Victorious advance

[Anastasia]

With a grim smile here, "As many time as it takes to get past someone's problems. I specialize in defeating foes in a single strike, but I am not loathe to face a battle of endurance."

Then go home. You know your Father will take you in with open arms and joy.

Silence.

Eblis, how many times to someone can you say 'there's another way' without it being redundant? You know the truth.

I can't.

You won't.

YOU KNOW NOTHING, ERINYES!

The roar of Eblis's voice is like a volcano's eruption, the voice of it making Antenora grimace and your own mind recoil. You can feel the flames burning around you, in spite of the air being cool and pleasant.

As Antenora grapples with that, "Alicia..." she breathes.

[Ebiris]

"Felt that one myself," Alicia says mildly.

If I may?

She asserts her own divine will to join the conversation, not waiting for permission either way.

What do you want Eblis? And are you going to get it, existing as you do now?

[Anastasia]

Silence, burning hate. You feel it like a bonfire before you.

RENYES! I WANT TO DES...

A stop. A pause again.

Do you? You said you're tired, Eblis. Aren't you tired of destroying and hating?

[Ebiris]

She eases back her divine presence since Antenora's on the right track and her interruption served its purpose. She doesn't want to brow-beat him with the two of them.

[Anastasia]

Talk to your Father. You know he'll answer you. Talk to me. I'll answer you. I'm only here because of everyone around me, Eblis. They're why I became One, not my own skill or perfection.

A long silence after, until Antenora breathes out and rests back, head lolling against the back of her chair. "If it were easy," she finally says, "Someone else would have taken the role I seek to champion a long time ago."

[Ebiris]

"Perhaps," Alicia says. "But it's undeniable that you're uniquely qualified for it beyond anyone else."

[Anastasia]

Looking up with a smile, weary but triumphant, "Yes, and one can't expect to fight through eons of misery and hate in a handful of conversations. I'd still count that conversation as a triumph."

[Ebiris]

"You get a feel for points-scoring in divine conversations," Alicia smiles a little, recalling her one with Malcanthet earlier. "Everything's a Competition."

[Anastasia]

Gently running a hand over her hair, "Then I believe I'm 1 and 0." Antenora says. "How angry is Malcanthet?"

[Ebiris]

"Furious, as much at yours and Jessica's ascension than anything we did to Jade," Alicia answers. "So we can expect lots more trouble from that flank. We'll just have to parry it as best we're able, I can't afford to be caught making a big push on her if Seira needs us suddenly and she's in far greater danger from the efreet and their allies."

[Anastasia]

"You're right," Antenora admits, "Hopefully she isn't going to fire a second arrow at us soon."

Alicia, a scout has found what they believe may be an efreet in Ysgard, within about 30 miles of the border.

[Ebiris]

"Ah... speak of the genie," Alicia frowns slightly, focusing on Syala.

It's not confirmed? Anything of interest in that area?

Their border spans a huge area after all, and Ysgard has lots of exciting things in it.

[Anastasia]

Water, mostly. Odd for an efreet but hardly impossible. We're looking into it now.

[Ebiris]

Keep me posted.

When one can teleport 30 miles is little different from 300 after all, and she doesn't make it her policy to assert Sylica over the rest of Ysgard.

[Anastasia]

It's not long before Syala sends back.

Whomever it was abruptly plane shifted out. No warning and it was an innate ability, not a proper spell.