The HMS Equalizer's infirmary is considerably better appointed than the dusty facilities that the ground forces must make do with. The polished wood floor is tiled in ceramic, glazed white so as to be easy to wash. Examination tables line dot the room, several of varying length for Naga patients to stretch out on. What looks like a stove vents charcoal smoke out of the room, and seems to take advantage of the current glut of iron by heating water in large iron cauldrons. Glass-paned cabinets contain everything from gauze to disposable scalpels of obsidian, while larger bone saws made of chitin are arrayed on trays. Various reptiles of (to Lilac) indeterminate gender staff the infirmary, though currently there are few patients here, apparently higher ranked officers who sustained injury in the recent battles.

Umeko is being examined by the Head Chirurgeon herself, a little garter Naga by the name of Shirvinj. She is brusque and efficient, but thorough, and certainly not inclined to hustle the Governess along despite how busy she is… not with General Diamondback waiting nearby, even with his back politely turned.

Xander's back is also turned, but only because he's watching Lilac. "You… uh… going to be checked out too, Lilac? For… you know… " he waffles.

"Near as I can tell, you seem quite healthy, Governess," hisses Shirvinj, pocketing a small magnifying glass she was using to look into one of Kin's eyes. "Aside from exhaustion and some bruises. I'll refresh my spell circle for a more in-depth look, but you seem fine on the base inspection."

"I am certain I am fine, but I understand your concern with the torment I experienced within that place, General," Umeko tells the large Naga as she settles herself down onto one of the exam beds. Naked seems to be the order of the day; given the time she spent as such in the temple … and now here. "I just feel a bit … sore. Not unlike having over-exercised," she adds. "Please tell me the status of the army while Shirvinj does a more complete exam." To the garter, she nods, then asks, what do you require me to do? Do you need any blood samples for your ritual? I know from what I saw down there some life magic seems to use blood."

The doctor nods, and returns to a painted circle on the floor. It's been entered and exited so many times that there's a tiny movable footbridge for her to slither over to get into it without disturbing it. "No need for your blood, Governess, there's been plenty of that to go 'round," she says dryly, before she begins chanting.

After the battle, Lilac disappeared into the Temple of Being, vanishing in that way she tends to do. It seemed certain she didn't want to be found, as she appeared to be evading discovery. After a while, it seemed like she may not come back at all until she alighted on to the deck of the HMS Equalizer some twenty minutes ago. She took some time to clean herself off and change, before joining everyone here. All in all, she looks sad, but otherwise unharmed. Beshret's sword and her tail bow seem to be missing, as they weren't with her when she returned. "Yes, thank you Xander," she says quietly.

To the General, Xander whispers, "Were you able to recover the body of the Monitor Elite?"

"Ah, then I will just rest," Umeko says as she folds her hands into her lap. Having her body completely re-shaped has made her very aware of nearly every part and every muscle. All of them seem to complain as if she has been on in endurance exercise training room for far too long. Every now and then she wiggles her toes, making sure they're still there. "Did you find your peace, Lilac?" Umeko asks of the woman from where she sits.

The General himself has waved off any examination, and for his part he looks to be none the worse for wear despite being dirty and with dents in his armor. A few arrows with the shafts snapped off are still sticking out of some of the plates. "Most of the casualties we sustained were in getting through the pass under the aerial support. Once we overran them, it was a simple enough exercise… a little better organized and equipped than most bandit rabble. It seems they were already headless by the time we got there. Bestows-Tranquility managed to make it to their airfield, and is undergoing field repair. Our flag flies over the center of the ruins. Our victory is complete."

Diamondback turns to Xander, nodding. "Our engineers managed to widen that opening and erect a small crane of sorts. His body has been lifted out and taken aboard, as well as those of the Jadai lord and Beshret. We discovered a survivor amongst them… a Kirigai woman apparently pledged to the Jadian. She has been taken prisoner."

"Excellent. I could not have been blessed with a better General," Umeko says, her tail curling into her lap. There her hand pets over it slowly. "We were able to end much of the threat from within. Unfortunately, one of those who were funding Beshret was able to escape. He will not remain free forever, though. Anisa, if not I, will certainly see to that. I have a couple other matters to discuss, if you do not mind and if it will not affect the work of the doctor." At mention of the Jadian woman, Umeko adds, "I will wish to speak with the Kirigai woman later, as well."

"She'll need a Mind Mage to straighten her out," Xander suggests. "Did you get any information from the Life Mage?"

"I … I just said good bye. I left the sword and a little monument behind. A few words, in the … the hardening floor," answers Lilac, who looks down. She flickers her tail into her hands, and begins rubbing it idly. "Is everyone okay?"

"So far," Xander notes. "I'm amazed we didn't get sliced up in that battle."

"Slicing wasn't the worst thing that could have happened," Umeko reminds Xander.

"As you wish, Governess-Militant," says Diamondback. "As to the mage you captured… he has requested amnesty on whatever terms you require, and has been willing to speak. We thought that would best be left to you."

"I know, Umeko," Xander says, his ears drooping. He makes a note not to ever explain thermodynamics to the Kiriga, for fear of really scaring her. "Well, we'll need Anisa and Gibson for the questioning, I think. They know the most about this Cinders thing."

"Beshret was a lot more fearsome than I expected," Lilac admits. "I don't know what I was thinking, trying to fight him alone. Sometimes, it feels like I get … lost, when we're fighting." She looks at one of her open hands, seeming to recall the battle, the blood. She then looks up, and asks, "But it was for a good cause … Wasn't it?"

"Survival is always a good cause, Lilac," Xander says. "And Beshret was a monster. You did good holding him at bay until… uh… Anisa could deal with him… "

"I wish to officiate over a burial ceremony for the soldiers that fell in battle, if you do not have any issue with such, General," Umeko says after a moment of silence, "And I wish to have a list of all the names of the dead and if they have any known next of kin. The least I can do is write the letters to inform them of the death." Another pause, then Umeko says, "Yes, it was. It may not feel like it, but our efforts here today averted what would have been the beginning of something terrible for the Empire and for the world."

Diamondback nods again. "As you wish," he repeats. "I will have the commanders report their casualties and have them recorded. You have done well… Beshret the Razer has been a thorn in the side of the Empire since before the fracture. By all accounts he was a formidable foe. We… " The Naga's brow ridge flattens out. "We can't really account for exactly how he died, but I know better than to question it."

"Then I guess I can be okay with that," the bardess says, sounding less than certain about the whole matter. "I just wish we could have done more. I keep wondering if I should have rushed ahead when I could, or if I should have been with you to calm the Lion."

"They were experimenting with magics best left buried. They discovered it was beyond their control," Umeko offers by way of explanation. Another pause, then Umeko asks, "Are you angry with me, General?"

Turning to the General, Lilac says, "Some treasures are better left alone, General. The Razer found that out the hardest way." She shakes her head, and adds, "I have a request."

"If you'd been with us then, there would have been more casualties from the airship bombardment," Xander points out. "Don't dwell on the past, Lilac. Or on the dead. We need to deal with the living."

Lilac opens her mouth to reply to Xander, but pauses. Then, she just frowns and nods a little.

At this, Diamondback lifts his head as if to glance over his shoulder, though he doesn't. "It is not my place to be angry with you, Governess… but why would I be?"

"Direct your request to your mistress. It is not for me to decide," adds the General.

"Just a feeling. I went into danger when you asked me to not," Umeko answers, "I took a great many risks … and in truth, I had expected to die down there. This was a battle I could not lose and would have given all to assure victory. As for why I tell you this, I consider you both an ally, and on some level, a friend." The Kiriga shifts a bit when sore muscles begin to complain more, then she addresses Lilac, "What do you request, Lilac?"

"Oh." The bardess turns to Umeko, not looking away this time. "I just want … There's a room deep in the … the cavern complex, where I placed Beshret's sword. It has my ribbon tied on the end, and some words written in the … the ground. Please don't disturb it. I just ask that the room be left alone."

The General lets his gaze forward again. "I am honored by your consideration. I will admit I was concerned, but I could only proceed as ordered. I have nothing to want for this conflict. We used any means necessary to achieve victory… it is the Nagai way."

"I don't think anyone will be coming out this way again, Lilac," Xander whispers.

Lilac nods to Xander. "I hope so," she tells him. Then, she smirks a little, murmuring, "the Nagai way."

"I consider this valley quarantined until further notice. There were old magics here, corrupting magics. It is better if they are left buried. So, yes, I think your request can be honored," Umeko says to Lilac. Now to the General, Umeko says, "Should we continue to serve together, General, you may always express your concerns to me. We may disagree at times, but I will never hold that against you."

"Speaking of service," Xander says, "Now that the bandit threat is gone, will you be needing Umeko to continue on as Governor-Militant, or will a permanent Governor be appointed soon?"

"That will be the Emperor's decision," Umeko says in a disturbingly neutral tone.

Diamondback touches his fist to his chest plate. "Perhaps we shall again. Many pieces of the old empire are still lawless."

"When are we to give report to the Emperor?" Umeko asks as she takes a moment to glance to the doctor.

"W-wait, the Emperor? I mean, I heard you were appointed by the Emperor but you don't really mean the Emperor? I, well I guess you do, but … " Lilac gesticulates her hands bemusedly, not quite sure how to express her surprise, and hoping motion will help.

Rabbit ears droop at the mention of the Emperor, and Xander twitches again.

"Yes, the Emperor of the Nagai Empire," Umeko notes to Lilac. "The great golden Naga."

"Immediately," hisses Diamondback. "Within reason, of course, but we have received orders to proceed to Nagai City at your earliest convenience."

"If you hadn't changed back, Umeko, you might have ended up as his Empress," Xander mutters.

The General continues, "I believe it is the provincial summons."

That news causes Umeko to blink a few times. "To Nagai City? May I inquire as to why?" she asks. She gives Xander a really odd look, then says, "That is a better fate than Hakuu would have intended."

"Ah, the summons has begun," Umeko says right after the General. She seems to sink down a bit. "And that means my Father may be there," the Kiriga whispers.

Xander leans towards Lilac and whispers, "What is Umeko's father like?"

The armored Naga shrugs his plated shoulders. "I at least assume it is the summons, but it is somewhat unusual in that the order specifies you are to be transported via the Equalizer. Fleet Captain Idrisc is handling the details, no doubt."

Lilac's ears shoot up. "We're being summoned to Nagai City to see the Emperor? Or, well, you are Kinny! I mean you're a noble and he wouldn't want to see weird little me, and I have something I should do, and your family will be there … and you heard what they think I did." The woman's tail tucks between her legs.

"The Equalizer? That does seem a bit … much for … well, me," Umeko says, her earfins spreading a bit from the surprise, "Does the fleet captain have any more details?"

To Lilac, Umeko says, "Please stay by my side. One, the fact I am alive disproves what they thought you did. Two, you aided me, it is time that I aid you."

Diamondback nods. "I would imagine so. He is not to proceed until you are ready."

Lilac's eyes widen a little, but she nods. Hesitantly at first, then with more heart. "O-of course Kinny, if you r-really want me to stay," she replies.

"I will have to inquire about it. It appears the eyes of the Emperor have been on me, indeed," Umeko says with a small nod. If she looked tired before … well, she looks worried now. She reaches back and rubs at her still sore spine. Trying to not worry, she says to Lilac, "Well, would it make you feel better if I ordered you into chains so you could not leave?" She even flashes the human a toothy grin.

"Her mood seems to be improving," Xander observes with a smirk.

Lilac's ears go up even more, in alarm, her eyes becoming saucers – and then she catches on. "Oh! Hey, that's mean," she insists, half-heartedly. Then she wags a little, and adds, "And you know, no chains can hold me." She smiles a bit, then her ears go askew, and she holds up a hand, "Um, no need to test that!"

Xander pats Lilac's shoulder. "You deserve no less than solid gold chains, Lilac."

There's a knock at the door of the private infirmary room. When Shirvinj directs an aide to open it, it admits a wizened orangy Kiriga and a dark-furred eeee woman… Long Tooth and Dragonfly.

"That's comforting," Lilac tells Xander, then sticks her tongue out at him.

When Dragonfly enters, Lilac gives her a wave, and Long Tooth too. "Hi, you two! Good to see you're both okay."

"Master Tooth?" Xander asks. "Where did you… uh… you know, never mind."

The old master is rather dusty (dustier than usual), and he grunts once. Dragonfly holds up a hand, wiggling her fingers. "Hello! Gibson passes along his well wishes… he regrets he couldn't be here, but he's with his sister now. He enlisted my help studying the steel tome. I guess we were a bit late to provide useful insight… still, I think we've made some progress."

This causes Umeko to blink again. "Master Long Tooth," she says, trying to look neutral, "You missed a legendary battle. We could have used your skills. But, no matter, what have you learned?"

Tooth waddles in. "Wassa on field. Wenta to stoppa big lizards. Big." He holds his arms as far apart as he can. "Big," he repeats, unnecessarily.

The General looks mystified. "You mean there were more desert giants?"

"Did you stop them?" Umeko asks the handbag of a Kiriga.

"The other desert giants?" Xander asks the old man. "How did you stop them? And please don't tell me you let them swallow you and then kicked their hearts to pulp or something… "

"I have some questions about all of this too, Dragonfly, and … And some things to tell you, so they can be remembered," the bardess tells the Eeee. "Oh, and are you feeling okay? There was a … a death, and, well, we might feel … bad, about it."

"Don't be silly, Xander. He would not have been able to kick their hearts. Rip out their colons, perhaps," Umeko offers.

The old master gives Xander a contemptuous look. "Pfff. Don'ta be silly." He folds his hands in his robes. "I runnah up dah backs andah beat rider. Do thisah some moah time. Jumpah down, big lizardsah chase. Run away. Get lost." He shrugs, then switches to Imperial for less struggling. "I heard you wished to cut the heads off, my student. I trusted you with that task, and went to deal with the other strong point. I know Hakuu was your battle."

"You know, I think that's what Umeko tried to do the first time she met them… " Xander comments.

"He is dead," Umeko tells him in Imperial, "I killed him by … something I do not wish to think about."

"Issah good idea!" the old man insists.

He goes on in Imperial. "Hah! That's my girl."

Long Tooth punches at air. "A little of… mph! This! And some… hah! Roundhouse! Good girl."

Lilac walks over to meet Dragonfly, then urges her aside. "Can we talk a moment," she whispers.

Dragonfly turns to Lilac, a sober smile on her face. "I'm glad you're alright." The smile fades. "A death? I'm sorry, what happened?" She walks along with the bardess.

Kin rolls her jaw, thinking about what she just said she doesn't want to think about, then tells Long Tooth, "It wasn't exactly that. It was … the legacy of our people which killed him." Her head shakes. "If you wish to question my tactics, sometime, Xander, I will have to remind you of the time you tried to take on an airship alone," she tells the Lapi.

"I got it eventually!" Xander retorts.

"With help," Umeko notes.

The human takes Dragonfly to the corner of the room, and whispers to her, "I'm glad you're okay, too. I don't think my heart can take any more deaths." She takes in a breath, releasing it slowly before adding, "The Temple of Being is dead." Lilac bites her lip after admitting it, seeming to need a moment before going on, giving Dragonfly a moment to speak.

Long Tooth nods matter-of-factly. "Of course it was the legacy of our people. Fighting tradition. I knew you wouldn't let the old arts die."

"Well… yes… Lilac helped," Xander mutters. "Still, other airships will think twice now before shooting at me with cannons."

"Or the old bodies," Umeko murmurs and takes a moment to look at her legs. Again those toes wiggle. "So, do you think that mage will be of any help in locating Vandringar? I rather imagine he won't know anything useful about locations for him. He does not seem the time to make such a simple mistake."

"We'll find out how he was hired," Xander notes. "And whether or not he's really a member of Vandringar's little club or not."

Xander also can't help but reach over to pat Umeko on the rear, and say, "I like the newer models better."

Umeko swats Xander's exploring hand, though not very hard. "It would have been easier to eat you with the other," she murmurs and manages a weak smirk. She stretches and rolls her back a bit. "That does remind me, what spell did he cast at the beginning? What was the little ball of red?"

The Eeee's face is grave. "That's a shame. I… guess I'm not surprised. As magnificent as the Temple was, as much as we could have learned from it, I think it was… not really meant to exist. Mother, she… it made the Temple, and the Temple grew itself, but when we spoke with it, I couldn't find any reason for it to be except to grow. Things that grow only for their own sakes just… don't make it in the context of a larger world."

"We'll have to ask him," the Mage notes, shrinking a little as he realizes what he just did in front of Tooth and the General. "I… um… I don't know much about Life Magic."

The General doesn't seem to notice, but the old master gives Xander a hard look.

Kin looks to the doctor. "Is everything proceeding well?" she inquires, deciding to let Xander deal with Master Tooth on the issue of his roaming hand.

The little garter pauses in her chanting. "We're still at altitude, this isn't easy. Just a few more moments." Some more phrases, and she breaks off. "There." The Naga begins staring intently at Umeko, seeming to look right through her.

The staring of the Naga is a bit unsettling for Umeko. She can't help but shift around now and then out of discomfort.

Lilac's ears wilt, and she asks, "Do you think it had a soul? I, I made a memorial for it, deep in the caverns. And I, I'm still … probably … pregnant with … With it." She reaches up, rubbing her temples gently. "I hoped that after the battle I could teach it to be more than something that only grew. It didn't have a family, or friends. Even its mother was just … Just whatever it was."

The garter stares for quite a long time… occasionally, her head rotates sideways, sometimes stopping at about a 90 degree angle, sometimes continuing on until it's almost upside down. "Well, you look healthy from the inside out," she says, hesitating. "There's something unusual, but I can't quite place my thumb on it. To my eye, it's as though everything is perfectly in place, but I get this nagging impression that it's… different than most. I'm sorry I can't be more specific than that, but I can at least give you a clean bill of health, and I don't think anything is inclined to develop in a harmful manner." Shirvinj looks annoyed with herself. "I wish I could give a more professional impression… I'm not usually given to gut feelings with this kind of thing. Usually I'm just feeling guts."

Dragonfly reaches out to pat the bardess on the shoulder. "You're compassionate, Lilac. It's a good quality. If it helps, I don't think you should have to feel beholden to the Temple. You made a pact with it. The Temple seemed satisfied with being… eh… businesslike. I don't think it could match the same kind of feeling you've showed."

Shirvinj turns her gaze on Lilac, head rotating the other way now. "Mm. Yes, you're healthy as well. And your… differences, those I recognize. Nothing has changed yet."

This time it's Umeko's earfins that wilt a bit at the news. "You're saying that everything looks normal, but gives off a feeling of not being normal? Every part of me feels this way?" she asks, trying to clarify her situation. She also can't help but contort her body a bit, testing the limits of her flexibility and what she remembers of how she could move after she was changed.

"Maybe … Maybe I'm the one who wanted to believe it felt … Felt something," Lilac admits to Dragonfly, in a very small voice. She frowns at the floor until Shirvinj looks at her, and she looks up suddenly when her name is called out. "What? Oh, I am?" She looks back down at herself, blinking, then hesitantly lays a hand on her belly. "Then … I see. Thank you, doctor."

The doctor turns back to Umeko. "Yes, Governess. The fundamental makeup of your body is… just a bit outside the norm somehow, and I can't really specify how. It is intriguing. Perhaps you'll return to me if you note any changes?"

Xander returns Tooth's look, and whispers, "You would have done it too, old man."

"Certainly," Umeko answers. "Perhaps I have always been this way. I have never been so closely examined before," she says without any real conviction behind it.

The bony Kiriga looks affronted. "She issah my student." He pauses, then stretches down one of his baggy lower eyelids, and sticks out his tongue. "I wrestle withah her every day."

"Oh." Lilac looks up now, and back to Dragonfly, "I wanted to ask you about Mother, if that's okay? Do you know 'who' Mother is? What it means or, or … what it's for?"

"Oh, I do have another question for you, doctor," Umeko says, remembering something. "How similar internally is a Kiriga to a Naga?"

"I have tried to wrestle with Xander," Umeko comments to the bickering pair, "All he does is squeak. Even for a Lapi he is jumpy."

"I'm not a wrestler," Xander mutters. "You want my cousin for that stuff. He's half-Amazonian… "

Shirvinj looks some mix of insulted and bemused, though she certainly stays civil. "Very dissimilar, Governess. Of all the Jingai, I should think Kirigai are the most distantly related, with the… fur and such."

"I have heard legends that we may all be descended from the same people," Umeko says by way of explanation for her question. "But as will all stories, it may hold no truth. Thank you for your answer."

Dragonfly leans toward Lilac. "Now that's exciting. It's the orb that Anisa showed Gibson. I'm sure you already knew that, but from what we got out of the book, it's one of several… aspects, I guess? Related to some place called the Node." She counts off her fingers. "There was Void, Energy, Probability… this one was related to Being… I guess that's like what the Temple explained to you and me, the sum of what a living thing is. Probably more of these out there."

The Eeee continues. "It's weird. When Anisa isn't touching it, it… grows stuff. To move around or to sit on. The instant it's not touching the thing, the stuff dies. I don't really get it."

"Really?" Lilac's eyes widen at the thought of there being more than two of the dire orbs. "D-do you know what they're capable of? Are they all Mothers? N-no wait, do you know what Void is capable of? What it might do? To someone?"

Dragonfly rubs the back of her neck. "I wish I could tell you. We don't even know much about the one we've got. Gibson says he may have some people that know more about this kind of thing. I'm a scholar, but my specialty was in old world Nagai regional history."

Lilac nods, ears wilting a little. "But, you think it's safe to say that the Cinders want all of these aspect orbs, and this Node, and will do the same that they did here to get them?"

Dragonfly bites her lip. "It's unnerving to think about, but… from what I was told, it sounds like they went to all this expense and trouble, upset a developing nation, and started a war just to get this one little thing."

Umeko reaches over and retrieves her kimono. She slides it back over her narrow frame, then cinches the obi around her waist. "How long does it take the Equalizer to to reach Nagai city from here?" she inquires.

"You … You can count on me to help the Curators stop them from getting the others. I promise," Lilac tells Dragonfly, the woman suddenly looking the Eeee in the eyes with a sad sort of resolution. "Maybe I'm not very good at this, but I will be, I'll learn to be better. I don't want this to happen again, and they hurt Kinny – all my friends – just for this. And, I can help!" The bard then points to herself, and adds, "I know where the Void orb is."

"What?" Xander asks, his ears perking up. "Where is it?"

Lilac's ears swivel towards Xander, and she blinks at him. "What, what? Oh. Nothing! Nothing at all," she assures him, her left ear rotating to vaguely point at the doctor and general.

Dragonfly perks her ears up. "Curators? Of what?"

Diamondback hisses, "The Fleet Captain estimates a week, if we wait for repairs on Bestows-Tranquility to finish."

"We can proceed without her, of course," the General adds.

Lilac then tugs Dragonfly's arm, pointing towards the door. "Let's have some girl's only talk outside, where nosy mages can't hear," she insists.

"Eary, not nosy," Xander says defensively.

The Eeee stumbles into step. "Uh… alright?"

"Well, there are some things to handle here that I expect will take some time. As well as a few people who helped me here I wish to see before I leave," Umeko answers, "So a week should not be a serious issue. It will also give me time to speak to the Fleet Captain on the particulars of the escort."

Outside and down the hall, Lilac asks Dragonfly, "Think we can talk here? Because, I really need to share this."

The Eeee's ears swivel forward attentively. "I guess so. What is it?"

"I know where the Void Orb is," Lilac whispers to Dragonfly. "And, I think it made me like I am. I'm not sure, exactly, about either, but I know where to look first. Can you find out anything about it, before we go to find it?"

"Xander," Umeko says as she looks to the Lapi mage. "Are you able to contact the Burning Sands? Before we leave, I would like to say goodbye to them."

"I can send a message, yes," Xander says. "What do you want it to say?"

"Oh! Um… where is it?" Dragonfly looks a bit pensive. "I guess I could try. The steel-bound tome is very confusing, but we're deciphering bits and pieces between us. Like I say, most of my expertise is wrapped up in the old Imperial regions, and I guess Ashdod if you want to be completest."

"Just that I would like to see them. They can chose the place," Umeko tells the mage. She glances towards the door where Lilac left, looking a bit worried.

"And within the week, right?" Xander asks. "I'll go work on it now then, unless… you need me for anything else?" he adds.

"Right, this week," Umeko says with a short bob of her head. She closes her eyes for a moment, thinking. "I do not need anything from you right now, though I would not mind you visiting later for tea. It is your choice, though."

"Sylvania," the bardess whispers. "My homeland. I must have encountered it when I first set out. Of course, I don't remember any of it, except I do have dreams about a dead woman's life – is that odd? Anyway, I saw it, and others like me, in my dreams. And, it is the Void Orb, so that explains my memory loss, don't you think? Plus, I think the Void Orb creates from absence. I think it feeds on things and people, can shroud places in nothingness, and fills, well, voids."

"I'll see you in a few hours then, Governess!" Xander pledges, and even salutes. "Just don't do any wrestling without me."

"Do not worry, I am too sore to wrestle," Umeko comments a bit dryly.

The Eeee scholar shifts a little uncomfortably. "That's very strange. I guess it would be in keeping with what little we know. The Being… thing… it's obviously beyond our ken and capable of some disturbing things. I have a feeling it's responsible for a lot of the strangeness that's come from the Beast Lands."

"I think so, too. I think it, or part of it, returned from the Beast Lands during the attack on Hakuu's men. They must have got it to come to them, somehow," Lilac agrees. "The light it emits definitely came from the Beast Lands and went to the, the Temple." A pause, and Lilac asks, "Do you think I could see the orb, some time? Maybe if I can understand this one, I can figure out the one that might hold part of my fate in its hands."

The Eeee woman shrugs. "I'm not the one to ask… I've been along for the ride, pretty much. I have to admit, I'm eager to get back to Rephidim. This has been pretty trying." She nods again. "I would guess the Temple's dying drew it back. It seems able to move around by itself, by spontaneously growing animal or plant matter."

"Oh, well, I'm sorry if I burdened you then. I'm just not sure who to ask about this. I'm not used to working with people on… whatever it is we're on!" Lilac then steps forward and hugs Dragonfly. "I hope you can find a calm life again. Maybe we'll meet again some day. For now, I'm apparently going with Kinny to meet the Emperor and her family. How scary is that?"

Dragonfly returns the hug, bringing her wings around it. "It's alright. I'll help if I can, I just don't know how much I can. I'm just a scholar who got dragged into this. I'm grateful for being pulled out of it."

"I don't think any of us are qualified for this, we just do the best we can," Lilac agrees with Dragonfly. She steps back and smiles, then gives the woman a wave. "I better get back to Kinny before she gets worried I've run off or something. Tell Gibson, um, tell him … hi!" The woman laughs, a mix of nervousness and anxiety, and then rushes off.