Stranger Still
The 2nd of autumn, 518 AV, late evening
The room was silent, almost grim as the doors swung open. Aysel entered Zintila's private chambers, a small but sturdy wooden box held carefully in his hands. Behind him, Talora followed, her diminutive mortal form like a shadow in the presence of Aysel's divine height.
Their footsteps echoed on the marble floor as they entered; pale rainbows scattered beneath their feet as they crossed the room. On the other side, her back to them, stood the Star Lady herself, peering out one of the crystalline windows to gaze upon the faint glow of her city below.
The two Ethaefal were well-aware that Zintila knew they were there, so they stood back, waiting patiently to be acknowledged by the Alvina. After another brief moment, Zintila turned to face them. Her skin shimmered like the stars themselves, her eyes luminous, but beneath the glittering beauty, her two closest advisers had learned to recognize weariness in her.
Zintila crossed the room to meet them, the hem of her dress whispering over the marble floor, and took the box from Aysel. Despite the layers of shields that had been implemented as a pre-caution over the object inside, she could still feel the tingle of power through the wood of the box that contained it.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Aysel asked carefully, after a moment. Zintila tore her gaze from the lid of the box to peer at the Moon Lord of Lhavit. He always spoke so plainly, so honest where others often feared to voice their opinions. Zintila always appreciated it. Even her most trusted and loved among the Constellations rarely, if ever, dared to question her.
"I believe it is not necessarily a safe idea," The Alvina admitted, turning to set the box down on the nearest crystalline table; she continued to rest one hand on it, her brows furrowed slightly. "But I think it is what is necessary. I do not wish to ever hide what I don't have to from the people here; not only for the sake of their hunger for knowledge, but because they trust me." She leveled her sparkling gaze with Aysel. He still looked uncertain, but behind him, Talora nodded; she understood.
"But if it could harm people, surely it's not worth it," Aysel protested.
"I don't ever want to keep in the shadows what can be plainly seen in light. Knowing of it's existence will not bring harm to them. They deserve to be aware of what is going on, especially after the uncertainty and fear of summer. There will be supervision, Aysel, and it is not for long. The thing will be destroyed within a few days." The Star Lady's tone brooked no further argument.
The strange discovery that her Constellations had brought back to her two seasons prior had baffled even her; she knew what it was, but without the creator, it was difficult to gauge its purpose or capabilities. It had proven it was powerful, certainly; she had wanted to destroy it sooner, but now there were questions rising from the lips of Lhavitians, which she couldn't fault them for. So she was going to allow them to see the answer, to put it together themselves, and then the thing was going to be burned.
Though not satisfied, Aysel said nothing further, and instead he and Talora went to fetch the glass case that would house the artifact until it was to be burned.
The next morning, well before the end of the dawn rest, the glass case was set up on the ground floor of the Twuele, towards the back and out of the way. No ropes section off the case, but a large notice posted to its stand reads 'Do Not Touch' in bold letters. On one side of it is stationed a Shinya, on the other a Constellation; they rotate out with others regularly, but the case is never left unguarded.
Inside, on a small cushion, for all who are curious to see, rests a skull. The bone is bleached white, intentional or not, and looks surprisingly smooth. Not a single crack mars the surface of it. Empty eye sockets gaze forward, staring at nothing; something about the skull, however, seems not quite right. Looking at it gives one an uneasy feeling, as if they had woken at the end of a rest only to find the streets of the city empty.
It could take a moment or two to realize, but it is not difficult to notice why; the skull's jaw is intact, and yet it has no mouth. Where there should be teeth or an empty space is smooth, blank bone. Upon finally noticing this fact, the feeling of dread and unease from viewing the skull seems to only grow stronger, creeping up one's back as if a cold hand had reached inside them and clutched at their spine.
If one were to walk around the case, they would notice that the skull is indeed not perfectly flawless; on the back of the cranium is a symbol. It is no symbol that has been seen before, for indeed it is unique; engraved into the bone is a complex circular symbol, with multiple rings and overlapping circles and other designs etched in as well. If one were to look closely enough, they would notice the faint rusty tinge of long-since dried blood that was never quite properly cleaned off the ivory-white bone of the skull.
Their footsteps echoed on the marble floor as they entered; pale rainbows scattered beneath their feet as they crossed the room. On the other side, her back to them, stood the Star Lady herself, peering out one of the crystalline windows to gaze upon the faint glow of her city below.
The two Ethaefal were well-aware that Zintila knew they were there, so they stood back, waiting patiently to be acknowledged by the Alvina. After another brief moment, Zintila turned to face them. Her skin shimmered like the stars themselves, her eyes luminous, but beneath the glittering beauty, her two closest advisers had learned to recognize weariness in her.
Zintila crossed the room to meet them, the hem of her dress whispering over the marble floor, and took the box from Aysel. Despite the layers of shields that had been implemented as a pre-caution over the object inside, she could still feel the tingle of power through the wood of the box that contained it.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Aysel asked carefully, after a moment. Zintila tore her gaze from the lid of the box to peer at the Moon Lord of Lhavit. He always spoke so plainly, so honest where others often feared to voice their opinions. Zintila always appreciated it. Even her most trusted and loved among the Constellations rarely, if ever, dared to question her.
"I believe it is not necessarily a safe idea," The Alvina admitted, turning to set the box down on the nearest crystalline table; she continued to rest one hand on it, her brows furrowed slightly. "But I think it is what is necessary. I do not wish to ever hide what I don't have to from the people here; not only for the sake of their hunger for knowledge, but because they trust me." She leveled her sparkling gaze with Aysel. He still looked uncertain, but behind him, Talora nodded; she understood.
"But if it could harm people, surely it's not worth it," Aysel protested.
"I don't ever want to keep in the shadows what can be plainly seen in light. Knowing of it's existence will not bring harm to them. They deserve to be aware of what is going on, especially after the uncertainty and fear of summer. There will be supervision, Aysel, and it is not for long. The thing will be destroyed within a few days." The Star Lady's tone brooked no further argument.
The strange discovery that her Constellations had brought back to her two seasons prior had baffled even her; she knew what it was, but without the creator, it was difficult to gauge its purpose or capabilities. It had proven it was powerful, certainly; she had wanted to destroy it sooner, but now there were questions rising from the lips of Lhavitians, which she couldn't fault them for. So she was going to allow them to see the answer, to put it together themselves, and then the thing was going to be burned.
Though not satisfied, Aysel said nothing further, and instead he and Talora went to fetch the glass case that would house the artifact until it was to be burned.
The 3rd of autumn, 518 AV, early morning
The next morning, well before the end of the dawn rest, the glass case was set up on the ground floor of the Twuele, towards the back and out of the way. No ropes section off the case, but a large notice posted to its stand reads 'Do Not Touch' in bold letters. On one side of it is stationed a Shinya, on the other a Constellation; they rotate out with others regularly, but the case is never left unguarded.
Inside, on a small cushion, for all who are curious to see, rests a skull. The bone is bleached white, intentional or not, and looks surprisingly smooth. Not a single crack mars the surface of it. Empty eye sockets gaze forward, staring at nothing; something about the skull, however, seems not quite right. Looking at it gives one an uneasy feeling, as if they had woken at the end of a rest only to find the streets of the city empty.
It could take a moment or two to realize, but it is not difficult to notice why; the skull's jaw is intact, and yet it has no mouth. Where there should be teeth or an empty space is smooth, blank bone. Upon finally noticing this fact, the feeling of dread and unease from viewing the skull seems to only grow stronger, creeping up one's back as if a cold hand had reached inside them and clutched at their spine.
If one were to walk around the case, they would notice that the skull is indeed not perfectly flawless; on the back of the cranium is a symbol. It is no symbol that has been seen before, for indeed it is unique; engraved into the bone is a complex circular symbol, with multiple rings and overlapping circles and other designs etched in as well. If one were to look closely enough, they would notice the faint rusty tinge of long-since dried blood that was never quite properly cleaned off the ivory-white bone of the skull.
OOC :
