Messages from Beyond the Star
Life beyond the star. What was it like? Its purpose?
That was what drove Hermes to create the Meteia. On a journey through the endless expanse that separated our world from others, they sought the answer to those very questions. What did they find?
We would soon know...whether we like to or not.
The stars twinkled brightly in the night sky. It was a beautiful sight, calming to behold, yet also humbling. Because every single one of these lights that had inspired poets and offered guidance to travelers alike was a world of its own.
And each one of them held infinite possibilities...
"All units fully functional and proceeding on course towards their respective stars," a soft voice, yet lacking entirely in emotion, broke the quiet of the night. "Estimated time to completion of survey is one hundred and eight cycles. End of status report. Severing connection with shared consciousness."
As soon as those last words had been spoken, Meteion's expression returned to its usual childlike self and she smiled in excitement. "Did you hear that, Hermes? All is well!"
Hermes, whose eyes had been wandering across the sky, released a small breath of relief and looked down upon the girl next to him with a smile.
"Yes. Good tidings after all this time are comforting indeed..." Hermes said. "The universe still defies imagination, and we are still far away from fully understanding creation. Something I've been reminded of time and again..."
"But soon we will know more! We'll learn what other b-b-beings live for!" Meteion said.
"Yes..." he gently placed his hand atop her head and stroked her hair, eliciting a giggle. "And it's all thanks to you and your sisters."
"I wonder...what answer will we get?"
"Stars exist aplenty. Some might be far more developed than even Etheirys, while others are only just beginning," Hermes replied and looked back up to the stars. "We will discover many different cultures and life in entirely new forms. Completely and utterly unlike ours."
"Unlike...how?" Meteion tilted her head, the wings on her head slightly flopping with the motion. He chuckled at that.
"If only I knew...Yet whatever answers we receive, I will earnestly think on them all. Then I will share them with our people, so that we may contemplate our existence together. Perhaps then our star will become a better place, not only for man, but all life," he said, before returning his attention back to Meteion. "Meteion, I gave you the power to soar the heavens. But I never taught you to walk the earth, to live your life. That, you will learn from those you meet. And when you return, so much older and wiser, we shall celebrate your homecoming and coming of age."
"Oh, will there be apples?" Meteion asked, getting excited once more. "Covered in syrup?"
"And how are you supposed to eat them? But if it's a gift you want...perhaps..." He furrowed his brows and thought for a moment, then knelt down on the ground to look her directly in the eye. "Flowers...Yes, the end of your journey shall be met with beautiful flowers."
They both smiled...
...
...
S'eni slowly opened her eyes, exhaling deeply as she returned to the here and now. She looked around briefly, casting her gaze around the selfsame area Hermes and Meteion had stood in her vision, a small island not far off from where Peripeteia Krystalline was located. Her eyes soon landed on Venat standing opposite of her, eyelids rising slowly.
"So, what do you think?" the woman asked.
"I...don't think Hermes wishes for the Final Days," she replied after a moment of consideration. "He's a gentle soul who treasures all life equally. And yet..."
"Yes, it does not need ill intentions to cause harm. We must consider the possibility that something may have gone awry. An oversight, or an accident perhaps."
"Could be..." It certainly wouldn't be the first time, would it?
"Allow me to propose something...How about you share your knowledge with Hermes?" Venat asked. "If it is not his intention to cause suffering, then perhaps he might be willing to assist you in stopping this calamity."
Yes, it seemed like there was no other choice but to do that. No one else knew as much about dynamis as Hermes did. "Let's do it."
"Then let us find him swiftly." Venat smiled. "Before Hermes and Meteion start something they never wished for."
Turning around, the two of them walked towards the edge of the platform, where Argos and one of his copies were waiting. It had surprised her at first to see him in this time, but she supposed it was only sensible that he would already exist. Reaching her hand out, she began to stroke him behind his ear, making him lean into her touch.
Oh all of a sudden, eh? She thought dryly. Earlier he had quite literally refused to create a double of himself until she had proven worthy of sitting on his back. And how would she do that? By battling his master of course!
And what a battle that had been. Venat was as proficient with magic as she was with the blade, keeping S'eni on her toes the entire time. Thankfully, though, she had a few tricks from the future up her sleeve to keep up with the former Azem and impress her familiar too.
Isn't that right? She asked him in her mind and climbed on top of him.
After arriving back on the larger island, Venat sent Argos away and turned towards her. "So there are a number of places where Hermes might be, but we could do worse than to look at Ktisis Hyperboreia, the largest facility in Elpis."
"So that means it's that place?" she pointed towards northward, where another island floated high above all the others, and on top of it a building that reached even further into the heavens above.
"Quite perceptive." Venat nodded. "It is similar in nature to the archives, a vast space stitched together out of multiple conceptual spaces. It is where the bulk of all the testing takes place."
"Hmm, then it does stand to reason that Hermes might be there right now."
"Indeed. Come, the simplest route is via the teleporter north of Poieten Oikos."
They made their way over to the device and, thanks to the permission granted by Venat, were swiftly transported to the next island. From there, they traveled along the stony pathway to the quite unmissable facility. As they came to a stop in front of it, she could only look at it in awe, the images from when she and the others had walked through Amaurot surfacing within her mind at the sight of it.
"And here we are," Venat said, drawing S'eni's eyes away from the building and towards her. "We should head inside and ask about Hermes's whereabouts..."
As if right on cue, the heavy doors began to open, followed by a voice that made S'eni's heart jump saying, "Hermes is at another facility...as we just discovered."
"Hythlodaeus, Emet-Selch!" she exclaimed. Hythlodaeus, in turn, raised his hand in a friendly greeting and the two of them walked over.
"Additionally, we've discovered that his research into dynamis, as well as his creation of Meteion, were entirely private pursuits," Hythlodaeus said. "No one we spoke to appeared to possess his depth of knowledge on the subject, neither did we hear of any stolen research. Which means that if Hermes harbors no desire to see the world end, then he might be recruited to prevent it..."
Smiling, he glanced at his companion and added, "...at least that is what Emet-Selch believes."
"According to your story, the Fourteen managed to find the connection between the celestial currents and the Final Days," Emet-Selch said, his arms crossing. "Yet they were never able to pinpoint the cause of the calamity. To imagine our people's greatest minds, as well as Hythlodaeus's sharp eyes, could not do so seems...inconceivable. The only possible explanation is that the nature of the catalyst was so inexplicable that even we failed to perceive it. And what else fits that description than the invisible, intangible dynamis?"
"Which brings us to the next question: how did Hermes in his role as Fandaniel fail to recognize the subject of his own research?" Hythlodaeus asked. "We must assume that he either knew and couldn't prevent it, or something prevented him from identifying the cause in the first place. But at this point, all we can do is speculate."
"To be clear, the Convocation does not tolerate acts of deception or malice. We are practiced at perceiving the truth..." gold eyes briefly met hers. "...and would have swiftly realized he lied to us. Hermes has no conscious wish to see the world end. I'm certain of that."
"Well well, it seems there is more to the tale after all," Venat said and shot S'eni a look that quitely said 'I told you so'. "We, too, have conducted our own investigation..."
The other woman then proceeded to tell the two what they had done since separating from them. By the time she was done, the frown on Emet-Selch's had only grown deeper.
"How very comforting...we have reached the same conclusion," Emet-Selch said. "Then I see no reason for further delay. Let us bring Hermes into the fold."
S'eni stared at Emet-Selch for a few seconds, then smiled. "Thank you. For understanding."
"Save it. I did not say I believe your ridiculous story. But my duty as Emet-Selch demands of me to examine any potential threat to our existence. No matter how utterly ridiculous or offensive I may find it."
"Still...thank you."
He just looked away, sending a quick glare towards Hythlodaeus while the man was having a chuckle at their exchange. "Can we stop wasting time and find Hermes?"
"Yes, yes, I suppose the time for leisurely exploration has passed. I just need a moment to adjust my vision..." Hythlodaeus then proceeded to cast his gaze out into the distance, looking around for a few long seconds, until settling eastward. "...There he is. On the next isle. Meteion is with him as well. He appears to be in the midst of an observational study, but I suggest we hurry over before he ventures somewhere else."
"What are we waiting for then?" she asked, punching her palm.
They began to head towards the next teleportation device that would take them over to the next island, called Misopses Euros. According to Venat, it was the sole place in Elpis lacking any research hub, due to the fact that creatures who were expected to be dangerous were let loose there. There was apparently another reason, but the former Convocation member didn't wish to divulge it even after she asked, only receiving a pained smile in return.
While they were following Hythlodaeus's lead, S'eni looked over to Emet-Selch walking just a few paces away from her. He paid her no mind, or rather, absolutely refused to, keeping his eyes straight ahead. But after a minute of her continuously staring at him, he grumbled, "What is it? Do you expect me to sing praises to your progress?"
"Not at all," she replied.
"Good, because I'm frankly surprised you even made it this far. Then again, even with you undoubtedly slowing her down, there is no denying Venat is an accomplished researcher." He looked back up ahead, where Venat and Hythlodaeus were currently having a small conversation. "Her wealth of wisdom and experience is unmatched, and her achievements are nothing short of extraordinary. Though the brilliance that sets her apart can make her motives impenetrable at times. As her student and successor put it, she is a force of nature, at once so close...yet at the same time, so very distant."
If seeing him interact with Venat earlier hadn't already shocked her, then listening to him basically singing praises to his future enemy surely would have. There was little doubt about the respect in his voice. It was a difference like night and day. It made the Final Days and the subsequent sundering of the world seem even more tragic to her now.
With help of the teleporter, they set over and arrived not far from the walled enclosure, situated above a small valley and connected to each side by walkways made out of solid stone. Hythlodaeus pointed towards the enclosure. "They are within there. The Hungering Gardens."
"Nice name," she commented dryly.
"And one you shall grow quite familiar with. Go on, S'eni—" Emet-Selch placed his hands on his hips. "—make yourself useful and bring Hermes to us."
"Me?" she furrowed her brows. "Why don't you?"
"Because if he sees me, he will think I'm only there to press him about the Fandaniel matter," he explained. "And he appears to trust you, so out of everyone gathered here, you stand the best chance of convincing him to put aside his work for the moment."
"Ah..." Yes, that did make sense. It wouldn't really help their cause if Hermes just up and left at the mere sight of Emet-Selch. "Alright then."
"Are you sure? The creations in there are not exactly—" Hythlodaeus stopped and rubbed his chin. "Hmm. Then again, perhaps you can handle them. You did survive a bout with Venat after all! Off you go then!"
Raising an eyebrow, she looked between the two men for a couple of seconds, then shrugged and began to make her way towards the enclosure, silently wondering what that was about. The answer soon came to her with a swift change of the winds, offering her nose a very telltale, rotten odor. Oh no no no no no!
And as she came to a stop at the Hungering Garden's entrance, she could see them wriggling about on their tentacles in all their ugliness; those proto-Morbols. Now it all made sense. She was going to wring Emet-Selch's neck for volunteering her.
After quite a few unpleasant, and very smelly, encounters, S'eni had finally managed to locate Hermes and Meteion, taking notes while under a protective charm that would hide them from the creatures of course. For a mercy, he was easy enough to convince to talk to them, and she all but ran back to the others when he told her he would follow as soon as he was done with his work. When finally did, she told him about her true purpose for being in Elpis. His face turned from one of curiosity to confusion, and ultimately one of horror, and by the time she was done, he was staring at the ground.
"The Final Days...but how is that possible?" he breathed out.
"The phenomena during these calamities are likely the product of a dynamis reaction. And no one is more versed in its application than you are, Hermes," Venat said. "And I must stress that we do not accuse you of being the culprit. Quite the opposite: we are here because we believe your wisdom could help us prevent this calamity. I admit, S'eni's story sounds quite far-fetched, but just assuming it is true...what would be your assessment of the situation?"
"Even you, Venat..." straightening himself, Hermes thought for a moment. "Yes, as you say, the phenomena in both cases may be attributed to dynamis. Quite notable, though, are the differences in which they manifest. In the first, it warped our powers over creation, in the second, the people themselves."
"Yes. My friends and I believe it is due to our lack of your powers," S'eni said.
"I suspect so as well. Due to our differences in aetheric density," Hermes said and began to explain. "As you know, aether negates dynamis in a sense. Harboring high concentrations of aether, we are unable to interact with dynamis, but in turn cannot be manipulated by it. Meanwhile, if the world of S'eni's future truly is sundered, then its people would possess only a fraction of our aether, making them susceptible to the influence of dynamis, transforming them into beasts. But there is something else that bothers me greatly..."
"What is it?" Emet-Selch asked. "Even if it's just a hypothesis, out with it."
"It is the fact that the phenomenon is only influenced by negative emotions, such as fear and despair. Dynamis is indeed influenced by emotions, but to cause a change such as this, there needs to be a source for it. If the emotions on both ends align, then that would make it far easier for the change to happen."
"So it wasn't the stagnation of the celestial currents..." Venat said, eyes widening. "Someone, or something, is instigating the star's demise."
"So we've got ourselves a villain after all. Any ideas who or what it could be?" Emet-Selch asked.
"The celestial currents are the outermost layer of our star's aether. A protective sphere if you will." Hermes turned to S'eni. "According to what you said, the phenomena appeared first in places where they were weakest. If the cause for it lies beyond our star, then its effects would be seen in those locations."
"Wait." S'eni took a step forward. "Are you saying that whatever is causing this...?"
He nodded, causing her to exhale sharply. A threat from beyond their star. Somewhere out there in the vast expanse of the cosmos. Was that the voice in my vision…?
How were they supposed to—
"Greetings. Can you hear me?" Meteion's voice broke the silence that had wrapped itself around their group, making them all turn towards her. The girl was looking up to the sky, her face entirely devoid of emotion. "Do not be alarmed, I mean you no harm. I only wish to hear your words. Share your feelings. Know your thoughts. May we please...be friends?"
"Meteion? What is it?" Hermes asked.
"Executing scheduled task. Suspending individual self and connecting to the shared consciousness. Connection established. Commencing status report."
But instead of a report, what followed was a world of pain that forced S'eni to the ground, her lips parting at the sheer intensity, but not even a gasp managing to pass between them. Darkness clawed at her vision, a fog that threatened to swallow her entire consciousness. And deep within that fog were Meteion's desperate cries.
"It hurts...so much...so much!" she heard, each word sending another wave of pain, of suffering, through her. "So hot...so cold...I don't understand...why? Make...make it stop!"
She could faintly hear the others through the thick fog, shouting and scrambling, but whatever it was they were saying was drowned out by Meteion.
"So scared...so lonely...the pain...it's too much. Aaah! Why must I...something so terrible...full of...pain...hate...hate...HATE!"
The grip on her consciousness was suddenly released, and she collapsed into a gasping heap. Managing to raise her head, she saw that Meteion was gone.
"Where is she!?" she heard Emet-Selch demand.
"She altered her aetheric density to blend in with the surroundings. An ability to avoid confrontation," Hermes replied.
"A frighteningly effective one. I can't find a single trace of her..." Hythlodaeus said.
"Stay away. Please. This is wrong. My mistake. I...beg of you...please..." she heard Meteion's pleading voice as a pair of hands placed themselves on her shoulder, followed by Venat's voice asking, "Are you alright?"
"I heard Meteion's cries in my mind. They were...overwhelming. So much..." she shook her head, needing to take a deep breath. "Didn't you hear as well?"
"No, we only heard her speak just before she vanished."
"Of course. When communicating without words, Meteion also employs dynamis," Hermes said. "That would explain why you were able to hear her while we did not."
"Then that means you are our best chance of finding her," Emet-Selch said as Venat helped her back up. "Follow her voice, and try to track her down."
"I'll do my best."
He looked over to the others. "Let us split up and search as well."
They all nodded and began to scatter around the area. S'eni searched the nearby vicinities for any sign of the girl, trying to sense even the faintest whisper, but to no avail. She was about to try searching on the other side across the valley, when she felt something from the slope leading. Almost imperceptible, but still there.
Following that feeling, she closed her eyes and cast out her senses.
"It seeps...into my mind...our voices...reporting..." she managed to pick up, but Meteion's voice swiftly grew distant again as she appeared to run down the slope. Not wasting any time, she hurried after her.
Down below, she once again focused her senses on finding Meteion, following that faint sound resonating within her. "Come on, Meteion. Talk to me. What is wrong?" she asked, but received only silence as her answer.
She stopped near one of the pillars keeping the Hungering Gardens in place, closing her more, when a sudden sound made her whirl around to see Meteion standing there, staring at her without emotion.
"Greetings...and salutations...commencing report..." the girl said. But before she could do so, her hands shot up to cover her face and her next words echoed from deep within S'eni again. "Oh...oh no, we can't tell them that! We must run...run far away!"
She vanished into thin air.
"Please, don't follow me!" she heard, before her voice faded again into the direction of the other slope leading back up. She continued her pursuit, following the echo that Meteion's anguish left in its wake.
Eventually, the trail stopped to the south, near a lake. But no sight of Meteion. Where are y—
"Compiling report for dissemination to Hermes and all peoples of Etheirys," it came from directly behind her, making her spin around. "Processing expedition data...preparing profiles on intelligent civilizations...formulating answers to the question...finalizing report..."
"Meteion..." she reached out towards her, but the girl flinched away, the stoic look on her face cracking for but a moment.
"No, S'eni! You mustn't listen!" Meteion begged and vanished again, her voice fleeing in the direction of the lake. "It's wrong...it's all wrong!"
By the Twelve, just what did her sisters find...? she wondered.
She was soon joined by the others. "Any sign of her?" Emet-Selch asked.
"She fled towards the lake. She appeared panicked and confused when I managed to talk to her," S'eni said.
"Great, that will only make it more difficult to predict her movements."
Venat turned towards Hermes. "What do you think?"
"The Meteia are linked to a shared consciousness that connects them over a great distance. Something must have happened to disrupt its usual harmony."
"And how may we access this shared consciousness?"
"Like any sentient being, by approaching it directly," he replied. "In the Meteia's case, that means speaking to any incarnation within physical reach."
"So unless we manage to track down this one we have no way to communicate with them to learn what happened to her sisters..." Venat frowned. "
"Then we should push all this talk aside and focus on finding her instead," Emet-Selch suggested.
"Right..." S'eni nodded. "Easier said than done though if none of you can see her."
"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but if Meteion hides herself by matching her aetheric density to that of her surroundings, then shouldn't it be possible to disrupt it by an excess of aether?" Hythlodaeus suggested. "Not unlike when Emet-Selch strengthened S'eni."
"And how am I supposed to do that with someone whose whereabouts are unknown to me?"
"You work together with S'eni, of course." Hythlodaeus raised his finger. "Once she has located Meteion, you will make her visible with a swift downpour of aether!"
"Very clever," Venat said. "That she fled towards Lethe will work in our favor here. Assuming she is made visible, it should prove easy to corner her."
"Then we have a plan. While you Emet-Selch and S'eni are working on finding her, we three will do our best to predict and obstruct any escape routes she might take. All the while, Emet-Selch and I will keep an eye on one another's aether to coordinate." Hythlodaeus looked around their group, then nodded. "Let us proceed!"
While the other three began hurrying over to the lake, Emet-Selch walked over to her. "...Well, it seems we are partners for the time being."
"Looks like it," she said with a little shrug. "So what's the plan?"
"You will need to keep the way clear, while I keep myself ready to rain down aether upon her at a moment's notice."
"Alright." The corner of her lip rose slightly. "Try to keep up."
"Hmpf. Don't you worry your little would-be savior head about that."
Jogging over to the lake, they stopped at a pier leading across it and she took in the sight. It was beautiful, crystal clear water with a few trees scattered here and there, creating an idyllic picture that might be the most beautiful place in all of Elpis. But if the chatter she had picked up earlier was to be believed, then this was also where creatures were being taken to be returned to aether. So beautiful...yet so sad...
"Can you hear her?" Emet-Selch asked, and she closed her eyes momentarily. She shook her head. "Let us search somewhere else then."
They moved further along the shore, and she cast out her senses until, finally, she could hear Meteion once again. It was only briefly, but enough time for her to be able to tell in which direction she was fleeing. "She went into the lake."
"Ugh, as if this wasn't tiresome enough already..." Emet-Selch said, running a hand over his face. "At least it should make it easier to find her. We won't lose her this time!"
They jumped into the lake and began following her trail. While the water was shallow enough, it still went almost up to her knees and the robes that they were both wearing right now did little to make walking any easier. And neither did her companion's complaints.
"Dragging my robes through the water," he grumbled. "I swear if Hythlodaeus breathes a word of this to Azem..."
"You're not making it any easier for me to locate her!" she shot over her shoulder.
He was about to retort, but wisely decided to keep his mouth shut. Eventually, they reached what appeared to be the center of the lake and stopped on a small group of rocks that offered a decent view of the entire area. For a few minutes, it looked like the place was a bust, when all of a sudden Meteion's voice appeared once more...
"Not here...I'm not here...please..."
"Over there!" she pointed towards a large rock up ahead.
"There? Very well." Raising his arm, Emet-Selch snapped his fingers and Meteion appeared in a sudden shower of aether.
"What!?" the girl looked down at herself. "Why can't I hide!?"
"Meteion," S'eni called out. "There's no need to run."
"S'eni...? What are you saying? Everything is so faint..." Meteion's questioning voice resonated from within her, but turned desperate once more. "I'm sorry. I'm not strong enough. Stay away. I'm begging you...don't make me say it. It will break his poor, fragile heart..."
Meteion turned around and ran towards the shore.
"Now we have a chance. Once the others are in position, we can herd her into a trap," Emet-Selch said.
"Yeah..." S'eni's face darkened, but nevertheless she followed him as he began to pursue Meteion. They chased her around for a bit, circling around the lake until they had made it to the other end of the pier, their quarry hurrying across it as fast as her bird-like legs allowed.
"Aha!" Emet-Selch exclaimed after looking in the distance.
"Hythlodaeus?"
"Yes, stay on her." He pointed up ahead at the crossing. "We shall cut her off near the shelter."
She nodded and gave chase. As she ran down the pier, slowly closing in on Meteion, she noticed a shadow pass by over her and looked up briefly to see Emet-Selch fly over to the other side on top of his mount. He touched down just in time to cut the girl off, causing her to back away, briefly look over her shoulder, then turn in the direction of the shelter connected to the pier.
"Got you now!" Emet-Selch said after joining up with S'eni. When they had finally caught up with Meteion, she was already cornered by Hythlodaeus, Venat and Hermes.
"I'm sorry...Hermes...everyone…if someone can hear me...then please..." she heard Meteion 'say' and the girl slowly turned around, her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "...please...protect them all..."
"Mete—" S'eni began, but was cut off by Meteion's now emotionless voice.
"Individual self suspended. Connection with shared consciousness stable. Survey complete, we shall report our findings. All units safely arrived at their respective destinations. Seeking answers to Hermes's question, we attempted to make contact with the intelligent denizens of each star. Results are as follows, in order of numerical code."
A brief pause followed, and S'eni felt her nails dig into the palms of her hands.
"Hena. Remnants of civilization found—structures that most likely served as domiciles. No life-forms detected."
"Dyo. Remnants of buildings scattered across the star. Surface entirely encased in ice. Signs of life—negative."
"Tria. Structures similar to cities found. Evidence of the existence of intelligent life, but no survivors."
Oh, gods... S'eni's jaw dropped in shock.
"Tessera. Likewise remnants of abandoned buildings. Yet no sign of life. A plague or contamination has likely led to mass extinction."
"They are all...there are no survivors?" Hermes asked, but Meteion just continued on with her report, seemingly not hearing him.
"Okto. Violent conflict across the entire star. Contact was successfully established with inhabitants but deployment of weapons of mass destruction resulted in the total annihilation of all life."
"Ennea. Star is a barren desert. No flora found. Bones resembling those of Etheirys's inhabitants found in the sand. Possibly intelligent life."
"Remind me, Hermes," Emet-Selch said suddenly, his gaze going from Meteion to the man in question. "What exactly was the question you entrusted to Meteion?"
"I tasked her with asking what other species live for...what gives their lives...meaning..." he replied.
"Have you considered that you did not think your question through? To give an answer, one must have the will to live. If Meteion, no matter how far she traveled, did not encounter any life or if she has to assume that the will to live does not exist...can you imagine what answers she would derive from that?"
Hermes released a horrified gasp.
"Meteion, enough," Venat called out to the girl. "Abort your mission and return with your sisters."
"Deka-Pente. Local civilization flourished under the auspices of a higher power. But said power laid waste to it in a fit of rage. The entity revealed this to me. Unable to provide a reason for doing so, it chose to self-terminate. No other life-forms found."
"Turning a deaf ear, are we?" Emet-Selch narrowed his eyes. "Let us take her to Amaurot. We will need her assistance if we want to bring back the others."
"Y-Yes...of course..." Hermes walked over to Meteion and knelt down in front of her.
"Meteion...I..." he stopped, lowering his masked gaze. "...Is it right to simply turn away the answer you are so selflessly looking for? I have made it my mission to lay bare the error of our ways. And in the end, the truth is beyond all doubt, no matter how ugly it may be. Yes...no matter how bitter it may be, one must think on it earnestly. That is what I swore, and I will stand by my word."
"Hermes..." S'eni took a step forward. "Don't do anything you might regret..."
He stood back up and raised his hand, calling forth a staff that he gripped tightly, before whirling around. A blinding light surrounded him, brightening S'eni's eyelids even as she put an arm over her eyes. When she lowered it once more, she found a slender being, covered in vines and sporting wings, where Hermes once stood. His transformed form.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Emet-Selch demanded.
"You cannot take Meteion. She will finish her report. Only then may we decide how to proceed. I will not suffer any disruptions." After saying that, Hermes summoned forth a torrent of wind that almost swept her off her feet. When it was over, Hermes and Meteion had long since taken to the sky.
"You fool!" Emet-Selch cried after the flying chief.
S'eni could do nothing else but watch as Hermes soared through the skies with Meteion cradled on his arm, seeking a place where he could listen; listen to the rest of her report and the conclusion she had come to. A feeling of dread formed in the pit of her stomach at the thought.
They had to go after them!
Dun dun dun...