EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei nodded, stopping in place and looking back down the hall. They were alone at present, though she now had to keep in mind the fact that they were in a public place, in Tamriel. She would not have thought that she would have become so accustomed to the freedom they enjoyed in Artaeum over only a few days, yet it had seemed so natural.

Regardless, Meesei's focus remained fixed on the situation at hand. "Perhaps so. I have to imagine that any correspondence after two hundred years of silence would be overwhelming. Still, if I noticed it, then I am certain you did as well. I could see him smiling at times, probably from some nostalgic memories. I think it was probably something good overall for him, but...there might have been something more, just by the way he was acting. I am not really sure. I know he suggested we take a walk around the campus, but...are you sure you do not want to speak with him? I can wait out here, if you think it would be best for the two of you to be alone for a while. I do not presume to understand your father better than you, but perhaps he might benefit from having you there to support him if he is overwhelmed? I can speak from experience when I say that you are a wonderful person to have around in difficult times." Meesei suggested, speaking somewhat softly.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei could not read Pircalmo perfectly by any means, but it seemed to her that the letter's tidings were mixed. After close to two hundred years apart, Meesei supposed it would have been too optimistic to think that Pircalmo would have put the letter down smiling. With all the emotion it must have brought back for him, Meesei supposed she understood why he would want a few minutes to himself, and did not argue when Lunise guided her out of the room.

"What do you think the letter contained?" Meesei asked once she and Lunise were out of the room. She did not entirely remember the layout of the campus from their last visit, but it was easy enough for her to follow Lunise's lead. "She wrote quite a bit more than I had expected, but I suppose there was quite a lot of time for them to catch up on. I do not think Nytala would have included anything she did not think he needed to hear." She commented.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Having not held the letter herself, Meesei was briefly surprised at how substantial it was. There were multiple pages folded into the envelope, written front and back, and not in large print. As Pircalmo started to read, Meesei wondered if she should find a seat.

If there had been any doubt to Lunise's story, it would not have lasted long for her father. Even early in the letter, there were details that only Nytala could have known. The content of the letter was, of course, deeply personal between Nytala and Pircalmo, as one would expect of a married couple that had not spoken in centuries. Nytala spoke of regrets both old and new, commented on developments in Pircalmo's life that occurred well-after she left, and gave encouraging words for his future. He might have noticed some hints of how she had changed through the centuries in the way she spoke and the attitude she took, but he would still be able to see the personality of the woman he once knew. However, as much as she obviously wanted her correspondence to be a pleasant surprise for him, there was a bittersweet message behind it. She did not come right out and say it, but a great deal of the motivation behind her words was to let Pircalmo know that it was okay to move on. Given the circumstances of her departure, there had likely always been some doubt on whether or not she would return, but her letter put that doubt to rest. She was a part of the Psijic Order, believing in its goals and the role she expected she would play as a part of it. She did admit that she wished she could return, but had every reason to believe she would not. While it was possible that the Order may decide to return Artaeum to Tamriel, she would always be a part of the Order; possibly to the end of time itself, were she fortunate enough to live that long.

While most of the letter was personal to Nytala and Pircalmo, there was a section close to the end that pertained more closely to the current situation: There is still a part of me that wants to believe it was foolish for me to have even left Tamriel to begin with, if only for what it might have meant for our daughter. I can only be thankful for you, and for the role you have had in shaping her. It is ironic that, despite my absence, I have had more of an opportunity to watch how she has shaped her life as an adult. I will respect her privacy, and her right to decide for herself what details of her life she is comfortable sharing, but I can say that she has become a woman to be proud of. I know we both worry for the danger in which our daughter's lifestyle places her, but she is brave, principled, and possesses wisdom far beyond her peers. Some of her choices may be hard to understand, but if you still trust me, then believe me when I say that you should trust her as well. In some ways, I now believe her judgment is better than my own.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Despite entering the portal first, Meesei took a step back once she had arrived to allow Lunise to be in the forefront of Pircalmo's attention. While their last meeting had been quite cordial, his daughter was the most likely sight to calm any surprise. Meesei waited patiently for Lunise to greet him before speaking up herself.

"It is good to see you again, Pircalmo. I too apologize for any undue surprise; we did do our best to step through as quickly as we could once the portal was opened. I...would just like to start by saying that there have been no emergencies, no one has been harmed, and no one is in any immediate grave danger. There are some matters to discuss, but for the most part, this is a social visit, despite our unusual arrival. Or...at the very least, the message Lunise brings is not a bad one." Meesei explained. She supposed it was true that she did not know what Nytala's letter contained, but she doubted its contents would be something Pircalmo would not want to read.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Nytala was even more reluctant than Lunise to release her embrace, but nevertheless knew it was time to let her leave. Each motion she made and each word she spoke came slowly, but with purpose. She held her hand out in front of her, which was soon surrounded in a glowing light, then smiled. "Goodbye, Lunise. I am proud of you. Proud of what you have done, and what I am sure you will do. Always remember that."

With those words, Nytala finally cast the spell and opened the portal in front of Lunise and Meesei. It was visually distinct from the sorts of portals that Meesei used, and based on the amount of effort Nytala seemed to be exerting at the moment, far easier to create. Regardless, the other side of the portal would have opened at the correct time, right in front of Lunise's father in his study. If Nytala was correct, then he would recognize the magic, though that would not stop him from being surprised at who was stepping through.

Meesei briefly took Lunise's hand and gave her a reassuring nod, though just as quickly released her grip to step forward through the portal. They needed to make their way through quickly to avoid causing any undue alarm to her father, and Meesei taking the first step meant that Lunise could not delay.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Well, we never know what might be helpful." Meesei reasoned. "Even if he does not have specific knowledge of Argonian souls, the input of someone who is an authority on anatomical knowledge may still be helpful. Just off of the top of my head, he may be able to provide some insight into how exactly my physical body helps to stabilize my soul. Perhaps we will even be able to find a way to replicate that effect after death?" Meesei's rationale was, ultimately, just hopeful guessing, but they were not irrational guesses. For such a novel problem, having input from a variety of perspectives certainly could not hurt.

Nytala, at this point, seemed to have prepared her spell. There was a slight magical aura around her hand, though she had not yet opened the portal. She took in a quick breath, then looked specifically to Lunise. "I am ready to open the portal. It will take you directly to your father's study, but to avoid startling him too much, you should probably step through as soon as I have opened it." She explained, which, of course, meant that whatever was said between the two of them now would be their final goodbye.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei nodded in agreement. She, of course, intended to follow Lunise's lead in matters of her own family. In any case, Meesei felt that Lunise's father would have a great deal to take in regardless of what he did or did not learn about the nature of their relationship. However, Meesei had been thinking of more practical reasons to disclose at least some details to him. "That is all your choice, my...fiancée." Meesei began, speaking the unfamiliar word deliberately. "I trust your judgment, and I will let you decide what we tell him. I have been wondering, though, if you think he can help me with this matter of my soul? You have said that he is an accomplished arcane scholar, and one specifically knowledgeable on Argonians. How...accurate do you think that knowledge is? I will admit, I have seen writings from non-Argonian scholars that have been woefully mistaken about us."

Nytala, meanwhile, was starting to prepare her spell to create a portal across both spacial and temporal barriers. It was not a simple spell, but the rather strange properties of Artaeum's realm made it possible. Although, she was not showing any signs of wanting to rush Lunise and Meesei's discussion. There was no telling for how long she had been dreading their final goodbye.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei hummed to herself for a moment in thought. "I do think you are correct. Once your father learns who penned that letter, he will know where we have come from. Or, at the very least, who we have been in contact with. And if I am right there with you while you deliver a letter of a very personal nature, then he may surmise that I am closer to a friend than a professional acquaintance."

In response to Lunise, Nytala, again, displayed a small amount of regret as she shoot her head. "I'm sorry, it is difficult to look into such specific moments in a specific future. That is not to say it cannot be done, but it would probably be more vague than you would like, and it would take too long, regardless. But...I can say that your father has seen a Psijic portal before. The look and feel of the magic is quite distinct, and I am sure he would recognize it immediately."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Nytala smiled along with Lunise, her memories returning to the husband she had once had. For the moment, she was shedding silent tears as those memories practically paralyzed her. Meesei felt that she could understand, at least partially, what Nytala and Lunise both must have been feeling. However, she was separated enough from those emotions for a thought to pass through her mind which she thought worthy of mentioning.

"Nytala...do you think your scrying would be able to determine where exactly Lunise's father is right now? Or...where he was in the time we are returning to, rather?" Meesei asked.

For a moment, Nytala almost looked somewhat embarrassed. "Yes, actually...I already have. He is in his study, reading, at the exact point in time where you will be arriving in Tamriel."

Meesei looked over to Lunise. "Well if that is the case, then we can just take a portal straight to him to give him the letter right away. That way there will be no need to wait and wonder. What do you think?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise could not see Nytala's face while they were so tightly embracing one another, though her strained voice only further made her feelings obvious. "I will never stop wanting to be a part of your life, dear. I never have, and I never will. But even if we cannot see each other...just know that I will be watching out for you. Know that I am proud of you too, and...that you have turned out to be everything that I have hoped. I do not think it is revealing any secrets for me to say that you are going to do great things. I do not need to see into the future to be confident that is true."

The pair did eventually pull away from their hug, and for a few moments, Nytala stood somewhat awkwardly in an uncertain silence. It went without saying that she did not want to part from her daughter for potentially the last time in her life, so her goodbyes were turning out to be far less graceful than she would have liked. The envelope in her hand entered her thoughts briefly, so after a few more seconds of silence, Nytala held it out towards Lunise. "Here is the letter I wrote for your father. I...well, I honestly do not know how he is going to respond to this, but I suppose he deserves to be able to hear from me as well. I have had quite a long time to think on all of things I wish I would have said."