The morning stillness of the monastery was broken by pounding feet, as the red faced novice ran in a panic for the High Cleric’s private office. “Your Holiness, the oracle has awoken!! A daughter of Chaos has been sent to us!”, gasped the novice, as he skidded to a halt.
For long moments, the only sound following this proclamation was the crunch of Her Holiness’s delicate (and priceless) porcelain tea cup shattering, as her hand clenched in shock.
“Is Wa’ahine still coherent?”, she asked, ignoring the blood welling from her hand.
“Yes, your Holiness, she’s waiting in the grotto right now!”, panted the novice, who was still trying to catch his breath.
“Thank you novice. Report to your master that you have done the temple an enormous service, and your cohort is to be granted a single perfect day of relaxation. Also report to him that your physical condition is sorely lacking and your exercise regime is to be doubled until you and your entire cohort exceed standards”, she said as she glided past him, moving rapidly while seeming to be barely moving at the same time, “You shall all be needed soon.”
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Sho’hanaheah thoughtlessly healed the gashes in her hand as she rushed through the halls of the temple to Wa’ahine’s grotto at the center. She didn’t APPEAR to rush, of course, that wouldn't be dignified at all, and the High Cleric of Infinity could NEVER appear to be anything but placid, regardless of the true situation. Fortunately, she was well practiced, in this, her level of mana control was only surpassed by one person in all of the empire of Qui’qin’ahnahe.
Wa’ahine looked up and smiled as Sho’hanaheah entered, “I felt you coming from the moment he told you I was awake, love. I'll not be falling back into a trance any time soon. The Chaos Dancer has only just awoken. We still have time.”
Sho’hanaheah smiled gently, as she took Wa’ahine hands, “Your predictions of the horrors of the Aetherwars were correct in every detail, which allowed us to help many more people survive than would have otherwise. But the changes to our world were both more horrible and more wonderful than anyone could have seen, and the growth of aethertech during the last few decades has outstripped even our wildest dreams, my love. We have so much to talk about, you have been asleep for nearly a century. I expect we have no more than a few days before the rumors get out of your awakening and an Aethercast crew arrives.”
“Aethercast?”
It only took an hour.