And POTG goes to–
Both sisters winced, realizing the truth of Ilta’s statement and the implications it brought.
“That…um, will be…oh dear.” Hope murmured with a shiver.
Lumi herself also seemed disturbed, getting up carefully so as to not accidentally cause trouble for Hope. “I, uh…I think I’ll look for another book. Excuse me for a moment…”
Ilta nodded. “I understand,” she replied. “If it helps, the Council has seemed astonishingly unwilling to act on Lady Astrid’s actions, even though they are no-doubt aware of her existence by now.”
Lumi had heard that as she’d searched for another book, of course, and when she returned she couldn’t help but voice her ponderings.
“If that’s true, then I wonder why. Surely they aren’t twiddling their thumbs just watching her.”
With a new book on Ancoran deities in hand, Lumi sat down beside Hope once more, her sister having quietly picked up her novel where she’d left off.
Reading is Fundamental
(Closed starter for @saviorgoddessastrid .)
It had been only a few weeks since her entry into the Mage’s Guild. Yellow had delved deep into her borrowed tomes on Arcane Magic and even begun an additional online course (running on her neural interface), but thus far she’d only been studying the academic side of the Arcane.
Today would mark her first practical session. Entering the lecture hall and finding a few students already seated within, Yellow took a seat amongst the middle rows.
Seeing as the professor had yet to arrive, the healer began idly reading one of her books on Arcane Magic, hoping to pass the time.
Something about what Ilta said of the Council unnerved Lumi, though she showed no outward sign of it.
This concordat of deities had authority beyond Astrid. ‘Eventually’ did not mean ‘never’. In time, things would be shaken up. Would that affect Astrid’s dealings with the wider Coalition? With the Fleet Admirals?
Lumi resisted the urge to sigh. This was way beyond her capacity to think about. Perhaps she shouldn’t. Apparently Eudico was of the same opinion.
“Soddin’ right, Lumi. Cosmic conundrums and deific accords ain’t our field to deal in. Let Astrid handle her end of things, hmm?”
Hope idly caressed her sister’s free hand, thinking of things herself. “Lady Astrid interacting with her people seems to be working out so far, though. Can’t see why this Council doesn’t make an exception for her.”
“There’s any number of reasons as to why, the first being not wanting to give preferential treatment to anyone.” Ilta had to consider several potential outcomes. “There’s always the risk of a Second Great Divine War occurring if the rules are ignored, which is the case with Astrid, and it may not even be intentional on her part.”
Both sisters winced, realizing the truth of Ilta’s statement and the implications it brought.
“That…um, will be…oh dear.” Hope murmured with a shiver.
Lumi herself also seemed disturbed, getting up carefully so as to not accidentally cause trouble for Hope. “I, uh…I think I’ll look for another book. Excuse me for a moment…”
A small smile of her own was what Yellow showed in return. But for a moment, concern flickered across her features.
“I will…but what about you all? Are you and the others going to stay around Larstern while I’m here?”
She hoped that was the case. Exciting as it would be to study Arcane Magic here at the Mage’s Guild Hall, the healer had to admit her party members had grown on her.
“It’s hardly like we can go questing without our healer,” Thrud admitted. “We’ll be here in Larstern resting up until you’re all set to get back to questing.”
That was a relief. At least things would be peaceful while she studied here.
“Alright. Then I’ll see you around…Thrud.”
There wasn’t much else she could say. For now, it was best she put her energies into learning.
Lumi sighed and rubbed her head. “This is…a lot to take in. Universe-wide, the scale of it…”
Ever the caring one, Hope laid a warm hand on Lumi’s shoulder. “Take it easy, sis. I’m here…”
The raven-haired older sister took a moment or two to collect her thoughts before once again speaking with Ilta.
“So, the only reason this armistice isn’t falling apart everyday is because of the Council. Astrid isn’t part of it?”
“Correct. Technically, Lady Astrid defies the laws of the Council by simple virtue of the fact that she interacts with her followers on a daily basis.” Ilta looked away and put a finger to her cheek. “I suspect that the Council will eventually take action about Lady Astrid’s breaking the rules, but for now, Her Grace can still interact with her followers.”
Something about what Ilta said of the Council unnerved Lumi, though she showed no outward sign of it.
This concordat of deities had authority beyond Astrid. ‘Eventually’ did not mean ‘never’. In time, things would be shaken up. Would that affect Astrid’s dealings with the wider Coalition? With the Fleet Admirals?
Lumi resisted the urge to sigh. This was way beyond her capacity to think about. Perhaps she shouldn’t. Apparently Eudico was of the same opinion.
“Soddin’ right, Lumi. Cosmic conundrums and deific accords ain’t our field to deal in. Let Astrid handle her end of things, hmm?”
Hope idly caressed her sister’s free hand, thinking of things herself. “Lady Astrid interacting with her people seems to be working out so far, though. Can’t see why this Council doesn’t make an exception for her.”
Sure enough, Yellow found herself being led by Thrud to what definitely seemed to be the Hall of the Mage’s Guild.
She had to admit, it certainly looked impressive in terms of aesthetic. Her cybernetic eyes swept across the structure, though it was her gut feelings that told her there was more to it than just what she saw.
The healer didn’t need to consult her eyes’ readings to know that energy was in the air.
There were a lot of mages walking around, some with their noses buried in textbooks. Lights existed floating in mid-air, and it was clear that this was a place of magical study, owing to the design of the place looking much like a university. Thrud finally let go of Yellow’s hand and smiled. “Here we are! Hope you’ll enjoy your time while here! Just let us know when you’re ready to continue questing.”
A small smile of her own was what Yellow showed in return. But for a moment, concern flickered across her features.
“I will…but what about you all? Are you and the others going to stay around Larstern while I’m here?”
She hoped that was the case. Exciting as it would be to study Arcane Magic here at the Mage’s Guild Hall, the healer had to admit her party members had grown on her.
bnq:
Hm.
Hm-h🔨mm hmm hmm hmm hm🔨-hmmm.
Hm.
Hm-h🔨mm hmm hm-hmmmm 🔨hm.
The two sisters were quiet for a moment, thinking.
“Kinda sounds like CONCORD or our own people, don’t you think?” Lumi asked Hope, who nodded slowly.
The maid shipgirl had her own thoughts on the matter, putting her half-finished novel on her lap. “Or the Federation. Or our cousins in the multiverse, the other GDI. This Great Divine War must have been really, really bad for the Council to have formed.”
“Correct,” Ilta replied. “It was a war between all of the gods explicitly to define who is the chief god. Countless mortals perished in the war, and there was everlasting damage to the universe as a result. The war only ended because many gods who were tired of the war teamed up with a God of Destruction and forced all others to capitulate.”
Lumi sighed and rubbed her head. “This is…a lot to take in. Universe-wide, the scale of it…”
Ever the caring one, Hope laid a warm hand on Lumi’s shoulder. “Take it easy, sis. I’m here…”
The raven-haired older sister took a moment or two to collect her thoughts before once again speaking with Ilta.
“So, the only reason this armistice isn’t falling apart everyday is because of the Council. Astrid isn’t part of it?”
With how sudden the action had been, Yellow was caught by surprise as she was pulled along. “Wh–?!”
Even as the healer was being pulled along, she gave a departing look at Ilta. “Farewell! May we meet again!”
Once outside the Temple Library, Yellow tried her best to keep pace with Thrud smoothly while being led by the hand.
“Thrud, how far is the Mage’s Guild from here?”
“Not terribly far,” Thrud admitted. “There’s a Guild Hall not far from the Adventurer’s Guild.”
Sure enough, Yellow found herself being led by Thrud to what definitely seemed to be the Hall of the Mage’s Guild.
She had to admit, it certainly looked impressive in terms of aesthetic. Her cybernetic eyes swept across the structure, though it was her gut feelings that told her there was more to it than just what she saw.
The healer didn’t need to consult her eyes’ readings to know that energy was in the air.
Initiative Archival Network 