The two moons were out tonight but not the stars. A heavy fog had been growing in the Virens forest but the two moons were stronger and shone through it. The crickets chirped and a small gust of wind blew through the forest, rustling the leaves. In the distance, an owl began to hoot. One would be able to see trees to their left, to their right, and a few ahead and behind. However the rest were blocked off by the mysterious fog. The forest was dark and the only bits of light came from the two moons. A young woman with blue hair and pale skin was walking through the forest, barefooted and with a deer by her side. She wore a beautiful violet gown that dipped into a deep purple towards the ends of the dress. There was a purple hood attached to the dress that she had over her head and on her face was a decorate black mask. In her hands was a silver lyre that was decorated with etchings of stars around its base. 

Ciara began to play her lyre, not caring if there were others around who would hear her. She should have cared, especially since she had left a festival only two hours earlier. After doing her normal thing, drugging all the food and wine, she had stopped the execution of an innocent woman and accidentally broke up two lovers, though all of those things were not related. To say that she was a troublemaker would be an understatement. But now it was time for a pleasant walk through the dark forests that may hold certain death or at least make new travelers hopelessly lost. Her loyal friend was a deer who was walking by her side. Some owls had decided to follow her as well but she didn't know them so she decided to sing a song for them, as it was only fair to do so for some lovely forest strangers. 

"As the sun lowers from the sky,
We wake from our long sleep,
And spread our wings to fly,
The night is ours to keep,

We hear the moon with great delight,
And dance along to its sweet song,
For we haven’t lost our precious sight,
When in the dark we remain strong,

The owls are here,
They tell of great fortunes,
The owls are there,
They secret ancient runes,

The owls don’t hide,
They follow old tales,
Their large eyes wide,
To see the world’s ails,"

The melody was sweet and slow, almost mysterious in a way. Her powerful yet sweet voice echoed throughout the forest. Animals in the distance could hear it, anybody around could hear it. Yet she sang on, as though she didn't care who heard. The owls almost seemed to be enjoying the song. She continued to travel through the fog covered forest, singing as she went. 

"If you hear our words of wisdom,
Please do not run in fear,
We might give you a small vision,
If you only lend an ear,

The night is more than a darkness,
The world can fill with as much beauty,
And lacks much of the sun’s harshness,
We tell of it since it's our sacred duty,

The owls are here,
They tell of great fortunes,
The owls are there,
They secret ancient runes,

The owls don’t hide,
They follow old tales,
Their large eyes wide,
To see the world’s ails."

Finally her song finished and she took a small rest from singing and strumming her lyre. She adored music but even she couldn't keep it up all the time. But that was fine by her. It was always good to take breaks. She looked over to her deer friend who was still by her side. Her hand rested on its forehead and she slowly began to stroke its brown fur. The deer seemed greatly pleased and it began to rub its face against her. A small smile formed on her soft lips as she sat down on a boulder. The deer took this chance to rest its head on her lap. 

"Eager for attention are you?" She said teasingly. 

The moons were beautiful tonight, though it was a shame that their radiance was dimmed by the mists that stained the skies with haze. He had parted with the warriors who had come along from Onnen when he surveyed Sularia, choosing to roam these lands alone. They had implored him to return with them back to Mount Qala, but Mithras wished to see what these new lands had to offer. He would return with the spoils of his conquest, he had promised. The lion-headed lord trusted his warriors would keep the mountain secure and not devolve into infighting while he was away. Qala was his territory, it would be foolish of them to think they could simply take it for themselves. Those who remained on the mountain had sworn their complete loyalty and submission to his rule. And as the laws of Qala stated, tests of strength were allowed while wanton killing and betrayal was scorned. Clad in a vibrant black and red patterned garment, gold ornaments and obsidian fragments were hung about his arms and neck. The lord walked upon the dark forest soil barefoot, relishing in the sensation of his steps upon every gnarled root, stone, and clod of earth underneath. 

The night was beautiful, but it was also the time of the hunt. Predators stalked their quarry among the shadows, glowering eyes and fierce wills clashing through fang and claw. And for an unwary man walking within the Virens Forest, Mithras could have easily been mistaken for an easy target. He quickly disproved the notion, crashing down on a black-haired warg who had taken the initiative. Peals of laughter echoed through the cool evening air as a spire of earth sent the beast hurtling up from below. Trees were felled in the devastation, though not enough to leave a serious scar in the crimson canopy. Regrettably this would be the most he would enjoy out of a fight tonight, as the primal lord's overwhelming display of dominance cowed any other carnivores watching the scene into submission. The warg was left dazed and thoroughly beaten, though not near death. This wasn't a true hunt–this was just a brawl. A rather short-lived one, in fact. "Are there any others who wish to prove their might?" Mithras asked in a loud voice. When the faint whimpers and shuffling of creatures fleeing came in reply, he felt a momentary pang of disappointment. "For all of its rumors, the beasts of this woodland are far more meek and mild than I expected. I suppose I cannot fault them for acting upon instinct. This land is plentiful, and thus there is no reason for them to fight needlessly."

Perhaps he would find more fulfilling excitement further from this place. Word of his presence would have spread through all the beasts within the immediate area by now. Turning on his heel, he strode through the darkened shadows of the ruddy trees once more. Sounds of fallen leaves crunching underfoot announced his approach as he drew closer to the sound of a woman's voice singing. It was unlikely for a human to be here in the dead of night. Could it be some specter, or one of the impish beings the people of the land would refer to as 'the Fair Folk'? They reminded one of the aziza, small primal entities who gave blessings of magic and wisdom to hunters and common folk alike. The aziza of these lands were much more capricious and fickle, perhaps due to the differences of the lands which gave birth to them.

The power of the earth that resided within this continent was nothing like that of Onnen. Steadfast and subdued, yet enduring. Those were the words which Mithras described Canelux. Onnen was wild with an unbridled vitality that permeated the very seas surrounding it. Like a rapid drumbeat, those who attuned themselves to it felt its pulse throughout the entirety of their being. Once he had seen his fill of Canelux, his next destination would be the land where men had abandoned their gods–Parvpora.

In the pale moonlight, the bold figure of a blond haired man cut through the evening quiet. All the birds and beasts were at attention as a commanding aura radiated from his very presence. Gently, the melodious sound of golden chains and bangles rang like faint bells heralding his arrival. Crimson eyes fell on the pale ethereal beauty who had a young deer resting upon her lap. "The moons have graced us with a grand audience this very night; do you agree?"

She had heard him coming long before she saw him. The soft sound of golden chains and bangles along with his heavy footsteps had warned her of his arrival. And yet, her eyes never left from her deer friend. Yet there was a small smile on her face, as though she had heard a secret joke from the owls hooting above. The man finally spoke, talking about the moons and their lovely light. This surprised her. There were many, even among her own kind, who didn't appreciate the beauty of the night. She lifted her head up to look at the young man. 

"Yes they have." She said in a lovely yet slightly odd voice, "I'm certain the stars are out dazzling as well. And although the fog covers them, I can't help but appreciate the fog as well. There is something quite mysterious and pretty about them. Its unfortunate that common language lacks the words for it." 

Unlike Ciara, the deer was extremely apprehensive by this young man, either from his appearance or from the fact that he was stronger. Deciding to not keep the deer from staying any longer than it wanted to, she gently lifted her hand and it scurried off into the woods. When it returned she would tell the deer of what had happened while it was away. For now her focus was on this new but fascinating stranger. 

"Have you ever wondered what those stars are? Some say they are long-dead gods. Some claim that they are tiny flakes of dust sparkling in the distance." Ciara said. 

Instead of looking towards the sky, she was looking directly at the young blonde man in the eyes. Her gaze wasn't filled with any sort of malice but rather a wild curiosity. Pushing herself to her feet, she took many steps towards him. There wasn't any fear on her face, though some of it was covered by her mask. She almost looked like she was holding a secret and was about to tell him. 

"My theory is that they are brilliant suns far far away." She said in a low voice, "I can think of only two things that can be that bright from such a distance. But that is just my silly idea." 

Then she passed him and looked up towards the tree tops. The wind blew through them, causing the trees to sway slightly and some of the breeze even made the edges of her blue hair fly. Tonight was a special night. She could feel it. On special nights like these, it was customary to use her gifts. Ciara reached into her small satchel that hung around her shoulder and pulled out a bowl. Heading back to the boulder, she placed it on the stone and took out a canteen of water. After pouring the water into the bowl she looked over to Mithras and beckoned him to come see. 

"Would you like to see a vision?" She offered, "Tonight would be the best night to see something." 

The mysterious woman with sea-blue hair told him what she guessed the stars were, to which he shared his own as well. "All fascinating possibilities, each and every one. The people of Onnen have their own thoughts of them, believing that they are simply unripe seeds on the branches of a great tree, hanging high aloft in the skies. Others here are adamant they are in fact different lands, worlds beyond this one." While the variety in assumptions amused him, he had no interest when it came to the petty squabbles of men who stared at the skies through a glass and buried their noses in books. They disagreed with one another so strongly, yet had no means to prove themselves right. The breeze swept his loose hair about his face as the lord spent a moment to admire the moons once more. The masked woman then took out a curious collection of objects, pouring herself a bowl of water. She beckoned, with that faint yet impish smile for him to draw closer. "Would you like to see a vision? Tonight would be the best night to see something."

Mithras strode to where she had placed the filled bowl, putting a hand to his chin. He was intrigued, curious as to what she had in store for him. "I accept your invitation, Fair Lady. I have always found the art of divination to be quite fascinating. Now, what will you show me?" From the land he had been banished from, divination took many forms. Signs made from smoke, readings of the cracks of burnt bones, to the simple throw of geometric talismans. He had once heard of a form which the diviner would throw a handful of ash into a water basin and watch as the dust swirled and sank to the bottom. Would this be her method of choice? Eagerly awaiting the visions she had promised, the lion-headed lord watched silently as she began the rite. Divination performed under unique astronomical and meteorological conditions was seen as highly favorable. The wind seemed to halt and the fog grow thin in anticipation. Bright, pale moonlight shone down through the darkened trees, chasing away shadows wherever they touched. The sounds of the night gave a pause to the fair lady on bated breath.

"First you must understand something about the future." Ciara explained, "It is not one strict path but a number of rivers interconnected. Something as small as the wind or a small turn could set your future sailing onto a different river. However some streams are more likely than others. That is what I am looking for. The most likely stream that you will sail through. Do you understand?"

Ciara often had to explain this before divinations lest people get confused. She turned to her bowl and picked up a pebble from the ground. Her fingers held the pebble right above the still water in the bowl and dropped it in. Three ripples followed the pebble. Ciara watched the water silently for a few moments, her face was as still and calm as the water seemed to be. The world around her seemed to fade away and the only thing that was important was her and the water. The light reflected in the water and formed different patterns and images, though few others would be able to recognize them. Her eyes would begin to see them more clearly the more she focused on them. 

"I see a sword. There will be a fight in your future. Many fights. There is a white rose. You will fight this rose but you will not succeed. Yet respect will be earned. I also see something else. It is faded, so it will be in your distant future. I see romance, love. It will come from an unexpected place but you will know when it has begun. There is one last thing. I see a friendship that you hold dear. The friendship will change and if you're not careful, it will be lost forever."

With that Ciara picked up the bowl and began to pour the water onto a particularly dried out plant. Then she returned the bowl to her bag and sat down on the stone that she had just used as a table. The soft wind blew through her hair, taking her strands of hair and seemingly dancing with them. Her eyes were drawn to his bright blonde hair and his confident eyes. Her mind was curious about what she had seen and the meaning of it. Ever person was a fascinating story, or at least that was what she believed. His world was filled with secrets and excitement of his own story that was wanted to learn. 

"It is better to pour out the water after a divination, lest you attract spirits of another realm. Used scrying water is like the bones of a sheep who's meat has been torn away. You can keep it but you shouldn't be surprised when flies are attracted. It is the same for the water. Only with spirits." Ciara tried to explain, "Do you have any questions about the predictions? I don't know much more than what I said but I can make a good guess on what they might mean." 

She wondered and wondered but answers never came to those who sit still.