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[aquaveiled]

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[funbreaker]

[ The shift in Himeka's choice of drink would be difficult to miss, yet it's not as if Thancred can blame her. This sudden bout of memory sharing between the Summoned would be a lot to handle even without the added pressure that Himeka's heaping on herself, regardless of what he might say. He does hope she'll take his words to heart, but he also understand it's easier said than done.

Simply put, he knows a thing or two about guilt and how it eats at you.

Her use of the term "eyeball dream" does bring a small huff of a laugh out of him, mainly because it's so her. ] Yes, that's yet another hint that the Singularity is at the center of all this. We'll need to do more research on the eclipse, it seems. [ Which is not his area of expertise, but he can work with Y'shtola on it.

He'd rather not dwell on this subject overly long, not wanting to make Himeka too uncomfortable, and there's plenty more for them to discuss. ]

Is there aught else I should know of that took place over the course of my trip?

[ It had been three weeks, after all, and while the two of them kept up with each other, it was more checking in than full reports. He has much to tell her as well, but you know what they say. Ladies first. ]

[aquaveiled]

[ She nods in agreement with that. Though she's far from the best notetaker, she does try to wrack her brain if she's seen anything like that before, both in the Horizon and without. But she comes up with nothing to shake out any relevant memories. ]

I don't think I'd seen anything like it before. Though...eyeballs...eclipses--they do kind of look like the same thing, don't they?

[ She looks up from her drink then like she's assuming Thancred will concur. ]

You know...large. Balls that can be hidden by other things?

[ Makes perfect sense right? ]

Ah...I went on somethin of a trip myself.

[ That topic puts her in something of a better mood. ]

The caskets that we'd retrieve in the winter-- [ She had won one herself from Thorne and brought it back to the Commune. ] --myself and another were tasked with delivering it to a shrine in the forest.

[funbreaker]

[ Thancred braces his elbow on the table and then rests his chin in his open palm, easing up slightly with the drink and the less fraught conversation. ]

I assumed the term 'eye' was more a nickname of sorts for the eclipse, given how it does look a bit like one, yes.

[ As in, they probably shouldn't read into that word too much. Or mayhap they should? But it struck him as a term that the people of Abraxas used for the eclipse, rather than having some deeper meaning.

Again, though, that will require further research. He sees a trip to Thorne's library in his future — one wherein he'll be fetching loads of books for Y'shtola.

Himeka had mentioned her own trip during their correspondence, though she had shied away from including too many details. Which had been the right choice, of course. Thancred's glad that she's picked up on some of his lessons by now. ]

A shrine, eh? To one of the old gods, I'd wager. [ Though there's something he's still confused about, he'll admit. ] What is the significance of these caskets, exactly? I had heard that Summoned squared up against each other to claim them, but what makes them so desirable?

[aquaveiled]

[ She nods several times in succession. Theorizing is the sort of thing she's always preferred to leave up to the other Scions, chiming in only when prompted. But when it was only her and Estinien--arguably two of the absolute worst at it--she's tried to step up to the plate. ]

I can't shake the feeling that it's like...like the Singularity is watching us somehow. That's silly, right?

[ Please tell her that's silly, Thancred.

She takes a moment to take a drink from her tankard before going into the details of her journey. Her nerves are arguably more calmed after moving away from the subject of the Echo. ]

I'm not entirely certain, but I imagine if Y'shtola was close to one she would find something interesting. Even I can sense the aether is different.

[ While naturally sensitive to aether given her proclivity to manipulating it to her will, no one has the sort of aether insight as Y'sthola at this point. All Himeka can feel is that it's special, even if she can't discern why. ]

They came from Thorne. The Council in Solvunn said that they couldn't be trusted with Thorne or the Free Cities. Given the history with Thorne and the reputation of the Free Cities, Estinien and I actually agreed on that point. But...we did so knowing that we would be entrusting this strange energy to the Council.

[ People that have thus far been kind, but truthfully Himeka doesn't know too well. She's used to bumping elbows with nation leaders at this point, so it's a work in progress. ]

They said they would be kept safe and part of me hoped that would be the end of it. Just keep it secret and safe? But when the opportunity came up to transport them...

[ She was curious but also felt responsible given that she had helped deliver some of those caskets to Solvunn. ]

The shrine was remote, Thancred. There are many shrines and altars in the towns proper, but they really sent us out and away from everyone else.

[funbreaker]

[ While Himeka might want some manner of reassurance on the point of the Singularity, Thancred isn't in a place to offer that. He instead lifts his eyebrows and gives a noncommittal little shrug. It very well could be watching them, particularly their actions within the Horizon. The Singularity being sentient in some way doesn't strike him as particularly farfetched, after all they've seen.

Look at Eden, for example.

The explanation of the caskets that Himeka gives still manages to be rather vague, but Thancred gathers that they are a great source of energy. Naturally he thinks to the large caches of crystals that would be gathered by anyone wishing to perform a primal summoning back home. No, none of this sounds good. His rests both his elbows on the table, lacing his fingers together in front of his face.

Perhaps he could learn more of these caskets from within Thorne, if that is where they originated. Thancred can understand why Himeka would have wanted to take power out of Thorne's hands, having gone through what she did at their whims, but where the casket ended up doesn't sound particularly reassuring either. ]

It's not often that leaders of any nation make a bid for a power source and don't eventually plan to do something with it. [ And so Himeka had felt a personal responsibility to see things through, to know where her actions in taking the casket would lead.

The shrine was remote. He frowns, hands falling away as he straightens and heaves out a sigh. ] They wanted it taken to that particular shrine, then. Or are you implying that they chose that location to ensure the safety of their people? [ Himeka has always wanted to see the best in people, and he is here to temper that. ]