<
Aron's eyes glaze slightly as he gets the message, then turn. He does, in fact, look surprised at
Eduardo's appearance.
Eduardo straightens, and breathes. "The others arrived safely?" he asks.
Aron nods. "Apparently. Sephar just sent a message."
Eduardo nods, voice tight. "Good. We all Ascended."
Aron says "Everyone?"
Aron releases a breath. "Good."
Eduardo turns, and his voice is flat. "I would not have left were the others not safe."
Aron smiles faintly. "I know."
Eduardo nods. "My apologies."
Eduardo says "I should not have snapped. It was ... not pleasant, to be there. To skirt one's Oath's
because to do otherwise invited a pointless destruction."
Eduardo's hand curls at his side, balling into a fist.
Azalea watches, her expression mild.
Aron nods. He touches Eduardo's arm once, lightly.
Beyond the onyx-barred window, the fires of the volcano ripple.
Eduardo nods again, flexing his hand. "There are times when I see the beauty of confession."
Aron says "I've often found the institution attractive."
Aron says "There is one thing I would like to do here, and then we should find the others."
Eduardo waits, expectantly; apparently seeing no need to waste words.
Aron says "I would like to baptise my sword here."
You paged Eduardo with 'While it's not that common for non-Gabrielites to dip stuff in the lava,
if you're with him, it's probably okay. And if it's not impolite or anything.'.
Eduardo considers a moment, then nods. "My Lady would be honoured, I believe."
Eduardo says "You have given me more than enough aid. I certainly would."
Aron bows from the neck. "Thank you. Could you lead me to an appropriate place?"
Eduardo nods, and leads off, walking proud amid the heat and the fire. "I know a place."
Aron follows, quietly.
The corridor that Eduardo leads the way down is carved totally of obsidian, with veins of gold
inlaid into the side like leaping flames or cursive script. It curves twice, then opens into an
archway that gives onto the great caldera.
Magma seethes unendingly in the pool of this great volcano, a fire without source or finish,
rippling from red to gold to white and back again. The rock walls are obsidian and basalt and
pumice, twined grey and black that curves in a high basin: far, far above, the sky can be seen
through the mouth of the volcano in a patch of pale light. Forms move among the flames: winged
Seraphim, dark-pinioned Malakim, turning Ofanim and the strange clouds of Kyriotates, passing
and repassing in an endless dance amid the fire.
Aron pauses as the heat batters him. He nods, pleased.
Aron draws his sword.
Eduardo draws his own blade, beside Aron. "May I?"
Aron nods. "Of course. I would be honoured."
Eduardo leans forward, blade aflame.
Aron moves close to the caldera and kneels. "Fire," he murmurs, "cleanse my blade and cleanse
my self. Lend this sword purity, passion and light."
Aron slides the blade into the magma.
<
The lava hisses, rising in a gout of fire that sprays into a high searing mist, twisting, falling...
<
Eduardo says "My Lady. Bless this blade, and that of Taroniel. And forgive my trespasses, such
as they have been."
Eduardo dips his own blade.
And Aron *sees*. A great darkness, the very edge of Heaven, and looking out to see far, far
below - a twisting knot of rings of flame, that fall, and darken as they do, corrupting to a face that
screams too loudly to be heard, furious and insane.
The lava and flame wreathes around Eduardo's blade, seeming to embrace and accept it.
Aron's body tenses, both at physical sensation and otherwise. He stumbles back, wings flaring.
He catches himself on outstretched hand and is silent, for a time. His breath is labored.
Eduardo startles, withdrawing his blade and staring at Aron.
Aron says, after some moment, "It seems the baptism took." He shakes his head. "I believe I
might have witnessed Belial's fall."
Aron says "Though that is speculation of a dizzying sort."
Eduardo pauses. "I am not sure that is an honour."
Aron says "I believe it is a duty."
Aron waits for his sword to cool, and then sheaths it. "This blade cuts true, it seems."
Aron says "Shall we see after the others?"
Eduardo says "We should."
---