I knew I forgot something. You can sense the Dark Essence animating them. The weak candle like unflame animating the normal bok and the stronger torch like unflame animating the black boks.

You charge the normal bok and it spits purple gunk directly at you. But you dodge to the left past the bok. You extend your spear and swing it around. Cutting the bok in half, snuffing out the unflame of it's existence.

You charge the next black bok. Making the speat's shaft solid just before your trust. You hear a crack as your spear is deflected off to the side leaving a gash on the black boks head. (Its skull managed to defect your spear but was shattered in the process.) You turn the spear head and catch it in the collar bone, pulling it back off balance and forcing it to land on it's back, stunning it.

Interesting. Is this the first time I've managed to sense the dark essence?

I'll move into an overhead swing to finish off the stunned bok. I'm aiming at the area that seems to house the dark essence (If that's not an apparent area but rather just a sense I have I'll aim at center of mass, looking to sever him in two.

Once that's done I'll dodge/roll towards a far wall, anticipating the other bok to be moving in already. Using the space the dodge gains me I'll shift into a defensive position while waiting Leona to join and finish it off together, acting like a pincer between Leona and my attacks.

You sensed something similar with the dark hound in the grave yard.

You sense that about half the Animating Darkness is in the skull and the other half is generally around the torso. You stab it though the chest and then it burns up in thick black smoke.

At this point Leona makes it to the top of the ladder.
You dodge out of the way of the dark purple gunk that it spits and then take a defensive stance to keep it's attention on you. Leona forms her Solar halberd and charges the black bok's back, cutting deeply into it. You charge and stab it though it's head. It dies and burns up in black smoke.

Leona let's her halberd disappear. She sits down and opens her backpack and pulls out a few orange like fruits.
"Sigh. This is taxing on my reserves of magic. Let's read that stone over there."

It says
'Where many chairs are aligned, the pupil will sleep. The sleeping pupil is unseen. It glows only in the light of the Sun.'

Leona comments
"... Not isn't good. it's night now."

"Well, we both have the ability to shed sunlight. But you're right, we're both running our reserves down pretty quickly pushing ahead at the rate we're going, and recharging is difficult, what with being inside so we have stagnate air, no direct access to the earth, pools of water, nor large enough fires.

One thing I noticed is that I can see the dark essence in these boks, and in the hound outside now. Is that something that you've been able to do all along that I'm just starting to be able to manage?"

You also note the fire made of sunlight and a bit oc moonlight within Leona. Her fire shines like a campfire compared to the candleeand torches you sensed before.

You also sense the fire within yourself. It's of a comparable size to Leona's, but made of Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Sunlight

She responds
"...That's odd. I need to spen essence and concentrate to do that. What details can you sense?"

"Hmm, well now that I pay attention to it, it extends past just the bok's. In the bok's I was able to sense the strength of the dark essence in them, along with where it was held in there body. With the black boks, for instance, it's split between their head and body. I could also tell that the black boks had more dark essence than the standard one.

But I can also see a fire made of sunlight and a bit of moonlight in you, and much stronger. I can see my own as well, but made of Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Sunlight. Which all makes sense, but I haven't ever seen this before. It didn't even occur to me to mention it to you about the hound, I just assumed it was immediately visible, but with the bok's I knew I hadn't seen it before."

I see. You are seeing the strength of the soul...or their animating force in the case of the Bok and the Zombies. Those where the black boks. They are stronger and tougher than the normal bok.

Anyway, we call that the Soul Force. And we divide the scale into a few numerical categories. The bok and zombies you sensed are probably a One or a Two on the scale, mayby a Three. While I am a Five. That is the strongest a intact human soul can get. The Immortals can get stronger, much stronger."

"Interesting, do you have any idea why the immortals can ascend past what a normal soul can reach? I find it odd to think of my soul as being at a pinnacle at five, when it seems to be ever expanding. Perhaps there are techniques that allow a soul to stay intact while still ascending to greater elemental control?"

"The Immortals can Ascend further than us because their soul is no longer human. We have a rather limited understanding of the Process. But The process of turning into an immortal seems to fuse the Higher and Lower Soul into one being. And the Dark Matter strengthens the Result and allows them to reform from physical destruction.

I haven't heard of anyone ascending beyond the human limit without being changed in the process. It's very rare, but I've heard of the Gaian Tribe turning into Elementals when they push pass the human limit. and there is stories of the old Solar Tribe Producing Sun Spirits when they ascend.

... Then Again. You wield magic very strangely by our standards. So who know how pushing further will change you."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 05:36, Mon 17 Apr 2017.

"That's an interesting form of transformation. I don't intend to stop though, part of my promise to each fury was to aid in their growth, while they aid in mine. We shall see what comes of it eventually." The concept of losing humanity momentarily troubles me, before I realize that it's not terribly important to me. The concept of self, and of reason and empathy are all important. Perhaps my concept of humanity is simply a more fluid.

"But either way, are you feeling well enough to push on? I can convert a few of my motes to solar motes and try and see what's invisible between the pews."

I believe I have 5 fire, 6 wind and 1 earth left, so I'll convert however many wind motes it takes to create one solar mote, and use that to form a small globe of sunlight downstairs and look between the pews.

She says
"That Magnus was a being similar to you. And he even has subbeings like your Furies. You might consider talking to Kyotsu to see if Magnus went though any transformations from his power...

I should be good to continue."

You have an artifact specifically for that. It converts your 6 wind motes into 5 solar motes. You go down the ladder abd use the solar motes to make sunlight. It takes a bit of searching but you find the glint of a ruby red gem near the south side of the room.

I assume you return it to it's proper slot and light the candles.
Back in the main room. A ruby red serpent is once again entwining itself ammong the roots of the tree. You can now see that it is gnawing on the roots.

"That's true. Though I saw some of what he did. I believe he split his personality into many individual souls. But you have a good point, I shall ask when we get back.

--------

When we see the ruby serpent, "Well, looks like that worked well, let us move on to explore this next room."

She comments
"Maybe it just me, but that sounds like a bad idea to split your personally into separate souls."
-----------

You enter the next room and find what looks like a communal bathing area. With a pool of water and brass water faucets.


There is a stone sign with a stone slot next to it. There is also a candle holder near them.

The sign says.
 'The fourth color is the shimmering blue of the vast sky and ocean. The sky and ocean are protected by two white sentinels – cloud and wave. '

"I suppose it all boils down to reason. Most things can look like a good idea if the need is great enough. Some might say welcoming furies into my soul isn't the wisest. I would argue that both they and I are better for our symbiotic bond, but I'm sure there are some who would disagree."

-------

"Cloud and wave. Waves are easy enough, movement will create them. The clouds will require heat to turn some of the water to vapor. I'm going to go play with the faucets and see if any of them are hot water. Hot water hitting cold should creating billows of steam, which hopefully is close enough to clouds."

I'm going to wade into the pool then and tinker with the faucets to try and create clouds, and also move in such a way that I am creating a rolling current of waves through the pool.

"I see what you mean. Kyotsu implied that his creation was accidental though."

------------------------

You turn on the faucets and find that one of them has how water. It steams and you makes waves in the pool. as you are moving around you notice a glint in the water. You find a sapphire blue stone in the water. It is simple enough to put it in the slot and light the candles.

Leona says
"Now all we have to do is find the gem for the slot over there. we got all of the doors down here."

"I believe we have that one hallway at the top level. We should be able to climb back up to the top ledge and explore it... I would like to take a few moments to recharge here though. I'm still rather low on motes, and this is the most conducive to me recharging of what I've seen so far. Perhaps you could scout ahead while I recharge a bit and then either come back or I'll head up there once I've recharged a bit."

I'm trying to absorb as many water motes as possible in roughly 5 minutes. I'm letting myself relax while submerged in the pool and meditating on the furies and water spirits around me.

If Leona isn't back by that point, I'll follow up. (Or if she stays for the time)

Leona smirks towards you.
"It would be smart to scout ahead. But one doesn't see working hot water around here very often. And I'm not going to let you hog all the hot water."

She turns on the hot water full blast and it steams up the room. She starts undressing.

I begin, "My apologies, I wasn't thinking." before I blush from her beginning to undress. I'll avert my gaze, and take the opportunity to undress and slip into the water for cover. I'm keeping my gear near me however, in case we get ambushed. Just off to the side.

I'll relax and begin trying to absorb water motes while enjoying the heat and relaxation.

While you are not looking at her, You can almost feel her smiling and smirking because of your reaction.

You undress and slip into the water with your supplies near at hand. You hear her slip into the water and note that she kept her staff near her. She sighs and is all smiles.

You relax for a bit and soak up water essence.
Leona swims around the pool a bit and then speaks.
"You probably already figured it out by now. But Lita is rather enamored with you. What do you think of her?"

I splutter for a moment as my head dips under water due to my shock at the blunt question, while my face heats up.

"She what? I've assumed she's thought fondly of me, due to our travels.... I can be rather thick when it comes to knowing others emotions, without reading them. And I don't do that to those close to me." I'm rambling somewhat as I try and regain composure, "I will need to think about it some more, I hadn't given it much though. She's definitely cute... But how do you know, has she talked to you about me?" It then occurs to me that I'm naked and I go bright red again. So much for playing it cool in the sauna.

Her smile is almost like a cat that has ate the canary.

"She isn't exactly subtle about it. And your furies have hinted that they picked up on it. I can't help but notice a lot of small things.

She does say that you are so brave and strong and kind. She also thinks you are handsome.

Personally I haven't thought about men very much. I've always been... Rather small. I had my mission to avenge my father. So I ignored them thinking that they wouldn't see anything they would like in me."

"Well, ok you may have a point. I had assumed my furies were just having fun. Which I suppose they were.

I can relate to being focused to the detriment of love. I have been so absorbed in the joy of discovery, of learning things I never thought existed... well it can be all consuming.

Please be careful though, you don't want to become so absorbed in vengeance that you can't find someone to enjoy life with. I'm sure you could charm the pants off of anyone you want to, should you put your mind to it. Just pick someone you're interested in and try."

"Well, you helped me get my vengeance on the Count, helped stop an Immortal's plan involving my mother and even now you are helping me stop an Immortal's plan involving my hometown.

I can see why Lita loves you."

Her smile becomes more than a bit predatory.
"Well, my actions got your pants off. Tell me. What do you think of me?"

I blush furiously and try to think quickly. This happens to other people, not me. Or rather I don't recognize when this happens until I'm hit with a sledgehammer. Perhaps this is my sledgehammer.

"It sounds much more impressive when you say it that way. I was in the position to help a good friend and I did. It's much less impressive than you saving me before you even knew who I was. You trusted me, even after hearing about my odd nature and have never treated me as a freak. You are an incredibly strong woman Leona, yet you possess amazing depths of compassion, being willing to help me despite my abnormal nature. Coupled with emotional fortitude to survive anything, honestly you have handled the hard parts of our quest. And I care deeply for you Leona, but I have always thought of both you and Lita as trusted comrades, who I would happily give my life to save, but didn't think there was anything else to give thought too..."

Her smile becomes more genuine like she is happy about what she heard.

She swims up to you and gives you a small kiss on the lips.
"You have grown on us Michael.  Don't forget that."

She then returns to her side of the pool.