Finding Calley

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles at the showcase. "I can feel the souls of several dozen very jealous pixies right now who could do all sorts of pranks with this sort of thing."

For right now he'll just watch and see what happens. If his charm happens to catch the young boy's attention, then all the better!

[Anastasia]

Kaja snorts, "This is why wyrmlings don't learn magic."

Yet Calley flies about and about, here and there, everywhere. Anna chases him in vain until he glances the two of you. "A half dragon and a pixie," he says, coming to a stop in front of the two of you. "You're not Uncle Josa's friends, are you?"

Meanwhile Anna catches up, doubled over with hands on her knees, catching her breath.

[Nephrite]

"We just met him." Moore says.

A smile. "My name is Moore, this is my friend Kaja. Hello." He tilts himself slightly to the side to get a better look at Anna as well. "Hello to you as well."

He turns back to Calley. "I am, however, a friend of someone else you know."

[Anastasia]

"Oh, you're from Aurora," Calley says, "You knew my Mom." He gives both of you a long look, cutesy face with a look of serious contemplation. "Duke Moore of Celestia and Kaja, back in action after vanishing for a decade or so."

Kaja looks right back at him, leaning forward slightly. "You don't talk like a child." He says, a flat accusation without heat. "You know things you should not know as a child."

"He's...ah...ah....good at that," Anna says, as your guide slips away, going back the way he came.

[Nephrite]

Moore just remains with a smile. "That's right. She is a good friend of mine. I'm here because I want to rescue her and I think you can help me with that. Is that something you're willing to do?"

It's for the best to not demand his assistance -- if he wants to help, he does. If he doesn't, then that's fine too.

[Anastasia]

"I wish Mom could come back, but she can't. Not anymore," Calley says, "Don't you see?"

[Nephrite]

Moore shakes his head. "That's exactly why. She might have resigned herself to her destiny, but I know that things like that can be circumvented... it just takes thinking outside the boundaries of what one thinks is possible."

Another smile. "I believe in that possibility."

[Anastasia]

"I don't." Calley frowns, "Mom never wanted to be around me before, why would she do so now when she can't?"

"Calley, don't-" Anna begins.

The young child merely stands his ground. "I know it's true. You don't have to defend Mom. I know."

[Nephrite]

"I can't speak for what she wanted before." Moore says. "I also know that people change, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Sometimes you have to go to a rather extreme end before you realize that you have to change."

A sad smile at that as he looks off before his gaze returns to Calley. "Where do you think your newfound powers came from? Or do you not think -- do you know?" He asks.

[Anastasia]

"I know." Calley says. "It's Mom's powers, everything she did and learned. A final gift for me. I think she was sorry."

The child merely inclines his head a little bit, "She didn't really like herself as her life went on. She wants me to have all she had but be happy with it, like she never could be."

[Nephrite]

"Then, I will change the question for you." Moore says with a smile. "I need to find 21 again. Is that something you can help with?"

[Anastasia]

"I don't know," Calley says right back, "Mom didn't pass on anything about 21, besides what it is. From what else she knows, she was being kind to."

"Calley..." Anna murmurs.

"It's okay, Mom. You're my real Mom," Calley comes and hugs Anna, "She's just my other Mom, she never wanted it."

This gets Anna to flinch but hug Calley tight, a murmured, "Oh Calley..." She kneels and hugs him back, "Oh, my sweet little Calley."

[Nephrite]

"It's a difficult burden to bear." Moore says with a sad smile. "For all three of you."

...Three? Is that just a coincidence? ...

He takes a breath and rubs his chin. "Well, the fact remains that I still think she's out there. Maybe she's somewhere I can't get to... but that just means I have to try harder."

He clears his throat and shifts his posture. "I'm sorry to have made you think of sad things, young man. I do have one more question, if you'll indulge me."

At this, he takes out the notes he was given on the ritual. "I intend to try and complete this, or at least better understand it."

[Anastasia]

Calley turns and looks at them, "It's a formula and a puzzle, isn't it?"

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles and puts the notes back. "So noted. I will tell you one thing, though, Calley -- It sounds to me like Sylvie gave you very specific knowledge about things. What if one of the things she gave you was knowledge she could never be found?"

A final smile and a bow. "I'm sorry again. I hope if either of you ever need anything, you'll reach out to me. I know you both have very specific opinions about Sylvie, but... she's a good person who needs help, just like I did at one point." He says as he takes a breath.

"I hope you can both forgive her and my selfishness." He says.