[center][h2]A Pleasant Visit[/h2][/center]

	Eleven elite paladins walked with Benea. Behind them marched three-hundred and eighteen paladins. Altogether the group had marched out from Node 1, the land of high meadows and recent construction, and then through Node 6, the cradle of order, and into Node 7, the friendly land owned by Dzallitsunya. There the sun was shaded under a thick mist that the land of Tsunya was known for. For the most part, such a change didn’t bother the paladins, having trained in Maelite, the arctic or in the shade of the mountains. The biggest issue the paladins had with Node 7 was the people, and their judging stares.

	On the whole, the people of Benean lands had great trading relationships with the dusklanders, but as of late a sense of isolation seemed to permeate the dusklander culture and marching an army through wasn’t going to help. Unfortunately, Benea didn’t have much choice, but did send advance notice and then decided to stick to marching around any major settlements so as not to worry any sensitive locals. In the letter Benea offered to meet with Tsunya before entering Node 13 herself and so when the Goddess made it to the spot she had envisioned in her plan, she and Jermane split off from the columns.

	With promises to reunite with the army before they made it to Node 13, Benea and her bodyguard made swift work of the Dusklands, eager to reach the designated meeting area. The way station between Node 7 and 8 proved itself to be the most logical meeting point, a woman in a cyan uniform welcoming the goddess before guiding her to a side-path, avoiding the area with most mortal travelers and instead moving to a quiet wing of the building, entering a spacious room that overlooked the Mirror Marches.

Dzallitsunya waited there, looking a bit different from last time they met, with longer hair, skin a bit more olive but still pallid and most notable of all, a bump in her midsection, as she was in the later half of her pregnancy. She nodded in acknowledgement of Benea and pointed to a nearby chair. 

“Greetings Benea.” she half-smiled. “I hope this journey wasn’t harsh? I tried to deliver supplies to you, but it seems you have avoided my towns in the later half of your journey.”

"Woof," Benea let out a puff of air as she deflated into the seat and threw a hand over her face. "Take no offense, darling, it was to keep tensions down. No one likes an army." 

The goddess peaked through her fingers. "My, my, you're showing."

Tsunya tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as if thinking deeply but quickly giving up, “Showing?” she questioned.

Benea let her hand fall to the side and sat up straight. "Your baby bump, dear."

A hit of pale pink flashed on the pale goddess’ cheek. “R-right. I got married since we last met! I forgot to mention it in my letters. Uhm... Twins too! A bit impressive that mortals can produce offspring with gods, no? From what I can feel though, they will be much, much closer to mortals than whatever I am.”

“I’m delighted for you dear, truly I am,” Benea gave the goddess a smile. “Although, I hope you understand the dangers of such a journey.”

“I do not think it will be too relevant. My lands are not a kingdom, they will be part of a house like any other, and follow the same rules as all others.” she said with weird confidence. “Or do you mean some more biological threat? In that aspect I do not feel worried either.”

“I mean to say, dear…” Benea trailed, her smile fading as it turned to a pensive thought. Her own heart skipped a beat as she continued. “If you wouldn’t mind me asking, rhetorically of course, but have you ever outlived someone you care about?”

Dzallitsunya shook her head. “Well, death is death, it comes to all. When I got married I did it with that question in mind, and sincerely, I would be at peace if my husband left me after a fulfilling life. Children, well, who knows, ultimately however…” she stopped for a moment, measuring her words. “I embark on this to kill my mortal self. I lived with humans, in their village, and that created a me that simply cannot exist, it is not the place for a god to be. But it is not bad either, there is much to learn from these little short-lived chaotic beings. So… I decided to give myself one mortal life to live, when that evening dream ends and the sun rises bringing me back to reality, then I will truly commit myself to godhood.”

She took a deep breath. “Did that make sense to you? Or did I just sound like a complete fool?”

Benea gave a pitiful face and leaned back in her chair as she rolled her jaw in thought. “You’re young — which is to say we are both young. We are bound to be complete fools as we grow, dear.”

The Calla Lily Goddess waved a hand and a pink porcelain cup formed in her fingers, she sipped at a black liquid. “At the very least you have a plan.” A pause. “And if nothing else, you’ll always have me for support.”

Tsunya stood still for a moment then nodded, probably as soon as Benea’s reply was understood. “That is good to know. I have to say… I expected things to be a bit… uhm… more peaceful than they are now, especially in the sunny lands beyond, one which is now mine, as you requested.”

“Oh trust me I had high hopes for peace,” Benea looked up at Tsunya. “You know I appreciate all you have done, though, darling. Have a seat with me, I owe you some explanations, don’t I, sweet Tsunya?”

The other goddess nodded and moved closer, placing her chair by Benea’s side. “I must confess that indeed I have been a bit confused about current events.” Each euphemism forced the goddess of dusk’s eyes to dart to the side.

Benea held out a palm towards the dusk goddess. It was flawless, with not a mark on it — not that anyone in the room besides Benea or Jermane would know how cut up it was days prior. The Calla Lily goddess cupped her hand, as if asking for Dzallitsunya to take it.Tsunya was confused at it, but soon enough extended her hand to meet Benea, who gingerly grasps it.

Flicking her stare into the dusk goddess’ visage, catching her eyes, Benea spoke slowly. “Do you know about the poison in the nodes? I’m sure you at least felt it, dear; the addiction, the desire it gives.”

Tsunya glanced to the side at first, but at the mention of the addiction she found herself staring back with wide eyes. “Oh. Of course. It is a… feeling of power unlike anything else, but also a feeling of limitation too, it promises you infinity but quickly halts, wilting back. Like a blooming flower.” she then stopped, gulping and adjusting her stance. “I can understand why other gods may have fallen to the trap, ultimately though, there is no such way. It is as I said when this world began, we must work together to survive.”

“Well that’s also why I warned everyone about weak wills, dear,” Benea squeezed Dzallitsunya’s hand and maintained eye contact. “When I went to go talk to Anak’thas he was defensive, avoidant, and all too eager to get rid of me. I was a threat to him, my plans were a threat to him, the alliance was a nuisance to him — now how could that be? He only wanted nodes. Even with how he treats the people who live in his lands, he strips them of everything that would interfere with his advancement, even names. He is maddened and poisoned by the Crucible, so I detained him. I won’t see the sickness spread.”

A pause.

“I know I asked a lot of you, sweet Tsunya, and for that I am truly sorry — but at the same time you have my deepest gratitude.” Benea slowly let go of the other goddess’ hand. “I’m afraid sometimes that I am all alone, having you is a comfort.”

“The people… In node 13 truly were something else. I had to stay my hand to extreme levels to avoid tragedy there. I think my average subject has gained quite a bad impression of the sunlands thanks to those experiences. That said, it also offers unique things, there are qualities in it that cannot be found in the dusklands, or in Xavior’s realm. I wish Anak’Thas had not been so reckless, so that his land could have developed freely.” the dusk goddess then bit softly at her hand, an aura of anxiety. “Which brings up two things I wanted to ask about. First… you are aware Anak’Thas is free again, correct?”

“Hence the army, dear,” Benea leaned back in her chair and crossed a leg. “His followers slaughtered their own countrymen and then three of my loyal companions in the attempt, going so far as to poison volunteer guards picked from their own cities. I was wrong to assume the madness was isolated to Anak’thas alone… but you had a second question, darling?”

“How… How is Xavior? I mean… If I were to ask him for a meeting, do you think he would be willing to? See… my lands and his lands are very… different. We have completely different ideas of how to run a country. In our borders there has been some tension, smugglers, lawbreakers, it is harsh for me to punish my own people and even harsher to deal with people from his land, which I have just been sending back, but often do they return. So uhm, I would like to create some sort of… common agreement between us, laws for the borders if possible, but I have no idea what he is like.”

“I’m sure he will see you. He is amicable — though perhaps not exactly fond of myself at the moment. I intend to talk to him myself, but there is a chance you’ll get to him before me.” A pause before a sudden snap from Benea. “Oh! I just had a delightful idea, sweet Tsunya. We should do a diplomatic exchange of a sorts, wherein Dusklanders go to live and learn the culture of my lands and the people of Node 6, 2, and 1 come here to learn the ways of the Dusklanders. I’m sure it will only sweeten interactions between the pairs.”

Dzallitsunya nodded. “I would love a chance to talk with outsiders about the ways of the night. The people of Node 13 have not been the most receptive to our ideas since we did come down there as invaders, in their perspective. Increasing the connection of our lands will surely be good for the alliance too.”

“Precisely, dear,” Benea agreed. The Calla Lily goddess tucked a slant into her cheek suddenly and leaned forward. “You don’t… resent me for any of this, do you?”

“Sincerely, there was some primal annoyance at first. To be taken into plans that are not mine, to have my resources stretched and possibly being involved in a war. If I said I did not mind that I would be telling you a lie, and I prefer to be honest. But that said it was no fault of your own, we are not perfect and the world is full of chance and chaos, so from this whole regrettable situation I resent no one.”

Benea patted Tsunya’s hand. “I appreciate that, dear.”

“I should probably let you go soon, to accompany your soldiers. But before that..” the goddess stood up, moving to a nearby cupboard and taking out what looked like an ornate metal lamp, except past the black there was only darkness. Moving back to Benea, she tapped the glass, causing the insides to clear out, revealing a caged shard of umbrium.

“I have been absolutely fascinated with this little thing. As one would expect from the goddess of shadows, I guess!” she smirked. “The issue is, I have been holding back on studying and experimenting with it, because I wanted to talk with dear Monica before. But alas, she is always away, always hard to find, and her lands are so troublesome to traverse, especially when I must zeal for the health of the children I carry. And yet, waiting so long has also caused some trouble, the most clever of mortals within my realm has recently passed and it is hard to think of all the good work he could have done with it but that now is lost to us. So… I wanted a second opinion from you, if… it would be fine and not too rude, to just take a bit of this here and there, study it a little bit too...” for once in this entire meeting Dzallitsunya seemed truly energetic about the matter.

Benea tilted her head and tapped her cheek. “Sweetheart, I’m not too sure what you’re asking of me, but I don’t see anything wrong with you satiating your curiosity.”

“Nice!” now she felt free of guilt, if Benea could vouch for it, there was little to worry about. “This is good. Such a productive meeting, much like the last. I have had my magistrates prepare provisions for your soldiers both at the exit of this province as well in Node 13, it should help with your campaign and to appease the locals, as it cuts the needs to take from their stock to feed your band. I can only wish you good luck on what is to come.” Tsunya bowed gently.

“Thank you, dear.” Benea shrugged and smiled. “Just be careful regarding whatever your cooking up in that head of yours.” 

The Calla Lily goddess stood up. “And if you meet with Xavior, be sure to give him my best as well.”

“I will.” The Twilight goddess also stood up, giving the other a sudden hug before letting go. “Stay safe, ok? If you ever need help, call for me and I will answer.”T

A laughing snort came from Benea and she pulled Dzallitsunya back into the hug, giving the dusky goddess a surprising squeeze. “Take care of yourself, dear… and if you’re going to hug, always give your best.”

[hider=Summary]
Benea starts the journey east to face Anak’Thas with her army, starting to cross an increasingly xenophobic Duskland. At the border to node 8 and 13 the group splits so Benea can meet Dzallitsunya.
The two have a pleasant talk, Tsunya talks about her marriage and pregnancy, then they move their topic to the current troubles with Anak’Thas, Benea asking if Tsunya was resentful for having been involved, Tsunya doesn’t hide she was annoyed to have to occupy 13 but also says she does not blame Benea.
They talk about Xavior, since Tsunya wants to meet him to discuss their borders, about Umbrium which Tsunya wants to study and finally they set up an exchange of population between their realms, to work as some sort of proto-embassy between cultures.
[/hider]

[hider=Might Summary]
Benea starts with 5
-1 spent on a node warning for Node 1
-1 spent on sharing node 6 with Xavior[/hider]