[center][h2]Angels & Devils[/h2][/center]
[hr]
Since the time that the little band Monica had met had set off, the 12th realm had changed once again. Short aqueducts and water wheels dotted its rivers to water and grind its crops, while sturdy bronze plows were drawn by horses are large sail finned lizards, carving furrows into the rich earth. Tall sailed ships with many oars plied the waters, bringing stone, wood, ores and more from the edges of the realm to its center, where the capital and (so far) only city of the realm sat upon the southern bank of a grand lake, beneath the shadow of a volcano on the northern shore.

Smoke billowed from new, better, forges while freshly laid roads bearing just as freshly built carts wove haphazardly among the houses. All of it spiraled inwards to, or rather outwards from, the temple that housed the region’s node. The sprawling complex and its large garden were walled off from the rest of the city by sturdy fortifications who’s gates had never been barred, a steady stream of humans moving in and out through them, the flow lightly managed by bronze armored guards armed with blunt staves and obsidian knives.

Monica soared above, across a clear sky, enjoying the view of all that had been created after she had left however long ago, and attempting to ascertain an appropriate location to alight as she dearly did not wish to disrupt the daily lives of the mortals too much by her presence. She considered her circumstances for another moment, before arriving at the conclusion that perhaps a little celebration was in order, so she chose to descend somewhere in the city that was neither vacant, nor crowded, where she could land with ease. She wanted to greet the locals and spend time with them before she would travel to the gates and visit the temple wherein she hoped she could find Xavior. With a demure demeanor, she approached the first among humanity that was the most nearby and introduced herself with polite words and a soft smile.

Everyone, of course, knew who she was, or as close to as such that the babes and recent arrivals could be excluded as exceptions to the rule. Still, it was one thing to have seen a goddess, it was quite another to meet one in the flesh out of the blue. Their reaction was much the same as the travelers she had met, though in this more comfortable and familiar of environments, there was no latent fear or caution to be found at first. Only amazement, awe, excitement. The only thing bringing the mood down was just a touch of set upon awkwardness from those she first met, which rapidly resolved itself as word spread and the moderately occupied street quickly swelled with crowds as people came to see what all the fuss was about. Soon enough a sea of humanity were clogging the streets and clambering on rooftops to catch a glimpse of the goddess.

Noise swelled and it quickly became quite difficult to hear what anyone was saying or asking due to ambient noise alone until a figure, accompanied by a quartet of bronze clad guards, pushed her way through the crowd “Ok people back it up a little, give the goddess a bit of personal space!” the horned woman with brass skin and dark hair clad in a dark [url=https://www.deviantart.com/glimja/art/Kinds-of-Peplos-762437477]peplos[/url] insisted as she got the guards to try and push the greater part of crowd back enough that the goddess would have space to breath.

Once she had a bit of space, the priestess gave a short bow and said, “Greetings goddess Monica. I am Annie, and on behalf of the city and our patron, I welcome you to Eunomia” before standing, smiling warmly and explaining “Xavior sent me to bring you to the temple. Once you're ready to go, that is. If you want a tour, or have anywhere else you’d like to go first, I’d be delighted to show you around”

[b][i]“I thank you for your very hospitable welcome - this city is such a wonderful place, inhabited by wonderful people. Hmm… I look forward to the opportunity of speaking with many of its denizens, but first I must speak with my brother. Please, lead the way.”[/i][/b] Monica quietly answered after an awkward moment of silence had lingered for too long wherein she once again considered her circumstances and contemplated the choices she was given. An evident wistfulness seemed to cast a sunken shade over her shimmering sight; her forlorn and withdrawn gaze which passed over the gathered crowd and cityscape, as though its beauty brought forth reserved sorrow instead of delight. It was difficult to discern truthfully whether Monica wished to explore Eunomia, or hastefully flee from it.

Though the guards had needed to push through the throng of people to reach the lone deity, there was no such need for Monica to take her leave, as something subtle and otherworldly touched upon the minds of all the mortals in the vicinity; an awareness of the world around them beyond the ability of the mundane senses they possessed. An understanding. Instilled with this ephemeral and ethereal cosmic clarity, the comprehensive crowd created an easy path for the procession of guards, the priestess, and the goddess to depart. A physical path easy to traverse lay ahead, but as the sacred energy in the air began to disperse, Monica became more bothered by the spiritual path she saw in her mind: the unknown steps and art of alignment. She hid these steps as she gracefully walked forward and gestured for Annie to take her to Xavior.

The priestess assented without comment and led the way back the way she had come, leading the goddess and her unneeded honor guard through the parting crowd, their little procession smothering the burgeoning celebratory mood as it traveled towards the heart of the city. Physically, wherever it passed, and ahead, as word of this mood reached Xavior and he hastily unorganized the hastily organized reception he had prepared for her.

As such when she swept through the gates and into the temple grounds she found Xavior standing alone on one of the winding garden paths, clad in a flowing dark cloak that left the right of his chest exposed to the air, its edges embroidered with silver and purple patterns. Gold ornamentation had been molded around the outer edges of his horns, creating the semblance of a crown or halo. 

The god stepped forwards upon seeing her and, after nodding to dismiss her entourage, greeted her warmly. 

“It is good to see you again, though from what I have heard you seem… troubled? Come, walk with me and I will lend you my ear should you wish it. I’m sure we have much to speak of either way” he said, sweeping a hand behind him to the gardens “or if you wish to rest, I will see that you are found a place within these halls post haste.”

[b][i]“Troubled?”[/i][/b] She queried as she slowly strode forth to stand beside him before they began to walk along the paths in a leisurely manner. [b][i]“I apologize for my morose manner… it was never my intention to appear so, but grim have been my encounters of late. I hope to alleviate your cause for concern though.”[/i][/b] She said, attempting another faint facsimile of a smile, as her attention split between the conversation and the sight of the pleasant flora all around. It was easy to distract herself from her dour thoughts with the blissful aroma that wafted over her, yet the longer she delayed, the more her dread continued to creep upon her. With intrusive urgency she switched her gaze back to Xavior and fought to articulate the words that lay heavy upon her heart.

[b][i]“I… I would like to hear how you have been, brother. It feels like a long time has passed since we have spoken, and this would be the first time we have shared words in such peaceful surroundings. You have created a lovely home.”[/i][/b] Monica murmured, hiding the disdain for herself and instead embracing the yearning within her to simply immerse herself in a much more serene moment rather than lamenting that which troubled her so visibly.

The god frowned and pursed his lips with concern for a moment before the expression was wiped away and replaced by a smile that was only slightly put upon. “Most kind of you to say so, though I can hardly take all the credit. Much of this was arranged by a man called Galvin who has quite the knack for the artistic” he said regarding the garden, taking a moment to admire it all over again for himself, before continuing  “Mortal hands can create such wonders and beauty, so I like to surround myself with their works as much as I can afford”

[b][i]“Their existence is ever precious, temporarily ablaze with radiant flames before being extinguished, but burning so bright and alive in the brief time they are given. I think I would like to surround myself with such as well, and attempt to understand them in order to better understand my own nature.”[/i][/b] Monica replied, as she sensed the vastness of the immaterial world which separated the immortals from mortality. She found herself bemused by the fact that though she was ageless, she did not stand at the edge of that spectrum, and neither did humanity - both stood relatively far apart, but not at opposite ends. The answers she sought seemed to elude her for now, but she would not remain eternally helpless. She would continue to seek the truth.

[b][i]“Then… I will encourage mortals to continue creating such beauty in order to bring salvation to the Crucible.”[/i][/b] Monica proclaimed, clinging onto the conviction that quietly resonated in her voice. The lingering traces of shade over her eyes vanished, and was replaced with a renewed strength shining similarly to the stars in the night sky. She had been uncertain when she was first born in this world without direction, but now she felt closer to discovering her will, her vision, her purpose. She shut her eyes and walked slowly in silence, no longer adrift as she aimed herself through her hearing and tapping into Sylphrena’s power. Without warning, she walked into Xavior, and mumbled another soft-spoken apology.

[b][i]“I never meant to disappoint all of you; forgive me for my sins and let me atone. Let me protect this precious world and its people.”[/i][/b] She whispered with hope and regret battling for dominance within her. Remnants of her realm; painful memories and a cruel cold manifested around her, as she let her knowledge of Maelite out and offered it to Xavior.

Surprise flashed across the god’s face for half a second, then he shivered and and gasped as the knowledge flowed into him unbidden. He knew desolation and darkness, knew what inhospitable dread the gods could forge through an accident. Of the swarms of hostile alien beings even now skittering across the 12th realm’s north western border.

None of what he learned stopped him from wrapping his arms around her in a comforting hug. and reassured her that “Dear sister, know that you are already forgiven, and that your return is all the repayment I could ever ask for.”

Monica kept her eyes closed as she spoke, barely audible above the whispering wind. [b][i]“Your mercy and compassion simultaneously both brings comfort and sorrow upon me. I am primarily… pleased to be reunited with you and the rest of the world, however envious thoughts taint me now. I feel fractured still; such divided feelings pulled apart by emotion, lost and afraid. I want your generosity and I want your ostracization. Why would I want to be banished by you, I wonder…”[/i][/b] Though she kept her eyes shut while embraced, more manifested upon the pinions of her wide wings, dark and detailed depictions of numerous pairs of unnatural eyes keenly watching both deities as though they were windows for unseen spectators hungry for something strange and sinister to happen to view through.

“I would never” Xavior replied, before reassuring her that “You will always have a home here, trust me in this” despite his clear confusion and discomfort at being the subject of those eyes.

“However, I can understand the weight a debt can have, and you do have one. An obligation to the world and its people to set right what went wrong” it told her, loosening his embrace so that he could look down at her as he said “It would do you as much good as it will the world to repay it, I think.”

[b][i]“What would you have me do?”[/i][/b] She asked, and the eyes upon her wings vanished as her own opened and peered upwards at Xavior. He could not see his own reflection in her silver orbs, rather he was greeted by the sight of Monica herself, fractal and infinite, becoming smaller in scale with every increased amount of repeated iterations. The endless number of her began to drift away, becoming distant until the familiar shape of the map provided by the first node came into view. [b][i]“Where would you have me go?”[/i][/b] She asked, as the silvery map was consumed by prismatic flames and its ashes scattered before being replaced with fathomless shadow and dancing darkness. The echoes of Maelite and its malice reverberated in the haunting void that was her sight, the gruesome cry of vicious conflict coming from within the depths of the goddess. [b][i]“When will you have me too?”[/i][/b] She asked, as she slowly ascended and her abyssal gaze came nearer and nearer, languidly yawning open like the maw of a monster about to feast.

The god was wide eyed for a few long moments as he beheld this, almost transfixed as the hungering void came closer and closer till it was a breath away. Only then did he gently but firmly pushed her back via a firm hand on her shoulder as told her that all he needed was for her to “For you to decide that for yourself”

[b][i]“I am constrained by choice… yet freed from fate. A shame I cannot linger here for too long. Where there is light, I bring darkness. Where there are shadows, I shall provide illumination. Xavior, forgive me. We are aligned, but I have become your foe. I intend to return to the first node, to find more in need of stabilization afterward. I will provide you with command of one, and open a nexus… should you open a nexus here. Even though there is hatred in my heart for you, there is love as well, and I hope to live long enough to see the beautiful world you and the others create, so will you continue to walk beside me as I continue to walk alongside you?”[/i][/b] Monica questioned with obsidian tears trailing down from her glittering eyes that seemed on the verge of shattering, the faint sound of cracks and crevices forming upon her face.

The god started and took a step back, his expression a war of sorrow, anger and betrayal as he asked “You would break your word so easily? You, the only one who really gave it? Sister, please, I beg you to reconsider, or at least say why would you ask me to stand by as this treachery unfolds!”

[b][i]“If you desire my death, then you know what must be done. I will uphold peace by becoming its foundation, the substance beneath it, the shadow of war. I cannot be healed of my hatred, but I find meaning in setting the path for my own demise. In the end, it is something. Know that I cannot harm you, brother - I would never wish for such, so I must flee from your presence. Will you open a nexus, or will you seek my death so soon?”[/i][/b] Monica continued, as wind gathered and lifted her up until she hovered beyond his reach. She was neither resolute, nor uncertain, though it was evident she lamented having to leave as she outstretched her hand and attempted to grasp at something that was not there. She shook her head, ridding herself of the black tears before she inhaled a breath of the fresh air found in this pleasant garden. Back and forth, she shook her head to rid herself of both the fond memories and sorrow she had found here, before she became still and waited for an answer from the horned god.

He looked upon her distraught as his garments fluttered around him in the wind. He covered his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, then finally tossed aside his own tears and stood firm as he declared “Whatever madness has gripped you since you formed those misbegotten lands, whatever has driven you to this treachery, know I will have no part in it. I do not know what occurred to you there, but I do know this self destruction is not a solution to it. So I shall not play a part in that either. If what you wanted was my hate, my enmity, know that you do not have it. Only my disappointment and sorrow for the loss of what could have been.”

“If one day should your senses return, I will welcome you back with open arms.” his stern anger softened for just a moment to say, before his expression hardened once more as he finished by saying  “For now, however, please get out of my sight. I have a sister to mourn”

[b][i]“Farewell.”[/i][/b] She said, then Monica let the wind carry her away, soaring skyward before beginning her flight south and out of sight. The god watched her go for the longest time, ignoring the questions of the mortals who approached as he watched her go.

The god’s three day seclusion following the betrayal of his sister ended when a green mote arrived and drove the god livid with fury.

[hider=Summary]
In the realm of the 12th Node, civilization continues to peacefully progress as Monica arrives in the capital city and is greeted by a gathering of its denizens. A priestess of Xavior approaches her and leads her to a garden wherein Monica meets with Xavior and they have a conversation. Monica is melancholic and anxious, but Xavior offers to listen to what she has to say. Monica seeks to atone, and Xavior forgives her, but then she explains that they have become enemies and that she will seek out more nodes to claim after returning to the 18th node. She asks that they continue to work together, but her distressing behavior leads him to decline, yet saying he would welcome her return should she cease being strange and confrontational; acting against the pact of peace that they had promised to adhere to. She departs from the city, traveling south to the 18th node.
[/hider]
[hider=Might]
Xavier + 3 from quiz
4/8
0 expenditure of Might from Monica.
She has +3 (quiz) Might remaining.[/hider]