssshe hasss ssacrificed herssself for the youngling." His voice is a low careful grumble. He has no proof of these words, but he suspects that he is right just the same. "Ssshe isss likely dead, or like Merek was onsce... a guesst of the hellsss."
It is a tired and bewildered Sabina that enters into the room with all the activity in it. She's talking, looking over her shoulder when she enters. "What was wrong with Aryia? I was nearly blasted off my fe.." She turns and finds a scene that she didn't think to find so soon. One she was hopeful for but surprised all the same. Tears fill her eyes and she smiles. "Ahh.."
"This one is forever grateful, Seyardu, that you brought her. That you have been here, that you have tended me and played chess." Cryosnthia says, her voice crackling, her head slowly bobbing up and down to her cihuaa's words.
"As Zeke says, he does not make deals where he loses. Aya has paid a great price."
Cryosanthia faces her statement, as she has the many revelations in this room, the pains she has which have spread to others, the debts incurred. Her responsibility, real and imaginary. What she has to do.
Her wing hurts.
"I NEED YOU TO BE BETTER!" She snaps at her injured limb, tugging violently. If only yelling worked. Her feelings churn, concern, protectiveness and worry, bubbling and battling. Her nestling, her cihuaa, her family, her friends.
Her nest.
Her world.
"She needs me, she needs us, Seyardu. She... catch up with Aryia. Find this Dead person. You..."
Another entity at the door. Sabina, thank the Silver Empress. "Sabina. Lily is back! Aya is.. Aya is..."
In a bad moment. In need of a lot of hope.
"Aya is gone." Cryosanthia shudders with emotion, holding onto the bed, "we can't abandon her."
Seyardu turns to Zeke. she shakes her head suddenly. There was anger, and frustration, a growl to her voice. "You can not say that, Zeke. This one just saw her. It smelled like Aya, looked like her. She was alive."
The anger broke, back to the despair and worry just as quickly. "This one, trusts in Aya. She would not harm her sister like that. She had, a plan, to trap them, to sort this out all okay. She killed that thing once. Maybe she killed it again?"
"But not dead. She is not dead." Seyardu states as she picks up the final scroll and its parcel to stow in her bag. "This one promised to be there, to help her. I will not let that be a singular occurrence."
Suddenly, Seyardu stops, near the door, and Sabina. The anger was there, and confusion. She looks to Cryosanthia, and shakes her head.
"Do not thank her for that. She did nothing. Aya did." She says quickly. "Peace on your nest, Sabina." She offers in greeting to her, before being on her way. <Draconic>
Zeke does not say anything to the contrary of Seyardu's words. Yet... He looks at his own letter. As Seyardu packs he reads it, his gaze going distant and thoughtful. When he is done, only a few seconds have passed. Barely a moment and he tucks the letter away. He goes to Seyardu, and touches her on the shoulder gently. "To each of usss sshe left sssome manner of farewell. Thisss one will not think her into death, but thisss one... Urgesss caution. Find thisss Daed perssson. Perhapsss they can offer more. Perhaps they know more."
He releases her, his gaze still thoughtful as he pulls away. "Ssseldan had a message for you ass well. He hopess that you will ssseek out the oness that are ssummoning the demon. That we can sstop him from coming to thisss plane." Zeke turns his gaze on Cryosanthia as Seyardu leaves. "You ssshould lay with her cihuaa. Both of you need ressst."
Sabina watches the room, reads it. Tastes the emotion on her tounge. Information is gathered quickly and just as quickly sorted. Her smile mellos and she wipes at her cheek where tears have leaked up from under he mask.
Seyardu gets a tad brighter smile as she bids Bina farewell. "Peace on your nest, Seyardu." She then steps closer to the bed and Cryo, patting Zeke on the arm in greeting and understanding.
"I see Erik did not stop with just his visit to me. Aya shows great courage as normal." She sits beside the bed calmly her smile taking on a more feral look as she adds, "But I don't think he should have his way this time. I think he's pissed off far too many people that are willing to work at his end. We'll get her back, one way or another. Just as we planned with Lily."
"Yes... this one... yes..." Cryosanthia says, rocking from side to side on her back legs, struck with decision paralysis. So many things on the bed. The blankets are rolled up to one side, the nethercite stones scattered. She paws those into a pile, brushes the battery leads over to an edge.
The box, the scrolls, are moved to an end where she won't disturb them. Her nostrils flare, dough.
Lily's pink blanket is arranged, with her on top, where Cryo will be able to hug her.
Rolson's earring...
Aya's broach...
Those are carefully placed where she will be able to hold them also.
The silverscale has vanished by the time she's organized her resting place. Cryo turns her head towards Sabina, sniffing at her once. "This one smells him on you still." Her wing doesn't look good, her tail either, the rest of her surges gracefully like a large kitten leaping up onto the bed, her functional wing assisting and the whole of her body moving fluidly and carefully past Lily's, who the becomes tucked up against her side.
"Agreed. Aya is smart. The last thing this one told her, is that we need to stay together. She told me to have hope. She left something for certain ones of us, she means us to put it together, She left leverage, to get her out of whatever she agreed to."
Her good wing folds down, shielding Little Fang, still sleeping peacefully, who squirms and settles in against the whitescale. "Lily needs her aunt. Aya needs us, all of us. We will be there."
I promise.
Letter from Aya
<Wrapped within the tightly-rolled scroll of paper is a single plain wax candle>
- Aryia,
- I once declared that having possessed and then lost was more painful than never having possessed at all. I now hope that I was wrong, as I fear that I might inflict that very thing upon you. I dare hope that you will not hate me for my actions. We both know far too much of hate that we need not more.
- We endured much so similarly in many ways, and yet emerged from those so differently in others. I distrusted family and affection as empty lies and fools dreams, yet these things you actively pursued. You found what I had not, and then shared that discovery with me. You were as much mentor to me as I ever was to you, and I am wholly grateful.
- I still expect you to continue your training, to expand yourself, and to never regret who you are. I bid you to seek Daeds advice in matters mulniessan and that you would trust him as I do. I will trust in Venom the same, and expect that she will provide all else that you may need.
- I further ask that you continue your role as mentor. If all goes well, one will surely need your guidance. The responsibilities of Tia Ay-ay are thus passed to you, sister.
- With love,
- Aya
- P.S. I have included an aid for your continued training.
- P.S.S. Venom, while I trust in my sisters judgement, I urge that you keep the following in mind: Aryia has but one heart to be broken; you have in excess of two-hundred bones.
