A Secret

The Fulcrux of Nocht.
The image of a beautiful nighttime sky has been stretched across the fulcrux. Dim stars struggle futilely to compete with the terrifying beauty of Mother Night. The ethereal image wavers on occasion, the sky rippling like water in a pond. A lonely hill covered in tall grass leads up to a single shrine. Behind the shrine stands a large blackthorn tree. The tree is taller than most of its kind, extending upwards rather than outwards. Delicate blossoms shower down from its branches, creating a flurry of white petals and filling the air with the pungent scent of wyrden foliage. A painting of Seven-Fold has been thrown on the ground here. A complex series of stones orbit around a stygian orb here. A rippling image of a beautiful night sky has been magically wrapped around the fulcrux here. Partially hidden in the shadows, a formal pamphlet with a seven-pointed star has been lain aside here. A painting of the Eventide has been thrown on the ground here. A petite platter filled with petit fours rests here, the miniature cakes in danger of being squished.
You see a single exit leading through an image of the night sky.

The image above wavers and ripples gently as a cold breeze howls through the fulcrux.

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

The image of the night sky ripples as the body of Aydeksa suddenly emerges from its grasp.
In a blaze of holy light, a celestial archangel suddenly appears.

Aydeksa says, "Hi Esei!"

You stare blankly at Aydeksa.

Aydeksa says, "I have a present for you- oh are you busy?"

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

Aydeksa whispers to you, "Please tell me He isn't here."

You stare blankly at Aydeksa.

Aydeksa frets over everything that might go wrong.

Aydeksa stands before the image of the night sky, arms spread wide. Dark tendrils shoot forth from the apparition, wrapping around Aydeksa and forcibly sucking her in.
A celestial archangel blazes with holy light and is gone.

Aydeksa's melodic voice sings into your mind, "I'm stupid, bye Esei!"

You tell Aydeksa, "...but you have a present for me."

Aydeksa's melodic voice sings into your mind, "Is he there?"

Aydeksa's melodic voice sings into your mind, "I don't wanna get in trouble."

You tell Aydeksa, "Well... if He is, we can't see Him."

The image of the night sky ripples as the body of Aydeksa suddenly emerges from its grasp.
In a blaze of holy light, a celestial archangel suddenly appears.

Shadows swirl around your arm as the Fingerblade of dha'Wyrden-cree digs itself more painfully into your finger.

Aydeksa gives the decapitated head of Shango to you.

Aydeksa says, "Since you missed out on the action, I got you a momento."

You blink.

You say, "...oh."

You say, "Thank you."

You pet the decapitated head of Shango ingratiatingly.

A soft voice lingers in the air, "An interesting gift, child."

Aydeksa says, "Oh...oh no."

A wry smile spreads across your face.

Aydeksa saunters her way to stand securely behind you, casting worried looks between you, a celestial archangel and to the shrine.

The voice echoes through the fulcrux, faint yet clear, "What is the matter, child? Why do you fret?"

Aydeksa looks confused and says, "Disembodied voices mean either I've spent too much time on Astral or a Divine being is in my ear. The last time the latter happened I made a big mess in Hallifax."

A celestial archangel twitches slightly, a spasm in her hands and arms.

Aydeksa moves her wide eyes over to her companion angel, a slight frown coming across her typically erratic features before they slowly creep back to the shrine.

"My my... Do you plan on making a big mess here in My fulcrux?"

A celestial archangel blinks and shuffles about impatiently.

Aydeksa can barely manage a squeak as they try to offer a simple "No." Failing to do that, the gently shake their head and offer a glance to you, eyes pleading for help.

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

A celestial archangel suddenly grasps her head, mouth opening and clenching shut violently as the holy light about her flickers.

"You may stay, of course, if you are a guest of My little one. I do not care for the stink of half-formed in My fulcrux, however."

Aydeksa offers a consoling squeeze to her angel's hand before sending them off back to Celestia.

Giving thanks for her services, Aydeksa bids a celestial archangel to return to her home. The archangel then disappears in a flash of light.

The image above wavers and ripples gently as a cold breeze howls through the fulcrux.

Aydeksa says, "I'd ask You to forgive me. I forget some don't appreciate the angels, they are such useful tools though."

The last flickers of celestial light vanish with the angel's dismissal, leaving only the profound sense of emptiness within the fulcrux.

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

Aydeksa opens her mouth as if to say something, but pauses.

"As are the city they come from, child. You can only ever accomplish so much with such flawed tools, however."

Delicately, Aydeksa says, "I don't think any tool is infallible."

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.

"No?"

Aydeksa says, "No!"

The air grows cooler as something moves through the fulcrux. "Why have you selected the tools you have then, child?"

Emerging from the shadows, Ilistala, an enormous leopard deposits the decapitated head of Alary in your hands before disappearing as silently as she appeared.

Aydeksa smirks.

You stare blankly at the decapitated head of Alary.

(Order): Nocht says, "Do you request these specifically, little one?"

(Order): You say, "The heads? No, Lord."

The image above wavers and ripples gently as a cold breeze howls through the fulcrux.

As gentle melody and rhythm sets into the Sileni's voice, Aydeksa says, "I went somewhere that was in need. They needed someone to use the tools and I wanted powerful tactics."

"Is it only power you seek? You do not worship the half-formed and their ideals?"

Aydeksa says, "Can you keep secrets Silent One?"

"As well as I can uncover them."

Aydeksa says, "No. I'm probably the worst Celestine in the history of Celest. I couldn't give you specifics on any of them beyond what they teach the children. I do enjoy the companionship of my peers. I enjoy the gifts the Supernals grant more than the teachings. But that probably shouldn't leave the confines of this space."

Your dark eyes flash as you smile sharply.

Aydeksa tilts her head back and looks up at the sky.

A brief gust of wind fills the fulcrux, carrying the echoes of rustling leaves and branches.

You see the air distort around Aydeksa, a shimmer around the outline of a figure whispering in her ear.

Aydeksa says, "Respectfully, the Wyrd really creeps me out."

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

You tilt your head curiously at Aydeksa.

"A pity," the voice says flatly. "I sometimes forget that the Fates do not bless all mortals with the same..." It trails off for a moment before concluding, "..dispositions. Be well, My little one. Make sure your guest does not invite any more half-formed into this place."

You nod solemnly.

Aydeksa says, "That was fun!"

Aydeksa says to you, "That was fun!"

Aydeksa hops up and down on your foot.

Aydeksa says, "Bye Esei!"

Aydeksa stands before the image of the night sky, arms spread wide. Dark tendrils shoot forth from the apparition, wrapping around Aydeksa and forcibly sucking her in.

You open your mouth to say something, but speech fails you.

You shrug helplessly.