The sun is setting on the city of Onatora. Literally, of course, not metaphorically. The city is just as beautiful as ever, and it still buzzes with life, beneath the surface. Few traces of the battle remain, but the streets are much emptier than they were. No, the sun is setting on Onatora and the soldiers that fought are laying down their weapons for much-needed sleep. The descendants, the ancestors, and the adjuvants need it too. They have a big day ahead of them tomorrow. Tonight may be the last time they all have together before whatever comes after their tasks. I can't speak for all of them, but I know many of them intend to make it count. All of the aforementioned people are milling about Keystone Hall. An ancestor will soon make an announcement to be sure, but for now, if you have anyone to speak with before night falls, speak with them now. (You will have the chance to speak with other NPCs [Lyra, Lepiot, etc] tomorrow morning.)

Time to rip the bandaid off. I pace around for a few minutes trying to figure out exactly what to say before I head up to Candra and clear my throat. "Hey. I didn't mean to scare you earlier. Sorry about that." I put my hands behind my back. "I also don't have to stay here for long if it makes you uncomfortable. I just wanted to meet you, before we all have to go do whatever it is we have to do."

"Oh." Candra laughs hesitantly. "No, no, it's okay. I'm sorry. It's nice to meet you. Quin, yeah?" She extends a hand for you to shake as a greeting, but it feels like more of a question. "I, uh... didn't expect you to want to talk to me." She admits sheepishly.

I reach out and gingerly shake it. "I didn't... expect you to want to talk to me, either."

"Why wouldn't I want to talk to you?" She tilts her head, releasing your hand once an appropriate amount of hand-shaking time has passed. "You're... well, related to me. And... uh." Candra trails off, rubbing her arm silently.

I open my mouth, and close it. I wring my hands nervously. After a few moments of silence, I look down. "I heard you're really nice. You like animals, right?"

Candra takes a deep breath and smiles, crossing her arms behind her back and rocking the slightest bit on her heels. "Yeah, I do. Grew up with lots of them. Do you?"

"I don't, uh, really know. I haven't met many of them. The crawlers were really cool, though! When they weren't... aggressive." Oh god. I want to curl up and die. I glance up at her and point at her horns. "You have the thing. Like me and Silas."

"Ooh, crawlers! I remember those." She winces. "I hope you weren't on that island." Candra smiles again and reaches up to it, flicking the little piece of her horn that sticks out with a soft thump. "Yeah! I've gotten it caught on nets and ropes and things before, though. I even got it caught on Pythia's horns once." She laughs at the memory. "That was awkward."

I smile, and reach up to feel mine unthinkingly. "Yeah! I used to get it caught on shirts and stuff all the time. Ripped some holes in a few of them."

She shakes her head sadly. "Hate it when that happens. You have no idea how hard it is to get clothes on and off with horns taller than your head."

I frown sympathetically, nervousness fading a little. "Jeez. Did you use velcro or something?"

"Close! Buttons. And magical godtier clothes." She grins, patting her shirt. "Style and all."

"No kidding about the fucking style! Look at those horn ribbons! And your cape!" I whistle. "Wish I got kickass clothes like that. All it gave me was this lame little mask I lost."

"You know you can change your outfit, right?" She tilts her head at you curiously. "The first time after you godtier that you don your outfit again, it'll change to something more unique. Something you'll like more!" "Rigel's originally had pantaloons." She leans close and whispers with a wink.

I burst out laughing, but try to stifle it with my hands. "Did the tail come with it, too? Or did you always have that?"

"That was there the first time." Candra admits. "It was so weird, but everyone said it was cute, so..." She shrugs, turning her head to look at it.

"I think it looks kickass. It matches the ears." I look at it, smiling, before a wave of self consciousness washes over me. My cheeks turn a little pink. "Thank you, by the way."

"Oh, you're welcome. For... what, again?" She rubs the back of her neck, afraid she's forgetting something.

"Talking to me. I know this is really awkward, I just wanted something else to picture whenever I hear your name." My eyes go back to the floor. "I mean, I know you and her are different, but now I'll be able to remember this. And you. Candra."

"You're welcome." Candra replies softly, looking down at the floor too. "I'm glad that... you have something good. To." She pauses and wipes her eyes quickly. "Thanks."

My face softens, and I reach out before taking my hand back. "Can- is it ok to hug you?"

She pulls you into a tight hug without responding.

Oh god I stand there for a moment, stunned, before gripping her back tightly. I let out a small noise and start to cry. I wish they could have met her too.

Candra holds you, quietly, letting you cry. A tear runs down her face too. Everybody is doing a lot of crying today. "Are the others okay?" She asks, softly.

I tense in her arms. After a few moments, I shake my head and bury my face in her shoulder. “I’m the only one that made it. They were really young.”

You feel her go still, slowly, and she pulls away from you to give you her completely distraught expression, holding your shoulders lightly. "What?" She speaks faintly. "But... what happened to them?"

I flounder for a moment before bringing a hand to put on top of one of hers. “They passed away,” I say carefully.

"When? How?" She frowns deeply. "Who killed them? Do you know?"

“Katanalosi. She controlled the person that did it.” My grip on her hand tightens slightly. “I don’t remember them, we were all just babies. Someone kidnapped me, so I managed to survive.”

She opens her mouth, frowns, and closes it again. "No... no, that- that doesn't make any sense. Why would she kill what she had just created in the first place, anyway?"

Okay. Okay. I see I gotta do this. I take a shaky breath. “You... really don’t remember any of it?”

"No! No, I remember it perfectly well." She taps her foot, crossing her arms and glancing off to the side. "The babies all just disappeared. We- er, she- left for the night, and the next morning all of you were gone." "There was blood, but it was non-anomalous jade and human only. Not from any of you."

My face pales. I take a step back, letting my hand drop. “That’s- that is not what dubose told me.” “She said she found me with all of their corpses.”

"DuBose? Who's that?" Candra tilts her head. "Whoever she was, she must have been lying."

“No,” I say quickly. “No- no. That’s impossible, they’re dead.” “She’d have no reason to lie to me about that.” “Maybe it’s katanalosi tampering with your memory. Do you remember sending all the assassins after me?”

She winces. "Unfortunately. They were disbanded from the Empress after I, uh, ended her reign. We- SHE-" She corrects herself again angrily. "-Brought them back to find you. They were sent after all of you, though. Hundreds of them."

“Only me? No other hybrids, right?” “That’s-“ I look around frantically.

Finley is leaned up against a wall, watching your interaction in completely neutral silence.

I suddenly find it hard to breathe. “I. I need to go.” I turn around and quickly walk out of the building.

Candra reaches after you, but doesn't move to follow, dropping her hands down to her sides with a regretful sigh.




Finley walks in through the doors, carrying an unconscious Quin. Pythia groans and rushes over. Sam also excuses herself from her conversation and goes to see what the hell is going on. The three exchange come quiet words and sighs. Soon enough, Quin is handed to Sam, who takes one last look over the rest of the room before leaving. Finley turns and leaves again as well. Pythia sighs, alone.