Asuka had come to realize that her being unable to tell Asaiadeena everything that Father Black had told her personally wouldn't do. Not to mention the dragon riding woman needed a break! Asuka had watched her leave on a strange looking horse, only to come back and stay long enough to brush it down and then leave again on Tric. She was gone for hours at a time only staying long enough to do what needed to be done. The table in the front room was buried in parchment and paper. Hand drawn maps littered the smooth wood surface, along with notes taken on possible interpretations for the meaning of all the quotes from the books Asuka had written down before she forgot them. It was better to take Asaia with her to Aeses.

With the kittens willing, and a little bit of preparation, Asuka had to only get the woman back to the inn and take her with them. She was out on the horse right now. Asuka went outside and talked to Tric, who raised the alarm for her. Not really trying to scare Asaia, but tell her though emotion and a handful of mental pictures that urged her back at full speed.

“Asaia, I have someone that will give you some better answers than the ones I gave you. Though they're still speculative, Father Black should help,” she said as soon as the woman came to a near skidding halt behind the inn. “And we're going now.”

Dismounting, Asaiadeena led Slaanesh back to the water she had for him and took off his tack. She didn't look all that happy, but then again given the situation, who would be? “I'm assuming you called me all the way back here because we're going now?”

“Yes we're leaving now.” Asuka produced the parasol and opened it, getting ready for the blinding bright of the Aesen suns. As if that was summons enough all four kittens came clamoring out of the inn with their leashes hooked to their collars and wrapped around their arms or hands.

With a little bit of shuffling and a complaint from Asaia about someone touching inappropriately, they flashed to sunlight, after only a couple of tries. Aiia was happy right now, if there weren't more patches of light showing up on Fryja's dark side, they were staying longer. Asuka pulled open a pale robins egg blue dress and exposed the trinity mark to the light. After her request, the kittens did the rest, and all six of them arrived safely at the stairs of the temple. Thankfully Asuka had been ready for it, her eyes were getting more and more used to the transition all the time, pretty soon she might not even have to depend on the parasol anymore.

Asaiadeena on the other hand slapped her hand over her eyes for a minute and made a noise that sounded very much like she might go blind, but the initial shock was over. Only a couple minutes later she only felt the need to shade her eyes if she looked any higher than the ground.

“Shall we?” she asked as she waved her hand up to the stairs. “We're almost there.” Just a little bit further and they'd be inside, and speaking with Father Black. Hopefully Asaiadeena would behave herself enough to not offend any sensitive members within it's walls. She gave Asaia a sidelong glance and shot a look that pretty much said just that.

Upon entering Asuka looked around, closing her parasol. She hoped she remembered where his study was...

The temple was relatively quiet today, as hushed as a temple ought to be. Oh, angels and humanoids wandered about or sat in circles to listen to small scale sermons, but the energy of the place which had been apparent on Asuka's last visit. The desperate searching for spiritual answer was not in evidence, contributing to a far more relaxed atmosphere. The floors were freshly cleaned and the sunslight glowed through the windows, as if the whole temple had given itself a refreshening in preparation for Asaiadeena's visit. Father Black was not immediately in sight, but there was a regular stream of hooded figures traveling from the central chambers to the old demon's study. They were quite willing to let the two women tag along, though the study promised to be somewhat crowded with three or four bodies within it.

At their entry, Errtu'an lifted his head and flashed a tired smile, failing to evince any recognition for the 'elf heiress' prophecy had spoke of. "Ah, a face who is fast becoming familiar to my old eyes! As... Asuka, yes. I remembered it this time." Chuckling in his ever so slightly growly, but dark chocolate smooth voice, the priest rose from his chair, a book still laying open in his lap. Clutching it with somewhat gnarled fingers, Errtu'an raised a white eyebrow in Asaia's direction. "And you brought company with you! Someone to appreciate the prophecies, perhaps? Even someone related to them? Speak up, dear, the prophecies are decidedly mum on the subject of visits to our little world."

He looked tired. More, he looked spent. The old demon had clearly been knee-deep in books of prophecy for days at least, depending on the time difference between Aeses and Fryja. Nonetheless, he was quite coherent. However long demons lived, this one had yet to lose his mental faculties.

Asuka smiled warmly and nodded at him. She herself was feeling better in both body and spirit, Aen had done quite well at helping her with that. It occurred to her also that bringing Asaia may very well be more beneficial than she first thought it might be. “Yes, it's good to see you Father Black.” She smiled and squeezed inside the cluttered office. She didn't need to tell him he looked terrible, he probably knew. “I have brought someone to see you that may be of help. Perhaps a person in the prophecies might be able to help you interpret what the books are trying to say.”

Asaia stepped forward and held out her hand like she had been cued to do so. Asuka hadn't expected Asaia to introduce herself like that. Then again she was wearing leather and smelled kind of like a horse. “I am Asaiadeena Diablo,” Asaia said as she very gently nudged Asuka out of the way. She was all business and no patience. Given the circumstance, Asuka tried not to feel offended.

“I assume I don't have to specify. You said she was all over the Spawnsong,” Asuka managed to find a spot among a bunch of stacked books while they got through their introductions and then got down to whatever it is they were going to do, she figured there was a good chance she wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of what they were saying, but ambling around the city didn't seem all too appealing since the only currency she had was something she'd rather not spend while shopping.

Now Father Black's eyebrows threatened to climb beneath his hairline. "Ah, but you did need to specify," he corrected, then turned his gaze to Asaiadeena. Tenatively, he placed a hand leathery enough to compliment her armor in her grasp, squeezing surprisingly firmly. "Father Errtu'an Black, my dear. I must say, the prophecies painted a different picture of you. I expected you to at least be wearing the circlet, which might explain the lack of pointed ears..."

Sitting down again, the old man waved a hand about, indicating the books piled around his desk. "We've done a little interpretation already, but it wouldn't hurt if you could give a better light of things. Prophecy is so intolerably vague at times, and some of the details have been fudged over time, I'm certain. For instance, whyever does it say your blade can slay a god, but not scratch a kitten? And why is the draconic son said to be a son of yours? This threatens to go beyond the figurative."

This threatened to go at some length, but fortunately for Asuka, she would have little time to cover redundant information. She had barely found a place to sit when a small presence appeared at her side. An angel, young at least in size if not years, male and with the golden-edged wings of the Aesen heritage, and with eyes as wide as saucer plates.

"Ashkedai lodstas," he murmured with an apologetic bow that was quite nearly a curtsy with the way the lad gripped his robes with white knuckles. "You have been summoned, young mistress. The Prince wishes to see you in the inner chambers." For all his obvious anxiety, the boy didn't stutter and once he began speaking, his eyes stayed upon Asuka, though they left and worriedly wandered immediately afterward. A page or courier of some sort, perhaps.

"A summons from Lord Samael," Father Black said, inclining his head slightly. He didn't seem overly surprised, considering what status Samael held in Aeses, perhaps because of Asuka having been marked already. "You'd best leave immediately. Don't worry, it'll take some time before the lady Asaiadeena and I have covered the pertinent subjects."

Asuka's eyebrow popped like a kernel of overexcited snack food. As far as she knew their last meeting would be the final time she had any contact with the angel. In spite of being surprised more than anything, the color in her cheeks rose to a very pretty shade of mauve before she could rise filly from her teetering seat on a chair that didn't seem entirely safe, either that or it wasn't a chair at all but a stack of boxes and books in disguise.

She nodded to Father Black, “Then if you will excuse me,” she uttered looking a little weakish just as a memory or two flipped back over in her mind. “Asaia, leave out no detail,” she hazarded looking at the dragonrider who was sitting on a chair that actually looked like it might withstand the weight of a human if she shifted about.

Asaia gave her a rather dirty look and frowned. “I'm well aware of my purpose here Asuka.” There was a slight tang in her voice that only meant she was silently chastising the water elemental for thinking that she needed such guidance after all, she was far more openly noted in the prophecies, she knew what she was doing!

As she followed the golden winged angel out, Asuka made a mental note to ask about the circlet and the lacking of ears Father black was talking about...

While the demon exchanged questions for lines of curious and frustratingly vague prose, the boy angel led Asuka deeper into the temple, into the room of worship which she had not yet entered before. The inner chambers, however, were even deeper into the temple than this, and so he guided her directly through them. Whereas most churches had an altar to conduct the ceremonies and sermons from, the carpenting only continued overtop the worshipping room's plushy flooring and proceeded the two into another chamber directly at its end on the other side of this room. This room was protected by two large and thick doors, but they were open and looked as though they might never have been closed before, either. Ever practical, most of this room was consumed by storage boxes and the stream of minor priests led into it as they deposited books from Father Black's study, but a staircase in the center dominated the actual floorspace.
"It leads down when the Prince gives a summons, and up when the Core is open," the angel boy explained softly. "Magic makes it so, though not any magic any angel has ever mastered.

"That's what makes him the Prince and the heir of our origin."

With these words, the angel gestured palm-up with his hand, indicating Asuka should proceed downstairs. As she did so, she was greeted with a chamber beneath the room of worship which was bare by comparison, uncarpeted and with few articles of furniture. What few chairs there were centered around a small pit in the ground, from which a sight which was awe-inspiring despite the simplicity of the room around it did emanate. The only way it could be described would be to say that it was a reflection of the stars, but reduced to a gas which floated up from this pit. It was like a hologram, but gaseous and somehow liquid at the same time. The stars were not familiar ones.

On the other side of this field of stars, seeming absorbed in the faintly luminscent pinpoints of light amongst blackness, was the angel Samael, his expression pensive.

"Pardon the theatrics," murmured the angel in his waterfall/forest voice, lifting his glowing eyes up slightly as she neared. "The angels seem unable to shake the necessity for drama. Hello once more, my dear creature."

“Hello Samael,” she uttered managing a smile as she approached. She knew that she shouldn't be thinking of Samael in that manner, she had Kei! He might be incredibly inexperienced and demanding answers she couldn't really give to someone straight but... Asuka cleared her throat trying to switch gears as quickly as she possibly could. “I'm surprised,” she said smoothly, though the acoustics of the room made it seem somewhat louder than she expected. “I thought I would never see you again, or at least that's what you had implied.”

With a hint of a smile she did have to add to that... “Nothing isn't theatric with you around I think. You're rather cursed.”

She reached the center of the room, her eyes shifting from him to the imaged still standing between them. She had to note just how fascinating they were to look at. Did they shift or was it her imagination as she used them as a via. Something needed to keep her mind occupied before she read into anything too much.

"I've had my share of drama," Samael sighed with a small shake of his head. "These days, I prefer to accomplish things with a bare minimum of it, but alas. I regret that the odds of our meeting again are diminishing from 'unlikely' to 'almost certainly not' at an alarming rate. As time passes, I find myself less and less able to put my mind on matters of the mortal world. The ethereal realms have their own struggles and politics, which seem to be, even more unfortunately, prolonged into infinity. Which only serves to make my intended wedding present to the nature creatures all the more fitting, I suppose..."

The angel stepped around the stars, his footsteps making a single pronounced echo in the mostly empty room, just a single reverberation of noise. He was smiling both wearily and sadly. "I don't make a very good mortal these days, I fear. I yearn for simpler worlds and find myself failing to connect with the few available to me. I miss Fryja and other similar planes, mortal lovers and their innovations, and eating something other than concentrated light and mana. It feels as if Aeses is merely a distraction to me now, which should not be. Aeses deserves a better guardian than the likes of me. This is fine, since I intend to see that accomplished. Have a look at this."

Samael waved a hand and the field of stars was replaced with a space view of Aeses, centering upon the main island continent, with the ocean Mes surrounding it. The stars around the planet constantly wavered. Sometimes the ghostly illusion of other planets seemed to momentarily occupy nearby space, but always disappeared seconds later.

"This is Aeses. While not a nexus planet, and in fact intended to be kept at a more private level than other realms, its borders are constantly threatened by nearby planes. Aeses is adrift, as I once told you, leaving its pathways vulnerable. I cannot correct this any longer, and so I am intending to join Aeses to another world in order to preserve it, and to grant it a new guardian.

"I think Fryja should be that world. Think about it: Old and healthy, it would give the demi-goddess of nature a fresh source of strong energy to draw upon, while being removed from the danger of rotlings and the like. It would also be off-planet, and so would receive regular sunlight, not having to divide it as the split realms cause to happen on planetside. The citizens would not much enjoy losing the trinary suns, but that can't be avoided. One way or another, Aeses will be joining another realm. I think the best thing I can do for them is insure that it goes to a good one."

Thinning her lips Asuka frowned trying not to interpret that as the implication he may be dying or something. Maybe just moving on? That also made her sad. If it was unavoidable then it was unavoidable strange to miss someone though you've only really met them once. Well she knew him from before and didn't know him but-- Sighing the water elemental hummed, her finger brushed her lips as she traced it over them. Any weaker woman would have gone crazy by now. “You know how much I would hate to see you go.” She tried to phrase it in a manner that might be suggest her particular worry, neither wanting to say anything that might lead into finding such a thing was true but also almost not wanting him to puck up on it.

On the other hand she could see just where Samael was going with this. “She did suffer a scare recently and she's still maybe just a bit under the weather.” Asuka decided to tell Samael what happened no matter if he knew it or not. Telling him that Aiia was nearly assassinated might only serve to serve to urge him to do this even more, she wished she knew if doing so was a good thing. “Lone threw the boy through the doors right as I was coming out because I heard the window break. I thought something exploded. She lived through it, though there was so much blood all over the place I almost wonder how. Lone turns white as a sheet every time he looks at that scar she's got on her neck. It will continue to fade and she told me it might be gone in a year but..” Asuka smirked and smiled having heard some of the gossip Bell had been spreading around the inn, an word from a few other people as well.

“If he manages to accomplish what he plans Aiia will need all the help she needs,” Asuka smirked and blushed at the romantic implication of that.

"Indeed," Samael agreed with a faint chuckle which sounded faintly forced, as if the notion were somehow slightly disturbing. "It would be mutually beneficial, and certainly not a common gift -- an entire world, albeit a small one. I am reluctant to turn away my greatest creation--well, aside from Sol himself--but there is little alternative. Perhaps I would be able to return to it if she specifically allowed for it, but otherwise, soon, Aeses will reject my presence as surely as do most worlds... not an outcome I relish. There is little I can do about it, though. At best, I can only act indirectly, and meet you likewise."

Samael sighed. This was definitely not his ideal scenario.

Frowning openly this time she pulled on her pinky. Aiia wouldn't deny Samael the pleasure of visiting his own home. Her lips thinned and she looked down at her slippered feet, she needed to figure out how to trade for some new shoes without having to trade for new shoes.

“I can't answer for Aiia, but I have little to no doubt that she would be happy to allow you to stay on Fryja, or Aeses for that matter. I think maybe you should talk to her? She so far can't leave Fryja, but maybe if Aeses becomes part of Fryja it would be different.” She scratched her head, her long nearly black hair shifting about between her fingers. It made perfect sense to her and also no sense at all! Then again she wasn't a major incarnation, just an elemental.

As if she needed a reminder for who he was. Standing next to Sammael gave her pins and needles all up her arms and down her spine. It made her want to fidget even more than when she'd heard he had summoned her to him. “What then? If Aiia says you're welcome to stay?”
The angel shook his head again. "Aiia, to my knowledge, while she has great authority over Fryja, is not designated as its sole goddess. The faceless creatures still held that title the last I was aware, and they were not fond of me, though I don't think they guessed the extent of my nature through the felines. For now, I don't think her consent would make an appreciable difference. It might allow me to manifest in heavily dilluted avatars, but that may be the extent of it."

Samael's lips quirked slightly, and he stepped further away from the stars to sit in one of the chairs. The item of furniture creaked softly under his weight, and his wings passed directly through the wood and fabric, fuzzing slightly and emitting a low humming noise. "Ironically, what I suffer is much what Aiia fears, I think. In attaining godhood, I am removed from those I care about, first in committment, then emotionally, and then physically. I cannot give up godhood, however. There is no candidacy for the role to designate another heir to, and merely having my full range of powers puts me in this position. To remove myself from it, I would need to divide myself into the three forms of the Son again, which would have many repercussions. A dilemma I cannot escape from.

"While I would be glad to meet with Aiia someday, for now, it simply wouldn't have any significant outcome, and I fear the obvious power I wield would make her feel inadequate to her position as demi-goddess. I have no desire to do that."

Asuka crossed her arms then feeling a little indignant and maybe a little angry at what he was saying to her. Not unlike a pouty child she turned her back to him in a motion that clearly showed her absolute disapproval. She didn't like this, and she liked even less the thought he'd brought her down here to just tell her that not only would she not see him anymore but that he wouldn't even exist as he is now.

“You could have probably done this and I'd never know the outcome. I hate knowing this. You're probably wrong about Aiia I doubt she'd be so easily put out,” she said with a slight touch of strain in her voice. “Why tell me this if there's nothing I can do about it?”

Sometimes she forgot that he had been her kittens at one point in time. Samael knew her better than she herself might know or remember. He lived with her intimately for a long time after all. He had seen her throw all sorts of tantrums and fits, this was being taken fairly well for how her usual reactions tended to be.

Then again the part of her that was still being rational and not so snippy started up. Faceless ones? Oh, the ones that I met right after I got back from my journey. Didn't I see one of their broken masks in the curio cabinet downstairs? Though this tendril of thought did spiral through her head, all she showed outwardly was another “Hmph,” only the Hm part was drawn out a little further than she might have liked originally.

"Calling you 'mistress' would be somewhat odd, considering our statuses," he acknowledged with a chuckle. "Kei does, though? He'll grow out of it. I'm somehow unsurprised that Sol--Lone--is being overprotective. He always was one to covet what he cared for, even when he already had it. It's the dark angel in him. He's always been this way throughout the eons, since the dark angel has always been the core of him. Another reason why I don't want to depart, since I don't want to remove him long from my sight. He needs a firm hand, and I don't believe Aiia is firm enough to keep him in rein. Perhaps someone ought to try purifying him someday, but even I can't imagine what the result would be like...

"But yes, I will try to stay around. I'll speak to her if I can arrange it. Probably yes, through one of the kittens, much as I dislike projecting myself into them now that they're already established as separate creatures. It feels like body theft, regardless of how they permit it. It might be that the way we could keep in contact was for me to utilize Kei's body, so that there would be a minimum of infringement on anybody's space, but we'll see what time requires of us."

Asuka nodded slowly and pursed her lips listening intently. She didn't say anything but was thinking plenty. Maybe Kei might learn a little something from him if anything happens while he does that, she thought as she heard that last little bit.

“I know he needs to grow still and I don't mean to seem impatient, but it's awkward and more than a little frustrating on both our parts, he wants straight answers I can't give without skewing the message.” She shrugged and smiled a little softly though, “I keep forgetting that I essentially have forever these days. I'm still thinking that I'm going to get old and die before it happens. I need to learn a few things too I suppose.” At least for now she was being calm and rational about things.

At that point she'd almost run out of things to say and to do other than relax in his presence. Her hand reached out and sought his, only to pat it gently like she would if he were someone less experienced than she. A rather odd form of reassurance but then again she felt a bit like she might know him much like he knew her having seen all of his aspects. Even deities needed a little affection now and again.

The angel actually started a moment, then offered a quiet smile and turned his hand to grasp and squeeze hers lightly. "He'll learn, and so will the rest of us. He clings to the bare concepts of his nature because unlike lust, darkness or hope, reason sees little import in the unlogical. Once he realizes that life is not an equation to be balanced against itself and solved like a math problem, he'll understand that the feelings he fails to act upon are only costing himself in the long run. Then, I think, you'll both find ways to satisfy each other more thoroughly.
"For now, however, I think I need to attend to a few announcements and discussions. Moving Aeses to Fryjan space is going to result in a lot of disorientation at first. I don't want people to be frightened by the transition or the difference in light, temperature, and so forth. Some of this I can deal with via alterations in the atmosphere, which I can and will do, but the rest is all people. Afterward, I'll see about meeting Aiia, and will visit with you in the meantime, if that's permissable..."

From the way he gazed at her, he clearly hoped it was. Samael craved simple company who did not worship him or treat him specifically as a deity, which was obviously difficult on a planet possessing a religion which pivoted around himself. Asuka's company was simpler, more pleasurable and emotional, and had fewer of such distractions or frustrations.

Of course, holing onto the trinity angel's hand was like hanging onto a low voltage generator. She tingled in ways that made her feel like her hair may start to frizz. She squeezed it gently and then smirked, looking at him. She craved nearly the same thing she did. Love and company from someone who didn't call her mistress, and from someone who was taller than her. Though the kittens couldn't help their height, it only added to the schoolmarm feeling she tended to get sometimes when dealing with them.

“I hope you're right that Kei figures it out,” she said. Else I might end up falling in love with you all over again since I'm still half in love with you now, Asuka forgot that he could pick up on her thoughts.

She smiled again shaking her head and giving his hand a squeeze. “But you are right about me needed to go take care of a few things. I bet right now Asaiadeena's nit picking Father Black over an entry that she's thoroughly convinced she knows more about than he does. She's special that way.” Asuka had to chuckle a little bit when she used the word special to describe her.

Reluctantly Asuka stood and looked at him, making the motions that she really should go, even though she didn't really want to. “I'll tell everyone when I get back down to the inn, should I mention that you want to say hello to Aiia also?” The expression she wore was businesslike and rather solemn, obviously making it out to be more of a favor rather than a requirement that she go off and make a message relay.

Samael hesitated, his expression becoming pensive again. "I don't know how Lone will react to the news," he murmured. "I need to speak to him myself, but I've been dreading what sort of reaction I'll receive. He believes he failed me and himself. More dilemmas." With a sigh, the angel stood up and lifted her likewise to her feet, holding her hand like a courtly gentleman. "But I'll figure out a plan. In the meantime, do what you need to do and I'll take care of the prerequisites, and then we'll meet again later, most likely on Fryja through an avatar. Go find your friend and I'll get down to business."

But that was hardly the way to say goodbye to a friend, if even temporarily. He was afraid if he hugged her, the energy might make her hair stand on end, but he could and did lift her hand to his lips and brush his lips over her knuckles before releasing it. How did touching true physical flesh feel from his perspective? His sense of touch was quite sensitive, and his mind expanded to encompass the details of everything he came into contact with, unconsciously analyzing and noting each detail of her skin. Gods could and did have powerful emotions, and the ache of warmth and desire was like a hound gnawing on his bones from the inside.
"May my father be with you," he whispered softly.

Asuka managed to smile deeply, her free hand going to her chest as she blushed warmly across the cheeks. “Until then,” she said, her goodbye not really being very congruent with his final words to her. She waited until the movement was finally done before she slipped her hand off of his and retreated upstairs. Thankfully she had a fairly good sense of direction, else she might not have been able to find her way back to the study and opened the wooden door to peer cautiously inside.

“And I told you that I was there! What you're saying had little to no relevance what so ever-- something smells like lightning or static electricity.” Asaiadeena's sudden switch in commentary was something she'd learned on the battlefield. It might have been something that was pre an attack, “Oh, it's Asuka.” Her gaze shifted to the elemental poking her head in the door.

She has really sensitive senses! Asuka thought as she opened the door a little wider so she could slip in. “Yes it's me,” she answered Asaia, trying to smile somewhat weakly, “Are you about done? I have a few things that I need to take care of on Fryja now.”

Father Black waved a hand in somewhat abrupt greeting, for the first time looking less than pleased at the interruption. "Hello again! Asaiadeena and I were just discussing the ramifications of the phoenix queen's guardian stars during the battle of the guarded shadow. She says the gaze of the stars had nothing to do with it! Anyone can clearly see that the constellation was the pivotal factor of the battle's positive conclusion--"

This was the cue for Asaiadeena to interject yet again that there was no such relevance in the stars, that it had been all her effort and a little luck besides, but hopefully Asuka knew to defuse this before the powder keg blew up yet again.

“And I'm telling you that--”

She could see that there was little to nothing she could do to stop this conversation prematurely unless she forced it to stop. With a sigh she shook her head and snapped her fingers. A few strands of water flowed from the amulet she was wearing and wrapped around Asaiadeena's mouth before it could get any worse. The dragonrider was effectively gagged.

“Well, I trust that maybe you got a little bit of progress? I mean, hopefully I shouldn't regret bringing her over to see you,” Asuka approached the desk as Asaia gave her the look of death. “I have an important matter to discuss with Aiia and a few others on Fryja. Besides, Asaiadeena if I wasn't mistaken you were going to go look for Katsuo again?” Her eyes slid over to Asaia who gave her another look of contempt, mostly this time because Asuka was right, she did want to go looking for Katsuo again, now that she had a little more information that is.

The water gag puffed into a light mist in the air and sought the sapphire again. Oh Asuka could have left it there, but moisture and books didn't mix well. “Yes, of course, I have to go find Katsuo. Tric should be about ready to go when I get back.” She straightened and started allowing Asuka to lead her out.

“Thank you Father Black,” she said waving to him before she shut the door. It was time to go home.

Father Black gave a satisfied huff, as if he'd won the argument by default. "Yes, yes, some progress. Good luck, my dears. I'll of course continue working on these prophecies. Although it would be nice to know which of them are history or future..."

Waving as they left, the old man slumped back in his seat and gravitated his yellowed stare back to the books piled atop his desk with a sigh. Asaiadeena hadn't been anything like the prophecies made her sound! What a frustrating and stubborn girl. A rather pretty one, though...

Outside the temple, the kittens were already back and waiting for the two women to complete their errands, two of them (Aen and Ley) napping in a lump, the other two chatting about the trinary suns, debating what kind of an effect it would have if Fryja had three small suns to provide light instead of just the unreliable one. Then again, of course the one wouldn't be unreliable forever, having been restored and the dimensions slowly showing signs of overlapping, but Kei knew this and Sae did not, and Sae was a somewhat frustrating person to debate with at times.

Catching sight of the two, Kei stood up and was soon joined by Sae, after she shook awake the other two.

"Is there anything else we need to do here?" Kei asked.

Shaking her head Asuka managed a smile at him. “No no I believe we're done here. We should be getting back to Fryja, I've got a few things I need to gather everyone together about and tell.” She looked to Asaiadeena and smirked, “Even you need to stick around for this one.”

The dragonrider suffered a punctuated eye roll as she got into position for transportation. If Asuka didn't make her stay, Tric probably would. “I'm not looking so good as far as wins go you realize this don't you?” She made a very familiar look at Asuka. One that looked a whole hell of a lot like a spoiled child that wasn't getting her way.

“I'm aware Asaiadeena, but it's important, and it's also important that I let the choice few people that need to know a particular upcoming event what's happening. I don't think having a new moon appear above Fryja would have a very calming effect at first. Asaiadeena after this you will have to go warn Raven's Cross lest they have panic in the streets. Such a primitive town would most likely suffer a small breakdown.” She held onto Aen and Asaiadeena's hand as the little circle was formed and they went back home, flipping back into Fryja just about where they'd left with Tric eying the six of them.

She dropped all of their hands before Asaia could yank hers free and called up to Bell with a thought. Bell, I need you to gather everyone that's around except Aiia and Lone, I want to tell them privately.

There was a mental mumble, like she was rolling over and then sat up. Fine fine, I'll include at least one person from Omiyage so don't start right away, okay? I'm not going to start making public service announcements, usually because people start screaming for me to get out of their heads. There was the little mental blip as Bell's focus shifted.

Before long people started showing up outside where they already were. Tamara who kept his distance from all of them, and was wearing clothing like he was intending to do some traveling showed up, keeping near the hotspring. Even Murrina managed to show up somehow, though she looked a little worse for wear. Maybe Merric was keeping her up a little later than he should...

Students from the campus extension arrived as well, but these arrived in a group led by the familiar face of Ava Xhin, directing students like a field general with a compliment of soldiers. Not all the faces were ones who had visited the inn in the past, such as the pink-furred tillan named Callie or a three-eyed humanoid who wore only a loincloth despite the chilly weather. Others were common faces, such as Sanmei Long, or frequent visitors such as Aiji. None of them seemed to have the faintest idea what was about, but Ava had marshalled the troop to hear this message, whatever it was, in the event that it might be very important. Had to be, if so many people were being gathered. To Ava's knowledge, such a thing had never happened in the past, not even for Aiia's wedding, which she had only heard of from one person to another to another, to the point where it might well have been an untrue rumor for all she knew. She didn't really know Asuka, but she didn't think anyone would call a widescale meeting for no reason.

Asaiadeena would have been more comfortable being allowed to shy from the scene but since she was still standing next to Asuka, there was no escape for her now. She assumed the slightly queenly role, nose in the air, and eyes filled with a slight distaste for being looked upon. Her arms crossed below her chest in a manner that made them only a little more pronounced beneath her malleable armor. Tam made like he might be salivating and licked his lips and swallowed. Good thing Asaia didn't see it or maybe she would have left the scene after all.

“Good, I'm glad you're all here,” Asuka started. “I brought you all here because Aiia's got another wedding gift coming, and it's a big one. I was sent to warn you all to not be alarmed when it happens.” Pointedly not telling them what it was until they had their attention completely on her was a typical speech strategy. “I'm going to be blunt, Fryja will be getting a new moon very soon. It's called Aeses...” Asuka then began to explain what she felt she should, including a few things that Samael and she had talked on regarding her heath and strength and the strength it would give Fryja itself, including the reflected light and the proper tidal gravitational pull to only further balance out the planet. Though she didn't ore more likely couldn't speak from a scientific standpoint she made almost as much sense as a theologian on the matter. “I came here to warn you to not panic when it happens and to spread the word to everyone else who might need to know. Any questions?”

Her head inclined as she places her hands on her thighs. She really did look like a schoolmarm. No wonder the kittens still called her mistress.

This announcement caused some stir, as might be expected. It wasn’t every day that one learned that the planet was going to be receiving a new moon. The legend of Aeses was known by some of Omiyage’s students, but generated hardly more than a murmur of confusion and curiosity among those gathered there. Finally Ava, recognizing a facet of her own territory, stepped forward and took charge as Omiyage’s dimensional exploration team captain.

”Ava Xhin of Omiyage’s dimensional team. As an occupied moon, do you know if there will be travel between Aeses and Fryja, or vice-versa? Do you know anything of its potential natural predators or demographic? It may be advisable if Omiyage scouts this world before it… arrives here,” Ava said, wrinkling her nose slightly at the last. The notion of a moon being given to another planet struck her as utterly absurd, even knowing what she did about the tillan’s home planet Maari and how Omiyage had helped to correct its orbit.

Asuka put a hand to her chin tapping it thoughtfully before answering. “I'm sure there will be ways to Aeses Ava, but for the time being I think perhaps it is best that we don't storm the island.” Asuka let out a breath and had to consider students getting involved, and not to mention Aesen forms of currency! “Aeses is basically an island on a planet that is basically made of water. There are no predators to my knowledge but given the type of inhabitants there on Aeses I don't think there are any... at all.”

Pacing Asuka was inadvertently looking for one individual in particular. “Aeses is a planet of Angels. In fact,” she started as she finally spied the little girl wearing a dog collar with wings of a golden hue, “...Fey is from Aeses as well as Kei, Ley, Sae and Aen as well. If you have any more specific questions you want to ask them I think they might be willing.” Her hand reached over to a kitten that was next to her and stroked the top of their heads. “I know their a little tired though...”

Asaiadeena, figuring this was a good a time as any, went to Tric and slid into her saddle toward Raven's Cross. Now was as good a time as any to get out there and meet with Sammael about the current issues of things, the addition of a new moon to Fryja's eternal night was the topper for her list of things to do.

The blast from Tric's wings sent Asuka putting up a thin water shield over the group to keep the rocks and the dust from pelting the meeting with dust and rock. “I have other matters to attend to currently, please feel free to send one of the kittens if you need me and it's important, or maybe one of the other students if the kittens decide not to stay and I'll come back down.” She smiled and curtsied to everyone and excused herself, and went inside.

Given the last time she'd mentioned Samael in Lone's presence and the mentioning of the way he could possibly react to this by Samael himself, it seemed that she would be trying to boat upstream without a paddle by telling them now. Samael said he would discuss details and see Lone again, for the first time in how long? It would be a meeting Asuka might not mind seeing. She smirked as she reached their door. She felt a little nervous... she wasn't quite sure how well this would go as she raised her hand to tap in Lone and Aiia's door.

Knock.

Knock.

Kei chose to stay behind and answer questions. Sae stayed as well, but she was far less informative and much more hungry for the attention. Given the tendencies of Omiyage students, she had that in spades and soon disappeared into a small mob of smiles and stroking fingers. Kei came off like a university professor, for all that Tamara was the only person smaller than he was in the crowd. Aen stayed, but was soon napping, getting a little petting and not much else. Ley went with Asuka, but her glassy stare (and thumb in her mouth) indicated she was soon for bed herself.

Lone had been a little nicer as of late, starting from shortly after Asuka had delivered Aiia's wedding dress to her, when Aiia had pointed out not very subtly how he was causing more frustration than anything. He'd been fairly ginger with his newly knotted wing, getting used to the way the healed break affected the way it bent. He didn't look forward to Fryja's moist winter setting in, expecting that it would probably ache a bit, but the way he looked at time and discomfort, he didn't think it would bother him too much. He'd been a bit more patient and forgiving, more willing to let her downstairs, less obsessive about keeping Aiia in his sight at all times (although he didn't like her being outside the room, still). The black in his wings had dissipated and was replaced by natural scenes again, although they were often foggy or shown during a starless night, reflecting his own emotional recovery to her injury and how slowly it was progressing.

He answered the door, raising an eyebrow when he saw who it was, but stepping back to let her inside. "Asuka, hello again," he said amiably enough, if with just the slightest edge from remembered annoyance at her previous presence. Ley ambled in and without further ado flopped down by Aiia's feet and curled up. Hello and goodnight all in one!

Asuka smirked as she followed Ley into the room. “I've got big news for the both of you.” She was smiling somewhat nervously as she looked for a place to sit. “Lone why don't you sit down by Aiia.” She placed her hands behind her back and let out a long breath. “There's another gift that's coming, and though I'm the one that is delivering the initial message, I'm not the one who's giving it.”

She was pulling on her pinky behind her back, it was becoming a nervous habit of hers. “I just got back from Aeses. Samael wants to give Aiia Aeses as a wedding gift and make it Fryja's new moon.” Dancing around the subject was pretty useless. She had to just get it all out in the open. Asuka flushed as she looked at the both of them, Aiia looked like she swallowed something that was an odd shape and it was stuck in her throat. “Aiia you would be in charge of Aeses and it's people then because it's part of Fryja.” Then without much more adieu she started rattling off all the possible benefits, not unlike the speech she'd just given to everyone downstairs, though all of it was something Lone already knew or could guess. “....Adding Aeses will make you just that much stronger.”

Aiia's mouth dropped open and hung there like a contraption that caught small flying insects for a moment. She simply lost the ability to reply to that, obviously Asuka wasn't joking.

There were few things left in the world that could surprise Lone, or so it felt on most days. This was one of the few. His mouth didn't drop open, but the intensity of his stare could have cut lead. He believed Asuka, but he couldn't believe what she was saying at the same time. The implications made him want to wither up and hide. He'd already failed Aeses once, and now he would be the angel of its newest guardian? The thought made him cringe.

"I cannot believe he would do such a thing!" he finally said, voicing these thoughts. "Aeses be his one and only, the very core of our oldest problem!"

In retrospect, Lone would not remember why he had said that.

"I understand the benefits and know he hast the power to make it so, but Aeses, here? The thought of the changes for both our peoples be staggering. A fresh source of light for us, and the loss of light for them... and he wilt have no center for his being to manifest physically, no place of sanctuary." The angel shook his head, bemused. "It be so sudden. I know not what to think, but no reason to deny such a boon dost come to mind, if he be intent to give it. It be up to thee, love."

Asuka interjected again before Aiia could answer too soon. “Aiia, he says he's tired. He wants some normal interaction with other entities again, and he can think of no better person to take Aeses for him while he seeks out this new endeavor.” While most everything she said was true, there was that little stretch that she neglected, that bit about him needing to be accepted to Fryja to manifest properly, but that little bit seemed like it might be overstepping her bounds a little bit. She had told Samael that she wanted him to meet with Aiia after it happened so they could talk.

Aiia looked to Lone, some of the shock had worn off, and she remained surprisingly calm. “Lone I can see no downside to this arrangement at all. I mean, I think I would need your help to manage Aeses if it's not entirely self sufficient but--” Her trailing off meant that she knew it might be hard for him to deal with having Aeses and he might not be allowed back there. He'd told her that much. Okay so maybe there was one downside, she wanted to speak with Samael.

“Can I speak with Samael myself?” She looked at Asuka with rounded eyes and a bit of a frown. She meant no disrespect to Asuka but there was only so much that the messenger could relay.

Asuka once again pressed her finger to her lips and frowned. “He said he be in touch to talk to the both of you, but I have no clue where or how unfortunately. Just that I should tell you now before it happens.” She reached up and scratched her head looking a little confused.

Looking to Asuka first and then to Lone her ears folded slightly forward in the cute way that meant she felt a little overwhelmed. “That doesn't help me much...”

Lone winced at the reminder. "Aye, an angel to a world of angels who won't even speak mine name any longer. I can do this, but aye, it be not a fun thought." At Asuka's interjection, Lone frowned slightly and tapped his chin. This much was something he could add to. "Samael may not be able to predict when precisely he may be able to get an avatar into Fryja again. He wast having difficulty doing so the last time I saw him. Likely he be trying even as we speak, searching for the right opportunity. I imagine he'll be able to break through soon, though I canst hardly guess what difficulties it entails. I merely know he wilt find a way." Lone grimaced. "He dost always."