Chương 113: Of gods and all things complicated

"Auntie Dove! Auntie Crow!" Kite couldn't help himself, calling out and quickly rushing over to the pair as he saw them approach where he sat waiting with his companions on a wooden bench in Gilded's temple district. And as he drew closer, he noticed something which had his step falter a bit.

"Auntie… You've…" Kite began, having finally noticed that Auntie Crow had undergone some changes. The petite celestine woman had always had a kind of dignified beauty which he knew still caused Auntie Dove to look at her wife with stars in her eyes, but now it had risen to new heights; Curious Crow flies Swift looking the part of the stern queen of scholars from any story, her onyx hair and eyes strangely lustrous even as they seemed to drink in the light.

"My little Kite, it would not do for your auntie to let you beat her to silver rank, now would it?" she asked him, her eyes twinkling a bit at her child's amazed awe.

"She looks splendid, doesn't she?" Dove added, looking very much like a teenager overwhelmed by the presence of the one to whom she had given her heart.

"You will get used to it, dear," Crow told her.

"And I had just managed to take care of the slight side effects of ranking up when Grim Snowfall came with word that we were invited back, approved by the deputy director no less, so I am still a bit tender. The silver-ranked form is definitely something to get used to."

"Still, it is just- lovely. Perfect," Dove said while all but sighing with admiration, causing the rest of those gathered to contain smiles and giggles of amusement.

"And I can say with certainty that the aura sense is one of the most dramatic changes," Crow noted, ignoring the fawning of her wife in favor of giving both Kite and his companions a thorough inspection.

"While I am still getting used to it, I can certainly feel how all of you have grown during the surge. Your hard work is cause for celebration, but I will also counsel patience," she said, holding up a finger as she noted the proud smiles of the bronze-rankers.

"The final stretch of bronze rank deserves its consideration, and you should give it all the time needed to make sure that the foundations of your paths are solid." Seeming satisfied with their winces of realization or acceptance at her word, Crow let her focus linger on Kite.

"While I hope we can make more time to properly spend together soon, I assume that there is a reason for us to have been invited here today? Grim Snowfall was most vague, only being able to confirm your involvement, Kite."

"I must admit that I carry an ample amount of curiosity myself," Kite admitted.

"But before we go, I must once again remind you all that mistress Indomitable hinted at the upcoming meeting carrying potentially ominous implications for the future, where knowing certain things might affect all those who participate going forward. I can only say that I personally will not hold it against any of you who want to remain unaware, as the saying of ignorance being bliss fails to mention that it might also be a protection at times."

Kite had thought long and hard about his encounter with the priest of Discord during the past two weeks. There was so little he understood, but from the warnings of Calm of Indomitable Beyond, a high-ranking priestess of Death, he did feel that the discussion awaiting them was a portentous one.

Kite himself was sure that he wanted to know more, having already seen a glimpse behind a tapestry he didn't know existed, but had decided to make sure that each of his invited companions made as much of an informed decision as possible during the circumstances.

"Oh, please, Kite. You already know that I wouldn't be able to stay away even if I tried!" Dragonfly said, remaining adamant.

"While my goddess has given me warnings as well, she has not counseled me against participating. I too would know what you have seen," Serene confirmed.

"I will admit that the part of me still bearing the weight of responsibility towards my family was hesitant at first," Will admitted.

"But would the saint of spears back down from mere knowledge? Or possible adventurers of the future, filled with intrigue? And besides, with both my sister and father participating, I choose to take it as them already having given their blessing on the matter." With his friends having repeated their assurances, Kite turned to his aunties as well.

"While your presence here already speaks volumes, I would still like you to think about it again."

"Little Kite, one of the reasons for your auntie and I to once more start our climb towards the heavens was to retain the power to actually be part of things again. And since you are quite a big part of our lives, I would never turn away from what one who is my son in all but blood would deem important." Crow gave her assurance in her usual manner, dignified and eloquent. Dove, on the other hand, also stayed true to form as she swept Kite up in a fierce hug.

"Don't be silly, child. Of course we will come." While he had already expected the responses, they still warmed Kite's heart; bonds strong enough to warrant stepping into something unknown was indeed something to treasure.

"Thank you," he said, directing the simple statement at all of them.

"And thank you, Fortune," he continued in his mind.

"Being able to count my blessings is a privilege I will not squander."

"Then we shall continue to the temple of Knowledge," Kite told his friends and family, looking at each of them in turn.

"I have things to tell you, and hopefully we will receive at least a bit more clarity in turn. Because there seems to be things happening here that I am woefully unequipped to make sense of." When being led to their destination by a member of the local clergy, Kite had noticed a kind of presence which now subsumed everything around them, as if they had passed some kind of invisible threshold.

It did not feel threatening in any way to Kite's senses, but Serene still seemed a bit uncomfortable, humming softly to herself.

"Is it the lack of connection to Song that worries you?" he asked softly, stepping up to her side. That the domain of the gods closed off the connections other clergy had to their deities was common knowledge, making Kite guess the reason.

"Not worried per se," Serene answered, voice manifesting while she was still humming her melody.

"Knowledge and Song are on very good terms and always have been, as singing has been a way of memorizing things since time immemorial. But as I am used to always carrying her song with me, it is always a bit unsettling when it is suddenly gone. It is almost like I have lost a mental limb."

"You can always leave if it makes you uncomfortable-," Kite began, but stopped as Serene shook her head.

"No, being a bit unsettled is a small price to pay. I can feel that this is very important to you, and that carrying it has been unsettling you these past two weeks." At her words, Kite could only shake his head with a rueful smile.

"I thought that I kept it together quite well," he said.

"But you are right. It is fortunate that we need less sleep, as the questions seem to just bounce about in my mind without even the possibility of being answered. I can only hope that changes today." As if on cue, the local acolyte opened a pair of doors and gestured for the group to enter, closing the doors again behind them.

"Adventurers. Brother." Calm of the Indomitable Beyond greeted them as Kite, his friends and his aunties were led into what looked like a study close to the heart of Knowledge's temple in Gilded. Kite had not had much reason to visit the temple of the goddess, but the almost estate-like complex of fine wood filled with scrolls, books and places of study did live up to the expectation.

"Finally!" branch director Jarvan added, rising from the comfortable chair in which he had been lounging.

"You know, Kite, it is not too often that a bronze-ranker gets to call upon the lion's share of the local high-rankers due to something that they know, especially not with the local city lord and both directors of the Adventure Society among them. In many other parts of the world, we might have just grabbed you by the legs and shaken you until whatever secrets you had came tumbling out."

"Which, I would like to point out, is something my goddess frowns upon quite sternly, director. Treating lower-rankers as if they are not allowed to keep knowledge of their own is no way to treat my Lady's purview," another familiar voice added as she entered from an adjacent room.

"Instructor Concente!" Kite exclaimed, surprised.

"I did not expect to see you here again." Like Auntie Crow, Mirabel Concente had changed since the time she had spent training Kite, Dragonfly, Will and Serene in team-tactics over a year ago. From what Kite understood, she had been at the peak of bronze-rank back then, and he would not have been surprised if she had made the push to silver during the surge as well. Her frizzy hair of dark brown curls and soft features were still the same, but further elevated into a kind of wild beauty.

And from her stern tone when speaking to the director, her hard demeanor had not changed either.

"I must admit I did not expect to be back either, but when my goddess calls for me I will answer, monster surge or not. But priestess Indomitable here was wise to wait until the surge was all but over before sending out the call," Instructor Concente explained.

"Me knowing you from before was deemed practical, as is my role of traveling around most of this country. But my Lady has been quite insistent in not telling me more until we were all gathered here in her sanctum, where no other may listen in. But I will echo the director's sentiment, Kite. While a couple of silver-rankers is nothing special in many parts of the world, gathering them in a region such as the Autumn lands is no small feat of connections."

Taking in the room, Kite did indeed note that all of the invited except Uncle Walker were present, with Grim simply being unable to track down the wandering silver-ranker in time. But Kite did not doubt that they could make sure to clue him in later.

Instead, he focused on those who were there; people who he thought could help shed some light on the strange developments he had witnessed during the fall of the Descending star sect; his own companions, his aunties, mistress Dew, branch director Jarvan, deputy director Rupert. He also chose to at least try sending an invitation to Will's father, city lord Indomitable, as what had been hinted had all been transpiring on his lands.

That the man actually showed up was actually a bit surprising, but from what Will had often told Kite of his father, him favoring knowledge and meticulous planning to achieve control and predictability meant that he might be interested in a first-hand account. There were also two representatives of the gods present, with Calm of the Indomitable Beyond representing the church of Death and Mirabel Concente to speak for Knowledge. Kite looked to Will's sister, who nodded to him.

"While this matter is not truly of my god's purview, it was still I who arrived first to the scene and felt the small remnants of the divine echo. My god has given me leave to participate, and there are some circumstances which give me a bit of leeway to act in the future as well. But I still suspect that my role will more be that of an advisor in regards to the divine rather than active participant."

"That is all well and good, priestess, but can we please finally allow Kite to bring whatever has gathered us here to light?" mistress Dew asked where she sat next to deputy director Rupert.

"While my god tends to counsel patience, I do agree that it is time. Adventurer Kite, please share what you know. And do so knowing that this is a space in which the goddess Knowledge has vouched to safekeep the information. I trust that you all know the gravity of such a promise?" As those gathered all nodded acquiescence, Kite looked around the room before he spoke.

"Since the days of the expedition, I have had several run-ins with a certain Dancer on the Broken River, a disciple of Pain and, if I understood correctly, daughter of the grand elder which mistress Dew defeated at the very end of the war against the remnants of the Unbreakable chains sect," he began, proceeding to summarize his experiences during the war in order to quickly reach more present days; the meeting in the forests as River had hunted down the members of her former sect and her ominous words before her escape.

And then of them meeting once more during the battle of the Descending Star sect, of her telling him about the priest of Discord which their action had unmasked, and how the man had met his end.

"While I do not know how much stock we can take in the word of one woman, she seems to be assured that the followers of Discord were directly involved in the war against the fallen sect, and that there might be other machinations in play as well. And I will admit that her words awakened something within me as well. I feel that this is something which should warrant further considerations." Kite finished.

He felt a bit tense as he tried to gauge the reactions of those gathered, each person seeming to have their own expression of deep thought. City lord Indomitable was the first to break the silence, looking to the two directors of the Adventure Society.

"Directors, what do you have to say on this matter? You should have the most extensive knowledge on the reports from the war. Any insights to share which might help clarify if this is just the vendetta of a deluded daughter or something more extensive?"

"Transcripts from interrogations with the prisoners taken during the war do mention a sect leader of unknown identity, being rather hands-off and letting the grand elders and leaders of the different groups within the sect handle their own matters," deputy director Rupert began after a nod from Jarvan.

"As the fallen sect seems to have suffered a lot of internal tensions there towards the end, we had assumed the sect leader to simply have fled, accounting the lack of traces to thorough preparations. But as you know, they did unleash some distractions here in the city as well towards the end, which meant that a wider search for the members which had escaped was severely hampered by internal politics and unrest."

"I will also add that I did sense the distinct traces of the divine in the fading aura-traces on the remains of the alleged priest," Will's sister added, looking to Kite.

"It was upon sensing this that my god counseled me to set up this very meeting, but has otherwise remained distanced from the matter. I cannot for sure say that it was the touch of Discord which I felt, but that is more due to lack of personal experience. Being one of the shunned gods, Discord does not exactly have his holy places readily available or his clergy moving openly among the people." This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"But then we have the question of why," Lord Indomitable countered.

"Why would Discord's clergy involve themselves like this? What would be their goals with such subterfuge, even gathering followers of other shunned gods in one place? Is the Autumn lands even important enough?" At his words, Mirabel held up her hand to indicate that she would speak, but the forlorn look on her face indicated that there was another conversation she needed to finish first. Nodding, her eyes cleared and she spoke.

"As to why, my Lady asked me to inform you of Discord's nature. As with all gods, the name itself is both a title and what they are. And Discord is all things out of harmony; quarrels, strife, battles, intrigue. He is the song turned sour and the resentment that grows in the silence of an argument left unfinished. Wherever there is strife and conflict, Discord grows. And as all of you know, the world is full of it even in the most mundane parts.

This leaves him as a god with surprisingly wide reach but one that also has trouble building any more proper or concentrated foundations of power; the god's very nature does not lend itself well to cooperation even within its own clergy. And discordance is seldom good for stability. Knowing this, city lord, what would you answer to your own question?" Lord Indomitable looked thoughtful, nodding along with the priestess' explanations.

"Then as to the why… Because it created strife? And strife within the strife; all parties present suffering from tensions of infighting even as they went against each other. No matter the result…"

"Then Discord would prosper," Concente agreed.

"Because the outcome is less important than the process to one such as him. Even a resolved conflict will still have generated that which makes up his very essence, often leaving seeds to be cultivated in the future. That is even a common metaphor amongst his clergy; them thinking themselves gardeners who spread and cultivate the seeds of Discord."

Her words left another bout of silence, Kite's mind awash with trying to piece together the information he had just been told with his impressions of the man he had encountered and River's words. His friends seemed equally concerned, but neither of the bronze-rankers spoke up much in the presence of so many silver-rankers.

"Uggggghhh…" Jarvan's groan broke the silence, as the man leaned back in his chair while tipping his head over the backrest.

"This is going to be such a pain if it turns out to be true. Things always are when the gods are involved - no offense, Lady Knowledge. Lord Death." The last sentiment was added as the glances sent his way by the two silver-ranked priestesses looked sharp enough to be physically felt. Looking up again, Jarvan continued.

"But when you think about it, it does make sense. Why initiate the hostilities in the way they did, with inferior numbers and inward strife? Why make the moves within the city, such as the infiltrators and that weird incident with the possessed normal-rankers when those moves would obviously do little else but create a bit of lasting instability and a slight worsening in the discourse of the political landscape?

But if we assumed that the end goal, at least for some, was only just that; instability and strife rather than actually defeating us or the city's leadership, doesn't it actually make a twisted kind of sense?"

"It should also explain why the elusive sect leader never took to the field themselves, even in the end," Rupert ventured.

"Because victory was not the point. Or at least not the only point."

"A god who always has his touch upon the scales…" Kite looked up, realizing that his soft murmur was not as discreet in a room where half the people present were silver-rankers.

"That's what she said, the disciple of Pain. That Discord is ever-present, as conflict is in the nature of people everywhere," he ventured, figuring that he might as well speak his mind as none of those present reprimanded him for voicing his thoughts.

"But if that is the case, why do something like this? If discordance is always present around the world, why take such an active role in working from behind the scenes like this?"

"My Lady Knowledge cannot tell you more, as there is balance in how much she can interfere," Mirabel replied to Kite's questioning gaze.

"And you should keep in mind that this relates to all gods; balance and purview. Acting too overtly outside the boundaries of one's influence allows others to do the same. One of the many reasons why mortal agents remain needed even for the divine. Creating discord by masterminding schemes is well within his clergy's interests, while open assassinations and other such ploys would allow other gods to have their servants act more directly as well."

"Assuming that this is true, I am quite concerned with what the wider implications are," Lord Indomitable said, frowning.

"If this was but a simple ploy to further their cause, or an attempt to begin one, then it is one matter. But the actions here hint at preparations over years, maybe even decades. And that is not taking into consideration that they also invited outside help from the churches of Undeath or what we can assume to be cultists of the Red Table."

"My first choice would be to put the Adventure Society on high-alert, as I am sure that the continental council would love to get another reason to send more high-rankers over here. But I also know that probably isn't a good idea," Jarvan said with a resigned sigh.

"I would strongly counsel against that, yes," Mirabel replied.

"As an adventurer or as a priestess?"

"Both. If we make too overt moves now, we risk losing other potential traces of activity from Discord and their clergy, assuming that this is something spread beyond just the northern province that is the Autumn lands and that the fallen sect is not just an isolated incident. We need to see if we can find a pattern first, and start investigating very carefully." As Mirabel spoke, Kite was thrown back to the days when she had been their instructor, the note of lecture in her voice pleasantly familiar.

"And from the divine side of things," she continued," there is the question of balance. Discord acting within his purview does not allow my Lady to start disseminating what is known by his clergy. But I will at least ask you to consider something more; this situation. Why are we here, of all places?"

"Because the conversation will be protected and kept a secret?" Kite ventured, before frowning as Mirabel's gaze hinted that this was not the answer she had been looking for.

"No, it has to be more, Kite," Auntie Crow ventured, speaking up for the first time. Both his aunties seemed to so far have been content with listening, but knowing Crow's more analytical mind meant that Kite was not surprised that she was the first to speak.

"The goddess Knowledge, through her priestess, has invited us here. Yes, secrecy is one part, but she allowed Kite to bring anyone he deemed helpful. And the goddess even gave her instructions to give us information on Discord's nature…" Crow got up, even pacing back and forth a little as she seemed to be on the verge of connecting something. Then she stopped, looking up and directly at Mirabel.

"But giving such information is to directly assist us. It is not the answer, but it makes us ask the questions and start connecting the metaphorical dots a lot faster. And, as to what she has repeatedly told us, active intervention from a god is often taken in response to the active actions of another." As she spoke, Kite felt the spark of understanding light up his mind. And from the looks of several others in the room, he was not alone nor the first. The minds of silver-rankers were quick, after all.

"So that means that us just being here, being told this, could even be seen as evidence that there is more to this. That Discord is taking action allowing Knowledge to do the same. That this is not just an isolated incident, but more. Just not enough to tell us directly." Jarvan exclaimed before groaning again.

"See, I told you. Complicated."

"Knowledge is worth the most when discovered by one's self, director," Mirabel retorted.

"As to what conclusions you reach, my goddess cannot take responsibility." Her words neither confirmed nor denied the claims, but even Kite could feel her satisfaction in her aura, with Jarvan only giving her a dry look in response while Rupert chuckled.

"But what does this mean then, going forward?" Auntie Crow asked, remaining on her feet.

"Me and my wife have mostly remained focused on our own lives and crafts, but knowing what to do next falls way outside our expertise." She turned to Kite, continuing.

"While it is important to us to know what you are involved in, little Kite, I am just unsure as to how we can be of assistance in this matter."

"Auntie, I won't demand anything from you. I didn't know myself what would come of this meeting, and honestly I still don't. But they asked me to bring those I trusted, so that is what I did. I don't think anyone will demand more of you than you are capable of. Or even anything at all except your secrecy."

"I will add that more people knowing something is rarely a bad thing in situations such as this, Curious Crow flies Swift," Mirabel added.

"We have already seen that you have a mind as clear and structured as the arrays you weave, being the first to lay bare the pattern which sparked insight."

"Also, you are a silver-ranker now. And from the feel of her aura, your wife will soon join you," Jarvan added, eyes twinkling.

"While things are different in other parts of the world, in Hua-Xi that means that you now matter. And people who matter are rarely left outside of important affairs, no matter their wishes." Crow looked around the room and seemed to relax a little when she looked at Kite, apparently finding something in his gaze to help ease her mind a bit.

"I… will have to acknowledge the points made. But then that leaves the original question; what to do now? Is there even anything we can do?" Silence fell over the room, with Mirabel moving to sit further off to the side, clearly indicating that no more directions would be forthcoming from her Lady. Everyone took their time to ponder the question, Rupert eventually being the first to break the silence.

"You know, Jarvan, didn't director Dobrazza of the Bastion branch voice strong favor of continuing joint investigations after the trouble down in her city? There seems to have been quite the amount of strife unleashed there as well in recent months. Maybe it would be prudent to, say, start making a joint task force on a more permanent basis?"

"I… like how you think, my dear deputy director," Jarvan agreed, nodding along.

"Then it would be quite coincidental if we, just to be on the safe side of things, started comparing the events with the fallen sect and whatever internal strife is still going on down there. To see if we can find any common factors. Because if such factors could be found, I could see this kind of investigation being widened to a much greater scope. Discreetly, of course.

And should we start to need people brought in alive for questioning, isn't there a certain group of promising young adventurers we could recruit for such a task once in a while? One that has already shown promise in that regard?" No one in the room seemed surprised as he gave Kite, Dragonfly, Serene and Will a theatrically assessing look.

"I will have to ask you to take care before making too many plans for my son, director. My bronze-ranked son." Lord Indomitable noted while stressing the rank to Will's apparent chagrin.

"Father, surely you cannot mean to keep me from participating? Not when there seems to be evil schemers lurking behind the scenes, spreading their strife and discord?" the young elf exclaimed, obviously ignoring the pointed aura pressure directed his way by his now annoyed sister.

"I believe that it is something which we will have to discuss within the family, son," Lord Indomitable said.

"But I will remind you that I have not discarded the idea either. Try not to test my patience too much in this matter, and I believe that we will have more fruitful discussions going forward." Will clearly looked as if he wanted to say more, but reined himself in and sat down.

"I hope you all will not take offense when I say that our dear city lord here has a point," Jarvan added.

"Should this investigation bear fruit, I believe that the Adventure Society will definitely have use of you. But these kinds of things will need part discretion and part self-sufficiency. And I believe that you will need to reach silver-rank before I will be entirely satisfied with the latter. Too many things can threaten a group of bronze-rankers even in these lands. But a group of silvers, on the other hand, would not be overly threatened unless they were to unexpectedly run into something quite spectacular.

And keeping track of the spectacular is something which the Adventure Society takes very seriously." His words left Kite and his group nodding along, and seemed to mollify Lord Indomitable as well.

"In regards to the local scene, I will take this into consideration going forward. Just trying to quash dissatisfaction will not be fruitful if Discord is indeed at work here, but there might be other plans and means we can consider, especially in the vacuum left by the Descending Star sect. Directors, the city of Gilded hopes for your most well-meant collaboration in handling what we can assume to be a lot of aimless former sect-members in the upcoming days.

The city will aim to be generous in our terms, and I hope you will extend the same courtesy."

"I believe that can certainly be arranged," Jarvan said, looking to Rupert.

"Keeping strife to a minimum should ever by our highest priority, no?" Calm of the Indomitable Beyond spoke next, the priestess of Death having remained silent most of the conversation as well. Even in a space where her god could not listen in, she seemed adamant in not overstepping her or the deity's authority.

"The presence of the church of Undeath in this conflict has allowed my and my fellow clergy some more leeway to act. Should the Adventure Society have need of us, or even vaguely suspect anything related to Undeath, then we shall give what assistance we can."

"Oh, I have seen what happens when Death's clergy brings down the hammer - or is scythe more appropriate? - on the forces of Undeath," Jarvan mused with a wicked smile.

"Trust me, priestess, you will hear from us in the future." With the silver-rankers of the different organizations seeming satisfied with their plans, Kite once more took the chance to speak up.

"Director, I would like to participate in whatever ways I can." His statement had Jarvan give him a knowing smile.

"It is hard to just sit back after parting the veil a little, is it not?"

"I… Yes," Kite admitted, the director's words having hit right on the spot.

"But as you said, what can I do? Could I even make a difference?"

"Adventurer, we can all make a difference," Rupert responded.

"While being a bronze-ranker will not allow you to move as boldly, you being just where you were allowed us to have this very conversation."

"But honestly, you will need to get stronger before we can let you really get into things like this," Jarvan added, serving the harsh truth with a smile.

"And even should you all wish, your group will be but one of many I hope to rope into this. I trust that you met Azure Devil, Dobrazza's little favorite? He has a team of his own which I am quite sure will be roped into this as well, with more to come if this thing should prove to be anything close to what is hinted at."

"So each of you should work on getting stronger and to truly ponder your role in this, should you wish for it," Rupert added, directing the words to both Kite and his team as well as Auntie Crow and Auntie Dove.

"You will not have to decide now, but I will admit that we will need locals such as yourselves for this. Because it would surprise me if this doesn't get at least a little political in the end." Jarvan groaned at his words.

"See, complicated. At least Undeath makes things more simple."

"I believe that we all have things to prepare and consider, then," Mirabel said as she once more stood up to grab the attention of everyone present.

"And I trust that everyone understands the severity of these implications, and the need for secrecy. No matter what you choose, taking care not to spread what you have learned here is of utmost importance. A sentiment which my Lady wants me to stress to the extreme." With everyone present having nodded or said their agreements, the meeting in the heart of Knowledge's temple was adjourned.

While the future was shrouded in a lot of uncertainty, Kite still felt the smoldering curiosity from before having been stoked further, along with the satisfaction of being a part of something. Something important.

"I-" he began as he walked next to his companions, but was interrupted as Dragonfly bumped his hip with hers, her strength enough to send him stumbling if not for the stabilizing power of Unyielding.

"So, what I gathered from that was simple. We need to get stronger. A lot stronger," she said with a big grin.

"When do we start?" Will was already nodding along enthusiastically, so Kite instead turned to Serene. She had remained silent throughout this whole conversation, and her controlled exterior made her hard to get a read on, aura revealing even less.

"Harmony is one of the most important things in music," she said, answering the unspoken question in Kite's eyes.

"And discord is most certainly not. As long as my goddess agrees with this course of action, then our paths will not diverge anytime soon. If anything, the harmony of our song will need to rise to new heights." Dragonfly cheered at her words, hugging the taller celestine fiercely while exclaiming; "Then let's get on with this! I can even start singing while I fight if that is what it takes!"

"Oh, there is no need-""Discord, fear me!" Dragonfly shouted, stopping just before exiting the inner sanctum of Knowledge's temple.

"Because I, Dragonfly over Sun's Reflection, am coming to force harmony upon these lands, one chop of the axe at a time, if need be!"