A Follow-Up Prayer to Mysrai

IMMEDIATELY AFTER https://pastebin.com/PmC9Cjft
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A sacrosanct, smoke-filled cavern.
Muted traceries of paint outline the bas-reliefs graven into the stone of this cavern. Here, a curving woman wrapped in flamelike blossoms rises out of the rock: there, a robed man lifts his lantern. Other figures rise amidst them, in turn becoming warriors, scribes, sages and children arrayed in bewildering, interlocking patterns. Sigils and starfields fade from the skins of each figure, radiating from occlusions of crystals within the walls; shallow, broad bowls of stone rest beneath them, ringing the cavern. Smouldering coals lie within, casting what little light there is within this darkened sanctum. Oilslick patterns ripple across the silken folds of this veil as it flutters between two paradigms.
You see exits leading north, east, west, and through a fluttering veil.

You huff, puffing your cheeks.

You think to yourself: O-K, thinkies.

You think to yourself: Do your thinking.

You have emoted: Gurashi covers their face with their hands, huffing.

You think to yourself: What do I tell Them.

Pale gold in hue, the wreath about your brow shimmers in a steady pattern, liken a heartbeat in its gentle pulsation, crowning you in a flickering halo before settling still once more.

With a whisper of energies and a glimpse of changing paradigms, the veil parts, allowing you passage beyond.
The Fulcrux of Mysrai.
The walls of this rounded chamber are dimly illuminated by burning coals within a copper bowl at the centre, but remain no more distinct than any of the shadowy carvings upon their surface. At times, the walls seem as though they are mere veils between open air and the fire-illumined ring: at others, they are whirling sand or solid stone. Despite this, figures in various races shift and change, gone in seconds or less, with the only constant remaining the pinpricks of alien constellations within. The ceiling is a canopy of silk, or veils, or shifting realities, with loose poppy blossoms floating amidst it, or upon it, in tears of white and red and indigo. Oilslick patterns ripple across the silken folds of this veil as it flutters between two paradigms. Veils of reality bounded by skeins of ivory and blood-hued blossoms twist and shiver above a poppy-inlaid vessel filled with burning coals.
You see a single exit leading through a fluttering veil.

You sniffle softly.

You have emoted: Gurashi plods tiredly up to the master shrine of Mysrai, where they bow, then dramatically fall to sit, legs together, hands on their knees as they hang their head. "Hi, hi, Most Beloved..."

Their tone sullen, you say, "Uhm - talked to the Lady Empyreal, just a little while ago... uhm."

You have emoted: Gurashi pauses, then reaches up to wipe at their eyes, shaking their head. "Am so sorry. She," They pause, heaving a great sigh. "She said -no-. For now." They grimace as they speak, gazing towards a bowl of peep ice cream. "She was worried that You would have Beloved Aschwar healed and then use them against Her city. Or use them as a pawn in general... She said last time She helped an Elder with Her healings, it got used badly... it sounded like it was really bad..."

Gazing towards the shrine, you say, "She said She needs to know that You can be trusted and to know what is in YOUR heart. Not mine." Their chin quivers. "I-I tried to tell Her, how goodly they are? Beloved Aschwar, of course. And how muchly You and the rest of the Beloved -love- thems, but...."

You shake your head.

Scrunching their face intensely, you say, "Uhm. She said 'burdens of providing proofs is on Thems. You gotta show Your sinceritys.'..." Tiredly, they bring their hands up from their knees to their face. "Am really sorry. Really really hoped would say yes, yes... but, She also said 'for now', so... so - there is hope, right?"

You think to yourself: * a miserable swirl of ruddy color - another failed attempt * r i g h t?

You have emoted: Gurashi drops their hands to their lap, drumming them against their thighs. "Was gonna ask if She wanted to meet Aschwar for Herselfs. I bet She would -love- them. But, She left before I could suggest it, and did not know if was O-K. Ahhhh," Suddenly they shake their head violently side to side, as if removing water from their plumage, unable to mask their frustration. "-Shoot-."

Quietly, you say, "...'for now' is not forever. Is still hopes, Most Beloved."

You sniffle softly.

In an airy, melodic voice, you say, "Uhm - will. I will do anything - everything - to help. O-K? With, them, with You." Their voice wavers as they drum their fingers on their knees. "Will help, yes - all that I can? I will. I swears. Promise."

You turn to the master shrine of Mysrai, suddenly bending at the waist to offer a polite half-bow.

You have emoted: Gurashi pushes themselves up to stand, then stands there for a time, dazed.

You think to yourself: ... for love ...

You offer up Mount Zoaka's Titanium Brazier of Explosive Transformation to Mysrai, the Urchin in Ivory.

<-- leaf