( amber + action: backdated to the morning )

[knight_king]

| characters | Saber and anyone who wishes to join her.
| date/time | Wednesday morning (06/10).
| location | First Floor; outside the tree, near the entrance.
| rating | G-PG??
| summary | The Life Stream light has turned blue. A Gathering is called to deal with it (read here).

[ Once she finishes her message, Arturia turns her back from the light and walks toward the exit of the tree. She plucks a leaf to use as blanket as she waits for the others, sitting Seiza-style under the sagging tulips. She has remained at least several minutes watching the Life Stream upon her discovery to know that it will not change back so easily, and, if it does, it means that the colder light will become more predominant with the passage of time. Even if it wasn't permanent now, it certainly would be in the future.

In any case, she prefers to discuss this matter urgently. The tree is changing. The positive and warm feelings it used to provide by one's proximity to the Light has been replaced by the opposite sensation. That comfort is meaningless. But what if the tree starts to rot?

Is this the consequence of their failure? ]



Greetings, dwellers.

[ Saber's consternated face stares at the slice of amber she holds between her hands. She has heard Kit utilize that term and assumes it is how they have labeled to the ray of light that goes through the entire tree. ]

Since last week, the Life Stream has been flickering between gold and blue, but today it seems that its color has shifted permanently. [ She doesn't bother to flip the amber at its direction, because the image will be portrayed with a yellow hue. ] Let us gather outside immediately and discuss the meaning of this and if there is a way to change it back.

Comments

[princeandscholar]

Yes. I've been checking them every day since (...) that time. [The distraction is welcome; his head clears as he focuses on the investigation.] The scarring is still present, but there are no new fractures. And since the new arrivals obtained their wings, we can assume the stones still function.

Saber, you were monitoring the Life Stream, correct? Did the light pattern increase before it changed fully? Or do anything else peculiar?

[knight_king]

I have. [And it has proven to be a waste of time.] No, it continued flickering without a clear frequency pattern and then suddenly, it became blue.

[princeandscholar]

Hm… [It sounds like a candle flame going out. That imagery gives him an idea.]

[Originally, he theorized that the change in light happened because of lingering damage to the Tree. Now, another thought comes to mind.] What if the riddle was meant to give strength to the Tree? If it involved the Life Stream – and I assumed that’s what ‘heart of the Tree’ meant – and we were unable to complete it, then perhaps it’s like… a fire that doesn’t have enough wood or air to continue burning.

[knight_king]

It is possible.

[Exactly from where it extracts its power? She thinks about the riddle again, something like join hands in comradeship must have emit a good feeling, but instead of that.]

There was an excess of distress by those who participated in the quest.

[It is only conjecture. The Tree did not lose power but it could have obtained a different emotional charge.]

[princeandscholar]

That is an excellent theory. [His eyes widen with interest as he catches on.] It's true that we were all distressed, the Tree's servant Chime especially. If that is the case, I am surprised it took weeks to change color. [He pauses, thinking.] I doubt simply offering our goodwill would improve the situation, but it is worth consideration in the future.

[knight_king]

Perhaps it picked up the anxiety and disappointment after our failure.

[She cannot say for sure, but if they are speculating, she will continue. That anxiety only increased after watching the light of the stream flicker and switch.]