Relief

[Anastasia]

You return to the edge once more, the boundary. This time no one is here, only the three of you.

"We know what's to be done," Cresiel declares, "Do not be afraid. Go forward."

[Nephrite]

I forget, Moore's divine sight is also blocked by the blindfolds, right?

Moore nods and puts the blindfold on.

"We have only to go forward." Moore says. "I am curious who we'll run into nonetheless."

A smile before he begins to fly forward.

[Anastasia]

In this case, yes, but this is an exceptional situation.

Perception.

[Nephrite]

Take 10 for 99.

[Anastasia]

You walk on. It is bright, so bright that even behind your blindfolds you can see it.

So you approach at last. It was not hard to influence him towards that trial, but I would prefer that you not tell him. It was necessary but I do not relish what I did.

Deeper into the light. The light that never ends, the light that is radiant. You remember Chronias. It is similar. Not quite the same as you walk forward, but close. So very close.

"Oh. Was this your doing?" Xandra says, voice kept low.

Yes. A trial before you reach the seed will suffice better than one before it. Were I free to, all Creation would be restored at my hand. Too long has suffering gone forth in name of an Answer. Unfortunately the Incarnation of Balance restrained me far too well. I'm sorry I can't do that.

"Guardian," Cresiel's voices is respectful as you walk. "What of the Seraph?"

She will not interfere in this matter. Concern yourself not with the guardians of the Empyrean Gate. That is a duty even beyond the divine, for they deal with the affairs of all the rest of Creation. Leave this to those designated to protect what lies beyond the Gate.

[Nephrite]

"It's good to meet you." Moore says. "Although... I guess we've already met, technically. As for your wish, we are not the type to go against something done in good faith - or whatever you wish to call it." Moore's tone is the same as Cresiel's - respectful.

"I'm glad to ... ah, hear that you are doing well. The Guardian on Arcadia...  ..." A pause. "...I think I understand now, why the Incarnation left all of you in the places that they did."

[Anastasia]

An experiment, perhaps, or fortune.

Approach. It is time.

[Nephrite]

"All of you have been different." Moore says. "I think the Incarnation of Balance knew that they simply did not understand Creation at all... and so you all were... attempts at understanding. Individuals placed with the specific tasks... but with a greater task beyond that. You've spent so long here that you've understood and learned about compassion and goodness. Ah... I'm sorry, you don't need me to explain that, I'm sure." Moore ducks his head a bit respectfully.
.
Nonetheless, Moore will fly forward again. "I hope all of you are able to meet again, wherever it is you go after this. You all deserve that." He says.

[Anastasia]

There is no reply - only through the vast light of some impossible thing can you see it at all. A divine seed floats before you, ready to be taken.

[Nephrite]

"They never are much for conversation, are they?" He says as he hesitates a moment. "We should... probably go." Moore says as he reaches out to take it. "This isn't a place I want to tarry."

Once taken, he will return back to Hope's Landing and go to his keep to investigate this more fully.

[Anastasia]

The trip back is unbothered. When you return to Hope's Landing, what do you do?

[Nephrite]

Before anything else, he checks the seed to see how many charges it has in it. They can discuss how and what to do with them after that.

[Anastasia]

The seed has 5 charges.

[Nephrite]

We can do this IC, but Moore would definitely talk with the others to get their opinions on what to do with this and how to use it.

[Anastasia]

"Swiftly," Sylvie says as you all quickly gather before it. "But the question of what we do with it is paramount."

"Five charges," Xandra says slowly, as if a marvel. "Six of us, five charges. How do we spend them?"

"At least one person will have to forsake a charge," Jetina points out there.