Seeing her again

With her sleep cut short, the compulsion had met less resistance in Alexis’s drowsy state than she might have put up otherwise.
She was so sick of being pushed around.

But the call was very strong this time, and felt somewhat different to when it originated from the hammer head.

So after an intense staring contest with what might or might not be watching her from the flickering shadows, she finally decided that this was silly.

She clearly wasn’t going to be allowed anymore sleep until she followed the call. And stubbornly sitting in the dark letting her paranoia go wild wouldn’t do her any good.

As she gathered her things to go out, there was a disturbing question lingering in her mind. Was this even still Fosia calling her? Or had she managed to attract another being’s attention during her investigation? Wouldn’t that be just her luck…

She pushed those thoughts away as she let herself be led to the temple. She really didn’t need to summon even more demons alongside the ones already haunting her. Maybe, at this point, she should just hope she had completely gone crazy. It was honestly a less frightening alternative to actually being right.

Standing at the temple, having chosen a place at the edge of the plaza and the command of ~Witness!~ still echoing inside her, her musings were cut short as a cloud of dust began to grow above the temple.
Wherever people noticed it, the effect was instant. They dropped everything they were holding, literally in some cases, and hurried towards the temple, looking up to the balcony above which the ever growing dust cloud was rising.

A hush fell upon the plaza. No one was speaking. Only the sound of of footsteps and the rustle of clothes could be heard as more and more people funnelled into the space around the temple. It was eerily quiet despite so many people converging, as if Gra’akast was holding its breath.

Alexis‘s attention rested on the balcony, as well. Without a doubt this was what the voice wanted her to see.

Then she saw a slender hand gripping the banister. Its owner stepped into view shortly after. Red hair was gently blown by the breeze. It took Alexis‘s breath away, leaving barely enough air for an almost soundless whisper of disbelief.

“Islana…