[God Quest] until nothing stands between us

Nova

Once they're back from their beautiful, all-inclusive excursion over the stunning Hak Etme skyline, Nova leaves Caly at the Sunbean and sets off to find their mother. Before leaving the cafe, she grabs some of their signature items, including a glittery blushberry lemonade with purple popping bobas that make it look like a galaxy as well as a seasonal mini apple spiced cake covered in powdered sugar in the shape of a star.

Nerves tickle at the edge of her emotions, but Nova puts on a smile, still happy to see her mom even if she fears that disappointed look making another appearance. But Caly's right, and she's made sure to fix her mistake so that no fault can be found, so her mom has no reason to feel that she's fallen short.

Jeff has decided to tag along, wearing a dapper white fez with glittery yellow stars. He props on her shoulder, watching as she sets out the silver bracelet, drink, and cake - adding a pink swirly straw that glows in the dark. With a final nod, she smiles and stands, looking to the setting sun and the stars that begin to appear in the dark corners of the sky. "Mom! You don't have to be disappointed anymore! I did it right this time!"

---

Nova is turning in her portion from the quest never close enough to upgrade:

Never Far Bracelet | A starlight-infused bracelet that, when activated, teleports the wearer to the bracelet's twin. Must be within the same board.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic | Cost: Action

1. Have a member of the Gilded Market (can be Nova) repair any wear and tear on the bracelets (must be at the guild)
make it shine - Nova and Caly cleaned/repaired the bracelets

2. Witness someone using teleportion that lets them travel over an entire region (or more)
climbing back from hell - Observed Thal using the Eternal Bonfire

3. Get somewhere faster than normal
Rainbow road trip! - Sped up the Ark to get to the Greatwood

4. Complete a thread in a board neither has been in trying to gauge how large regions really are (i.e., in the last quest you had to travel across an entire board. This time I won't make you travel across an entire region, but make a thread where they acknowledge how far travelling across a region really is).
Mushroom City Skyline - Looked out over the Greatwood from the Ark
overlooking - Acknowledged Hak Etme's size from the vantage point of a skyship

It is impossible for light not to get noticed,
especially in the dark.
Light can devour the darkness
but darkness cannot consume the light

every bait and switch was a work of art

The first stars answer before the goddess does. They prick open in the violet-dark edges of the sky, bright and watchful above the offerings, and as the last gold of sunset sinks low against the horizon, that gathering silver light spills downward in long, soft ribbons. It catches in the powdered sugar on the little cake, glimmers through the glittery blushberry lemonade until the purple bobas look like tiny planets suspended in some sweet, impossible universe, and turns Jeff’s white fez into something briefly and absurdly regal.

Then Safrin descends; the goddess steps from the falling starlight and crosses the distance between them without a word, her radiance folding around the shrine, the bracelet, the cake, the lemonade, the little glowing straw, all of it noticed and adored and set aside in favour of the daughter standing before her. Before Nova can explain again, before she can brace herself against the memory of that last look, Safrin sweeps her into her arms. "Oh, my sweet little star," she murmurs, pulling Nova close enough that the scent of stars and ozone and something warmer than summer gathers in her hair. "I know this was difficult for you," she whispers, warm and low and meant only for her, "but I am proud of you."

Only then does she draw back enough to look at her properly, her hands still resting on Nova’s shoulders, her smile luminous and full. "You came back. You finished what you began. You did not let one mistake become the end of you." 

---

Nova has completed her quest and her bracelet has been upgraded

you're the one prize i'd cheat to win

Nova

The stars descend in narrow rivers of light that are as familiar as the freckles on her cheeks. They move with an ethereal elegance that quiets her heart. The nerves don't vanish, but the awe and anticipation cast a light so bright that the darkness trembles, tucking into corners to hide from the goddess that appears. Jeff fidgets before burrowing into Nova's hair just in time for her to be enveloped by her mother's warm embrace. It's unconditional and all encompassing, an eclipse of any doubts she'd held of her mother's love. 

Like a tap against the glass of a cup brimming with water, the tension breaks, a few tender drops of emotion spilling over the edge onto her cheeks. She sucks in a breath, tasting starlight and sweetness on her tongue, feeling every muscle loosen when those pivotal words reach her ears, a melody of love and affection meant only for her. "I promised you I'd be better," she whispers back, eyes gleaming bright from the fears she's held close. Her arms tighten around her mom as if she's making another promise now, to continue being better than she was before, refusing to put distance between them. 

When Safrin draws back, Nova smiles through the damp display of her emotions, the tears shining brighter in the dying light, luminous in return. She nods her head, fledgling determination setting in her shoulders as she declares, "I'm your daughter." And she won't quit just because something is hard.

It is impossible for light not to get noticed,
especially in the dark.
Light can devour the darkness
but darkness cannot consume the light