[h1][center][b][i][color=pink]Aethel[/color] & [color=ed1c24]Homura[/color][/i][/b][/center][/h1] [hr] While it was true that Aethel would have been interested in witnessing the first ever magical ritual performed by mortals on a larger scale, the simple fact was that his attention had been… elsewhere for sometime now. Something that they had lost a long time ago and hadn’t been able to locate had… revealed itself somewhat. It was no longer within Tuku’s possession and thus the measures in which the lord of the hunt had hidden the stolen branch of the Tree of Harmony seemed to have faded with his absence… but while Aethel may have understood themselves a fickle beast, but once they started on a task they liked to see it through to the end. Now that the Rattus were largely equipped to handle mortal affairs and survive on their own to an extent that Aethel was happy, they had opted to go for a walk and track down what was rightfully theirs. Lands, animals and oceans just flew past him, but in the end they reached the land where the missing branch had been seemingly abandoned… inside of what appeared to be a rather interesting looking fortress. The circular red wall surrounded a lone keep atop a hill, where the land was barren, and the presence of another deity was so profuse that it had seeped into the forest that grew around the fortress, and flooded the nearby sea. A myriad of red hues, from the flowers, to the branches, to the water, and the stone. Close to the fortress were three massive machines, and a vast section of the land that had become putrid and stained with ebon oil that choked any life that attempted to regrow there. The presence of another deity lurked in its aura of decay. Standing on the wall, watching Aethel, was a lone figure wielding a golden spear that shone with celestial light. Her aspect revealed itself, and the Goddess of Honor called outward, her voice clear and easily heard despite the distance between them. [b]“I am Homura, I have no intentions of harming you.”[/b] Looking back up at the now named Homura, Aethel couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow of their small, bipedal form as their arms crossed their chest. “[color=pink]I am Aethel. Normally when one intends no harm, their first instinct isn’t to openly be wielding a spear. I know you’re trying to be polite, but I feel like it should be mentioned that you’re sending something of a mixed message.[/color]” [b]“Allow me to amend my statement then. I have no intentions of harming you, unless you are my enemy.”[/b] She replied, and her voice was neither hostile or friendly, nearly emotionless when she spoke. With the matter being cleared up, Aethel seemed to relax slightly as their crossed arms dropped away. “[color=pink]Okay then. Glad we were able to clear that up. Misunderstandings are troublesome after all. As to why I am visiting you, Tuku seems to have left something here that he originally stole from me and I would like it back if you don’t mind sister.[/color]” [b]“Hmm… I assume you are referring to the wooden staff he carried. It is imbued with your power, but I require more evidence to prove that you are not attempting to deceive me. Our brother has entrusted it in the care of my champion, and therefore entrusted it in my care. If you can provide more evidence, then I will return it to you.”[/b] Homura answered. There was a moment where Aethel just… blinked up at Homura before a frustrated groan escaped him. “[color=pink]That’s not fair! The only four witnesses of Tuku’s stealing of one of the branches of my tree are myself, Tuku, the mother of rats and one of the early hawks, the latter two both long gone and the hawk being Tuku’s toady anyway. I mean seriously, who promotes someone to be their symbol because all they did was spy on the rat that you told to steal for you in exchange for the ability to have children without her dead husband? It’s not exactly a test of loyalty or skill.[/color]” “[color=pink]All I can offer to you is the truth, just as any claim that Tuku offered that isn’t arranging the theft of that branch is a lie. Why should my word by valued less than his?[/color]” [b]“You have accused our brother of a crime. He will now stand trial, and if you are speaking the truth, he will be punished, and you will be given that which belongs to you. I will speak with him, as well as the other two you have mentioned. Until then, it would be foolish of me to simply believe the words of one I do not know. I promise you, Aethel, that if you have been wronged, you will receive proper justice, I speak as the Highest Judge of the Monarch, and His Emissary.”[/b] Homura said, while her voice and expression remained neutral. For a moment, Aethel looked frustrated and angry… but then something she said seemed to calm them a little. They were still clearly tense, but there was an assurance in the way that they stood now as they gazed up at Homura. “[color=pink]I do not care that you are the highest judge of the Monarch, or his Emissary. But you have given your personal word to see justice done and I [i]will[/i] hold you accountable to that.[/color]” With the matter settled for now, Aethel seemed to relax a lot more as they openly started to look around. “[color=pink]I like what you’ve done with the place by the way. I don’t care what anyone says, there is nothing wrong with knowing what you like and decorating your home how you want it.[/color]” Homura stepped back, out of sight, but still easily heard. [b]“You are welcome to come inside, if you wish. I am afraid I must leave soon, but we can arrange for you to visit another time. I will require your attendance during our brother’s trial, but there are other matters to discuss. Your beautiful work on Galbar first and foremost.”[/b] She said, moving farther and farther away. “[color=pink]Thank you for the invitation. I would love to join you, even if only briefly.[/color]” Aethel answered completely honestly, walking forward before leaping up to the balcony that Homura had been standing at before intending to follow and join her. “[color=pink]For what it is worth, I am sorry for arriving like this. I was merely following my lost branch and I didn’t know where exactly it was going to be when I caught up with it.[/color]” The wall was as wide as the colossi that stood outside it, and Homura walked from its outer edge to the inner edge. Despite her mention of a hasty departure, she leisurely strolled towards her destination. [b]“There is no need to apologize. I understand your frustration, and hope I can alleviate it soon. I would like to use this time as an opportunity to verify that we have been discussing the same artifact, so I appreciate your patience. I apologize for my own behavior, my creations and I have been recently threatened by our brother, Iqelis, and I do not take kindly to such.”[/b] They reached the inner edge of the wall, standing upon the red precipice and facing the lone keep atop the hill in the center of the barren fields. [b]“I digress, it is proper for me to express my appreciation of what you yourself have created. Defining the realm of dreams, and another source of ambient energy that mingles with the rest of creation. Such is work worthy of praise.”[/b] Homura said, turning to face Aethel with an authentic look of respect. For their part, Aethel appreciated the flattery. “[color=pink]Why thank you sister! It is nice to have one’s work be appreciated. Though I must confess that aside from your beautiful fortress and your giant colossi, I am not that familiar with your own works upon Galbar. Then again, I am somewhat easily distracted and prone to letting my mind wander so I may have just missed it.[/color]” In relation to Iqelis, the smaller deity answered “[color=pink]I have yet to meet them myself, though I do remember Ruina’s warning of them from such a long time ago. At any rate, I am sure that the display that resulted in the altercation between the two of you was entertaining for the Monarch of All to witness if nothing else, so do take comfort in that.[/color]” Homura turned her gaze towards the heavens, and pondered the words of Aethel for an ephemeral moment before she spoke again. [b]“I am afraid that I have yet to begin my work. I did not create the colossi, and this keep was forged from a calamity caused by our siblings and their petty conflict. I have created the gift of humanity for all among the pantheon, which I will show you when we step inside. I have created my six champions, but their beauty is their own. I have created only one monument that I consider to be the result of my work. I will show it to you as well.”[/b] With those words, the red goddess leapt from the wall towards the keep itself. The bipedal equine god quickly followed, landing beside her as they continued the conversation as if they hadn’t just leaped “[color=pink]It’s okay. There is nothing wrong with taking your time and planning out what you’re going to do. I’ve been known to do it from time to time after all. Though I am curious why you’re keeping your… humans you said? I am curious why you’ve got them locked up in your fortress rather than letting them loose in the world to figure out their place in it. At the moment, my Rattus are currently dealing with an unexpected issue of what was clearly a herbivore that lived on the opposite riverbank from them violently responding to their efforts to use the river to transport themselves and supplies. I’m curious to see how they handle it in the end.[/color]” Homura walked through one of the many doorways, entering the scarlet structure. Ahead was an otherworldly light, akin to the orange glow of flames, but imbued with the essence of the divine. It spread its warmth which was absorbed by the stone and the wind, invigorating all it touched. Homura spoke and her voice echoed in the tunnel they traversed. [b]“Humanity still sleeps, awaiting the will of the Divine to awaken them. They are kept here where they are safe until I can properly deliver them to the rest of our kin. They will be an instrument of our desires, shaped by our preferences, and guided by our decree. However, they are also fragile, and require a source to sustain their inner fire.”[/b] “[color=pink]Sister, a watercraft resting on the shore might be safe from what the Rattus call the [i]water monsters[/i], but being on land is not what a watercraft is for. Leave it there long enough and the reeds that make it up will rot and decay to the point where even if you did push it into the water, it would just sink.[/color]” Aethel countered softly. The two deities stepped out of the passage and into the vast hall where the Eternal Fire blazed brightly, illuminating the thousands upon thousands of sleeping humans, along with a small area occupied by pillows and large white owl plushies. Placed upon a nearby table is an egg and an orb held in chalices, a sheathed dagger, and the carved branch of the Tree of Harmony. There was little else in terms of activity, aside from a small, childlike effigy of Homura approaching them. “Welcome to Keltra, your grace. My name is Pride.” The small champion said, as she respectfully bowed to Aethel. A bow that was quickly and respectfully returned. “[color=pink]My name is Aethel. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Pride. Even if my visitation will be brief.[/color]” Aethel responded… before their gaze turned towards the branch that had been carved into a staff. “[color=pink]That’s the branch Tuku stole for sure. I would recognize it anywhere… even if he has altered it.[/color]” [b]“Pride, the staff Tuku entrusted to you is not to be removed from this hall, even should he come back and demand it. Inform him that it is confiscated until the matter of its ownership is resolved, and he may speak with me if he takes umbrage with that. That is all.”[/b] Homura ordered as she approached her champion and then dismissed her. Pride merely bowed once more, looking between the two deities once before walking towards the area where the pillows and table were. [b]“Those that sleep are dormant vessels. There remain two hundred and ten thousand, eight hundred and seventy-four in my possession. I offer you up to ninety thousand, if you wish to claim some. I will also deliver them to wherever you like, but that may take some time considering my other obligations at the moment.”[/b] Homura said, as she knelt beside one of the sleeping humans. Its pale form lacked any facial features, aside from narrow slits for breathing. “[color=pink]A generous offer Homaru, but one I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline.[/color]” was Aethel’s surprising answer. “[color=pink]As I said, I’ve already made a people in the form of the Rattus, while also having some ideas for some caretakers for the ocean of dreams… an environment that I’m afraid that humanity is ill suited to be the template for, if only because they were originally of the material world. They would simply not have the inherent adaptability required in order to properly maintain and move around within a mental realm. But that all being said.. Why don’t you take those nine thousand humans for yourself? After all, why should the other deities get to decide what shape all of your creations take?[/color]” [b]“Humanity is my gift. Not something I intended to bestow upon myself lest all of our kin ultimately refused to claim them. I have proven I am not worthy of being considered divine, and so I will only offer my guidance and aid to mortals. Keltra and the Eternal Fire is a shelter for them, not a home. Perhaps that will change in the future, but my current intentions are to set humanity free upon Galbar, to serve our Lord, as we do.”[/b] Homura answered, turning her attention back towards Aethel. Aethel for their part had lifted a fist to their mouth and bit down on some of his fingers in order to stop himself from laughing. They couldn’t help it; Homura had just told them the funniest thing they had ever heard in their existence but they didn’t want to disrespect her when it was clear that she was trying to be serious… even though it just made the situation funnier. Closing their eyes for a moment as they breathed deep to collect themselves enough to talk properly, Aethel opened them again as they removed the fist. “[color=pink]Very well sister. In light of what you just said, I believe I will accept your offering of nine thousand humans so that I can give them a good home with someone who will look after them. A concern I’m sure you’ve had with some of our siblings who have accepted your gift before.[/color]” Aethel offered in a calm and respectful tone… before they turned away from Homura towards her tiny champion who was lurking nearby the fire. “[color=pink]Pride my dear, would you come over here for a second?[/color]” Pride nodded her head as she spoke. “Yes, your grace.” Then she trekked to where Aethel stood, tossing a single glance towards where Homura stood in silence, before looking up at the God of Magic. Clearing their throat, Aethel smiled as they offered “[color=pink]It seems to me that it has become a custom for visiting deities to offer you and your sisters a gift… and to fail to live up to that custom would be rude of me. I have recently come into the ownership of nine thousand humans that I don’t have any plans for… so rather then just letting them linger here or twisting them into some brutish form designed to help them impose their will upon other species, I am instead going to offer them to you and your sisters to do with as you wish. Granted, I suspect you would need to ask your mother or some other deity you’re on good terms with in order to alter them in a manner you all desire, but they are yours all the same.[/color]” “Hmm… that’s a generous offer, your grace. Permit me a moment to ponder it before accepting, please.” Pride replied, turning to Homura. “Mother, would the Eternal Fire sustain nine thousand humans?” She asked. The Goddess of Honor began walking towards the burning monument, her back to Aethel and Pride when she answered. [b]“The Eternal Fire can sustain more than a million humans within Keltra, but its range is limited to within the walls. You have also misheard me, I offered ninety thousand humans, brother, but if nine thousand is all you wish to claim, then so be it.”[/b] Aethel blinked slightly… before pausing as they actually thought about the earlier conversation. “[color=pink]Oh, so you’re right. I guess I did mishear. Pride, my gift has been increased to ninety thousand. Might as well ensure that whatever species you and your sisters create has the numbers to withstand the odd misfortune.[/color]” “Thank you, your grace. I happily accept your gift. I’ll tell my sisters as well when they return.” The small champion replied, bowing once more. She arose, and smiled at Aethel, exuding innocent joy as her mind seemed to race with all the new possibilities. [b]“If you wish to awaken them, Pride, you must travel farther on the Sacred Path. I will not awaken them for you.”[/b] Homura said, moving to stand behind Pride, and placing her hand on the small champion’s shoulder, but this did not cause the loss of any excitement. “Yes, Mother.” Pride chimed, still smiling. Nodding their head slightly, the poofy mane swayed from the motion as they answered “[color=pink]Well either way, I look forward to seeing what you and your sisters create. But I believe I should take my leave… your mother did say that her time was short and she had other affairs to take care of and I don’t wish to overstay my welcome.[/color]” [b]“I will inform you of when Tuku will stand trial, but you are free to come back and visit again, brother. I hope to one day visit your people, and see what wonders they have created. Until then, farewell.”[/b] Homura said, absently stroking Pride’s hair while she spoke. “[color=pink]And I would welcome you and your daughter's dear sister. I’ll try and give you more of a heads up if I intend to visit you in the future.[/color]” Aethel offered, combining it with a small bow as they turned to walk towards the exit and depart… before they suddenly stopped and snapped their fingers, as if remembering something. “[color=pink]Oh, I almost forgot! There was one thing I was going to ask you, Homura.[/color]” Turning back to look at their sister, Aethel was interested as they asked “[color=pink]Have you encountered your counterpart yet?[/color]” [b]“I have. He awaits outside. Have you encountered yours?”[/b] Homura inquired after answering. There was a small blink… before Aethel shook their head. “[color=pink]Sorry, let me explain that better. Have you encountered the deity whose core shard is that of dishonor? After all, the concept of honor doesn’t exist in a vacuum. In order for there to be an honorable course of action, [i]there must also be a dishonorable one[/i]. Was just curious if the Monarch of All had given that shard form or if it was still directly a part of his being.[/color]” [b]“Allow me to repeat myself. Dishonor waits outside.”[/b] Homura said, letting go of Pride who looked between the two deities with growing discontent. The small champion silently excused herself, returning to her feathery seat, while Homura simply stood facing Aethel. For a moment there was silence… before Aethel smiled and answered “[color=pink]Thank you for answering my question. I’ll see myself out and I hope to see you again soon.[/color]” [b]“Indeed.”[/b] [hider=Summary]-Aethel sets out from the Land of Deserts and Hidden Rivers, seeking the location of the branch that had been taken from the Tree of Harmony. -Aethel reaches Keltra and encounters Homura, and the two talk about the branch, and come up with a plan for the future. (Homura taking her sweet time before setting out on her journey.) -Homura invites Aethel inside Keltra, and they discuss humanity and meet with Pride, after Homura compliments Aethel’s works. -Homura offers Aethel 90,000 humans, but is initially rejected until they change their mind and give their humans to Pride and her sisters. -Homura and Aethel chat a little more, before the God of Magic leaves, and Homura [i]prepares[/i] to travel to the Mountains of Fortitude. [/hider] [hider=Vigor]Neither Homura or Aethel spent any Vigor. Pride gains 2 Spirit. (+1 Minimum, +1 Collab)[/hider]