Temporal pixies

[Nephrite]

"If they're still around, I'd like to meet them. It was quite the read." Moore says. "Haha... I'm still wondering if I'll hear anything from Tempus about his time-lost warrior coming back."

[Anastasia]

"You will." Erathaol confirms, "Tempus is loud, but he is not unaware. However, you may merely see his expression on the battlefield."

[Nephrite]

"I'm sure he'll make himself known somewhere." Moore says with a smile. "Honestly, more than anything, I'm just glad to have brought someone like that back, it helps remind me that I'm doing good by Creation so far."

He clears his throat. "At any rate, this," He holds the book up, "Is another step I want to make forward. If I'm going to compete, as well as Compete, in Creation, I have to be able to continue to do what I do best - bringing hope to others. I certainly felt I learned a lot from it, but I have a feeling there was more to it than just the reading."

[Anastasia]

"There always is," Erathaol agrees, "Tell me, what do you think there is to it besides the words written there?"

[Nephrite]

Moore considers for a moment. "This is something that can be... experienced. It's why you told me not to just use magic to read it all. It's more than just words, it's an expression of the feeling of the author. I think that's what bardic music really is... it's not just words, it's emotion, it's feeling, it's energy. So this book is... I guess, the way I see it anyway, it's the physical manifestation of a bardic soul." A small pause there. "That sounds a little bit more flowery than I mean it to, but I think it's important to carry the intentions of the writing into an explanation."

[Anastasia]

A slight nod is your answer, "Yes. Sentiment is not something you can rush through. It is to be felt, savored and experienced. A bard sings from the heart and the heart sings from the soul."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Yes, I think that's the fundamental point with what bards do." He says. "It's easy to forget the roots of where all of it comes from, that it's a force of your own will and soul that exerts power into creation - not unlike the Words, I think, which is why the two end up having a lot of the same notes."

[Anastasia]

"Then I ask another question," Erathaol continues, "How is your soul, Moore?"

[Nephrite]

"A question without an easy answer." Moore says as he looks out to the window.

"The work I did before I went to the Beyond to perform the ritual there showed me a great deal about it. The trip inside the Holy Mountain that revealed my true name helped show me what my soul is - and I think... no, I know - it's a soul that has been able to find its way through trials, tribulations, and into a light so bright as to blind almost any." He says.

He pauses here to turn back to Erathaol. "My soul is one that yearns to spread hope to all reaches of Creation - to be able to sing the harmony of doing good, to sing with hope and inspiration of all those in Creation as they triumph over the smallest amount of hardships. My soul wants to sing so loudly and clearly that even those who are buried in the deepest despair finally see the truth of the light in their own hearts." He says - there's none of his normal airiness to this, just words that he truly believes in.

[Anastasia]

As you study the light outside for a time, Erathaol listens. "You believe in yourself and you believe in others?"

[Nephrite]

"Yes. That is the..." Moore holds the book up at that. "It's the same thing as putting that thought into something like this. It's the same hope that saw me land in the Lost Realm, the same hope that saw me through that place and back to Creation, and the same hope that drives me now."

[Anastasia]

"Many have put their hopes into mortals," Erathaol says, "Some whisper that even the Incarnations did so, allowing them to be born and grow and create all the varied things that they have."

[Nephrite]

"I think what makes it different for me, is succeed or fail, every mortal brings a little bit more hope into the world." Moore explains. "It isn't so different from the way that... and forgive me for this, Asmodeus looks at it, insofar as no matter what happens in my own influence, my ultimate goals are still moved forward."

A pause there. "I've seen the kind of hope I can usher into the world from my own feelings, and if my followers can bring even a small bit of that goodness and that light to the rest of Creation, then I will keep trying."

[Anastasia]

"You chose well to become a bard," Erathaol concludes at that, "It fits you well."

[Nephrite]

Moore laughs at that. "Do any of us really choose the calling that fate has in store for us?" He asks with a bit of a grin. "I'm just glad that I'm able to strengthen myself and my allies."