The 288th year after the Coming of Estarra was met with jubilation in
New Celest, as enchanted displays of light burst into the heavens above
the city, marking the arrival of an imperial merian, by the name of
Eliahi Inalai, brother to the steward of the Star Palace within the
city, Naedaros Inalai. Having sent word to her, Naedaros and his sister
began to prepare for the coming Festival of Light, within the city of
New Celest.

Streamers were ordered, and banners made! Ribbons were woven into fine
bouquet! Pearls were enchanted, designed to send vibrant displays of
light into the sky, to linger before fading, and candied seashells baked
with sweets at their centre, for all to enjoy. Her cart packed, Eliahi
Inalai traveled to New Celest, and arrived soon after the turn of the
year. Greeted with joyous smiles, Eliahi reveled in the celebration, as
those of the Light came together to praise the Light of Celestia and all
that it blessed them with.

As the festivities progressed, Eliahi Inalai fulfilled a promise her
brother had made some years ago - and delivered to Lord General Sipelus
Inalai a memory pearl, enchanted with the memories of Empress Sinenth
II, of the Holy Celestine Empire. As they placed the pearl within the
Pool of Celestial Bodies, the water elemental that dwells within rose
up, assuming the form of the long dead Empress - and spoke at length of
her reign, and the trials that had came before her. She spoke of a
terribly enemy of the Light, who was vanquished only with the sacrifice
of Loathys Inalai, a celestine who would rise up to become a Saint of
the Light.

In her honour, the Empress spoke, a shrine had been raised - one
discovered some years ago by New Celest, in the southern mountains.
during their pursuit of the lost House of Secrets. Eliahi Inalai knew of
the shrine, for she had spent the time since then repairing it - and it
was to there she returned, her work done. It was Akui who first visited
the shrine, followed soon after by Aeral, Pesukaru, Inagin and others of
New Celest. With their help, Eliahi Inalai recovered four stone tablets,
upon which the story of the Champions of the Flame and Saint Loathys had
been recorded. Across the Inner Sea and Sea of Despair they traveled
recovering them, but finally they did succeed. As thanks, Eliahi granted
them half of a locket - one which had been passed down, its other half
belonging to the long lost Serelyn Inalai, who lived during the Taint
Wars, a token marking what would be an unfulfilled promise of love.

Recognizing the name, those of New Celest traveled to the Meliashmora of
Imperial Secrets, where Serelyn's soul has long been caught within the
workings of Menestre's Cap, in the role of Queen Serelyn, the Righteous
Mother. Some spark of her old love triggered by the locket, Queen
Serelyn began to mourn for her long dead King - and declared a
masquerade! The efforts of many would go into the affair, with several
attempts before they could truly succeed. It was only with the unlikely
help of Rika and Solanis Talnara, of the Serenwilde, that they succeeded
- and the masquerade was underway!

The performance drew to an end soon after, as the strange ongoings of
the Meliashmora drew to a close, in a manner different than seen ever
before. Yet as the story line ended, Aeral was granted the completed
locket - and with it, she opened the ancient Inalai Tower and, within
its peaks, found the Wind Rider, Golden Frei, an automaton falcon
crafted by a long dead Vernal God, by the name of Ilaedron the Fair.

The Festival of Light continue on with great jubilation! Truly, many in
the streets of New Celest claimed - the Light shines brightly upon their
fair city!

Penned by My hand on the 4th of Dioni, in the year 288 CE.