The next morning

Tridemon arrives in a cone of sparkling light.
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "'lo, child. Waiting for Gurashi?"

Loud to the point of seeming reverberation, cicadas play out buzzing dissonances.

You have emoted: Cheliyi just hums noncomitally, holding her hand close to her chest.
You think to yourself: **fuzzy and weary, like aetherwave static**.

A gust of wind carries on it the pleasant warmth of the noon day sun and the tranquil song of insects.

Tridemon tilts his head curiously at you.
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "You alright?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi clenches the hand wrapped in a pale tea-towel, an flicker of pain coming over her expression. Eventually she just shakes her head.

You think to yourself: **the fuzz cut through like a knife, the deep ache in your chest returns, how could you?**.

Barely above a whisper, you say, "I summoned Mother Night earlier this month."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. Nai'dorin?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi finally looks up to Tridemon, her dull eyes full of unshed tears. "They were so -small-."
You think to yourself: **how could you how could you how could you howcouldyou**.

Tridemon watches you in silence for a moment, shifting his staff out of his hand to lean up against one of the shelves before enveloping you in a tight hug.

As horrible thoughts fill your mind, you begin to sob uncontrollably.

You have emoted: Cheliyi leans into Tridemon, practically curling into herself.

A frosty sense of coolness brushes one's skin by the twinkling of tiny snowflakes that appear to drift over the area, as the light escapes the paper lantern above.

You think to yourself: **Weak. You should be stronger than this. How can you be worthy?**.
You have emoted: Cheliyi hiccups.

In a voice that suddenly sounds older than most of the trees of the forest, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "I've watched it done. Just the once."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It wasn't all that long ago, either... it was... I think Gurashi's third Nai'dorin ritual."

Aquamantic symbols suddenly project themselves upon the very air in dark blue light, fading after a brief moment.

You have emoted: Cheliyi close her eyes and tries to listen, to focus, but her shoulders shake nonetheless.
Weakly, you say, "Nothing makes sense anymore, no."

Brilliant sunset hues bathe your surroundings in a vividly carmine afterglow.

Bordering on desperation, you ask, "That can't be what my siblings want, can it?"

Tridemon tightens the hug around you. "You don't have to keep doing it. If you don't want to. The reward, as I understand it, is just more pain."

Tears fill your eyes and begin to slowly run down your face.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "My siblings love me. Loved me. I was small. Why couldn't they feel the same love? It isn't fair. It isn't -fair-."

The soft tinkling of seashell wind chimes is carried in on a warm breeze.

You think to yourself: But they all seemed so joyous, so -happy- in the death. Was it just because they love Mother Night? It can't be otherwise, no. It doesn't... I don't...

You stare blankly into space.

A warm, gentle wind brings forth the scents and sounds of fresh moving water.

Tridemon loosens his grip slightly to look up at the ceiling. "The trees... probably don't hear it the same way as you do. It's not necessarily what they want. Or what the forest itself wants. Even Mother Night would probably accept a sacrifice of something that could fight back. But Rowena and Brennan drive the ritual, and it's just... EASIEST for it to be done that way."

You have emoted: Cheliyi hiccups, and nods slowly.

You think to yourself: **Quiet relief, of course your siblings wouldn't want that. How could you doubt them?**.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Rowena and Brennan have been separated from what it means to be alive and feel something other than the darkest reflections of mortal emotions... for a very long time."
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "And they will not change this."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. A quick, easy sacrifice. A path to power that requires only that you be cruel enough or desperate enough or just loyal enough that you don't look too closely at what you're actually doing."

You have emoted: Cheliyi inhales shakily. "It does not feel like strength. It does not feel good at all."

A warm, gentle wind brings forth the scents and sounds of fresh moving water.

Tridemon smiles a slightly sharp-toothed smile, though he's not currently looking at you, at least not directly. "Like a vine of thorns to entangle those who do look closely enough at what they've done... so that they might continue out of shame, or pressure. After all, who could accept someone who would do that... aside from those who had already DONE it?"

The evening air is still and quiet, and your surroundings glitter with dappled, luminous starlight.

You stare blankly into space.
You have emoted: Cheliyi sniffles.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It's not just about drawing down Mother Night. But also to bind you all the more tightly to the Glomdoring."

Quietly, you say, "Sometimes I wish it was just my siblings and no one else in Glomdoring. None of the commune, or their rules, or their expectations. Maybe everyone would be happier."

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "It made so much more sense when I did not talk to anybody."

Fireflies light up the darkness outside as they dance in slow, chaotic patterns.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. Shutting out other people does have the benefit of... well, simplicity."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Because people are so... damned... complicated."
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Someone can be thinking, feeling, and saying three COMPLETELY different things."

You have emoted: Cheliyi giggles, and finally hugs Tridemon around the waist.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "It must be a lot worse for you, yes."

Tridemon reaches over and ruffles your hair with a fond expression.

You think to yourself: **the pain receding, it's not gone, but... it is manageable.**.
Softly, you say, "I do not want to do it again. But I do not want to let people down, either."

The grass rustles slightly as a warm night breeze caresses your skin.

Tridemon leans close to you and gently lays a kiss upon your forehead.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I can't tell you what you should do, I'm afraid."

You have emoted: Cheliyi nods slowly.

You hug Tridemon compassionately.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "I... won't do it again."
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "I do not want to be a part of that. But I also don't know how to leave. How to leave my siblings, Esei, Ethna, Lord Nocht..."

Aquamantic symbols suddenly project themselves upon the very air in dark blue light, fading after a brief moment.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "I love them all very muchly as well. I don't know if I even could live anywhere else, no."
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "But the commune is so awful, sometimes."

Tridemon stays silent for a while before finally saying, "You don't have to leave. You can just... not do it. And not bother explaining yourself. Silence is an answer."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... Feeling better?"

You nod your head emphatically.
You have emoted: Cheliyi hops up and kisses Tridemon on the forehead, before hugging him tightly once more.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Thanks, Mister Dad."

A frosty sense of coolness brushes one's skin by the twinkling of tiny snowflakes that appear to drift over the area, as the light escapes the paper lantern above.

Tridemon moves to gather up his staff again... before poking you lightly on the nose, saying "Boop." in a quite solemn tone.

You blink.
You cover your mouth and sneeze.
You giggle happily.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you ask, "You have to sleep, yes?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. Not necessarily. I'm not so tired that I can't be awake here for you if you need me."

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "No, I'll be okay. I think I'm going to take another nap this month anyways."

Tridemon gives you a friendly squeeze.

You smile brightly at Tridemon, your frills puffing with joy.

The sweet, inviting scent of baked goods comes drifting in from the kitchen.

You are exhausted and open your mouth in an enormous yawn.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "You should go to the Inner Sea sometime and pet the squid. They'll probably run away, though."
Tridemon nods his head sagely.

You blink.

Aquamantic symbols suddenly project themselves upon the very air in dark blue light, fading after a brief moment.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you ask, "Those are the weird looking noodles, yes?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "They're the shiny ones that look a bit like golden stars because of how they glow."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Okay. I'll go look for some later this month, then."

Tridemon reaches over and ruffles your hair with a fond expression.
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I'll see you later."

You wave goodbye.

Tridemon waves goodbye at you.
Tridemon turns towards the north and steps forward, instantly collapsing into a torrent of water that rushes outwards with a thunderous crash of water.