The Sky Trialist AU Main Story
Chapter 1: The Golden Deer
-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ->
-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ->
"Three days... more like three years"
El Nath had run out of things to do while he waited for Scouting Day to arrive. He had scoured every safe place for winged lights (Not like he needed any more), rifled through his props for tools (Just use Granny's campfire! It has the fastest charge) and even went on a candle run to pass the time.
Though around the second day of waiting, El Nath noticed that the gates to the Hidden Forest and Golden Wasteland had been powered down.
"The Elders have deemed these areas too dangerous for travel at the moment." A Vault kid had said. Thanks to recent events, El Nath now knew that these particular kids were called Archivists. "Please keep away from these areas for your own safety."
From the irritated looks of other kids, El Nath could tell that the new travel restrictions were just as unpopular with everyone else as they were with him. "What did the Elders think the Children of Light were? Weak?"
His Chandler group hadn't been very supportive of El Nath's decision, but he recognized that it was out of a place of fear and care. El Nath was gentle when explaining to Ascella why he had to go. "Cappella is missing. I have to find her."
"Please don't go..." Ascella cried. "I don't want you to go away too."
"I don't want El to leave either, but he has too." Hamal hugged Ascella as she cried. "Don't worry. We'll wait for them both to come back together."
That night, the night before the scouts left, Hamal and El Nath were tucking Ascella into bed at Hamal's nest. It took them a while to get her to calm down, but after she was asleep, the two older kids went to the balcony to talk.
"How long do you think it will take?" Hamal asked.
"To find Cappy?" El Nath shook his head. "It could take a while. Hopefully, I'll be able to recognize her instantly."
"Aren't you afraid of what's in that place?"
"It's Eden. It's always been bad. Now, it's just slightly worse than usual. I just wanna make sure she is safe."
"If you say so..." Hamal looked down. "I have a bad feeling about this whole thing. If kids have been going missing for seasons by this point, then how come we haven't noticed? I mean... I first fell to this world during the first season, and you're older than that. How did we miss the disappearances?"
"If I'm being honest..." El Nath answered slowly, "I guess we were too busy with other things to notice."
"Still... I feel horrible about the whole thing. We're only noticing it now because of an announcement. Plus the fact that Capella had left. If we had known about this sooner..."
"...Then we could have stopped her." El Nath realized in pain. "Or she would have been wise enough to hold off until things cleared up."
El Nath was quiet for a moment. "Well... Feeling bad about not paying attention isn't going to change anything. What's done is done. All I can do now is try to make things right again."
Hamal paused before answering. "Good point. I just hope that things go well with your mission."
-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ->
That night, El Nath tossed and turned in his sleep. His dreams filled with the Red Eruptions of Eden. As he struggled within his mind, his soul started to itch with an unfamiliar light. He woke just before the sun rose.
Something told him that things were about to get worse.
-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ->
After saying his goodbyes to his group, El Nath made his way to the Vault. He had arrived a bit early, so the other volunteers hadn't arrived yet.
Betelgeuse was waiting for the volunteers on the first floor. El Nath had met her during his day one candle run. Thanks to their brief meeting before, he knew where to go right away.
"Goodness..." Betelgeuse exclaimed as El Nath walked in. "You're the first volunteer and the first one here! Gonna be the first to make it through Eden's gate too?"
"Hopefully." El Nath responded with a small smile, "But whether or not I'm first doesn't matter. What really matters is that we make it through at all."
"Agreed." Betelgeuse got serious. "We'll wait for the others before we ascend to the Vault's Summit. Did you make sure to bring a useful item?"
"I brought a campfire." El Nath motioned to the bundle of logs that hung over his butterfly cape. "Best charger. Served me well for years."
"Good, good." She nodded in approval.
El Nath took a look around the Vault. The spirits here were more active than usual. They were rifling through the endless shelves of memory lanterns. Some talked to each other, while others were directing Archivists to various tasks. It looked like they were setting something up.
"If you don't mind.." El Nath turned towards Betelgeuse, "What's going on here? Everyone seems pretty busy."
"The Vault spirits and resident Skykids are preparing to move the Wasteland Residents to other locations throughout the kingdom." she answered him. "The Vault is just one potential location for them to stay until things clear up."
"Ah." The veteran nodded. "Good luck finding the kids who live in that place."
"Oh, there are Wasteland residents." Betelgeuse said lightly, "They just choose to live there in solitude, or they may be looking for something ancient..."
Two Archivists who had been listening into the conversation sneered at this bit. El Nath didn't even know they were there until he heard the sounds of ridicule. He turned to the pair and they went their own way.
"Gossipers. Just ignore them"
"Ah.." Suddenly, El Nath didn't feel too good about the Vault offering to house refugees. "I hope the ones who have to move don't have to put up with such mean residents."
Betelgeuse turned to him and whispered. "Kind of why my group sticks to the Valley Citadel. At least the kids there don't pretend to like you."
Then, two other volunteers arrived. They were greeted by Betelgeuse who gave them the same news as she did for El Nath. The fourth Volunteer to arrive was the mint-colored kid that El Nath ran into back at the announcement area.
"Oh! I forgot you were going to be joining us." Betelgeuse turned to them, a little sadness creeping into her voice. "Unfortunately, We tried to fulfill your request, but we couldn't find anyone to fill in for you. Are you sure you still want to go ahead?"
"Y-yes." The minty kid responded, his voice tinged with nervousness. "If no one else is willing or able, then we'll do it."
"If you're sure." Betelgeuse confirmed. "Just remember: considering your choices, all it would take is one hit from the rocks to knock you out. However, seeing as you made it this far with that kind of limit just goes to show that you may be the bravest out of all of the volunteers."
"T-thank you for your kind words. We will do our best to help everyone here. Though, there is just one request I'd like to ask." The kid inquired, "Do you have any messenger paper? I-I need to make a note."
"Check with the Vault spirits." Betelgeuse answered. "I've got to make sure we are ready when everyone arrives."
After the kid got their paper, they started writing a note with a pencil they had brought.
"Why didn't you stalk up on boats or cranes beforehand?" El Nath asked the kid.
"In the excitement, I kind of forgot." The kid answered sheepishly. "My o-other half must have used the remaining paper I had to leave a message for the Stinger."
"Wha- you know what?" El Nath shook off the confusion. "It's not important. Can I ask for your name?"
"Oh... My name?" The kid pointed nervously at themselves as if they were confirming that El Nath was speaking to them. "Ah. Y-Yes... My name is Mizar."
"Mizar?.. Ok. I'm El Nath." The Veteran bowed as the minty kid finished writing his letter. "We'll need to work together with the others if we are going to succeed in this scouting mission."
"Ah! Right." Mizar nodded and smiled uneasily. "It's a good thing that we brought a camera. The Elders did ask for a report from the ones who return."
"'From the ones who return..'" El Nath repeated a little disturbed. "You're talking like someone won't be making it out of this mission."
"It's a possibility we have to consider." Mizar's smile faded. "You can do everything correctly and things can still go wrong. We know full well how bad that storm can get."
"It can get pretty rough..." Mizar was starting to make El Nath uneasy with their strange behavior. "But it can't possibly be worse than usual... right?"
"M-my other half hasn't been in Eden for a while." Mizar thought for a moment. "Other than that, I wouldn't know. If anything, it could be raining crabs and krill in there."
El Nath let out a nervous chuckle. "Yeah.. If it was that bad, then who knows how it could get worse."
"You seem a bit on edge." Mizar noted calmly. "Are… are you sure you want to do this?"
A pause from El Nath. Mizar didn’t seem like the most confident kid, yet here they were asking him if he was on board with the mission. "Absolutely." El Nath answered firmly.
"Even if there is a chance that you won't make it out?" Mizar asked quietly.
"I've got to try regardless of the risks." insisted El Nath. "I owe it to my friend. Even if she made it, I still have to find out."
"How willing are you to find out?"
"I'd do whatever it'd take to find her and make sure she's ok. I'd give up everything I have to keep her safe. After all, she would have done the same for me."
Mizar's lopsided smile returned to their face. He let out a soft laugh before saying. "You'd give anything to make sure she was ok... huh? Your will is strong, especially for those you care about..." Their voice trailed off before they wistfully added. "I wish I had that kind of friend."
El Nath turned to them, a little startled. "You don't have friends?"
"I do." Mizar answered carefully. "More specifically, I have one. Though, I don't know if he would go as far as you would for your friend as he would for me. My other half frightens him a little. Plus, he's got a family he cares deeply about."
"Ok... But isn't this other half you keep mentioning willing to do whatever it takes to keep you safe?" El Nath asked.
He could hear something in Mizar's voice turn from uncertainty to an affirmed sense of loathing. "If he does, then he has a real funny way of showing it."
"Forget I said anything." El Nath made a mental note to keep his questions with this kid light. "Changing the subject, how old are you? I know that may seem like a strange question, but considering that you're a cape-less, then I'd assume-"
"I first fell to this world during the Season of Prophecy." Mizar cut him off.
"Woah." El Nath blinked. "You've been cape-less for that long?"
Mizar smiled bitterly. "Yes. I wish I could-", That smile faded too. "A-ah...N-never mind."
"Huh.. A lot of things seem to bother this kid." El Nath thought. "Well-"
"Everyone's here." Betelgeuse called the group's attention forward. "Ok. We need to head to the Summit and speak with the Vault Elder before you head out to Eden. Let's get going!"
-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ->
The ride up was filled with anticipation for the quest. For some reason, the elevator up didn't stop at any floor before the summit.
"The Vault Elder has control over the lift as well as most of the floors." Betelgeuse answered when she was asked about it. "She usually makes kids solve the puzzles on each floor to test their skills and teamwork. However, for what we're doing, we don't have too much time to waste."
They reached the Summit with no problems. Most of the kids began to fly to the Shrines, save for Mizar, who started walking. El Nath decided to hang behind so that Mizar wouldn't feel left out.
They walked together. "You know, you can go ahead if you want. You don't have to wait for us." Mizar said nervously.
"I'd rather walk instead." El Nath responded. "You seem uneasy. Plus, with you walking, everyone else is gonna be waiting anyway."
"Ah... Then... thank you?"
As the two made their way, El Nath tried to find something to start a conversation with to fill the awkward silence with. Then he noticed something on Mizar's head: a black stone hair accessory. It gleamed like obsidian.
"Nice hair pin!" El Nath complimented, "I've never seen that one before. Is it custom?"
"Ah!- What?" Mizar jumped as El Nath pointed it out. "Oh! I-It's nothing important. But please don't touch it."
"Ah," El Nath took a small step away, "Sorry."
They reached the shrines where the other volunteers were talking while they waited. Betelgeuse called everyone to attention. "Ok. We are all about to enter the Spiritual space together. Here you will meet with the Elder of the Vault before she sends you on your way. Be aware that before you go, she has a few very important things to tell you about this mission."
Everyone responded in approval as they knelt down at the shrine. The group was then teleported to the Vault's Summit in the spiritual world. The Vault Elder was waiting for them.
"Everyone is here." The Elder said. "Good. Let us head to a specially prepared area of the Spirit World."
The Elder led the way over some stone islands that spiraled upwards from where they started. Most kids flew up, while El Nath stayed behind to keep Mizar company as he hiked the celestial staircase. They seemed to appreciate the gesture.
As they reached the top and traversed a small hallway, the Elder led them all to a room. This room had a circular light window on the floor and was surrounded by loose stones, four of which were floating in the air. As they got closer to the circle, El Nath noticed that the floating stones were each engraved with an elemental symbol from the Cave of Prophecies: Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. Beyond the circle was a gate which most likely led to Eden's entrance.
The group stopped before the edge of the Circle's surrounding stones.
The Elder turned to address the group. "Before we begin the evaluation, I would like to offer you all a grave apology. The plan was going to be very different from the current rendition. However, due to circumstances, you will be going into Eden without elemental protection."
The kids present looked confused.
"Wait.... we were supposed to be protected?" one kid asked.
"With the current crisis of the children going missing, my fellow Elders and I sought to strike a deal with the gods of the four elements." The Vault Elder explained. "However, we had a hard time asking them to agree to help. In the end, they offered a final deal: the children of light within their vision would receive the blessing of the gods. However, they would only grant their power to the children they deemed worthy of it. Since the gods don't trust most of the children, only a few have already been given an untapped Elemental Blessing."
Most of the group seemed to buzz with excitement over this development. The Vault Elder motioned for them to quiet down so that she could continue.
"However, the price we had to pay for that power to be borrowed was that the gods would have command over the most powerful child of each element. Those children are to aid the gods with whatever they need until the crisis is over."
Silence followed that addition.
"It wasn't the best deal..." The Vault Elder admitted sadly, "But it was the only one they would accept. Not only do we have to worry about this... issue, but we also have to find the other chosen ones who have the gods' blessings. Originally, we were hoping that every child would have a blessing they could use to fend off the unknowns, but because of the limits and standards of the gods, we will need every child with a blessing to stay behind to defend the weak. Which brings us to this place..." She gestured at the Circle.
The group fanned out to have a better look at the stone monuments.
"This is a crude recreation of the Totem from the Caves of Prophecies." The Elder explained. "It is nowhere near as complete as the original, mainly because it was a rush job. But it should largely serve the same purpose. Each of you is to touch all four floating stones. If a stone glows, then that means you have a blessing from one of the four gods. If one glows, then the others will not, as every child can only have one blessing."
"A-and if none of them glow?" Mizar asked nervously.
"Then you have no blessings from the gods, which is going to be more common." The Elder confirmed. "Those who go through this test with no results will continue onto the scouting expedition. However, if any attunement is discovered, then that child will be held back here so that they can begin learning about their blessing and use that power to protect the innocent."
All of the kids seemed eager to start now. Most of the scouts were excited about the prospect of a special blessing. The only kid that wasn't thrilled about the idea was El Nath.
"A test you have to fail in order to continue forward." He scoffed. "That doesn't seem very fair. Shouldn't such a blessing be used to aid the search and rescue?"
"They need the Blessed to stay behind as defenders." Mizar tried to back up the test. "I-I don't think we need to worry too much. Besides, the Elder said that actually having a blessing is rare... right?"
El Nath turned towards the Circle uneasily. That strange feeling he had had in his dreams began to haunt him again. It was like there was something in his hollow body that wasn't supposed to be there.
"Hey..." Mizar snapped him out of his daze, "You good?"
"Yeah." El Nath shook off the feeling and walked towards the circle where the other kids were eagerly touching all of the stones. "Let's just get this time-waster over with. There are lost children who need us right now."
When they had started, most of the other kids had finished the test, all with no positive results. They waited for the last two to finish up. Mizar wasn't having any success with getting the stones to glow.
Much to El Nath's horror, as he touched the stone with the earth insignia, it began to glow a bright and brilliant orange. The others immediately noticed and ran to look.
"Hey! You have a blessing!" One of the kids exclaimed.
"Lucky!!!" Another shouted.
El Nath quickly withdrew from the rock as if he had touched a red shard. The glowing died after a second of lost contact.
All eyes were on him... and for the first time in his life, he didn't like it.
"You passed the test." The Vault Elder seemed a bit surprised, but positive. "While the others head out to scout the storm, you will stay behind to begin your training."
El Nath was quiet for a good minute, trying to process what the heck just happened. That silence was broken by a low declaration. "I cannot stay here."
"I cannot stay here." El Nath trembled. "There are kids trapped in Eden that need help. I volunteered for this mission because I wanted to do something to help find them! I should have noticed that there were kids going missing in the first place! I-I have to do something!"
"You can do something." The Vault Elder tried to reassure him. "You have been granted a rare blessing that can protect the remaining children. I admire the fact that you are willing to go with the scouts, but your blessing is a special light that we cannot afford to risk in a place with the possibility of no return."
"It's ok." Mizar came up behind him and put a hand on El Nath's shoulder. "You told me why this mission is important to you. As well as the fact you were willing to do whatever it takes to find her. We will search for your lost friend while we're in the Storm. When we return, we will let you know if we find her."
EL Nath fought back arguments and bitter tears as he asked Mizar, "Will you even know what to look for?"
"A golden light." Mizar affirmed. "Like yours. Close friends often don the same colors. If she's as close to you as you say, then we have to find a child wearing gold."
The veteran was speechless. A single tear rolled down his mask before he answered. "... Yes. She wears gold. But you’ve never even seen her before in your life! Can you really find her for me?"
"We will do our very best." Mizar promised. "I-I'll add her to my notes, so my other half knows what to look for."
The Mint-colored kid sat on the fire stone, took out his letter, and began adding words to it. El Nath didn’t know what to make of Mizar, but right now he was distressed about not being allowed to find Capella directly.
The Vault Elder turned towards the rest of the group. "Speaking of searching for the Lost, I have a request. Should you make it back to the Gate of Rebirth, find a child by the name of Aldebaran. That child will be granted a powerful blessing if they are returned to this world. We will need their help."
The rest of the group nodded, confirming the request. “Right. We’ll keep an eye out when we make it up there.” One of the scouts promised. “Hey, Minty! Can you make a note of that?”
Mizar gave the kid a funny look and then looked at the Vault Elder as if confirming something. “A-Aldebaran? You’re talking about that stubborn gardener! Why look for that kid when there are others whose lights are on the line?”
“You know them?” Another kid asked curiously.
“We met him once.” Mizar grimaced. “He was… annoying.”
“If you knew him before he ascended,” The Vault Elder said, “Then you may need to help convince him to return to this world. For the protection of the weak, and for the appeasement of the gods.”
El Nath was fuming inside. Out of every kid, he was the one who had to stay behind. On top of that, another kid who he hadn't even heard about until now was seemingly more important than the countless lost souls trapped in Eden for the same reason he was being held back.
From his point of view, so far this whole “Elemental Blessing” deal was just plain unfair.
"Blessed One. El Nath." The Elder addressed him directly. "The doorway has been redirected to Nexus Island. Please return home and head to the Cave of Prophecies to begin your training."
The gate behind the Circle changed. "They aren't going to let me help the way I want to, huh?" El Nath quietly went through the gate, bitterness filling his heart.
-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ->
On the Nexus Isle, he had a surprise waiting for him: Hamal and Ascella were at the wardrobes again. They looked surprised to see El Nath back here.
"Hey!" Hamal waved as his little friend tackled El Nath in a hug. "You're back early! Did you find Cappella?"
El Nath was trembling in frustration. ".... No. I didn't"
Hamal's smile died. "What happened?"
"They wouldn't even let me go on the mission!" EL Nath spat angrily. "Apparently, I have some kind of rare blessing that they think is too valuable to lose! Or something like that. Sure, one of the scouts who got to go offered to keep an eye out for her, but even with a general color description..."
His voice trailed off as he noticed the main realm gates. "... All of them are closed."
Hamal scanned the gates before pointing out the Isle of Dawn's "Not all of them." he pointed out.
"Huh..." Ascella looked confused. "Why is that one still open?"
"Because they think I'm a moth now." El Nath thought angrily.
"Uh... El Nath?" Hamal noticed the fury on his fellow Chandler's face. "Are you ok?"
He took a deep breath before yelling at the top of his non-existent lungs. "NO! I am not ok! I was axed from the scouts for having a tool that could have helped the lost children, the Elder buried my best friend's whereabouts in favor of a random stranger who isn't even in danger, and to add insult to injury, they closed all the main realm gates except for Dawn's in my face!"
El Nath turned to his group. "I have had it! Capella is in danger and the Elders want me in training?! There's no time for that! If that storm is getting worse, then... Then...!"
"Woah... kid! Calm down." El Nath's friend put his hands up defensively. "Ok, ok, ok. It's clear you are not having a good day-"
"I can't calm down! I have to do something-!"
Then, something caught El Nath's eyes: the Aviary Gate had been left open. Since that realm had no Elder, the gate couldn't be closed. The Aviary had its own realm gates, all of which, El Nath suspected, would close if he got close.
But there was something else the Aviary had that he could use.
"I'd do whatever it'd take to find her and make sure she's ok. I'd give up everything I have to keep her safe. After all, she would have done the same for me."
"Hamal." El Nath turned to the purple kid. "I need your help." The deer-masked kid walked up to his friend.
After a few seconds of whispering his request, Hamal nodded in surprise. "Ok... Are you sure you want me to do this?"
"Absolutely." El Nath affirmed.
Hamel stared at his friend as he walked to the light shrine. "I don't know about this El Nath…"
"You stripped me of a chance to help my best friend directly!" El Nath turned towards the Realm Gates, addressing all of the Elders directly. Even though they couldn't respond, he suspected that they could still hear him. "You tell me she is inferior to another who is already safe, then you try to get me to go where you want me to go! Well, I'm telling you right now that YOU CAN'T MAKE ME DO ANYTHING!"
Ascella jumped at the veteran's raging. She had never seen El Nath this mad before. "Why is he yelling?"
"My best friend is lost," El Nath declared, "and I refuse to sit back and play student while she drowns in darkness! I will find a way to bring her back!! No... I will bring them all back! I don't care what I have to do to make that happen, but I won't let anyone stop me! Not even you!"
Hamal blinked in stunned silence as El Nath raged at the gates. "By the light... I have never seen him crash out like this."
"You think you can get me to go where you want just by making every other option unavailable?!" El Nath roared, "Well you're wrong!" He raced for the Aviary gate and flew through it.
Ascella and Hamal were left behind, both of them processing what happened.
"Well." Hamal said. "Looks like we have to get moving. Though maybe El will come to his senses." After he hoisted Ascella onto his shoulders, he let out a nervous laugh. "Maybe he'll burn himself out?”
"What are we doing?" Ascella asked in bewilderment.
"We are going to grant a wish." Hamal answered as they entered the Isle Realm Gate. "Though, I hope he'll see that what he's asking us to do and what he’s doing is reckless and dangerous. Maybe then, he'll call off his request?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The remaining Elders observed from the gates, watching the golden child fly off into the Aviary gate.
"What is that kid doing?" Sah asked the others. "If he's trying to use the realm gates in the Aviary, then we could just close those too. Besides, where else would he go?"
"You dolt!" Teth hissed, "He's heading for the Wind Paths! By the time anyone is able to follow that kid, he could be anywhere in the Seven Realms!"
The Right side's eyes widened with the information. "Oh."
"I knew this was a bad idea!" Teth clenched her fists. "The first child with a blessing we find and he isn't even willing to help us!"
"Well..." Ayin put his hands together, "He did seem pretty mad..."
"The First Blessed is clearly worried about the Lost Ones." Tsadi calmly explained. "In his frustration, he has let reckless action rule him."
"Doesn't he understand that if the ones that are still left get taken, then there won't be anyone left at all?" Mek questioned worryingly.
"He's more worried about the other missing children." Tsadi answered. "He wanted to help find them directly."
"Well, it's clear that he either doesn't understand that he is needed elsewhere, or he doesn't care." Teth grumbled. "Just how many Blessed Ones will neglect to help the weak? Come to think of it..." she drifted off, the gears turning in her head with a cold realization. "Did the gods know that this child would refuse to help us? Is that why he was the only child among the scouts to receive a blessing?"
The other watching elders turned towards her in horror.
"What makes you think the gods would do that?!" Sahmek asked in astonishment.
"They don't trust us." Teth sneered. "So, it would make perfect sense for them to give their blessings to the most uncooperative children. They gave us what we asked for... only for our request for help to blow up in our faces."
"Don't you think it's still a stretch to say that the gods are being malicious?" Ayin inquired meekly.
"I'm saying that we should take that possibility into account." Teth responded coldly. "As a matter of fact, I’m done pretending this will work. If Lamed wants to try and salvage this broken plan of hers, then she's welcome to do so. However, it is clear to me that something else may need to be done."
Silence spread across the observers. "Are you suggesting we go behind Lamed's back?" Tsadi asked in a warning tone.
"You all can do as you wish." The Forest Elder proclaimed. "I, on the other hand, will not stand by and watch this failed attempt at protection become a crutch to rely upon. There has to be another way to protect the weak without relying on the pettiness of the gods."
"You're leaving?" Ayin asked in dismay. "What would Lamed think?"
"I don't care what she thinks! If we don't pivot, then we'll all be walking on thin ice with these Elemental Blessings! I am going to find a way to protect the children, a way that's more reliable." Before Teth turned to leave the observation point, she added: "Speaking of which, if she asks, tell Lamed that I wish not to be disturbed."
And, just as the Golden Trialist ran from his guardian duty, the Water Patron too abandoned the quest for the gods' blessings.
As for whether or not they were right to leave? That remains to be seen.
-> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ->
