Hidden truths

[Anastasia]

It's easy enough to home. Once there, "Moore," Xandra declares, "Come with me."

[Nephrite]

Moore will do as requested!

[Anastasia]

Once lead, you head to the light. Above Hope's Landing, the light of Chronias bright.

"Moore," Xandra begins, quietly.

[Nephrite]

Moore waits in silence to hear what this is about - although he knows he'd being judged for the decision he just made!

[Anastasia]

Somehow Xandra looks faintly cross, then openly embarrassed as a blush comes to her cheeks.

"I apologize, that was not my intent," Xandra declares. "That was not the tone I wanted for this."

[Nephrite]

"Oh!" Moore says with some surprise.

"I just figured... well, you know." He says with a gesture. "But please, speak your mind. I know this is serious, one way or another." He smiles, gesturing at her. "Your words are not spoken unless they need to be."

[Anastasia]

"The light of Chronias is everything right and important in Creation, Moore. Why would I not seek it?" Xandra asks. "It is, but not in the way you imagine."

[Nephrite]

Moore simply nods. "Is this about your mission?" He asks.

[Anastasia]

"No, more..." Xandra pauses a moment, "I understand why you freed them all," she says at last. "Any reservations I had about it faded when I understood that it was ultimately undefendable for us, and a prize beyond reckoning for fiends. To free them was necessary."

"Yet."

Xandra pauses here, "We have faced the mistake of the Gods in the Hecatoncheires. We have faced the cold logic of a Guardian and what mercy it deigned to give us." In a soft voice, "Can any of us wield power correctly without wisdom that eludes all but those who rest in Chronias?"

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles and reaches out to take Xandra's hand in both of his.

"Everyone makes mistakes. The difference is what you do with those mistakes - do you wallow in despair from the mistake or simply take it as experience and become a better person, for the sake of a better tomorrow?" He asks with a bright smile. "All we can do, all we can ever do, is do what we think is best to make tomorrow better for Creation. Even now, knowing that there are those with hope in their hearts that rest in Chronias gives me my reason to continue on."

A pause here as he gestures to the light. "Every day we make tomorrow better by doing what we do." He says as he gives her hand a gentle shake as if to reaffirm what he's saying.

[Anastasia]

Xandra smiles softly as you feel the connection between the two of you, renewed and strong.

Node update, go read. Note that she got epic paladin's spellcasting, which gives her access to 8th level paladin spells.

[Nephrite]

Got it.

"I really do need to do something with the power that we've gathered." He says with a bright smile. "Do you feel better now?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Xandra agrees, "Do you?"

[Nephrite]

"Of course." He verifies. "We not only set those souls free, but the Guardian is truly free of his duty now."

[Anastasia]

"Let's go," Xandra turns back to Hope's Landing, "Still more to do, even if this was another step forward."