Izurich
Majoraa
FaithfulMuse
Crimson Flame
Otakuforreal
Punished GN
Blade17
Nyahahameha
BrokenPromise
Ariamis
Chapter Eight-
Gotta Catch 'Em All!
Gotta Catch 'Em All!
Part Four- The World With No Name!
Ponn hates to double post, and I hate this annoying as fuck dress and hair, but I guess sometimes this kinda stuff just can't be helped...
-Kate
Despite starting out so well, Kate’s visit to Palmyra had all-too-quickly devolved into the cringy absurdity that being in the presence of any Oros seemed to inevitably lead to. Still, she had gotten her photo, and made a few new friends in the process, with the quartet ultimately parting on at least somewhat favorable terms. Yet, perhaps the best part of her trip was the fact that she hadn’t run into the virtually omnipresent druid. Then again, doing so would have been rather unlikely in such a setting, even with its lack of a veil obscuring the supernatural world. The universe to which she’d be traveling next, however, was one in which an encounter with her unnerving stalker seemed like an utter certainty…
The World With No Name was a realm seemingly vomited forth from the fever dreams of some cosmic horror, or a deranged AI story generator, a universe whose every aspect was in a state of near constant flux, its whimsical landscapes shifting like pages in a surreal storybook. Yet, it was also a realm in dire peril, besieged by a horrifying blight known as the Abyssal Convergence. A dark, malignant energy, the Abyssal Convergence corrupted everything it touched, from once-bountiful lands to sentient beings and even magic itself. At first, it was a subtle whisper of darkness, a spectral fog that clung to the fringes of reality, unseen and yet still palpable. As time passed, however, the abyss's insidious touch became ever more pronounced. Verdant forests, once teeming with vibrant flora and fauna, withered beneath its dread-filled breath. Rivers and lakes, once sources of life and vitality, became stagnant pools of despair. Settlements that had once thrived now stood as eerie, abandoned relics of the past, the inhabitants who remained now plagued by dreams tainted with forgotten horrors, their minds and hearts slowly eroded by the relentless shadow. Indeed, from The Wandering Woods to The Sea of Lost Memories, fearful whispers of the Abyssal Convergence’s inexorable advance were ever-present as the once vibrant world continued to grow ever-darker.
Nonetheless, brave souls rose up in defiance of this seemingly unstoppable foe, heroes who stood as beacons of hope as they strove to understand the Abyssal Convergence’s mysterious origins, even as they fought to repel its dark onslaught. One such band of heroes were the motley collection of travelers and native Elementalists who banded together in order to deny the Abyssals’ attempt to corrupt Nexustead, a bustling town at the very heart of The Elemental Enclave. After achieving this great victory, the group traveled to the Lunar Cities nestled within the airborne island chain known as The Harmonious Archipelago for a period of rest and revelry. Floating among the clouds in the highest heavens, each Lunar City was an intricate labyrinth of shimmering towers, crystal pathways, and opalescent domes, the gravity-defying isles upon which they rested connected to one another by ethereal bridges of gleaming moonbeams. Home to the Lunatics, a human-like race with a strong affinity for lunar magic and a close connection to all forms of celestial phenomena, these cities were typically closed to outsiders. Yet, at times of particularly special significance, their shimmering gates opened wide to all, and the night of Kate’s arrival was just such a momentous occasion.
On that enchanted eve, the Lunacy Moon, Luminara (known in the common-tongue as Moonsight), largest of the World With No Name’s three major satellites, waxed full, and so the Lunar Cities were in the midst of an extravagant Full Moon Celebration, a grand and glorious event, filled with magic, music, and revelry under the full moon’s luminous glow. Yet, this wasn’t just any Full Moon, but a Trilunial Convergence, or Triluminum, a rare and highly auspicious celestial event in which all three of The World With No Name’s moons graced the night sky with their full glory, bringing with them an even more significant than usual rise in magical phenomena and metaphysical cosmic alignments. Thus, the Celebration accompanying it would also rise to rarely-witnessed pinnacles of gleaming grandeur and starlit spectacle.
As Kate made her way through the jubilant crowd, the energy and excitement surging around her were palpable. Colorful banners and streamers fluttered in the gentle lunar breeze, while lanterns crafted from moonlight crystals illuminated the city with a soft, ethereal glow, casting enchanting patterns of light and shadow across the moonstone streets. The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of exotic lunar cuisine, as street vendors and market stalls offered a dazzling array of lunar delicacies. Moon-shaped pastries, shimmering starfruit, and celestial nectar were but a few of the delectable treats available for revelers to enjoy. On the grand stage of the central lunar amphitheater, which normally hosted the members of the lunar forum and esteemed lunar council, renowned lunar musicians and performers now gathered, their melodies weaving a tapestry of enchanting sounds that filled the air with the magical music of the heavenly bodies. Dancers twirled and leaped with graceful abandon, their movements mirroring the celestial dance of the moons and stars above. Overlooking this grand array was the balcony of the grand lunar ballroom, a gleaming hall of shimmering, crystalized moonlight, and it was this elaborate edifice to which Kate ultimately arrived.
It was there that the most esteemed members of Lunatic society could be found, dancing, mingling, and making merry, while bedecked in their glittering celestial finery. Kate herself had reluctantly conceded to arrive in her transformed appearance, her impractically elaborate attire and Rapunzel-esque golden tresses fitting in far better with her refined surroundings than her typical mundane appearance. Yet, even this level of ostentatiousness paled before the young beauty perched upon a gilded throne at the entrance to the grand balcony. Surrounded by glowing moonflowers and adoring revelers alike, she exuded a captivating aura of regal majesty. Bathed in the full moons’ radiance and garbed in opulent attire that rivaled the heavens’ shimmering glory, she seemed the very embodiment of grandeur and allure. Upon one elegant hand was perched a softly glowing lunar butterfly, while her other hand grasped an ornate Royal Scepter, which gleamed with the magic of the Full Moon.
After gazing over the ballroom with an unmistakable air of superiority, the regal maiden addressed the assembled crowd.
“We bid thee greetings, our adoring subjects,” she began, her azure lips curled into a cocky smirk. “Thou art most fortunate indeed to bask in the brilliance of thy queen's presence tonight. Verily, the Full Moons’ grace hath never shone more resplendently, and thus we hath never embodied their glory more magnificently! Oooohh ho ho ho hoooo!” she added in overly dramatic fashion, before raising a delicate hand to cover her mouth and unleashing a peal of supremely haughty laughter.
“Your Majesty, you truly are the fairest ruler of them all,” a handsome young astronomer declared with a overly-embellished bow, his voice filled with awe.
“Of course we art,” the queenly beauty agreed with a smug smirk. “And thou would do well to never forget it, our kind subject.”
“I must say, my queen, the celebrations are always at their grandest whenever you magnanimously deign to grace us with your most august presence,” a portly lunar merchant noted with an approving smile.
“Naturally,” the royal bombshell replied, while giving her luxurious cerulean tresses a dramatic flip. “Our unparalleled beauty and radiance demand nothing less. The celebrations art merely reflections of our own magnificence.”
“Could you tell us more about your Royal Scepter, Your Majesty?” a lunar fairy inquired, clearly enthralled by the lunar queen’s regal radiance.
“This Royal Scepter symbolizes the moons’ choice to grace our most splendiferous self with their unparalleled power,” the celestial monarch replied, her voice filled with haughty imperiousness. “Thou may consider thyself most fortunate indeed to behold it.”
“She truly is a sight to behold, is she not?” a voice from beside Kate spoke up, causing the photographer to quickly whirl around to face its owner, a bearded man of advanced years and stately bearing.
“Uh, yes, yes indeed,” Kate agreed, swiftly composing herself after having been taken off guard. “But, um, she seems a bit… full of herself,” the photographer added in a lower voice. “Though I guess that’s to be expected of royalty, huh?”
“Your words ring true, even if it pains me to admit it,” the bearded man replied with a sigh. “She is not always like this, you know,” he added. “Normally, she is a kind and humble astronomer and lunar mage, one I am honored to say is my finest pupil. Yet, when fair Luminara, the Lunacy Moon, waxes full, she is transformed by its mystical power into the majestic being you see before you, Celestia, radiant Queen of the Full Moon. While this form grants her great beauty and power,” he continued. “It also fills her with a most regrettable vanity and arrogance. Still, I would say the benefits of her mystical metamorphosis far outweigh its negative aspects, and I believe most in attendance this fine eve would be in agreement with such a sentiment.”
“You can say that again,” Kate agreed, glancing back to the adoring crowd gathered around Queen Celestia. “I’m Kate, by the way,” she introduced herself with a small curtsy. “Kate Carson.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Carson,” the bearded man replied. “I am Solonar Solanthis, astronomer, astrologer, lunar mage, celestial sage, and senior member of the Lunar Council. Tell me, Miss Carson, would you happen to be a photographer by chance?” he inquired. “I must say, that is an exquisitely beautiful camera you have there.”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Kate confirmed with a nod. “And thank you,” she added, giving Solonar an appreciative smile. “I have to say, though, I wasn’t expecting anyone around here to know what cameras even were.”
“The ever-inventive and industrious Gnomes produce a wide array of photographic implements,” Solonar explained. “So knowledge of cameras and photography is actually rather common, especially among the learned and well-traveled.”
“Solonar, our loyal and wise mentor!” Queen Celestia called, her imperious voice filled with haughty grandeur. “How good of thee to join us this most luminous eve!”
“It is my great honor and privilege, Your Majesty,” Solonar replied with a bow. “And if I may say, your regal glory is as awe inspiring as ever.”
“Of course it is,” Celestia replied with smug confidence. “The Full Moons grace us with their resplendent presence and fill us with their stupendous power once more. Can thou not feeleth their power coursing through every fiber of thine own being?”
“Indeed, I can, my Queen,” Solonar replied. “The waxing of lunar magic is undeniable, and it imbues your royal majesty with a strength beyond compare.”
“Strength and beauty, Solonar,” Celestia clarified, her voice suffused with vanity. “They art gifts bestowed upon the fair maiden chosen by the Moons to be their divine vessel. Now then,” she added, turning her attention to Kate. “Did we heareth correctly that thy companion is a photographer?”
“You did, indeed, Your Majesty,” Solonar confirmed. “Queen Celestia, please allow me to introduce Miss Kate Carson,” he added, gesturing to the bridal gown bedecked blonde.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Majesty,” Kate replied with a curtsy.
“Oh, if this is not a most auspicious turn of events!” Celestia declared with a delighted smile. “If thou art a photographer, then thou simply must taketh our royal portrait!”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Kate replied as she readied her ornate camera. “It would be my great privilege to do so.” It was hardly the first time she’d photographed royalty, after all, and she doubted it would be the last. Queen Celestia struck a pose, and then…
*SNAP!*
“Okay, all finished,” Kate announced. “Looks like it came out great.”
“Most splendid!” Celestia commended. “We cannot wait to gaze upon it, once the royal framer hath finished applying the proper embellishments, of course.”
“Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, I’ve often wondered about your transformation during these times,” Solonar spoke up. “You become a completely different person, a queen of unparalleled beauty and charisma, one who serves as a most needed beacon amidst the encroaching shadows of these turbulent times. It is truly most extraordinary.”
“We art so very glad thou hath noticed,” Celestia replied as she vainly preened upon her extravagant throne. “It is a transformation worthy of our exalted status. After all, the Full Moons hath chosen our most superlative self to embody their grandeur and allure.”
“Yet, it is also troubling,” Solonar continued, his voice taking on a more thoughtful tone. “I have seen the way it changes you, my Queen. You become far more arrogant and vain during the Full Moon. Is that an aspect of our magic you truly wish to embrace?”
“Solonar, dear friend, vanity and self-assuredness art the hallmarks of a queen,” Celestia replied imperiously. “The world deserves nothing less when the Full Moons’ power flows through our most glorious self!”
“I do not doubt your authority, Queen Celestia,” Solonar replied. “I only ask you to remember that the Full Moons’ magic should be a reflection of our inner selves. Its power, while awe inspiring, should not overshadow the wisdom that guides our choices.”
“Perhaps thou hath a point, Solonar,” Celestia conceded. “The balance between power and humility is a delicate one. We shall strive to remember that, even when we art our queenly self,” she added, giving her mentor an appreciative smile.
“Q-Queen Celestia…?” a young girl inquired, her voice sounding rather timid as she hesitantly approached the majestic queen. “U-Um, I r-really like y-your gown,” she told the moonlight monarch with a shy smile. “I-It’s so very pretty. I-I just can’t stop admiring it…”
“Indeed, it is, our young subject,” Celestia agreed, smiling down at the girl with far more warmth than she had previously displayed. “The Moons spared no expense in crafting an outfit worthy of our regal countenance, one which our subjects would be delighted to gaze upon.”
Just then, the lunar orchestra began a new song, and a flamboyantly-attired Jester of The Eternal Carnival reverently knelt before the Lunar Queen.
“Might I have the honor of a dance, Your Majesty?” he asked, while offering his hand. “Your celestial presence is unmatched among all here gathered.”
“Very well,” Celestia accepted with an overly dramatic sigh, her demeanor one of annoyed condescension, as she reluctantly rose from her gilded throne. “We supposeth we shall allow thee to serve as our consort for a brief time. We art known for our impeccable dancing, after all, so it would be dreadfully remiss of us not to lavish such a captivating sight upon our adoring subjects,” she added with a teasing smirk. “But first,” she continued, twirling away from the Jester to kneel before the young girl who had complimented her regal attire. “We beliveth that thou would maketh a most worthy regent to rule in our stead, while we betaketh our exalted self to the dance floor,” she told the shocked girl with a kind smile. “Would thee be so kind as to sit upon our royal throne?”
“I-I…” the girl stammered. “I’d love to!” she cheered, racing up the throne’s gilded steps.
“Most wonderful,” Celestia nodded approvingly. “Yet, if one is to serve as our regent, they must be garbed in raiment befitting such a lofty station,” she added, before transforming the girl’s outfit into one mirroring the regal extravagance of her own with a wave of her Royal Scepter.
“O-Oh wow!” the girl exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with glee. “T-Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you so much!”
“Thou art most welcome, dear subject,” Celestia replied warmly. “Now then,” she added, returning her attention to the Jester. “Shall we dance?”
“I am glad to see she has not entirely lost touch with her true self,” Solonar observed as he watched the royal beauty stride into the center of the dance floor, her hips swaying hypnotically.
“And she certainly seems to be enjoying herself,” Kate noted with a chuckle.
“I only hope her other companions are finding equal enjoyment,” Solonar replied. “Moons know it cannot be easy, not while also keeping watch over that bumbling buffoon of a Dreamweaver to ensure he doesn't ruin the celebration with his anarchic antics…” the astronomer added, his voice taking on a more exasperated tone. “Just one lapse in vigilance, and the orchestra might very well find their instruments attempting to devour them…”
“Yikes…” Kate observed, cringing slightly. “Gotta say, that’s pretty messed up.”
“‘Messed up’ does not even begin to describe it, Miss Carson,” Solonar told her with an indignant scowl. “Quincy Safehaven, an ironic name if ever there was one, is a wandering menace to all who have the misfortune of crossing his path,” he explained, his sagely visage contorting into a look of disgust, as if just speaking the Dreamweaver’s name was enough to cause the astromancer physical pain. “Make no mistake, there is nothing ‘safe’ about him. He brings calamity with him wherever he travels. Indeed, he almost brought the Harmonious Archipelago to ruins around a century ago, when he nearly drove King Arion insane after torturing him in his dreams for a full month!”
Well shit… If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this Quincy guy was this universe’s Oros…
“Yeah, that does sound pretty horrible,” Kate agreed. “But, uh, if he did all that, then why would he even be allowed to come here in the first place?”
“Because all are welcome during the Full Moon Celebration,” Solonar replied with a weary sigh. “And because his antics, as horribly disruptive as they might be, are not performed out of any sense of malice, but a genuine, if incredibly misplaced, desire to be of assistance. It is this latter aspect, which endeared him to Lunella, and why she has allowed him a place as one of her traveling companions.”
“Wow, that’s awfully nice of her,” Kate noted. “Especially after everything you’ve said he’s done.”
“Yes, well, it is because of that very attitude that she has won so many loyal friends and allies,” Solonar replied.
Out on the dance floor, all stood in reverent awe of Celestia and the Jester as they twirled and spun, their graceful movements putting all the other dancers to shame.
“Your radiance outshines the very stars themselves, Queen Celestia,” the Jester complimented his royal partner as he dipped the moonlight monarch backwards, allowing one of her shapely legs to rise into the air.
“Obviously,” Celestia replied as she dramatically tossed her head back, her voice filled with smug imperiousness. “It is only fitting that every luminous body in the firmament would envy the presence of their most grand and glorious queen,” she added, rising up to give her partner a supremely confident smirk. With that, the dance drew to a close, and Celestia glided over to a newly-arrived young woman in a shimmering gown. “Stella, our most cherished friend!” the regal beauty exclaimed with a joyful smile. “We bid thee bask in our most majestic presence and regale us with tales of thy starlit wanderings!”
“Tell me, Miss Carson,” Solonar spoke up as he watched Stella employ her lunar magic to create miniature constellations to serve as glittering visuals to accompany the tales of her myriad travels. “What brings a photographer such as yourself to our celestial celebration this eve? Are you merely here to record the moonlit festivities for posterity, or was there something in particular you hoped to photograph?”
“Well, to be perfectly honest, I’d like to take a picture of Oros the Oracle, and I have it on pretty good authority that she’ll be here tonight,” Kate replied. She didn’t have much info on this universe’s Oros, but she knew that any Oros worthy of the name would never miss an opportunity to attend a party, or rather, to crash one…
But the person to crash Kate’s sense of calm would not be Oros, but someone else she was perhaps less fond of.
"It seems that your authority was wrong, Photographer.” Standing right behind Kate was none other than the omnipresent druid, once again seeming to just appear out of thin air. Any attempt to move or line him up with her camera only caused him to shift in a way to be out of her camera frame.
“Oh great, it’s you,” Kate muttered, after whirling around to face the source of the familiar voice.
"The Oracle is not one for distractions. She prefers the quiet calm of the wood over the hustle and bustle of civilization.” A hand reached in front of Kate holding a picture of a whistle, which looked like another playing card. "I snapped a picture of your Whistle during your venture into the arcade. I managed to capture its fine craftsmanship. Regrettably, the flash on my camera went off. You don’t appear to have it on you, so I can only assume a pickpocket must have stolen it during the confusion I caused. Maybe you’d feel better if you held onto this picture of it? I’m sure it will turn up in time.”
“What the fu—” Kate snarled, her eyes wide with fury, before abruptly stopping herself. After all, it wouldn’t do to make a scene here, even if she wanted to kick the crap out of the druid where he stood. “What are you even talking about?” she growled through gritted teeth, even as she snatched the picture out of the druid’s hand. “There wasn’t any commotion at the arcade, and even if there was, I’m pretty sure I’d have noticed someone trying to steal something from my inner jacket pocket,” she added. “Unless…” The photographer gasped in utter horror, her face going pale as a terrifying thought occurred to her. “You fucking pervert…” The words might have been said in the faintest whisper, but if looks could kill, then the one Kate was giving the druid would certainly have caused a massacre. “You were never at the arcade,” she hissed, while her shaking hands clenched into fists. “You snuck into Lada’s lab! That’s how you were able to grab my whistle without me noticing, and take one of your shitty pictures of it!” she added, no longer caring if her harsh language might offend Solonar or any of the other nearby party goers. “And it’s awfully funny how whatever you photograph just so happens to mysteriously disappear right afterwards.”
Another hand reached in front of Kate. This time it held an old oil lantern. "Then accept this gift as an apology. The Oracle may not like crowds, but they are not far from here. In fact, they have been waiting for you to show up. Simply light the Lantern in a more relaxed environment and she will find you.” The druid flung the lantern into the air and backed away from Kate.
“Fine,” Kate grumbled, catching the lantern. “But this isn’t over…”
No sooner had she muttered this, then Queen Celestia led her entourage of sycophantic admirers between Kate and the departing druid.
“Now then, where might we findeth our dear Orion?” her moonlit majesty inquired imperiously. “Verily, we did promise to guide him on a most enchanted moonflower viewing, and a royal promise simply must be kept!”
By the time the royal procession had passed by, the druid had completely disappeared into the crowd.
Turning back to Solonar, Kate gave the astrologer a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that,” she apologized. “You, uh, wouldn’t happen to know anything about Oros the Oracle, would you?”
“Oros the Oracle…” Solonar murmured, his brow furrowing in thoughtful concentration. “If memory serves, I believe that is one of the many titles of Oracle Morowa, a renowned Feykin Seer,” he explained. “She makes her abode in Entway, a small village located amongst the sentient trees of the Wandering Woods. Incidentally, we are actually hovering over them at this very moment, so your… ‘acquaintance’s’ claim about her close proximity was indeed true.”
I should have known she’d be in some kinda forest… This is just like Luana all over again…
“I see… Well, thanks for the help,” Kate told Solonar with an appreciative smile. “I guess I’ll be heading off, then.”
“Safe travels, Miss Carson,” Solonar bid her. “May the Moons’ light ever guide your path.”
The floating island palace was quite the spectacle, though the land surrounding it was no less fantastical. Ahead of Kate was a path leading through rolling hills, each covered with hundreds upon thousands of lunar flowers. Each glowed like the moons, lighting up the path ahead. Some were tall enough to be mistaken for trees. Some bobbed and swayed not in the wind, but to some unheard melody. Only for that melody to be heard the further Kate got from the palace. Some of the flowers were doing very unflowery things. One of the flowers was shooting seeds at a heart, which was swaying and dodging as fast as it could. Such a strange place.
But the island didn’t stretch on forever. The closer Kate got to the edge of the island, the fewer flowers there were. To the point where there was nothing ahead of Kate but darkness. Perhaps this was a good time to try out that lamp, less her next step take her for a fall into the Wandering Woods.
But a simple oil lamp by itself couldn’t do much. Without some way to start a fire, it wouldn’t throw much light. But while Kate was considering how to deal with that issue, a shadow flew out of the darkness. The silhouette was difficult to make out against the stars, but its shape became more defined as it got closer. It was vaguely humanoid but had wings. Not like a bird, but an insect. It could have been a fairy, but as it got closer it seemed to be a bit bigger than that.
As the shadow got closer, it produced a tiny flame. It leapt out of its hands and into the lantern, where it began to glow. In contrast to the cool glow of the lunar moons, the flame was warm and orange. The light spilled onto the surrounding flower beds, but it also illuminated the shadow that had come to greet Kate.
What stood before Kate looked like a woman, but couldn’t have been more than three feet tall. Bright red feelers protruded from her head. Opal stones shaped like moth eyes adorned her white hair. Giant moth wings flowed down her back like a cape. Her clothes were reminiscent of the Kukeri, Bulgarian performers who dressed in exotic, fuzzy outfits. Though perhaps the moth woman’s outfit wasn’t quite as extravagant as that.
She watched the flame dance inside the lamp for a moment before looking to the photographer. ”Hello, Kate.” Her voice was soft and quiet. ”I’m Oracle Morowa, though you know me as Oros the Oracle. You are aware of the moon’s effects on our world, and Veritas in particular has a huge effect on my ability to divine the future.” She extended her hand. ”Though I intentionally avoided looking at our encounter. It is not often I get to experience a moment in the present.”
Huh, that was easier than I expected…
“Nice to meet you, Miss Morowa,” Kate replied with a smile, taking the offered hand. She was now in her casual attire, having changed back to her mundane form as soon as she was outside the lunar city. “I’m glad this is such a novelty for you,” she added with a chuckle. “Though, honestly, all I really need is to take your picture, if that’s all right,” she added, holding up her now far less ornate camera to illustrate her point.
”Oh…” Morowa’s shoulders sank. ”Well, regardless, you aren’t in a rush to leave, are you?” She folded her arms behind her back. ”After me, you only have two more to go. I dare say you left your most troublesome marks for last. But I don’t mean to sound like I know your situation perfectly. Just that, as an outside observer, it doesn’t seem like there’s any harm in resting a bit.” The moth woman’s eyes trailed off behind Kate. ”You walked past an entire meadow of glowing flowers to get to me. Did you stop to smell even one?”
“Well, uh, I was kinda in a hurry,” Kate confessed. “But I guess it’s cool if we just chat for a bit. And you’re right,” the photographer added. “I did save those two for last because I thought they might be the most problematic to deal with, but, uh, speaking of problems, there kinda is something else you might be able to help me with. See, there’s this really creepy druid that’s been following me wherever I go, ever since I bumped into him at a fighting tournament,” she explained. “That really wouldn’t be all that bad on its own, but he’s supposedly a photographer, too, and whatever he takes a picture of always seems to ‘mysteriously vanish’,” she continued, making air quotes at the appropriate point. “Thanks to him, I’ve already lost two pretty important pets, so, uh, I was wondering if you might have any insights you could share.”
This caused Morowa’s face to light up. ”Ah! Yes, I can help with that.” She folded her arms in front of herself. ”In fact, I think I remember seeing a druid like that in a vision. One moment.” The moth woman closed her eyes, and the opal stones twinkled like stars in a nebula. ”A druid, right? So a disheveled man? Twigs and leaves sticking out of his hair? And the pictures he takes, they turn into game cards, right? If you could describe one of the pictures…” When Morowa opened her eyes, Kate was holding out the picture of her whistle. ”Yes, I know who that is.” Her arms fell to her sides. ”That is Leshy. He’s a card scrybe, and anything he takes a picture of is turned into a card. The stats, name, and everything else is something that he adds after the fact. But…” She looked at Kate. ”He doesn’t exist. He’s a program and can’t interact with the physical world. Maybe in the greater omniverse he exists as a physical entity, but he’s always been interested in entertaining his players. I’m unsure why he’d be interested in you.” She waved her hands. ”N-not to say you’re not interesting! Just not interesting to him. I think there might be something more going on here.” She placed her hand on her head. ”So you first met him at a fighting tournament? That’s also the first place you went to look for an Oros, right?”
“Actually, I went there as more of a small vacation,” Kate clarified. “That’s not to say I wasn’t doing a little work on the side, but I didn’t get the job to go photograph the multiverse’s various Oroses until after I met ‘Leshy’.”
”That’s quite curious, isn’t it?” Morowa squinted her eyes. ”And this job you’re on, you know your employer, right? Are they the sort to pull pranks? Would they know there was an Oros in your vacation spot and used the opportunity to put something like Leshy against you?”
“Well, we kinda pull pranks on each other,” Kate confessed. “But this job she’s got me workin’ on is way more important to her than pullin’ some stupid prank, especially if that prank’ll hinder my chances of success in getting her what she wants.”
”They’ve been helping you find your marks, right? But if it doesn’t feel in character for her to do something like this, then we’ll have to rule it out for now.” Morowa placed her hand on the card. ”What I know for certain is that this is indeed your whistle. It’s under the effect of a powerful curse that has turned it into a game card. It does seem like you’re dealing with a real life Leshy, right down to the sadistic treatment of his players. But again, the motive isn’t right.” She placed a hand over her mouth and sighed. ”You’re sure that this isn’t Nykannis’s doing? I don’t mean to insist, but they seem to know where you’re headed. If they aren’t operating under Nykannis, they must be working for someone with ties to her. That, or you made someone with powerful divination abilities very upset in the past.”
“Shit, that could be just about anyone…” Kate muttered. “I hate to admit it, but I’ve pissed a lot of people off over the years… Still,” she added, taking a closer look at the card. “If this card is still the whistle, and the other one he gave me is still Gary, then all I’ve gotta do is get him to change ‘em back.”
Or get someone else to do it…
All things considered, this wasn’t nearly as bad as she’d feared. Even if she couldn’t manage to get “Leshy” to revert the cards, it was still almost a certainty that Nykannis would be able to do so. After all, she wanted to see how the Gorelions would fare against these supposed Caustic Bovines, which wouldn’t exactly be possible if they were stuck as playing cards.
”I don’t advise that. If he really is Leshy, he’ll only do it under some twisted set of circumstances. Maybe he’ll return one card to normal while ripping up the other. If you’re on good terms with Nykannis, having her restore them would be better.” She sighed. ”But the bigger issue is that they seem to be stalking you. They could just as easily take a picture of you. But they haven’t, and there has to be a reason for that.” After staring off into space for a bit, Morowa folded her arms. ”Maybe revenge isn’t their goal. If they’re leading you to each Oros, then maybe what they really want is your camera. Or more specifically, details on all of us.” She placed a hand on her forehead. ”I could do more if I knew more. I can’t use Endless Eclipse to divine information on someone I’m not familiar with. It would be one thing if they were standing in front of me, or you had some of their hair. But it must be a relief to know your pets aren’t beyond help.”
“Yeah, I’m positive Nykannis’ll be able to fix ‘em up,” Kate replied. “But I’m still pretty creeped out by the fact Leshy keeps followin’ me around. I mean, if he already knows where ya all are anyways, what’s stoppin’ him from just takin’ pictures of ya himself?” she asked. “As for gettin’ ya close to him, I can’t even seem to get a clear picture of the jackass… Last place I saw him was in the grand ballroom in the city back there,” she added, pointing a thumb at the gleaming moonstone metropolis behind her. “‘Though I’m not particularly thrilled with the thought of makin' a return visit,” the photographer confessed. “And I could be wrong, but you don’t really strike me as the type to enjoy crowded cities, either.”
”I would not go back there for leisure, if that’s what you mean. But I would go if I thought we could find him.” Morowa flapped her wings just enough to get her eye level with Kate. ”I don’t pretend to know his motives, but your cameras do entirely different things. You learn about your subjects, he transforms them into cards. Without any more information, the best I can do is guess what his motives are, which I don’t think is very useful on its own.” The moth woman flew a bit closer to Kate. She could feel the air from her wings beating against her face. ”So you don’t like crowded places? I’m surprised to hear that. I myself do not like noisy environments.” She looked off the edge of the island with a sigh. ”I’d take you for a walk through the walking woods, but I fear it’s not the most interesting place to venture at this time. The island won’t leave much moonlight to see by, and the trees are ever up to their pranks.” A smile crossed her face. ”Though, maybe you’d like to fly across the treetops with me? There’s a nice vista that I’m sure you’d love to see.”
“Oh, uh, I guess…” Kate replied, taken slightly off guard by the change in subject. “But, uh, are ya sure you’re strong enough to carry me?” she inquired with a dubious frown. “I mean, I know I don’t weigh much, but still… Oh, and I don’t have a problem with crowds,” the photographer clarified. “I’d just have to transform if I wanted to go back to the ball, and I’m really not much of a fan of doing that.”
”Ah!” Morowa smiled. ”That makes a bit more sense. As an oracle I'm required to wear formal attire all the time. I suppose I’ve simply gotten used to everyone staring.” She pulled a small pouch off of her waistband. ”As light as you are, my wings wouldn’t be able to lift me if I was much heavier. But what really enables us to fly is our moth dust. Just a light dusting and the world will seem lighter, if only for a while.” She began tossing handfuls of dust into the air. It went up in whiteash, but floated back down as twinkling sparkles. ”It’s a lot more fun to fly when you aren’t being suspended by someone who is hugging you from behind. It keeps the bugs out of your teeth too.” After tying up her bag, she extended a hand towards Kate. ”I’ll hold that lamp if you’d like. And, maybe I’ll hold your hand on your first moth assisted flight?”
“Huh…” Kate noted as she watched the shimmering moth dust rain down around her and Morowa. “Uh, sure,” she added, handing the Feykin her lantern, before taking the offered hand. “Lead the way,” Kate instructed with a grin.
Strangely, unlike nearly every other Oros she’d met, the photographer didn’t feel any sense of unease when interacting with Morowa. If anything, the small young woman exuded an aura of calmness and safety, one which seemed to effortlessly engender a sense of trust that should have been utterly absent when in the presence of anyone bearing the title of ‘Oros’.
”Alright.” Her hand closed around Kate’s. ”I suppose we’re ready to fly.” Morowa did not kick off the ground, or even beat her wings. Kate and her seemed to float into the air like a pair of balloons, though it felt more like the world was moving away from them. The lunar flowers started to blend into each other until they looked like a sheet of snow. But eventually they stopped flying up, and Morowa began to fly towards the lunar city. They had to be moving fast, but it didn’t feel like it. Kate could only feel a gentle breeze blow through her hair, and it was as quiet as a whisper.
”Regardless of how big my problems seem on the ground, everything looks small from up here.” Morowa soared over the grand ballroom. ”Mountains, islands, continents, making them small just necessitates altitude. Even the haughty queen and her throne looks small from here. Only the stars and moons are above us, if only until daybreak.” Once they left the city’s borders, Morowa grinned. ”And look, you didn’t even need to dress up for the return trip.”
“Guess you’re right,” Kate replied with a chuckle. The flight really was rather amazing, she had to admit. She’d been flying many times before, but somehow, this was different. Still, as nice as it was, a potential concern nevertheless occurred to her. “Um, aren’t ya ever worried that a monster, or even an abyssal, might attack ya when you’re all alone up here? Or do ya just avoid ‘em with your magic?”
The moth woman looked upward. ”Hmmm, I’m not too worried, no.” She looked ahead. ”Especially not tonight, with my powers being at their strongest. You always need to be careful, of course. Though even if I encountered a monster, I’d just do something like this.”
They corkscrewed through the air before diving off the side of the island. As crazy as the maneuver was, the lantern hardly rattled at all. The flame was steady, and would have moved more had they been sailing on a ship.
From a distance they must have looked like a tiny ember plunging into a black forest. But it was not the trees that Morowa was interested in. Between the jagged silhouettes of the trees was a river. It reflected the night sky like a mirror, and was calm enough as to not create waves. As they got closer, they could see the glow of the lantern reflecting off the water’s surface. Morowa continued to fly lower, until they could see their reflections looking back at them. It was an interesting light arrangement, with the lantern illuminating their bodies and the pale moons giving them an intense rim light. They almost looked like they were glowing.
”As liberating as it can be to fly above the world, there’s a lot to see just by soaring next to it.” She smiled. ”I remember the first time the Seer took me flying through here. I intentionally splashed him and was punished when we got back. He was so mad…”
Despite the suddenness of Morowa’s aerial acrobatics, Kate was never concerned for her safety. Not only did she trust the moth woman, but it didn’t even feel as though they were the ones moving. Rather, the world was moving around them, much like how warp drives worked, now that she thought about it (no, not those warp drives, the other ones). As they flew over the river, the photographer had to admit that the light reflected off the water’s shimmering surface created an ethereal ambiance that was quite beautiful.
“This seer of yours sounds like he needs to chill the fuck out if a harmless little splash got him that pissed off,” Kate noted with a chuckle. “So, uh, did ya know how he was gonna react and just didn’t care, or was that before you fully mastered your divination abilities?” the photographer inquired.
”Future sight is always tricky. Only when Veritas is full can I use my powers to full effect, and only in the moment. That said, I was young and mischievous, and the Seer was strict. I did not care, nor was his reaction a mystery to me.” She smirked. ”Though I must confess, what I did was a little stronger than a splash. He was trying to show my how to fly, when I flew in front of him and did this…”
Morowa lowered her tiny foot into the water. Despite her size, Her speed caused the water to leap behind her in an arc. The effect was a bit like a racing boat going full throttle. It sent water everywhere. Not long afterwards, she raised her foot again.
”...I should also mention that he was a fellow moth like myself. While moth dust allows us majestic flight, It can be washed off. Rain wouldn’t be enough. It would need to be a downpour, a waterfall, or something like the wave I made a moment ago. I didn’t even hear him hit the water.”
“Yikes… That does sound like more than a simple splash,” Kate admitted with a nervous chuckle as she realized that Morowa might be more like a typical Oros than she’d initially thought.
The oracle sighed. ”Of course, I would never do something like that now. Most tree folk like myself start mischievous and mellow out as we age. Is it fair to say that’s the opposite of you?”
“I don’t know if I’d say it’s the opposite,” Kate replied. “All humans are different. For me, personally, I’ve always been pretty mellow on average, but I do enjoy the occasional prank to spice things up,” she added with a grin.
”I couldn’t tell.” Morowa responded with a smile. ”I’m sure Feykin would develop differently if we were more spread out. Humans owe their diversity to their varied upbringings and exposure to other cultures. Speaking of cultures, what’s the most interesting one you’ve encountered?”
“Well, I’ve done a lot of traveling and seen a bunch of crazy stuff,” Kate replied. “But I think the ones that stand out the most are the Cult of the Great White Handkerchief and the Magical Mushroom Cloud Monarchy. There’s also Muttropolis, a city of sentient dogs that worship a giant fire hydrant, keep humans as pets, and are led by two mayors named Cat 1 and Cat 2 (but they’re still dogs). They also randomly turn into giraffes for some reason…”
The rest of the flight was like that. Morowa took Kate to many vistas while asking and answering a myriad of questions. They smelled the salty waters of the ocean, marveled at bioluminescent plankton, and even flew beside a giant whale in the sky. Eventually they stopped speaking and just enjoyed being in each other’s company while viewing the nameless world’s beauty.
Eventually, they came across a volcano. It had long gone extinct, and was covered from top to bottom in trees. The only reason Kate could tell it was a volcano was because it had a hole in the top of it. They started to slow down once Morowa flew them over it.
”We’re here.”
The world started to catch up to them. The volcano seemed to inch forward and swallow them. The moons and stars took a step back as the girls descended. But there was a soft, lavender light at the bottom of the volcano. As they got closer, it became apparent that the glow was caused by some glowing mushrooms, but there were also fireflies flashing about in the darkness. While that wasn’t quite bright enough to illuminate their surroundings, the lamp was. The walls of the volcano had been engraved. Depictions of Feykin going about their simple lives could be seen on every wall. A bird creature drinking from a well, humanoid bugs singing in unison, and even a few moth people like Morowa.
”This is the cave of eternity. It’s an extinct volcano that tunnels directly into the ground. My village performs their burial rights on the mountainside, and then a sculptor comes down here to immortalize them.” Morowa let go of Kate’s hand and floated over to one of the walls. ”Their entire body is engraved on the surface, and some words are written beside them. Just enough to give an impression of who they were.” She ran her hand along the wall, only to stop on a pair of moth lovers. ”I thought it would be a neat place to take a picture.”
“This place is definitely somethin’ else,” Kate agreed as she cast her gaze over the various engravings. “So, uh, I’m guessin’ ya got a personal reason for wantin’ to take a picture here, right?” the photographer inquired. “Like, a particularly significant engraving ya wanna stand by?”
”Yes.” She continued to look at the moth lovers when she spoke. ”This is Thalos and Elara. They were my parents, who lost their lives during an expedition into the heart of the wandering woods. We didn’t have a lot of time together, but I owe a lot of who I am to them.” She looked back at Kate. ”And the village Seer. He finished what my parents started, so to speak.” With a sigh, Morowa turned her entire body towards Kate and held the lantern with both hands. ”This is the first time I’ve been photographed, so if you have any suggestions, I’ll hear them.”
“Oh, um, my condolences…” Kate told Morowa with a sympathetic frown. “My parents passed away when I was pretty young, too,” she added. “I actually got my love of photography from my grandpa, who took me in after they died.”
”I’m glad the two of you had a common interest to share.” The moth woman said. ”I would have never guessed our upbringings were so similar.”
“As for this picture, I’d say everything’s just about perfect,” the photographer noted with a grin. “I can see now why ya wanted this to be the place ya had your first photo taken, and I’ll do my best not to disappoint ya,” she told the Oracle as she readied her camera.
”It’s difficult to be disappointed when you don’t know what to expect.” But that was all Morowa said before her body went still. Her wings beat slow, her grip on the lamp relaxed, and she stared into the camera. All that was left was to wait for her picture to be taken.
And with a click, it was done.
Kate had acquired a photo of yet another Oros, and all of her parameters. Though there was a curious bit of data that scrolled across her camera. It seemed that Morowa was only three months old.
However, although the revelation of the Oracle’s age might have startled some people, Kate wasn’t particularly bothered by it. As a seasoned multiversal traveler, she was well aware of how time moved differently in different universes (or in different parts of the same universe), as well as how different worlds, species, and cultures measured its passage in different ways. Plus, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable to assume Feykin simply matured faster than the average species, counting months as others did decades. Regardless, none of these possibilities changed the fact that Morowa had been the friendliest and most cooperative Oros she’d met thus far, which was really the most important thing, as far as Kate was concerned.
“All done,” the photographer announced with a pleased grin, before retrieving the photograph that emerged from a slot at the bottom of her camera and handing it to Morowa. “Check it out. You can keep that, by the way,” she added. “It’s got a special coating on it that should keep it protected from any kinda harm, so don’t worry about it gettin’ damaged. And, uh, thanks for bein’ so cool about all this,” she told the moth woman. “I really appreciate it.”
”It’s beautiful.” Morowa smiled as she looked over the picture. She brushed her fingers against its surface before hugging it against her chest. ”And it was my pleasure, Kate. I enjoyed our time together.” After eyeing the picture a bit longer, she slipped it inside a satchel beside her moth dust. ”In fact, I’d like a picture of you too, if you don’t mind. Just a memento for tonight.”
“Uh, sure,” Kate replied. “Did you, uh, wanna be in it too?” the photographer asked. “‘Cause it’s gonna look kinda weird if it’s just me,” she added with an awkward grin.
Morowa’s smile grew. ”Oh! I’d love to be in it!l” She floated to Kate’s side and placed an arm around her back. ”Maybe this one we can take against the night sky?” She pointed above them with the lamp.
“Great idea,” Kate replied. “Should look pretty sweet with the three moons in the background.”
”I thought so too.” And with that, the two girls floated out of the volcano together. The dull glow of the fireflies pulled away as they rejoined the night sky. ”What type of picture were you thinking about doing? Are you going to do a, what’s it called? A selfie?”
“Kinda,” Kate replied as she held her camera out in front of herself and Morowa. “Although it won’t exactly be a selfie, since there’s gonna be two of us,” she clarified with a grin.
”You’ll have to forgive me for using the wrong term, we don’t have cameras in this neck of the woods.” Morowa leaned her head on Kate’s shoulder and waited for her to take a picture. It wasn’t long before Kate handed Morowa another photo. ”Ohhh ~” She brought her hand up to her mouth. ”It’s perfect.” She looked at the picture for a moment longer before placing it in her satchel. ”Well, um.” She rubbed her nose. ”I guess this was all sort of a detour for you, but um, would you like some of my moth dust?”
“Uh, sure,” Kate replied. “And don’t worry about wastin’ my time, or anythin’,” she added. “Hangin’ out with ya’s actually been a lot of fun!”
”Ah!” Morowa placed a hand on the side of her face and started blushing. ”You just seemed very motivated to continue your job, but if you want to stick around a bit longer, I don’t mind.” She unfastened the pouch of moth dust from her hip and handed it to Kate. ”But if you really enjoyed yourself, you should stop by again in the future. I doubt I could show you everything I wanted to in one night. And then there’s hearing about your own exploits. I think I could spend an entire evening at home just cooking and listening to your adventures.”
“It’s a deal,” Kate told Morrowa as she took the offered pouch. “And I’ve got plenty of crazy stories to share,” she added with a grin. “Like the time Nykannis and I did a memory extraction on an eldritch horror’s brain, or when I helped my friend Parr rescue his roommate from the Order of the Polished Apple.”
”I would love to hear more about those.” She took Kate’s hand again. ”Then for now, let’s return to the floating islands of the Harmonious Archipelago. There should be a few more sights that look interesting at night. That, and I think it would be wise to let you fly on your own for a bit under my supervision. The Wandering Woods are trickier to navigate at this hour. There are also fewer Leafwraiths to worry about.”
On their flight back up, Morrowa shifted her eyes between Kate and the moon-filled sky. ”I know the other Oroses that you’ve met have been a bit difficult to deal with, but don’t hold it against them.” She smiled. ”Many of them have yet to achieve their goals, or don’t know what they want yet. I have the capacity to be like any of them, but I’ve simply moved past where they are. They’re all good people deep down. So please forgive Joy when you meet her. And Wisdom…” She tipped her head. ”I like to think there’s good in all people, but hers is buried quite deep.”
“Uh, yeah…” Kate replied with a nervous chuckle, the thought of interacting with her final two subjects being far more worrisome than flying unassisted, which the photographer was able to quickly get the hang of. “I’ll do my best to be tolerant of ‘em. I mean, it’s not like I haven’t been cordial to the others I’ve met.” Still, there was a reason she was saving these two for last…
”I know you have. But the next two are going to be quite trying I feel. But you’re a good girl and I’m sure you’ll do the right thing in the end.” She let go of Kate’s hand. She was flying steady. ”You’re a natural it seems. Let’s have a race through the clouds. Just… Don’t splash me.”
“Why would I ever do that?” Kate inquired with a playful grin. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the coolest Oros I’ve met so far.”
”...I’m not sure if being the best of the worst is a compliment or not, but I’ll take it.” Morrowa accelerated. ”Right to the finish line!”
As the pair raced into the moonlit clouds, they failed to notice the giant trumpet-chicken as it emerged from the lunar city far below and vomited a stream of rainbow-colored musical notes over the unsuspecting revelers…
