lost and found

It was soon the days to come in which the entirety of Alabastre sinks into chaos once more - but this time around, due to outside sources. However, as far as he's concerned, the recent events of his own have turned him into something uncontrollable as well..

For while he rescued Kofe, to kill the would-be murderer in the middle of Osrona, perhaps, was going too far - because it would jeopardize everything and everyone.

And he sought to let the star guide him better, did he not? There's similarity in Constellation.. the similarity which he intends to learn in order to make sure that he would do better next time. Without it, all that he worked for may as well fall apart.

"Osiris."

"I think I'm ready to take next step in mastering my connection to the star. I've been hearing it all these years better.. and it guided me to a future different."

"Yet, I can't help but feel I'm missing a piece."

A piece that perhaps the Felinae could help uncover.
(Basil)

Osiris was simply passing into and through Alabastre, perhaps to check on how people were doing. Though, it seems as if he might just be staying for a while. That dear friend of his, Basil... Apparently he needs guidance drawing forth his starlight.

Though, something bounced around within the mind.

Why not ask Mars? Surely she'd displayed a similar... prowess?

"Oh...? I thought you'd never ask... Literally." He admits. Perhaps it's a sign in which Basil's acknowledged the fact Osiris' connections shines brighter than most.

Whilst others, like Mars, maybe even Del, potentially strengthened their connection through... Well, more... forceful or passive means...? Osiris had been one that stepped back constantly, to reflect upon himself and move forth as a symbol of Phos. Determination which many had seen. Maybe a balance.

What he'd overcome in his life.

"Hm, hm... Follow me." He'd lead off elsewhere. He always aids celestial magi in seclusion. It's peaceful, and allows for utmost concentration.
(Osiris)

"...I had no time to ask before."

"But.. I've been close to death as of recent. I've seen my brother about to die. And.. I think I betrayed the trust of Alabastre unintentionally."

"Which is why I want to see how can I persevere through."

Hopefully, learn from this experience as well. He could tell why Osiris expected that thing, but truthfully, Basil was terribly busy as of late.. yet, where the Felinae speaks of following him, he only nods once.

If only to step forth.

"Let us walk, then."
(Basil)

Into the wilderness, no specific destination in mind.

He let the stars guide his path, thankful for the fact it was once again night time. His favorite time of day to bestow others with knowledge and work on his own connection with the stars.

Basil's words did not go unnoticed however. They even seemed to bring on some degree of shock to hear.

"Close to death? How was that?" By 'brother', he's of the assumption Basil meant Kofe.

"And... what did you do to Alabastre?" His final inquiry before looking around to his surroundings. Forestry and... raised ground. Perfect. Ascending the land, as though it brought him, physically, that much closer to the stars.

First thing's first.

Osiris would use to moment to aid himself, as well as Basil, clear by the notepad Osiris had just drawn forth. A pencil is seen too. He lets Basil explain the prior-mentioned things first.

He'd bewriting stuff down. Maybe to just remember them for later?

"Nevertheless... Let's start from the beginning. What have you been hearing from Alph?"

"What do you understand about Alph?"

"What does it feel like to let that star's influence pass through you?"

"What methods do you use to reach out for that star? To connect deeper?"

"How do you carry yourself as a beacon of Alph?"

"What do you do that a beginner celestial magi doesn't?"

"What do you want to achieve through deepening this connection?"

Ever answer about his start, Osiris wrote down.
(Osiris)

Being this close to death..

It is something that he never truly wanted to remember again, if only because he realized that everything he aspired for could be cut off that very moment.

"In battle of Starfall.."

"I've fallen. When I was on the ground, I saw the rising boot above me, and.. darkness. Then.. I woke up on the sidelines, sheltered away by my allies. I would assume I was saved, because I've seen a killer intent hidden behind that."

"I assume someone intervened."

Which is likely the truth. As for Alabastre? His lips seem to curl..

"--I betrayed Mars' trust."

"I tossed her aside.. and the rest of Alabastre, to save Kofe infront of entire Osrona, after he attacked king Alexander. Then.. I tried to murder the man infront of everyone who's nearly done it, after I saved him."

"They were worried about me. All they've seen is this... frenzied Rhoynish that started to cause major chaos around Osrona, all to save his brother."

Considering how it could end, with the rest of Osrona piling up on them, this could very well end in their deaths. Although, when Osiris asks all of these questions?

"I understand only that it wants me to seek judgment."

"And I feel.. invigorated. Usually, it is when I do something daring, thrilling that it speaks back to me - something that demands courage and bravery." It is almost expected..

"I cast my judgment upon those that deserve it. As for what I do? I suppose many things- starting from guiding my own people and trying to fix the way that history has wronged us all." Yet, it does not feel enough.. for there's one missing piece.

One missing piece of the puzzle that he needed help with.

"..Peace of mind."

"And knowledge of what I have to do."

"I don't want to betray the trust of my loved ones ever again. I don't want to see the pain on the faces of my family." Not when he's in a frenzy like this.. not when this impossible rage boils in his Rhoynish blood.

"I don't want to disappoint those that don't deserve it."
(Basil)

So... Basil is one of those who went to fight in that war? He should've expected such, despite Mars mentioning how Lionheart would be staying out of all of that mess.

Osiris' lips pursed together a little once he went further to explain about what he'd done to Mars and what most people would almost definitely see Basil as now.

He was not wrong. A frenzied Rhoynish is almost definitely their viewpoint. Not 'domesticated' like the ones Osrona holds in their ranks and whatnot.

He'd keep his thoughts at the forefront of his mind, to speak on them separately when Basil finishes.

He looks not to Basil, but to Leonaus Constellation the entire time.

"Be very, very careful not to mistake vengeance for 'judgement' or justice. Judgement feels like a very... synonymous word to those. Something that can easily be misinterpreted in the heat of the moment. To judge with a clear mind, of rational decisions. With all facts and truths available. That's what I believe your judgement should be like, to not let emotions carry you..."

"Whilst that is a good thing to do, yes. It's not quite what I meant. I meant what do you do that a beginner celestial magi doesn't do - to connect, viscerally, with your star. To strengthen that bond, there's many things you could do." He corrects.

"-…" Peace of mind?

It makes sense that Basil's mind is troubled after everything.

And that he just wants to know what to do.

"Meditation."

"As 'cliché' or 'boring' as some call it... Meditation is a very, very powerful tool we all have at our disposal. You already know how troubled my mind once was. Meditation."

"If you've never done it before? Then it can take a little while to make it a habit." He sits atop the cliff, still staring to the starlit sky.

"Sit, close your eyes." He instructs.

"Remember what Pericles once taught us?" He inquires with a bittersweet expression.

"Reach to the stars with your mana, but don't force the connection. Do that, but more... Clear your mind, push aside what emotions cloud your -judgement-. Keep doing that. Let Alph's light of judgement pass into you, try to truly understand what it is your star seeks of you. Reflect on yourself. You seem apologetic, so you know you've handled things... differently from what you could have done. Think about that. Learn from that."

"Control. Self-control, rather. That is something you might need to work on developing as well. With self-control, and a clear mind, how could you pass judgement incorrectly? Or too ruthlessly?"
(Osiris)

He never expected himself to be this way.

Someone who almost faltered in the face of battle and has almost died.. for while vengeance is something that he pursued the entirety of his life, here he realizes that judgment is sometimes all too different; perhaps, the people of Osrona could deserve place among Alabastre, for instance..

While Osrona wronged them too many times in the past, they weren't as guilty, were they?

"I understand now."

"At this moment.. I merely want to soothe my spirit and let the stars guide me better, so that I can show proper judgment to those that deserve it." Although, certain people still surprise him. Such as what happened the other day..

How Alexander tried to save Kofe.
Why..? It made no sense..

Yet, what Osiris speaks of is something that clearly makes sense; for as far as he's concerned, meditation is something that Basil actually needed in these trying times. It's something not only to soothe his mind and spirit, but something to teach him how to be better. He intends to be a king, does he not?

And to be a king is a stressful endeavour.. one that requires to have a focused mind of an entirely different manner.

One that requires to think differently, too.

"Very well."

His eyes close.. and with Felinae's instructions, the mana becomes extended past the area above him, past the skies, and to the stars.. here, a steady exhale follows in attempts to clear his mind and ensure that he would be focused enough to let the Alph's shine enlighten his mind.

Inhale.
Exhale.

But how could he pass judgment incorrectly? How could he ensure that the judgment is correct one? If anything, here, he already begins to think of it..

"..Not everyone in Osrona is likely out to do what their ancestors are guilty of."

"It.. also holds innocent people, does it not?"

The words of Del ring within his mind.. a reminder of his own judgment seeming wrong.
(Basil)

Like the conduit, and beacon, of the stars that he sought to be - Osiris would similarly follow his own words. Embers and wisps of rosegold tones would dance skywards - seemingly dissipating with distance, but that's not the case.

It just became impossible to see - but the presence of his mana lurks heavily still.

"That's exactly right, Basil." He affirms Basil's first statement.

Only to fall into silence as he watches and allows for Basil to make his own attempts at falling into a meditative state. It seemed the Rhoynishman had come to such a realization with the mistakes he made beginning to pile up.

With the gaining of illumination, Osiris had grown somewhat better at seeing things objectively. Perhaps he had the High Keeper to thank for guiding him in such a way.

There's a gentle squint as Osiris broke his stargazing to finally look at Basil when the man spoke up once more.

The corners of his lips tugged up into a gentle smile.

"That's correct too." Osiris confirms.

"Many Osronans probably aren't even aware of what their ancestors did - and wouldn't agree with it if they did know."

"Innocent people are everywhere. And you wanna know how you can truly work to discern that?"

A clawed index moves to tap the side of Basil's head, "Clear judgement."

"Don't tar an entire bloodline and city with the same brush of guilt. People are individuals, are they not? I'm certain with Alph, and focusing on yourself, you can discover that better than most."

It's like how he used to fear all humans for what a group of 'soldiers' and other horrible people did... But, things changed a long while ago. He let himself -see- people as individuals also.

Not to mentions this connection with Phos was a driving force, alongside people to push him as well.
(Osiris)

Perhaps he was blinded.

For he felt far too strong about it all, and he felt that Osrona has become a center-piece of something foul, something that could no longer be redeemed in its current state.. but the people themselves? They could yet be saved by going within the walls of Alabastre, by hiding away from the world itself and all the threats that it posed. After all..

Isn't that the meaning of judgment?

"...It does make sense."

Where he thinks of it, he knows of the direct flaws that Alexander possessed.. and the royalty too, with how many times they wronged him; but as far as he's concerned, they were not entirely evil people - for while he viewed them that way not so long ago, the fact that Alexander tried to save Kofe..

It shocked him.
Right to his core.

He could not believe that. No matter how much he tried to think of it as something that is simply a lie, or had ulterior motive.. truthfully, he could find none; Kofe was a Rhoynish, and attacked Alexander personally - yet he saved him.

"I don't feel as if Osrona should stay as a city.."

"For too long, it served to be a beacon of something foul and wrong. All these years, it was something oppressive, and humbled only recently, but.." There's a pause. A moment of consideration.. perhaps, to guide Rhoynish to their old glory was not the only mission that he had.

Perhaps, he was meant to change Osrona's ways.

His eyes close. Here, for the first time in so many years, the rosegold light descends upon him.. almost as if an attempt of his own to reach out to the Alph, the Star of Charisma, one that represents Judgment.. to hear what it could possibly say. The images flutter through his mind..

Of redemption.
Of renewed glory.
Of new age.

"..Do you think they deserve salvation, too?"
(Basil)

Osiris arched a brow.

"If you don't feel it should stay as a city, then are you suggesting that the whole settlement dissolves into... what? I'm not sure what it is you're thinking it should change to. I just think Alexander may need to step down." He's not yet seen, or heard, of a single good thing from the King.

He even lied to Osiris about expanding the market stalls. Little, but it's still something.

"I-... Huh."

What Osiris thought?

"I'm not sure... Well..." He dragged on, thinking.

"Some, yes. Some, no. But, if you mean Osrona as a city? I'd like to think the city could change its reputation, if they changed the way they handled things."

That made sense, did it not?

"But, don't stray too far away from the main goal."

Attuning with Alph. Whilst opening his mind to all these things was excellent and sure to guide him along the right path, it should... well...

"It should be focused off of your own understandings, my opinions shouldn't much matter."
(Osiris)

"No.."

"It has to disperse."

It has to be ruined. It has to be brought down.. and ultimately, Osrona should be no more - at this point, it has become the bane of Esshar, and it is rather clear to him that the likes of Petrakis bloodline, with all the accumulated mistakes that they've done.. they should not be the ruling force on the continent anymore. The first sign was the Empire beginning to fall apart..

And now this? It's a testament to that.

"I have great plans for Esshar, Osiris."

"I want to guide these people. I want to take them to Alabastre, expand my own kingdom.. and then, I want them to guide to a better future - one filled with spirituality and advancement all the same, much like the true Rhoynish culture once was."

The beauty of it all could not be rivalled. He's seen it before, in the ruins of old Ilburg. The current Rhoynish? They'remerely a shadow of what they once were.. but they were always meant to become greater- they were always meant to become something more. And perhaps, it's just like Mars has told him..

He was meant to be a king.
Meant to dictate the tomorrow.

With such understanding, the tint of rosegold brightens. Perhaps it is exactly what his star, Alph, expected out of him - to not be merely the force of destruction as he's been before, but be the force which creates as well.

Once the old weeds have burned down.. the new growth can occur.

"..I think I know what I have to do now."

"I will guide them. I will turn these lands into something beautiful... something greater than any other leader could do."

Something unmatched, divine.. and with what him and Mars have planned?

With the Eye of Alabastre?

"We'll march to a greater tomorrow."
(Basil)