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The first encounter with her adventuring group who she now refers to as the closest friends and family that Adaine ever had, she witnessed a fight break out on the first day of her Freshman year within the hour before the first bell even rang.
She watched an awkward, tall, half-orc boy, Gorgug Thistlespring, extend out a hand holding on to a metal flower that seemed to have been hand tinkered to a half-elven one, Fabian Aramais Seacaster, who approached him with such determination only seconds before. There was a short exchange, and Adaine was relieved to see a simple and kind exchange between two students who don't seem to have ever met before.
It was cut shortly as Fabian had then punched the half-orc in the stomach and when another student attempted to check on Gorgug, he had gone into a rage and the two began to fight.
Then there was the kind but awkward Goblin boy she watched be thrown into a trashcan after being, quite horrifyingly and cartoonishely, forced into the form of a ball. She'd hear him be referred to as such shape by everyone afterwards but she still referred to him as Riz. That was his proper name, in all fairness.
And, of course, the redheaded girl from before—Kristen Applebees—had showed up just as she committed the mortifying act of Mage Handing a specific book her sister had told her about. A book in the forbidden segment of the school's library. Kristen, so kind and so gentle, stayed with her until she could calm down enough to partially speak to Vice Principal Goldenhoard.
Adaine could hardly remember the exchange. She remembered attempting to lie, and she remembered the vice principal being concerned - and she remembered Figueroth Faeth telling her that she thought she had just done the most impressive and coolest act ever imaginable. That had led to detention.
Of course, at the time, the young wizard had been mortified by the idea that this girl who's first impression she had of her was the yelling of her name by the vice principal, followed by the words "immediate detention" being practically roared out of the Dragonborn's mouth from down the hall. That, and Fig had an attire of someone who simply challenged any and every person of authority on just mere principle and for the sake of the "the vibe," (a phrasing Fig and Kristen would later use very often around her) which had, again, absolutely mortified the young wizard.
Now, though, as she sat at a table with the rest of them and she looked around, she couldn't help but smile at the tiefling who cackled at a pass Gorgug had thrown to Fabian regarding his obsession with Adaine's sister, Aelwyn, and the bond with his own motorcycle, the Hangman. The traits that initially mortified her now the most endearing things she's learned to appreciate (and even find sweet in some cases where Figueroth was over protective), and for that alone she knew she had grown into a better version of herself. One that got to know this person. One where they shared the wonderful friends that they did.
She closed her book to watch the chaos unfold in front of her as the Seacaster's son proceeded to stutter and stumble over his own words in attempts to defend himself dramatically and passionately. The half-elven boy partially standing up as Riz attempted calm him down with logic that, unfortunately, still sided with Gorgug and only fueled the argument further.
Adaine chuckled at the scene, and for a moment, when she looked over at Fig they locked eyes.
Both were already smiling, soft and amused staring at maniacal and shit eating. There was a small shift, a tiny one, where they both softened–though the joy of everyone's presence made it grow for both of them.
Could she recall the last time looking at someone for a brief moment as that just was ever brought her that much peace? That much joy? No. Was Adaine willing to question it any further? Absolutely not. She wasn't going to question why her smile lingered a little softer at those times than most, why she let her eyes stay locked on the tiefling as she continued to talk to the rest of the group longer than was necessary.
The oracle sighed, head tilting to the side as she thought about their first day with each other.
The second interaction she would have with all of them was an awkward moment of forced bonding from the guidance counselor. A moment that would be cut short by the screaming in the cafeteria.
Some battling, some tripping on tables and several corn creatures (corn cuties as they would later recall them as), a struggle to climb up the rear and into the anus of a Cream Corn monster by one of them, the violent beating of the Lunch Lady, two student deaths that are later then revivified by the murder-suicide in front of all of them by Principal Arthur Augefort and guidance counselor Mr. Gibbons.
Since then, Adaine Abernant had been put and practically assigned into the de-fact-o party that is now referred to as "The Bad Kids."
A name that suited them just fine–both for the way they ended up together in detention and had then proceeded to cause so much chaos across the city (high speed car chases on the highway, a near lycanthropy experience at a rave warehouse, the intensive bullying of a few middle schoolers at an abandoned factory, crashing a high school party taking place at one of the student's homes from the school she was denied entry to while discovering her sister was assisting with the kidnappings, the destruction of a new arcade fighting an incel creep, her home land and Solace now at war, prison for a few weeks followed by a prison break, the abandonment of her own family while the rest of them were attacked, and the crashing of the Prom where Vice Principal Goldenrod- Goldenhoard, became Kalvaxos), and to which Adaine could not complain to.
She got a new family out of the chaos (trauma-bonded), and a new place to stay. She's on new medication for her anxiety, and she's developed her magic so much so that she was able to help Basrar escape his curse and even bring a newfound peace to Zayne while helping him become the first Ghost student at the Academy.
This little act didn't come without it's little bit of teasing from the rest of them, but Adaine didn't care. She was helping someone in a shitty situation make something good of something he needed. She could withstand a few pokes and prods and teases from her friends. Even if it meant dealing with Fig who would throw an arm around her shoulder whenever she would come in to check on the two. She could always give her a reassuring pat over her hand to let her know she was fine. And to stop the glaring towards the newly dead.
To feel cared for was a new luxury, she thought. To feel like someone was always looking out for her.
The more she continued to think about it, the more that she had come to realize that… Adaine had done good. Not necessarily on her own, but with the support of those who truly cared for her.
She looked around the room once more to her friends, to the new members of her family, as they sat around the small cramped apartment.
Some days were a little harder than others. Remembering her family had left the country after breaking her sister out of prison. Not visiting her once while she was in the same situation - the house completely abandoned after she was out. Attention only ever brought to her when the armistice was over and peace came once more and the people of Fallinel found out she was indeed the Elven Oracle. Her only value her own people held for her being the status of her power.
She was… mostly.. over it. Every now and then the memory of how everything had gone held on to her heart like a heavy, cold hand and clenched tightly. Moments of peace with her friends turned into quiet moments of her thinking too long on the occasion.
Gorgug would usually get her out of it with a gentle squeeze to her arms. Kristen would lean in with a quick check in and joke to get her smiling. Fabian and Riz into some argument or another over something minuscule that they treated as the most serious thing in the world just as they were doing right now. As if they hadn't fought a literal dragon and had the crown of the Nightmare King in the horizon for them to find.
Fig, though, was the only one who let her zone out completely. She never left her side during these times. A simple placement of a cushion or seat next to Adaine, close enough that her radiating heat kept the wizard grounded. An arm around the seat behind her, or on her shoulder. Lazy touches to let her mind wander while having something to tether her to reality. Fig did a good job keeping everyone else distracted enough to not question Adaine in these moments of burdened vulnerability.
And as if on queue, she felt the heat come in as a figure sat down next to her. Adaine hadn't realized she was starting to do the thing until there was a cup of some sort of fizzy drink in front of her alongside a paper plate holding a rather greasy pizza.
She looked up to see Fig smile down at her. A simple nod to the food and small comment about stealing the last slice and bit of drink for her.
"If they say anything, I'll fight 'em," she winked. That crooked smile on her face that was all teeth making Adaine smile right back at her with a lopsided grin and chuckle. Gladly taking the food as her friend settled next to her. One leg thrown over her lap as she leaned back in her seat to continue watching the argument unfold.
Taking the food with appreciation, she sighed as she began to eat up.
It was.. nice. Nice to let go of her thoughts. To feel upset, angry, or just sad for those moments. She was surrounded by good people, and because she didn't want to ever bring the mood down or have attention brought on to her while she was in this mental state she as grateful for the tiefling to be there and keep the other's busy so they couldn't question it. Fig was patient enough to let her go through the motions, and was gentle when including the blonde back into the conversation when she was ready to feel the safety and love of her family.
Because of this simple treatment, the young girl would seek out the rock star's company more often than she would like to admit.
Sitting in a room while she tuned her guitar or worked on lyrics for her band, or preparing for another round trip for a tour with Gorgug. It was fun. Fig's music was fun. Watching her while she was out was fun. Adaine always did her best to keep up with each one and always sent messages on her after the show was over to tell her how amazing she was. As would the rest of the gang, of course, but it was always nice to do so herself and get a personalized response back. Because that's just who Fig was.
Open, caring, loyal and fierce in her love for all of them.
All these things that Adaine admired in the girl.
For the moment that she thought about Fig, it was enough to bring Adaine out of her daze that she knew would just put her in another loop of the same thoughts over and over and over again. So, she turned her attention to lazily watch the fiery girl next to her instead.
Sure, it wasn't these specific things that only Fig had which made her admire her. The rest of them were also all of these things. There was just a way that they all held on to these traits and shared them that was so unique to each of them and–admittedly–Adaine found herself more attracted to the way they shined through Fig.
Kristen was loyal to all of them in a way that carried guilt for everything her own family had tried to raise her into being, but also carried genuine, true devotion to them. As if the concept and idea of a family could be worshiped. However, Fig was loyal in the way that meant she put herself in danger first every time if it meant she could keep them all together, she was loyal in the way that she would commit to whatever she needed to in order to keep them all safe. Even if that safety excluded herself.
Riz was caring. Oh so caring. He looked out for anything and everything that could be either of help to them or even danger. He looked out for them all for their well-being and benefit as if it were the only way he knew how to express it. As if quickly getting them to safety through his own little maneuvers were one day not going to be enough, as if the health kit he kept on hand will fail him one of these days. Fig cared just as similarly in the way she always winked at them. A flirtatious reminder that they've got this. The wink always worked as if it were a silent plead from her for them to believe in themselves a little more.
Gorgug was an open person. Outright kind and open in the way that meant he was used to letting himself feel the things he did as if it were a lifeline. And maybe it was, with the fact that he had to deal with the rage he had in himself. He was open as if it were a guide to the rest of them on how to let themselves process their own feelings in their own way. Fig was open in that way that was desperate for someone to accept what she had to offer, eager for someone to take her hands and say "this is enough."
And Fabian. Fabian was fierce, for sure. He was passionate and fierce with a determination to live up to everything his father was. He was fierce in a way his father never could be, that did not take away from the very magnitude of greatness he could grow into. He had goals, and aspirations, and he dreamed of a glorious future for himself that he was sure he would lead way to. Fig was fierce in the way she held on to what she had. She fought for and protected her own. She was fierce in that way one would be thinking her family was completely fallen apart only to come back stronger after her own determination managed to link it all together again. She was fierce in that way that meant nothing would take away the good that she's already put together.
And then of course, there was Adaine herself.
Adaine would suppose that she could pride herself in her own cleverness. She was smart, she studied hard and had enough intuition that mixed in with the powers of an Oracle to keep certain spells on hand and ready – manipulating the things around them both for ease and a way to guarantee the better outcomes.
But Fig? Oh, Fig was clever in that charmingly stupid way where she does everything without a single thought on her next immediate step. Fig was clever in that way where once she had set a goal in mind, every single thing she had to do to achieve it was going to be done through her own charm or her own sheer determination. Fig was clever in finding every little weak point of every person or situation to get herself out of or into depending on what she had wanted to do. Every time Adaine was sure that Fig's luck would run out for the success of a bold and stupid move that she would commit, she was forced to watch it succeed before her very eyes.
Every time it would work, and when the bard would turn to her to give that reassuring wink at her she could feel her face grow warm.
Never could she be upset by this, no. But by the Hells she would be baffled every time. Baffled because every time it would seem so stupid, so jarringly comedic, so specifically coded for some sort of show, so clearly setting the girl up for failure.
It was.. admirable.
Adaine admired Fig.
Remembering that the tiefling girl had looked at her once with wide eyes and an impressed look for the act of stealing a simple book (not so simple as it was later revealed to them all) from the forbidden section of the Library, Adaine couldn't help but smile. It was such a simple act that reminded her she was admired by the girl just as much.
She had come to realize that Fig was the first person to call her really cool. To not see her as the girl with a giant awkward orb who didn't know how to speak up properly, but rather a genuinely cool kid.
Albeit she did have a panic attack only second after, but it didn't seem to change the bard's view on her.
It did help that she ladled a poor woman to death and was the only one in battle not covered in her own blood not long afterwards, though that poor woman was indeed something that Fig had begun to look up to (though considering the circumstances, it was rather easy for her to look past it and simply chalk it up to self-defense).
Gods, Freshman Year was a hell of it's own kind, wasn't it?
Adaine closed her eyes with a sigh and let her head roll back on the chair. She did so in that side to side motion as if she was looking to pop something in her joints and release some of the tension that built up from simply sitting in the same position for far too long. Her smile was relaxed and while she finished off the last couple bites of pizza she rolled her head around to look around the room once more.
Whatever argument the boys were having quickly developed into a discussion of battle strategics of another idea that would leave any sane adult mortified. All the while Kristen and her lovely girlfriend, Tracker, continued to listen intently and give their own inputs. All to the horror of Adaine despite her lack of surprise at the two which then turned into her raising a single brow in concern and mild judgment despite knowing that she would still want to see if they even manage to pull it off in the first place.
She smiled again, watching her friends interact. Watching Gilear appear for a brief moment, watch the kids as if making sure everyone was present, then went towards his fridge to pull out another bucket of yogurt.
A bucket of yogurt.
This gave the girl a moment of pause. Staring for a moment at her friends as she only saw Gilear in the peripheral of her vision until she slowly turned her head to watch the elder elven man take the same bucket and inspect it for a moment.
With a very, placid smile, Adaine turned her attention to her fiendish friend in a sort of side eyed look. She tried her best to ignore Gilear–more to not pay attention to the very specific action bringing out a gallon sized bucket of yogurt out of the very small fridge and walk all the way back.
As her luck would have it, she caught Fig giving her the very same look. They silently waited, bodies tilting to the side in simultaneous motion as their eyes landed back to Gilear simply to track his steps as he disappeared into the other room. The sound of his door clicking shut being the only queue for the two girls to burst into fits of giggles.
That outburst was enough to distract the others from whatever dubious (and admittedly idiotic) plan they were putting together.
"Wha- what happened?" Gorgug asked the two, eyes wide in that way they usually were.
The blonde shook her head, smiling with all teeth as she tried to keep her laughing as quiet as possible. Meanwhile, Fig laughed so hard she had barely any noise coming from her wide open mouth as she was leaned over herself. Legs now off Adaine as she slowly curled into the fetal position shaking—tears coming down her eyes. The sight was enough to make the young wizard lose her own composure.
The others, though confused and rightfully so whilst looking for some form of clarification from each other, proceeded to slowly join in on the laughing as well.
"So- sorry, sorry!" Fig said, hand waving away the commotion. The other resting gently on her friend's arm.
Adaine's face simply scrunched up as she continued to laugh, head thrown back now.
With a huff of a chuckle, Kristen spoke up, "Dear gods, what is going on?"
For some reason, the confusion made the two laugh even harder. Where for a moment both had started to slowly get their composure back together enough to just look at the rest of the gang, that question had the two of them looking at each other. Fingers raised to slowly wipe away Now rolling into each other almost right off their seats.
At this, Fabian only shook his head as he rolled his eyes. "Alright," he started with a finality. "Those two have lost it. The Ball, you have to believe me. If I go down with the hangman and I throw you at full speed at the enemy you can use that sword to get closer to the enemy and still hit them with full velocity or whatever the fuck you say-"
"I will not be allowing you to throw me at full force and full speed just for a cool trick that could go very bad!"
Yeah.
Maybe this was what family was supposed to be.
"You could throw me,"
"Gorgug- no."
It hadn't been much time that had passed afterwards. Eventually, Fabian and Gorgug had to leave to go back to their own homes. Tracker would have stayed the whole night if it wasn't for some rituals she had wanted to practice for the next day that required several hours of concentration and peace. That, and she had heckled Kristen into spending some time out of the apartment with Jawbone to actually enjoy a night out.
This left Kristen, Adaine, and Fig at Riz's apartment. And with how quickly the sleep deprived goblin and exhausted human had drifted off, it left the two remaining members looking lazily through a website Fig had found for movies that they could pirate.
Adaine could only watch with amusement. She laid on her stomach as she had her legs up in the air kicking with an absent mind as she propped herself up by her elbows while watching Fig ramble on and on while looking for something to watch.
"You can't seriously sit there and tell me that you never watched anything outside of your old time-y mystic movies that Fallinel has."
"Fig, you know I haven't."
The rock star girl turned her head to look over at Adaine once more, a look of pure bewilderment and disbelief on her face. "Oh, come on Ads! It's been months! You should have found something to watch?"
The blonde girl only settled further on the ground as she pulled up the blankets surrounding herself. "I just… kept getting distracted. Y'know?"
"What, saving ghost boy?" There wasn't any malice in her voice nor in the way she said it. The teasing tone easier to catch for the wizard now that she has had so much time to get to know the bard. Still, she narrowed her eyes as she watched the other's brow twitch up expectantly.
"And releasing Basrar. And studying the previous Oracles that have existed before me." She added very helpfully, thank you very much.
"Yeah, yeah." Fig rolled her eyes and sighed with such exaggeration. If it weren't for the small curl at the corners of her mouth, Adaine would have been convinced she was truly agitated with her. The teasing tone in her voice as she spoke did help ease more of that anxiety away. "Alright Miss Hot Shot, All-Of-Fallinel-Is-Begging-For-Me-To-Come-Back."
Adaine smiled, eyes squinting once again as she began to look over her friend who now lazily looked at the crystal's screen in a way that she knew meant she was avoiding looking at her. "Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?"
Fig's eyes darted to the side for only a brief moment. "What? Psshhh- no. Nah."
Her chin was raised a little bit as she looked down her nose to find another movie, head tilted to the side as if it would be enough to hide her expression and even with the red undertones of her skin now becoming more and more prominent as the months pass by, Adaine could still see the hints of a blush creeping up on her skin.
For some reason this struck Adaine as strange. She felt a little tug in her chest that she was used to associating with her anxiety (a curse she has not needed to think about as often as she used to thanks to Jawbone's counseling and the new medication she has been on), and still she felt a little rush of… something. In spite of herself, the young girl leaned a little closer into Fig's space, a glint in her eye as she took in the other in front of her.
"Figueroth Faeth," she started, a smile creeping up as Fig looked at her with wide eyes. Mouth shut tight in attempt to remain looking innocent and a soft "hmm?" being the only noise she seemed capable of making for her. The wizard girl couldn't help the way her smile grew wider in bemused shock. "Do I have a literal rock star- daughter of a high ranking Devil- be jealous of my lame status as the Elven Oracle?"
"… I haven't a clue what you mean, dear Miss Abernant."
A hand lightly shoved a leather covered shoulder. The two giggling softly at each other.
Once Adaine settled her self on the floor again, parallel to the tiefling, she looked at her friend and watched her as she remained focus on the lap-crystal in front of her. She watched the way her brows furrowed and made attempts to knit into each other. The curl of her lips in the ghost of their previous laughter, the way her fingers held up a single piece of popcorn just against her lips as if she were putting the thought of eating the tiny piece on hold.
She wasn't sure what she was watching Fig for, admittedly. The last few months, Adaine caught herself watching and studying her friends more closely. Studying Fig more closely. Watching for her tics and small triggers the same way she had done for her.
It had felt.. right.
To keep each other safe. To keep each other company. To ensure they could find each other. Because finding each other meant better chances of finding the rest. Right?
Whatever her reasoning for that at the time was, Adaine did not have enough of one for now.
"You've grown a lot on in your own way, you know?" she said softly. Pausing momentarily when deep red eyes looked to her. She wasn't sure why her breath hitched at that. Still, she continued on. "Y-you.. You have. You should be proud of yourself. What? A Bard-Barian Warlock born of an arch-devil not cool enough for you?"
Adaine nudged the other's shoulder with a gentleness to show she was only attempting to be teasing. Hoping that her words would be comforting enough. Her smile faltered only for the few moments that Fig did not respond.
She gave a relieved chuckle when the other girl gave her that toothy, crooked smile she always had on when interacting with any of them.
"Ads- Addy. Beloved of mine," she said.
"Hmm?" Adaine hummed, head tilted in innocence. Ignoring the little jitter in her chest from the little pet name and smiling with such a little shit look on her face.
That didn't seem to be enough to distract the master of manipulation between the two, and when she spoke she tilted her head down with a raised brow "You're giving me a pep talk? You're giving me some inspiration?"
Adaine, without thinking, winked.
She would have immediately regretted it if it hadn't made Fig's entire face light up with pure delight and amazement. Her jaw dropping to leave her mouth open. The surprise on her face turning into pure and utter excitement.
When she was about to start cackling, the wizard quickly lifted herself up to start trying to shush the girl as quickly as she could. In response, the rock star rolled herself away from Adaine as quick as she could. Almost bringing the elven girl on top of her in the process of her chase.
"Oh- oh this is- this is absolutely perfect. I am telling everyone about this."
"Fig, no."
"What? Don't wanna make our friends jealous? Do only I get this little treat?"
"Okay, tell them. Watch how it goes for you too."
Fig threw her head back again, and Adaine's hands reached back up again to stop the silent laughing that the other tried to keep down. This time, though, Fig grabbed on to her wrists with enough carefulness to catch Adaine off guard with how firm her grip was. The heat off her hands radiating down Adaine's forearms but she didn't mind. Instead, the two continued to quietly fight each other on the floor for a second. Aggressive shushing coming from one of them and silent muffled giggles from the other.
This went on for a minute or two until the tiefling lifted herself up enough to wrap one arm around Adaine's waist and pull her further over. Their initial positions now completely flipped. Was it an extremely slow process? Yes. Was it as quiet as they could commit to the movement without getting hurt or making excess noise?
Probably not.
At least it was slow enough for the wizard girl to grab on to her own pillow before being completely shifted over to the other side in the midst of such a "fight."
That's how the two remained for a little bit. Giggling at each other, one's legs over the other's like before, an arm around one of their waists pinning them down to keep from fighting, a pillow now shoved between them, and once the giggling died down did they look at each other lazily.
Fig had kept that soft, gentle smile she'd use only when looking at her mother and ever growing collection of fathers, as well as the other Bad Kids. But there was something so tender about the smile this time that kept Adaine mesmerized. So… she watched. Studied. Like she usually did nowadays. Like doing so would reveal a secret key to a puzzle that is Fig despite being one of her closest friends.
Adaine took into consideration how the exhaustion of the day weighed heavily on the other's eyelids. The events of Freshman year no longer haunting her features as constantly as it used to but still, the wizard had noted that there is always something going on in her mind with the way her eyes always looked like they were thinking. Not unusual for Fig, no, but Adaine had noticed it became more prominent when Sandra-Lynn almost died. They became more wild after the second time that Gorthalax was released. She wondered if Fig would ever let her mind rest again now that they were safe.
With the upcoming mission to retrieve the Nightmare King's crown, though, she doubted it.
Still, she reached out and lightly nudged Fig's shoulder with her fist. That little act receiving a hum as tired eyes looked up at her.
"You should sleep." She spoke softly, hand retreating to be tucked under her chin.
With a groan, the tiefling turned her head to shove her face into the pillow. A muffled "you first," sounding through.
"Fig, I don't need sleep."
That response led to one arm being lifted and wildly flailing out to reach for something behind the fiendish girl, and after a moment of struggle she managed to pull on the blanket Adaine had before. Simply throwing it over her own head and straight into Adaine's face, leaving their lower halves completely exposed despite the attempt to cover the two.
"Mmph! I.. okay. You didn't even- alright."
That seemed to be the only bit that Fig was willing to argue and if she was going to pass out as a way to win the argument, then Adaine had no energy to continue on the matter.
She sat up for a moment, taking the blanket and adjusting it over the both of them. She took her own pillow and properly placed it down where her head would go, and then she laid down peacefully. Ignoring the way that Fig's arm refused to be moved from over her waist. Refusing to acknowledge the way the other girl shimmied a little closer once she was laying down comfortably.
Laying on her back, Adaine looked at the ceiling as her hands finally rested comfortably over the arms that held on so tightly to her and sighed. It wasn't one of her usual sighs of exasperation or exhaustion, but rather just… comfort. Like earlier. Like when they were all together and talking.
How did she ever get so lucky to arrive in a place like Elmville and meet people like the ones she stays with now? She won't know. Not unless some higher power comes down to stand before her and explain every single event in absolute detail on how each action lead to this moment here on the floor of some dinky apartment surrounded by people who loved her and an arm holding tight to her as if she were someone of value as if it were the first time feeling it all over again.
After a moment of thought, she considered that as a good possibility.
If Kristen can create an entirely new god then she surely could call upon a higher being to explain what she had done to be worthy of any of this.
Still, she simply smiled and let her head fall comfortably. Just now noticing that Fig's head was on top of her shoulder - the girl must have shifted even closer at some point in her thoughts. Adaine wasn't going to complain. If this was the happiest she was going to be in her life she'd be sure to memorize and treasure it.
With a quick mage hand, she closed Fig's crystal. It's light disappearing and leaving them in a quiet and peaceful dark.