[SE] When the light forsakes us

It was Longnight once more and Edmund found himself on the beach away from the numerous parties and rowdy citizens. Torches dotted the sands in the near distance, and he could still hear the music and laughter from the city. But the young Ancient had elected to relax by the water for now. Sitting with his feet in a tide pool he sat back on his palms, looking at the black sky above. The darkness was comforting, familiar in a way. Splat was enthusiastic at least, darting around the edge of the water and whirling his teeth. The Darkling seemed to find amusement in being nigh invisible. The ripples of glee coming through the bond had Edmund smiling to himself as he relaxed. Hadama Edmund Reborn In Fire

The Bubblestream was particularly useful during LongNight, when the swim from the Underwater City to the shore was particularly dangerous and difficult to navigate. Hadama was grateful that it was done so that he could travel between the two halves of the region more easily and check up on his people.

After swimming along the beach from bonfire to bonfire, stopping to exchange greetings and nod his head solemnly at drunken antics, he was more than ready to take a few minutes to rest in the shadows at the edge of the light that gave Torchline its name.

Someone else had already settled into the tidepool that he had chosen, though Hadama did not realize it until he was close enough to see the distant firelight glinting off of familiar horns.

"Edmund," he greeted quietly, not wanting to startle his young friend. "How has your LongNight been?"

Invisible above the mer's head, Splat alerted his bonded to Hadama's presence before the King said a word. As such, Edmund glanced up with a warm, unsurprised, smile. "Hello, Hadama." He scooted over to give the mer more room to approach and comfortably converse. "It's been good." The young Ancient sent an amused glance towards the parties in the distance, "Loud, but relatively peaceful."  Splat reappeared and landed on Edmund's shoulder as the Ancient turned back to the mer. "How has yours been? Are the LongNight parties underwater just as hectic as the ones up here?" With how dark the ocean's depths could get, he'd sometimes wondered if LongNight even bothered some mer. Edmund Reborn In Fire

Hadama would have greeted Splat if he had known he was there, but alas the small darkling was out of the mermanta's sight, so it was that Edmund received the whole of the Tidebreaker's attention. He nodded amiably as the young man made room and he swam to the opened space, resting his arms on the side of the tide pool and the smooth rocks that ringed it.

"Indeed," he agreed with his usual deadpan humor to the description of 'loud but peaceful,' though there was a tell-tale twinkle in his eyes where they reflected the firelight from the nearest - but still distant - party.

The question crinkled the corners of the King's eyes as he "Hmm"ed thoughtfully. "It has been good. But I am ready for a rest," he admitted. "Underwater we are less wild, but just as festive. There is always some light in the City, but it is dangerous to leave its borders. So it is a good chance to spend time with friends and family." A week-long holiday for many, though there was certainly an element as prone to partying just as hard as the humans did!

Edmund listened intently as Hadama spoke of the Underwater City, "I've never been. Now that those of us on the surface can enter the city I'll have to visit." Smiling he added, "Perhaps next season." The waters would hopefully be warm enough then for the Ancient to safely explore. Opening his mouth to inquire more about underwater life, Edmund's jaw snapped shut as he spotted something above them. Twin lights streaking across the should be black sky. Finding his words, the Ancient tracked the sight with wide eyes, "What is that?" Splat made himself known as the Darkling rushed down to rest on his bonded's shoulder. The small shadow rippled in response to the Ancient's unease. Edmund Reborn In Fire

"You are welcome any time," Hadama assured the young man with a warm inclination of his head, offering personal invitation beyond the casual tourism that had sprung up between land and sea since the War. Unfamiliar with the weaknesses of the Ancients he was unaware of the difficulty Edmund might face in the cooler waters so deep below the surface. If they were both lucky the guildmaster would choose to visit in the Tidebreaker's company, so that the Mer could use his own magics to warm Edmund's passage.

He had only just raised his head once more when the flicker of light caught his attention and Hadama jerked his head up sharply, expression falling into lines of unreadable, stoic stone as he watched the falling stars pass over to the north. 'Mmn. I am... unsure," he said slowly, each word dragged reluctantly from deep in his chest as he stared after the streaks of light long after they had vanished. "It is, at least, far from Torchline."

Hadama's invitation had Edmund smiling warmly, "I look forward to it." Exploring the deep with the King of the mer himself would be a wonderful experience. One that the young Ancient wasn't naive enough to not recognize it for the honor that it was. Edmund's tail lashed with agitation as he eyed the sky, "This does not bode well." He glanced at the parties further down the beach and then towards the city proper. Seeing both unharmed helped settle his nerves and his tail slowed. "For now, at least." Even as young as he was, the Ancient was well aware of how interconnected the fate of Caido's separate regions were. Perhaps it was because he'd grown up during the War but a potential threat in one region was seen as a potential threat to Torchline as well. Edmund Reborn In Fire

Further descriptions of an underwater tour were cut short by the unexpected lights, and there was no chance of returning to casual conversation so soon after their appearance. The Tidebreaker's eyes remained on the sky, his thoughts casting out into the starless depths after a goddess who battled alone for all their sakes, far from her home and any hope of support. His inability to know what had happened to her - what was happening to her now - burned like Apopo's own fiery heart in his chest, but his expression remained solemn and unreadable.

"Yes." For now was, indeed, the truth. On any other night they would have been falling stars; no more, no less. Rare but not unheard of. Rough chunks of stone and metal that plowed into sea or soil, smoking until they cooled into lumps of curious alien ore that might be used to craft some small items or weapons of unusual properties.

But there were no stars to fall on LongNight. And for the first time in his life Hadama found himself wondering: why? What happened to them during the last and darkest week of the year? It was a mystery that would have to wait for the sun to return, if not Safrin herself. And in the meantime...

"It will have to be enough." Enough time to see the sun rise and send out raven-letters. Enough time to sober up Torchline's hard-partying population and move their preparations forward. Enough time to learn...

"Guildmaster," the Tidebreaker said with slow and regal formality, turning his eyes back on Edmund's at last, piercing green and just as sharp as the emeralds whose hue they bore. "Will you take an official commission?"

Edmund's spine straightened at Hadama's shift in tone and the young Ancinet locked sharp eyes on the King. "Yes, Your Majesty." Although he highly suspected he knew the commission, he remailed silent for the mer to hand out his orders. There was a potential threat to their region and Edmund would carry out the command that would undoubtedly aim to protect it. Information and investigation were powerful, and they could not be caught unaware. His mind was already combing through potential recruits, weighing the pros and cons of each member of his guild and their associates. Preparations would need to be made and a soon as the sun rose, they would begin. Edmund Reborn In Fire

There was no hesitation in Edmund's answer, and for that Hadama was grateful, though the young man could not feel it in the Attuned bond, nor would he see it in the King's solemn expression. "Then I will hire the services of the Adventurer's Guild. Find where these lights fell. Investigate what they are or were. And what they have brought to Caido. If it is starmetal, retrieve it if you can." He paused, thoughtful, as he considered where the lights might have landed. "Unless it is claimed by another region already." Halo or the Greatwood, if they fell to the north. As yet, Sunjata only claimed the Refuge in King's End, but that was no reason to be rude to a potential future ruler. "If there is a question of authority, send word and the location of the nearest body of water and I will teleport there to assist."

Outside his jurisdiction, indeed. But he was on friendly terms with Evie and Phoebe, and his last meeting with Sunjata had gone well. He felt confident that a beneficial agreement could be found with any of them, as any knowledge learned would eventually be shared with them all.

Edmund listened intently as Hadama spoke, memorizing the instructing and cataloguing the list of tasks. The young Guildmaster gave a sharp nod, "It will be done." After hashing out the last few details, Edmund took his leave to begin preparations. His mind raced as he walked. The Ancient could not enter Halo but Soleil and Talysoncalled the snowy region home. Jude's mother ruled the Greatwood and although he didn't know the women well, their first meeting had been overall positive. If needed, Jude himself might help. As for Sunajata, Edmund was close with the man and had no doubt that the Flood would help if asked. The Guild would be mobilized, and things would begin as soon as the sun rose. -{FIN} Edmund Reborn In Fire