Backdated 5 Cycles (Cycle 114)

The distant sound of the waterfall had become like a music in the cycles it had spent living here with its...family? Could it be called a family when they were not linked in the way of the Hive? Could they be family if they weren't Hive? Mother assured - no, they were not, not truly. Bonds come and go, but Order is eternal. Hive is forever.

But as time went on, it did not fully believe.

There was no hive in Pisces anymore, no influence of Mother close-by. The closest was the main node in Ursa, but the Spire's magic seemed to disrupt their connection, as did the distance. It wasn't...a complete disruption, but it was enough to feel almost freeing.

Terrifying, of course, but freeing. And it gave The Vindicator the time to grow on its own. It had been, after all created to be its namesake - to clear the name of Order in the caves, to establish themselves as a friendly force instead of a hostile one. And if it wished to do that, it needed some empathetic edge, an understanding. Perhaps, however, things were going to far.

That perfect fractal of its mind had changed its shape and color. Still so perfect, symmetrical, orderly as all things should be, as it had to be to exist, but it was like the colors were different and it was not so fragile and uniform anymore. Cracked in places (symmetrically, of course), patterned in others, a record of its growth and experience that was ever-changing the drone from the innocent curious being it had once been to a more deeply inquisitive one. Determined to find its place, and find Order's place here.

It stood in its favorite spot, a ways up the Warrens, at the top of one of the larger hills, where it could see most of Pisces folding out below it. Their living place was nearby, a small hollow in the rocks that gave shelter and a hiding spot from any inquisitive eyes. But it did not hide now, simply staying in place, the silks of its arms fluttering softly in a non-existent breeze.

"Luminary," it called. "Wilt thou speaketh with me?" It had been preparing for this topic for some time now - and that the child was full gown, it was time to speak it. Along one of its arms, fungus began to bloom - preparatory for the conversation. It would be important.

@Luminary

For the most part, barring occasional excursions beside its parents, Luminary had grown up in Pisces, where it had hatched from its chrysalis of (mostly) purple amethyst. It still vividly recalled the beginning of life with sharp clarity, as it recalled everything perfectly.

It had been given a gift that a number of gembounds lacked. Creators that cared for it and let it be a child as it grew. But being a child did not mean that Luminary had lacked skills to observe and analyze.

Luminary grew physically, but in a way, its creators had grown with it. It had never commented on such, only mentally noted the adjustments with quiet interest.

While easier to notice the behavior changes in its imperfectly-shaped creator, its perfectly-shaped creator had changed too. When it had first noticed that, it had felt off. Why would perfection ever need to change?

Bodies might be perfectly shaped, it had realized. But minds were not. It was discomforting to realize, for one made of order's magic. Yet, if one strived towards goodness and kindness, one might reach closer to a perfect-shaped mind.

It heard the call of its perfectly-shaped-yet-ever-growing-towards-perfection creator. And Luminary answered, "Always, creator of mine." It had two voices that blended together into a musical androgyny, and yet it never opened its mouth.

"Is this related to my finalized growth?" Its musical voice was alight with a note of curiosity, of question that lingered on the end of the shaped air. Referring, of course, to its physical growth into an adult shape.

@Vindicator

As its offspring settled beside it, the Vindicator took a moment to turn its attention on the final shape of it. Not as tall as its life-giver, more akin to Doru in this regard. But it was as perfect a blend of each of them. It looks more gembound then Drone, but Mother's mark was in its skin, its figure, its musical voice perfect symmetry. It was, the Vindicator realized, Doru's design perfected.

It was not sure how to feel about that thought.

Although it did not need to, the Vindicator turned its body so that it looked as if it would be looking in its direction and opened one of its hands (not the ones growing the fungus) and set it upon Luminary's shoulder. "Indeed. Thou hast flourished well in this place, and The Vindicator could not be prouder of thee. Now that thy childhood doth draw to a close, the time approaches to offer upon thee that which the Vindicator hast kept from thee."

And now it was that they raised their other arm, where the fungus bloomed, a growth of mold upon its marble-like skin. "The Hive, a welcome into Mother's embrace. Thou knowest well its meaning, and its consequences. Know this, dearest Luminary, I shalt not impose it upon thee, nor shalt I regard thee any less shouldst thou decline." It held out its arm, an open offer. The touch upon Luminary's shoulder was a delicate one - it did not hold it here, nor push it forward. Truly, this offer was up to the child, and not to the parent.

@Luminary