Sender: Cyrene
Recipient: Demiurge
*This page of the story comes from the 100,003rd Eternal Recurrence, a gentle blessing from the edge of the west wind. Imagine if Tribios did not shatter into a thousand pieces, but instead ventured towards the many realms after bidding farewell to the three familiar companions… *
The frist ray of Lucid Hour's sunlight pierced through the stained-glass windows of Janusopolis temple, gently illuminating the red-haired girl's face. Tribios awoke from her slumber, rubbing her sleepy eyes…
“Tribbie, Trianne, Trinnon… you're all here?”
“Trity!” The three tiny messengers let out cheerful voices.
Looking at the three children before her, Tribios recalled the night when she first heard Janus's prophecy.
“You shall shatter◻□▯… shatter▯□… sha… tter◻□▯…” The Titan's voice paused several times before abruptly cutting off. Tribios was utterly confused: What exactly was I supposed to shatter?
As her thoughts drifted far away, she felt a gently tug at the ends of her hair. Looking down, she saw her long red hair curling and spreading like the branches of a flame tree, with its tips knotted together, tenderly cradling three children no bigger than dolls.
“Trity!” The children laughed, swinging on her hair like a playground swing. Tribios smiled too. Even though their unclear speech could only pronounce the two syllables “Trity,” Tribios had known since childhood that they were her best playmates, the ones who understood her heart the most.
However, while Tribios grew day by day, the children remained forever the same size.
Over countless days and nights together, Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon slowly discovered that “Trity's” personality was as enigmatic as the sky governed by Aquila. Every time they woke up after a night's sleep, the “Trity” they saw seemed like a complete stranger.
Sometimes Tribios was the happy Trity. She imitated the rhyme her mother Mortis taught her, singing for the three children a variation about sailing all the way to the moon.
Sometimes Tribios became the angry Trity. She would smash the offerings brought by the trainee priest, scream and order him to leave the temple by walking backward, simply because she mistook the ornament on the priest's waist for a cold blade used for assassination.
Sometimes Tribios was just the timid Trity. She liked to stay in corners, with a shy gaze, not good at making eye contact with children, but enjoyed watching small beetles crawl out from the corner of the wall, carefully breaking off pieces of moldy bread to feed them.
…
The children learned how to interact with different versions of “Trity,” carefully remembering each “Trity's” favorite things and manner of speech. They also discovered that none of the “Trity” knew each other, nor were they aware of each other's existence.
Why was Trity different every day? One of the children flew past the towering temple walls that stretched beyond sight, went to the Grove, and brought back the cold diagnostic conclusion from a Helkolithist scholar: It's all in the mind! Just get plenty of rest and she'll be fine!
“No, that's not it.”
“Trity is a kaleidoscope, it's like there are a thousand Tritys inside her. And every single Trity is our wonderful companion!”
And today's Trity… is an exceptionally gentle and somewhat melancholic Trity.
Another Month of Gate had come, the festival to honor Janus. Tribios listened tot he distant laughter of the crowd, while the children gazed at her in wonder. Their young hearts suddenly realized: Trity had never left this room deep within the temple. She had no wings, nor could she open a “gate” to a world thousands of miles away like they could. She could only remain confined here day after day.
“Trity!” The children understood. Let us help you escape from Janusopolis.
“You shall shatter◻□▯… shatter▯□… sha… tter◻□▯…” On this day, Tribios heard the Titan's prophecy once again, still unclear, as if choked by the black tide, but she already knew which direction she must take.
…
The first ray of Lucid Hour's sunlight pierced through the stained-glass windows of Janusopolis temple, shining intot the chamber where Holy Maiden Tribios was imprisoned. The room was empty, save for three dolls. They were named Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon, the remnant fragments left behind after all their powers were given to Tribios.
From then on, wherever Tribios went, the voices of the children would echo in her ears.
“With the heartfelt wishes of Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon…”
“You shall possess graceful white wings, keen senses, and a direction that never leads astray.”
“You shall leave Janusopolis, and along with the many versions of yourself hidden within your body, transmit the Titan's prophecy to the world.”
“Bye, Trity!”
…