[center][h2][color=gray]Apostate[/color][/h2][/center] [center][color=beige]...makes a promise…[/color][/center] [color=yellow]Setting: Keltra[/color] Homura had returned to the keep after cleansing Lorelei’s suit and visor, and found her six champions busying themselves with weaving a new outfit for the sleeping girl. The goddess chose not to interrupt their work, and laid down the suit and visor on one of the unoccupied pillows beside Lorelei, so that she would see it upon waking. She allowed herself to smile in amusement upon the sight of the heralds of honor sharing ideas with each other, and creating something new with their own power, their own hands. So engrossed with their project, they had yet to notice her return. Their understanding of the Gnosis was limited, but they were quickly learning what they could create if they put their minds together. Homura stepped back, and stood near one of the many entrances into the keep. The three colossi had been loaded with sleeping humans and were ready for their journey to resume. All of her champions were here and well, and for that, the Goddess of Honor was truly grateful. She leaned against the doorway, choosing one from among the smaller ones, and gazed upon the empty fields that spread out from the keep to the wall. She could see a section of one colossus in the sea beyond the wall through the rift she had created to temporarily allow passage in and out of the citadel. Soon she would have to make proper gates, but that time had not come. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the previously missing figure of Apostate trudging over towards her. His face had its usual intensity, but instead of his habitual grip on the blade he wore on his hip, both of his hands were hidden behind his back and under his beige cloak. As he arrived at Homura, he scuffed to a stop and stood up tall, dwarfing the Goddess of Honor. “Homura,” he said, “I have something for you.” She simply tilted her head, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. [b]“I would rather you keep your eccentric ideas of what a surprise warrants far from Keltra. I have tired myself trying to keep my spirit from being stained with pollution, so I have no time for your barbs and… gifts. There is no need to hide whatever you have behind your back.”[/b] She answered. “Homura the rebel,” Apostate started, “you’ve wasted a fine speech on something that doesn’t even explode. Hold out your hand.” [b]“Why?”[/b] Her hands now hid behind her back, as she scowled. [b]“Besides, your words have not alleviated my concerns.”[/b] She continued, her eyes burning brightly with skepticism. “The one time you’re defiant…” Apostate rolled his eye and pulled his hands from his back. He shot out one of his loosely clenched fists and unrolled his fingers for Homura to see what laid in his palm. Sitting on top of his bandage was a simple strawberry. Her eyes wandered from the fruit he held, to his face, then back. [b]“Why did you take this child? Was its family killed by Astus as well?”[/b] She asked. Apostate closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, standing in silence for a moment. Finally he answered, “because it was ripe, Homura. Look closely at it and tell me what you see.” [b]“He is young, but his seeds are still strong. However, there is no soil for his kind here. He would survive in the forest, perhaps. I am still a novice regarding my knowledge of the nature of plants. Are you helping him spread his seed?”[/b] Slowly she reached out with her hands, ribbons of red light wrapped around her fingers and palm, as she touched the fruit. “In a way.” Apostate watched her investigate the strawberry. He put on a thoughtful look, clearly trying to find the correct words. “You… don’t understand why things eat other things, so I thought I could be the one to tell you the secret behind it… if you wanted to hear it?” [b]“I understand the concept of consumption. I consider it an inferior means of sustaining life, as it perpetuates a cycle of abuse and avarice. It is not a secret. It is the path of self-indulgence and eventual destruction. There is nothing more to say, brother.”[/b] Homura answered, her hands retreating when she realized the intentions of the God of Defiance. “So you won’t hear what I have to say?” Apostate asked, quietly, his fingers curling back over the strawberry. His words elicited a sigh of frustration from her, but she relented. “Speak if you must. I will hear what you have to say, but do not harm one that has not harmed another.” She said, her eyes on the strawberry, with a hint of concern she failed to conceal. Apostate unrolled his fingers again and held the strawberry close to Homura’s vision. “The seeds are on the outside, do you know why? Apples have seeds on the inside, but this fruit has seeds on the outside.” The god shook his head. “Wait, don’t answer that. I think it’s best that I just completed my little speech.” He let out a sigh and focused hard on the fruit. “Strawberries know the secret that I was talking about, so they put their seeds on the outside. You mentioned that consumption is self-serving and otherwise I agree with you, except at the same time I don’t, and let me explain with this fruit that knows why.” He cleared his throat, posing with the fruit in an almost comical manner, despite his face being as serious as stone. “By being eaten, this fruit propagates itself. It creates more of itself by being consumed, and that’s just the beginning. The need to eat is actually the first step of realizing the need for reliance. It connects the parties of the world together and creates a bond of respect — the bear and the fish, for example, or maybe the Eidolon and the ram — one works on the other in this cycle to create a rhythm of harmony.” With quick reflexes, Apostate held up his other hand to block any early comments. “But what of that which doesn’t want to be eaten, the fish for example? Or perhaps the ram dislikes the Eidolon. What if there is no respect between the parties, and the bear takes the fish for granted, or the Eidolon abuses the ram… then that is the issue, not the reliance and consumption, but the use of the medium, the incorrect translation of the lesson… and that’s where my aspect lives — for the fish to swim faster, for the ram to break pasture, and find good in breaking that cycle to find a better one, one where they can find respect.” [b]“Perhaps you understand why I consider the flora of this world to be the most beautiful. The animals are tainted, but they devote themselves to their purpose, and that is honorable. However, consumption corrupts the spirit, and the creatures closely connected to that which is sacred will become what I fear. In this primal state, this infancy of the world, the consequences of our actions seem small or not worthy of attention, but as time passes, the insidious nature of this cycle will reveal itself, and perhaps it will be too late then. I am pleased by your words, brother. You are not wrong, but you have ignored the most crucial piece of the puzzle: the Divine and our most clever creations.”[/b] Homura said, keeping her expression free of emotion, like a statue speaking. “The divine are not required to be connected to this, and that’s why they are ignorant to it,” Apostate, in contrast to Homura, had swirling emotion in his face. “I feel it in my chest.” He smacked his chest hard for emphasis. “An immense pain — I was born a piece of the connection, to understand mortality.” He paused and held out the strawberry. “Would you help a strawberry?” [b]“I cannot… it hurts me to see a child led astray, and it would hurt me to partake in its flesh. Why must you do this? Must I banish you from here?”[/b] Homura stepped back, her gaze falling to the floor, to the immortal stone of Keltra infused with her essence. She could see her reflection in its depths, staring back at her. [b]“I ask that you cease this.”[/b] She said softly, refusing to look at him. “The Apostate,” he growled, and she could see his shadow turning away from her. As he started to walk away, he said in frustration, “I’ll see you at the gardens.” [b]“I have a request.”[/b] The goddess announced before he could leave. [b]“I have heard you out, now you must hear me out.”[/b] Apostate’s boots scuffed, and without turning to her he replied, “What do you need?” [b]“Two favors. The first is a promise that you will bring others like Lorelei here should they seek shelter for a time. The world is a cruel place, and I wish to offer some sanctuary to life when the war truly begins. Secondly, I ask that you properly arm yourself. When you have the opportunity, forge a weapon that will help you, and I will invigorate it with my power as well. Will you do these two favors for me?”[/b] He looked over his shoulder at her, brow furrowed. “I will.” [center]-0-[/center] Instead of heading out right away as Apostate had alluded he was going to when he was talking with Homura, Apostate, instead, decided to take it upon himself to sneak back into Keltra. The strawberry was long gone now, and he gripped the pommel of his blade with stress — an unusual look etched on his face. “Who cares,” he said to no one in particular as he sharply turned a corner. His mind was racing against his will over Homura’s response to his gesture — but no matter how much he put the feeling away, it seemed to pop right back to annoy him some more. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why it bothered him so much, but he also convinced himself he didn’t care — so thinking about it wasn’t going to reveal the reason. Taking another turn through the labyrinth of walls, Apostate found himself in the little room put aside for Lorelei, the small girl sleeping soundly on a just as tiny bed. The god walked over to his ward and knelt down by her face. He stared at her and frowned, she was still sleeping. He cleared his throat, but she didn’t stir, so he cleared it even louder — but Lorelei simply twitched in response. Apostate rolled his eye and snapped both his hands to either side of the bed, lifting it into the air and giving it a shake. “Lorelei!” “Ah!” The girl gasped, shooting up onto her feet on the bed, sheets falling off her body to reveal her dressed in a simple brown gown. “W-What… Oh.” Lorelei’s half-lidded eyes settled on Apostate’s face for a while. She flicked one of her ears, some sort of mental process clearly slugging along behind those tired little eyes. Eventually, she wrapped her arms around Apostate’s neck and hugged him. The god dropped the bed with a bang, leaving the girl hanging off of him. He put an arm around Lorelei to support her and knelt down to bring her safely to the floor. “Did you sleep well?” As soon as she was set down, she began to rub at her eyes and yawned. “Yyyep. You?” “I didn’t sleep yet, I had things to talk about with Homura,” Apostate explained, “we are delivering the sleeping humans to the garden today.” “C-Cool. Apostate?” “You can call me Hevel, remember?” He put a hand on the top of her head, making her smile. “What do you need?” “Are you my d-dad? White, he t-told me he was big and strong.” Lorelei asked and sat back on her bed, looking up at Apostate. Apostate furrowed his brow, emotion in his eye. “I’m not your dad, but I can still be big and strong for you. Is that okay?” Lorelei nodded enthusiastically. “Yep! H-Hevel. I wanted to ask, I was curious. I think he’s d-dead, though. It doesn’t matter though, w-we’re together now. We’ll be fine!” “Exactly.” Apostate gave her a small grin. “Well, I need to get to the garden to make sure it’s ready for Homura, but I’ll be coming back to Keltra right after everything is settled there.” Lorelei grinned back and bobbed a little, “Okay! It’s a p-promise!” “See if you can get Homura and her Champions to loosen up a little while I’m gone.” Apostate put his hand on top of her head once again and stood up. “I’ll be back.” He said, but the moment he was about to take his hand off Lorelei’s head, she swiftly grabbed it and bit a finger. She let go quickly, giggling. “G-Gotcha.” “I’m glad I didn’t give you a blade yet,” Apostate said with an amused look. “Well, I best be off then.” “Bye-bye!” Lorelei said, waving at Apostate as he left her room. [center]-0-[/center] The champions of Homura had finally completed their project, and were ready to give it to Lorelei when the time was right. They stood around their small section of the keep where the bonfire burned brightest, and looked at their work. Inspired by the white and red cushioning around them, the six champions called upon their sacred power to conjure enough material to make an outfit for Lorelei to wear when she awoke. The material shaped itself according to their whims, and took many different appearances throughout the process of becoming what they wanted. The end result was wondrous and appealing; a flowing white dress adorned with a myriad of red patterns, its sleeves enriched with red rings and runes. The dress itself was accompanied by boots similar to what all of the champions wore, but fitted to fit the small feet of Lorelei. In the light of the Eternal fire, the outfit shimmered with otherworldly power, revealing the nature of its enchantment; self-purification. The dress and boots would always cleanse themselves, resisting mundane stains and decay. Elated by the results of their efforts, the six Heralds of Honor traversed the vast hall, eventually reaching the another tiny area of the keep consisting of a comfortable room Apostate had created for Lorelei. Slowly they peeked their heads through the doorway that held a beautiful bead curtain, also created by Apostate, to see if the little girl was awake. She was indeed awake, sitting facing away from the doorway while she tinkered with something using various tools from her pack. The dim lightning of her room, provided by the single miniature lantern she’d brought with her, made it difficult to see what she was actually doing but she was clearly enjoying herself if the hypnotic way her tail swished was anything to go by. “Pst. Lorelei, it’s Courage. We’ve got something for ya.” The brash champion whispered from the other side of the bead curtain, before poking forward and listening to the sound of her passage through the threshold. It reminded her of the sea, in a way. Lorelei’s ears turned toward the source of the before her head did, a grin finding its way onto her face. “Hiya!” She greeted, standing up swiftly and skipping over to Courage, her slitted pupils almost shining in the darkness as she looked at each of the champions. “W-What is it?” Her sisters followed Courage into the room, with Kindness carrying half of their gift folded in her arms, while Pride held onto the other half with her small hands. They approached Lore, and offered the rich and intricate dress along with boots, both faintly shining in the light of the lone lantern, to the little girl. “Here… we made this for you.” Kindness said while the others simply smiled with excitement. “R-Really?” Lorelei asked with starry eyes, quickly grabbing the dress and hugging it close to her chest. “It’s so s-soft! So good! I have never felt t-this before! Thank you so much!” Lorelei nodded excitedly, throwing the dress onto her bed and running over to hug each of the champions as well as she could. “The H-Girls are the b-best! Yay!” “Don’t say you’re unclean again now. You’re our friend, and our sister. Our Maker doesn’t make unclean children, so I expect you to remember that.” Courage proclaimed, standing tall with delight in the fact that the gift had been so well received. Pride, along with Wanderer and Curiosity, had shifted to examine the light source in the room, while Fear and Kindness asked if Lorelei would wear the dress before they had to depart. “Some of us have to help our Maker deliver our kin to Apostate, so we’ll have to say goodbye for a time.” Kindness explained to Lorelei, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder while she spoke. “Mmmm, I-I understand. Duty! Work! Food- Uh, not food. Y-You know! I know. Um,” Lorelei clasped her hands for a moment, then looked at Fear and Kindness and nodded. “I-I will wear the gift! I made s-something for you all too. Here, look at i-it!” She exclaimed, skipping over to the item she had been tinkering with and picking it up only to come back to the champions and show it to them. It was a small, roughly humanoid sculpture of some sort, made by various little bits of interlocking metals. All of the champions turned to look, and Curiosity held out a hand to hold it, while the others watched. “How did you shape the metal?” The inquisitive champion asked, and the rest of her sisters found that they had wondered that as well, stroking their chins in thought, or wearing puzzled expressions while they tried to figure it out. “It’s like us.” Pride suddenly chimed, pointing a finger up as if to emphasize her epiphany. “Forged from the riches of the earth.” The small champion explained, and the Heralds of Honor all nodded their heads in agreement. “Thank you, Lorelei.” Kindness said, and one by one, all of her sisters expressed their own thanks for the gift. Lorelei’s grin almost couldn’t be contained by her face by the end, and she handed the small statue to Kindness. Immediately after that she undressed and got around to trying out the dress, easily finding her way around it and the boots. She practically squealed in delight as she jumped off her bed and onto the ground. “Waow! I-It fits so well!” “Told you it would!” Courage teased Kindness, and applauded Lorelei in her new attire. The champions had been happy after finishing their work, but seeing it worn and appreciated filled them with joy. “You look wonderful!” Curiosity exclaimed, and there was wordless agreement among the champions again. “We have created something beautiful, I think.” Kindness added, gesturing to the elated Lorelei, the bright smile of the little girl that had been traumatized by the cruelty of the world. It was a reminder of what they had promised to do, and why they had continued to persevere. Suddenly, Lorelei started to cry. Tears escaped her eyes even as she smiled; she tried to wipe them away but more just kept coming, until she sniffled and her smile disappeared. “S-Sorry. I love you.” “There is no need to apologize. You are allowed to cry. Know that we love you as well. We have loved you since the day our Maker forged all of us, and we will love you until the day our time together comes to an end.” Kindness replied, as memories of being moved to tears herself danced in her mind. Her voice was soft and soothing, she hoped it would help as she sensed the presence of the Goddess of Honor approaching. “It seems our time is up for now. We’ve got to go, so wish us the best of luck, and remember to listen to what the others tell ya. We’ll be back really soon.” Courage said, the first to vanish through the bead curtain. “You still need rest, little one. We’ll talk again later.” Pride commented, taking her leave as well. The four remaining champions were more hesitant, and Curiosity and Wanderer both leaned down to hug Lorelei once more. Then the four of them had left to follow their goddess out of the keep. After all of the champions left, Lorelei sat herself down on her bed, wiped her last tears away and sniffled. “White, you promised… I-I miss you.” [center]-0-[/center] They had gathered atop the towering red wall, facing the southern sea of Kel-Mera, where the three colossi stood and awaited them. The six Heralds of Honor looked to Homura, and bowed before her as she gazed upon them with her usual intensity, as though she were judging their every motion. [b]“It is time to depart. The world will not wait while we remain here. Courage, Kindness, Curiosity; you are to accompany me to deliver our gifts to Apostate. Fear, Wanderer, and Pride; you are to stay in Keltra and watch over Lorelei. Should any among the Divine arrive, you are to welcome them, and inform them I will return soon. Act with honor, for you serve the King in Heaven, and your purpose is peace.”[/b[ Homura ordered, and her voice rang with the authority of divinity. “Yes, mother! For the King in Heaven, and for peace!” They called out, and the six champions stood up before each set out to perform their appointed tasks. Three leapt to their respective colossi, while three returned to the keep, and the red goddess turned her attention to the north where she could feel the power of another deity approaching. It seemed there was something she must deal with before departing. [hider=Summary]-Homura and Apostate have a conversation, and argue, as usual. -Apostate says farewell to Lorelei, on his way back to the Garden of Hevel. She calls him dad and he promises to return. -The Champions of Homura give Lorelei a gift, and receive a gift from her. -Homura sets out from Keltra to deliver some sleeping humans to Apostate.[/hider] [hider=Vigor]Cycle 3 Homura's Vigor total: 7. Vigor spent: 0. Remaining Vigor: 7. Courage, Kindness, Fear, Curiosity, Wanderer, Pride all gain 1 Spirit. (+1 Minimum) Each Champion spends 1 Spirit (6 in total) to weave together an enchanted outfit for Lorelei. A dress and a pair of boots that cleanse themselves from mundane filth (imagine calling someone that).[/hider]