HF Dev 2: Renewal of Fire

[02:22] Closer to the woods of Dal'Thala- and then deeper in, one strange turn after the other, and the further they'd dwell, the heavier air seemed to get, really; although fresh to breathe in, almost relaxing. Comforting.

And it isn't until a large, crimson crowned tree drifts to his sight does he finally come to a halt; azure gaze trailing upon its ivory trunk and the sway of red leaves, even when there weren't any winds about.

No words are said regarding it, but he does walk over to one of the stone tablets there, hand briefly grazing over it so. The saga of Ualdir was etched there, penned by the Pantheon himself; a chronicle of responsibility and redemption carved into the underlying rock.

Whether she'd want to read it, or not, would be her choice, but he'd glance back at her- and gesture around with his other arm, before simply waiting.
(Eivor)
[02:37] With the details of what Melidolyla had bestowed on Hina, the Illuminated Chancellor could only feel the resolve within her heart strengthen.

What Talguth was. What he had done. Previous opposition to the alliance, and Lirael's own relations to him.

The notions were strange.

As she traverses with Eivor to the grove of a sacred tree, flourishing in still breezes that don't graze her person except the canopy of the scarlet runeoak, the Kitsune finds herself scrutinizing it.

"This is what Jokul wanted you to show me?"

From the bottom up, her eyes do trail. A beautiful ivory trunk that seeped deep below the grounds of Eternia - the mass of the glorious Elder God Tree was approached, and a single hand gingerly brushes along the unique bark of the luminous tree.

"I've never seen anything like it, other than Solais in Final Frontier."

Her voice is soft, almost distant, really! Hina couldn't helpbut to be allured by its merit. A connection to the Pantheon, and one potent enough for the young woman to grasp at with ease, given her relationship to the various Nephilim of Meranthe.

"..did Jokul grow this? Connected to Amier? For what purpose?"

She questions, yet as her head glances away from the tall perennial to glimpse at the written stone scriptures of Ualdir's journey, she's silent for awhile to draw in the information of the tablet. Occasionally, her own fingers stroke along the divots of letters carved within it, idly reading - perhaps enough quietness that'll allow him to potentially answer her earlier question.
(Hina Lam)
[02:43] He didn't glance towards her- standing there in silence on his part, fingers lightly grazing at the stone tablet all the while, only stepping over to the side when Hina approached it so.

Her questions don't earn an immediate response. Instead, there'd a way he'd lightly shrug his shoulder, lips pursing in the moment and gaze wandering over to her soft features.

"More than likely. A tree of aether. As to who or why..."

There's a pause, and yet another shrug.

"You know how Jokul is. Never all the answers. He brought me here to show me the tablet, and that's what he did. Dodged pretty much everything else."

Eyes briefly flicker over to the ancient rock there, narrowing.

"But... yeah. It's calming here. And to call it spiritually significant would be an understatement, specially for me, with the saga of my God- penned by himself- resting here."

With that, he'd go silent. Allowing her to take it all in, read it- give her answers regarding their earlier conversation, or anything else she desired to say.

(Eivor)
[03:05] "I see," she says. Her wording is a bit distant in nature, though not through any means of malice that made by the exhibition of her gradually glossing over the lore of Ualdir, written by the god of war himself.

"I understand what you mean by that, my Eivor." A brief glance is made towards Eivor as lips curve upward - an expression formed of admiration.

A few seconds pass before she returns to finish the tablet's contents.

Selflessness.

And it is in that particular segment of the tablet her hand will carefully rest nearby, as if highlighting the significance of that narrative of Ualdir.

"I gave up fighting out of selflessness, and started to fight those that came from the horrid spells of evil; to make sure that the forces of darkness were no longer part of this realm."

A pause, drifting from seconds to dozens as she's perceiving the words in idly conceptions.

But, finally -

"There's a lot of common attributes in the ways of your Pantheon and the Divine Spirit of Jiuweihu, but.. while the Illuminated's principles draft the virtues of kindness, understand, and respect, it's in my duty as a soul from the natural cycle, with my own thoughts and experiences, to forge an enlightening avenue, and it's one that fends away evils to protect and save any from the darkness of those forces."

Hina pauses again then, allowing her posture to straighten as eyes remain locked to the contents of the tablet.

"Because those that bleed my friends for the purpose of sheer entertainment don't deserve the extension of those tenets."

What was she getting at, however? Hina's eyes flick towards Eivor's direction as her body pivots to face him thereafter.

"To be an unstoppable flame, a torch of hope, purposeful, growing, and just being that beacon of light that everyone looks up to in troubling times."

The Illuminated Kitsune's right hand raises as the digits form a balled fist, lightly pounded against the left side of her chest in the area of where her heart lies below the surface.

Her resolve.

To be the embodiment of hopes through fire, sacred in nature, and willing to do what it took to cast out the wickedness of their adversaries.

"And under Jiuweihu's guidance, allowing me to aid my friends and be someone to steer another's direction when they need it. A lantern in the dark."
(Hina Lam)
[03:20] His eyes trail over the tablet again at her words- likening the teachings of his Pantheons and his saga to the Sun Goddess herself.

"Plenty in the tenets. Not shying away from guidance, yet not thinking of one as superior enough to dictate all. Always fighting the good fight, even more so for those who can't fight good..."

A couple steps closer, and he'd tilt his head to the side. It was true- even if the methods and means were oftentimes different, and so were the cultural values. But ultimately, both the pyres of Jiuweihu, as well as the blazes of Ualdir strived for the same cause, for same resolve.

And a good portion of that resolve embodied quite well already in the Kitsune's words to follow:

'To be an unstoppable flame, a torch of hope, purposeful, growing, and just being that beacon of light that everyone looks up to in troubling times.'

Though thereisn't an immediate response, he'd reach out- aiming to gingerly take her hand into his own; her right in his left, both marked by scars of similar lightning, connecting them so.

"A flame in the darkness..."

Whispered, and there's a gentle squeeze, bringing her touch to his own chest, eyes momentarily drifting to a close.

"You're already that to many, and I am sure you would continue to be that symbol of hope as time flies by. A hero to hundreds... no, thousands. And more."

A slow pause; azure of his gaze finding hers again.

"Just as how you've been my strength, my guide more times than I can count.

Have you come to a decision, Hina?"
(Eivor)
[03:37] As Eivor approaches, her pledged stance remains until his own palm takes up hers - matching symbols of halved lightning emblems mark the duo in their shared injury - sentimental, and a reminder of her devotion to him.

But rekindling the spark of mnemonic that invigorated the Illuminated Kitsune's absolute ambitions.

A flame in the darkness.

Just as her husband's words of it drew forth, she can't help but to offer a wholesome grin to the tenderhearted strive.

"A hero is what I want to be," she explained.

There had been more to what Hina wanted to represent in Eternia, but a hero was above all else before her analyst and scholarly goals.

"-and to be your strength and guide; I'm happy with how far you've come in this life, Eivor."

Away from the hesitance of occultism that Indulgence presented before them years ago. Oh, how their lives may have been so different if her significant otherhad taken up that offer; the exchange of power and freedom from their binds. "I'll never stop doing what's right."

That was her answer. Not just to the purposeful thoughts about the Witch that had captured them, but to regard his final question.

"For what it's worth, too - Melidoyla told me about Talguth's past, as a demon before being granted a wish by a water Djinn." A pause then as the Kitsune draws in a deep breath.

"Simply put, it was a demon that fought for the side of Skarnfel long, long ago. Talguth even aided in their efforts during the events of Ragnarök - the destruction of Vdalion." Another pause as her hand against his chest clenches.

"Lirael Equisol even fought him in that war, so.. why she sympathizes with his transformation into a spirit of.. unreality, using psionic powers to eat away dreams and gain power, is beyond me. I believe it's some for of measure to brainwash, and eventually ascend into imperfection, somehow - somewhat. And they all just.. buy into it."

Trailing away in thought for a moment, she can't help but to ponder on Eivor's own perspective to what she had just told him, but for now she'll hush, focus paid to his own azure orbs, and await whatever he may have to say.
(Hina Lam)
[03:50] Her grin is matched by his own; just as wide during the moment, eyes squeezing shut amidst it so. Though when she continues speaking after that pause, he'd listen, a slight dip of head following suit at the information.

He had known Talguth was a demon- an enemy of yore, although nothing else about its past. Nothing else about its involvement in Ragnarök. None of that.

The information does garner a frown, but just a small one.

"Djinn, like...?" he remembered the one laced with clouds, usually in streets of Frontier- though never had he witnessed any other. There's a brief shake of head.

It didn't matter in the grand scheme of things- if anything, it made Talguth's cacse even weaker.

"Well- whatever it is. If you want to go after all, I will not stop you... as I said I wouldn't all those years ago. So long as you promise me you would be prepared, and when the push comes to shove-" yet anotherhalt is allowed to take over, grip letting go of her hand and curling into a fist which is brought closer, made to lightly tap against her collar, "-you will not hesitate."

And then, a single step back.

"March with Jokul and Loki... we'll see how the talks between him and Sabathiel go. Maybe you'd have Aegis warriors and squads backing you up, too."
(Eivor)
[03:59] Eivor's motions are made dully noted in her mind, though not so much acknowledged when racked with the pressing thoughts on the case of Talguth.

A demon, and one that aided in the fall of Vdalion, even if Lirael may have bested him, according to Melidoyla.

Her gaze trails towards the balled fist at her collar.

"I won't," she replies immediately; no hesitation in that strive now.

Her purpose was made under the oath of guidance and protection, born of a fiery passion of love to those she'd grown accustomed to over time.

"I'll be prepared, and I'll try to reason, even if it means being put against a friend." A short pause.

"..I'd rather try to get them to understand my point of view rather than do absolutely nothing and see them harmed when.. maybe there was something I could have done."

A deep breath is drawn in, breathing life of confidence within the Kitsune.

"And now.. I'll have to work to rekindle my flames and fixate my circuits into Jiuweihu's blessed fires. Will you help me?"

Hina made no motion of Aegis' potential efforts to aid Jokul's and Loki's efforts, but if they were there to back up the cause? She'd not relent on presenting her allies with boons to set them up for the forthcoming conflict of Aphros' Unreality setting.
(Hina Lam)
[04:01] There's a nod, quicker one and he'd lean back some, arms once again allowed to hang loosely by his sides, weight shifting from one foot to the other and cloak still rustling about in that light breeze.

"What would you have me do?"

A simple question, really. He was prepared to aid her in whatever ways she desired- aid her in whatever ways she directed him to do so. For this ordeal, or any other to come.
(Eivor)
[04:12] "Allow me to pray for you, in the goal of revitalizing my circuits to my people's natural affinities of fire." Simply put.

There's a light grin on the Kitsune's face now in spite of the previously mention conversation.

And to elaborate?

"It'll be to drawn in the energies of various reagents, and a special crystal that Sven created in honor of my accomplishments. It was made the day in the Aphros clinic when he pulled out the negative energies of Eranath's wound on me."

Hina halts in her words as a bright, scarlet crystal was procured from her bag. It was a fragment of her personification - a small asset that embodied her emotions from five years ago. A burning, fiery passion that also illuminated with cosmic light.

"Whatever this contains.. whatever energies of mine it's infused with will be a model of my resolves on Meranthe." A nod of her head!

With it, similar crystalline mats of a similar view are used, as well as several saniskriti.

"Ones that I've always held dear."

A ritual - of give vigor to newly ignited pyres whose purpose is contrary to her former, volatile flames of the past before the events of the ebon-flamed Phoenix.
(Hina Lam)
[04:13] {Item} You drop Hina's Crystallized Accomplishments x1.
[04:25] The hues of red fall onto his azure eyes as they shift, gazing towards the crystal she produced, head tilted to the side as he'd take its sight in- and when finger reaches out to graze at it? He could feel the familiar mana and fiery touch; similar sensations to the pyres Hina once wielded.

Not saying much else, he'd nod, and then lower himself- both knees touching the grounds before his wife as he knelt low, eyes drifted to a close and head dipped- humble in every manner possible. Accepting any prayer to come, offering his full attention and devotion.

Lightning does briefly flicker about him, however, sparks tinged in gentle golds, the sounds made by them far from chaotic- almost soothing in nature.

"Go on,"

Murmured, slightly. Breaths that accompany his words a tad audible. He still remembered her wounds to Eranath- his vow to end the demon... almost becoming a reality if it wasn't for Altair's capture and inevitable trades.

"I will accept your prayers. Proceed however you wish, yes?"
(Eivor)
[04:34] {Item} You drop Fire Crystal x1.
[04:34] {Item} You drop Fire Crystal x1.
[04:34] {Item} You drop Saniskriti x1.
[04:34] {Item} You drop Saniskriti x1.
[05:21] One more item was removed from the Kitsune's bag.

"This one, found on Mount Pavonis during out first expedition. I've been studying it for a long time to recognize its properties. It'll be good for this. It's a special oil that will help me connect to the Sun."

Anointed oil.

"Tested just a drop before, but nothing more. I could feel a sense of renewal."

Her eyes find his own.

The concoction was powerful, infused with unwavering conviction towards one's faith that ushered the user into a state of repentance and spiritual renewal. One half of the bottle would be used for this ritual.

Hina removes her robes and any remaining attires, save for the undergarments. All is placed to the side. Her purpose was to expose her skin to the Sun, and bath in its radiance.

"Similar to the Ritual of Light, but with my own special twist," she explains. He'd know of that particular Ritual, having attended it in Frontier the day she rowed to the center of that lake to mediate before the Sunlight, from Dawn to Dusk.

The sun was beating down against her flesh in the exposure, and she'll now kneel before her significant other to begin.

Her crystallized accomplishments is set between herself and Eivor in the center. On either side, two charged fire crystals reside, and at her own sides are two dozen saniskriti, divided into their own bouquet.

Finally, the Anointed Oil is taken up, cork popped open, and carefully dabbed along her four appendages of legs and arms, sprawled along the chest, her stomach, and forehead where an unhealed boon by Jiuweihu resided.

The state of repentance and the renewal of her spiritual essence could be felt pulsing within her person, washing away and purifying the sins of yesterday.

The Illuminated Chancellor's arms raise up to encompass Eivor's head, mere inches away from grazing his temple.

A shimmer of azure exudes then as her eyes close and head dips back towards the positioning of the Sun in the sky, just above them beyond Eivor.

That raw mana, untouched by the elements, extends towards each asset surrounding her. It delves within the two fire crystals to reel in the lively energy radiating out from it, touching base with the saniskriti to absorb their passive solar energies accumulated over their growth cycle. It even reaches towards and connects itself with the potency of Eivor's own golden ether, extracting it as a minor blessing for herself, and finally -

Her mana grafts itself within the confines of her accomplishments before them. The memories of her resolve play like film in her temple, gifting her the reminiscence of her precious achievements on Meranthe thus far.

Every bit of those energies, coupled with the renewal of her spiritual essence, charge the Kitsune with fiery passions, and the protective illumination of Jiuweihu could be seen growing more intensely in those moments as she connects herself to past evocations, born of flame and the Sun's embraces.

Soft breezes could be felt, but not that of wind. As the Chancellor of the Illuminated casts herself into a state of concentration to open herself to the divinities of Jiuweihu and Ualdir, the Lifestream's energy flourishes between Eivor and Hina, granting her with its invigorating animation.

"I call to thee, the Divine Spirit of the Sun - Jiuweihu.
For today is a new day on Meranthe, bathed in your glorious illumination to cast away the darkness that inflicts us all with detriments.

As the sun rises, may your hope rise up in me and those of Eternia, and allow your children to bestow boons of love and fiery passions in those we aim to protect.

In this strive, I open myself to the Pantheon of Ualdir, the God of War.
For you are a flame of insurmountable pyres, motivated by the selflessness of safeguarding those of life that resemble the good of the world.

May you both of the great divines aid me in praying for Eivor.
In these trying times, I call to both of you to wash through me, unto him, a boon of aegis - to be a shield for those who cannot fight, but a sword to strike the foes of the Fel that find entertainment in their wicked motives.

Let the fate of my destiny continue guiding him on your glorious path, Ualdir, and that for life may he remember the accomplishments he's made, in your name.

Never lose sight of the Light within."

The Lifestream finds its warmth imprinted now, temporarily within Eivor's temple.

As for Hina? She could feel the coming of revived enthusiasm within her circuits, gradually conditioning the Kitsune's incorporeal roads with every sense of her passionate flames lost to the purging of the anti-phoenix. Any volatile strengths or left behind, however, rendering her with a gift of friendlier pyres, soft in their flicker, and igniting to life around her body, cackling as they eventually fade into existence once as they had before.
(Hina Lam)
[05:21] Hina Lam prays for Eivor.
[06:08] He'd lean forward slightly, watching the oil presented and listening to her explanation of it; he was part of that expedition, and he had seen it before... although never much understood it, nor did he ever pry.

Still, a nod is given, and the blue gaze follows her every action- watching her remove the articles of her clothing, apply the ointment and shower within the unabated sunlight. The crystals are lain, and the scent of Saniskriti finds his senses, prompting longer inhales all the while.

But no further movements.

Even when her arms encompass his head, azure exuding and that raw mana embracing it all; the fiery specks, the flowers, even the essence of Eivor's ever so powerful Holy Lightning; sparks still flickering, almost silent in their nature.

And then the Lifestream's energy is felt, flourishing between them and invigorating him in tandem with Hina's words.

'To be a shield for those who cannot fight.'

As went the tenets of his Pantheon- as he had always said; fighting the good fight for those who can not fight good.

'But a sword to strike the foes of the Fel that find entertainment in their wicked motives.'

As went the promise me made to himself all those years ago- and even though his naivety left and ambitions changed, becoming ever so grander, he continued to hold onto it. To cleanse the Meranthe; to rid fhe nation of Skarnfel and Sheol alike.

And so by the time he'd open his eyes, Eivor could see the familiar flicker of pyres that surrounded his wife ever so often- reignited, having found her person once again before eventually fading into existence.

No words, nor response, but he rises, slowly walking over- boots barely making any sounds over the grounds underneath and hands gripping her garbs ever so gently before he'd come to a halt right behind her.

"Thank you."

It's whispered, and his movements are slow amidst the way he reaches out, slowly helping her put the attires back on- slipping the articles, and draping the scarlet robes back over her small frame.

'Never lose sight of the Light within.'

"I will not."

Only by the time he's done- and she's back to her usual state does he finally take a single step back, head slightly canted to the side. A small smile, barely visible there.

"Are you ready to go home?"
(Eivor)
[06:20] After the fulfillment of Hina's prayer, as Eivor rises from the grounds to grasp her garbs, she finalizes the integrality of her ritual.

The Anointed Oil soaked in the Kitsune's skin, and the energies of the fire crystals, her materialized accomplishments, and solar power of the saniskriti leave her with a renewal of fresh vitality that's potent enough to subdue the frostnip from recent endeavors and bring color back to her pale complexion.

By that point, her significant other had appeared behind her.

"You're welcome, my Eivor." A light smile to attach on her lips as she'll cant her head in his direction, peering over her shoulder.

In no time does she take to advance upward from the grass, allowing Eivor to aid in the installation of her attires back on her person. Small laughter protrudes in the meantime.

The final pieces of her clothing are draped on the shoulders, and a quick adjustment to her scarlet priestess robes is made.

"I know you won't. You still have to unite all of us, after all."

And so, she meets him at his side, standing as equals.

"Of course," she gleefully acknowledges, prepared to leave after all emptied reagents of alchemical assets are placed away.
(Hina Lam)