It took a week for the White Ring and the rest of the traveling Green Circle to convene at the hidden palace within the grotto located in Lycua. Despite access to teleportation magic, their duties must be finished before they all abandon their posts to return to Lycua. During that time, Mother Xiāo was managing the result of Drazul's dangerous outburst. The palace was gradually getting cleaned up and tidied to prepare for the sheer amount of witches to arrive. This hasn't happened in centuries, since Drazul's existence was known. As Mother Xiāo understands it, the meeting was held because of the sudden wipe of the Dark Fellows in the Mire. As the story is told, there were no bodies to be found, merely ash, besides the bare body of the Dreamwalker. Some believed her to be a messenger from the Goddess in the form of a human pheonix. Others believed her to be an abomination of the experiments conducted by the Dark Fellowship. Neither were correct, however.

Once the Dreamwalker awoke, she spoke to the Mothers of White and Green, and since has been pardoned. There is not much known of the events that transpired but whatever it was, it was only to be relayed to the Mothers of their respective covens. When Mother Xiāo accepted her new role, her elder told her what she knew of the Dreamwalker from her facial description to her temper but particularly her manner of speech. She was instructed that if the Dreamwalker graced her with her arrival to give her the utmost respect that she would have given a God. Mother Xiāo couldn't quite believe it at first, but having met the Dreamwalker, she understood what her elder meant. She was certainly not lying about her temper but she sorely left out what the Dreamwalker is capable of.

'A God, to be sure.' There is no doubt in Mother Xiāo's mind. 

It was hard to accept her daughter's betrayal and passing in one day. While she is pained by this news, she does not blame the Dreamwalker. Having betrayed her coven, it is an act that is punishable by death regardless of who delivers justice. Her daughter had been long marked for death and was no longer in the arms of their Goddess. She has accepted that fact, but her emotions ravage her. So to ease her pain, she is keeping preoccupied with caring for  Whisper and assisting with the reconstruction of the palace.

Drazul kept to herself, mostly. Among the many things on her mind, Drazul was puzzled by Whisper's sudden ability to speak telepathically. Whisper had failed to show promise in any of her magicks but her abilities? Telepathy appears to be one of them. Drazul surmises that Whisper had only just started using this ability and wore herself out. With rest, Whisper would be up and about soon enough, which would come to nearly two days. In that time, Drazul decided to take some time to herself, as it had been some time since she could be alone. 

She stepped through a large tear that lead her near the edge of Lycua atop a large cliff. It was verdant, the wind swaying the flowers as she took her steps closer to the edge. There was an old tree, tall and leaves slightly drooping. She brushed her hand against the tree as she passed it, the shade sheltering her from the sun as she looked out towards the ocean. Drazul watched the waves crash into the cliff beneath her, thinking, briefly, that her feelings perhaps felt exactly like that. Many things have come to the surface since she set out with Whisper, wondering how she could have missed any of it. From finding Whisper to Mildred preparing the jewelry for the Tuldarian prophecy--with Whisper seemingly at the center of it, herself a 'champion'--and now Cyrin and his evil acts under the guise of enlightenment. She feels foolish, so incredibly foolish, to believe she was free from her past.

Perhaps she had been living in the past all this time. Perhaps her journey to find her purpose was in vain, unknowingly keeping her tethered there. She sighed, feeling drained. The weight of it all lay heavily on her shoulders, so much so, she felt the need to fall. She did not ask for this, for her ascension, for her immortal existence. Drazul carried centuries of her life with her. All she wants is to be free. 

She felt tears as her mind wandered, turning her against herself. Her grief, her pain and everything she ever experienced surfaced and more than anything, she wanted peace. She wanted to hear the quiet and calm that death would bring--so badly. She needed it, she begs for it...but like all silent prayers, her pleas fell on empty thrones in the clouds. Her cries were muted as the waves loudly crashed below, her soul heavy and broken.

Drazul cried in frustration from it all. She would love nothing more than to end the world herself...but she remembers her last attempt. Her heart aches as she forces herself up. For a long time she believed her powers and immortality were a gift given to her by a divine, yet what she feels most is only pain. Pain she is forced to carry and bury. If the Tuldararian prophecy is real, there will be a day of reckoning waiting for him.

Drazul watched the waves for a long time before making her way back to the palace.

It took Whisper a day and a half to recover, and soon enough was meeting more of the Green witches. Drazul advised her to leave them be, but Whisper was curious as she never got a chance to properly meet other witches previously. Drazul warned her to use her telepathy sparingly so as not to exhaust herself again. 

Mother Xiāo took Whisper in as a guest within the grotto, knowing well enough she cannot speak but can atleast listen. She served as a guide, showing Whisper around her home, mentioning their coven's practices and Goddess as they made their way around. Whisper was intrigued, wishing more than anything for them to speak without the use of her telepathy. Later on, Whisper approached Drazul, asking if she could please grab a book from their library.

"A book?" Drazul questioned, feeling suddenly possessive of the books in her home.

Whisper nodded,

"Yes, the Visual Language book! Ya know the one!"

Drazul tilted her head, curious, but accepted her request as she opened a small tear, pulling the book from within. Whisper gingerly took the book from Drazul's hands then began jumping in excitement, signing,

"Thank you! I'll give it back, I promise!"

Whisper took off and went to find Mother Xiāo, who was helping draw up a blueprint of the palace with another witch. Whisper waited patiently until she was done, which took longer than she would have liked but she knew how to be patient. It reminded Whisper of watching Drazul read or do any number of her hobbies before she learned her voice. When Mother Xiāo was finally finished, she came over to greet Whisper,

"I'm sorry, little cub. It was work I could not push aside. Why have you come?"

Whisper suddenly felt sheepish, fidgeting with the book in her hand a few moments before proffering the book to her. Mother Xiāo took the book, taking in the cover before realizing that Whisper was asking her to learn her language. Mother Xiāo absentmindedly reached for her own chest, feeling a bit touched by this request. She looked to Whisper, who was waiting to hear her thoughts. She smiled,

"I'll do my best to learn. Can you help me when I have time? Should I come fetch you?"

Whisper's face lit up, nodding enthusiastically before waving goodbye and heading back to Drazul. Whisper felt embarrassed beyond belief but she felt brave and happy after it was done. She wasn't sure how Mother Xiāo would have reacted but she's glad her request was well received. When she returned to her shared room with Drazul, Drazul was relaxing on a lovely lounge as she read a book from her library, having felt like reading after fetching a book for Whisper. When she took notice of Whisper's return, she saw the book was gone,

"Whisper... Where is your book?"

Whisper smiled,

 

"I let Mother Xiāo borrow it, to learn. I want to be able to talk to witches here, I want to make friends..." Whisper's hands faltered at the end. It was then Whisper suddenly realized how lonely she felt. While she does have Drazul and spends most of her time with her, she hasn't spoken or spent time with anyone else, let alone anyone her age. While being in Lycua has been...a lot, she can't help but feel excited to be among other folk. Drazul noticed Whispers hands go weak.

'She wants to make friends. Friends...'

Drazul closed her eyes, wondering if Whisper forming friendships besidees herself would be in Whisper's best interest. She shook her head annoyed, shooing her concerns over Whisper. She detests these feelings of concern, especially for mortals. She waved her hand in understanding,

"I see. Do as you like so long as you do not get in their way."

Whisper nodded, feeling good about her decision and even better that Drazul is allowing her to socialize, or at least try to. They had a few days before the grand meeting, so she decided to spend more time with Mother Xiāo. Whisper thought Mother Xiāo was the cat's pajamas; despite recent events, she is taking charge and Whisper couldn't get the image of her as a tiger out of her mind. Mother Xiāo also appreciated Whisper's company and found her much more appealing than the First Dreamwalker. Though Mother Xiāo struggled, she was beginning to understand Whisper more. While learning new languages is nothing new to witches since they live longer than mortals, she never knew there was a visual language or at least never paid attention enough to mortals to know such a language existed. 

When Mother Xiāo could sign and converse using basic signs, Whisper slowly signed to her,

"Thank you for taking the time to learn my language."

It was the day before the White Ring would arrive along with the Green, but Mother Xiāo found her time with Whisper to be quite calming and pleasant. After reading Whisper's signs in thanks, she felt her heart waver from the thought of how scared Whisper was to ask her originally. Her signs were sloppy but she signed,

"Thank--you for learning me."

Whisper laughed, gently correcting her. Whisper's laughs were cute huffing breaths and Mother Xiāo found herself wondering how such a pure child was going to survive beside the Dreamwalker. All she could do was smile and appreciate the time she has left with the child before she leaves, perhaps for forever.

It was dawn of the next day, and the witches began to roll into the grotto, the crowds and whispers becoming louder with each passing hour. The palace wasn't quite restored, but it was clean enough to manage the guests coming in. Mother Xiāo was beside Whisper, standing straight in rear to Drazul, as they waited for Mother Judith to deliver her greetings.

Mother Judith came along with the last of the witches that entered the grotto, feeling the tension in the air from the importance of this meeting. Drazul wore a draped hood over her shoulders, obscuring her face from the witches. Everyone was curious but they didn't dare ask. Soon, the crowds parted as Mother Judith made her way to the dais Drazul and the others stood upon. She took one knee as she bowed in greeting to Drazul,

"We have answered your summons, my Maiden."

Drazul motioned her hand toward Judith and upwards,

"Rise, High Priestess. Come, we have much to discuss." Whisper waved at Mother Judith, who returned a smile, as they made their way towards the palace.

Mother Xiāo lead them all to a room with a centered low table and seat cushions with a regal cushioned seat with backing at the head of it that laid at end of the room. Drazul took her seat at the head, Whisper to her right and both Mothers to her left. As they settled and their witchlings closed the doors, Drazul clapped the air in front of her as the ground rumbled gently in response. Whisper, feeling paranoid, held onto the table, startled before realizing it was fine. She turned towards Drazul,

"What did you do?"

Drazul answered out loud so the Mothers could hear while she signed,

"I put us into a pocket of the Depths to avoid leaks of information from this meeting. There was already one traitor among the Green. We do not know who else may be lurking near."

Mother Judith turned to Mother Xiāo for confirmation, disbelief on her face. Mother Xiāo made a pained expression, nodding. Judith closed her eyes, empathizing with her over such a tragedy. Betrayal in one's coven is unthinkable. Drazul removed her hood before going further,

"I have summoned you all for I have seen a Master among the Dark Fellows."

Mother Judith gasped,

"No! It can't be!"

Drazul nodded, understanding Judith's disbelief and confusion. Drazul, and the residing Mother's during the Age of Sunstar, removed the remaining Master's of the Dark Fellows so that they may never grow stronger than they have since that Age. They were merely considered stragglers claiming themselves to be a witch in name only.

"Yes. It was...Master Cyrin, the first of the Masters to have burned, or so I thought."

Drazul's hands balled into fists, her anger evident. Mother Xiāo's eyes widened,

"Now I understand why you reacted the way that you did. It pains me that one of my own was assisting such a vile man."

Drazul shook her head,

"I will not punish you. By that logic, I should punish myself first and foremost. No. We must enact a plan. We are entering a new age soon and I will not allow Cyrin to remain alive to see it."

Judith answered,

"Considering what we know now, what is he trying to accomplish?"

Drazul crossed her arms,

"I believe they're performing sacrifical rituals in his name. He used to perform similar rituals during the Age of Sunstar. Though, I admit, I do not know for what purpose."

Mother Xiāo and Judith appeared deep in thought. If Master Cyrin is truly alive, they do not know if they will be much help against a man who has lived as long as Drazul has. Drazul knows this,

"I do not expect to send you to eliminate Cyrin. That will be my task. All that you need to do is protect our own. Leave to Maddaloa if you must. If need be, if your locations are compromised, I can move you all in haste. I only offer this because I know our enemy. I shall assist and search for fellow witches unknown to us to save them from such fate."

Judith looked to Mother Xiāo then to Drazul,

"I believe we should leave to Maddaloa and wait for your return, to tell us it is safe to return to Tulassqus."

Mother Xiāo shook her head,

"I cannot believe I must leave my home. Are you sure you may not have need of us?"

Drazul thought a moment and nodded,

"I prefer not to lose any more witches than we already have. We know so little of our enemy and what they are now capable of. I have an inkling of what Cyrin may be capable of, but I do not know what magicks they are creating among themselves. I cannot risk letting either of you fall, especially your covens. We must be vigilant. If there is to be a war, I will call on you only after I've learned of their practices."

Whisper found herself nervous. She hopes she can help, too.