Aetius had made her choice, and her choice was to honor her agreement with Nemean. She accepted the fact that Nemean was her master immediately. But, it was actually quite an honor to serve one of the masters of the cave. Aetius saw this as a privilege, and was very happy about the arrangement. When Nemean asked what it was she wanted to know, Aetius answered respectfully. Well, master. I have three questions. First, the creature I described, was that Astraea's previous form? Second, the conversation you had with the creature I described, what was it about? Lastly, who is Enki?" Aetius then fell silent to give her new master room to speak. Her kind brown eyes looked at Nemean with complete attention.

@Game Master CJ

Ah good, Aetius called her master. She was full of satisfaction, so when the questions came in, she nodded sagely. "Mhmm, yep, okay. Yes, that was Astraea, but," her voice turned serious as she shook a finger at Aetius, "we don't talk about it, okay? If you mention it to him you will definitely die." Tapping her finger to her lips, she whispered, "It's a secret. Don't talk about it. You. Will. Die." And to be sure, she peeked around the room to make sure he wasn't secretly listening like the stalker he was.

"Anyway, I already answered the other questions. Like, five thousand years ago, some saps got a the idea in their head that they would rebel and escape—and they succeeded, but they used a lot of people in the process, really awful right? Yeah. Lame. Whatever." Well, Nemean didn't care about the other losers they betrayed, but it still made her furious. "Enki was another master, but they died in the rebellion—actually, their stone has been revived, but I don't know where that ugly creature has crawled off to. Its name was uh, hmm," she trailed off and tapped her chin. What was it?

"Saline, or Salezor... Salad, sallaaahhh... something." She shrugged, uninterested in it. It failed to kill Jupiter so it could die for all she cared. "It's not that interesting."

@Aetius

Aetius nodded her head at her master, and if Nemean said not to speak of it to anyone, then she wouldn't. Nemean was her master after all. But there was one thing that Aetius did not understand, and she knew it would be important to ask. "I understand master, and I promise not to speak of it to anyone. But there is one thing that I would like to know, and my last question. How did Astraea turn into a deer?" She made sure to keep her voice low enough so just Nemean could hear her. She made sure this would be her last question, so she could go looking for that diamond shard she promised Nemean. Aetius lived by a code of honor, and would make sure to keep her promise.

@Game Master CJ

She nodded, glad that Aetius understood. She would hate for her new, loyal slave to go and die because they had summoned the wrath of Astraea. Ahh, but how did he turn into a deer? "Oh, easy. He died too. But when he was revived, the perruuhhh, the thing that revived him made him a deer." Nemean shrugged. "It's kind of like a curse, he hates it. So we don't talk about it." That didn't stop Nemean from laughing her wings off about it though!

@Aetius

Aetius had learned a lot today about Astraea and a piece of the cave's history. She locked it away in a steel trap in her mind so she would not forgot it, nor speak of it. Last thing she wanted was to face the might and wrath of Astraea. She ruffled her feathers some before speaking to Nemean. "Thank you for answering my questions, master. I will be off now to look for that diamond shard for you. Is there anything else you would like to ask or request of me before I leave?" The snowy owl waited with patience to see if her superior wanted anything else of her.

@Game Master CJ

"HMMMmmm... nah, I'm gonna go back to sleep. Also, feel free to keep the diamond shard for yourself and make something cool with it, you deserve a reward." A reward that Aetius would have to find and reward themselves with, but still. Close enough. Nemean leaned forward to gently pat the top of the owl's head. "I'll find you if I need you." With that, she fluttered back to the air vent in a show of sparkles and roaring applause, turning to wave to Aetius one last time. "And a very big thank you to my biggest fan!" she shouted, and blew a kiss toward Aetius before zipping up into the air vent and out of sight.

Yes!! Her very own loyal slave! She deserved that much!

@Aetius

Aetius didn't expect for Nemean to pat her on the head, but she welcomed it of course. Perhaps the owl could use the diamond shard to decorate her nest with in Eridanus. The sparkles and roaring applause was wonderful and surprising at the same time. Nemean appeared to be a very energetic creature filled with bursting light, and Aetius liked that about her. Nonetheless, she was still her master, and Aetius was willing to serve. As Nemean disappeared, Aetius decided to fly away to find that diamond shard. She also decided to keep what she learned here a deadly secret, never to be told.

-Exit Aetius