lunaecalamitas | this day should be for me

[Mm. Not encouraging, but it's a start.]

The wizards who watched over the City of Ice, correct? I wonder if they would be able to know more, if they've returned with the rest.

It doesn't sound like this incident with the West was a cause, but rather a consequence of opportunity. [Disappointing, really, but eh everyone else and their dog is handling that, so!] But we did catch that there had been some tampering with stones left behind from the moon.

The largest of which is, well... [Gestures at the cow-sized stone here in the courtyard. Sorry about their bad decorating.]

Is this something the Calamity has done before?

Yes! That's them. They know more about basically everything than anyone else.

[Mostly because they're so old. Old as balls.]

Tampering with moon stones... Well, it did all originate from one of Murr's secret labs...

[Akira sounds so incredibly weary when he says Murr's name, like this isn't the first time complications have arisen because of him.]

He's been researching the Calamity for centuries, so while I don't think he remembers what was happening in that lab specifically he wasn't surprised he had fragments of the moon there.

[Typical Murr, really.]

Remind me to go find them for a proper talk, then, if they do not make their way here.

[Old to old communication.]

That could explain our source for all the troubles recently, then, but... mmm. The instabilities were happening even before all of you vanished, weren't they?

Were you aware of what was happening to you? We found you in a state that looked like you were trying to take action, but broken apart in the midst of it...

[Nodding.]

Things started getting strange shortly after, I assume, the trap was sprung and like I said, the twins had already foresaw what was going to happen.

[He looks over to the mech, frowning a bit.]

But none of us are the type to just give in and wait for fate to come to us, even if there was nothing we could have done to stop it. We couldn't just give up, but in the end...

[He shakes his head, turning his gaze back to Solomon.]

So I'm very thankful you were able to save all of the wizards. It truly means a lot to me, and I'm sorry you had to shoulder such a responsibility on no notice.

You put together a failsafe, then.

[So no knowledge on the cause... perhaps that's better left to Snow and White.

Still, at the apology and statement of gratitude, Solomon holds up a hand to stop Akira, before tipping his head and lowering into a bow.]

I won't speak for the rest. But do not apologize to me.

I'm more concerned with making sure this doesn't repeat in the future. While we were able to make things work temporarily, I fear what might have happened to the people if we'd been unsuccessful. If there's nothing to be done for it... then I'm just content that we've brought you home.

[Ah... home, huh? A bittersweet smile crosses Akira's face at the mention of home—because at the end of the day, this isn't his home. He's as much of a stranger here as Solomon is...

But he cares deeply for the wizards he's connected with as the Sage, so he can push aside how thinking of his home can still be painful at times.]

There's a lot in this world we don't know yet, whether it be why the Calamity is the way that it is or how something like this could have happened but... we're all doing what we can to make things right and see how we can keep this from happening again.

Mm. The notes in the library show that much well enough. [His smile is apologetic.] I'm sorry. To be away from Earth for long... it's never easy.

That aside, I mean more the instability itself, Akira-kun. We've brought you home, but is this world going to right itself? Are our homes still caught?

That is what I'd like to look into. As for some of the others... well, it sounds as though there's been a spell in the works, to try and send some of our number home.

So long as its safe, would you and your wizards still be willing to help?

[ Akira's eyes widen briefly. ]

You've found a way back.

[ A breathy, offhand comment.

But he quickly returns to the topic at hand: ]

Of course. You've helped us, and now it's our turn to help you. I'll see to it that even the more reluctant ones— [ He glances at Mithra ] are there to assist you in getting what you need to get home.

As for this instability, I don't know. [ Despite his title, he doesn't actually know everything. ] Without knowing the exact cause, it's hard to say. But when the others eventually make their way back [ and he says this with a conviction that says he knows they will be back ] we'll figure out a way to deal with the meteor.

Thank you for keeping it safe and out of the wrong hands.

You'rr certain the rest are going to follow suit, then? [That was one of his next questions, so he'll just nod.] We only knew of some of their locations, but I assume they are powerful enough to sort it out themselves.

G'raha and Tatara should have the means for that spell. It's the unknown lasting effects that... concern me, dear Sage. That this Calamity can change us and reach so far out beyond this place and twist things...

I have a responsibility to my own people to not turn a blind eye to something that can tear the world apart like that. I'd also like to see if what has been done to us can be reversed, if we so choose.

They'll be back. [ He says this with full conviction. There are a couple of other Northerners that might take a while to come around, but...they'll be back. ]

I'm not an expert, [ he will preface everything he says with this over and over again, ] but I don't know how the calamity would affect you across worlds. It's just the moon, after all.

[He's sorry he keeps having to press that, Akira. They are the blind leading the even blinder right now, and Sol has been on a time limit since day 1.

Give him a moment to do.... something with Mithra lmao]

[Anyway now that Mithra looks like he's eaten a whole animal raw, he'll just slip back over here--]

Terrific advice. [Said as he wipes off remains of cherry juice from his fingers] You run a tidy ship given the circumstances.

I was hoping he'd sensed a similarity to you as a foreigner, or that it had been contained to myself, but it doesn't seem like that's the case. I suppose it's good, at least, he didn't say we felt like the moon, hm?

[He'll glance towards Tatara briefly, a pained sort of smile, before turning back to the Sage.]

There could be plenty of explanation... and maybe I'm overthinking. I just wish to make sure this won't bode poorly for the rest. A... loose end to tie, if we have to.

[ The old sage gives a wry smile at that. ]

I wish I could give you an answer, but I don't know who he's talking about.

[ He shrugs a little bit, but he does so in a way that makes it seem like he didn't have to. ]

There are a lot of mysteries in this world, but we're working on uncovering what we can. I'm sorry you might have to go home wondering.

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