Gossiping (Afina)

[Anastasia]

From here you flutter along and enjoy the air. You soon enter Chan's great palace, lead within. As you walk through, elementals stop and stare at Afina. As a one they seem stunned by her, watching with wide eyes as she passes.

[Ebiris]

"Is it that obvious to an elemental's eyes?" Afina asks Drena, not having noticed any big reactions on Aurora beyond a general vibe of 'good job!'

[Anastasia]

"Yes," It's all Drena says as you go through an archway of tiny tornadoes, quietly murmuring as you go past, "I instructed the elementals not to stare or remark on it. You are not a spectacle to be leered at, at least in Aurora. Simmer discussed it with the earth ones," Earth sounds like a curse by the way he says it, a distinct frown forming as he speaks, "And ensured they would not comment, either."

[Ebiris]

"Well, this is their home so I'll accept it," Afina says, though she's unsure if those looks she's getting are ones of awe towards her prismatic magnificence or horror at her sullying Air with Earth. Probably the latter if they needed to be told to shut up? "Thanks for your consideration, though."

[Anastasia]

"The fire elementals needed the least effort. They seem fondest of you since fire was first," Drena remarks, "Though a few are the opposite because you, ah, disgraced fire with water. Simmer doesn't tolerate that opinion, so they don't talk about it much."

[Ebiris]

Goodness, she had no idea she was such a controversial figure among the elementals! Hopefully Chan doesn't take offence to her presence now. In any case she keeps her head high no matter what stares come her way.

Because she is fabulous.

[Anastasia]

You are lead to Lady Chan's throne room. It is different from the last time - a great open chamber, exposed in all directions to open Air. Blinking, you see the door you came through is gone. Pillars support the edge of the space, but do nothing to stop the strong wind that blows through. The scent of spring is in the air, flowers and grass along with the promise of blossoming life. Air elementals drift about, all eyes turning to Afina. Odder things are there - a few celestials of various stripes, a silver dragon flying lazily outside and mostly above, only glimpsed every so often, a nude male with transparent skin that ripples like air - as well.

Archomental Chan's throne is a simple white cloud in the shape of a throne. Her form is that of a young woman, figure constantly changing as the wind blows. Everything about her changes with the wind's whimsy.

"Great grandmother," Drena approaches and kneels, "I return from Aurora and bring General Afina with me."

[Ebiris]

Bad enough with the elementals giving her the stink eye, she really hopes that dragon doesn't cause any trouble. "Princess Chan, I bring greetings from our Crusade," she says, landing and kneeling beside Drena. "Elementals from your Court recently fought with great valour against foes of the Abyss and Hades, bringing us victory in the Silver Sea."

[Anastasia]

The Archomental giggles like a little girl, all sunshine and sweetness, "I heard, and you did it giving Lixer a bad day." Now an older lady looks on at you as the wind slackens, gray and weathered by the years. "I am pleased with your actions, Aurora."

[Ebiris]

"Lixer recently struck us a harsh blow, a lesson was required," Afina says, happy to get some praise for wrecking a devil's day. "A somewhat more strident lesson than even we anticipated in Hopelorn, but with the rift on the astral closed and the city destroyed it should give those outside of Hell pause before sheltering devils in their midst."

[Anastasia]

The wind picks up, Lady Chan now a mere babe swaddled in cloth. Yet she speaks as an old woman, "Yes, all is good. But it won't end now, if it would ever have ended before. The Serpent won't allow this blow to his prestige and power pass. It won't end until the final day, or until one of you passes from this Creation."

[Ebiris]

"No, I wouldn't expect so," Afina agrees. "Our retaliation was as much a message to others casting malevolent eyes towards us as it was a simple lesson for Lixer. The price for attacking Aurora must be ruinous, or we'd be beset even further."

[Anastasia]

The wind blows even faster, the baby gone. Only a field of light remains, which whispers to you, "You can stay here if you need sanctuary in the future. The Serpent will hesitate to strike here, because Akadi will not tolerate his direct influence in Air."

[Ebiris]

"Air has given us glad shelter in the past," Afina says, thankful for the time they spent on Air recently, although they did still suffer their share of attacks it would surely be different if they remained close to Chan's domain. "In time I'm sure we'll return here. We forever remain grateful of your support, your Highness."

[Anastasia]

"You have earned it," Chan says, now a young woman again as the winds slacken. "You have also done something remarkable with yourself."