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[wingedapostle]

She awakes in a warm, herbal bath, unaware of her surroundings or how she got there. The air smells fresh and clean. Sunlight pours down on her from the opening in the ceiling right above her bath. She turns, and she sees a large goat with clean clothing draped across its horns. That must be...Kest, that man's goat, she thinks. ...Strange. How did he get there? Was he there the entire time? She experiences a light sense of confusion at the questions she has asked herself, but she decides that it does not matter. She gets out of the bath. The clothes fit perfectly, as if they were made for her. She considers that perhaps they were. Small animals that she does not think she has ever seen wait for her to finish putting on her shoes, and when the shoes are on her feet, the animals dart off into a corridor, chittering at her to follow. Kest walks alongside her, providing a stable presence. 

The animals lead her to a small table in an open corridor that is passing through a garden. The breeze blows gently, and she feels like she is home. There is food and water on the table. She knows that she is very hungry, but she does not remember the last time she ate. She does not remember anything but this place, in fact. Who am I? Where am I? What was I doing before I came here? Was there anything before this place? It is too hard to remember, so she decides that this, too, does not matter, and she eats. Energy pours through her, revitalizing her body and spirit. She does not remember her journey here, but her body does. Joined by more goats, the animals sit nearby; they are watching her. Their gaze is curious and friendly, and for some reason she feels that such friendliness is unusual. She can't recall why, and she doesn't really want to. Not when there's such good food in front of her. She is deeply at peace here, a sort of tranquility she doesn't think she has felt before.

Soon, she hears the sounds of music alongside the chirping of the birds. The music is coming from nearby. She is done with her food, so she goes to investigate. The animals follow, of course. She follows the open corridor to a large room filled with books. There is a strange instrument in the center of the room, as well as two men who look like they could be brothers. A feeling of recognition flits through her mind, gone as quickly as it arrived.

The men welcome her and tell her of the musical treasures they've found here. The old masters were not merely legends, they say. She listens to them ramble about the marvels of the past and about what wonderful music they will be able to play with this incredible information. She can't say she truly understands what they're talking about, but she smiles at their enthusiasm. She sits down as they begin to play, and she lets the music ring through her soul. I feel so happy, she thinks. She has the feeling that she has been searching for this for a long time, but she does not remember more than that. This moment is enough for her. 

She realizes, then, that she is crying. She does not know why; this is very strange to her.

Then she remembers – Teto. 

The animals shift in discomfort and wariness. A goat nudges her, encourages her to listen to the music and forget. But she cannot. She remembers Teto's death, she remembers Ohma, that giant, dangerous child, and she remembers that there is something she needs to do. Not here, in this idyllic place, but back in her world. She stands, ready to leave.

The animals start to swarm her. No, they say, no, stay here, don't go. The men, still playing, are oblivious to the commotion. The animals try to pin her down, but she manages to get out of the pile. She runs as quickly as she can, out of the music room and into the open corridor. Why are they doing this? What do they want from me? Can't they understand that I need to leave? More animals meet her, goats this time, and she uses one goat's large horns as footing to leap onto the corridor's roof. Birds chase her, pleading for her to stay as she climbs the music room's roof. At the top, she sees fields sprawling out in front of her. 

There are creatures working in the fields. She recognizes them as heedra, the same as the creatures in the Divine Emperor's guard. Is this the crypt? Is this what I have been moving towards? She can't say for certain, but she does know that this place is dangerous. Trapped by her own desires, she could have been in that daze forever. Who's to say that she's safe even now?

Focusing on her mission, her mind races. Ohma could already be at Shuwa, and the damage could be irreparable. She needs to go after him, but it is so difficult. This place is everything she has ever wanted for herself. She knows this, but she knows too that she must continue going forward despite her needs and wishes. There is much at stake in this moment. That is the way she has lived her life, and she's not about to stop. Though her soul aches for it, she cannot stay here. With resolve and purpose in hand, she sets out to find the exit of this mysterious garden.