[h3]The Departure[/h3] [hider=Summary] -Escre convinces Roxan to accompany it, Ull'yang, and Eroneus on a trip through the cosmos. -They break Vestec's last grips on the Astral Home and strengthen its defenses. [/hider] Death had been, for the monks of the Sanguine Communion, a trivial thing. After all, the lifeblood pumping through their veins ensured that each and every one would be able to withstand ridiculous amounts of damage. Though unable to boast the most vicious offense of Galbar's fighting groups, and without much true defense to speak of, they claimed victory through a combination of sheer persistence and sustain. All that mattered little, however, when an adversary delved past flesh and blood to assault something else. It was a scene of slaughter. Blood spattered the ground around the woodland spring, and scattered around the clearing were the bodies of the dead. No tree or stretch of ground had gone unpainted or unmarked by clashing weapons. Only one being stood now, among the corpses, though it was difficult to say if it had ever been alive. After a brief examination, Escre destroyed the last soul. It had spared these humans no mercy, even though they were members of Invidia's order. The Greater Spirit, clothed now in his Nightwalker form, had seen the corruption in their hearts and traced it back to this spring. Formerly, it had been connected to the core of the planet, the font of souls: the Astral Home. But the devil's final act upon surrendering his greatest act of conquest was to turn half of the life-giving Visceral Seeps into wells of corruption, and not all of the monks were quick to catch on. Those already tainted by Vestec's poison, turning their logic into rage, their compassion into lust, and their reason into hate, were now dealt with. Escre raised its hands, and all of the blood in the clearing began to flow into the Seep. When the entire scene was devoid of gore, Escre made a crushing noise, and the blighted spring was swallowed by the earth. [i][color=c0c0c0]"Three down. It will have to be enough."[/color][/i] The Great Spirit then manufactured a very specific resonance: one so keen and precise that it would enter only the minds of Ull'yang, the Sun Aspect, and Eroneus, the Birdbrother. [i][color=c0c0c0]"Demigods. I ask for your convergence at my position. Before our great journey can begin, two matters await that I request your presence for. A third demigod may accompany our pilgrimage through the galaxy, and the Astral Home must be protected."[/color][/i] Many days and nights had passed since Ull'yang visited the Uri land and bestowed upon them his gifts. Since then, he had made frequent visits to the same village, acquiring further knowledge of the race and its people. In one of his brief stays, he was informed of the turmoil that the government had faced. With the assassination of the Uri king and the execution of all their council members accused for treason, the previous king's son and heir took the throne for himself and immediately started reforming the Uri state. Ull'yang didn't really bother himself with the politics of mortals and thus, let all those little details escape him. What he did catch on to though, was the fact that they founded an educational facility and training grounds for Uri to train on their newfound power, Hyper Photosynthesis. Ull'yang was very pleased with this turn of events, although he did know that even with the help of others, he had made it exactly so a certain amount of time spent training in the power would not be the only thing the students would have to do in order to gain the full benefits of the power. They needed more than training. They needed dedication. Only if they dedicated their lives to climbing to the pinnacle would they succeed in unlocking the third stage. Ull'yang was flying a couple thousand meters above the surface of the planet, eyeing at it, analyzing it. He had made it his first priority; while the sun washed with its radiant light one half of the planet, Ull'yang would fly above the other half and see to it that darkness would not utterly consume the things living there. Unfortunately, the landmasses weren't exactly evenly divided among each half and as such, he needn't make such trips until a landmass big enough to be able to sustain life was created on the other half of the planet. That was when he felt something forcing its way inside his mind, something familiar. [color=c0c0c0][b][i]"Demigods. I ask for your convergence at my position. Before our great journey can begin, two matters await that I request your presence for. A third demigod may accompany our pilgrimage through the galaxy, and the Astral Home must be protected," spoke Escre telepathically. Ull'yang let the Lifegiver finish before he spoke.[/i][/b][/color] [color=FFFACD][i][b]"Very well. I shall be there at once,"[/b][/i][/color] he said and instantly turned 180 degrees and shot forward, wings flapping and legs galloping. In mere moments, Ull'yang landed at the location Escre had given them and bowed his head to the Great Spirit, waiting for his orders. Eroneus sat, suspended in the sky, his eyes closed and lax. Snippets of sun poked through the cover of the woolen clouds, gently caressing the Birdbrother's face. He was meditating, something he had taken to often since his rise to demigod. He felt attached to everything, as if he was above everything, on a different ethereal plane. All things considered, he probably was. He had taken to meditation, as a way to just appreciate this new found celestiality. He breathed in slowly and heavily, and breathed out, repeating this process several times. He felt the clean cut pristine air, cut through his wind pipe and flow through his lungs. He enjoyed every second of it, even though, theoretically, he required no air to live. The air felt clear as crystals, fresh as a stream, and as sharp as a glinting dagger tip. Suddenly, like a hot knife slicing through butter, a voice pierced his state of nirvana, bringing him out of trance-like state. His eyes fluttered open, and the voice spoke.[color=c0c0c0][b][i]"Demigods. I ask for your convergence at my position. Before our great journey can begin, two matters await that I request your presence for. A third demigod may accompany our pilgrimage through the galaxy, and the Astral Home must be protected,"[/i][/b][/color] Eroneus knew the voice belonged to someone with much more power than him, and that's when he placed who it was: his father; Escre. Eroneus said nothing, flapping his shimmering wings, summoning up gales, and he was off to the Great Spirit. With the two demigods alongside, Escre flew into the air, cloak whipping around him. The three flew at high speed, honing in on their airborne target. Beneath them, the terrain raced by. Rivers, forests, grasslands, and hills flashed beneath them as they soared lighter than air. In no time at all, they were approaching the object of their search: a lone, young dragon prowling the winds, with the shape of a woman on its back. Escre, Ull'yang, and Eroneus spread out and formed up around Roxan, with the demigods on either side and the Great Spirit directly above. [i][color=c0c0c0]"Hail, daughter of the Execrable One. We desire a word with you, and beseech you to land."[/color][/i] Roxan was soaring with Raktavira when three figures that she recognized as Escre, Ull'yang, and Eroneus appeared before her, the two Demi-gods fanning out on either side of Raktavira. The lethal Demi-god tilted her head and smiled. [color=seagreen]"Since you asked so nicely, I'll land in that clearing below us. Do try to keep up."[/color] She directed her mind towards her dragon's. [color=seagreen][i]Raktavira, can you land in that forest without clipping your wings?[/i][/color] [color=a0410d][i]I believe so, Roxan.[/i][/color] the dragon replied. [color=a0410d][i]I may be be a bit unstable, and you might get dizzy.[/i][/color] Roxan merely smiled as the dragon banked to his right and entered a steep dive, folding his wings along his body to avoid hitting the trees, then pulled up and landed on his hind legs first, wings spread for balance. Once he was stable on all fours, he appeared to bow, and Roxan freed herself of the straps that kept her anchored to the saddle, sliding down his foreleg. Raktavira settled, laying on his belly, and his Rider leaned against his shoulder, waiting for the others to catch up. The air directly in front of Roxan and Raktavira shimmered, and Escre appeared. In its nightwalker form, the Great Spirit appeared as a tall but thin man, with long hair, grayish skin, a wide-brimmed hat, and a cloak that seemed to shift of its own accord. Compared to the heavenly vestige of the horse and man who touched down soonafter, Escre had a unique and unnerving air. Its presence did not invoke fear, not that Roxan would have been susceptible to it, but rather emanated a vibe of something unnatural, even as gods went. When those gaunt lips began to move, without high-altitude winds necessitating a higher tone, they issued a soft voice. [i][color=c0c0c0]"Know this before we begin: your father is my adversary. His duty as Chaos incarnate is to tear down and defile all that I create. But my preliminary analysis of your soul leads me to believe that we need not share the same rivalry. It is expected of one touched by Vestec to be his pawn, a soul mired and muted, beating fitfully to Chaos's tune. Yours is different. Any spirit that has made contact with Vestec and withstood his corruption is one worthy of the respect of the god of Life."[/color][/i] Roxan stood straight and bowed with both arms over her chest. [color=seagreen]"Seeing as how he had not played an important role in my life, until now, it stands to reason that my soul took the shape it preferred."[/color] she paused. [color=seagreen]"But what do you want with me, pray tell? I know for a fact that you are not merely here to give me your respect, revered as it may be."[/color] She stroked Raktavira's black-blue scales fondly. [color=seagreen]"What you could you possibly want with a creature that is the exact opposite of your purpose? My touch kills and infects, I am as close to being Death incarnate, as anyone will ever be, and cannot touch another living soul without consequence. Even my blood is like a toxin."[/color] Escre blinked. When its eyes closed, hundreds of tiny eyes opened within its cloak. For a moment, uncountable optics were fixated upon Roxan, enough to divine the tiniest detail. Then the Great Spirit replied. [i][color=c0c0c0]"And yet you say this as you pet your dragon. It is precisely because you represent death that I seek you out. Life and death are not eternal opposites. They are two sides of the same coin. I may preside over Life, but I am more aligned with Spirit. I have always been in touch with death. It is why I appear in the forms of ghosts. But I will gladly share with you my intentions." "Soon, we three will depart. We have an important mission to attend to, and all that can be done on Galbar has been, with one minor exception. We will set forth on a great journey through the cosmos, to seek out what unimaginable things came to be at the moment of this universe's creation, and where there are none, to fill in the gaps. Light, air, life...all are the building blocks of greatness. No doubt you question: what place in this assembly has Death? Perhaps not to build, but perhaps to watch and understand. In the course of this journey, all demigods with me will come closer to godhood. As you grow stronger, you will find the power to do more. And I hope that in return, you all might teach me what I lack. It promises to be an experience of legend. However, I will not force you into it. Decline, and I will leave you here, though you may always wonder what it is you missed. I am prepared to fulfill whatever parting requests are in my power as recompense for your valued accompaniment."[/color][/i] Roxan considered his words-they refreshed her. They came from someone who did not just see her as walking death, but as part of the cycle of life. [color=seagreen]“I am only able to pet Raktavira because we bonded when he hatched, and I was able to immunize him, and his sister."[/color] She replied, then fell silent. [color=seagreen]"To watch and understand,”[/color] she echoed, thinking. [color=seagreen]“And to teach you what you lack.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. [color=seagreen]"I am not one to deny adventure, or a way to prove that I am more than a daughter of Chaos-a union that was not mutual on both ends, and carrier of decay. You may count me in, Lord."[/color] She bowed as she had before, and pulled a loose scale from Raktavira, with his permission, and held it in her hand, offering it to Escre. [color=seagreen]"Take this, as a sign of gratitude for seeing more than what most believe me to be."[/color] At that moment, Escre wished it felt the significance behind smiling. It received the scale with a slight bow, and held out its left hand. [i][color=c0c0c0]"I thank you. Seeing things differently is sometimes, it seems, a boon. Take this, as a sign of gratitude for proving that from even the darkest void, a star may shine."[/color][/i] It was a ring, a solid band of white metal. [i][color=c0c0c0]"Its purpose is two-fold. If you wish to bring your companion with you, give it to Raktavira and it will allow you both to survive in the void beyond Galbar. If you'd rather brave the unknown alone, return Raktavira to whomever you trust and wear the ring yourself. You, too, will rise on raven's wings: an angel of death. Before the journey beings, there is one final preparation to make. Eroneus, Ull'yang, and I are going to the Astral Home to prepare it. If you so desire, you may come with us there after tending to your farewells, and visit the font of souls before we brush the stars."[/color][/i] [color=seagreen]"Aye, thank you, Lord." [/color]She replied, taking the ring. [color=seagreen]"I'm bringing my dear Raktavira with me. I shall go with you, after I bid farewell to my oldest friend. If you would give me but a few moments, i shall go bid him farewell, and be back shortly after."[/color] She pulled the black stone from inside her pocket. [color=c0c0c0][i]"Very well. Seek the tower of bone. Your association with me will give you a penchant for detecting our various spirits. See you then. Oh, and please, do not call me Lord. I have not done things befitting a true God. None of us have."[/i][/color] [color=Seagreen]“My apologies.”[/color] She disappeared to hail farewell to Viscardi. Then, with Eroneus and Ull'yang behind, Escre made straight for the Planet Cord and the Astral Home. [center]-=-=-[/center] The trip went uneventfully until the god of Life smacked into an invisible wall and bounced, in a most undignified manner, into the side of the Planet Cord. Escre shook its head, newly analyzing. To affect its psyche, a barrier would have to have been erected by a fellow divinity. [i]Vestec.[/i] Of course. Who else would try and keep the god of Life from entering the Astral Home? As Escre examined the magical defenses, it found that the barrier was meant to steal power from anyone attempting to breach it and use it to strengthen itself. [i]A pity then that my power is, for the time being, spent.[/i] [color=c0c0c0][i]"Demigods, please help me to breach this defense. It is the task I required your help for. Attacking it with your power should be enough."[/i][/color] Abruptly, Escre shifted into its revenant form. In its armored left hand appeared its scythe, and with a creepily impassionate fervor, it began to whale on the invisible wall. Roxan smiled and dismounted Raktavira. She took off her glove, reaching for the invisible wall, willing the venom in her skin to eat away at it. [color=seagreen][I]Raktavira, gather the toxin I have gifted to you and center it in your claws, then slash at the barrier,[/I][/color] She said to him. [color=seagreen][I]But first, do me a favor and cut my left palm.[/I][/color] [color=a0410d][i]Are you sure, my Lady?[/I][/color] the dragon replied. Roxan nodded. Raktavira reluctantly cut her palm with a claw, leaving a gash that was half an inch wide. Roxan gritted her teeth, and pressed her bleeding skin to the unseen wall, her blood slowly, but steadily burning a hole in it. Eroneus watched the wall with hawk eyes. He did not believe a transformation to his Battle Forme would be required, not yet at least. Directing his energy into his hand, which he had transformed into what was best describe as a giant hawk talon. He wound up his arm, biding energy, and he released it all, slashing the wall with his talon, tearing a hole in the ethereal wall. Up to this point he had remained silent, which he broke by saying, [b][color=6ecff6]"Got it."[/color][/b] [color=FFFACD][b]"Certainly,"[/b][/color] Ull'yang responded to Escre's request. He looked at the barrier and then looked at his fellow demigods who were trying to break through it. "Hmm, so we just need to create a big entrance? If that's the case, then I think concentrating on one point would make it much easier to complete the task than attacking from multiple angles," he said. Suddenly, Ull'yang's eyes grew a bright gold and after a second, two concentrated beams of light shot from them, both hitting a spot between the holes in the barrier already created by Roxan and Eroneus. Slowly the beams burned away at the barrier and after a while, joined the two other holes together into one big entrance. [color=FFFACD][b]"I suggest we hurry and enter because we don't know if Vestec made it possible for the barrier to regenerate itself,"[/b][/color] Ull'yang told the other three. Escre nodded. [color=c0c0c0][i]"Follow me."[/i][/color] It led the way through the end of the Planet Cord into the Astral Home chamber. The presence suggested by Invictus, cleansing the corruption cast upon the place by Vestec and preventing future acquisition, manifested in a certain aesthetic change. The walls of the chamber, previously simple stone, had become nebulous, very much like space. Tiny pinpoints of light shone from its surface, and none compared to the Astral Home itself. The Home rippled in the chamber's center, a colossal orb of lifeblood. Spirits, previously rerouted to Escre's lantern to avoid corruption, were now released from the object into the orb, and they danced around it like fireflies before sinking in and entering the Spirit World. The Great Spirit flourished its scythe at the regenerating protections, and they were placed under its control. Now, teleportation into the Astral Home was blocked, and any god attempting to physically enter it would be teleported into a random point in Galbar's upper atmosphere. Escre had only eyes for the orb, however. [color=c0c0c0][i]"Magnificent."[/i][/color] It turned to face the three demigods, wreathed in white flames. [color=c0c0c0][i]"Our business here is complete. It is time for the great journey to begin. Fly quickly, companions, but do not worry if you falter or tarry. I will not leave any of you behind."[/i][/color] Escre burst into flame and rocketed past them, heading straight up the Planet Cord. Its demigod companions followed, and in short order, they left Galbar behind.