Shattered Star

Cade blinks in surprise at Naomi's decision.  His brows arc high with astonishment and his movements become stiff.  "...Truly?  You'd... you," Cade stumbles, this outcome clearly unexpected.  "But, you--we, er..." he stammers, "that is... A-Are you sure?  Are you truly content with... staying?"

Naomi's smile drifts into sympathetic. "Yes, I am. I'll definitely be rooting with you all, and I'll make sure to put in all the good words with the powers that be, but I really do think I'm better off staying."

Cade takes a deep breath as he shakily removes his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose.  As he pauses to recompose himself, no one else speaks.  The wizard breathes deeply once more, this one more haggard than the first.  "...Is there anything," he continues, "that you need to tell us... before you go?  Do you have any last words you wish to say?"

"Yes, actually," Naomi says, giving a very stern look at the group... particularly the almost pointedly quiet Anastasia. "Don't beat yourselves up about this. My life has been pain and confusion for years before that acid hit me, and this was an end to that. Being separated sucks, losing someone sucks, but do not let me hear that any of you gave up because of this. And believe me, the gossip in the line here is a lot more than you'd expect, gotta do something to keep ourselves entertained after all."

"I have a question. Did you...do you...consider me a friend, too?" Ali asks. It's something that was chewing them up inside.

The soft smile returns to Naomi's face, as she looks fondly upon the gnoll. "Of course I do. We didn't know each other long, but we've definitely had some good times. Sharing histories in the bath, that lovely dwarven dinner, fighting side by side... how could I not consider you a good friend?"

"yeah...I'm...I'm g-gonna miss you" Ali wipes her eyes. Is that why it hurt so bad? Because it was a friend? Had she even had one of those before now?

Anastasia looks up, eyes rimmed red, mouth still slightly bloodstained. "... I'm sorry," she whispers, barely loud enough to hear.

Naomi's face reaches a level of softness it hasn't shown yet, as she looks at her oldest friend. "I'm sorry too. I'm sorry that this happened, I'm sorry I'm leaving you now, and I'm sorry for all the hardships you suffered while we were separated. But I know you, you're strong, and I just know you can get through this. It may hurt now, Hells that pain may never go away, but I just know you'll be all the better for it, in the end. So be strong, for me, for them, for everyone... be strong," She says, with a final smile for her friend, and turning back to the group. "That goes for all of you, be strong... for each other."

With that Naomi’s spirit fades. Before this can even set in, the cleric turns to the party. ”Well no resurrections today. About my fee...”

”I will cover it,” Sheila interrupts. She turns to the party. ”I will settle matters with Rogal in my office. I will also arrange Flynt’s bindings and prepare him for your interrogation when you are ready. Take as long as you need in here.”

"Um, I didn't get a chance to ask a question, or even say goodbye to Naomi?" Mel says timidly, her voice quavering a little. "I know I wasn't as close as everyone else was, but... still," she says, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

Cade, refitting his glasses back upon his ears, looks defeatedly towards Meliora.  "...My apologies," he croaks out, his jaw tightening.  "I... was not expecting her to refuse the summons.  My second question was wholly reactionary, and... I-I'm sorry, Meliora.  I..."  Overwhelmed, Cade presses the fingers of his free hand against his temple and sighs, regret hanging on his breath.

"Sorry Mel, my question was..." They didn't want to say not needed, "selfish. I should have let you ask yours or say your good byes first"

"It's okay, you deserved to have a chance to say your goodbyes too," Meliora reassures Ali with a sniffle, trying to hold back her tears. "Would it be possible to cast the spell again, maybe?" she says, turning towards Sheila and the cleric who cast it.

The cleric shakes his head. ”Not for another week. I suppose if you still want to do it after a week is up though, I could do it.”

"I don't want to let her go unburied for that long," Meliora says, getting a bit choked up. "I'll just have to manage."

Sheila looks back to Meliora with an expression of deep sympathy. ”This is not what I had hoped for your first job with us. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to come see me. I am going to return to my office for now. I have a funeral to plan and a family to inform.”

With that, Sheila and Rogal leave the room.

Ali looks to their fellow adventurers and sighs. "I should go" They say, leaving for the inn

Anastasia doesn't even announce her departure, merely slinking out of the room as quietly as possible.

Cade gazes down at the floor, exhausted.  "...I shall try and make this up to you, Meliora," the wizard apologizes once more, not meeting the bard's tearing eyes.  "I'll..." he sighs, "I don't know.  I would pay for another casting, but... Know that I will not forget this slight to you."  Cade pauses once more, trying to gather is scattered thoughts about how to proceed.  "...We have much to discuss," Cade points out in a low voice, "about everything, but not now.  We... none of us are in any condition for deliberation."

Looking back to Anastasia, Cade notices that she has wordlessly slipped away and was nearing the door.  "--Anastasia," he calls out, concern and trepidation clear in his voice as he breaks into a clumsy jog to catch up.  "Are you returning home?  May I... accompany you?"  The wizard's expression, though weary, is clearly determined to escort her.

Another day, Anastasia might have dismissed Cade, but now she merely looks at him and nods.

Cade silently nods back as he follows her out of the manor.

The walk to the church is long and silent in the gloom of the night. Anastasia opens its front doors, but hesitates at the threshold before taking a single step across.

The city itself is beginning to settle down for the night and an almost eerie calm pervades the atmosphere. The normally vibrant and welcoming church of Sarenrae looks much less so tonight. When Ana attempts to enter she is stopped by a familiar face at the door. ”Ana you... I felt a terrible sensation during my nightly prayer, and I feared the worst. I thought maybe you were killed. But no, you aren’t dead. But you aren’t quite alive anymore either. Sarenrae’s light has left you. What did you do?”

Anastasia stares at Victoria. At first she says nothing, but then begins to speak. "I... I gave in, Tori. I was angry, and hurting. I watched someone I cared about die, and I just... didn't care anymore."