Outside the door that would lead him back into the gathering, Jason attempted to peer through the gap before he dove back into the annoyingly political quagmire that was people.

"Y'no, looking first isn't gonna change who's on the other side," came Sae's voice from under Jason's collar. His mother had decided he was to leave the bag at home, which made keeping Sae close more than a little difficult, but they managed. "May aswell just jump straight in."

"You're one to talk about 'jumping straight in'," Jason muttered, throwing a glance at the little ice bird's head that was poking out, crest-crystals and all. "It's a rare occasion that you don't complain about transforming. Now stop arguing and turn yourself into something with a little less sass."

"Ooo, Jason with the hip words," said Sae, right before the Ascended's head disappeared in favour of a snowflake.

Jason caught the snowflake in a pinch as it drifted over his chest. Inside its usual seven pointed design, the never-melting frost spelled the word 'SASS'. He spared Sae's chosen design an internal sigh before placing it inside his breast pocket, squaring his shoulders and reluctantly opening the door.

By his usual standards, Jason slipped back into the gathering relatively unnoticed. A few people called out a casual greeting to him which he returned with a nod and for the most part, their name. There was more than one new face among the crowd that clutched at their drinks and huddled in groups, which he supposed was a good thing, even if he didn't agree. To him, new faces just meant more people who were willing to exploit him to reach his parents.

His thoughts trailed back to the girl from earlier with the ponytail that had barely been holding together. She was a new face, and one he hoped to never see again. He'd been dragged around by enough females at this point to recognise when someone was putting on an act. It wasn't the first time someone had 'accidentally' stepped on their glasses to keep his ear around a little longer and it wouldn't be the last. She probably had a spare pair already waiting in her bag.

Still, he was willing to admit that the fact she hadn't thrown her name and life story at him was a little off the usual routine. If she'd been waiting for him to ask, she'd been left disappointed.

Jason found his way back to the main floor of the gathering, and it wasn't long before someone found him.

"Jason!" said Taylor's voice from behind him. Jason turned to find her reaching out for him as she placed one hand on his shoulder and reached up to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. "I was wondering where you'd got to."

"I accidentally bumped into someone," said Jason. "Her drink spilled and her glasses were damaged, and I was ensuring my mistake would not affect her too harshly."

Taylor smiled. "Such a gentleman." She glanced around, still anchored to him by her touch. "Your mother was looking for you earlier. I believe she said something about guiding her potential chosen?"

Jason closed his eyes for the briefest moment. He hadn't returned in time. "Ah, yes. I fear I may have neglected my promise to her earlier this week. Could you tell me which way she went?"

"She mentioned that the group would be watching the Speakers during the auroras tonight from the inner ring," said Taylor.

"Then that is where I shall be going," said Jason. He kissed the back of her hand. "Thank you for your assistance, Taylor."

Something flickered through her eyes, too brief for him to identify. "You're welcome, Jason. May I see you after the auroras finish, assuming time allows?"

"As you wish," said Jason, and headed out into the courtyard.

Speakers were already starting to fill the space in preparation for the nightly Speaking ceremony. In ten or so minutes, every Speaker within the temple would be standing in the outer courtyard, their eyes raised to the aurora-filled skies, mumbling and stuttering things that weren't necessarily words, let alone anything that made sense.

He made every attempt to be as far out of the way as possible by then.

He'd once asked Taylor to explain it. According to her, there were words within the auroras--Skypillar's words--and the Speakers attempted to translate them into a comprehensible language. No matter how many questions he'd asked to try and make sense of it, it still seemed like complete nonsense, but he supposed that was why Taylor had chosen her name to invoke Skypillar's flame to help her speak the mountain's will and he hadn't.

Wishing for his wings, or at the very least, his rollerblades, Jason maneuvered through the Speakers, a few of which attempted to lure him into conversation. He evaded with polite excuses, citing the need to locate his mother.

"I believe I saw her a few minutes ago," said one, gesturing with an arm. "She was leading her chosen group from the gathering that seemed promising in earning the temple's sponsorship. I believe they were to watch the High Speakers during the auroras tonight?"

After giving his thanks, it wasn't long before Jason's now slightly altered course led him straight to the person he was regretfully looking for.

High Shadowspeaker Aurelia noticed his approach well before Jason was able to hear what she was saying to the group gathered around her. He checked his posture, ensuring everything was where it was supposed to be as Aurelia extended a hand towards him, and the group's eyes turned to him.

"Ah, my son has returned from his duties," said Aurelia. "May I introduce Jason Frostsong to those of you who are yet to make his acquaintance?"

Jason inclined his head, as was expected. "I am honoured. I have no doubt that those who choose to pursue the temple's work will find Skypillar's blessing."

The High Speaker's eyes left him, and Jason breathed as she addressed the group once more. "From here, you will be able to see both the outer and inner courtyards. It is a privilege to view the High Speakers as we commune with Skypillar and not one given often. I suggest that you make full use of the experience. I will  answer any questions Jason is unable to when I return." Once more, her gaze fell on him. "May I have a moment of your time before the ceremony begins?"

Jason followed his mother away from the excited chatter and giggles of the group in silence. She led him to the northeastern corner of the inner ring, right to the threshold of the Starlight Hall where he knew there would be no one within earshot.

There, High shadowspeaker Aurelia turned, and her stare aimed to cut him down to size.

"Where were you? I asked that you attend to this group, and Taylor tells me she hadn't seen you in over half an hour."

"I apologise," said Jason. It was the only thing he could say. "I was careless. I bumped into a girl, causing her to spill her drink and damage her glasses. I was ensuring that--"

"I don't particularly care," said Aurelia, her contempt for him well and truly leaking into her voice. "If I tell you that you're to be somewhere, I expect you to be there, no matter how many girls throw themselves at you. I thought the relationship with Taylor had fixed that problem."

Jason swallowed everything down. "I recognise my mistake. I'll be more careful in future."

"I've heard that before. Perhaps it's time I kept a tighter leash on your comings and goings."

As she paused, searching for a reaction, Jason kept his expression appropriately shamed. He'd long since overcome the daydream of transforming in front of her, just to see her face as she learned he was a Luminary. One, sweet moment was not be worth going dark for. After that moment, he knew what the conversation would sound like, and she'd have been right.

Not to mention, Banshee's company had become one of the few highlights to his life. He was loathe to give it up.

"Luckily for you, I don't have any other duties for you just yet," continued Aurelia. "But I'll be--" She cut off, and Jason was surprised to find utter shock crossing her face. "--Someone is in the Starlight Hall. Jason, remain here. I'll finish dealing with you in a moment."

Aurelia swept past him, her robes gathered in her hands. Mildly confused, Jason's gaze followed her path, wondering if he'd heard her right. Sure enough, a girl who was definitely not one of the High Speakers stood almost dead centre of the Hall's ground floor, her head swivelling around the room like she was looking for something.

Aurelia reached the girl, and after a few brief words, grabbed the girl's arm and marched her from the Hall back to where Jason stood.

To no little annoyance, Jason recognised her as the girl he'd run into earlier that night.

Outside the threshold of the Hall, Aurelia released the girl's arm. "Explain yourself. Why were you within the Starlight Hall? Are you aware that area is set aside for Luminaries and their High Speakers only?"

"I--I didn't know," said the girl, squinting. "I'm so sorry. I really had no idea where I was."

"Oh?" said Aurelia. "I don't mean to question your integrity, but the Hall is not easily mistaken for somewhere else."

"It's pretty easy to mistake the Hall when everything looks like a yellowy-white blur," said the girl. "My glasses were broken. I can't see anything. I was trying to, um, make my way back but I don't come here a lot and I think I got my bearings mixed up. I didn't know where I was."

"You were at the gathering earlier," said Jason. "What reason did you have to be on the southern side of temple grounds?"

"You know this girl?" asked Aurelia.

Jason pressed his lips together and drew a breath in through his nose before replying. "Yes. She's the one I bumped into at the gathering. I can confirm that her glasses were damaged--she's the one who stepped on them--but I'm surprised she wasn't carrying a spare pair." That either meant that she was far more desperate for attention than he'd initially figured, or she was an idiot.

The girl's eyes snapped in his direction. "If I'd have been carrying a spare pair, I would have put them on instead of having you lead me around like a kid, Jason."

"Perhaps I wouldn't have needed to if you hadn't been so careless."

"You're calling me careless after you're the one who ran into me?"

"Enough," said Aurelia. "This is a serious offence that cannot be taken lightly. I am inclined to believe that you truly did not intend to enter the Starlight Hall, however, some form of penance will be required."

The girl's gaze didn't drop, something that irked Jason a lot more than it should have. "I... I don't have a lot of money, if that's what you're referring to."

Strangely enough, Jason saw his mother's gaze soften the tiniest fraction. "What is your name, child?"

"Olivia."

"Olivia?"

"Shadowheart."

"Though the most common way of revering Skypillar is by enabling those who do his work to continue doing so, I find that it is most fulfilling to perform those duties yourself, and it is that I will now task you" The High Shadowspeaker placed one hand on Olivia's forehead. "Olivia Shadowheart, while the second moon hangs in the sky, you will be a servant of Skypillar. You will strive to give yourself in every way in honour of this city's guardian, to uphold and learn about the sacred customs that have been given to us by the first civilisation themselves."

"Um," said Olivia, her eyes flicking to various places around the room before returning to Aurelia's. "And how do I do that, exactly?"

When Aurelia's gaze turned to Jason, he knew exactly what was coming.

"For this duration, Jason will be your guide. Though his chosen name does not evoke Skypillar's blessing for the task, I believe that he will be up to the task. Correct, Jason?"

This wasn't just Olivia's punishment. It was his, too--if not more so. He'd allowed his annoyance to show. She'd found something that got to him. And he would nod and bear it, just like everything else. "Yes, High Shadowspeaker."

"Excellent," said Aurelia. "I must attend to the speaking ceremony now. I trust you two can find your way back to the group. Though the second moon is yet to rise, I believe it would be of Olivia's benefit to experience this tonight regardless."

Keeping the tension out of his body was always the hardest part. All he wanted to do was punch the wall as once more, he said, "Yes, High Shadowspeaker."

With one last thin-lipped smile and a respectful incline of her head towards them, Aurelia left for the inner courtyards, leaving Jason alone with the girl--Olivia.

He felt like an idiot, and he had no one to blame but himself. If he'd been more alert earlier at the gathering. If he hadn't taken so long as Cryo. If he'd just controlled himself a little better before, then he wouldn't be stuck with--

"Um," said Olivia, sounding more than a little off balance. "So, what--"

Jason cut in before she could form a full sentence. Not the most polite way of controlling a conversation, but it was the most efficient and his patience was limited. "We should attend to the group before the Speaking ceremony begins. Are you able to follow me, or do you require assistance? Again?"

He added the last part before he could stop himself, and there was a new bite to her tone when she spoke. "I can manage fine by myself."

All he wanted to do was leave her behind and find a quiet place to play his violin, but he had a Skypillar-given duty now, given by none other than a High Speaker who just so happened to be his mother. 

"Good. Then keep up."

*+*+*+*  

A/N - Heeeeeere we go. Remember to chuck this chapter a vote if you're enjoying it? ^_^

Have a picture of Jason/Cryo (with a half drawn wings, there's another picture for that), drawn by the ever amazing 46Kibahime. Olivia/Banshee next chapter ^_^ 

Note from Kiba about Jason - A little disclaimer about the art from my side: I drew Jason way before I was introduced to his personality so please pardon the less than typical expression he's currently wearing (>ω<;;; )