Date night

[Ebiris]

"For one sandwich that's an incredibly wasteful use of magic," Alicia says in disappointment. "Anyway so long as you know the way. We have a friend to visit further up, so take care Calley."

[Anastasia]

"Uh uh, if I made more I'd eat more and gain weight," Calley retorts, but nothing more.

Once you're up and out of earshot, "I need to thank Seira, that was a good idea," Syala says aloud. "I don't doubt Gond's watching them together, so that keeps him somewhere safe and busy."

"Better that his hands are turned to industrious learning than idle mischief," Latha concurs, "Even if I quietly lament his path only leading to more power, for I have no doubt he's learning from her."

"If nothing changes the kid's going to be a great champion for someone one day. Better that it be Gond or Oghma than some fiend getting his claws around him." Syala counters as she flies up, giving Latha and amused look, "No time for childish frivolity for him?"

"Hardly that," Latha's retort has no sting to it, no heat. "Only that I wish he was on the path of a normal child."

[Ebiris]

"It's not right," Alicia agrees with Latha. "So much power handed to him as carelessly as a packed lunch. Nothing earned, no hard-won lessons, just sheer entitlement. Even with the best will in the world, I worry at the mindset such privilege breeds. Even a mighty dragon has to struggle and survive as a vulnerable wyrmling first."

[Anastasia]

"It might be the first time Sylvie even made him a packed lunch," Syala says, "If what I hear about her parenting is true."

Meanwhile Latha looks less that impressed with that but adds, "I worry as well, but we are here and we can ensure he grows up understanding and with compassion."

[Ebiris]

"Perhaps so," Alicia agrees with Syala. "But there are far worse examples of motherhood all around to get angry at before judging this one too harshly. If she were of noble birth and left her son to be raised with a nanny or governess few would bat an eye."

[Anastasia]

"Still," Syala says, as you fly on and up and on and up.

There is no further intererence and soon enough you arrive at the sparkling hills of Jovar. The light of Chronias is almost blinding here, like a radiance that never ends, stretching farther than your eyes can see. It's like standing next to the sun, basking in a warm light that banishes all doubt, all uncertainty.

It's not your time. Not yet.

Even if for one raw, aching moment every part of you wishes it was.

[Ebiris]

It's an alluring pull, but certainly not. She has Sylica.

They know where the bridge is, after Latha's adventure guarding it, and so that's where they go.

[Anastasia]

The Bridge of Al-Sihal is busy. A line stretches far as you can see, people entering the Bridge and beyond one at a time. Xerona stands guard over it all, watching each, permitting them to pass. Yet as you approach she says but a word, the line stopping. Her gaze is on the three of you as you approach.

[Ebiris]

"Hello again Xerona," Alicia greets the seraph who helped them free the children of Androlynne. "We do not wish to pass, but Zaphkiel told us to come here."

[Anastasia]

"Come," Xerona commands.

Syala does so, while Latha bows and follows.

[Ebiris]

Alicia approaches Xerona but where are they going to be led? Surely not across the bridge?

[Anastasia]

Once you approach, the crowds seem faraway, dazed, lost. No one in the line is looking your way at all, lookingupwards here.

"We can converse here in privacy," Xerona declares. "I speak in the name of Zaphkiel, ask what you wish."

[Ebiris]

"Thank you," Alicia says. "Syala?" she invites her wife to explain what she's looking for.

[Anastasia]

Syala steps forward, "I find myself in need of more champions," she begins, "We all need more champions. A challenging task, as many champions perish, lose the way, find a place where they no longer grow or otherwise move away from that life. How do we make our champions advance and how do we gain more of them?"

To this Xerona smiles. It is a beautiful thing, again making you ache to go ahead, to pass beyond into the blinding light beyond her, a light so bright not even your divine eyes can see beyond it. "The greatest blessing all creatures have in Creation is free will. Many of our greatest efforts fall aside, only because that champion chooses not to advance further. Those like Alicia are rare, ones who will keep striving forever on. Love, family, injury, other passions, duties. All can veer a champion off that road. Yet you already know that."

"I do," Syala admits, "I can't fault a champion for retiring to raise a family, or because they find a love that occupies them."

"But you need more," Xerona agrees. "It comes down to the question of how and why mortals grow fast, and why sometimes immortals do as well, but so often seem to stagnate?"

"It is about the Answer?" Syala asks, "Everything seems to trace back to that." Crossing her arms now, "But it also seems fitfully inconsistent. I know spirits smarter, wiser, stronger and altogether superior to how I was before, yet I've grown while they're the same today as they were a hundred thousand years ago. Many mortals never progress far, no matter what life they lead, or die so soon that we never find out."

[Ebiris]

"It feels like certain people and events form nexuses of growth," Alicia volunteers her own insight. "I was on an upward trajectory that swept you, Antenora, and Latha onto it. Something similar happened with the heroes that fought to liberate Lifasa - the planetar Hanna had been stagnant for millenia but progressed rapidly once she started fighting alongside Jaela. The mortal wizard Tepen as well, was on a plateau towards the end of his life, before the Crusade saw him break past his limits and surpass what mortal magic is capable of. Then there was the dragon Surraruthru - a literal wyrmling who leapt in power to wield more magic than even a great wyrm expects to command at the culmination of its long life."