Chaldean Chronicles: Cadence of the Lostgrail

In her white tower, Veleda can be freely approached and spoken to by Chaldea. 

Although her tower is still being hidden with illusion magecraft, she reveals its location should any Chaldean come close to it.

Dominic will have remained in the tower after making the mission report to command to continue speaking with her, still interested in the potential source of her power and how she conducts magecraft. Investigating this shut in could also simply prove amusing. He takes the time to form his false griffon outside so that he would have an easier time moving around in these mountains, and it can help keep watch for harpies. "I have asked you many questions already, do you have any for me at all?"

"Let's see." The girl straightens her dress. "I have heard about Masters and Servants and I find it interesting. That tall man at your side is a Servant, no? And he's a god too?"

"Yes. His name is Orochi. A god in Japan, a land to the east. He has taken on a vessel to be able to manifest through our system to bring Servants forth. He continues to restrain himself from seeking out virgins to consume." Dominic says, a bit of a playful tone in his voice "It is good his nemesis has not been summoned or there may be a fight, as he is in the Berserker class."

"R-Really?" Veleda is starting to feel some doubt about letting this group meet her directly. "Why does he need to restrain himself from that?" She eyes Orochi with a hesitant smile.

@Sophie, Mary, Nito, Gorgon, Boud

"It is a part of his being and mythology. The Berserker class comes with enhancements to physical attributes of a Servant, but detriments to their mental attributes. Impulse control is something he has to focus a bit on rather than something that is just passively done like most people can handle. Or he is fucking with me. He likes to do that as well."

"A little bit of both Master." Orochi removed one of his arms from his sleeves placing his hand on his cheek as he spoke. "In this form, my hunger is greatly suppressed and easily manageable by consuming normal food, the only time that suppression is gone is if activate my Noble Phantasm or use its Partial release. "

"As he says at least, which is generally more reasonable than some humans." Dominic says, a bit of cynicism in his voice as his growing disdain for humanity pokes its head out. "With you advanced seeing capability, have you really not seen the capabilities incarnated Gods before?"

"O-oh." The blue haired girl lets out a short sigh of relief. "If he can control himself, it's all right." She's quite naive, but she doesn't lose her composure easily. "I can tell he holds a large amount of power, but with these two other men in the room, it's a bit difficult to observe." She puts both of her hands together and smiles. "This is the first time I'm meeting another god in the flesh. I'm glad, Orochi."

@Sophie, Mary, Nito, Gorgon, Boud @StarryCleric

oh right we're still here- I mean, ahem. Munenori was contemptively drinking his tea in silence, though he had to refrain himself from correcting the oblivious girl. That perhaps meeting the great Serpent God that brought disaster and pain to the land wasn't exactly something to be glad of. But of course, Naomi was excited about it. So maybe he was wrong. Maybe.

"They are also Servants and thus people from legend, history, or myth. All Servants are decently powerful, though the ones summoned by the Earth are usually more-so in order to try and close these Singularities. They seem to sometimes get corrupted or become problematic as well. Like how one of them started leading the Romans against your people, though I supposed that was after you had left." he finishes his tea after he finishes speaking

"Then you're lucky that the ones next to you aren't like that." "Should I prepare more tea? I got so excited about meeting a god I forgot my manners."

"Let me, are you done with yours as well?" He asks inquisitively, not really wanting to see her fumble around on her own, as he gets up to get himself more tea "You aren't used to have guests, clearly, we have better things to discuss than your capability with a tea pot." he waits a moment for her to respond but something occurs to him "Ah... The influence on Epona is gone by the way. The Aspect of Surtr was extracted from her and slain. Would you like for us to send for her so you can meet her?"

". . ." Even though Dominic doesn't leave her any room to argue against him taking care of the tea, she accepts it. "I saw your allies help the tribe. It might be good to meet Epona again, but.. she's not supposed to be here anyways, isn't she?" "And.. neither are any of you. I wonder what that means for me?" She murmurs to herself. "No matter. You're still offering me assistance and that's what really matters. With my artifact, I'm sure I can find some way to help you in return."

"That would be useful. After this meeting, I could check our history records to find out what actually is supposed to happen. You as a seer would normally be able to know anyway." He mentions as he hands her some more tea and sits back down "Your assistance would be greatly appreciated and useful for us. We seem to be at an impasse on how to deal with the North. We are blind in the snow and do not have many effective methods at traversing it. If your powers could somehow guide us through, that may be invaluable"

Dominic's offer brings a smile to Veleda's face as she accepts the tea. She takes a few sips, listening to what he has to say about the northern parts of Germania. "That icey waste?" She looks into her cup for a second, as if searching in it for answers. "..I'm not sure if my powers will be sufficient, but with my orb, I might be able to grant you an advantage." Even now, her way of speaking is too soft and kind to fit a goddess.

@StarryCleric

Dominic gives her a pretty obviously fake smile in return, mostly just trying to show a bit of gratitude but her way of speaking was starting to remind him of things that were best pushed down "That is good, to correct history we will need to manage our way through that waste. I've made a few journeys in myself, and the biggest problem we have currently is Limited Visibility. There are others as well, but that one has been really messing with us pretty badly. Hopefully some of the other teams are finding methods to deal with it as well. At least the ones not trying to deal with the other threats like the Fae or the Dragons." He sighed, so many threats in this Singularity, and they weren't even unified. At least in China they mainly just had to deal with the main enemy. Here there were too many potential enemies.

"Liar? Me...?" Dominic was a little confused, but slightly brushed it off. "Do you think I am more capable than I am or do you think we do not have such an amazing crafter around?" He watched the sun set from the air, it had been a while since he took the time to bother to take in the sights during travel. It felt muted, but growing in color. Maybe things will be getting better in the future.

2:47 PM

@Angelic

"Liar? Me...?" Dominic was a little confused, but slightly brushed it off. "Do you think I am more capable than I am or do you think we do not have such an amazing crafter around?" He watched the sun set from the air, it had been a while since he took the time to bother to take in the sights during travel. It felt muted, but growing in color. Maybe things will be getting better in the future.

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump "If it weren't for the interference of the Holy Grail, the Bructeri tribe would have eventually fallen to the Romans too," Veleda says. "They wouldn't have hurt me at first, but after some time, they'd take me too." "If that's the mark I'll leave on history, it's not very impressive."

"If it weren't for the interference of the Holy Grail, the Bructeri tribe would have eventually fallen to the Romans too," Veleda says. "They wouldn't have hurt me at first, but after some time, they'd take me too." "If that's the mark I'll leave on history, it's not very impressive."

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump "And ultimately the Romans collapsed as well. Germania eventually became Germany, fought in World War 1, started World War 2, and eventually became a very industrious country. Without you, your people would not be remembered at all today...." Dominic thinks for a bit, as they get closer to the Tower. Wondering if there was anyway this Veleda could continue. "Even now you affect the world and assist in restoring the Human Order."

2:57 PM

"You have left more of a mark than many other at least, and it was a positive one."

"And ultimately the Romans collapsed as well. Germania eventually became Germany, fought in World War 1, started World War 2, and eventually became a very industrious country. Without you, your people would not be remembered at all today...." Dominic thinks for a bit, as they get closer to the Tower. Wondering if there was anyway this Veleda could continue. "Even now you affect the world and assist in restoring the Human Order."

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump Veleda breathes in the fresh evening air, letting it fill her lungs. "It'll be a beautiful night tonight," she says softly. "The stars will be bright." Even though she's behind Dominic, the kind of face she's making is probably a gentle one. "I'm the one who told the priests to use the Holy Grail and summon these monsters. I thought if it means beating the Romans, it could always be fixed later." She laughs with self deprication. "The stars shone so strongly that night too. I really messed up, didn't I?"

Dominic was quiet for a moment as he heard how this singularity was started. "Ah I see. We all make mistakes. You knew the future and knew what would happen, wishing to change that fate is only human. Not even the gods wish for their own demise, no matter how they may say they are above us. Only the abrahamic god is so perfect, but that is just being unfair to use the supposedly omnipotent omniscient being as an example for anything. I think you made the right choice with the information you had, I probably would have done the same. Most people would have." He says, turning to face her since Griffon is smart enough to fly himself. He puts a hand on her shoulder "The singularities I have seen, all were started with good intentions. The queen of France just wanted to save her people, the emperor of China wanted to end Tyranny. And you wanted to keep the all powerful Roman Empire from taking over your people as you could see what the outcome would be." There was a twinkle of kindness in his eyes, underneath the obvious exhaustion and burnout that his body usually gave off. His words were genuine for once. "Where did the Grail even come from? I know in one instance of history, the Grail had corrupting powers. You may not even be to blame for the decision, and even if there was no corruption, Power itself can be a corrupting influence. It is too much for any being to use"

@Angelic sorry for long post

Dominic was quiet for a moment as he heard how this singularity was started. "Ah I see. We all make mistakes. You knew the future and knew what would happen, wishing to change that fate is only human. Not even the gods wish for their own demise, no matter how they may say they are above us. Only the abrahamic god is so perfect, but that is just being unfair to use the supposedly omnipotent omniscient being as an example for anything. I think you made the right choice with the information you had, I probably would have done the same. Most people would have." He says, turning to face her since Griffon is smart enough to fly himself. He puts a hand on her shoulder "The singularities I have seen, all were started with good intentions. The queen of France just wanted to save her people, the emperor of China wanted to end Tyranny. And you wanted to keep the all powerful Roman Empire from taking over your people as you could see what the outcome would be." There was a twinkle of kindness in his eyes, underneath the obvious exhaustion and burnout that his body usually gave off. His words were genuine for once. "Where did the Grail even come from? I know in one instance of history, the Grail had corrupting powers. You may not even be to blame for the decision, and even if there was no corruption, Power itself can be a corrupting influence. It is too much for any being to use"

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump With Dominic talking to her like this, Veleda can't keep up her self deprecation. With a sad smile, she accepts his words. "I see. I guess the mistake I made was very human," she says, smiling faintly. When he asks about the grail, her gaze becomes more serious. "The Holy Grail reached the priests through an extremely powerful mage. He instructed them to use its power to destroy this era. He knew the consequences this Singularity would bring and he welcomed it."

With Dominic talking to her like this, Veleda can't keep up her self deprecation. With a sad smile, she accepts his words. "I see. I guess the mistake I made was very human," she says, smiling faintly. When he asks about the grail, her gaze becomes more serious. "The Holy Grail reached the priests through an extremely powerful mage. He instructed them to use its power to destroy this era. He knew the consequences this Singularity would bring and he welcomed it."

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump "I see... Do you know what he looks like or his name? It may help us because I suspect he may be the cause of all of these Singularities and finding out how to stop him will be important." Dominic was a bit happier that she accepted his words, he had a hard time accepting his own words, so he is glad they reached someone else at least. He shifted forward to see how much further they had to fly, almost there now. "We are almost to the tower"

"I see... Do you know what he looks like or his name? It may help us because I suspect he may be the cause of all of these Singularities and finding out how to stop him will be important." Dominic was a bit happier that she accepted his words, he had a hard time accepting his own words, so he is glad they reached someone else at least. He shifted forward to see how much further they had to fly, almost there now. "We are almost to the tower"

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump "His name is---" Suddenly, Veleda pulls on Dominic. "Turn around." "Turn around! Get back to the village!"

"His name is---" Suddenly, Veleda pulls on Dominic. "Turn around." "Turn around! Get back to the village!"

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump Griffon would briefly turn to Dominic as she said this and Dom would give him a nod "Based on your tone of voice, this isn't a change of mind to rejoin them. Hold on, I'm going to speed us up" As Dominic says this he casts Haste on Griffon as the mount rapidly descends back down towards the village, moving much much faster than before as they were previously only moving at a leisurely pace, now though he was full dashing while hasted. "Can you tell me what the problem is?"

Griffon would briefly turn to Dominic as she said this and Dom would give him a nod "Based on your tone of voice, this isn't a change of mind to rejoin them. Hold on, I'm going to speed us up" As Dominic says this he casts Haste on Griffon as the mount rapidly descends back down towards the village, moving much much faster than before as they were previously only moving at a leisurely pace, now though he was full dashing while hasted. "Can you tell me what the problem is?"

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump "They're being attacked. Stop talking and just get us there!"

"They're being attacked. Stop talking and just get us there!"

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump "Griffon is moving as fast as he can! Unless you want to move over the village and jump off then we use magecraft to slow the fall, we are going as quickly as I can whether I speak or not!" Dominic said over the rushing wind as they sped back towards the village

Riding L'oro, Dominic returns to an empty mountain peak with no sense of any magical interference. The only company here is the howling wind.

@StarryCleric

Dominic would check for traces of the bounded field that had hidden the tower previously, finding nothing he would then attempt to scry her location. There was some final things they had needed to discuss professionally at least, even if he on a personal level at least wanted to say goodbye.

1:44 PM

With the spell failing, he just looked where the tower once stood "As human as always. And I was just about ready to trust you for once. You can probably see me wherever you are, or already knew I would say this, but goodbye Veleda. Shame you chose for us not to part in person." He then turned and told L'Oro he could head back. He was going to stay here for a bit and watch the sky. The dragon just chuckled at his Master, and took flight, heading back to the village to return to his nap. "When will I learn my lesson. Don't get attached. They just leave you anyway. Everytime. Without a word." he muttered to himself as he sat down at the edge of the cliffside and looked to the horizon.

Flickers of light shine through the night horizon. Behind Dominic stands the familiar white tower, shining like a beacon in the night.

@StarryCleric

Dominic looks up at it, wondering if it was worth the attempt. She chose to leave without saying anything. But she could see into the future, maybe she knew he would come and sit here. Then she must have also known the effect it would have. He stood for a moment staring at the tower, trying to contemplate the logic the Seer may have here, and ultimately gave up. Those who can see the future and future possibilities were not someone you try and figure out with Logic. Especially when the extent of their powers was unknown. He entered the tower and began to ascend to the top with a sigh. At least he could maybe talk to her in person. This was better than Artoria at least. She left nothing behind.

The door to Veleda's room swings open. Inside is a sight like the night sky: the dark room is filled with hundreds of small, bright spots, twinkling like little stars. "Welcome back." Veleda is sitting on the floor in a thin white nightgown, both of her legs in a disarrayed state that somehow still looks graceful. "I almost fell asleep," she says, making inconsequential small talk as though ignoring the elephant in the room.

@StarryCleric

The door to Veleda's room swings open. Inside is a sight like the night sky: the dark room is filled with hundreds of small, bright spots, twinkling like little stars. "Welcome back." Veleda is sitting on the floor in a thin white nightgown, both of her legs in a disarrayed state that somehow still looks graceful. "I almost fell asleep," she says, making inconsequential small talk as though ignoring the elephant in the room.

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump "Ah yea, you must have been tired after leaving the victory party. Tea?" Dominic would ask her as he walked over to the tea set and started making himself some tea "Your room is rather beautiful at night." He always was making a bit of pointless small talk, just not really wanting to broach the subject yet. He was having his own mental battle of how he should feel in this situation already, and he still needed a bit of a moment. He had a bit of a neutral expression on his face, not trying to force a smile for once.

Veleda reaches behind her and holds out the shining globe-like orb. It's slowly turning, making the room's lighting shift with it. "It's because you returned my heirloom to me." She shakes her head at his offer of tea. "No thank you. I don't feel like eating or drinking anything right now." She absent-mindedly runs her hand over the floor in the space between her legs. "..I thought it'd be best if I don't let you back in." @StarryCleric

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump "But you did. Well... I am no divination expert nor do I have eyes capable of seeing illusions. Who knows, this may be a well programmed illusion that you left behind to give me some solace. I'm not on any stabilizers right now, so it at least isn't a hallucination on my part." He would sit down with the tea and take a sip "So why did you let me back in? And why would you want to keep me away?"

"But you did. Well... I am no divination expert nor do I have eyes capable of seeing illusions. Who knows, this may be a well programmed illusion that you left behind to give me some solace. I'm not on any stabilizers right now, so it at least isn't a hallucination on my part." He would sit down with the tea and take a sip "So why did you let me back in? And why would you want to keep me away?"

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump "I'll hold my end of our contract. Until you've taken the grail and resolved this Singularity, I'll be your ally." Her voice is kind but firm. "Doing any more than that is unnecessary. I'm still a goddess. I shouldn't be involving myself in idle human affairs."

"I'll hold my end of our contract. Until you've taken the grail and resolved this Singularity, I'll be your ally." Her voice is kind but firm. "Doing any more than that is unnecessary. I'm still a goddess. I shouldn't be involving myself in idle human affairs."

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump "I see. So you consider that the limit of your capabilities. Unfortunate. I assume you can see no positive outcome from further interaction with your sight." Dominic sips his tea. His gaze shifting towards her books slightly, before returning to her "I suppose you no longer wish to let me see your writings either. That is to be expected. I was almost believing I could get a bit closer to you, but it seems the distance is too far." He places the tea down to his side, looking directly at her, there was a loss in his eyes. He had hoped he could have gotten close enough to trust here, but it had seemed like it was misplaced. That is just the way life goes. At least he could have some last words before he went back to work.

Veleda's eyes widen in gentle surprise. "No, that's not it," she says. "Those are the reasons why I shouldn't see you." Her hand movements come to a stop. "I still want to talk to you. And I still want to show you." She holds out the orb. "If you want to as well, then―"

@StarryCleric

Veleda's eyes widen in gentle surprise. "No, that's not it," she says. "Those are the reasons why I shouldn't see you." Her hand movements come to a stop. "I still want to talk to you. And I still want to show you." She holds out the orb. "If you want to as well, then―"

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump "I would." Dominic says simply as he shifts closer and holds his hands to accept the orb, he doesn't know what this gesture will mean at all, but he is a bit happy that she still wanted to show him things and talk to him. Through her, he was learning that his inner being craved companionship and friendships, while his outer being sought to defend itself from the harm those connections provide, he would need to meditate on it later and figure out the best method to deal with these two parts of himself. "I did want to continue talking to you, but I do not have a right to force anything. I am not of this land and I am simply a human."

@Angelic

"I would." Dominic says simply as he shifts closer and holds his hands to accept the orb, he doesn't know what this gesture will mean at all, but he is a bit happy that she still wanted to show him things and talk to him. Through her, he was learning that his inner being craved companionship and friendships, while his outer being sought to defend itself from the harm those connections provide, he would need to meditate on it later and figure out the best method to deal with these two parts of himself. "I did want to continue talking to you, but I do not have a right to force anything. I am not of this land and I am simply a human."

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump Veleda does not let go of the hand. She lets Dominic place his hand on it, holding it with her, their fingers touching. "We're talking now, are we not?" She smiles. "..Don't let it frighten you. Experiencing it for the first time is sure to be shocking for any human, no matter how resilient their mind is." "Are you ready?"

Veleda does not let go of the hand. She lets Dominic place his hand on it, holding it with her, their fingers touching. "We're talking now, are we not?" She smiles. "..Don't let it frighten you. Experiencing it for the first time is sure to be shocking for any human, no matter how resilient their mind is." "Are you ready?"

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump Dominic took a deep breath, trusting Veleda's words as she spoke. He mentally braced himself in preparation, ceasing many excess lines of thought as his whole memory partition got prepared to try and handle the strain. It was no doubt going to be a lot of information, and he was known as a prodigy among atlas when he was younger. He was hoping he could handle it. "Yes... I'm ready. My mind is a bit above a normal humans due to my background, but even then I suppose it is still fundamentally human...." he took a final deep breath "Go ahead"

Dominic took a deep breath, trusting Veleda's words as she spoke. He mentally braced himself in preparation, ceasing many excess lines of thought as his whole memory partition got prepared to try and handle the strain. It was no doubt going to be a lot of information, and he was known as a prodigy among atlas when he was younger. He was hoping he could handle it. "Yes... I'm ready. My mind is a bit above a normal humans due to my background, but even then I suppose it is still fundamentally human...." he took a final deep breath "Go ahead"

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump "Close your eyes."

Suddenly-- everything expands and contracts. The oxygen and nitrogen in the air, the cold temperatures' gentle shivers, the light received by the retina, the gravity pull from earth.

Dominic is not in the tower's lonely room anymore. Earth, the moon, the sun, countless of other stars and moons and planets and galaxies and comets. Magellan, Andromeda, Milky Way, Sombrero, Orochi, Triangulum, Pandora, El Gordo, Seyfert, Markarian, Mayall. 

Innumerable beginnings and ends and paths open and return to Pleistocene.

@StarryCleric Make a DC 20 Intelligence saving throw

Dominic makes an Intelligence Save!

1d20 (15) + 9 = 24

Suddenly-- everything expands and contracts. The oxygen and nitrogen in the air, the cold temperatures' gentle shivers, the light received by the retina, the gravity pull from earth.  Dominic is not in the tower's lonely room anymore. Earth, the moon, the sun, countless of other stars and moons and planets and galaxies and comets. Magellan, Andromeda, Milky Way, Sombrero, Orochi, Triangulum, Pandora, El Gordo, Seyfert, Markarian, Mayall.   Innumerable beginnings and ends and paths open and return to Pleistocene.

@StarryCleric Make a DC 20 Intelligence saving throw

@Angelic - jump Dominic braced his mind as he gazed into infinity, he had expanded his mind's horizon's plenty of times before to encounter many possibilities with infinite calculation, but this was infinite sight of all those outcomes rather than just potential theories and numbers. It was far more than what he normally did, but he accepted it and continued to let the process continue as he worked to process the information he was recieving.

"You're doing well," Veleda says. "Remember the feeling of my fingers. Don't lose sight of where you are." Her quiet voice is like a lighthouse guiding the way. It all happens in an instance. Dominic's vision is filled by the endless starry horizon. "See? I'm not lonely. I can go wherever I want." A rabbit burrow where little bunnies are cuddling. The wolves prowling the forests. Goblin camps and spriggans resting their branches in a pond. The inhabitants of the mountain village finally getting some rest after a long night. From up here, flying amidst the stars in the sky, anything can be observed.

@StarryCleric

Dominic gazed at the infinity, seeing all, experiencing much. He saw what Veleda had been watching, focusing on her as well as his Memory Partitions ran at full capacity to try and continue to expand his senses while keeping him grounded in reality. "This is... amazing... I can see why you would be fine... but..." He would attempt to gaze more around, trying to decide if he should make an attempt to delve further in to find an answer of something "This is... only an observer. Are you really fine, with not being able to be near another? Simply standing on the side and watching?" he had genuine concern for Veleda. While he himself was only discovering the depths of his soul that had been deprived true human contact for so long, yet being surrounded by them anyway, he wondered how Veleda felt. An observer with almost no human contact, but being able to watch any event she would wish to

@Angelic

"I don't mind it." Her words don't reveal whether Veleda is really convinced of that, but she doesn't sound sad. There's a soft sensation on Dominic's fingers. Even when they're formlessly in the night sky, he can feel it. It's her fingers touching his. "I'm never just watching." The vision shifts in a dance of stars until they're back to a wolf out in the wild. It's stalking its prey, an unsuspecting deer. "I feel like saving this one."

Veleda casts Haste!

Veleda

Effect: Hasted [1.1 minutes] (AC: +2; Save Advantage: Dexterity)

Effect

Until the spell ends, the target's speed is doubled, it gains a +2 bonus to AC, it has advantage on Dexterity saving throws, and it gains an additional action on each of its turns. That action can be used only to take the Attack (one weapon attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Use an Object action. When the spell ends, the target can't move or take actions until after its next turn, as a wave of lethargy sweeps over it.

Spell Slots

3 ◉〇〇

A sudden rush fills the deer, enhancing the muscles of its legs to their limit.

@StarryCleric

Dominic gazed in amazement, remote casting from such a distance, and potentially a different instance of time. Amazing... If only he could remain here, and learn more of this power. His fingers move a bit closer to Veleda's needing a bit more as he felt he almost lost himself in the infinity as he made this realization. "This is... astounding. I feel I understand a bit more now why you are a Goddess, despite retaining a physical form in this era..." Dominic would then shift a bit, searching around in his mind as he peered into the endless, trying to decide a pinpoint spot. He would make an attempt to find a bird, to watch it in fast motion throughout its life. To witness that in an instant

The tingling sensation from the orb reaches all the way towards Dominic's nerve central. It's an unpleasant and alien feeling. A reminder that if he makes a mistake, he might just lose himself forever. Instead of losing himself, he's gently taken along by it, the sky shifting to the view of a bird putting together its nest. Images of the bird's life flash by in the split of a second. Birth, rebirth, unbirth, sickness, love, death, injury. "What are you--" Dominic's nerves are lit ablaze. What was previously an unpleasant feeling is now a torrent of pain. Pain pain and pain. His muscles flare and burst like an overloaded CPU. "Hha--" Veleda makes a sharp and agonized sound. They're both torn from their place in the sky in an instant. In her tower, she's falling to her side, her face red from strain.

@StarryCleric

Dominic recoiled in pain, clearly having over-exerted what was capable of this. He was not unfamiliar to pain from experimenting, but as the pain exploded he groaned in agony. That was a mistake. Too much information. He had lost too much connection with the physical body to realize he was pushing it too far. He must be more careful in the future. As he barely remained upright, he reached over and put a hand towards Veleda, touching her with healing as he tried to ease her own pain. He had done this to her, he should try and aid her recovery.

"I-I'm alright." Veleda pulls herself back up, her head still ringing from the pain. "I think that's enough for tonight," she says, trying to smile. "Did I live up to your expectations?"

@StarryCleric

"You were even more than that. It is... amazing. If this is how your sight works... What do you need the books for? Is that research for something else? We were told your people did not keep basically any written records. Yet.... you have a small collection of such writings." Dominic asks inquisitively, panting slightly as he recovers from the whiplash and pain. It was better he took a break from the device. It was a bit much for him, he had many answers he wanted, but this was not his power. It was not right for him to seek the answers he wanted with power that was not his own.

@Angelic

"Everything I do is for one goal and one goal only," Veleda says. "To reach the beginning and end of all things." She places the orb on the ground and lets go of it. "I was born to observe the stars and that is why I am a goddess. No, it's the other way around. Because I'm a goddess, I must observe the stars." Her eyes trail off. "That doesn't mean I don't care about people. I'm just someone who's ultimately incompatible with them."

@StarryCleric

"In the modern Era, we simply refer to that as a Magus. Someone who seeks the Root. The beginning and end of all things. The place where the Truth exists. The path to True Magic should you choose to turn away rather than being consumed by the Truth...." He looks off into space, not really staring at anything. "It is an endless search that we all pursue... I felt that I became a bit too close using your orb... And that felt like cheating. That is your path, unless you were to properly allow me onto your path, me utilizing it would be like cheating by stealing your progress. Some Magus are fine with that... but it does not sit well with me."

"So you have thought about stealing it," Veleda says with a light laugh. "I thought so." The night draws its curtain on their meeting. "You should go back now. Your friends are waiting for you."

@StarryCleric

"Of course I have.... I don't know if you would understand, but people like me have the capacity of thinking... a lot. While I cannot see all the sights, I can think of many of the possibilities. Look at a situation from all angles, even the ones I would not normally choose. We have to save humanity after all.... at any cost.... We do not get a choice in the matter anymore.... We either win... or Inferno..." He would sigh a bit, taking up the tea cup and finishing his tea. "Would it be ok if I return and talk again? Unlike you, I think I would prefer to be a bit near people I enjoy. I cannot see you especially since you are capable of hiding from even the bit of divination magecraft that I know. I would hope this is not our last meeting...."

@Angelic

"Of course I have.... I don't know if you would understand, but people like me have the capacity of thinking... a lot. While I cannot see all the sights, I can think of many of the possibilities. Look at a situation from all angles, even the ones I would not normally choose. We have to save humanity after all.... at any cost.... We do not get a choice in the matter anymore.... We either win... or Inferno..." He would sigh a bit, taking up the tea cup and finishing his tea. "Would it be ok if I return and talk again? Unlike you, I think I would prefer to be a bit near people I enjoy. I cannot see you especially since you are capable of hiding from even the bit of divination magecraft that I know. I would hope this is not our last meeting...."

@Dominic (@StarryCleric) - jump "..Yeah. I'll wait here." She sees him off with a small promise. "See you, Dominic."

Dominic would give her a bit of a genuine smile, even if it was small, but that just meant it was all the more real. There was a bit of regret in his eyes, he felt this small promise might not get fulfilled, as there was a sense this Singularity was almost over. He had heard something about a False Mjolnir being crafted with one of the other teams. That may lead to the final confrontation. Whether Dom would be apart of that final push or not was not yet known. "See you, Veleda."

Dominic would get up and head out. A few days later he would return and leave her a package of chocolates with a note, explaining that its a modern day tradition to give Chocolates to the people you care about on this date, and he felt she should have some even if she is a Goddess. These chocolates were some of the best craftable by human hands. Have a treat while she still could.

On the final day, when Dominic arrives to place his chocolates, he sees the entire village gathered around the tower.

They're all there to cheer for their goddess.

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Even Brinno, who's trying to look as stern as ever, is smiling slightly.

Mari calls over to Dominic, waving at him. "Heeey~! Did you come to look after Veleda too?" When he gets closer, she speaks a little quieter, saying something secret. "I always thought she had to be beautiful, but isn't she a total cutie?"

@StarryCleric

Mari calls over to Dominic, waving at him. "Heeey~! Did you come to look after Veleda too?" When he gets closer, she speaks a little quieter, saying something secret. "I always thought she had to be beautiful, but isn't she a total cutie?"

@Mari (@Angelic) - jump "Hm? I just was going to leave her a gift before I head out to work on support. Is the entire village here to support her efforts to assist?" Dominic would look around, a bit suspicious of what was going on. He didn't remember letting the villagers in on the deal that he had going with Veleda, but if they wanted to cheer her on it was fine. He couldn't really stay for long as there was still more he had to do to support the forward teams.

"Of course we are!" Mari's mouth turns into a wide smile. "I don't really understand it all, but I just felt like she could use all the love we have tonight. I guess you could call it intuition." She looks at the gift Dominic is carrying. "How sweet. Brinno can take that inside if you want."

@StarryCleric

"Of course we are!" Mari's mouth turns into a wide smile. "I don't really understand it all, but I just felt like she could use all the love we have tonight. I guess you could call it intuition." She looks at the gift Dominic is carrying. "How sweet. Brinno can take that inside if you want."

@Mari (@Angelic) - jump "Well, it's just something I can leave for a friend...." He hears a message sent to him by his Simulacrum on the front lines. The first team has already headed out. "I'd like to see her again, but I suppose she is going to be busy." He would hand the box with the note to Brinno "Perhaps in another time or place...."

Mari eyes jump between the present, Dominic and Brinno. "Seriously? You're just saying yes!?"

Brinno sighs. "Just go inside already," he grumbles. "And try to smile a little. At least for her."

@StarryCleric

Dominic gives Brinno a bit of a blank stare, wondering if it was really ok. "I see, I can spare a little time... for now... hopefully..." He would look off into the distance towards the north, the area where the final confrontation was going down. He had left his Simulacrum to keep him informed and handle a bit of logistics while he was gone on this personal errand. It really was not the most professional of him to do this... "Thank you." Dom would put a smile on his face, an honest one, it wasn't very big though since he was not making an effort to fake it. He would then move forward and head on up the tower, to meet with Veleda one last time before the end of this Singularity.

@Angelic

@StarryCleric

Inside her room, Veleda's eyes widen at the sight of Dominic. "You too..?" Her eyes are reddened from tears. "Everyone, they're all.." They all came here for her.

"Of course. We made a promise after all. And if me being here can help and support you, then all the better." He did still have a genuine smile on his face, which on his face was a rare sight unlike his Simulacrum which never stopped smiling, to a creepy extent. His smile though was not one of Nihilistic acceptance of oblivion, more one of being happy to be with people he enjoys. A true rarity for him. "I brought you a gift, the timing was rather well to give this to you on the finale day."

@Angelic

"Ah...haha." Veleda rubs her eyes and laughs. "That's right. We made a promise, didn't we?" She smiles. "I'll keep your present as a souvenir. Your friends are leaving to take the grail. Let's help them." She holds out her orb. "Together."

@Seer (@Angelic) - jump Dominic looked at her orb with a bit of shock, she was going to let him experience that again? It was a great honor to him. It was something he never thought to get to experience twice "Well... Make sure to put it in a preservative like Amber. It normally is meant to be eaten. Let us help them then.... Together." Putting his faith in someone else... it felt nice to be able to do so again, but there was a bittersweet taste to it as he knew this would be the last time he would see her. At least he was here now. He placed his hands on the orb and readied himself to experience eternity once more

Dominic

Galaxy Brain

〇 (-1)

Dominic and Veleda witness the final fight together, their fingers touching on the orb. Emergency Rayshift has been initialized.

@StarryCleric

Dominic breathed heavily, he had been pushing his circuits and body to assist Veleda and her magic. He looked at her as he felt the commencement "I guess this is goodbye...." He shifted his hands, taking hers into his own in the brief moment before he was gone "I'll always remember you Veleda..."

@Angelic

"You will?" A light laugh escapes Veleda's lips. "Yeah. I think I will, too." It's not possible for that. When this Singularity has closed, the memories Chaldea carries from it are all that's left of it. But.. "I think I will." She sounds so sure of that.

@StarryCleric

"I hope you do as well... When this all finishes... I will find this place again, and leave you some flowers.... I pray for your soul that it finds the Root, in this life or the next" He said a brief prayer, something he picked up for himself from his religious training, but modified for those who seek the Truth of all things like he does.

@Angelic

The Rayshift is finalized. 

With his hand in her's, Dominic is gone.

Veleda is still smiling, but... For some reason, she feels sad. "Huh?" Why does she feel like crying? Wasn't this a really happy moment? There's a vague feeling in her. She can't help but feel like something is missing. "Huh..? Huh?" What is it? She's not a lonely goddess anymore. Outside her tower, everyone is cheering for her, and until now, she met someone who wanted to be stay by her side. Wondering what there was she forgot to do, Veleda experiences an unfamiliar and painful emotion. She can't understand the reason for it. After all, she'd never been in love.

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