Moontalk (Moore, 85 days left)

[Anastasia]

You find Balyss already back in the temple of Selune, in prayer with Stille standing nearby, at watch.

Fortunately, a night's sleep did you a lot of good, at least physically. You're no longer so wretchedly tired.

[Nephrite]

Moore gives Stille a wave and will wait for Balyss to finish whatever it is she's doing. She knows why he's here, probably. Or at least has a good idea.

[Anastasia]

Stille comes over to you, "Ah, is your fatigue lifted? I heard about yesterday." He keeps half an eye on Balyss, but his posture loosens, relaxes.

[Nephrite]

"I had a lot of thinking to do." Moore agrees with a smile. "I guess people saw me flying like a zombie in the middle of the night and probably wondered."

[Anastasia]

"Like a restless spirit is how I heard it," Stille chuckles. "It may be some time, dear Balyss isn't coming up right away. Is it something I can help with?"

[Nephrite]

"I've got some messages from 27 I wanted to discuss with her." Moore explains. "I can tell you if you'd like."

[Anastasia]

"Certainly," Stille says, "Perhaps I can lend some insight."

[Nephrite]

He will repeat verbatim -- thankfully, his memory seems to be better lately: "She won't be here forever, but long enough, because of the choices she made. You have less time than you think once half a score of days have passed. Nine watch you, but they are not the dreaded nine, but instead the nine of the ninth. Beware the Grim Fiend, for he leads them on an unholy mission. Afina will face him in Lifasa's bowels as the final battle comes closer - alone. You have to survive, because you'll meet her again when it's all done, but before the end. Jaela's destiny has finally cleared, rejoice. Save Lifasa. You can't help her now, no one can. She knows what's coming."


A pause to let Stille take all of that in.

"To be clearer, or as clear as one can be considering 27. Afina is going to fight Gathgorian alone. I haven't looked up this... Grim Fiend or whatever, that's one of the questions I have, if she knows anything about it. The part about me surviving I already know. I don't know who the person is 'we can't save,' but... yeah. It's a lot to process." He admits.

[Anastasia]

"That is," Stille agrees quietly, "Difficult all around. Someone you've met before and will meet again?" Stille murmurs, "Vagueness."

[Nephrite]

"The most concerning thing was his mention of the 'nine of the ninth,' which... I mean, I figured we were already being watched, but are there really those closer to the Lord of the Ninth than the other eight?" Moore says with a sigh.

"You can see why I came here first." Moore says with a bit of a grin.

[Anastasia]

"Moore," Balyss speaks in her own voice, standing before Stille can comment. "Welcome back."

[Nephrite]

"Balyss." Moore says with a smile. "Thank you. Sorry to be a burden again."

[Anastasia]

"You're alive and not captured by Hell. That is enough for today," Balyss says, then sighs, "Really, be more careful!"

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles a small bit and nods, the smile fading. "It was my mistake. I didn't realize until too late what was going on. Admittedly, that sort of thing never happened before... but I should've known better. I still need to find a way to apologize for it, but that's my burden, not yours." He says as he manages another smile.

"Do you have some time to possibly try and sort through 27's message? I didn't want to just go to Gisfal until we had a better idea." He explains.

[Anastasia]

"27 again?" Balyss sighs, "Yes, of course. Tell me what he said." She comes over to you, "Verbatim, if you can."