Mercurius sagged visibly beneath the strain of such vivid imagery with such a feeble connection, and sighed softly as Aetius drew herself from the mire of what was nothing short of traumatic. With the near-dead silence filling them, the lion could only imagine that they were worse. Quick flashes in the dark. The old lion sighed again, ears flicking back at the owl's question, "I believe that Khloros may have stumbled upon something he shouldn't have--- he was attempting to destroy the Spire, to free our souls. Astraea then came..." He paused, then resumed in a hushed, low voice, "he spoke of us being slaves, owned by himself--- and other Masters, I think."

The lion reclined backwards, finally, tail flicking. "I don't know why he would lurk, other than out of fear that we would turn on him," he mused softly, lowered his head quickly, "I have doubts about that, though; he is far more powerful and ancient than Khloros could have ever hoped to be. He could have given that horse a swift end, but did not." It was a choice. A wicked, cruel choice, cutting through the air like Astraea's wish for the horse to die.

Unfortunately for Aetius, he didn't wonder further. What other theories could he muster than that pointed one? Mercurius shook out his mane, hummed, "perhaps. They would know the history better than many of us." His mind rambled further than that, tumbling over the info-dump the owl had provided, particularly the creatures he presumed Nemean to be arguing with Astraea over, presumed to be Totum and Enki. Placed against such clear evils, they could only be benevolent and helpful; perhaps, sympathetic to the Gembound cause of simply living.

So, he tried: "perhaps seeking out Totum would be wise--- or finding out if this 'Enki' is still around, alive, among those we can place even a bit of trust in."

He would have quite a bit to pass along to Pride, then.

Mercurius moved gently, extending a paw in a placating gesture. "Ah, I know that the implications of that are--- troubling, but do calm down, be careful," he murmured, bowing deeply into a joint-popping stretch, "unfortunately... I do not believe we are at liberty to simply decide that. Not against beings as powerful as the Ancients."

His thoughts flickered to his life in Orion, with Vazi and his fellows; then his escape, with aid from those he had believed to be allies of the Stag King. A comparison could be drawn there... "I believe that our best chance is to learn, as you are, to delve into the secrets of these caves and to find allies in the elders, those before us. Knowledge is power, but so is --- dare I say --- companionship."

The owl was inviting him along on a research excursion, and Mercurius bowed his head softly, ears flicking back. "Ah, it might not be wise for you to have to wait up for me, Aetius. I'm a little stiff in the limbs, you see." With a soft grin and chuckle, he added, "my garden is constant need of tending. Every moment I look away from those plants is another they can spend plotting against me." But, really, he just wasn't a fan of exploration, anymore. He had seen all these caves have to offer and would rather settle down forever in the Maw of Mosses.

He mused for a second, though, and pulled at the nature around him, the plants he was so intimately familiar with. Searching. "My son, Azizos, may be interested, though; he's not of the Kingdom but is a rather curious soul like you," Mercurius rumbled, puffing his chest out slightly. The lion-stag eagerly took any chance for discovery, studying whatever came his way with rapt attention. He closed his eyes; "he should be around here, somewhere--- I'll call him here if he is. If he is not, you'll find him in Orion."

In his senses, the plants shifted, passing on a message of cloven hooves and a silvery mane and tail, barely grazing the low-hanging branches. On the hunt.

At least Aetius understood their plight well enough, even if the old lion needed to offer a little bit of controlled calm. Mercurius didn't often think about the enslavement of himself and others, but he had enough experience to know that it was hardly out of benevolence, and often out of an exercise in power.

"Hm." Moonset eyes opened, if only briefly, "he's here--- give me a moment." Magicka still thrumming through his stone, he focused on the distance his senses had to cover, Azizos's approximate location. Without visual contact, the connection would be stretched thin, but--- the storyteller had faith in his abilities.

The Morning Star's mind caught in his claws, wholly focused on his hunt for a moment; though, he seemed to not have a particular quarry. He simply stalked through the brush, shimmer-silver eyes flicking to and fro. Mercurius pushed gently to the forefront of Azizos's thoughts, to make his presence known without too much startling. Receiving a gentle response through the line, a halt in aimless prowling, the lion opened his eyes, scanning his surroundings, offering a vision of the Fern Trench and an awaiting Aetius.

"This is Aetius; she is among the Kingdom of Eridanus and seeks to find Totum and do a little research," he paused, not for any particular reason, "this is sudden, I know, but would you like to go with her? She wishes to delve into the history behind the Elders, deeper than what she already knows."

"Ah, sure, but... what is she looking for? To do?"

"Here, brace yourself," Mercurius hummed softly, and imparted the knowledge and visions Aetius had to himself. "I believe Totum is often seen in the tunnel between Orion and Eridanus--- she knows the way."

"Alright," Azizos called back, and made no movement.

"Come here," the old lion rumbled mirthfully, and cut the connection with an audible click.

He looked to the owl again, smiling, "he'll be here in a moment."