The Heart Holds the Match (Solo)

[Aello]

Timestamp: Spring 24, 512 AV Aello's back fell against the wall. The crumbling stone; as though it could support her. Kisses of cool air crept up her arm. A subtle breeze sweeping everything away. It was as like she was still there, holding her. Cradling her as she had when first born, as though she were still a child in need of a mother's protection. It felt like she were sucking her thumb now, in comfort, thinking of her. What it was like to lean back, into her, and not fall through as she had done before, with every other ghost she had ever encountered. Less they wedged themselves through; becoming part of a fragmented whole. She sighed, as she thought of the woman's words, how they washed over her. Her own; and how they seemed to linger in the air alongside the sunlight, singeing her skin. A tremor shot up Aello's spine. Why hadn't her father come for her? Knowing how her parents had loved in life, the constant glimmer in their eyes when they saw each other, the way they held each other, and spent time together, Aello couldn't help but find it strange that her mother hadn't seen her father since the day they died. She knew her mother would have waited, and had not been surprised to see her as a ghost. She knew her brother would too, in a way, even if they hadn't always gotten along. But her father, her father she knew more than all the others, would stay behind to see everyone well before they crossed over together. Which left the question: where the heck was he? For he had to be here. For a time, the girl considered him having been turned to dust by one of her kind, after a time, and then thought better, knowing how Dira's minions pursued those who did such things, freeing the spelled ghosts. Sighing, her mind dwelled. He didn't seem like one to leave his family behind, so she doubt he had crossed over without them. Which made her wonder if he had even chosen to become a ghost. If ghosts could choose such things. Perhaps, they were merely destined to be ghosts. Or made to be due to their personalities. Their belief that they had things left in this world to attend to, before they went back to the cycle. She didn't really know for sure. But if he hadn't become a ghost where could he be now? Surely he wasn't alive. She would have seen him outside, after the fire, wouldn't she? Shaking her head, Aello returned to the thought that he must be a ghost, lost somewhere. But there was no way to be sure of that. Unless she somehow got her mother to come back. But how could she, without a vial of her mist? Surely, she couldn't simply call and have her mother appear. Force her to possess her so she could sift through her mind, and pick out her memories, especially those pertaining to the day of the fire, all those moons ago. And even if she could do all that, who was to say she'd find out what she wanted, for her father would have to have been with her mother, while she died, for her to glean anything. Which left her brother, but, she doubt she would see him anytime soon either. Sighing, Aello wondered if any of them had been together when it happened. She knew she had been alone, and she thought, she remembered her brother being alone, in his room. But the memory was so distant, so fuzzy, she couldn't really be sure. Yet, now that she thought of it, she wasn't so sure she remembered having seen her father that day. No. No that couldn't be right. Her brow furrowed as she set her hands in her lap, and thought harder. But she simply couldn't recall, which was proving to be quite the problem because she wanted to know. She wanted to hold the secrets. There had to be a way for her to know. A way that didn't require her deceased relatives be present. Again, the girl's mind wandered, moving over to her goddess. She thought maybe, she could help, if only she'd come again. Her followers too; the deceased she could call with her magic. They would know if he was dead, wouldn't they? But... was that really what she wanted to know? No. She already knew, he had died, she just didn't know where he had gone. There had to be a way then, to uncover more of what had happened. Talking to a blondie perhaps, with their marks of Avalis. They could see the past, but could they show her? The girl's hands clenched into fists. They are the only ones who can see, she thought. So, how else can one see what is no longer there? What other way can one come to turn back time? The winds swirled around her, tossing the rubble about. Dust rose from the ashes. Time. "I will call to the servants of lady time. They should know how to rewind the clock," Aello whispered, not so sure as to what she would do if she were wrong, or if they refused to come. It seemed now, after all, her only hope of ever finding out where her father had gone. Where he walked, if he still could. So desperate was she to know, that she didn't so much as come to realize that she too had lit a match. The end flickered, as slowly it fell, and then, went out. Only to enflame the shards of memory, the beginnings of cogs. They melted, curled, charred. Fell away. A part of her already knew who her father was.

[Paragon]

Adventurer's Loot Aello's Loot : Aello Skill XP Reward Philosophy +1 Lore: Looking Back, To the Servants of Time Items or Consequences: Nil Beautiful writing as ever - I MUST unravel this mystery - if you have ANY questions or concerns about this grading, don't hesitate to PM me.