Själ

The prince's enthusiasm was catching.  Soon, the girl found herself alight with glee at the prospects (and there were so many, suddenly) that stretched before her, lingering lazily in the mountains' reflections.  As the pair pranced past the statues adorning the entrance to the Basin, Själ found herself caught up in a daydream.  What would it have been like, she wondered, to be the princess to his prince, a valued part of the camaraderie that blanketed Erebos like a cloak?  What if she had been born here (as she ought to have been, claimed her mother's voice deep within her soul), left to meander the snowy cliffs and saunter past the shimmering lake, invited to grow tall and strong in the shadow of all that had been before her?

The history of the land emboldened her, drawing a wicked smile to her face.  There was no malice in her now, no half-hearted mask; there was fire in her eyes and passion in her heart, shining through for all the world to see.  For the first time in many weeks, the memory of her mother returned - not to haunt her nor chastise her, but to beckon her forward with a feral smile and a proud nod.  Despite the closeness that she felt with the DarkEmpress here, there were no unfulfilled expectations, no lingering guilt.

Ansgar took to the skies, sending images periodically to her bonded in an effort to contribute to the ever-growing mental map in the girl's mind.  To the east and west, mountains rose into the northern sky, towering over the Basin below.  At the base of the western mountains lay a huge lake ("It never freezes!" Erebos exclaimed proudly); to the north, far in the distance, additional waters lay flat, discernible only to Ansgar's keen gaze.  Forest dotted the eastern half of the valley, providing cover for the inhabitants.  Throughout the herd land were caves and caverns, no doubt homes for any who stayed long enough to claim them.

"Never?" the girl queried, raising an eyebrow at the bold claim.  "Is it magic?"  Excitement permeated the air between them - however silly and childish her questions, she could not shake the sudden feeling of home.  A cavern across the lake was called to her attention (she and Ansgar marked it on their mental map).  A Haruspex, diviner, summoning the God of Spark and Time... "You can summon a god?"

"Speak."
--Ansgar.--