Meeting at the Crossroads
After a good night's rest, we were all ready to resume the previous day's work. In this case: the unmaking of the Lykaones. But when we arrived there, we found the observer in charge badly wounded, and three of the creations escaped.
We hunted them down, a task which clearly had upset Hermes a great deal. That is not to say that I don't know where he was coming from. There is always a pang of sadness at someone's departure, and as the current seat of Emet-Selch, the keeper of the 'Underworld', I was no stranger to it. Yet...never have I witnessed such grief as what he must feel. At least not until...
...
Nevertheless, despite Hermes' outburst, he had not yet outright refused the invitation, so while he was gathering his thoughts, I would continue my assessment. With you coming along, of course.
Hah, if only I had known whom we would run into next.
By all rights, it was a beautiful morning. A nice, fresh breeze in the air, the sun was shining brightly and there was still a hint of morning dew on a few nearby bushes. It was downright peaceful, with friendly chatter amongst colleagues occasionally breaking the quiet. If one wouldn't ask, they wouldn't even suspect the events that had transpired but an hour ago, and even then, depending on who was being asked, they might receive little more than a shrug in return.
Not from Hermes, though. No, Hermes had practically raged after he had to put down the Lykaones, shouting out all he had held back into Emet-Selch's and Hythlodaeus' faces, fueled by their conversation yesterday evening and only stopping when Meteion had made her discomfort known. He had walked off with her shortly after, and with nothing else to do, Emet-Selch, Hythlodaeus, and she had returned to the Twelve Wonders.
A sudden sound from her right made her turn her head to see a four-legged, furry creature sitting down next to her on the stone fence. It was a cat, quite similar to a Nagxian one in fact, looking curiously at her with big, blue eyes. With a tiny smile, S'eni gingerly held out her hand towards the animal, careful not to scare it away. It leaned forward to smell her fingers for a few seconds, then brushed its head against them.
Having thus received permission, she began to stroke it. Of course, that ultimately only made the cat want more, and soon enough, it was curled up on her lap, purring contently at the attention it was receiving. "Looks like some things don't change," she murmured in amusement.
A few minutes passed of her just idly stroking the cat, until a shadow casting over them made her look up. It was Hythlodaeus.
"I see you made a new friend?" he asked.
"You could say that. Perhaps it just sensed a kindred spirit," she replied and raised her ears a little in emphasis, making him chuckle. "Is something the matter?"
"Emet-Selch wishes to continue his assessment. Since Hermes hasn't yet outright refused him, he doesn't see any reason to leave just yet. And since I'm to serve as his guide, I was wondering if you still wish to accompany us."
"If you would still have me." Despite what happened earlier, she still had a mission to fulfill, and staying with them would most likely offer her the most access to everything now that Hermes was somewhere else.
"Wonderful! So our fellowship remains unbroken. I say we return to Emet-Selch and explore another part of Elpis," he said and turned around.
"Hythlodaeus..." He stopped and glanced over his shoulder, a silent question on his face. It was probably pointless to ask, being a forgone conclusion and all, but still, she wondered... "Do you think Hermes would make a good Fandaniel?"
"Emet-Selch certainly seems to think so."
"What about you? What do you think?"
He turned back around and sat down next to her, releasing a long, thoughtful hum as he did so. "He is quite a strange one. Never before have I seen someone feel so strongly about life being returned to the star," he said and reached out to scratch the cat behind an ear, a gesture it quite appreciated. "That is not bad mind you. After all, I like to keep strange company myself. If he would make a good Fandaniel though...Yes, I believe so. He is a brilliant man, and I think his compassion might offer a fresh perspective to the Convocation."
"Even if, like he says, he would only approve of his predecessor's death?" she asked.
"Yes, even then. Just like Emet-Selch, I think we would all be lesser for it if he declines."
"I see..." Though she could scarcely imagine how Hermes would ever agree to the notion after his outburst.
"Did that satisfy your curiosity?"
"It did." She nodded. "Thank you."
He smiled. "Then I'd suggest we return to Emet-Selch before he comes looking and finds us occupied with our little friend here."
"And we wouldn't want that," she said with a little laugh, but still proceeded to lift the cat off her lap and place it back on the ground. "Sorry little one, but this is where we part."
The cat scurried away and she jumped off the fence, dusting off her robes of tiny hairs while turning towards Hythlodaeus. "Let's go, then."
They returned to the waiting Emet-Selch and headed back to the Anagnoris. From there, they traveled northward to a small island called Nitoneus, which held a teleportation device that would deliver them to the western island looming above them. After a quick explanation about the device, they stepped onto its platform and, from one moment to the next, appeared at their next destination. Looking around, she found that the vegetation around these parts was much thicker than on the other two islands, and she briefly spied a large building towering in the distance before her attention was taken up by Hythlodaeus once more.
"This is the second district: Kallimelios Zephyros. Here you will find various testing facilities as well as the observation hub Poieten Oikos," Hythlodaeus explained to her.
"And I take it that will also be our next destination?" she asked.
"Indeed. Since Emet-Selch wishes to question Hermes' colleagues, that would be the best place to—hm? What's that?" They all faced the path in front of them where a tiny, dark shape was coming towards them. S'eni immediately recognized it as a Spriggan, holding what looked like a crystal in its tiny hand. "Ah, an Oreias. How adorable!"
The tiny creature came to a halt not far from them, paying them barely any mind while it looked about, then ran off into the grass. Not exactly being a stranger to the shenanigans of its descendants, she could already tell the little guy was being naughty. But whatever fun he had gotten up to was quickly pushed to the wayside by a set of very heavy footsteps from further up the path. The first thing she saw was the large fin, followed by a row of very sharp teeth, huge arms and a long tail that finished the very dangerous picture walking towards them.
"And what is that?" Emet-Selch asked, clearly taken aback by the sight.
"A new species of shark. The Bureau approved this concept a few days ago." Hythlodaeus replied, turning around. "Sharks are among the most popular sea creatures. We receive new concepts for them almost daily. At first it was like with every other creation, thoughts given mostly to size and environmental impact. That was until..."
While Hythlodaeus began a lengthy explanation of how the concept of a shark had clearly jumped the proverbial one, S'eni watched the large creature come to a stop and tilt its head to the side, casting out its empty gaze into the distance. Her eyebrows rose slightly as it turned to its right, then around, and for a brief second, she could've sworn she saw a certain black furred creature zip past it at top speed. Eventually, it began to face them again, its white eyes—
"Uhm..."
—settling firmly on Hythlodaeus. And from the way it was ever so lightly shaking, its mood had soured immensely.
"...Hythlodaeus," she said, but he didn't hear her. Behind him, the creature raised its arms and released a roar, before stomping towards them. Yet even that didn't seem to register to Hythlodaeus. Only when he saw Emet-Selch and her ready themselves for a violent confrontation, did he stop and glance over his shoulder. Far too late to get out of the way.
"Shit!" S'eni cursed and rushed past him. She was just about to jump towards the charging shark when something suddenly dropped from the sky and crashed onto the creature, creating a large cloud of dust that made her back away and shield her eyes. A few seconds of stunned silence followed, until it began to disperse and reveal the hulking mass of muscle lying on the ground, quite knocked out...
...and a figure dressed in white standing over it, sword in hand. The weapon flickered, then burst into tiny particles. "That was quite close. Is anybody hurt?"
Wait, that voice—
The person, a woman, turned around, long white hair flowing with the motion, and looked at them with bright, almost glowing blue eyes. A smile formed on her lips and she said, "Well now, would you look at that..."
"Venat!" Hythlodaeus exclaimed and stepped past S'eni. "To think we should meet again here!"
She could only stare at the woman in front of her, her appearance a clear mirror image of the one during their brief conversation on the ship to Old Sharlayan. And the name Hythlodaeus had just said, it was the very same she had heard from the Watcher, and before that, in the Anyder's record. Yes, there was no mistaking it. This was...or rather would be, Hydaelyn.
Standing next to her, Emet-Selch had crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked more annoyed than pleased at this surprise encounter. He glanced over at S'eni and, upon noticing her reaction, cocked an eyebrow.
"As you know, members of the Convocation return to the star upon relinquishing their seat. Though not all follow that tradition," he explained to her while Venat was helping the shark back to its feet and sent it on its way with a gentle scolding. "She is one of them. Even after stepping down, she keeps as busy as ever. Venat, the previous Azem."
The previous Azem...
"It has been a while Hythlodaeus. You look well," Venat said and walked over to them. The smile on her face grew a bit as her eyes fell on Emet-Selch. "And if this isn't the current Emet-Selch...Do my eyes deceive me or have the lines on your brow grown deeper since last time? You're still so young! You really ought to break the habit of frowning so often."
The Convocation member sighed wearily, followed by a pained mirror of the woman's expression. "Your successor doesn't give me much reason to."
"How is she doing?"
"Incorrigible as ever," Hythlodaeus replied. "Rushed headlong into a volcano on the brink of eruption just the other day. I can tell you the whole tale later, if you're interested."
"Oh, you know I am!"
S'eni watched this entire exchange with wide eyes. Hydaelyn…Venat, conversing with Emet-Selch of all people like old friends. It was downright surreal.
"Now then," Venat said and S'eni suddenly found herself the center of attention. "And who are you...?"
But instead of waiting for her to reply, Venat took a few steps and locked eyes with her. They stared at one another for a few long seconds, neither saying anything, until the other woman broke eye contact again. The smile on her face formed into a knowing one.
"Say...have you come from the future?" Venat asked. S'eni exhaled sharply at the question, and the other two appeared quite shocked. "I sense one of my spells on you, yet I do not remember having cast it. Which can only mean I have done so at a later point in time."
"What manner of spell would that be?" Hythlodaeus asked.
"A traveler's ward. It prevents the corruption of one's aether."
"The blessing of Light..." S'eni finally said.
"So you know of it? There are many protective spells, but this one is unmistakably mine."
"And that is supposed to be proof that we have a visitor from the future?" Emet-Selch scoffed. "Sometimes I feel like everyone else but me has lost their mind."
"I..." she began, but stopped herself.
"Are you not allowed to tell us the reason why you are here?" Venat asked.
Immediately, the words Elidibus had told her echoed through her mind. How nothing she would do would change the reality of her present. But that didn't mean she couldn't affect theirs in the same way G'raha had done. As she explained that, Venat nodded attentively, only to break into a little grin once she was done.
"How exciting! I greatly enjoy delving into the unknown, and nothing is as unknown as the future!"
S'eni blinked. Well, that was certainly one way to see it.
"Yet no matter what one might believe, we know the future once it has become the present. By which I mean: you needn't worry about our fate," Venat said. "And regardless of that, you must have a good reason for making this journey. Won't you reveal it to us? Perhaps we can be of help to you on your quest."
A sudden growl from Emet-Selch made them all look at him, and he focused his golden gaze upon her.
"Really now...if this is true, then you've been keeping quite a secret to yourself," he said anf narrowed his eyes. "In the name of the Convocation, I order you to reveal it all. Who you are, your reason for being here—everything."
A pained expression formed on her face and she lowered her head.
"Perhaps we should take this somewhere more appropriate," Venat suggested. "I've been here for a few days to help an old friend, so I have a room at Poieten Oikos. We can talk there."
A sudden hand on her shoulder made S'eni raise her head once more to see Venat smiling down at her. She gave her a comforting squeeze. "Take heart. We were meant to meet, I'm certain of it. Otherwise I wouldn't have marked you so clear and sent you to myself in the past. It's precisely the sort of mischief I would get up to. Quite inspired, if I do say so myself."
Despite herself, S'eni chuckled.
"Emet-Selch! Wait!" Hythlodaeus called out, before rushing after his friend as he practically stormed out of Venat's temporary abode with billowing robes. S'eni could only watch from where she sat until the door fell shut behind them. She buried her face in her hand with a sigh.
After having helped Venat with a small errand involving a certain Spriggan, or rather Oreias, they made their way to the nearby Poieten Oikos. Once they arrived at her residence, the questioning had started. Well, it was really just more of her telling the story of what would happen. The Final Days, Zodiark and the sacrifices He would take, Hydaelyn and the subsequent sundering of the star into fourteen shards, and how those few of the Convocation who remained yet unsundered had set out to restore the world to its proper form.
From there, she skipped to her time. Being chosen by Hydaelyn, the clash with the Ascians and her eventual encounter and battle with Emet-Selch in Amaurot, as well as the destruction of Zodiark and the return of the Final Days. To say that the reactions were quite negative was...putting it mildly.
"I would never forsake my duty! Never forsake my brethren!" Emet-Selch's words echoed through her mind. "You do not know me!"
But...perhaps it was good that he refused to believe her. By all rights, she shouldn't even have run into him or Hythlodaeus. Yes, this was for the best. A sudden clinking noise made her move a finger to peek out from beneath her hand, and she saw Venat raising the empty cup before her.
"More tea?" The other woman asked, her tone friendly despite what had just transpired.
"Yes, please," she replied and went back to covering her face, simply listening to the sound of tea being poured and only fully removing her hand once Venat returned. With an almost inaudible "Thank you", she took the offered cup and raised it to her lips. Minty and pleasant in aroma and taste, it managed to calm her slightly frayed nerves once more and she released a deep breath. "...it tastes good."
"I take it you enjoy a nice cup of tea then?" Venat asked while sitting down once again.
S'eni nodded. "Though not as much as someone I know," she said with a chuckle.
A few minutes of silence passed between them in which she slowly drained the cup of its contents. Once she was done, Venat turned towards her and said, "You've been in Elpis for a while now. I would like to hear what you learned thus far."
"Dynamis. It has to be the key to all this. In my time, despair causes one to transform into a beast. The Elpis flower Hydaelyn entrusted to was also destroyed by it," she explained, crossing her arms with a frown. "I also think Hermes is somehow involved in this. Meteion was created based on the research he did into dynamis."
"The energy distinct from aether. Not my expertise, but I know enough. And with Hermes' keen interest in it...yes, I believe this warrants further investigation." Venat rose to her feet. "Good. Let us get started then."
"You still wish to help me?" S'eni asked.
"Of course! The missing pieces of the puzzle are here in Elpis, I'm certain of it. And when you find them, the picture my future self has painted will be complete, and you will have your answer." The other woman smiled. "How could I not help you?"
She looked at Venat for a few long seconds, still unsure what to truly feel about the fact that the future Hydaelyn was standing right before her. But, she was alien to this time, a curious familiar at best for some. With an exhale through her nose, she smiled. "Alright, then we better get started."
As S'eni moved to stand up, her eyes upon the cup on the opposite side of the table, touched not even once and long since grown cold. Emet-Selch's. Following her gaze, Venat walked over to her.
"Have faith. If Emet-Selch truly is how Azem described him, then we've not seen the last of him."
"Hm..." she hummed in return, the image of his smiling face when he asked her to never forget flashing through her mind. "...Perhaps."
Leaving Venat's abode, they went about following their lead the only way they really could: by asking the observers in the vicinity. And while their questions didn't provide too many answers, they still learned a few key points, such as Hermes keeping Meteion around all the time these days and that she was so unique that even another expert on the subject of flying creatures knew precious little about her. Which suggested that Hermes seemed to be the only person with an intimate knowledge of dynamis in Elpis.
"You spent some more time with him, was there something else of note you learned about Meteion apart from her way of communication?" Venat asked while they walked through Poieten Oikos.
"Yeah, there is one thing actually. She has sisters," she said, prompting the other woman to halt in her step.
"...I wish you had mentioned that a little earlier."
"Sorry..." S'eni scratched one of the stripes on her cheek in embarrassment. "It kind of slipped my mind."
"In any case, care to elaborate?"
"Hermes told me he wants to learn what drives civilizations beyond our star, so he sent Meteion's sisters out to search for them," she told her. "He seems to be quite convinced that news could arrive any day now."
Which, now that she thought about it, might explain why he was keeping Meteion around so much...
"I see, thank you. I believe this might be a vital clue...one we should keep in mind as we continue." Venat nodded to herself. "I propose we head to Peripeteia Krystalline next. It is the towers to the west."
"Lead the way."
Upon arriving there, and receiving an explanation about the facilities inside the towers from Venat, they fanned out to each cover one area. Like usual so far, her presence was viewed with quite an amount of curiosity, but otherwise polite answers, even if they didn't yield the information she was looking for. That was, until she found a particular archivist.
"...the chief's personal research project?" he asked. "I assume you mean Meteion?"
"That's right. I know she hasn't yet been registered within the Bureau of the Architect, but I thought there might be more to learn about her in your archives," S'eni said.
"I'm afraid not. Such undocumented studies are hard to track. After all, not a day goes by without seeing a researcher trailed by one creature or another. All I can say about Meteion is that she spends much of her time..." he trailed off, rubbing his chin. "Although..."
"Although?"
"I do recall an interesting tale my dearest Galene shared with..." at the questioning look she was giving him, he went to explain. "Ah, Galene is my partner, and a fellow researcher here in Elpis. While she was returning late one night, she caught sight of Chief Hermes sending Meteion into the sky. A whole host of them. Even days later, she would still talk about it with wonder, saying it was one of the most beautiful spectacles she's ever seen."
"Well, that sounds like a story worth hearing," Venat's voice suddenly said and S'eni glanced over her shoulder to see her approaching, much to the surprise of their archivist friend.
"Mistress Venat! I thought you had already returned to the surface!" he exclaimed and offered her a sudden bow. "Allow me to thank you again for your invaluable contribution to our concept placement proposal."
She waved him off with a friendly gesture. "Think nothing of it. And you are correct that I planned to leave after my task, but I have become engrossed with Chief Hermes's research. So would you do me the favor and tell us what Galene said?"
"Of course. Or you could hear it directly from her." He looked up at the tower. "She should be observing a subject in Metabaseos Thalassai right now. She does enjoy watching the sea creatures hunt and play while gazing upon the world's oceans we recreated in such detail. I wager you, too, must find similar joy in indulging your boundless curiosity, Mistress Venat...though those pursuits must delay your return to the star."
"...Indeed they do," Venat said, her tone still friendly, yet holding a note of...something in it.
"A rest well deserved, I should say. We have greatly prospered from the wisdom you have gathered during your travels as Azem. And what would Elpis be without your earlier academic work? The theories you developed served as the basis for many techniques we still use today." The man smiled brightly. "We are creatures of contemplation, yet no one embodies that nature with as much passion as you! Indeed, I cannot think of another soul more worthy of a return, and I shall rejoice on the day you depart on your final journey!"
S'eni bit her tongue to keep herself from commenting. While it was clear there was no malicious intent in his words, she couldn't stop feeling a little sick in her stomach. He sounded practically eager to see her go.
"...I would be honored." Venat mirrored his expression, though it clearly didn't reach her eyes at all. It was swiftly replaced by a look towards S'eni. "What do you think, shall we take the opportunity to speak with Galene in person?"
Glad to have the subject back on track, she gave her a nod in return. "Might as well hear it from the source."
"Then allow me to reconfigure the door to the archives here so it takes you directly to the skyway. It will spare you the need to avoid hostile concepts on the ground."
This time, Venat's smile was much more honest. "That would be greatly appreciated."
After he was done, they stepped through the door and were delivered to the skyway that connected the towers with one another. There, they briefly looked around until they found another member of the staff, whose reaction was rather similar to the colleague below. "Mistress Venat!? We weren't told to—If we had known then—"
"Be at ease," Venat said, raising a hand. "We are just here to speak with Galene. Could that be arranged...?"
"Galene? Yes, of course!" the woman nodded rapidly. "I'll inform her immediately. But she is currently in a testing phase, so you might have to wait for a while."
"That will be fine. This lovely view will keep us occupied until she is ready."
Excusing herself, the woman hurriedly left. They watched her for a few seconds, before Venat turned to S'eni with a shrug and stepped towards the nearby balustrade. She joined her, looking out into the distance and releasing a little breath as the entirety of Elpis stretched out in front of her. This was a view she would never forget, she was sure.
"A delightful breeze...and a breathtaking view," Venat said after a moment of silence. "Is the world in your future this beautiful as well?"
"It is. Though differently, and sometimes a little dangerous, too." S'eni chuckled warmly. "But never boring."
"Seeing the twinkle in your eyes makes me want to see it too. Hmm, why do you not tell me something about your adventures while we wait?"
She tilted her head. "My adventures?"
"Yes. How you came to be here, I already know. I would like to hear of your small, personal adventures. Learning more about your world might help me understand Hydaelyn better. But above all, it simply interests me as a fellow traveller. After all, discovering the unknown is in our blood, is it not?"
Yes, that she couldn't deny. "Very well. Where do I begin..."
Over the course of the next hour, S'eni told her of a multitude of adventures that she experienced. Exciting ones, funny ones, and even some of the sad ones, Venat wanted to hear them all. And with every story she had finished, she could see the telltale spark of excitement in those bright blue eyes.
"Incredible! Oh how I wish to have been there as well," Venat said after she was done. She then took a deep breath, closing her eyes for but a moment. "Such a harsh and unforgiving world. Yet in spite of this, you and your brethren hold onto your virtue. Knowing that mankind's potential still shines, even in that faraway place...fills me with hope. Thank you. I will treasure every word."
Venat turned her head back towards the horizon, lips curling upward at the sight of her long hair floating slightly in the wind.
"As you know, I was once a scholar. And among other things, I sought to understand the workings of the world. What exactly is aether? How did the laws of nature form? And where did life originate from? The world is filled with endless, fascinating riddles. And over the years, I even managed to find answers to a few of them," Venat told her, placing a hand on top of the balustrade. "The more I uncovered, the more I came to view the world and its miracles in awe. We too are miracles, a spark of life traversing the heavens, swirling through eternity until finally taking form. When I fully grasped the improbability of our existence, nothing felt impossible anymore. If it could be imagined, it could be done."
The other woman chuckled and patted the spot underneath her mask where her heart rested.
"Passion filled my heart, an epiphany that turned everything I knew null and void. I realized there existed something greater—call it fate, if you will—that held us in its tender embrace...and from one moment to the next, I became aware of creation's fragility." Venat turned her eyes to the bright sky, her arms opening wide as if to embrace it. "I was overcome by an irresistible urge to know the world more intimately. To hear its voice, feel its breath...that was the beginning of my journey, so long ago now."
S'eni understood that feeling, that urge to see what lay beyond the horizon. It had been there, lying within her heart; a spark stroked into a flame by the stories her father told her. And when she had finally taken that one, first step into the wider world...it had changed everything...
"It was like I saw the world through a newborn's eyes. Everything fresh and so, so beautiful. Lands that stretched on forever. Skies one could drown in. The heartbeat of nature, silent yet strong. And between it, all those that filled it with life, their smiles, and laughter warming my heart like nothing before. My meaning, my purpose...my love." The look on her face grew bittersweet. "And as long as they need help...I cannot return to the star. Perhaps my future self is still waiting for it. The moment she can finally let go...safe in the knowledge that man will find his own way..."
"Venat..."
"S'eni." Blue eyes found hers. "You are our future, so tell me this: has your journey been a good one?"
Has my journey been a good one? That...wasn't so easily answered. She had seen and experienced so much. Moments of great joy and deep sorrow, exhilarating victories and painful defeats, they were all part of the mosaic that had been her journey so far, each piece a different story or person. S'eni closed her eyes to consider all this, taking a few minutes to come to a conclusion. And when she finally did, she answered—
"Please forgive the delay!" a new voice interrupted her. "My observation subject was rather irritable, and it took a while to settle it down..."
Looking into the direction the voice came from, S'eni saw a woman hurrying over to them. Galene, she presumed. Venat raised her eyebrows a little, clearly a little bit disappointed of being interrupted, but smiling nevertheless as she turned around.
"No need to apologize. Your work takes precedence. Besides, we had a pleasant conversation in the meantime," Venat began to walk towards the approaching Galena.
With one last look out towards the horizon, S'eni followed close behind. As nice of a distraction this had been, it was time to resume their investigation. They were getting closer to something. She could feel it.
I'm sure there is a joke to be made of a catgirl stroking a cat.