[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/Y5qdCQ1.png?1[/img]
[h3]Level 4 - MP: 14; FP: 3[/h3]
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[img]http://209.190.33.194/images/889/8898ca862c4f66345425430867ffb8fe98938869.png[/img]
Level 6 Hero, 10 Khookies[/center]

Loth examined what was apparently now his shield. He felt a bit guilty for taking it away from Falas, but there was nothing he could do now. He tried putting it back where he found it, but after a short while it would always disappear and reappear to his left hand. He made a simple motion with his left hand, as if to wave away something, and the shield disappeared. The entire experience was so strange to him; it felt almost like it was just second nature to do that. 

Summoning the shield back, Loth decided to give it a name. "[color=00aeef]I shall call you... Aegis,[/color]" Loth said. The shield emitted a bright blue glow for a moment, as if satisfied by the name. Dismissing the shield once more, Loth decided that it was finally time to leave Falas' residence. He had taken up too much time here already.

As he exited her home, Loth was greeted with an unexpected sight. Niciel was sitting down on a patch of grass, her legs to one side, as she admired a flower with white petals, gently rolling it between her thumb and forefinger. Stepping over to her, Loth asked, "[color=00aeef]Mother Niciel? What are you doing?[/color]"

Niciel looked up, surprised, but quickly regained her composure and smiled, saying, "[color=fff79a]Hello, Loth. This is good timing, actually. There were some things I wanted to discuss with you. Do you mind if you accompany me for a bit?[/color]"

Loth had not expected such an offer, and was quick to reply, "[color=00aeef]Of course, Mother Niciel. If I may ask, though, what is on your mind, and where will we be going?[/color]"

"[color=fff79a]I'll explain as we go, and as for where we're going, well, just the areas around the Valley of Peace,[/color]" Niciel responded. An aura of light quickly enveloped them, and with a flash, the two disappeared, only to reappear at a small corner of the Valley of Peace. Loth took a moment to recover from his disorientation, while Niciel walked up to the largest Holy Tree. As she placed a hand on it, she asked Loth, "[color=fff79a]I assume you felt it earlier?[/color]"

Loth believed she was referring to the malevolent power that had made itself known and the screams that followed after, and nodded. "[color=00aeef]Of course.[/color]"

Niciel's palm glowed a bright white, and when she removed her hand from the tree, a rod of blue wood is pulled out from the tree. She then pulled off a petal from the flower she was still holding and pressed it into the rod, the petal being absorbed into the rod. With that done, Niciel walked back to Loth and continued, "[color=fff79a]My siblings and their children are changing the world, both for better and for worse. That is true even now. I used to think that it was ok to simply create what we wanted and not bother others. Now, I am not sure if that was ever the right thing to do.[/color]" 

Another flash of light, and Niciel and Loth teleported to another remote part of the Valley of Peace. Going over to another Holy Tree to repeat the same process, Niciel said, "[color=fff79a]In the past, I contributed little to the world. I created the Nice Mountains and the Valley of Peace. I created the Wisps the watch over the world for me, and of course I created the Angels. Ever since then, however, I have stagnated. My contributions to the world ceased. A number of times I have realized this, and a number of times I have tried to right this, but each time had resulted in being stagnated once more.[/color]" 

Walking back to Loth again, this time with a yellow rod in hand, Niciel admitted, "[color=fff79a]As time passed, I learned a number of things from my siblings throughout my life, but there is still so much I do not know. I do not know who to side with, nor the proper action to take. I do not know what my future path will be. I am not even certain of how to take proper care of Angels. I am lost.[/color]"

"[color=00aeef]If you're asking me what to do, I believe you know that I am in no position to tell you,[/color]" Loth answered. "[color=00aeef]You are a Goddess, and I am mortal. Even with an Angel's long life, we do not see things the way a God does.[/color]"

"[color=fff79a]The way a God does, hmm?[/color]" Niciel thought out loud, staring off into space. With another flash of light to teleport them to yet another location, Niciel continued, "[color=fff79a]That may be so. However, it is because you're mortal that I'm asking you this. As an immortal goddess, I cannot fully understand how mortals think. Time passes in a blink of an eye. I still look back on when everyone was focused on merely creating the world we know as Galbar as if it were yesterday, and realize that so much has changed since then. In that time, I have done nothing.[/color]" Another rod had been pulled out of yet another Holy Tree, this time pink. "[color=fff79a]Meanwhile, many of my siblings have influenced so much more of this world's inhabitants, whether their own or others' creations, and even gotten involved with each other. Some of these influences have produced terrible results, and many suffer. I chose to do nothing. I had tuned them out of my mind, as if they did not exist. It pains me to think that I acted this way. Was I wrong? What am I to do?[/color]"

Loth was silent for a time, eyes closed as he was deep in thought, then let out a sigh. "[color=00aeef]I do not have the answers you seek,[/color]" Loth said.

"[color=fff79a]Perhaps it was too hopeful for me to think so,[/color]" Niciel responded, a sad smile on her face, looking away from Loth. 

"[color=00aeef]After all, the answers can only come from you,[/color]" Loth continued. 

Turning back to Loth in confusion, Niciel asked, "[color=fff79a]What do you mean?[/color]"

"[color=00aeef]I am not responsible for your actions, Mother Niciel, you are. You are the only one who can forge your path. Others may influence you, but your decisions are yours. If you believe you have wronged, why not right them now?[/color]"

Niciel was so surprised, she had lost the ability to speak for several seconds. Recovering, she asked, "[color=fff79a]Is... is it really that simple?[/color]"

"[color=00aeef]Perhaps, perhaps not,[/color]" Loth replied cryptically. "[color=00aeef]Either way, you should take the first step toward figuring that out for yourself.[/color]"

Niciel smiled again, this time a happy smile, and laughed as shed a single tear. As it slid down her face, Niciel caught it using the flower, catching it right in the center of the flower. "[color=fff79a]Thank you, Loth. This had been an insightful conversation.[/color]" Niciel then grasped the flower head between two fingers, and pulled it off the stem. Leaving it floating in the air, Niciel grasped a single strand of her hair, and plucked it, then proceeded to twirl it tightly around the flower stem. Gathering her three wooden rods, they began to twirl around each other, while having the flower stem in the center. They tightened up as much as possible, and with a glow of light, they fused together, creating a multicolored staff. Niciel then proceeded to pluck off most of the remaining petals from the flower head, letting them be absorbed into the staff. Only four petals remained on the flower head, resembling a cross. Niciel placed the flower head at the head of the staff, and the flower head transformed into a metal cross, fused onto the staff. There was a hole directly in the center of the cross, as if something was to be placed within it.

"[color=fff79a]Loth, would you be so kind as to lend me a hand here?[/color]" Niciel asked. 

Loth could only stare at the staff, enchanted by the process of its creation. Never before had he witnessed something so incredible. He could feel the immense power radiating from it as well. "[color=00aeef]A-are you sure, Mother Niciel? How could I possibly aid you in this?[/color]" Loth asked in return.

"[color=fff79a]Just place your hand here,[/color]" Niciel said, gesturing to the cross. "[color=fff79a]I willdo the rest.[/color]" 

Hesitant but curious, Loth did as Niciel asked. Niciel placed her own hand on top of Loth's, then Loth could feel his energy being drained out of him, pouring into the staff. It took a bit out of him, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. 

While this was happening, the Orb of Escry and the Orb of Holy appeared from behind Niciel and were sucked into the hole in the staff. The hole began to glow a bright white light, and when it finally subsided, a white crystal appeared in the cross. Niciel grasped the now completed staff, and felt a surge of energy rush into her. Her body was enveloped in a blue aura, but it quickly faded. 

Giving a radiant smile, Niciel said, "[color=fff79a]Thank you, Loth. Creating this would not have been possible without you.[/color]"

"[color=00aeef]Mother Niciel, if I may be so bold to ask... what [i]is[/i] this?[/color]" Loth asked, staring at the staff. 

"[color=fff79a]An item that will aid me in my future path of... [i]enlightenment[/i],[/color]" Niciel answered with a wink. With a flash of light, Niciel and Loth were back in front of Falas' home. "[color=fff79a]Thank you for taking the time to listen to me. I appreciate it.[/color]" 

"[color=fff79a]Oh, and that shield of yours...[/color]" Niciel said, looking thoughtfully at Loth. 

"[color=00aeef]I am terribly sorry, Mother Niciel, but I-[/color]" Loth was trying to say before Niciel cut him off with a raised hand and a smile. 

"[color=fff79a]It's alright. I know it belongs to Falas, but it honestly suits you better. Take good care of it now,[/color]" Niciel said. A final flash of light enveloped Niciel, and she was gone. 

"[color=00aeef]I will,[/color]" Loth promised, even though no one was around to hear it.

[hider=Summary]
-Loth has named his new soulbound shield "Aegis", and Aegis approves of the name.
-Loth leaves Falas' home, and is greeted with the sight of Niciel. 
-Niciel invites him to travel around the Valley of Peace as she discusses with him about the world and the gods and goddesses who interact with it. Meanwhile, she begins the preparations for creating her most powerful creation.
-As the discussion draws to a close, Niciel, with Loth's aid, puts the finishing touches on her new staff, Enlightenment. Completed, Niciel also gains a new Portfolio of Protection.
-They return to where they first started, and Niciel departs.
[/hider]

[hider=Might and Khookies]
-Niciel spends 10 Might in total to create the staff Enlightenment, from fusing the wooden rods and cross together to adding the Orb of Escry, Orb of Holy, and a bit of Loth's power.
-Niciel uses 3 Might to add Protection to her Portfolios.

Might remaining: 1
FP remaining: 3

[hr]
Loth gains 6 Khookies, no Khookies spent.

Khookies remaining: 16
[/hider]