The surroundings are hushed, but it's no empty silence; it's the sound of tens, maybe hundreds of people all standing silent, making no noise but breathing. There is no shuffling, no movement - nothing but their solemn ranks, heads bowed in lament. And yet - something in the air is sad and angry and exultant all at once, a broiling mass of feelings like the circling mist.
"My pet has returned again!" a voice calls out, ringing and clear but for the hint of whispers echoing her words. The fog swivels aside, just enough for Madoka to see she's in the center of town, near the faintly glowing embers of a bonfire dimmed in mourning. In front of the fire the Fog God stands in human form, both her hands upraised. "The followers of the Impostor tore down the gift I so kindly granted them, called down a curse upon everyone's heads for their transgression. But even in their folly, their worst insult - she bled for them, tore out her heart for them. She sacrificed herself so that the names of those gone would live on."
Sarah's arms lower, and she holds one out in Madoka's direction. "Come to me, my child." As she speaks, some of the mourners step aside; others step forward to help Madoka up, support her on her walk to the bonfire. All of them have now lifted their heads - their eyes glitter silently, some in awe, others in that and sympathy at once.
As Madoka reaches the Fog God, Sarah places one hand on her head, stroking gently - possessively - down her hair. "Your devotion to me, and to all my children - you have proven it to me once again. You deserve all of my favour, my Witness. I shall grant you what you wish - and more."
A spar of stone will materialize in the Fog God's hand, and before Madoka can move, the Fog God will stab it through her ice heart. But Madoka will feel no pain, and no cracks will spread - the piercing is clean. A few moments after, the shard of stone will fade, and to replace it will come names; names running through Madoka's mind, a constant quiet whisper in the back of her head that she need only focus on to make out.
With this the Fog God will step back, moving toward the center of the banked fire. As soon as she crosses the threshold, flames will burst into being, tall and flickering brightly. Sarah stretches out her arms - "Come."
When Madoka steps into them, fog springs up in a violent flurry of wind and sweeps them away before the fire can harm them.
The fog doesn't fade, though it does still, but it's not long before there's an impression of immense, endless space. Fog to the left and right, in front and behind, above and below - an area of vast nothingness, a void of mist and chill. Or so it seems.
The Fog God unfolds one arm from about Madoka, motioning in a wide circle at their feet. "Look, my pet." Though it seems to be her speaking, the voice comes from everywhere, and her human form's mouth doesn't move. After all, she is the fog, only deigning to allow her children a more familiar shape.
The gray-white swirls below them drift slowly aside, revealing ground and water in bits and patches; just the peninsula at first, but then more. More land, more sea, more mountains and rivers - a world, sleeping frozen in the mists. No life can be seen anywhere within these lands - only dense patches of fog, moving almost organically across the land. The peninsula is all that remains in this world.
Her voice comes through the fog once again.
"Long ago... when we first created this world... there were many who walked these lands. Man, bird, beast... there was room for all." Her voice holds a contemplative tone to it, something that may be strange to hear. "And it was good, for some time. Civilizations grew under our gaze. Religions grew, favoring one god over the other. We cared not. Our love was meant for all."
Sarah motions with a finger, and the world seems to grow closer. From here, the fog doesn't obscure everything, and Madoka can see these lands for what they are. Dead and rotted trees, with patches of darkness reaching up into them; swaths of almost blinding light, burning down everything in their path. "But humans grew restless, as is their wont. They brought great violence upon the land. And when they felt their time of need was at hand, they begged for our aid. Their prayers turned god against god - the Night against Day."
With a wave of her hand, the fog returns. Sarah and Madoka are alone once again.
"My sisters destroyed each other at the wish of their worthless followers. I was left in a broken land, alone with the things which had caused this - this plague of our own creation." Sarah's outstretched hand tightens into a fist, pale knuckles turning white with exertion. "And so, I cast down my judgment. I tore the weeds out from the earth, so that they would not choke the life from this place. I covered this land in my wrath, and when I was done... only one place remained."
There is silence for a long few moments. When the fog speaks again, there is a softness to her voice that not many have heard. "I felt that nobody in this world could be worthwhile. I left only enough to amuse myself. But each of you has proven your worth, in your own ways. And some amongst you..."
She reaches forward, caressing Madoka's cheek.
"Witness. You have shown your love time and time again, and I offer you one final mantle - that of one of my priests. Spread the fog for me; spread my word, my name. Let all my children follow you where you go." It seems almost a demand, rather than a request, but she waits for a response nonetheless - and when Madoka gives it, the fog rushes in with a wild howl as if to swallow them. It buffets Madoka's skin, a screaming wind condensing around her, and backs off more than a minute later to reveal a dark gray shroud, fluttering like the Fog God's very hair. It almost seems to blend in with their surroundings....
"You are a part of me now, child. And I - a part of you. We can never be separated." Sarah lets go of Madoka entirely, starting to disappate into what she truly is. As she does so, the fog seems to start clearing a second time, but now what comes is true ground, old buildings and bonfire just to the side, hundreds of faces turned to Madoka. "Go now, step back into the mortal world. But when you wish to return: look to the flames, and my flesh and form will keep you safe."
And with that, she will return to the peninsula once more.
GRANTED
The surroundings are hushed, but it's no empty silence; it's the sound of tens, maybe hundreds of people all standing silent, making no noise but breathing. There is no shuffling, no movement - nothing but their solemn ranks, heads bowed in lament. And yet - something in the air is sad and angry and exultant all at once, a broiling mass of feelings like the circling mist.
"My pet has returned again!" a voice calls out, ringing and clear but for the hint of whispers echoing her words. The fog swivels aside, just enough for Madoka to see she's in the center of town, near the faintly glowing embers of a bonfire dimmed in mourning. In front of the fire the Fog God stands in human form, both her hands upraised. "The followers of the Impostor tore down the gift I so kindly granted them, called down a curse upon everyone's heads for their transgression. But even in their folly, their worst insult - she bled for them, tore out her heart for them. She sacrificed herself so that the names of those gone would live on."
Sarah's arms lower, and she holds one out in Madoka's direction. "Come to me, my child." As she speaks, some of the mourners step aside; others step forward to help Madoka up, support her on her walk to the bonfire. All of them have now lifted their heads - their eyes glitter silently, some in awe, others in that and sympathy at once.
As Madoka reaches the Fog God, Sarah places one hand on her head, stroking gently - possessively - down her hair. "Your devotion to me, and to all my children - you have proven it to me once again. You deserve all of my favour, my Witness. I shall grant you what you wish - and more."
A spar of stone will materialize in the Fog God's hand, and before Madoka can move, the Fog God will stab it through her ice heart. But Madoka will feel no pain, and no cracks will spread - the piercing is clean. A few moments after, the shard of stone will fade, and to replace it will come names; names running through Madoka's mind, a constant quiet whisper in the back of her head that she need only focus on to make out.
With this the Fog God will step back, moving toward the center of the banked fire. As soon as she crosses the threshold, flames will burst into being, tall and flickering brightly. Sarah stretches out her arms - "Come."
When Madoka steps into them, fog springs up in a violent flurry of wind and sweeps them away before the fire can harm them.
The fog doesn't fade, though it does still, but it's not long before there's an impression of immense, endless space. Fog to the left and right, in front and behind, above and below - an area of vast nothingness, a void of mist and chill. Or so it seems.
The Fog God unfolds one arm from about Madoka, motioning in a wide circle at their feet. "Look, my pet." Though it seems to be her speaking, the voice comes from everywhere, and her human form's mouth doesn't move. After all, she is the fog, only deigning to allow her children a more familiar shape.
The gray-white swirls below them drift slowly aside, revealing ground and water in bits and patches; just the peninsula at first, but then more. More land, more sea, more mountains and rivers - a world, sleeping frozen in the mists. No life can be seen anywhere within these lands - only dense patches of fog, moving almost organically across the land. The peninsula is all that remains in this world.
Her voice comes through the fog once again.
"Long ago... when we first created this world... there were many who walked these lands. Man, bird, beast... there was room for all." Her voice holds a contemplative tone to it, something that may be strange to hear. "And it was good, for some time. Civilizations grew under our gaze. Religions grew, favoring one god over the other. We cared not. Our love was meant for all."
Sarah motions with a finger, and the world seems to grow closer. From here, the fog doesn't obscure everything, and Madoka can see these lands for what they are. Dead and rotted trees, with patches of darkness reaching up into them; swaths of almost blinding light, burning down everything in their path. "But humans grew restless, as is their wont. They brought great violence upon the land. And when they felt their time of need was at hand, they begged for our aid. Their prayers turned god against god - the Night against Day."
With a wave of her hand, the fog returns. Sarah and Madoka are alone once again.
"My sisters destroyed each other at the wish of their worthless followers. I was left in a broken land, alone with the things which had caused this - this plague of our own creation." Sarah's outstretched hand tightens into a fist, pale knuckles turning white with exertion. "And so, I cast down my judgment. I tore the weeds out from the earth, so that they would not choke the life from this place. I covered this land in my wrath, and when I was done... only one place remained."
There is silence for a long few moments. When the fog speaks again, there is a softness to her voice that not many have heard. "I felt that nobody in this world could be worthwhile. I left only enough to amuse myself. But each of you has proven your worth, in your own ways. And some amongst you..."
She reaches forward, caressing Madoka's cheek.
"Witness. You have shown your love time and time again, and I offer you one final mantle - that of one of my priests. Spread the fog for me; spread my word, my name. Let all my children follow you where you go." It seems almost a demand, rather than a request, but she waits for a response nonetheless - and when Madoka gives it, the fog rushes in with a wild howl as if to swallow them. It buffets Madoka's skin, a screaming wind condensing around her, and backs off more than a minute later to reveal a dark gray shroud, fluttering like the Fog God's very hair. It almost seems to blend in with their surroundings....
"You are a part of me now, child. And I - a part of you. We can never be separated." Sarah lets go of Madoka entirely, starting to disappate into what she truly is. As she does so, the fog seems to start clearing a second time, but now what comes is true ground, old buildings and bonfire just to the side, hundreds of faces turned to Madoka. "Go now, step back into the mortal world. But when you wish to return: look to the flames, and my flesh and form will keep you safe."
And with that, she will return to the peninsula once more.