I have had much time to reflect upon the upcoming Ascension, and amidst these meditations My thoughts have come to rest upon the Seal of Beauty. Though every Seal has been cracked by the near-catastrophic collision of Lyraa Ey Rielys, I note that the Seal of Beauty feels stronger to Me than it has in weakenings past.

The credit for this I lay at the feet of last Ascension's competition, which saw contenders submit designs themed upon a vision that I experienced amidst the machinations of Ghani n'Rotri. As such, it is My decree that this Challenge of Beauty shall have its own source of inspiration.

These words I say to be as follows:

Deathly cold and blistering hot,
I am empty and full at once;
there's nothing that can live in me
save that which feeds upon my blood.
Where I do bleed, you may not pass
for I am that which lies between,
a cresting sky of roiling waves
of pink and blue and white-hued seas.
Fly careful within all my space -
for that which lives here will devour
algontherine and crew alike
within the crush of my embrace.
My reach is far; with hidden doors
that lead to distant parts of me
I wrap around all of the planes
in every colour you can see.
But for the brave, and mad, and bold
my heart reveals such hidden gems
as candied treats, immortal trees,
animate toys and blue-tailed friends.
What am I?

Creators of the Basin, put your minds and your crafts to these thoughts. Let your beauteous workings spring forth from these ideas; and know, as before, that the Charites shall judge your works based in part upon their relationship to this theme. Prepare your designs now, that they may be submitted to the Charites as soon as They declare the submission window to be upon you.

Penned by My hand on the 9th of Kiani, in the year 522 CE.