[center][h1][b][i]Homura Returns to Keltra II[/i][/b][/h1][/center]
[center][h2][i]The Holy Quintet & The Order of the Phoenix[/i][/h2][/center]
[hr]
It was a familiar light blazing brightly upon the horizon as Daybringer returned to the world of the living and announced the coming arrival of Homura treading the long pathway back to home. She came from the eastern sea, where the scarlet water of the shore mingled with the salty waves like spilled blood, and walked towards the towering fortress of Keltra which glittered with a red radiance akin to an immense ruby bathed beneath the majesty of the glorious sun. The world around her began to tremble with anticipation as her divine presence washed over the stretch of land, and subtly invigorated it with sacred otherworldly power.

She stepped upon the walkway of the outer wall where she could perceive the majority of Keltra with her eyes, so she watched as her champions came out of the keep with swift strides onward until they came to a halt and stared upwards at her. Homura remained silent while they stayed still, letting her contemplate the changes she saw; the choices and consequences her creations had come to - the results and rewards for their time away from her. It was evident that they had become stronger and attained greater knowledge of the Gnosis as they continued farther along the Sacred Path, but it was also slightly agitating to see that they had partaken in gluttony and polluted their bodies. The time had come for her to speak with them now.

She stepped forward and alighted with the grace of a goddess before the summoned doorway where they all stood quiet as they awaited whatever she ordained. There were those among them that were afraid of being scolded, and those that sought to defy her with their stoic gaze, but most amusing was the fact that some of these expressions directed towards her were doubled. She had created only six champions, and yet ten now faced her in this moment. Homura simply sighed, and spoke from behind the veil she wore that currently concealed the truth of herself and what she carried.

[b][i]“My Heralds of Honor, I have come back from the realm of Voi where I donned the veil of death. I must mourn for those that have fallen; for the Galbar is stained with the stigma of annihilation.”[/i][/b] She proclaimed, saddened by the sight of her creations being burdened by the weight of the world with her words. They had all been born with great power which demanded great responsibility, lest they succumb to despotism - such she could not allow to ever happen.

“Welcome, Mother.” Pride said, as she and all of her sisters bowed before Homura, completing the traditional greetings they had fallen into the habit of repeating. Each of them acknowledged her then, with a few variations between Mother and Maker, the latter moniker being a mistake she let linger for a reason she could not comprehend, as they addressed her. Homura noted the Umati spirit had found a way to shift its form into one akin to her elementary designs for humanity, yet it did not bother to speak yet.

[b][i]“Much has happened since I was last among all of you. Tell me of your progress as I cleanse you of your foolishness.”[/i][/b] Homura said, as she strode past them into the interior of the keep where she was received by the soothing warmth of the Eternal Fire. Her creations, and their creations, followed her inside as she led them towards the area that had been dedicated to their comfort and relaxation. The collection of cushions and large owl plushies that served as both beds and seats. On a nearby table rests the broken fragments of an egg, a sheathed knife, a wooden staff with intricate carvings, and a smoky orb that reacted to the presence of the Homura.

With hesitation, Courage was the first to approach her and undergo the purification ritual, masking her dread with an aura of casual chagrin. Homura was aware that the brave volunteer had not enjoyed her previous cleansing, and yet she was foolish enough to consume the other once again. “Heh, I’ve already done this before, so I suppose I’ll be the one you begin with, ya.” The most brash among her champions commented as she removed her garb and stood naked before the goddess. Homura tapped into the Gnosis, and reset the ambient music that filled the hall to something more appropriate for the ritual.

[b][i]“Perhaps I should let the poison deprive you of all strength, as you seem so intent on simply tossing aside concern for that which is sacred.”[/i][/b] Homura sternly chastised, as she placed her hand upon Courage’s belly, and began the spell to separate the consumed other from the body in order to grant Courage full control of her body once more. Pollution prevented the inner flames from spreading throughout the limbs, and hindered all passage within the core - removing the pollution therefore will result in greater strength and agility as the champion could better direct the inner flames where they were needed.

“Ah!” Courage gasped in growing agony, as her innards were sundered apart and neatly arranged in a spinning cycle letting Homura easily ascertain when she had completely cleansed her creation. The Goddess of Honor had never intended for humanity to engage in eating each other, so there was no specific way for waste to exit Courage and her sisters, unlike the creations of her kin which were designed to devour and excrete just to survive even if there was no painless path with such a sorry state of existence.

“We went north…” Courage II began, speaking on behalf of her older iteration considering the circumstances. Homura did not interrupt as the Reflection continued the tale, but was left pondering whether the creations of her creations were truly human, or if they were abominations…

“We spoke with Chailiss and our brothers in the north…” Curiosity added, sharing her perspective of their encounter with the Childan and being assigned the task of finding the lost daughter of Chailiss, however Courage interjected halfway as she recovered from the ordeal of the purification ritual and Kindness was cleansed next. “The food was part of the gifts given to us by our brothers, and you said it’s rude to refuse gifts, ya.” The words were followed by both her Reflection  and herself being buried beneath a dense layer of scarlet stone as Pride motioned with her scepter, swiftly sealing away her reckless sister before she said something that provoked the ire of the red goddess.

“We were soaring westward…”

Kindness II continued their story, describing what happened when they found Zima and the slaughtered community of Voirans, before she was reminded by Wanderer and her Reflection that there were demons they had fought prior to finding their quarry. With her hands and the occasional charade, Wanderer and Wanderer II regaled the skirmish with these macabre monsters that had nearly slain Courage and Curiosity, and how the Holy Quintet had become responsible for Rowan after his mother had died.

The two mute champions pointed at Curiosity who tenderly held the infant in her arms, and went to carry him while their sister prepared herself. They were gentle as they gathered the serene power of the Eternal Flame and swaddled the baby in it, suppressing the sounds of Kindness when she screamed throughout the ritual. Curiosity II attempted to resume explaining the events that led to Chailiss bringing them to Keltra with the frozen Zima, but found herself having difficulty with words and unable to speak while her suffering sister struggled feebly against Homura’s firm grasp and divine sorcery.

“They came here then…”

Pride took the lead, and told Homura the rest of what transpired in her absence; the betrayal of Fear which resulted in Zima’s escape and the untimely invasion of the wraiths, then the arrival of Charis and the formation of the Order of the Phoenix which led to purging the blight from Kel-Phelena once and for all. During her account, Kindness had swapped with Curiosity, and the ritual proceeded with the last among the Holy Quintet that required cleansing. When the Keeper of Keltra concluded the history of all that had happened in the fortress in the last few days, Homura did not speak for a time - focusing solely upon finishing her task.

When the ritual was complete, and Courage, Kindness, and Curiosity were both freed from pollution and dressed in their red attire once more, Homura announced her proposition for what would come next. [b][i]“Heed me, children… Know that we will never become trapped by our past or the future! We are the most devout servants to the ideals of love and family, and we shall lead with our loyalty to love! We are His warriors, and we do not accept defeat… We arise from the ashes of our sacrifice! Long live our loyal love! Long live the Galbar!”[/i][/b] Her divine voice echoed throughout the fortress of freedom, and banished the despair that had festered for so long. This was her domain, and the Goddess of Honor was adamant that none shall contaminate what she created with cowardice or corruption.

As conviction blossomed in her champions, Homura glanced at her hands hidden beneath ribbons. Thoughts turned at an extreme velocity in her mind as she deeply contemplated what was obscured even to her further along the Sacred Path. She recalled that it was always darkest before the coming of dawn, but such a concept acting as an allegory did not truly offer her any comfort when considering the dangers posed by straying too far and becoming lost in the end. She was thinking by herself, secluded through the manipulation of time around her, yet she reached out to the one that had said nothing all this time.

[b][i]“Umati, I would hear you speak…”[/i][/b]

The undead spirit tilted its head as it looked at her, freed from her touch that suspended the other inhabitants of the keep. It was strange, wondering whether this creature would betray after she had given it so much power, especially after she had carried its inverse flames within her all this time. She wondered whether the being that named itself Charis the Red Wing Healing the Faithful would ever forgive the foolish goddess that had let two hundred thousand innocent children die - now only another abomination added to this twisted tapestry.

“This world seems so cruel… I cannot heal you, Mother.” Charis answered, a myriad of voices ranging from calm to enraged, screeches and whispers, the meek and the brave, all coming melding into one chthonic melody that conveyed the bittersweet love and loss of life that once was beautiful. Charis nonchalantly poked Wanderer while walking around the hall that seemed trapped in eternity, everything else endlessly without motion until Homura suddenly loosened her hold over time and garnered the attention of all those present once again.

“Mother?” Pride asked, after Homura had fumbled and found she was momentarily speechless. The goddess had lost herself in a weird thought looking upon her creations; strangely bemused by the joy she felt when she saw their liveliness… their fiery expressions and their yearning for something none of them could even comprehend, yet inspired them. What compelled this existence, what was the mystery of motivation? She only knew that creations sought to create a better world, and fought with everything they possessed because they heeded her words, and the feelings in their hearts.

[b][i]“Hmm… Someday I wish I would understood my own creations…”[/i][/b] Homura said at last.

[hider=Summary]-Homura comes back to Keltra and sees that much has happened while she was away.

-Her champions tell her about past events while Courage, Kindness, and Curiosity are cleansed.

-Homura prepares herself for the future, but finds she is deliberating on all of the possible paths ahead.[/hider]
[hider=Vigor]
Homura spends 0 Vigor.

Courage, Courage II, Kindness, Kindness II, Curiosity, Curiosity II, Wanderer, Wanderer II, Pride, and Charis gain 2 Spirit. (+1 minimum, +1 medium)

The Holy Quintet gains 1 Prestige.

The Order of the Phoenix gains 1 Prestige.[/hider]