The laughter of oblivion

[Ebiris]

Marie sags and leans back against the side of Memorial. "He was like me," she says in a small voice. "The things I've claimed for my portfolio, my domains... we shared them. The same values. He could have taught so much..."

"He sacrificed himself, gave everything... but against the fairest star it still wasn't enough," Alicia says glumly. "I saw visions of the war on my home prime. Of Daa-vid defeating Shar and Mystra both. But they could reform, lick their wounds. Here, in his home? Garl Glittergold had nowhere to run. He knew that and still he didn't hesitate. He understood his responsibility to everyone else here."

[Anastasia]

"Oh Marie," Latha says, an arm out to support Marie. "You'll meet him one day. I promise."

[Ebiris]

Marie takes that in the spirit it's given, replying to Latha with a watery smile.

"We should tell Seira about all of this after we're done here," Alicia says. "It's important to her as well. And Yandrazrt. But... as well as learning and mourning, we have another reason to be here. There's still someone who calls Bytopia home, who was here before and after Daa-vid's genocide. We have to find them."

[Anastasia]

That's easy.

You already have, Alicia.

It's been so long since Bytopia has been truly silent.

[Ebiris]

"Oh," Alicia says, looking around for the source of that. "The silence is mournful, but... it's a step on the path of grief towards healing," she says, speaking from her own experience that saw the stage of sullen rage beforehand.

[Anastasia]

Yes. You would understand that, wouldn't you?

Tragedy begets tragedy. Pain births pain. How beautiful that you've broken that cycle.

You are blessed beyond most.

[Ebiris]

Marie straightens up and listens while Alicia inclines her head.

"It's hard to do on your own," the widowed goddess says. "That's what friends are for. It's... perhaps why Creation is the way it is. So many different perspectives made to form connections and grow in response to each other. So that even tragedy and loss can be overcome."

Does the guardian necessarily need to know her thoughts on such things? Perhaps not, but it's good to affirm them. To herself, to her friends, and to Creation itself.

"Connections, and community," Marie picks up. "Community like we've made in Sylica. Like there used to be here."

[Anastasia]

Latha stays still and respectful, but at the ready.

That used to be here. Yet that is not the true reason you are here, is it? You seek me.

[Ebiris]

"Yes," Alicia says. "Shamefully even with my role in Daa-vid's judgement, I never gave any thought to Bytopia before now. Always my thoughts were on the wounds dealt to my world, the scars of battle there. Something I thought so cataclysmic..." her gaze drifts over the Memorial, "Now seems like a scratch."

She takes a deep breath. "Be that as it may, I'm glad to have come here and educated myself. But you're right, the reason we came was for you, and what the Incarnation of Balance bade you to guard."

[Anastasia]

My first test is complete, but that is not all you must overcome.

[Ebiris]

"The tests are yours to dispense as you see fit," Alicia says without objection. "What next?"

[Anastasia]

Tell me, how will your sorrow and your pain lead to a better Creation?

How do you break the cycle of sorrow and suffering?

[Ebiris]

"You don't ask for anything easy, do you?" Alicia asks ruefully. "I'll use my voice and influence among the gods to ensure no idiotic plans like with the Fairest Star are carried out again. I'll fight against those who directly cause suffering with their actions - and yes I concede, I'll be making them suffer with my actions. That is the cost of prioritising the innocent, and I'll never descend to the same level of cruelty and indiscriminate slaughter. And where I can, I'll reach out to those who can be reached, as I've done with Antenora and precious others, so that more than just not causing sorrow, they can become sources of happiness," she explains her approach.

"We'll create happiness," Marie speaks up, wanting her own feelings to be heard. "Heaven isn't heaven because it's where the Incarnations made Good. It's heaven because it's filled with good people, like used to live here, like live in Sylica. We give people a symbol to strive for, with our existence and our strength we tell them: it's okay. You don't have to cut each other down, you can prosper by working together. You don't have to force someone to kneel, you can give someone a reason to stand up. And it works."

[Anastasia]

"It works because we're there to help, too." Latha concludes, "We aren't unlimited like you are, we can only use what we have to break the cycle of suffering and sorrow. Compassion, mercy, care, love. Core parts of Good and core parts of who are we. Through that we've improved much - including Bytopia."

I have no quarrel with your answers.

It is so different from her song. Have you heard it before?

[Ebiris]

"Far too often," Alicia's expression sours, instantly picking up on what's being said.

"I've gotten good at drowning her out with my own songs though," Marie says, perking up. "Would you like to hear one?"