[ASignalInTheNoise]

The years tick by.

For a time, I found myself without meaning or purpose. I drifted through life aimlessly.

The fire inside had dulled to a few coals, watching all that I had worked for slowly fade away under the ambitions of others.

When I could not know the warmth of others, the fire inside of me grew weaker. Leaving Aetius-

Was not an easy decision, truthfully. But it was one that had to be made. I was tethered there.

By both my own fears, and my own desire to have stability. I still don't quite have that, I think.

And yet here in the middle of nowhere, in lands cursed and forgotten, we've built something.

A Sanctuary for those who would live without chains. The cycle repeats, a little different each time-

In Caethir, I sought glory and recognition.

In Aetius, I sought satisfaction and resolution.

And here, in Sanctuary...

... I seek truth.

I have found purpose again in the depths of the Astral Plane. For over twenty years, I have gazed into it, seeking the Truth of Change.

And I see myself closer to it than ever before, now. The flame that could break all chains, to redefine entire lives should it be sought.

---

The path is never quite clear until you have walked it. I visited Aetius and Caethir, over the past few months-

Tracing my memories. The promises I made to others, and the curses laid upon those who had wronged me.

And each place was a step along my Path. The path of Change. Each step brought me pain and suffering, yet-

In those flames, I learned something.

In Caethir, I learned of my chains, and that I wished to break them.

In Aetius, I learned to love my Humanity that I so loathed. 

In Sanctuary, I am learning... a lesson that has yet to be written.

For once on my path, I am not alone.

I am surrounded by those who would walk the Path with me, who do so without even asking me.

Felice. Ghost. Aaru. They, and more, stand by my side as we pursue something more than the world would let us believe ourselves worthy of.

Our dreams will live again, no matter how many times they have died.

---

We have delved deep into the realms of Sorcery. Still, the main limiter being raw materials has been an issue for our work.

And yet, we've ways around that, too. Felice's knowledge of how Essence works in detail has been useful. We're finally nearing a way to create something useful out of this cursed land.

Drawing energy from the sins of others - wiping the world clean of what they've done. Fuel - for a fire that will burn until the end of us all.

We've come so far, despite the limitations, the complications...

My own failures and faults.

The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.

A lesson learned through much self-inflicted pain. 

Uralai ... I made a promise to you, long ago. I'm keeping it. I will keep it.

I won't forget the Humanity inside of me. Even if it hurts, even if it rips me apart.

I won't forget.

And in keeping that promise, we've begun to go down a different path. Our own path, seperate from the ways Ilumitar laid out so long ago-

Ilumitar may have created sorcery, but it is up to those who would challenge his path to define it.

Onward we go.

My purpose and my mission remain a mystery,

Trust in my intuition and chase the mystery.

I chase the mystery.