Ann stared up at Vina’s painting in strict fascination. She has spent so much time now looking at her sister’s life on Earth and all of her subsequent experiences on their own world. The loneliness and rejection her sister had experienced made her incredibly sad. With the Aspect of Light guiding her, she understood the clear source of suffering on Earth just as she knew it on Palitern itself. “Vina… I’m sorry”, she whispered.

She rose as her time for observation ran out for the day. Ann found it best to get up before the guards discovered she had overstayed her welcome. They were not cruel, but they were strict and found ways to make the next day difficult for her. Besides, she had already just earned the second benefit of the painting. At level 25 she would be guaranteed a blood based class option. She was determined to still push toward the thirty day counter, however.

Ann slowly walked out of the amphitheater . She was careful to not make any sudden moves around the guards. Now that she had joined The Twelve, she was aware of the reputation she carried. She wasn’t sure she lived up to it however. For now though, she was alone and intently aware of it. Her ticket carried the closest seat with the highest priority and she was guaranteed a seat every single day. Adir on the other hand was not and on those days he had been forced to wait outside. She knew he was not happy with that arrangement.

As she stepped out of the wide doors, she saw the long line extending off into the distance. She had seen it before for many days now, but she was always impressed at how many people were lined up to see her sister’s work. “Where are you Vina?” Ann thought to herself. She had submitted a request to meet with the new Asharaina at the residence of Lord Halos, but she had not received a response.

Ann took a deep breath and sighed. She was also missing Etana. They had never been apart for long. Now she was isolated beyond belief without any idea where either of her sisters were. “Is it even safe for me to be around them?” she wondered to herself. From what she had seen in Vina’s masterpiece, that was a solid no. The Twelve wanted to kill the daughters of Priya according to Vina, and yet Adir did not seem to care after he discovered her heritage. He had even reassured her that Carda wouldn’t care.

Ann began the walk back to where she and Adir were staying, but she decided to stop off at one place she regularly visited. When she arrived, she tapped on the door gently and an old man opened the door. “Lady Phare. You grace us once again.”

Ann giggled with embarrassment, “Stop calling me that!”

“When you tell us your name, we will honor you by calling you it”, the old man said.

Ann patted him on the shoulder, “Professed, do you need my help today?”

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The old man nodded his head solemnly. “We have prepared in case you stopped by.”

“Thank you for doing that”, Ann said as she stepped inside and marveled at the room completely filled with potted plants. “How many today?”

“Three critically injured. We’re doing what we can. Will this be enough?” he asked as he gestured behind himself.

“I really hope so”, Ann said as she moved to the back rooms of the refuge and the first room she knew held her patient.

The man moaned in pain on the bed and Ann’s heart hurt for him. She rushed to his side and placed a hand on his wound. Light flashed into existence, and she focused. She activated her aspect’s ability with the divinity within her body, but that wasn’t all that this aspect required. She pulled at something she didn’t have a word for in the other room. Her sister had tried to name it, but Ann didn’t feel Vina had given it justice. She certainly had not described it completely. She spun it about her fingers and began to weave.

Seconds later the man’s wound was healed and he tried to sit up in shock. With her surprising amount of strength, she pushed him back down. “I didn’t heal you completely. I just healed you enough to stop you from dying. Remain still” she commanded him. Another person from the refuge took over, and Ann quickly moved on to the next rooms.

She finished her work as fast as she could to ensure her three patients all received enough care to make it through the night. As she was about to leave, she looked over her shoulder and sighed. The pots now held only ashes. She felt a pang of sadness, but Vina’s words resonated within her. “We cannot create anything without giving up…” she said, but her voice fell off before she could finish. She knew The Aspect of Light was a lie, and it did not sit well with her.

She pushed the door open and stepped back out onto the streets of Halos. Suddenly she received a window notification.

World Quest Updated: Return the stolen Aspects 1/127

Her mind raced with questions of how this was possible and her heart jumped with joy. Then her heart was broken. She screamed in pain as she fell to her side.

Your Fake Aspect of Life has been destroyed by Trina. You have been afflicted with Bonding Sickness x428.

Arms suddenly grabbed her and dragged her from the walkway back into the refuge. “Phare!” a voice screamed at her, but she had trouble focusing with the pain she was feeling. “What happened Phare?!”

In the madness of her experience, she managed to feel a hand go to her head, and a window appeared requesting access to her medical information. She tried to focus on yes.

“Bonding sickness… and to such an extent” the old man said. “Find her companion”, he said to another person in the room. “Tell him there’s not enough mixtures in all of Halos to keep her alive.”