“Who is creating the fake aspects?” Etana asked as she donned a white dress and began buttoning the many golden buttons.

Sairena answered softly, “The Adventurer’s Guild does it. We don’t really know how. Please, dress quickly. They’ll want to see you soon. If this is to work, it must be believable. Your hair is too short as it is, but at least you have a basic passing resemblance. Later, we’ll get you the disguise skill to make it more convincing.”

Etana nodded her head as she focused on the buttons. “I want an audience with whoever makes them. Please reach out to the guild on my behalf.” Her acceptance to The Committee had gone just as well as she had thought it would. They saw her immediate value not only as a person who had three true aspects, but also as the only person with the Aspect of Travel. The Committee would not carelessly toss such an opportunity away.

Now, together, they would trick the entire world out of every true aspect that they could. Etana only needed to play her part. If she played her cards right, in just a few moments she would have a fourth true aspect. Shortly afterward, she would have everything she would need to rescue her sisters. She had just received the quest notification that Vina had gotten her message. She just hoped she would listen and stay put in The City of Halos with Ann.

Sairena couldn’t wait any longer and started buttoning the dress from the bottom while Etana worked from the top. “I’ll see what I can do about setting up a meeting. For now, I need you to focus on today. Nearly every agent from our organization is outside waiting on you. Remember, you will not speak. That will come much later. We are building a reputation as much as a brand. You must adhere to the plan we have made.”

Etana nodded her head in agreement and stepped down from the stool she stood on in front of the mirror. She wore no shoes as Sairena took her hand, “We must walk quickly so you are not late.” She dragged Etana from the room, but Etana let go of her hand.

“It’s being held on the auction floor, right?” she asked.

Sairena gave her a look, “Yes, but…”

Etana walked through the air and arrived just in front of the auction stage. The area was packed with people, so she pushed her way to the side of the stage. Unfortunately, this was the closest she could get herself. She had never actually been on the auction’s stage or behind the curtain. Someone gestured at her, and she quickly made it to safety before too many had caught sight of her.

“Sairena is going to kill you if you keep doing stupid things like that”, Vasuk said with a disapproving look.

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“She wanted me here quickly. I am here now”, Etana said. She knew she was irritating her fellow committee members, but she was determined to keep some freedom from their authority.

“You’re going on in 30 seconds”, Vasuk said. His tone carried an edge of annoyance.

Etana turned and listened to the speaker currently on the stage. She had missed nearly everything the man had said, but the crowd was listening intently.

“Too long have we been waiting for her return only to be subjected to the evils of The Darkness, the failings of The Twelve, and the greed of the Adventurer’s Guild. But today I tell you, that is all coming to an end. We have found her. Today she has returned to us and she will set the world right once more.”

Etana felt butterflies in her stomach. For a moment she doubted whether she could go through with this. She desperately wanted to rescue her sisters, and to do that she needed power and influence. But could she go through with what was being asked of her?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Vasuk pushed her. “Go!” he whispered.

Etana stepped out onto the stage and made small steps to stand beside the man who spoke to the gathered crowd. She looked out at the people and felt light headed as her heart pounded in her chest. He laid a hand across her shoulders and spoke again, but his voice sounded far away in her ears. “She has returned to us. Today we will prove it to all of you.”

The man reached into his pocket and withdrew a blood red stone. Etana turned to him, almost robotically. He held it out to her, and she leaned in. The stone jumped out of his gloved hand and latched itself onto her necklace. She was once again dragged to the ground as the aspect took effect.

You have been bonded with the Aspect of Perception. Attunement 100%.

At the same time the aspect bonded with her, Etana got a window notification.

World Quest Updated: Return the stolen Aspects 1/127

She regained her feet after seeing the people had stopped yelling. She was thankful for the silence because the world was suddenly much louder and brighter. In fact all of her senses were being assaulted all at once. She was suddenly aware of every bit of movement every single person made. Even the animals that crawled in the walls of their hideout did not escape her notice. It pained her to be so acutely aware of everything and everyone to such a deep extent that she was initially unable to respond.

Slowly some of the assembled people began to take a knee and her mind began to clear. Those who had knelt before her began to cry out, “Trina, Trina!” The rest soon followed.

She initially felt confused, but she knew system notifications did not lie. She spread her arms wide. “Yes, I have returned. I am Trina.”