[center][h2][b]The Forgotten[/b][/h2][/center]

She sat atop the mountain, hands on her knees, humming a somber tune. Around her snow had begun to blanket the peak, falling in step with her song. Rivulets of water ran down and off her shimmering hair and face as the snow melted on contact with the Goddess’s body. It was a peculiar feeling, but one Asceal paid little attention to.  

She dwelled on other things.  Ever since Phystene had told her of Orvus’s promise she’d been unable to think of anything else. At least, not for long. Populating Istais had been a pleasant distraction, for Asceal and especially for Phystene, but that was what it had been: a distraction.  The issue of Orvus’s attempted murder remained. 

When the time came Asceal hadn’t stopped Phystene from leaving, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t worried for her friends safety. It was discouraging, to realize things were no better here than among the Celestial Spheres. Azura had warned her of that, though.  Galbar had been the victim of a multitude of calamities already. What was one more?

Asceals song faltered and she muttered to herself, “One too many.”  

She took flight, the radiant wings she’d given herself launching her from the mountain peak. She couldn’t hope to stop every disaster, she knew that. Truth be told she’d barely managed to keep herself safe, but that didn’t mean she should be ignorant as to what tragedies befell the world.  As she soared above the clouds she took in a world unknown to her. 

A vast stony plain had been pulled from the ocean near her island, and with no better landmark in sight she chose to follow its coast. It was a barren land, but not a ruined one. It was desolate, full of crags and boulders, and yet it was still beautiful. Moreover, she knew that even without the intervention of a god the wild land would be lush in time. It made Asceal realize that Phystene had been right. Even faced with tragedy they couldn't lose sight of what they were here to do.

That didn’t justify ignorance or inaction though.  Before long Asceal spotted the first sign of what she’d taken flight to find. In the distance, invisible to any but a god, a thin stream of smoke spoke of a great fire that had since burned itself out. She rushed to it.

What she found was an island, pitifully small, and black with ash and death.  That wasn’t all though. Life was slowly reclaiming the island. Scattered around the scorched island were groupings of thin green stalks. The plants were sprouting from seeds being planted by a flock of multicoloured birds who could only be Azura’s creations. Asceal floated to the ashen ground and beckoned to one.  

Around her a small group gathered. They looked like miniature imitations of the Goddess of Wind, and Asceal couldn’t help but take a moment admire their brilliant feathers.  That, and the work they were doing.  

She smiled at one and asked, “Little one, can you tell me what happened to this place?”

The bird cocked its head and sung a reply, “The burning one came. It burned the land, see?” The Gemstone Gardener looked around as if to illustrate its point before continuing in a somber tone, “Others were burned too.  They don’t fly anymore, and they hurt.”

Asceal frowned and scanned the island, looking for any injured Gardeners.  She glanced at the colourful bird she’d been speaking to and asked, “Can you take me to them?  I may be able to help.  I’m a friend of your mother.”

 “You know Azura?” The Gardener chirped happily, “If you can help come, come!  Fly with us!”

The Gardener and those around it took off and Asceal followed.  She took care not to outpace the mortal birds, for even flying normally the ethereal wings that sprouted from her shoulders were a great deal larger than theirs.

They led her across the island, to a beach of glassy black sand.  The beach sloped up to a wall of stone into which dozens of small alcoves had been carved.  The holes concealed countless small, huddled bodies.  The Gardeners that had brought her there approached cautiously and sung to their fellows, “We’ve brought a friend of Azura!  She says she can help!”

A few Onyx Cockatoos emerged from the alcoves and flew up to the Goddess.  They said nothing as they regarded her, but eventually flew back to the alcoves and squawked in careful invitation.  Asceal approached one of the alcoves and saw the masses of quivering bodies within.  Not all were Gardeners, but all were injured. 

Many of the birds had lost the feathers of their wings.  A few who were especially unfortunate had had lost wings or feet altogether.  Theirs were merciful injuries compared to their companions, though.  The small scaled lizards had suffered horribly.

Many had limbs fused to their bodies, nearly all were blind.  She tried to stop herself, but soon Asceal had started to cry.  Meager as they might be, these souls did not deserve such cruelty.  Gently, under the watchful eyes of the Onyx Cockatoos, Asceal extended a hand and rested it on one of the Gardeners in the Alcove.

What sort of Gardener it was she couldn’t have said, for all its feathers had been scorched from its flesh.  She felt its faint heartbeat, listened to its laboured breath, and etched the sight into her memory before her hand started to glow.  The Gardeners breathing grew stronger, its scars faded, and its feathers began to grow back.

Asceal still wept silently, but she did her work.  The glow spread from the Gardener to its fellow animals.  Soon it had even begun to permeate the soil.  All across the island those creatures who had survived the onslaught, no matter how great their pain, were restored to health.

The Goddess stood when it was done and wiped glowing tears off her face.  She knew she couldn’t prevent every tragedy, but how could she allow such atrocities to happen again?  She’d sworn to protect the souls of Galbar, not save the few that survived her siblings sadistic rampages.

As the healed creatures began squawking, chirping, and barking their thanks Asceal took to the sky.  She couldn’t stop the depraved actions of her siblings.  She couldn’t stop every tragedy in its tracks.

That didn’t mean she shouldn’t try.

[hider=Summary & Might Costs]
Asceal decides she should see what calamities have befallen Galbar.
She finds the scorched island.
She saved the survivors.
She decides she has to do whatever she can to stop this from happening again, no matter the cost.

[b]Might Costs:[/b]

[i]Asceal: 
-1 MP Healing all the survivors of Toast Island.

{0 FP & 0 MP Remaining}

[5/5 Towards Remedy Portfolio][/i]
[/hider]