[center][h2]Monica, Benea, and the Paladins of the Calla Lily Goddess[/h2][/center]
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The exhaustion that was plaguing Benea as she guided humanity through the wilds of the node was apparent. To her left walked Jermane, eager to never leave his Lady’s side and to her right was the caring Monica. Xavior himself took a pragmatic position and whether it was out of care for Benea or not, he decided to run ahead and brave the storms to stabilize the node on his own — if not to spare the Goddess, then to spare her flock.

Still for now, the column of life headed by the Benea trudged through the wilds of Node 12 and in fact had redirected to go in the direction of Node 11 — the idea being that likely a good portion of the human population would split off from Benea once Xavior found success (unwilling to brave further wilds) while the rest would continue the journey north to Node 11 with the sister goddesses.

 Even without such a decree, a sizable number of mortals had already agreed among themselves to stay with Benea, most notably the group that had formed around Jermane’s leadership. Said group numbered about eleven if including Jermane and have adopted a protective stance towards Benea. But for now they walked behind save for Jermane, Benea being uncharacteristically quiet.

Monica merely observed her sister and their surroundings, repeatedly becoming lost in her thoughts upon what she saw, with a tranquil expression on her face. She seemed ever hesitant to approach the humans, remaining rather reticent during all conversations between Benea, Jermane, and the other mortals, as well as averting her gaze whenever she found herself being looked at. Once again, she attempted to offer her assistance.

[b][i]“Sister, you can rely upon me to help you. Perhaps we should share the burden of protecting the people…”[/i][/b] She said, interrupting the lingering quiet between them.

“Dear sister…” Benea’s voice wasn’t as lively as it usually was. “I’m perfectly fine, perhaps-”  A gulp of air. “Perhaps my finest.” Under her breath, Benea whispered. “Oh dear me.”

[b][i]“Hmm… I am having difficulty discerning your state, as you seem to be struggling to speak. I… just want to be of use, a little. I would like to contribute, since you asked me to come with you. Do you believe I cannot help you?”[/i][/b] Monica continued with a hint of curiosity in her tone, peering at Benea, leaning closer to her as if she could perceive some crucial detail from coming nearer.

All at once the world paused. A lingering buzz held in the air — or perhaps that was the ring of ears no longer hearing the blasts of lightning and the crack of stone. Benea blinked sluggishly and Monica could feel her sister’s power slowly fade… but danger didn’t come of it. All at once the world blossomed and a lush green pasture erupted under foot. The dangerous crags and blasts of stone and electricity were replaced with gentle meadow slopes, babbling brooks, and the call of field critters.

A small smile appeared on Benea’s face as she closed her eyes. Without a word to Monica, the Calla Lily Goddess buckled and fell forward limp. Jermane’s arms reached out and caught her falling form before helping her to rest on her knees.

“Dearest Xavior…” Benea muttered in a breath.

Monica watched over her sister for a moment, but then let her inquisitive nature draw her attention elsewhere, she turned and studied her new surroundings with wonder shining in her eyes. She strode forth a few steps, and examined the grass and flowers that had grown so swiftly all around, and the scent of nature washed over her, sweet and serene. Monica thought to herself that she would be happy to spend an eternity in this blissful realm, looking at the local flora, but she knew that there was still so much more waiting out there…

[b][i]“It is a beautiful world.”[/i][/b] Monica happily remarked, returning to her sister, content with what she had seen. The winged goddess could see mountains and forests far away at what she assumed were the edges of the lands under the protection of the claimed node.

“Monica, darling,” Benea spoke from her reclined spot, her energy returning slowly. “Perhaps it would be good for you to exercise your divine will as we cross into Node 11. I’d happily do it in your stead, of course, but I think the lesson would only benefit you — what do you think? Of course you would agree, I wager.”

[b][i]“I think that allowing me to aid you would be beneficial to all. I will gladly navigate the path ahead and protect our people from harm.”[/i][/b] Monica gently proclaimed, her conviction conveyed through the compassionate smile she wore, as she kneeled beside Benea. She contemplated for a moment before speaking again.

[b][i]“So should we hurry, sister, or can we rest and enjoy the beauty all around us for a time?”[/i][/b] Monica inquired, becoming more meek after asking her question.

With dizziness in her eyes, Benea grinned. “For your sake, we can rest here and enjoy the meadows.”

Monica nodded, before stepping back and falling backwards. Instead of landing upon the verdant blanket of grass beneath her, she became enveloped in a swirl of ethereal feathers flying all around her, then she suddenly soared into the sky above with the wind guiding her ascent. It was immediately evident that the pale goddess was not tired in the slightest, and was taking full advantage of the offered respite by flying across the vast plains and seeing all that she could.

Her wings were carried along by the breeze, the wind uplifting her higher and higher, farther and faster than the birds below her, and she felt free in the open sky where [i]Sylphrena[/i] granted her the gift of commanding the powerful gales, so it was effortless soaring wherever she wished in that moment. She briefly considered flying to Xavior to thank him for his brave actions, but she did not desire for Benea to feel left alone either. Monica appeased herself with the fact that they all would meet again soon, and continued her liberating journey across the endless azure realm, until she decided it was time to return to her sister and the humans, gracefully alighting among them with a demure smile.

[center]-0-[/center]

“I can see I taught you well!” Benea clasped her hands together about her waist while Jermane nodded along with her words enthusiastically. The words themselves were directed at Monica, the goddess now using her own divine will to protect the humans as they pushed into the untamed land of Node 11. It had only been a few days since they entered the wilds, giving them about one day to reach their destination, but already Benea had been multitudes more cheery and talkative since delegating the protection duties to Monica.

Monica endeavored to listen to her sister as she spoke, but being preoccupied with the concentration of power being used to summon an aura of peace in the lands of chaos combined with concern for all of those that she sought to protect had caused her to have some struggles in listening to what was being said. It had occurred to her that it would certainly have been more efficient to have traveled ahead and claim the node before escorting the humans through the currently hazardous realm, but she refrained from suggesting such because she enjoyed being near Benea, even in this rather strenuating situation.

[b][i]“You are as wise as you are beautiful, my sister.”[/i][/b] Monica murmured, idly pondering whether she said the correct words or not, because she was uncertain whether she heard Benea properly with the tumultuous storm raging just beyond her barrier. She hoped she was audible enough to be heard as well.

“Oh do go on,” Benea teased, but left a long enough pause at the end to put how much of a joke her demand really was. Flickering her eyes from Monica, Benea squinted. “We are only a day’s march from the node it seems, my dear. Perhaps I should take over while you make way to the node?”

“My lady!” Jermane’s voice suddenly roared and in a moment he was standing between Benea and something that had snuck up on the procession. Whatever it was, it wasn’t normal. It was a large lump of shadows and earth, twisted and ever shifting. Uncannily it would phase to the left and to the right as if reality couldn’t decide where to place it. Worse still, it was opening a great disgusting maw.

All at once, tendrils shot from the mouth of the strange beast, but in the same moment, the ten who guarded Benea leapt into action. Karlene, the warrior of Benea, dressed in furs and fury was the first to tackle one of the tendrils. Her dark hair fell over her face as she struggled with the mighty limb, her own arms swelling and flexing with strength.

 Another tendril snapped past her and towards Benea, but Jermane punched out with a boulder’s fist and with a crack, he sent the strange appendage curling back. Benea’s face twisted with worry. “Monica, dear, I think perhaps you should really make your exit then.”

Another tendril shot out, but a mist of sharp rocks quickly pinned it to the ground — another of Benea’s paladins smirking at his kill, only for his eyes to widen when the tendril swelled, sending the rocks right back. Karlene could be heard screaming as her own bout suddenly turned against her, and Jermane couldn’t punch fast enough as the tendrils came snapping to and fro.

[b][i]“Stay safe, sister.”[/i][/b] Monica said, passing the mantle of protection upon Benea before she stepped out of its shelter and into the storm. Fortunately sustaining a much smaller shield around herself alleviated the burden immensely, and her vigor returned to her. Calling upon the power of [i]Sylphrena[/i], she flew into the maddening sight of a world wracked with destruction and disorder.

In her mind, she recalled the layout of the land that she had seen imprinted upon the first node, ascertaining the exact location and distance to her destination - She could reach there swiftly. It irked her to know that even though she flew as fast as sound traveled, it would take her even a brief period of time to reach the node and bring peace to this region for she could not ever endure returning only to find that she was not fast enough. A myriad of strange sights flew by her in a sluggish blur, things that appealed only to the insane and violent, as the earth erupted with rage beneath her, disgorging filth and vile substances that churned and contorted around her as the sky shattered into broken pieces filled with blazing scars in between the fragments and a blightful miasma.

It was difficult to navigate because she could not see ahead of her, but easier to traverse as Monica had become engulfed in a vehement whirlwind which allowed her to rush through the pandemonium via a mixture of brute strength and agility, careful to avoid the terrifying forces ripping apart reality and spewing forth ruinous sludge that would reduce existence to ashes blown away in the frenzy. She could not afford to waste any time when those she cared about were in danger, fear filled her hammering heart and her vision became stained with blossoming tears, so she blindly burst through another fissure in the heavens and pierced a massive monstrous shifting stone that emerged from nothingness to obscure her path.

Beyond the baleful boulder’s broken remains awaited the node, and Monica desperately surged forward to touch it as the chaos encircled her threatening to end her journey prematurely… She could not slow herself, so she smashed into the short unbreakable structure of power hastily imbuing it with her divinity, and closed her eyes as she felt the agony of her arms fracture upon impact, before traveling beyond the node itself another great distance, tumbling and rolling in over and over again - the haunting sound of her wings being bent and torn were accompanied by her screaming as her body was battered against the unforgiving earth, before she sank into the shadows of silence, and could feel nothing at all.

She was not awake to witness the world all around her change suddenly as her influence and intentions seeped into the node and instilled it with direction and purpose, the powers of creation rewriting reality in accordance to the will of the one that touched it. As she had been blind, so too shall the world be blind as light was banished and replaced with an omnipresent sea of shadows, undulating and undermining all sight with its frightful presence.

The unseen simulacrums of remaining earth and sundered sky could not be illuminated yet and in the absence of the sunshine, it was cruelly cold. Though she had reached her objective, Monica had only succeeded at creating a second nightmarish realm, where darkness dwells and humanity would drown.

[hider=Summary]Benea continues to guide a group of humanity through the unclaimed lands of Node 12 towards the unclaimed lands of Node 11. Xavior brings relief to their company when he captures Node 12 and banishes the chaos around them. Monica gets the chance to fly as well. More days pass, and Monica has taken the duty of protecting the humans while they march to claim the distant node, but their group is attacked, and Benea tells Monica to fly to the node to get rid of the monster and bring peace to the land. Monica soars through the dangers ahead and reaches the node where she claims it and creates a new land consumed by darkness.[/hider]
[hider=The Biome of Maelite][i]Umbrium:[/i] The lands around Node 11 are bathed in eternal darkness as the light has vanished, and there seem no means of illuminating anything around. This is due to the symbiotic relationship of the ecology and the nature of the biome; all of the unseen creatures in Maelite are adapted to survive the presence of an element that will be called Umbrium, which 100% completely absorbs light rendering the entire region always black. Umbrium is spread throughout the ground, the air, and the systems of all local creatures which is what causes the inability to illuminate the land, however it is harmful to creatures that rely upon sunlight and have no protection from the cold. The presence of Umbrium commonly causes creatures not adjusted to its traits to lose their sanity.

[i]The Shape of the Land:[/i] Maelite is a region to difficult to navigate not just because of its ability to hinder sight, but also because of its geography with a massive unseen mountain range that stretches from the north edge to the south edge with a few gaps in between, and reaches many kilometers high into the "sky" or where the sky should be. The highest peaks in the central section of these mountains connect with a collection of massive arches that follow the same path as the mountains below as well as crisscrossing, effectively creating an immense ebon hemisphere over Maelite that acts as a barrier preventing most from entering or leaving the realm except through gaps between the arcs. The western and eastern are similar in design consisting of many diversely shaped rivers, lakes, gorges, basins, and treacherous ravines. One would want to bring a great deal of rope when walking across this realm, or risk jumping blindly into the unknown.

[i]The Life of the Land:[/i] There are no organic plants in Maelite aside from one important exception, though there are many crystalline flora that imitate such, primarily made of diamond. Most creatures in Maelite consist of forms similar to insects and bugs of varying shape and size, from as small as Monica's hand, to twice her her size. These creatures are commonly hostile, treating each other and outsiders as threats, and attacking indiscriminately. Though there is plenty of water, there are no fish that inhabit it, instead the sole form of plant life, an algae that produces light dwells in the water, though this species has yet to spread across Maelite and provide paths for people to follow. All of the local creatures in Maelite have adapted to consumed Umbrium, which provides them with sustenance. The Umbrium Cycle will be further explained in a later post.[/hider]
[hider=Might]Monica’s Might: 1 + 1 (Quiz)
She expends 2 Might to grant both Benea and Xavior permission to use the power of the Node.
Monica’s remaining Might: 0.
Benea: starting with 1 might, ending with 1 might[/hider]