StarKibellah moves in a peculiar semblance of an athletic exercise, her movements tracing an inscrutable pattern. "Are you ready to step into the labyrinth, Domin'[Name]?"
YOU"What exactly are we going to do?"
Star"This is the ritual of binding. By the Undying One's will, our fates are now as one, but I must still guide you into the maze of my mind. Although it is my predestination alone to walk its corridors in search of answers, your image must become part of the tangle. For I am your shadow, Domin'[Name], and your presence will aid me in sensing whatever threats may be looming over you."
YOU"What exactly are we going to do?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is all this on the floor?"
Star"Instructions. Directions. A depiction of the puzzle that can only be solved within one's own consciousness, by following its bends and turnings. I do not require these lines to find my way, but for you they will serve as a guiding thread."
YOU"What exactly are we going to do?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is all this on the floor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am ready, Kibellah. Let us begin."
StarKibellah draws a curved blade and offers it to you. "Your weapon for the ritual. Watch the lines on the floor: you can only pass through the gaps. The rest you need not know." She bows curtly and assumes a combat stance. "Enter the labyrinth, Domin'[Name]."
StarKibellah's breathing is steady, and there is no change in her solemn expression. "You are now upon the path. Your shadow now walks the labyrinth, and my gaze can now see when danger draws near you." Her lips continue moving for a while longer, her eyes tracing the lines on the floor.
YOU"Can you tell me what this really was? What is the true meaning of this rite?"
StarKibellah glances at you with apprehension. "You are not required to understand. You have joined the ritual. That will suffice."
YOU"I did not mean to offend you."
StarHer face remains dispassionate. "Your words have caused no offence."
YOU"I did not mean to offend you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I only seek to understand why this matters to you — to understand you."
StarShe raises her chin. "Understand... me? Why, Domin'[Name]? My fate is preordained, and our places assigned. We both must serve the Undying One as His design foretells." Kibellah hesitates. You see her eyebrow creeping upward before quickly straightening once more. "But if such is indeed your wish..."
Star"My path of service to the Undying Emperor is one of many twists and pitfalls. Every mind is fraught with weakness, and only by honing it tirelessly can one achieve focus and prime one's perception. I envision the Tenets of the Web as a maze of tangles and dead ends. Each time I go into a trance, be it one of the soul or of battle, I walk this path from beginning to end. And now that you are a part of it, you will be there with me when next I enter the labyrinth."
Star"You may deem it strange. You live in a world so far removed from my own that such rituals must seem absurd to you." She permits herself to smile in the very corners of her mouth, and a spark of flustered curiosity lights up in her normally aloof gaze. "I am sure I would find your rituals equally mystifying."
YOU"My rituals? What do you mean?"
Star"You are empowered by the will of the Undying One Himself, and yet... when I look at your life, I am surprised: you follow a different thread, one that does not seem as strict to your thoughts and deeds. There is so much..." She thinks for a moment. "...lustre."
YOU"My rituals? What do you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Would you like to see my world, Kibellah? You have allowed me to witness your ritual — it is only fair that I show you one of mine."
Star"To partake in one of your ceremonies?" Kibellah pauses to think, then offers you a respectful bow. "'Returning the courtesy' — that is how you say it up here, isn't it? I will await your invitation."
StarKibellah straightens, stows her weapon, and gives you a short bow. "The labyrinth has accepted you. We have danced amid the crossing lines and minds, and by the dance we are now bound."
end of branch
YOU"My world is more than mere lustre. Perhaps it would help you to have a closer look at my life."
StarShe narrows her eyes. "Your world is alien to me, Domin'[Name]. And yet, having some knowledge of it could help me to improve my service to both you and the Undying One. Permit me, then, to observe one of the rituals that fills your life. I will do so with gratitude."
StarKibellah straightens, stows her weapon, and gives you a short bow. "The labyrinth has accepted you. We have danced amid the crossing lines and minds, and by the dance we are now bound."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmph. Yes, you are right. Our rituals are simply too different for us to understand each other."
StarShe nods. "Let us abide by our respective threads."
StarKibellah straightens, stows her weapon, and gives you a short bow. "The labyrinth has accepted you. We have danced amid the crossing lines and minds, and by the dance we are now bound."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Would you like to see my world, Kibellah? You have allowed me to witness your ritual — it is only fair that I show you one of mine."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My world is more than mere lustre. Perhaps it would help you to have a closer look at my life."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hmph. Yes, you are right. Our rituals are simply too different for us to understand each other."continues where this line first appears above
Star(sequence)
StarTo an outside observer, what happened here would have looked like an ordinary fight, but your senses grasp... something more. They allow you to perceive a fragile bond that has formed between the two of you in the midst of this blade dance. It is as if Kibellah's mind has opened up, reached out to yours, and... acquainted itself with it. A surprising display of power and direction for someone who possesses no psychic abilities — or appears to be unaware of their own gift.
end of branch
YOU"Forget I asked."
StarKibellah straightens, stows her weapon, and gives you a short bow. "The labyrinth has accepted you. We have danced amid the crossing lines and minds, and by the dance we are now bound."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I only seek to understand why this matters to you — to understand you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Forget I asked."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"This fight — what a captivating expression of your culture."
Star"We are not doing this for your amusement, Domin'[Name], nor is it an 'expression.' That which you do not comprehend still has meaning."
YOU"I did not mean to offend you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I only seek to understand why this matters to you — to understand you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Forget I asked."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thank you for performing this ritual, Kibellah. I believe we are done here."
Star"Thank you, Domin'[Name]. Trust me when I say that it was important. For me. For our bond."
StarKibellah straightens, stows her weapon, and gives you a short bow. "The labyrinth has accepted you. We have danced amid the crossing lines and minds, and by the dance we are now bound."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Can we stop with this nonsense now?"
StarKibellah looks up at you. She gives a reserved nod in response.
StarKibellah straightens, stows her weapon, and gives you a short bow. "The labyrinth has accepted you. We have danced amid the crossing lines and minds, and by the dance we are now bound."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Get on with it. The sooner we are done with this, the better."
StarA crease appears on Kibellah's brow, but besides this, nothing in her composure could be interpreted as a sign of vexation.
StarKibellah draws a curved blade and offers it to you. "Your weapon for the ritual. Watch the lines on the floor: you can only pass through the gaps. The rest you need not know." She bows curtly and assumes a combat stance. "Enter the labyrinth, Domin'[Name]."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am ready, Kibellah. Let us begin."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Get on with it. The sooner we are done with this, the better."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is all this on the floor?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am ready, Kibellah. Let us begin."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Get on with it. The sooner we are done with this, the better."continues where this line first appears above