((The extent of Fate's cruelty becomes clear.))

He blinked awake to darkness, long shadows cast by the pale moon overhead. Everything around him was faintly colored by the glowing light of his underside. He blinked again, realizing that a shape was floating before him.

Ink blinked one last time, puzzling at the hovering disc in front of him. It was black and white, a ying-yang with it's dots replaced with a swollen reddish sun and full moon, the dark side continuing with phases of the lunar satellite as the light side seemed.. to display the life cycle of the sun. The smallest being a bright cloud, then a white star amidst clouds, to the yellow sun of now and then the main spot that was the eventual fate of the star, swollen and red-orange.

Suddenly the red giant and full moon blinked.
Startled, Ink scrambled away, long tail flailing awkwardly as the disc turned to the side, all the spots blinking and revealing themselves to be eyes somehow. He had never seen or created a creature like this. The living ying-yang was not his creation, and yet here it was in a world of his make.

ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ ꩇׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍, ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ. ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ɑׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮tׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ. A voice pressed against him, weak but calm. He stared, unable to speak. The disc tilted another way, then drifted to the side, pulling away.
ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᧁׁᨵׁׅᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮℘ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ'꯱ׁׅ֒ ᧁׁꭈׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒℘. ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ɑׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ.  It continued.

The disc spun completely around, the spots blinking before smoke appeared around it, slowly forming four cloudy grey wings, flapping slowly and not keeping it afloat in the slightest.
ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ ϐׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ, ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅtׁׅtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ᧁׁᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊, ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ tׁׅᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ, ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ tׁׅꪱׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ. It explained to him then, looking remarkably like an angel- and not the artistic human depiction of one, either.

He wanted to ask what it was, why it wanted to meet him, where it came from- so many questions he couldn't utter. Did it know he couldn't speak?
ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒℘ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮tׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒, ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅtׁׅtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ᧁׁᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊. Balance suddenly spoke.

ᗯᗩIT- I ᑕᗩᑎ? He impulsively asked, recoiling in surprise. He hadn't realized that at all.
ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒. The disc replied patiently.
Ink blinked several times, then huffed.
OKᗩY.. ᗯᕼᗩT TᕼE ᕼEᑕK ᗩᖇE YOᑌ?

He got the sense that the entity was amused.
ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ. ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ, ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅtׁׅtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ, ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅtׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ᧁׁꫀׁׅܻ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ɑׁׅ֮ tׁׅᨵׁׅᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. The disc rotated around again, seemingly disconnected from the wings behind it as it stopped, angled to the side.

ᕼOᗯ ᑕOᑌᒪᗪ I ᕼᗩᐯE ᗷᖇOKEᑎ YOᑌ Iᖴ ᗯE'ᐯE ᑎEᐯEᖇ ᗰET? ...ᕼᗩᐯE ᗯE ᗰET? He questioned, fighting the urge to check his scarf as he remembered he was currently holding it in his mouth. Unconventional, but he couldn't exactly fit it around his neck in this form.

ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻᝯׁtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ ℘ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒꯱ׁׅ֒ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ᧁׁᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊℘꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻᝯׁᨵׁׅᧁׁꪀׁׅꪱׁׅzׁׅ֬ꫀׁׅܻ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ℘tׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅυׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅtׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪, ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅtׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ. ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅ, ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꭈׁׅυׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒꯱ׁׅ֒ ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ. ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ ϐׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ, ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅtׁׅtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊, յׁׅυׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. Balance bobbed slowly in the air as if in slow motion.

Ink stared, uncomprehending. He made to speak, then remembered he couldn't do that and his train of thought derailed. He was confused.
I ᗪOᑎ'T ᑌᑎᗪEᖇᔕTᗩᑎᗪ..? YOᑌ'ᖇE ᗩ GOᗪ? I'ᐯE ᑎEᐯEᖇ ᔕEEᑎ YOᑌ- ᗩT ᒪEᗩᔕT, I ᗪOᑎ'T TᕼIᑎK? I ᗪOᑎ'T EᐯEᑎ KᑎOᗯ ᗯᕼO ᖴᗩTE Iᔕ?

The disc drifted down to the ground, walking on shifty grey wings until suddenly they were the body of a salamander, the change smooth and instant, it's thick tail tipped in a dolphin's flukes, a fin protruding from it's back above it's hips. The disc was connected to the body by a long, thin neck. The sight was.. a little unsettling.

Balance spoke. ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅ ᧁׁᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ, ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅtׁׅtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ ᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ᧁׁᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒. ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ⨍ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ, ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᧁׁᨵׁׅtׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅᥣׁׅ֪tׁׅꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ υׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒, ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪tׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻᝯׁꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅ υׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻᨰׁׅ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ.. ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻᧁׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ. ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꭈׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꪱׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ υׁׅꪀׁׅɑׁׅ֮ϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁhׁׅ֮ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ. ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ℘tׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅꪱׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮tׁׅ hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ υׁׅ℘ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ. tׁׅꪱׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ. ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᝯׁᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨵׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅ℘ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮, ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒℘ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑.

Ink frowned. ᕼOᗯ ᗪIᗪ YOᑌ KᑎOᗯ ᗯᕼᗩT I ᗯᗩᔕ TᕼIᑎKIᑎG? ...ᗯᕼO EᐯEᑎ Iᔕ ᖴᗩTE? He shifted in place, wings pressed against the ground to help hold his heavy form up.
ɑׁׅ֮ ℘ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅtׁׅ ᨵׁׅ⨍  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ, ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ. ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒℘ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑, ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ. ꪱׁׅ υׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊.... ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ.. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ꯱ׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒ꪱׁׅϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ. tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᝯׁᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ℘tׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮, ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ?

I GᑌEᔕᔕ IT Iᔕ.. He hesitantly admitted.
ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ? Balance asked then, disc face spinning.
Ink paused, considering the thought.
ᖴᗩTE Iᔕ.. ᗯᕼᗩT Iᔕ ᗩᑎᗪ ᗩᒪᗯᗩYᔕ ᗯIᒪᒪ ᗷE. ᒪIKE TᕼE ᔕTOᖇY Oᖴ ᗩ ᑌᑎIᐯEᖇᔕE, ᔕOᗰETᕼIᑎG TᕼᗩT'ᔕ ᗩᒪᗯᗩYᔕ ᗰEᗩᑎT TO ᗷE, ᑌᑎᑕᕼᗩᑎGEᗩᗷᒪE. ᖴᗩTE Iᔕ ᗩ ᔕET ᑭᗩTᕼ.. TᕼE ᖴᑌTᑌᖇE TᕼᗩT ᗪOEᔕᑎ'T ᑕᕼᗩᑎGE. TᕼE ᗪETᗩIᒪᔕ ᗩᒪᗯᗩYᔕ TᗯIᔕT ᗩ ᒪITTᒪE ᗷIT, ᗷᑌT ᖴᗩTE Iᔕ ᒪIKE.. TᕼE OᐯEᖇᗩᖇᑕᕼIᑎG ᔕTOᖇY TᕼᗩT ᑕᗩᑎ'T ᗷE ᑕᕼᗩᑎGEᗪ. ᗯᕼY ᗪO YOᑌ ᗩᔕK?

The disc's body then shifted to a dolphin with flamingo legs and wings where there should be fins, standing with the long neck raising higher to regard him. It was, again, a jarring sight.
ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ, ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍. They said.

ᗷᑌT- ᕼOᗯ? I'ᐯE ᑎEᐯEᖇ ᕼEᗩᖇᗪ Oᖴ ᗩᑎY GOᗪ ᒪIKE TᕼᗩT- ᕼOᗯ ᗪOEᔕ TᕼᗩT EᐯEᑎ ᗯOᖇK?? I ᗪOᑎ'T ᑌᑎᗪEᖇᔕTᗩᑎᗪ???
ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ᧁׁᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒, ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅtׁׅtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ. ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅժׁׅ݊ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒ ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ. The disc tilted to the other side, suns and moons blinking. ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅ⨍ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊υׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᥎꫶ׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᧁׁυׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅƙׁׅ֑, ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ tׁׅꭈׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ᝯׁᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ⨍υׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ?

He hesitated, pondering the idea.
....ᑎO..?
tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒. tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ qׁׅυׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ? ꪱׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ. ꪱׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ'꯱ׁׅ֒ ℘υׁׅ℘℘ꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ, ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅtׁׅtׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ᧁׁᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊, ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮tׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮℘ꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꭈׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ꯱ׁׅ֒. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᧁׁɑׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍, ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ.

He stared for a long moment, the memory of the red threads he'd yanked out of himself. He shuddered, the realization setting in.
ᕼOᗯ... ᒪOᑎG.. ᕼᗩᗪ IT ᗷEEᑎ ᒪIKE TᕼᗩT? ᗯᕼY ᗪIᗪᑎ'T I KᑎOᗯ..? His breath was beginning to stutter at the horrifying concept.

The black and white disc leaned closer to his face, still as expressionless as ever. However, he got the sense that Balance somewhat pitied him. The body slowly melted away, back into four wings and now a hanging salamander tail ending in a dolphin's flukes.

ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ.. ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ɑׁׅ֮ ℘ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ'꯱ׁׅ֒. ꪱׁׅ⨍ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ, ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅtׁׅυׁׅꪀׁׅɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅժׁׅ݊ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ᝯׁᨵׁׅυׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ℘ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻᧁׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻtׁׅtׁׅɑׁׅ֮ϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ. ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ℘tׁׅ ⨍ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ. The voice gently assured him, though he didn't feel any better.

As he peered at the ying-yang, it spun around again, swaying in the air. He frowned.
EᖇᖇOᖇ? YOᑌ ᗰEᗩᑎ ᕼIᗰ? ᗯᕼᗩT ᕼᗩᑭᑭEᑎEᗪ TO ᕼIᗰ?
hׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅᨵׁׅ ᧁׁᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊. hׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꪱׁׅᧁׁꪱׁׅꪀׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅtׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍. hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ, ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ hׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ϐׁׅ֒ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ⨍υׁׅꭈׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ'꯱ׁׅ֒ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅtׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ qׁׅυׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪, ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅtׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊. ᝯׁᨵׁׅυׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ℘ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅtׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅtׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊ժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ. ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨵׁׅ℘℘ᨵׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꪱׁׅtׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ. ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꭈׁׅυׁׅᝯׁtׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ.. ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ, ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅtׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮. ꪱׁׅ⨍ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅzׁׅ֬ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᝯׁᨵׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ ᨵׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅᥣׁׅ֪tׁׅꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ, ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᝯׁᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꭈׁׅυׁׅᝯׁtׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ. ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻ᥊ׁׅꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪.

Ink stared somewhat blankly, slowly dissecting the statement, picking it apart, mulling over what was said.
ᗯE ᗯEᖇEᑎ'T ᔕᑌᑭᑭOᔕEᗪ TO ᗷE EᑎEᗰIEᔕ? He finally concluded, bewildered.
ᕼOᗯ? ᕼE ᗯᗩᔕ ᒪITEᖇᗩᒪᒪY ᗪEᔕTᖇOYIᑎG EᐯEᖇYTᕼIᑎG!

The disc was suddenly in his face, forcing him to recoil as the suns and moons glowed, warm grey-white and red-orange.
ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ tׁׅᨵׁׅᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮. ꪱׁׅ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ⨍ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ. ꪱׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ υׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ꪱׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ, ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ ꫀׁׅܻ᥊ׁׅꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᝯׁᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ υׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅtׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꭈׁׅυׁׅᝯׁtׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊℘ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ᨵׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅɑׁׅ֮ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ.

He simply couldn't understand what that meant.
ᗷᑌT ᗯᕼᗩT ᗪOEᔕ TᕼᗩT ᗩᒪᒪ ᗰEᗩᑎ??? Ink pleaded, desperate to grasp the point of the entity's words, for they rang with their own desperation and importance.

Balance slunk back, away from him as they stood on four flamingo legs on a salamander body. The suns and moons blinked, and for the first time the disc slightly turned away.
ꪱׁׅ⨍ ꪱׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ tׁׅᨵׁׅ tׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ, ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ᧁׁꭈׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒℘ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ᧁׁꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒. tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪱׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ, ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪱׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅꪀׁׅꪱׁׅɑׁׅ֮. ꪱׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ. ꪱׁׅ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ υׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨵׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅᥣׁׅ֪tׁׅꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ.

Sensing the seriousness of the being, he nodded. He was going to get that on his scarf somehow, and definitely soon.
The disc faced him fully once again, and slowly, a mass of circles appeared around the disc, blinking and revealing themselves to be eyes, all shaped into baffling symbols. An ouroboros, a moon, a sun, a black circle filled in with white and a black dot in it's center or a strange round flower made of warm grey, a spoked wheel, hexagonal prism of white, even a circle with a triangle inside- all hovering around the disc and blinking like eyes.

ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍? ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻ᥊ׁׅꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ υׁׅꪀׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ tׁׅᨵׁׅ hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁƙׁׅ֑, tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ϐׁׅ֒ꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅtׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮? ꪱׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ.

Ink hesitated. He sort of did believe he alone should be, but when it was phrased like that, he became less sure. Did he.. make a mistake?
I ᗪOᑎ'T KᑎOᗯ. He replied nervously. It occurred to him that he was talking to an entity named Balance, something that appeared to simply be.. a being of equality. Of harmony. A being of balance. He wasn't sure what that meant, but he was starting to get an uneasy feeling.
U̶n̶d̶e̶r̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶e̶m̶o̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶M̶u̶l̶t̶i̶v̶e̶r̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶r̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶s̶i̶d̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶e̶r̶t̶a̶i̶n̶ ̶s̶o̶r̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶n̶g̶u̶i̶s̶h̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶c̶r̶i̶b̶e̶d̶,̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶q̶u̶a̶n̶t̶i̶f̶i̶e̶d̶.̶

What Balance said next was strange.
ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ⨍ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ᧁׁꭈׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒, ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᧁׁɑׁׅ֮tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ  ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꪱׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ ⨍ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ'꯱ׁׅ֒ ꯱ׁׅ֒υׁׅꭈׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ꯱ׁׅ֒. ⨍ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ, ⨍ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮. ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮υׁׅtׁׅꪱׁׅ⨍υׁׅᥣׁׅ֪, ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ꯱ׁׅ֒. ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ ꩇׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ.

They became just a disc again, misty body evaporating into a cloud that clung to the black and white swirl, the dozens of eyes both on and floating off of the disc blinking, the disembodied symbols rotating counterclockwise as the circle moved clockwise.

tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒℘ɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ⨍ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ƙׁׅ֑ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ⨍ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᧁׁꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨵׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅtׁׅɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ. tׁׅᨵׁׅᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒, ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ, ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᧁׁᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ᝯׁᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒υׁׅ⨍⨍ᨵׁׅᝯׁɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊, tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ ꪀׁׅυׁׅtׁׅꭈׁׅꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. Balance went on, the spinning still continuing, slow and steady and eerie. Ink felt a measure of guilt, thinking of the three forgotten worlds he could have spread.

ꪱׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ υׁׅꪀׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᝯׁƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᧁׁꭈׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ ᝯׁᨵׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅυׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒, tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ υׁׅ℘ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅυׁׅtׁׅꭈׁׅꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒, ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ᝯׁꭈׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨵׁׅυׁׅtׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ⨍ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒, ƙׁׅ֑ꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅᝯׁꭈׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ƙׁׅ֑ꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ᨵׁׅ⨍⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅꪱׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᧁׁᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ. tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅɑׁׅ֮υׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮tׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ⨍ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅhׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᧁׁꭈׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪. Balance explained.

The disc stopped spinning, as did the floating symbols- left tilted at an angle. Ink felt a little cold at the thought.
I.. I ᗪIᗪᑎ'T.. He tried to deny.
ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒, ᝯׁꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ. ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨵׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅᝯׁꭈׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᧁׁᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ, ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ƙׁׅ֑ꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ. tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅᨵׁׅ℘℘ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᧁׁυׁׅꪀׁׅ.

ᗷᑌT I ᗪIᗪᑎ'T KᑎOᗯ! ᑭᒪEᗩᔕE- I ᑕᗩᑎ'T- IT'ᔕ ᑎOT- ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ tׁׅꭈׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꭈׁׅꪱׁׅᝯׁtׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᝯׁᨵׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ϐׁׅ֒ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ? ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒ꪱׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊℘ᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ɑׁׅ֮ ℘ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ, ժׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᝯׁꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ tׁׅᨵׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅtׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ᧁׁꫀׁׅܻ. ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꪱׁׅժׁׅ݊υׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ tׁׅᨵׁׅᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪, ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ᨵׁׅϐׁׅ֒յׁׅꫀׁׅܻᝯׁtׁׅ, ɑׁׅ֮ ᝯׁᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ℘tׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ tׁׅᨰׁׅꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊  ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅꪱׁׅ℘υׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ꪱׁׅtׁׅ. ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꭈׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁtׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᝯׁᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮℘꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᧁׁꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅ. ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ᧁׁᨵׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ᧁׁɑׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ. ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮℘ꫀׁׅܻ, ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ꪱׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊℘ꭈׁׅꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅ.

He could only bury his face in his hands, shuddering violently as wave after wave of forgotten memories surged back into him.
Error had told him this. Error had said this so many times. The glitch had screamed it, begged, pleaded- then raged, giving in to inconceivable violence and destroying a vast swath of the Multiverse before vanishing for some time.
Then the destroyer had returned, numb, cold, hateful and worn.
Defeated.

And each encounter Ink had only ever felt the same nagging feeling to ignore what the glitch said, remember nothing but a vague sense of this is your enemy, he will destroy everything and remember a name and purpose of the other.
He knew he was forgetful, but.. had it really been so bad that he broke another's spirit with his incessant behavior? Why was he only remembering now? What was happening??
He was sobbing, the tears utterly black, sprouting into elegant, glowing flowers as they touched the earth.

ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ. Balance murmured, soft voice pressing against him.
...ᗯᕼY? Was all he could ask. All he could think to ask.
ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᝯׁɑׁׅ֮υׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮- ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪, ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ϐׁׅ֒ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꫀׁׅܻ᥊ׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ ꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪υׁׅtׁׅꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ- ɑׁׅ֮ hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ υׁׅ℘ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᧁׁꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅꪱׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ υׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻ℘ᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ. ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻ. ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ.

ᗷᑌT.. ᗯᕼᗩT ᑕᗩᑎ I EᐯEᑎ ᗪO? I ᖇᑌIᑎEᗪ EᐯEᖇYTᕼIᑎG. TᕼE ᗰᑌᒪTIᐯEᖇᔕE Iᔕ ᗪYIᑎG ᗷEᑕᗩᑌᔕE Oᖴ ᗰE. I ᑕᗩᑎ'T- I ᗪIᗪᑎ'T ᖴᗩIᒪ, I ᖴᑌᑕKIᑎG ᖇᑌIᑎEᗪ- ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ᧁׁꫀׁׅܻ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅ ᝯׁhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅꪱׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ. ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ɑׁׅ֮ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅꪱׁׅ⨍ꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮ hׁׅ֮υׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᧁׁꭈׁׅꪱׁׅ℘℘ꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ'꯱ׁׅ֒ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ℘ᥣׁׅ֪υׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ'꯱ׁׅ֒ ϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅᨵׁׅ ⨍ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮? ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ'꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ?

Ink stared at the hovering disc, it's sun and moon eyes blinking.
Iᔕ TᕼEᖇE EᐯEᑎ ᗩ ᗯᗩY TO ᖴI᙭ TᕼIᔕ?
ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅ. Balance answered. tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒, hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ, ɑׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅᨵׁׅ℘ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᝯׁᨵׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮℘꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ, ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮ tׁׅᨵׁׅᨵׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ, hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ, tׁׅꭈׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅᨵׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ᨰׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ꯱ׁׅ֒. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ℘ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ℘ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ⨍ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ.

...Iᔕ TᕼEᖇE EᐯEᑎ ᗩ ᑭOIᑎT? EᐯEᖇYTᕼIᑎG Iᔕ GOIᑎG TO ᖴᗩᒪᒪ…
Balance drifted closer, floating eyes condensing into a glowing white fog that darkened to warm grey and shaped into a salamander body with feathered wings.
ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅꭈׁׅυׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅᨵׁׅꪱׁׅժׁׅ݊ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ᝯׁᨵׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒? tׁׅᨵׁׅ ⨍ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ᧁׁᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊℘꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍? tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꪱׁׅᧁׁꪀׁׅᨵׁׅꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪?

He had the feeling the entity wanted to tell him something. A hand slowly came up to his front, touching the luminous surface, feeling the radiant power within. So much contained in such a small space.
..ᖴᗩTE'ᔕ TᕼᗩT ᖇEᗪ YEᒪᒪOᗯ TᕼIᑎG ᗯITᕼ TᕼE ᖇEᗪ ᔕTᖇIᑎGᔕ, ᗩᖇEᑎ'T TᕼEY?
ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒.
TᕼEᑎ YOᑌ ᑕᗩᑎ. I ᗪOᑎ'T TᖇᑌᔕT TᕼᗩT TᕼIᑎG. I ᗯOᑎ'T GO ᑎEᗩᖇ IT. I.. ᖇEᖴᑌᔕE TO GO ᑎEᗩᖇ IT.
ꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ꪱׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨵׁׅ⨍⨍ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ᨵׁׅᨰׁׅꪀׁׅ?
He hesitated. The idea seemed impossible, yet so readily given, but..
ᑎO. Ink shook his heavy head.
TᕼE ᗰᑌᒪTIᐯEᖇᔕE Iᔕ ᗰY ᔕOᑌᒪ. He decided.

He felt a sense of acceptance and maybe a hint of pride from the enigmatic being.
ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅtׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ᨵׁׅ℘℘ᨵׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꪱׁׅtׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ ℘ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅᥣׁׅ֪tׁׅꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ. ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻᨰׁׅ. ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ℘ᥣׁׅ֪ɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒, ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᥎꫶ׁׅᨵׁׅꪱׁׅժׁׅ݊ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ժׁׅ݊ꭈׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᧁׁᧁׁꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊  ꩇׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅtׁׅɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁꭈׁׅᨵׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅᨵׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻᨰׁׅ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊. ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻ υׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᝯׁᨵׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ᨵׁׅ⨍ υׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒. ɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ᨵׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪꯱ׁׅ֒, tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꭈׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ, ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ꯱ׁׅ֒υׁׅꭈׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅᨵׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥊ׁׅtׁׅ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅꭈׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊. ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ ƙׁׅ֑ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊꯱ׁׅ֒, tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ ꩇׁׅ݊ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒, ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ꯱ׁׅ֒υׁׅꭈׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ϐׁׅ֒ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ɑׁׅ֮ ϐׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅժׁׅ݊ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮. ꪱׁׅ⨍ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ᝯׁᨵׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒, tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᨰׁׅᨵׁׅυׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ժׁׅ݊ tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑ꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪⨍, ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻ᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ɑׁׅ֮ᧁׁɑׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᝯׁᨵׁׅꪀׁׅtׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅυׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅꭈׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻꪱׁׅᧁׁꪀׁׅ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪀׁׅꫀׁׅܻᨰׁׅ ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ᥣׁׅ֪ ꩇׁׅ݊. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ υׁׅꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮℘℘ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ?

For a long minute, Ink simply stared. The pages inside fluttered, caught in the speeding currents as the information truly began to set in.
He had forgotten that he'd sent Error off somewhere unknown. He briefly pondered what truly alien world his nemesis had wound up in. A flash of guilt raced through him, easily muted by relief.
TᕼEY'ᖇE GOIᑎG TO ᒪIᐯE?

Balance came closer then, making him lean back in confusion as the salamander's legs reshaped into avian talons, one resting upon his vibrant chest.
ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꩇׁׅ݊. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅꭈׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ᝯׁᨵׁׅ℘ꪱׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅᨵׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑,  ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ ժׁׅ݊υׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ꫀׁׅܻᝯׁhׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅ⨍ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ꯱ׁׅ֒.

The relief dwindled abruptly, smothered by loss. So many worlds. Billions of universes each full of millions of Souls gone. Lost. Forever.
ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅᝯׁhׁׅ֮ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ. ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ hׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪℘ υׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ. ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ  ꩇׁׅ݊υׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮ᝯׁtׁׅ. ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨰׁׅꪱׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ժׁׅ݊ᨵׁׅ?

I.. I ᗪOᑎ'T KᑎOᗯ. I ᗪOᑎ'T KᑎOᗯ ᗯᕼEᖇE TO ᔕTᗩᖇT. I ᑕᗩᑎ'T EᐯEᑎ ᔕᑭEᗩK TO TᕼEᗰ. He admitted.
ϐׁׅ֒υׁׅtׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ. ɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꫀׁׅܻ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅtׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒℘ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ ꪀׁׅᨵׁׅᨰׁׅ?
TᕼIᔕ Iᔕ ᗪIᖴᖴEᖇEᑎT. I'ᗰ TᕼIᑎKIᑎG EᐯEᖇYTᕼIᑎG.
ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ꯱ׁׅ֒℘ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ƙׁׅ֑ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᨵׁׅtׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ꯱ׁׅ֒ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻ ⨍ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒hׁׅ֮ꪱׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅ ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨰׁׅꫀׁׅܻᥣׁׅ֪ᥣׁׅ֪. ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻɑׁׅ֮ꭈׁׅꪀׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ. υׁׅ꯱ׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ. ɑׁׅ֮ ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅժׁׅ݊ ⨍ᨵׁׅꭈׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ℘ɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒tׁׅ. ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᥣׁׅ֪ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻꪀׁׅ ᝯׁɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ ϐׁׅ֒ꫀׁׅܻᧁׁꪱׁׅꪀׁׅ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ꭈׁׅꪱׁׅᧁׁhׁׅ֮tׁׅ tׁׅhׁׅ֮ꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅꭈׁׅᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ꯱ׁׅ֒ ᨵׁׅ⨍ ᨰׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮tׁׅ ᨵׁׅꪀׁׅᝯׁꫀׁׅܻ ᨰׁׅɑׁׅ֮꯱ׁׅ֒.

With that, Balance retreated from him, body misting away as the disc lost solidity, becoming translucent before it winked out like an eye, vanishing entirely. He felt the presence fade.
Ink was alone on this small island.

He was alone with his thoughts, memories becoming clearer with each passing second.
The horrors of the past slowly settled in deeper and deeper.
Ink knew that he had to formulate a plan, but it soon faded to the back of his mind as his atrocities returned to him.
He gripped the mane behind his head and stared at the grass in blank horror.
.. ᗯᕼᗩT.... ᕼᗩᐯE I ᗪOᑎE…? He asked to the empty air.