I've given the following set of rhetorical questions many times when
asked where I think Celest has gone wrong with the Life. I have decided,
after a bit of urging from friends, to post it, publically. So I shall.
These are simply observances made by myself.

When it is noon, and one is standing in an open field of golden wheat in
early fall, with a cloudless sky, where is the sun? Relatively overhead,
is the general answer. Indeed, so it is. And the field is brightly
illuminated. Now, if one were to look left or right, is it dark? Of
course not, the sun is lighting the surrounding area. One can look in
any direction but at the sun, and still see the effects of it.

When a group of people stare into the sun, eventually they will go
blind. All will, sooner or later. A rare few may be able to adapt to
being resilient to it's bright lights. But, for the most part, we all
will go blind, gradually. Never all at once, but we all do. Slowly, one
by one, maybe an occasional two or three at a time, we do. However, the
inevitable effects are still there.

One can live their entire life never looking at the sun, and still know
it is there. One can tell by the way the ground is illuminated before
them. But they do not know the shape of the sun, or what color it really
is. Or if it is truly, absolutely there.

For the most part, Celest stares around itself and sees the Light's
works, as the group in the field sees the sun's workings. Everything is
illuminated, and the end result is, for the most part, desirable. And
still, many of Celest do not look directly into the Light. They are the
pacifists whom refuse to fight for the Light, even if it means the death
of Supernals in their stead.

Then, there are those whom stare into the Light, and quickly grow
blinded. They will fight, but believe that absolute sacrifice for the
Light is wrong, and consider themselves "level-headed", unwilling to
fight if there isn't a high chance of personal survival.

Further more, there are those whom stare into the Light longer, and
realize there is need for sacrifice, but will struggle internally for a
long period of time before making an action. Sometimes it will be as
those listed before them, sometimes it will be as the next group's.

Then there is the infinately small group that stares into the Light for
a long time, before finally turning away. Not blinded, but knowing they
cannot withstand any longer. And they become disheartened, for those
around them have mostly surrendered to their false beliefs. You call
them Zealots, for they still burn with the passion of the Holy Flame,
even when disheartened so.

Then there is a single person staring into the Light, and can accept it
for as it is, and stare forever into it, never blinded, never turning
away, bathing in the absolute purity of it. The last truly capable of
this has been dead for a long time, and known by Princess Marilynth
Ladantine. Had she succeeded her father to the Throne, she'd have been
Empress Ladantine VIII. And there has not been one since.

These people can be even furthermore classified. The first group,
pacifists, are followers of Raziela. The second group, followers of
Shakiniel. The third group, followers of Japhiel. The fourth,
Methrenton. The fifth, the true followers of Elohora. I say true because
any Celestine who pledges Her first but is unwilling to make the
ultimate sacrifices necessary is unworthy of that pledge.

So I have seen. So I have written.
So I have seen. So I have written.

Archsire Erion

Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Roarkian, in the year 103 CE.