A neverending field

[Anastasia]

Have an extremely secure place for my arrival. I'd not like this to be discovered by mere sloppiness.

Soon enough, the two are there. In a room of your choosing and...

Go ahead.

[Corwin]

Since Seira gave Sylvie leave to arrive directly into the secure chambers she had prepared, only those who might look into their realms directly has a shot of finding this out, and Zaphkiel already knows to begin with.

"Right. Thanks for coming. I wanted to discuss a few things and brainstorm together, but first, I owe you two an apology. I've given Aurora's leadership the means we've put together of becoming One, made the knolwedge anathemic, and did it all on my own initiative without even consulting you. I realize how I've wronged you, and I wished to apologize in person. If there's anything I can do to make up for my failings, please let me know."

[Anastasia]

"Seira." Sylvie begins, as she quietly facepalms. "I know that I've made some bad choices in my life. Ask my Mom, ask Aurora, ask Whimsical Sweets, ask Moore. But I yield to your expertise in fucking up. I can't beat that one."

Antenora is more quiet, "They are worthy heroes," she begins, "But I believe you already understand the downsides?" She sits and is quiet for a few moments before, "The more people know, the more it spreads and the more who will try. I fear not the successes, or even evil finding out how to do this. Asmodeus knows how, and if he feels a need to balance the scales, he will. No, my fear is a failure that manages to return to Creation. Nonetheless, I also recall the pain you dealt my back when we first met." Here Antenora shakes her head, "I accept your apology, and only ask you to act with more wisdom in the future. Lathander is not a role model in this regard."

At this Sylvie looks up from her palm and says, "Why did you tell them in the first place?"

[Corwin]

"Because I believe that it is necessary given Bel and Gathgorian's interst in them, especially the latter. I don't wish to see Afina killed, perhaps even the rest of Aurora, while the rest of us are bound to stay on the sidelines again and watch due to the agreement between Zaphkiel and Asmodeus. Some of it is probably guilt from not acting before, when Lifasa was taken. And I think that the sort of heroes that gathered to act while we failed is exactly the sort of new blood we need if we keep on looking for an Answer, either for the Incarnations or for the problem we've all found ourselves in."

She shakes her head. "The mistake I've made is acting on my own and not considering my closest allies and friends. Imitating Lathander... yes, I've thought of it the same way in retrospect. I'll do my best not to make a mistake like this again. As for the consequences that most worry you, Antenora, I intend to help with protection and containment should Aurora decide to risk the ritual. Of course, should they choose to ignore my help, I'll just need to stay extra vigilant and protect Creation in the event of the worst outcome."

Lowering her head, Seira repeats, "To return to the topic itself once more, I apologize."

[Anastasia]

Antenora comes forward and places her hands on your shoulders, then leans in and kisses the top of your head. A gentle, friendly thing, before she says, "You're forgiven. Your sins, even your most foolish, still look paltry compared to mine."

Sylvie shakes her head, "Fine, it's accepted. We'll just have to work to limit the damage."

Tyr will not be a problem, nor will Morniel.

[Corwin]

"Ah--" Seira scratches at her cheek. "If even Zaphkiel is commenting, maybe it's a more dangerous gamble than I realized. Um, so anyway, would you like to go over my anathemic restrictions later?" she offers to Sylvie. "If I missed something obvious, we can tie up the information better. Not that I think Aurora will act in bad faith, but to help protect them if the leadership falls captive somehow."

She forces herself to perk up. "Besides! That's the worst case scenario! I just know those heroes will succeed against the odds and make Creation even better! Five of you've ascended so far and more might follow even without this!"

[Anastasia]

"Alright," Sylvie says, "How did you make it anathemic?"

[Corwin]

"Magic reinforced by divine will. Knowledge of One itself is exempt, but the research gathered here," Seira says, summoning the compilation of Io's writings and Antenora and Sylvie's contributions, "was made anathemic. I presume it would fail if the knowledge spreads too far, but since only deities or the original caster should be able to do that, I don't think it's a short-term concern, if at all."

In the end, even Aurora's leadership is unlikely to spread it to every common recruit, and there's likely a hard limit on just how many suitable and loyal officers they can recruit.

[Anastasia]

The writings appear instantly as they float up for all of you. The magic of it appears in the air in lines of runic script, illustrated and radiant with white light.

It also isn't your will that does it.

"In a way that only worries me more. The knowledge without the aid means that failures are far more likely," Antenora points out, "Creation can handle another evil deity, no matter how much it groans under the weight of the injustice." A breath, "Creation cannot handle a horror from the Far Realm."

Sylvie studies it all, "Alright, it seems fairly standard and nothing's wrong with it. The work's good."

[Corwin]

Seira purses her lips. "What I'm taking from this is that Zaphkiel believes this is the least bad option for him, and that giving us agency to try is worth more than limiting us, even if we might end up messing up. Alright, I can work with this. Since you've gone over my magic, Sylvie, the actual danger is the one Antenora pointed out." She turns towards Antenora, telling her, "Like I already said, I'll do my best to keep Creation safe from horrors, whether they result from a failed attempt or otherwise. And I do think that with the exact means out of reach, those who would learn of One would spend their time on gaining that knowledge rather than just gambling with the idea itself. Perhaps One itself would remain a secret for a while, since I can't see any benefit to those in the know spreading the knowledge."

Then, to change the topic, she says, "To move on from this, I did have other matters to discuss if you can spare the time. In particular interest to you is what we learned of Layer 666, Sylvie."

She already told Alicia what she knows, but perhaps this matter wasn't important enough to be shared in Sylica just yet, so Antenora might also be interested in hearing it.

[Anastasia]

It may be time to also discuss the limitations of anathemic knowledge, and how it can be overcome.

A pause at that before Antenora nods, "A moment, Seira. Lord Zaphkiel?"

I have trusted all of you with everything. I trust you to make your own choices with wisdom, compassion, love and an eye for Creation's salvation. I do not deny that your actions were taken with great consideration of the gains and I do not doubt the purity of your motives.

Thus, what is done is done. We must manage it until the time that Ao is put aside and we can set all things to rights.

[Corwin]

Seira inclines her head. It's certainly the best chance they have of improving their understanding of anathemic knowledge, and havin explicit rather than implicit... approval? validation? whatever it might be, it helps to hear Zaphkiel speak like that.

"It was my understanding that outside of beings that exist beyond the reach of anathemic knowledge, mostly the divine, that anathemic knowledge could possibly be retained for a time, perhaps as much as a week, but that a mortal mind was unable to hold onto it barring exceptional situations. The one exception to this that I know is being aware of the knowledge before it became anathemic, or otherwise being granted the knowledge by the divine, along with our protection from anathemic blocks. Is there more to it, Lord Zaphkiel?"

[Anastasia]

Yes. Moore found one solution, though one only an elite few can partake of. There are other counters and other means to it.

[Corwin]

"But all require both immense power and an even greater investment of time and effort to retain this knowledge? Or truly exceptional ability with Words of Creation and its counterpart?"

[Anastasia]

There are more specialized counter spells and ways around it, though require a great deal of mastery. Mortal magic may be helpless against it, but there are ways and means.

Moore's solution was effective against everything, a universal immunity. Other measures are more limited and more focused.