The laughter of oblivion

[Ebiris]

"A great sword needs a great wielder, and the seed can help me become that," Alicia says, respectfully declining.

"What do you mean by a specter?" Marie asks, because that offer seems to have more emotional resonance than the baubles being offered to Alicia and Latha.

[Anastasia]

"I decline, but thank you," Latha says, "Our purpose will not be so easily put aside."

A specter of the gnome you mourned, the Glittergold. Powerless save for his words and advice.

[Ebiris]

Marie is tempted, but she's not so naive she can't see the problems that would be faced by Garl living a half-life when everyone he cared about is still gone. It's... well the guardian used the word specter and the comparison to undeath is hardly invalid.

"You said earlier that we are creatures of limitations, what about you?" Marie asks. "The Fairest Star was might but ultimately of Creation. You... you can simply enact your will and have it done without caring for what we consider common sense. So long as it's fulfilling your duty to the incarnation who left you here. Can you bring him back fully? Can you bring all of them back fully?"

[Anastasia]

I could. I will not.

[Ebiris]

"I'm not worth that much to you?" Marie asks. "Why not? I'd drop it for that, in a heartbeat. But I'm not willing to bring someone back as a revenant - I don't know how it would turn out, we just talked about not having foreknowledge of the outcomes, but... it feels sad to me. I'll trust in Latha's promise to make things right here."

[Anastasia]

At this the Guardian is silent.

I have no further tests for you. You have soothed Bytopia and answered my own questions well. I see no point for meaningless bloodshed to disturb Bytopia's mourning.

[Ebiris]

"Thank you," Alicia bows her head, reaching over and taking Marie's hand. "We've proven our capacity for violence against other guardians. You have given us difficult questions to reflect on and we are wiser for it."

[Anastasia]

Before you it appears - another divine seed. It is yours to claim, no barrier left between you and it now.

[Ebiris]

Alicia takes the seed in her hand. "Thank you, Guardian." She looks around Bytopia one last time and then opens a gate to Sylica, where this seed can be immediately shared between herself, Syala, and Antenora.

[Anastasia]

You feel it in the seed as you hold it - there is not merely three charges in the seed. You can feel four within, awaiting you.

[Ebiris]

She doesn't say so immediately, but in moments when she, Marie, and Latha, are joined by Syala and Antenora and Jessica's avatar in the same hidden part of Sylica where the secret avatars hide out? "This seed isn't like the others. It has four charges, not three."

[Anastasia]

"Four?" Antenora blinks before she smiles, "Even better!"

"We need all the help we can get," Syala says, "How was it, dear?"

[Ebiris]

"We learned a lot about the gnomes and their god who was slain by Daa-vid. That ring I've had for years, the one I got from that vampire that was used during the war? It had been cursed by Daa-vid all along, that's why it never did much. Bytopia purged it and now it works properly," she holds up her hand with the ring on it before refocusing on the seed. "Anyway, this... I'd planned on splitting it with one use each for myself, Syala, and Antenora. With the fourth... I'm wondering if perhaps we should keep it in reserve. Have Io look after the seed and see if it's needed to catch anyone up after the rest have been accounted for? Or give it to one of our friends like Sulia?"

[Anastasia]

"A beautiful win for us," Latha says, but her eyes drift to Marie.

"Marie?" Antenora says after a moment, attention torn from the seed.

Meanwhile, Syala glances before Jessica adds, "I say we save it for now. Sulia's a dear, but she's also not a part of this."

[Ebiris]

"It was a lot to take in," Marie says. "I'm still working through it, just give me a little time."

"She's only not part of it because Zaphkiel and Io didn't choose her. What does she lack that Alyssa or Dana or Cresiel have?" Alicia asks. "I'm happy to collaborate and work with the allies we're offered, but we shouldn't neglect our own friends and connections. Sulia was there when we made that sortie into Shar's realm recently. Regardless, I was thinking of trying to find one of the seeds with her direct help so she can contribute and share in the rewards that way."