Deep into the Infinite Stair

[Anastasia]

Which set, to be clear, since we're just back from the weekend?

[Ebiris]

Amusement for Alicia (which she will deliberately not think too hard for) and contentment for Jessica.

[Anastasia]

Memories again come.

The sated contentment of fullness after a long hunt, your prey downed by the entire tribe.

You see your sons at play, your wife tending to them as you rest. Everything is how it should be at last.

You remember being held by Syala, lazy and sated and content.

[Ebiris]

She doesn't dwell on them too much, lifting her hand. "Different memories," she says. "The one of myself was the same but others were different. Could a slight change in your thinking have caused that, or is it shuffled each time? What if you try and focus on a particular concept or event rather than just an emotion?"

[Anastasia]

"It could be," Jessica muses, "More than that, this orb seems to pull possibilities based on emotions, feelings and characteristics. Let me try an event. Which one do you want to try, sister, since you'll be seeing them."

[Ebiris]

"Think about making a meal?" Alicia asks. "I'll think about learning a spell, for what it matters." Her hand goes to the orb and as before she doesn't think too hard about learning a new spell, and the achievement and satisfaction and excitement that comes with it.

[Anastasia]

Thus it is done.

You remember cooking for Roald and Jessica, for their 10th anniversary.

The memory of fresh fruit and juice fills your mind, as you recall preparing a meal for Antenora, Latha and Syala.

The food you produced for the celebration after Antenora's ascension as One.

"One," The voice of the Guardian is heard. A disinterested tone, and yet it repeats, "One again?"

[Ebiris]

"Hmm?" Alicia lets go of the orb before focusing too much on any memories, a slight nod to Jessica to confirm that it worked. "Again? You know of another who achieved apotheosis through becoming One?"

Also means the Guardian knows what memories get fed through the orb, but only when they go through else it could have known when they first touched it.

[Anastasia]

"This Antenora has become One," The Guardian's voice is different now, a note of interest, "Another has followed Eblis?"

[Ebiris]

"How do you know of Eblis?" Alicia asks. "But yes, she has. She achieved it on her own, while Eblis also aided one of Asmodeus's lot into ascending with his knowledge."

[Anastasia]

"Tell me, what is the orb," The Guardian interrupts instead.

[Ebiris]

"I'm not finished," Alicia says, testy at the interruption. "But so far as we've learned so far it's a channel for conveying memories. Perhaps a repository, I haven't yet discerned if the memories not pertaining to Jessica and myself are stored inside or are being actively drawn from elsewhere on each use."

[Anastasia]

At that the Guardian does not reply, perhaps freeing you to continue.

[Ebiris]

"I got memories entirely of cooking that time," she says to Jessica now they're no longer being interrupted. "One was of me, the other two came from you. Lets see if we can learn from it - you think of hiding or sneaking, I'll think of painting. Do you want to risk it going either way or shall I submit again?"

[Anastasia]

Jessica frowns, "If it's safe I'll take it this time, sister."