Home again

[Anastasia]

Celebrations day and night - brighter in the places where night is currently fallen. Naeys enters, a tray levitating behind him. "Roald insisted I bring some of this to you," he says, taking the tray and placing it before you. "He made it in celebration. Your parents even adored it."

[Ebiris]

"He is good at what he does," Alicia says, happy to sample any baked goods delivered her way.

[Anastasia]

It's a slice of rich cake, tall and with five cakes and four layers between them. The cakes are sweet vanilla, with each layer having a filling in between them. One layer of chocolate, another of a rich red jam, a third of buttercream and the last of a white cream blended with what looks like shards of cookies.

The cake casts shadows in the light. In those shadows the cake expands, forming new and different veins - a cake of chocolate with a blue icing in between the layers, or in another shadow a rich red cake with sliced strawberries between them.

"The shadows are just as edible as the cake, and change and replenish if you adjust it in the light," Naeys remarks, "A cunning bit of magic, Roald channels is with a savant's natural talent."

[Ebiris]

"He's really outdone himself, hasn't he?" Alicia murmurs, a silver fork appearing in her hand as she carves off a section from the pointed tip of the cake and has a bite.

[Anastasia]

It's a lot of tastes for sure, but it somehow works. All kinds of richness, sweetness and flavors. Rich without a doubt, devastatingly so, and just as good. You'd think it would be too many flavors, overwhelming and mixing. But it's not, you somehow taste all of them, rather than a blur.

"It's something to sweeten your day as the war continues," Naeys seconds. "There's conflicting reports that Hell has joined the war officially. Some say they have, others deny it. Right now no clarity exists."

[Ebiris]

That sours the taste of her cake alright. "If they have then we need to act. I'd hoped we'd be a deterrent for longer, and if we did have to attack it would be with a softer target, but we can't do nothing. If Hell has joined the fight then so will we. Where are these conflicting reports coming from?"

[Anastasia]

"Celestia believes they have joined the war, though I am not aware of the provenance of their information. Friends in Brightwater disagree, again with an unknown source. Two of our own sources also disagree, one agreeing and one disagreeing. I hope clarity will come, but I would recommend we act as if they are without committing, so we are ready to commit instantly if they are proven to have joined the war. Most thinkings are that even if they still have not, it is only a matter of time."

[Ebiris]

"Our initial reaction force is ready to go at a moment's notice - the intent being to pounce on any new arrivals to the war with a strong show of force. We'll have to draw on more forces to continue fighting from there, but we have the slack for it," Alicia says as her avatar makes sure things are ready to go on that front.

"What other news do you have?"

[Anastasia]

"We're receiving the first few congratulations from afar," Naeys says, "The Red Knight sends her regards and a formal letter of congratulations. Informally, the various consulates and embassies in Sylica send congratulations, though official comments have not yet arrived."

As do I. Well done, Alicia.

[Ebiris]

The congratulations belong to Jessica, and her hard work begins now.

"A letter, do you have it?" she asks. Getting a letter from someone these days feels oddly old fashioned. "I'm sure more hostile reactions will come too. Malcanthet was very sore over Antenora's ascension."

[Anastasia]

Guide her well and wisely, for I do not believe it her nature as well suited to this as yours. She has much work ahead of her, far more than only running a bakery.

"I can bear that thought with a great deal of endurance," Naeys says with a chuckle, handing over the letter as requested - with the Red Knight's holy symbol as a wax seal. The paper is of superb quality, unblemished and even, surely created with magic or divine will.

[Ebiris]

She takes the letter. "One moment, I'll call Jessica over."

Jessica can you come here, please? Red Knight has sent a letter congratulating you.

[Anastasia]

I'm on my way, sister.

[Ebiris]

Alicia waits for Jessica to show up before breaking that seal.

[Anastasia]

Jessica arrives quickly, carrying a tankard in hand, putting it aside, "Everyone's offering me a drink," she says, a wry smile, "I've never been so popular." Coming to sit and glancing at the cake, "How is it?"