[center][h1][color=gold]Leannah[/color][/h1][/center]

[hr]

Well, even this brief exchange had granted her something of value in information. The Illuminator's "mother", literal or otherwise, was the goddess who'd brought them here. The same goddess who had their bodies custom if not tailor-made to certain specifications, which her "son" had helped her create. Likewise that 'thing' in there had at some point perhaps been toyed with by this god...made sense with how twisted it was...she almost pitied it a bit now for the briefest glimmer of a moment. Plus now it was more than likely at this venture there were or had been more of those things like the one she'd killed back there. Not to mention the chances of other creatures lurking about that place at the behest and perhaps 'creative spirit' of a toying, playful, mad god of knowledge. 

But the whole complex was seemingly made to lock up The Illuminator's "auntie", which if she had a guess was likely Delphiti based on her limited information thus far. Which would make his 'mother' the 'sister' of Delphiti, not the daughter or child of her thereof. Well...potentially at least. It was all speculation at best. For all she knew Delphiti was that white-eyed child dropped into the ocean, and the goddess she'd seen was just usurping Delphiti's stuff or something. Again simply another wild theory, but a theory with even the tiniest potential evidence and grounds to exist in her mind at the moment nonetheless. 

Plus there was that journal page. Yes. Someone who had infiltrated this place before it was left to the elements, specifically getting into this god's cult to seemingly get revenge. It had reminded her of some plot in the prequel movies for some space opera back home, one which her father had been rather the fan of rather intensely actually. It was one of his few passions that didn't involve her training for hours and days and more at a time with some martial arts masters around the globe. Ah. But she was getting away with her thoughts there. She had no idea how long ago the journal page was written! Yet considering Lazhira was able to get to the temple and back so easily despite the fog and danger, especially with some of markings on the temple were eerily similar to what she'd seen on the cheerful girl, she had growing suspicions about how well Lazhira was acclimated with this place in reality. It was all so...convenient. Too convenient. She didn't think the girl meant them all ill-harm at least, but one thing was for certain in the catgirl's mind: Lazhira was potentially connected to this place somehow. Connected to The Illuminator and his worshippers here. 

More than that, apparently the Kyrinth was not just a creature but a deer. Sentient, based on context and inferring things from that context, and it being ancient even more likely given a deity called it an 'old deer'. Then again it could be some ancient deer beast roaming the woods, but based on what she'd heard the strange guy ask Lazhira earlier things like 'sentient' and 'ancient' and likely 'powerful' were applicable to it. Like some fickle woodland nature god from that "Princess Something" movie that studio in Japan had made years ago. She'd liked the movie, really, just not remembered the name after so long was all. Still it was a more solid inference to make than some prior things she'd theorized or assumed back in the trapped library. 

This in the end left her with a few more worries and a very distinctly-toned offer before, the latter due to her 'big mouth' in this particular situation. Not that she'd had time to think about it, but who ever [b]could have[/b] had the [u][i][b]time[/b][/i][/u] under the same accidental and rather [b]pressing[/b] circumstances with literally [b]zero experience talking to a crazy knowledge god[/b]?! But that theoretical argument could be saved for later...much much later in fact. Right now she had to decide. 

Throughout The Illuminator's words with her so far, odd pricking sensations that seemed unnatural or at least 'off' after he noted he knew about her and the others and a dark chuckle about mortals, a warping hall before her appearing in full, and the shifting between joyfully reminiscent and heavily hostile left her with a definite impression. No choice was safe, and no outcome was certain, and for all she knew the cake was going to kill her or turn her into a kookaburra and she'd be damned for eternity. 

Yet the god's desire to 'play games' and toy with mortals seemed to be the more sure thing of all right now. That was what she could rely on, what she could at least work with, aside from the fact this being was otherwise unpredictable. That and if this deity had read her like a book or similarly during the 'creation process', which was a big potential there among other side things, there was danger of being played like a fool in a poker game to boot. Heck, she wasn't even sure if there was some kind of 'rules of hospitality' around here or if the god was just prodding with his lure to get her hook-line-and-sinker. 

Was this how the legends of ancient myth felt, like when Oedipus faced the Sphinx with the threat of death? 

Was this how Neferkaptah felt, knowing he was digging up the Book of Thoth and likely to face divine punishment? Or how Prince Setna, foolish son of the greatest Pharaoh as he was, felt when he played that dangerous game in Neferkaptah's tomb? 

There was only one way to find out for herself, and the god's attempt at bullying with a hostile tone at the end wasn't going to impact her decision...even if she was going to be going along with it by virtue of her own judgement and a still-lingering curiosity otherwise. 

Curiosity had better not kill this cat today though! That she'd do her best to ensure. But if she was to face the Labyrinth...she'd have to channel her inner Theseus, and she'd have to gamble like Ptolemy I Soter heading out to steal Alexander the Great's corpse. 

[color=gold]"How could I refuse such a hospitable offer to enter your home! It would be far too dull to not take up such an opportunity!"[/color] Leannah said with a beaming smile, gently placing her chunk of crystal on the center of the room floor (this one she had originally stepped into from the pool of water area) before walking forward to enter the winding hall and such before her that seemed to be made of some kind of marble-like smooth stone, [color=gold]"I must say, you have me quite excited! And terrified. Kind equally both things really, and that's the best part~"[/color]

She did silently pray to the Bastelian goddess in her mind, however, for some guidance and wisdom where moving forward through this place. It wasn't a serious prayer as much as a silent coping mechanism, but if it reached the cute bird sun goddess safely then all the better potentially. She at least wasn't sending some lunatic prayer in the middle of a fight with big stupid birds, if nothing else!