[center][h1]Monica V[/h1][/center] [hr] The journey was swift and serene, as Monica soared across the skies to the edges of Maelite. She could not easily fly in the land of darkness, so she descended to where the road of light began, and resumed her journey once more as she started walking. Soon after she softly spoke to the shadows surrounding her and the shimmering road after she had passed the borders between the 12th Realm and Maelite. Her quiet voice wandered away from her, lost in the prominent dancing darkness. There was no response. She continued onward along the road of light with the wind carrying her, hastening her hovering step. She did not stray from the path, where the icy cruel cold sank its teeth into the living, where the savage children of Maelite may seek her out and attempt to feast on her flesh, where there were no means without magical aid of navigating the land aside from blindly fumbling forward. She spent time among other travelers and shared a few words with them, enjoying the ephemeral conversations that periodically interrupted the screaming silence between encounters. She would ever prematurely depart though, insisting she must be on her way before long. Calling upon her sacred power, she summoned supplies that she provided to her fellow wanderers, along with washing away the fatigue and fear they felt. In return, she simply asked them to pray to the Divine, and avoid straying from Benea’s light lest death finds them in the sea of shadows. Monica finally reached the node that she had stabilized so long ago, and once again called out to the absolute blackness that enclosed everything around her. The Shepherd of Shadows revealed its looming presence with its ethereal voice repeatedly resonating where the limited light and demure darkness danced together. The unseen colossus told her of what had transpired in Maelite during her absence, and asked if she wished to see the fate of her children - those that were lost, and those that had been found… [b][i]“No. I am afraid I cannot accompany you and my children in this world yet. I must continue my journey a little longer, but I will come back.”[/i][/b] She said, with sorrow in her heart. A more and more familiar feeling after all that she had seen and experienced. There was yearning and joy that swelled within her as well, for she was with her family. The Shepherd of Shadows merely murmured to her that it would await her return, and that it would continue to watch over the node and her children while she was away, for which she expressed her gratitude. Before she bid her champion farewell, another sound came from the darkness. A small creature about half her height emerged from the darkness; a creature that was only a silhouette in the light when it appeared. It was bipedal, standing upon two legs that were large compared to the rest of its shape - at least consisting of the vast majority of it. It possessed four more spindly limbs that reached out from its core as it approached her. However her eyeless spawn became sluggish, struggling just to stand when it stepped into the much warmer light, so Monica came to it instead. Her hands touched its cold carapace, compassionately caressing what was her child as it began to claw apart her arms and stomach. Silver blood seeped from the accumulating wounds, but she continued to croon and gently stroke its shape as it assailed her. [b][i]“A little one... She needs to be loved… My beautiful daughter whom always attacks me whenever she sees me.”[/i][/b] All of her children sought to slay her, all of them suffused with her fear and agony. Before she suffered further injuries, she let the Shepherd of Shadows pry her daughter away, bringing the child back into the darkness. Monica began healing her numerous bleeding lacerations, and mending her attire before cleansing it. Afterwards, she further contemplated the matter of her aggressive children and came to a conclusion that would assist both Maelite and those beyond its borders. With cosmic clarity, she called upon the forces of creation and forged an artifact that manifested upon one of her fingers. It was a silver ring that she would name, [i]Althea[/i], which possessed incredible healing powers. With it, she could sacrifice sections of her body to her hungry children and swiftly regenerate. With more of her divine might, she cast an intricate spell upon her attire that she named,[i]Alessia[/i], granting it great resilience. With it, she could spend more time with her hungry children without the supervision of the Shepherd of Shadows keeping her safe. Monica felt a small satisfied smile form as she finished her task, but black tears were trailing down her cheeks because she must leave again. She said her farewells, and traveled along the road of light back to the 12th Realm. She flew to Eunomia and entered the temple, navigating it until she reached the node. She stepped through the nexus, and appeared in southern Maelite where she performed one more task. She set a warning system on the node. Soon she would grant Benea permission to access the power of the node, letting her sister teleport here as well. As Monica’s thoughts turned to Benea, she hoped that Xavior and Jermane helped her recover from her ordeal. Monica then returned to the 12th Realm through the nexus. [hider=Summary]Monica goes on a journey north and visits Maelite, speaking with the Shepherd of Shadows before she decides to forge some artifacts. Afterwards, she makes her way out of Maelite and returns to the 12th Realm. She then passes through the nexus of Node 12 and travels to Node 33 where she sets a node warning on it, before returning back through the nexus.[/hider] [hider=Might]Monica’s current Might total: 9 -4 to create Althea (Artifact) A ring of regeneration that grants Monica greater healing powers that manifest in two ways while wearing the ring: first she can imbue water she bathes in with incredible restorative properties that linger even away from her presence for a few days, though the potency decreases as more time passes. This water heals all minor and lethal wounds when it is either bathed in or when it someone drinks it. Secondly it activates when she sings which allows her to direct her healing energy into targets within a limited 30-meter radius of her, though she can only heal with this method once before she requires a long rest. -4 to create Alessia (Artifact) Monica's garb suffused with resilient energy that prevents all penetration or tearing through it, and absorbs all kinetic energy that passes against it, protecting its wearer from bludgeoning forces as well. -1 to set a warning ping for Node 33. Monica’s remaining Might total: 0[/hider]