Deep into the Infinite Stair

[Ebiris]

"I wish to learn what you've done to the one who came before us and why," Alicia says, pausing in her stride. That's not why they came here originally but it's her primary concern now.

[Anastasia]

"I have taught her what she requested," Is the answer you get.

"She requested to become part of this plane?" Jessica asks, bluntly.

"Yes." Is the answer, still disinterested. "It is the simplest way for her to gain power, if the plane is not awake and aware."

[Ebiris]

"You taught her because she asked, simple as that?" Alicia asks, her own tone dubious as she starts to walk again.

[Anastasia]

"Yes." Is the answer, simple and to the point.

"But why?" Jessica says, "Why teach her?"

"She was...pathetic." Is the answer, still emotionless. "I expected limited beings, but she was far weaker and more limited than I imagined. What is to smash a gnat?"

Quieter, voice tenser, "So you made her a part of this unused Stair."

"I taught her," The voice agrees.

[Ebiris]

Okay it might be speaking in an emotionless tone but it's pretty clearly an emotionally driven being.

"Are you proud of what you've wrought?" she asks, her own voice controlled. "Did teaching give you pleasure?"

[Anastasia]

"No. I simply did it," Is the answer.

[Ebiris]

"Why? You're a guardian aren't you? Your purpose is to guard, so why go to the extra effort of teaching?" she presses the point.

[Anastasia]

"I pitied her," Is the answer, plain.

[Ebiris]

She has a feeling this isn't going to go much further just yet, so she changes tack. "What are you guarding here anyway?"

[Anastasia]

"Apotheosis," Is the answer, "Ascension."

"A divine seed," Jessica asks, right to it.

[Ebiris]

"And so you taught the queen a twisted and wrong form of it," Alicia says, since that does circle back around again. "Were you created by one of the Incarnations?"

[Anastasia]

"I was created by the Incarnation of Balance," Is the answer, "I taught her what she asked for. What limited creatures do with it is not my concern."

[Ebiris]

"So reaches the extent of your pity," Alicia says dubiously. "What did the Incarnation task you with, then?"

[Anastasia]

"To guard and test any who sought this divine seed, once he made their presence known," Is the answer. "He did not say I must kill any who fail."

[Ebiris]

Well, Jessica heard a story so the presence is known. "What form does the testing take?"