Daresso nodded to each person who came forth, his nervous face easing into the situation a little upon hearing their names. While they were still strangers, he felt more safe now having something personal to associate them. They were an interesting sort, some definitely more collected than others, but they had honest intentions for the most part. It would seem out of everyone, he might have suffered the least of this amnesiac affliction, retaining bits and pieces of the past. He was unsure of their origins based on clothing. It seemed a mixed bag. Seeing that one of them didn't even have a pair of sandals, it seemed they let just about [i]anyone[/i] on Eden. Was the exodus from the dying world really that desperate? It was hard remembering what they were running from, other than the storms. He can't really judge anyone for their attire though, being that he wore a dusty old cap and brown pauper patch-stitched clothing. What really was his past? Or any of theirs? He supposed it didn't matter now. 

	Daresso stepped to the side, putting a hand on a dormant cradle and another, peering at the still faces behind the glass. Noting what Gwendolyn and Geno said, "Where do you suppose she is? There are others here who are still sleeping. Is this on purpose? But what..." the little boy squinted at the looming shadows all around. There was no telling how large the place they were in was, but by the lights of activated cradles distant and close, there must have been hundreds, maybe even thousands of them. "Sheesh, it is so dark. I can barely see a few feet ahead of myself..."

"[i]Ignis[/i]." 

	He thrust out a hand upon stating the spell, but when nothing happened, he looked shocked. It was supposed to conjure a small flame. This was such a simple arcana from what he could remember, taught wide-spread in schools to little children. His eyes narrowed when he further realized something. It only struck him now. What used to be a warmth, where his soul burned bright deep inside his being, had turned hollow and cold.

"What is going on...? Where is my aether...?"

But before he, or anyone can infer further, a voice called out. 
	"Poor child, all of my beloved children... what dilapidated states you are in..."

	Daresso turned wide-eyed towards this voice, one which they all should be familiar with. The feminine tone echoed across the room with an unnatural strength, as if it was being projected all around. A design of faint lights then began to rapidly pave between the rows of cradles in a path towards one end of the gigantic room. They stopped underneath an archway and illuminated a single figure standing beneath, whom was unusually taller than any normal human. At least a whole head or two worth, maybe even three, judging by the cradles lined on either side of them. As large as these machines were, they wouldn't be able to accommodate such a giant frame.

	This woman seemed a model of elegance, albeit archaic, her lanky form adorned in a dark frilled dress and covered in a cloak-like shawl. A pair of unblinking teal eyes stared out at the party from underneath a ribboned touring hat, the faint glow reflecting off long and thick lashes. The lights below gave her pale skin and auburn colored hair a slight glow that only accented her against the gloomy background. If not for the listless expression on her otherwise sweet face, everything about her physical appearance seemed perfect, as though crafted meticulously, and there was a definite truth in that. She, as all of the Perennial Staff, were Forge-Born after all. Some might recognize who this was by glance, and others might only know from the words spoken earlier, still fresh in memory. 

With a quick and curt bow, the Caretaker began to speak again. 

	"You all seem uneasy and confused. It must be because of the darkness, as is your nature towards the unknown. It is not my intention to leave such important places without light, but we needed to retain our core's power as long as possible... Some of you have expressed doubt about my functionality. I have not malfunctioned, I assure you. All decisions I make is for the betterment of you all, my ever fragile children, as is my life-task, one which I have kept diligent all this time..." moving a hand over one of the cradles, her eyes glimmering as she looked at the body housed within, "To preserve your precious lives for longer, I had to take some measure of sacrifice on the functioning of the cradles. Your tattered memories are a result of that. I hope you will understand..." 

	This particular pause seeming more uncomfortable than the others. A stark moment of silence passed before she acted again, turning on her heels and extending a hand to a now opened passage to a dimly lit hallway, a polished smile on her dark lips, "Nonetheless, welcome back to the waking world, my newly destined. I am sure you have many questions, but let us speak on our way to the Oracle. We wouldn't want to disturb the others..."

...