Four Confessions

Log Info

• Title: Four Confessions
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Zeke, Seyardu, Aya
• Place: A10: Temple of Daeus
• Time: Thursday, September 16, 2021, 2:51 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia is recovering at the Temple of Daeus. She is sedated, not eating much, Zeke is using his experience from tending to Seldan. Seyardu arrives with food, which she is disappointed to realized that Cryo might not be able to stomach it. She is able to take some tea, and eats some marrow, but mostly drifts in and out of consciousness. Zeke wishes to share with Seyardu why Seldan doesn't trust many people, and the blue-scale is coming around to that view as well. Cryo adds that Reunion is a prison. Their discussion moves towards a specifically untrustworthy person, namely Aya, who suddenly appears. This is not desirable. Zeke demands to know who sent Eclavdran after Lily and what Aya told the Demon Duke. Aya refuses to say who did, but does share all the things she told Eclavdran. It's also revealed that she brought him into the Temple of Eluna. How much of this Cryo understands in her state, is not known. However, she manages to tell that Zeke is very tired and not eating well, a fact Seyardu has been aware of, even Aya. All now insist that Zeke should sleep as well, he will not be an adequate healer if he incapacitates himself. Aya departs, to reduce the conflict, and Seyardu stays to monitor.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple of Daeus *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The temple of the Sun Lord glitters golden beneath the same. Rather than walls, the majority of the temple is composed of what appears at first blush to be a raised round platform made of one of the largest slabs of marble likely in existence. Columns rise into the air as if to hold some massive ceiling, though instead of a normal ceiling, one finds the deep blue sky, studded by a disconcertingly close canopy of bright stars. One should not worry, however, as the rain never falls, and the wind never blows on this particular temple, but for a gentle breeze, whatever the weather outside may be.

Despite the austerity of the columns, warmth suffuses the grounds. A grand, marble statue of the Shining Knight stands a the center, a hand outstretched in benediction. Beside Him, the statue of Althea, their hands clasped in love. The central position of the temple to the others gives view to all of their children, and the two look upon one another with the solemnity of love that has been the center of so many tales and legends.

Masterfully designed mana lamps provide further soft, golden lightning where needed, their pedestals carved in the form of the Dragons of Light, over which Daeus is said to have dominion in His form of Draco Solis. Majesty, justice, and welcome suffuse the temple grounds. Around the central temple are a series of smaller buildings, each with a simple function and form. One houses the sacred book depicting some of the earliest known translations of the Laws of Light, which pilgrims from near and far come to visit. Another houses the well-appointed quarters of the Sunguards, and among all the ground bristle the Sunblades.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  7'2"     391 Lb     Dragon            Female    Sickly, tattered grey-scales, with a crippled wing and tail.
Seyardu      5'6"     150 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint.
Zeke         6'8"     239 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      A blue-scaled sith-makar in white Daeus vestments
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Time heals all wounds.

So they say.

The time to heal is long and uninteresting, where if the patient is fortunate, it's a period of unconsciousness that passes swiftly for them. If not, they're interrupted every few minutes by someone wandering in to take something, add something, adjust something or move something. This is definitely the case at the Soldier's Defense.

This is not the case at the Temple of Daeus, where Cryosanthia has the diligent attention of her mate who fends off most interruptions and is very skilled at meeting her needs. She is fortunate.

It still leaves a lot of empty seconds to slowly tick by, where all she does is lie there, breathe, and drifts in and out of consciousness.

There is a tea service sitting at Cryosanthia's bedside, fresh tea awaiting her awakening, or rather the moment that she has need of it. A second tea service had sat beside it but it has been taken away untouched. Several healers have given Zeke sidelong glances, but aside from allowing them to do what is necessary to care for his cihuaa he has no patience for them. So no one has said anything yet.

Zeke's eyes are partially closed at the moment. Not quite asleep, but relaxed. Or perhaps merely lulled by the lack of anything else to do. His scent is even and calm, but the room smells like mourning to any sith-makar with the ability to scent it.

Seyardu had made herself scarce once Cryosanthia was safely brought to the temple and taken care of. She was not in the best state to be healing anyone, and there were plenty of clerics ready to assist there, to do what she could not. There always was.

So it went for the next few days, when she only stopped briefly to check in. And it was another day of the same thing when Seyardu returned. There was a small knock at the door, and the silver sith-makar waits for an answer.

Cryosanthia is also fortunate that she's not the first with these injuries. Zeke has seen them on his kin, on Serene, Aya and Cesran, to the extent he's been able to assist them. Cesran, an Arch-Mage in his own right, with insight into the condition and an unbending determination to overcome it, had sought out druids to assist with his own recovery, and provided suggestions for hers.

Much more elaborate suggestions than Sabina or Braelnoir were able to suggest, but at the core having a common theme. Anti-magic to address her mana saturation, then healing spells when they'll work reliably without injuring her further.

To this end, her cihuaa has obtained some nethercite rocks, and a heavy blanket which has nethercite strands and weights inside it. They have been placed on and over Cryo and seem to be doing some good.

The knock at the door immediately draws Zeke's attention and he rises to his feet. He is admittedly, not best pleased to be disturbed, but he makes his way slowly and surely to the door before pulling it open. He is surprised to find Seyardu on the other side, and his expression clears from one of mild displeasure to one of welcome immediately. He steps to the side to allow her entry. "Peasssce on your nessst Seyardu."

The silver makari on the other side looked tired, and they nod and thump their tail(quietly) once against the ground before they step inside with a basket in one hand, smelling of both meat and sugar.

"Peace on your nest, Zeke." she greets, looking to where Cryosanthia is in bed. "I hope that the recovery is going well."

Cryo thrums quietly, an 'I am here' noise that Hunter-caste might use. She's awake, it would seem. She isn't making an effort to move or communicate further. Her eyes are closed. Her breathing is very regular.

"It goes apace." Zeke says quietly, the quite hum from Cryosanthia drawing his eyes momentarily, and he motions to the basket. "Thissss one isss grateful for your thoughtfulnesssss, but we are being careful about what sssshe eatsss. Ssshe may not be able to take what you have brought. Will you come in though, ssshare wordsss with thisss one?"

GAME: Zeke rolls bluff: (13)+5: 18
GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (19)+7: 26
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls sense motive: (11)+5: 16

Seyardu answers the quiet thrum with a rumble from her chest as she sets the basket down nearby. "Perhaps the pastries with cinnamon and icing are too much. The rest is roasted marrow." Seyardu explains, and sighs. One of these days she would bring food for someone who was ailing that would be eaten.

"Perhaps you can eat what Cryosanthia cannot then. This one will share words. On one condition however."

Cryosanthia is listening to the conversation. She's not moving. Eight count, breath in. Eight count, breath out. She's very aware of her body, there's not as much pain now. She listens to her heartbeat, can hear the circulation of blood in her ears. She can sense both of them, in the room.

Of course, there is the smell of food. Roasted marrow smells very nice. She holds an inhalation of breath a little longer. Could she consume it, by its particles of scent? Probably not. She imagines this though, letting that fantasy play out.

Zeke nods. The marrow would be good for Cryosanthia. High in the nutrients that sith require, but also easy to eat and digest. Though perhaps a bit rich. It would depend on Cryosanthia's body whether it would take such or not. He moves toward the bed and sits down on his stool again, tilting his head at Seyardu's comment of 'one condition'. "What condition Sseyardu?"

Seyardu says, "The condition, is that you take some time to rest, Zeke." Seyardu states, crossing her arms now that they were free of the basket. You set this tea out for Cryosanthia, yet drink little to none yourself. And an exhausted healer is one prone to mistakes."

Seyardu sighs. "I understand not wishing to leave her side. But treating yourself as such does not help. I have a bedroll in my bag, so you could at least get some sleep here, while remaining close by."

"Ssssleeep Ssseeeke." Cryosanthia hisses, imagining she's casting a spell. Her fingers moves on the bed a little, then go still. She was unaware he wasn't sleeping, the way her attention drifts and dips it's hard to track time.

Although she could count the impulses she has to check on Lily, though perhaps she can't count that high.

It is not a spell, just a wish, which she repeats in a quiet hiss, "Sssleeep." <draconic>

He looks startled at first by Seyardu's words and then a bit rueful. The expression changes to soft sadness when Cryosanthia speaks up, and he gently strokes her claw. "Thisss one hasss tried, but there isss no-where sssafe. Every-time thiss one clossesss thisss onesss eyesss... Thisss one ssseess the demon. Seesss him even in the fascess of friendss and kin. How can thisss one sssleep?"

Zeke looks at Seyardu. "Thisss one underssstandsss better now, why Ssseldan isss sso ssslow to trussst, why he keepsss his weaknesssesss closse to his chessst, and though thiss one hasss alwaysss known it... it isss a bitter lessson to relearn."

The explanation makes Seyardu sigh, and uncross her arms. She doesn't know what to say to that. She doesn't have an answer herself.

"I do not know if it is true, but Aya told me this temple should be safe to sleep in. She won't explain further, but I still trust her."

"But you can not see them as such, or you give them too much. For your talk of seeing fiends in faces, there are leagues more who would wish nothing but to help."

Seyardu sighs. "I can put aside eight hours to let you both get some better rest here. It would not be trouble."

She hears, she knows. Seldan doesn't trust her. He has good reasons to. Cryosanthia doesn't trust him, she has her reasons which may still be valid, or may not. She wants to speak to Seldan about things... that can wait.

She's not evil. She was playing a role. She wants to reassure Seldan, Serene. She saw the shock in their eyes, the readiness to turn on her.

Cryo doesn't trust the Temples either. Too many memories, too many times evil ran rampant. Only a couple, but enough. They're safe-er, they are not safe.

It's no surprise Zeke can't sleep. She'd tell him how to... but she'll have to explain later.

"...isss a prissson..."

Zeke soothes Cyrosanthia again. Petting her gently. "It isss not a prissson." His tone is patient and he looks at Seyardu, nodding to her once. "Thisss one would appreciate it. When you have the time." He doesn't seem in a rush to sleep, which makes sense if his dreams have been none to kind to him.

"Thisss one knowsss that you mean well Sseyardu, and thisss one trussstsss you ass much asss thiss one trusstsss... few. But Aya called a demon to the temple of Eluna. How can thisss one trusst any-thing ssshe ssayss? Ssseyardu... Ssshe knowsss who gave Lily to the demon." This last is a soft thing, a hurt thing. He says it quietly in the hopes that Cryosanthia does not hear him.

"I have time, yes. I will make arrangements, if necessary." Seyardu nods. "Or if it would be helpful."

Seyardu listens, and shakes her head. Sighs. "It seems others have been told much more than myself. I trust her though. She, she means well. If she knows, then I will have to trust her reasons for not sharing."

It is! She wants to explain, but the thoughts will not stand still long enough to be lined up into words she can say. At best she manages a quiet hiss, "... weapon..."

Her body tenses as a new piece of information dances in, to bob on the waves of her mind. Aya knows.

Well Aya will answer... later.

Lily isn't here. Cryo's thoughts turn on herself. Ripping into her psyche, she should have been there. It doesn't matter where she is now.

There is no progress with constant stumbling.

Her markings glow a little brighter.

Aya did not know for certain that Cryosanthia was moved until inquiring at the TarRaCe, but the fact is unsurprising. A temple is a far better (if far more dull in her opinion) place in which to heal, and the Temple of The Sun is an obvious choice. Thus she enters the temple, via foot rather than shadow, to make inquiries of the whitescale or, failing that, the blue. Whether Sunguards and -blades might be so forthcoming may be another matter, though she holds no fault over them for discretion.

It takes some doing actually to find out where Cyrosanthia is, but Aya's wisdom in asking after Zeke yeilds more results and the direction eventually becomes clear.

Zeke blinks at Seyardu and shakes his head. "Thisss one can not ssso easssily forgive one for conssorting with demons. But that isss enough. Thisss one doess not wissh to upsset Cryosssanthia" She seems to be in and out of the conversation. In and out of understanding. "Thisss one thanksss you for your care and consssideration Ssseyardu. You are right to chasstissse thisss one."

Focus. Focus on them like... Cryosanthia whines quietly again. She is not here. On them like her blue ball of anihiliation. She played this with her, mentally tusseling over the sphere, doing so now with the words.

Line them up. One after the other. 'is' get back in line. March out the mouth. "Seldan's blade is a prison. He will join his kin in the blade."

She's almost certain. He will feel it to be his duty one day, to join Kainan and Falia, to share his experience with a successor. Who will not listen or understand. Just as he does not now, and as her warning is unheard.

She wants to talk to Seldan about things neither of them will voice. Has the void changed this for them? She does not know.

"Perhaps I am too trusting. But I must, as Aryia is my friends, and I would not let anything happen to them." Seyardu notes, and sighs. "I have not spoken in some time."

She turns, listens as Cryosanthia says something. "His blade is a prison? I know so little of Seldan. Is there something of concern, with it?"

Upon locating the room, Aya raps lightly upon the door out of courtesy to any who may be resting... or, perhaps, at some level, to possibly avoid disturbance even should others be awake.

The thought that Seldan's blade is a prison is a disturbing one, but Zeke has no idea what to do with such information now. And... - There's a gentle rap at the door and Zeke goes to it out of habit. Opening the door to find Aya there. His eyes narrow at the sight of her and he lets out a low grumble without even thinking about it. "Aya. What bringssss you here?"

The knock, the door opening, a new presence. This registers on Cryosanthia's senses. She turns her head, the scent of marrow is strong, she wants to eat that. Yes, she wants to eat that.

Her eyes open, normal slits again, staring at the new presence. She startles and stiffens, a wave of reaction traveling through her body. One of the nethercite stones on her back slides off, rolls on the bed and clunks down to the floor. An expression of utter shock is on her face.

"Baz?"

It is not the looming, piggy oruch Herald of Kor, god of War, who has only ever had one bath in his life. It is Aya.

Who is not there to deliver a Baz-ism, yet still Cryo imagines she hears one imparted in his indelicate, porcine tones, "Oi! Get up, or I smak de shit out of you, shove it bak in, den smack it out again."

Seyardu looks over as Zeke is already moving to the door, and one brow raised. Perhaps Aya knew someone was speaking about her, as it so often seemed. Seyardu reaches to pick up the stone, set it back down where it was, and hold Cryosanthia's hand. "It is alright Cryosanthia. It is Aya." Seyardu says gently, rumbling a bit in her chest again. "Would you like to see her now? This one will stay here, and I am sure Zeke will as well."

"Cryosanthia," Aya answers simply and directly, her expression and tone held equally simple and neutral. The narrowed eyes and grumble are either expected or ignored. Her visage doesn't flicker... until Cryosanthia's words reach her. Brows arch, her eyes shifting towards the sounds and back. "She is healing?" The question is also further answer to Zeke's, yet now some concern bleeds into her tone.

Zeke's eyes turn toward Cryosanthia and worry spreads through his scent. "Ssshe iss hallucinating. Thisss one mussst get her tea into her again." He huffs and leaves the doorway, not answering Aya really. He is too distracted by Cryosanthia's misunderstanding and he quickly sets about pouring her some tea and putting a straw into it so that she can drink it. "Drink thissss Cryosssanthia." So distracted that he's left the door wide open and forgotten about Aya almost entirely. Something seems off about Zeke.

"Oh," Cryo says, to the various things that fly her way. She squints at the doorway, did Baz really turn into Murder who then turned into Aya? She had no idea Aya was Baz's daughter. Will wonders never cease.

There is a straw in her mouth. She drinks. She'll get the marrow this way. The bowl was strangely out of reach and she was too tired to move to get it.

Slurrrp. Slurrrrrrp. Slur... the liquid goes halfway up the straw, then back down again. She tries once more, receiving another mouthful. The tea goes down very slowly.

She sniffs, smelling a change in Zeke's scents, not understanding them.

When Zeke moves to offer the tea, Seyardu steps aside to lift the whitescale up slightly, to make the process of drinking easier. During this, she turns back to Aya. "She is healing, yes. The magic buildup is being dissipated. How, are you doing, Aya?" They ask, with scents of concern and worry in the air.

Aya would typically consider that an unspoken invitation, were it not for the implied inverse from Zeke immediately beforehand. With him now tending to Cryosanthia, her eyes shift to Seyardu. Thoughts of Zeke dozing upon benches without and just outside of the temples come to the fore. "Has he rested since?" She doesn't answer Seyardu's question immediately.

With the tea taken in, Zeke hums softly to Cryosanthia. "Would you like ssssome-thing to eat? Jussst a litttle?" He pulls the empty tea away and looks around for the basket that Seyardu brought. It takes him a moment to find it and he opens the container. The fresh smell of food makes him snort, an expression of disgust filtering across his features before he can control his expression. He manages to get to the marrow and pulls it free. This then, he brings to Cryosanthia's side. So focused is he on the tasks at hand, that he doesn't seem overly aware of Aya talking to Seyardu about him.

"Yessss." Cryo hisses, believing she has already eaten, yet still feeling hungy. She closes her eyes again, opens her mouth. She sense the rock being replaced. She's being buried. That's fine.

Even as she waits to be fed, she manages to line up another thought, sends it out. No! Not that way! To the mouth. "Sssleeep Seeeke."

She wants it again, and he should.

The marrow was roasted and seasoned mildly, perhaps upon request. And judging by the warmth, Seyardu had come over quickly. The silverscale kept Cryosanthia lifted up slightly, a few pillows moved to aid in the support.

"Zeke needs rest, yes. And food. I brought enough for two people." She tells Aya, before turning to Zeke. "Is something wrong Zeke?

"Zeke!" Aya lifts her voice as she finally crosses the threshold to step towards healer and patient. "You cannot support her if you cannot bear yourself. There are others who can tend her, if just for a time."

Zeke holds the bowl for Cryosanthia, his whole being focused on his task. Everything else is faded. Unimportant. Seyardu says something and it's like she's talking underwater he simply shakes his head and shrugs. That seems like an appropriate response. He gets some of the food into Cryosanthia. That's what's important.

"Zeke!"

The sound of his name startles him. More the loudness of it than the word itself which has meaning to him. He turns toward Aya and blinks at her dumbly. Aya talks and he feels the frustration inside him well up. "Who will tend to her? YOU?" He snaps his teeth shut and shakes his head. The world moves with him, and he holds tightly onto the bowl lest it fly from his claws. "Thisss one will ressst when Ssseyardu hasss the time to sstand guard. That isss enough."

The Temple of the DragonFather has many memories for her. Most bad.

The endless hours staring at the ceiling pondering the emptiness in her mind. Blood spilling across flagstones. Screams, clerics struck down. No aid no matter how hard she called. The Mistress, taking away her cihuaa and eight decades of his life.

Rocky returning from his wait at the stream. That's one of the good memories.

Zeke, returning from the Shard Tower, mind broken and hallucinating. With every effort to care for him making him worse, the start of what drove him away.

Am I Zeke now? She wonders. The Mistress twisted their lives into a loop that made no sense. Being him almost would. That is my anger. Those are my words.

No. My mouth is full of delicious food. I'm eating. Zeke wouldn't eat.

"Issss... issss.." Iziz, the question of the ages.

"Zeke, she is concerned about you. I have the time to stand guard now, and your exhaustion puts you on edge even more." Seyardu states, unable to react as she is busy holding up the whitescale for her meal. One moment passes as she does so, and looks at her back, and neck.

"You have changed, Cryosanthia. You are much larger, and not just the wings. Your body shape is, changed."

She looks to Zeke. "Has this been noted?"

Aya shakes her head. "Not I. I am no healer. That is your calling, and hers." Her head dips to Seyardu. "I am merely ... one who consorts with demons, or strikes them low." While it might be an ideal moment, there is no wit in her tone, no curl of lip, nor even anything suggesting a boast; it is only a flat statement of fact. "I will not remain long."

Seyardu's comment draws her eyes to Cryosanthia, wondering herself if more has changed. She also offers no further words; as she admitted, she is no healer and she will not interfere in their sharing. Especially in regards to Cryosanthia's care.

Things solidify for Zeke. It's just a momentary disturbance. Nothing he can't handle. He makes sure that Cryosanthia doesn't eat too quickly, and when she's finished he pulls the bowl away to set beside the bed. With everything on the table it's balanced a bit precariously, but there's nowhere else to put it. "Yessss. It hasss been noted. Thisss one thinkssss that ssshe mussst have transssformed into a dragon. That ssshe isss... ssstuck now between formsss."

He looks at Cryosanthia, sitting down at her side and rubbing his claw over her claw. He feels a bit like he's forgetting something but the nagging feeling doesn't come with revelation. "Thisss one isss here..." He looks at Seyardu. "Thisss one isss worried that ssshe isss sstill hallucinating, it iss not good for her mind."

Cryo is held up, a weight on Seyardu's hands, eating. This is something she wants to do. Her concern is not entirely focused inward, on her injuries and loss. It's important she doesn't lose everyone.

She'll come back to that thought.

What was the thought? Eat. Right. Focus. As the roller coaster of clarity whips round, aim for that window.

"Zeke, are you not eat?"

The 'ing' fell off. Close enough. Sloppy eater, sloppy speaker.

Seyardu sighs. Looks to Aya, and shakes her head. "You are Aryia's friend, and mine." She states simply. It was all she could do while keeping Cryosanthia propped up. She takes the moment to look at her damaged wing, and tail while doing so. "I do not know how much of it is hallucination, and how much is fatigue, Zeke. She has been through much. And you are fatigued as well Zeke."

She looks to the basket, and back to Zeke and Aya. "This one brought cinnamon buns. Would either of you like one? They are quite good."

The whitescale is eating, and does appear physically worse that before. While an admitted non-healer, Aya can infer that these are positive, or at least not negative, signs. As for her incoherence...

Her attention shifts back to Seyardu, her expression softening somewhat. "No, thank you. I should go. Is there anything you require?"

Cryosanthia's question is met with silence, and then a gentle comforting hum. "You need to ressst Cryossanthia. Do not worry over thisss one." He lets out a small huff of air and then strokes her claw gently. "Ssssleeep."

His eyes slide to Seyardu, and her question gets a small shake of his head in reply. He has no interest in her sweet rolls. Not at the moment. Though he knew that if Cryosanthia were feeling better... Well the palescale had a fondness for sweets.

The food is good, the feel of scales against her scales is good, the contact, the touch. The scents of her cihuaa, comforting. He's here, a drifting, lingering impression surrounding her. Her friend, close. Her weapon, at hand.

The clawed-fingers of her right hand wriggle in an arcane way, almost casting. There's something missing!

Lily...

That thought plunges her down, deeper. The stones on her back, the heavy blanket, grow heavier. Smothering her. Down with the lost things.

"The past steals from the future."

No, that's not it. There's something important here, fish it up. So much easier to go down, and deeper down. Her delirium comes from her unconscious, filled with the denizens and language of dream, unwilling to let her soar to clarity. She's flying, she's falling.

"We are puppies without strings."

Sleep takes her, the medicine the food, the suggestion, her physical, emotional and mental state conspire to make her even heavier in Seyardu's grip.

"I would ask to speak at some point. About what you can share." Seyardu replies, sighing. She would have to find someone who would want these pastries, it seemed. And then Cryosanthia grew even heavier in her arms. The silverscale hazards the gentles hug she can muster, before laying her back down in the bed with the pillows shifted back, and she busies herself readjusting the blanket and stones.

"Her wing does not look any better Zeke, nor does her tail." Seyardu says with a sigh. "I worry she will not be able to heal properly while they remain as such, and when I first saw her again, she mentioned how pained they are." There was concern and worry there, muffled as it was. "It needs to be tended to soon, lest it leads to infection, or spreads."

Aya turns towards the door, as she implied that she should depart. This is paused at Cryosanthia's unexpected words.

"Puppets," she adds, or corrects, as one familiar with the phrase. "We are puppets without strings..."

Her head turns back to the trio of Sith. "Thus unable to take action... or fully free choose." She then adds, to Seyardu. "I can share most anything you wish. My contract ended the moment I struck him down. If he still exists, he will come for what is due." Aya then resumes her turn to exit the room.

"Thisss one can not heal the damage." He says quietly to Seyardu. He doesn't know how. There are things to be tried yet, but he has done so little. "Thisss one hass ssuggessted a regimine of anti-magic and healing. When we can, thisss one will have a healer try to ressstore her limbsss... but her body isss not her own. Ssshe might heal the damage if sshe returnsss to her proper form..." There is no way of knowing. There is so much they don't know. He blinks and looks at Aya. Grumbling slightly at her words and rising to his feet. The motion makes the world swim again, but he balances himself on the edge of Cryosanthia's bed.

"If you can ssssay ssso much... Sssay who gave Lily to the demon! Ssssay to thisss one all the thingsss you told the demon." Zeke places his crystal claw against his chest. "Ssshare wordsss with usss before it isss too late." His exhaustion is forgotten again - with hope.

Aya halts again and, this time, rotates a half-turn to fully face Cryo-Sey-Zeke-ia as the three are all but coagulated. Despite this, she remains stable, and the brief relaxation in her features with Seyardu is gone. "Knowing who would not return her to us, Zeke, but I will see the responsible punished... -after- a way -is- found to return her to us."

The rest appears to come with no such limitations. "I told him that you and Cryosanthia were no threat to him and beneath his notice. I told him of the trip in search of the statue. I told him that Seldan was no longer within the city."

Words.

Getting out those words finally tip the scales for Cryosanthia, there is nothing lifting up her consciousness. She can sink, she can sleep, deep down where the conversation washes over her, ripples at the top of the ocean, as she cruises the trench.

This is good, it would only pull her to more violent action she can't sustain. She needs time.

It is her body, shifted and remade, by her Mistress, by the Sea of Mana, by her own actions, at the end of a journey started in experiment when she was a soft-scale imprisoned in Charn. Her body, saturated with magic, scarred such that she can't release it, struggling to cope with it naturally.

She touched the Unraveler, saved only by the grace of the gods shining down on them, that day. The magic may be all holding its lingering influence at bay. One does not lightly swim in the Sea of Man. Her body needs time to heal.

There is no time.

Seyardu was finally free, and she was able to turn her full attention to Aya. Well, most of it, as she reaches to take a cinnamon roll out of her basket, and bite into it. This continues for a moment, before she swallows, and nods. "This is a lot for them to know, Aya. I did not know you, you killed them? Were present?" She asks, tilting her head. "Thank you for telling me, Aya. I would help, how I can Aya, to return them. But for now, Someone needs to stay here, while Cryosanthia, _and Zeke_, rest. I have much to think about. Perhaps, if the magic afflicting the wing and tail can be isolated, then it can be treated with as little strain as possible on her?" She seems to suggest with a glance backwards. "But the sooner, the better. You are a healer Zeke, you know how dangerous dying limbs can be. It needs to be dealt with soon. If you are not capable, then I will find someone who is."

Zeke seems stimied by the truth, but he moves steadily toward Aya. "Thisss one will go. Fetch the healersss. It isss asss you sssay. Sssome-thing which ssshould not wait." He isn't sure how to process what Aya said, but as he reaches her he meets her eyes with his own green ones. "Thisss one thankssss you for telling usss..." His gaze slides past her, but... he can not forgive or forget so easily the part that she's played in all this.

Later, he will be angry. Later, he will be sad. Later he will remember with bitterness that only she gets to know who brought such horror into Lily's life.

For now he heads out the door, forgetting things like sleep, but Seyardu will remind him. Later.