All That Glitters

[Nephrite]

"It should be about what you want, not me." Moore says. "I don't mind waiting a while longer, until I'm ready." He offers a smile. "I can hear it more clearly now, though the speaker always seems to be a little bit different."

[Anastasia]

"You hear the voice?" Xandra is suddenly intent, focused on you. "You have been gifted as well?"

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "I can, every so often. Sometimes It's Lord Erathaol, sometimes... well, you know." Moore gestures up. "It's been a bit more talkative lately, but I think that one is coming from the top of the mountain."

[Anastasia]

"Softly!" Xandra whispers, "Speak softly of it! To speak too loudly of it brings you closer to the eternal glory and I know it is not your time yet. You have been chosen."

At this Xandra rises, "Shall I aid you, Moore?"

[Nephrite]

Moore can't help but laugh at that. "I already died once, maybe more than that. I appreciate your concern, nonetheless." He offers a smile and a hand out. "Certainly, if you'd like to aid me, I would appreciate it."

[Anastasia]

"Then I will meet you at your home soon," Xandra says, "Go. I will meet you there."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Very well."

He turns and nods to Cresiel and will head back home!

[Anastasia]

As you fly out, "What voice?" Cresiel asks, plainly. "Do you mean Zaphkiel speaks to you directly?"

[Nephrite]

"I don't think it's Zaphkiel." Moore says. "I never really considered who it was, but it seems different every time. I always figured it was just the voice of Celestia, though occasionally I think it speaks from beyond even here, maybe even the realm of Good itself."

[Anastasia]

Cresiel flies along, no comment for a time. "Good itself?" he finally asks back. Below you is Lunia, your trip almost done.

[Nephrite]

"You know Sylvie, right?" Moore asks. "I'm sure you must, since you're familiar with 21. Long story short, I have this feeling that she went there, that she got called back there -- to Cantasa Alexandria's realm." He blinks once. "I'm sorry, maybe that's not quite right, Cantasa Alexandria may just reside there as well... I admit I'm not terribly familiar with that one."

[Anastasia]

Cresiel nods...and his eyes seem to glaze over a moment. "I see. It was a good trip, wasn't it?" Cresiel asks. "We are now better prepared for the fight ahead."

[Nephrite]

"Yes, absolutely. I'd like to do some research on that Emptyeye person to see if there's anything we can use against him before we go to Mineral." Moore says. "By research, I mostly just mean trying to see if I can remember anything important about him that I picked up."

[Anastasia]

"It's worth trying, knowledge is power," Cresiel says, as you feel a pulse. A bond, one shared with Cresiel, resonates throughout you.

You finished a bond goal for Cresiel.

Cresiel: Friendly. ("This is Celestia's will. We shall see it done and follow the path of wisdom to improvement.")

A smidgen cryptic, but you worked it out just fine.

Cresiel: Item Strengthening (???)

In this case you already got the reward, the finishing was just delayed until you returned home.

Go read the updated note and post here once you have. More this evening, work looms. As you may note, Cresiel is now both friendly and determined, the latter of which is new.

[Nephrite]

I have read THE NODE.