we are not truly immortal

[dark_light]

After Glass's party is over with, Amariah and Kas go home.

Amariah fetches down their alethiometers.

"It's about time I took care of Alethia's afterlife, whatever it may be," she says quietly. "What can the alethiometer tell you about what I'll find?"

Comments

[pythbox]

Eventually, she does encounter a rock.

[dark_light]

She pats the rock, attempting to figure out how to go around.

[pythbox]

It is part of the mountainside.

But it is part of the mountainside at the very top, so it does not take all that long to feel her way around to something like a doorway.

The fog thins once they are inside, allowing them to see and hear for a few feet around.

[dark_light]

Amariah goes in first, dagger clutched in her hand.

[pythbox]

The fog thins, and thins, and at the end of the tunnel there is a room, and in the middle of the room there is a - thing.

It is made of transparent crystal that catches the dim light and sparkles brilliantly, and it is absolutely without a gap or break of any kind, and there is an angel inside, small and old and wrinkled and faded almost to nothing.

[dark_light]

"...Hello," tries Amariah.

[pythbox]

No reaction.

[dark_light]

[Hello.]

[pythbox]

He shivers, startled.

[What? Who are you?]

His voice, even over brainphone, is as faint and old and faded as the rest of him.

[dark_light]

[I'm Isabella Amariah. Who are you?]

[pythbox]

[I'm - I'm - ]

...he's falling asleep, apparently.

[dark_light]

[I am on an important errand. Please pay attention.]

[pythbox]

Nope. Sleeping.

[dark_light]

Amariah taps on the crystal that surrounds the angel.

[pythbox]

The crystal rings like a bell. The angel startles awake, shuddering violently, and... swirls, like the other angel did when he began to dissolve.

[dark_light]

Amariah floats back, startled. [Sorry!]

[pythbox]

Slowly, he swirls back together. The ringing fades. He blinks in confusion.

[dark_light]

[Sorry,] Amariah repeats. [You must be terribly fragile.]

[pythbox]

Also slowly, he nods.

[dark_light]

[Is that why you're in there?]

[pythbox]

Another nod.

[dark_light]

[Who are you?] she asks again.

[pythbox]

Slowly, sadly, he shakes his head.

[dark_light]

[You don't remember?]

[pythbox]

A helpless shrug.