Dionysus You can still sense the jewel's want for fire

Aurelia If the feather had been in the mantle, this scene would be considerably different.

Dionysus You sense... the Ring

• Aurelia tries to understand why.

Dionysus It burns hotly as well, somehow.

• Aurelia tries to make it happen, through the hand with the ring and force of will if she can think of or interpret nothing else.

Dionysus You feel the anger rush into you, but not something you feel, something like it's waiting there inside of you to come out. You have to express it.

Dionysus The anger leaps from your hands to the brushes, painting on with the paint, over the paint, brighter, redder than the paint

• Aurelia felt confusion before, but now just focused.

Dionysus You want to put the jewel back on your neck

Dionysus It feels better there

Dionysus Tell me what the painting starts to look like

Aurelia Towering, angry flames, blanketing everything on the 'canvas'. There's little definition or reason, just anger and heat.

Dionysus The jewel gets hot, so hot.

Dionysus And then, bursts.

Dionysus The red liquid inside spills over the front of you, like napalm. Burning.

Dionysus You're standing in a field. An army of Manifesttions battle before you.

Dionysus A man in fine clothing, a fancy hat, & a magnificent mustache stands before you.

• Aurelia stares blankly at him.

Dionysus "Greetings."

Dionysus "My name is Samuel."

Dionysus "Samuel Jericho."

• Aurelia curtsies.

Aurelia After a moment, "Aurelia Lucent."

Dionysus He smiles, "You have my heart. May I see it?"

• Aurelia blinks, them smiles a touch back at the words and reaches to take the symbol from her neck and offer it, before it even occurrs to her she's not sure if she's wearing it, or anything at all.

Dionysus You have it there, with your golden hind dress on, & everything but the bloodjewel & the feng huang feathers

• Aurelia holds it out to him, then.

Dionysus He takes it, "The Jewel, the Bloodjewel, it's not blood. It's some weird name they gave it. It existed before enders did, before any of that, when it was just empaths. The Father of Healing himself told me that. It's blood like healing blood. Blood that brings rejuvenation. I didn't get that at first, but he told me it was made by a saint of healing, to mimic the powers & enhance the powers of empaths.

Dionysus The other results were unexpected, byproducts of the Change, when the Father of Chaos died."

• Aurelia listens stoically.

Dionysus "The ring belonged to a man whose name is lost to history, but who went on to become the Father of Hatred. He... He wasn't a good man, but he wasn't completely evil til the end. The ring he gave to a companion, the Queen of Cats, who gave it to another companion, who was a Sather."

Dionysus "The holy symbol, my heart... This only a true Jericho can wield."

• Aurelia nods. That seems reasonable.
• Aurelia tilts her head.

Dionysus "The jewel is now part of you. You are all that is empathic. You can choose which to be."

Dionysus "The ring will let you express emotion, which will reflect reality."

• Aurelia blinks.

Dionysus He smiles, "And the heart is my love for you. All of those who are descended from me. You make me proud."

Dionysus He leans in & gives you a fatherly kiss.

Dionysus "This is going to hurt. Take my heart back, please."

Dionysus He hands it over

• Aurelia blinks again, then blushes a touch and hugs him, not sure what else to do.
• Aurelia steps back and accepts it.

Dionysus He hugs back as you begin to burn again

Dionysus It hurts

Dionysus You wake up...

Dionysus In a tower of silver flame.