Last Starborn

"I suppose we need to start with proper introductions," Luna said in a matter-of-fact tone, "I'm Lunarilia, Luna to most, Luri to Ash when she's being fond or particularly upset with my antics. I am her guardian priestess, the one that grew up alongside her since the moment she took her first steps from her own starseeing pond. I take care of any of her needs that she isn't able to take care of herself."

Yarrow glanced to her once more and Ash finally took note of him for the first time. He was tall, enough so that he was able to look into her eyes even if she raised her head. His eyes did not change color as hers did, remaining a static shade of rich red wine that complemented his dusty blue skin quite well. His hair was a gentle pale cream of the same shade as her coat, pulled back into a strict tail at the back of his skull. He was handsome in his own way, though she'd never particularly spent much time fawning over anyone's looks including her own.

"You were birthed in a starseeing pond?" He asked, a common assumption when people learned of her.

Turning back to her elven form Ash shook her head slightly, "I was not birthed at all, but formed of Lord Sidus' magic in a pond that bathed in the light of his stars. I awoke as a newborn foal with no birth parents and no relation to the rest of the herd."

Luna smiled fondly at the memory of Ash's first wobbly steps out of the pond, at the feel of gentle warmth radiating from her as Luna had rushed to her side, "This is Ashterra, though she generally prefers Ash. It seems Lord Sidus has decided I'll need aide in teaching Ash all that she needs to know here," her gaze suddenly became distant and she sighed, "A fact that is all too true as I am even now called elsewhere to deal with matters. Please take good care of her," she turned towards Ash and smiled softly, "Try not to get into trouble before I can get back to you, Ash."

With that, she seemed to just fade from existence as if she'd used a teleportation spell to do so. Ash frowned at the empty spot she'd left behind, not liking the feeling of her just suddenly being gone. Her magic didn't go somewhere else in the world, either, as it would with proper teleportation.

"You get used to it," Yarrow said simply, "The Godsborn come from another world, or so they say, and will often return to it to take care of their lives there. Most seem to come here for adventure. Might I ask what brings you here?"

Ash thought about answering with the actual truth, but decided a half-truth would cause less commotion, "Lord Sidus and Luri asked me here. That is all the reason I need."

"You sleep here," he observed quietly, "Most Godsborn don't do that. I hope you are well in the world you call home."

He was observant, something that shouldn't have surprised her but did. Considering his station, he had to be aware at all times and keep an eye out for threats. With a world of magic around him, some of those threats would be very hard to detect. Seeing the worry with which Sidus looked her over and the concern on Luna's face would likely have been very easy for him.

When she said nothing in response for several long moments, he spoke again, "So, let's begin with status screens," she was relieved to find that the inhabitants of the world seemed to be able to access at least some of the same systems as players though she didn't know how similar exactly their experiences were, "Do you know how to use them?"

"They didn't work," she jumped on the opportunity to not be talking about her current condition, though the way he frowned at her answer had her a bit worried.

He spent a moment scowling and thinking before carefully phrasing his question. "When exactly were you trying to access them?" After she explained that it was while she was under attack by the Lizarlings, recognition appeared in his eyes, "You can only access your combat pouch when you're attacking something or under attack. Everything else is disabled so it can't obscure your vision. You can still send messages, though it all has to be done mentally without being able to see the input to know it's working so it takes some getting used to. It should all work as normal now."

With a simple thought, she called her status screen and sighed in frustration at having never thought to check it again after the fighting had ended.

A knowing chuckle escaped him, "To be honest with you, that catches most everyone at least once, Godsborn and Earthborn alike. Make sure that anything you may need to use in combat, such as potions and poisons, are in your combat pouch and not in your spacial storage. Another thing to keep in mind about your status screens is that certain states can also disable them. Blindness doesn't disable them, though purely mental navigation takes some getting used to. Paralysis will keep you from being able to access even your combat pouch. As long as you can string together coherent thoughts, though, you'll always be able to send messages."

He frowned slightly, casting his gaze around the small island as he thought of what else she might need assistance with immediately, eventually realizing that many Godsborn knew little about their magic, "Do you remember how to use the magics you have access to as a unicorn? If you don't, I fear I'll have to go to another temple to find someone to teach you."

Ash spent a moment in quiet meditation, touching the magic within her and examining it. It felt just like her regular magic which meant it should behave the same. With a slight flick of the wrist, she placed a mark onto the small island that most would be unable to see before pacing past Yarrow. As she walked, she reached for the special teleportation magic she had access to as a Starborn unicorn and vanished only to reappear on the mark she'd left behind.

Satisfied with her ability to return to the temple, she reached within for the connection to her own stargazing pond. It was there, a beautiful color shifting thread just waiting for her to follow it home. The temptation to follow it was strong, but Ash put it aside for the moment.

"Everything seems to be functioning as intended," she said before pacing to the edge of the stargazing pond and kneeling by its clear beautiful waters. She touched the surface of the water and used it to send out a questioning pulse that echoed throughout the world she found herself in.

Almost immediately, she felt Sidus' firm magic warning her away from trying cleansing magic. She responded with a gentle reassurance that she was merely making certain her senses were functioning properly and would not attempt such a feat without his permission and Luna's supervision.

The pulse came back a lot cleaner and clearer than she was used to, drawing a confused frown to her face, "The magic here is quite pure, all things considered," she glanced to Yarrow, wondering if he would have an explanation.

"We have been taught that in the world that the Godsborn come from, the world you are from, that cleansing magic is unique to Starborn unicorns," he said quietly, having used that piece of information and the sight of her sleeping within their world to take a guess that her health was not perfect, "Lord Sidus did not want to put that burden upon creatures that could break under its strain here. For us, he fashioned Star Ash trees to take on that task. There is one in the center of each city and a great many more in the wilds."