It has been several days now since Cassidion of Ao entered our midst, and unease gnaws at me with each passing moment. What we have seen and heard thus far troubles me, but more than that, I find myself questioning—for the first time—my own Celestial brethren. There is something unsettling in the way Cassidion looks down upon others, even to my own Celestial eyes.
I am also at odds with my guildmates. Despite having fought beside them for over a decade—longer, in some cases—they refuse to take my word when I defend Cassidion’s presence. And yet, I cannot blame them. Even I have begun to doubt him. A seraphim of Ao, he claims to be, yet Ao is not known to interfere in mortal affairs, whether for good or ill. Why now? Why this mission?
Something does not sit right, and yet, I have no choice but to walk the path before me.
As I turn my gaze to the corruption spreading across this world, I find myself questioning its true nature. Cassidion speaks of it as an encroaching darkness, a blight upon the land, yet my own experiments—and direct interaction with its tainted elements—suggest something far more insidious. There is an unmistakable Celestial influence woven into its essence, elusive yet undeniable.
More troubling still, when I sought to aid a group of refugees near our guild, my Celestial form provoked terror rather than relief. They recoiled at the sight of me, their fear so palpable that I was forced to withdraw and assume my mortal guise. It was a deeply disheartening experience, one that lingers in my mind like an unshakable shadow.
I can no longer ignore the growing suspicion that Cassidion is not telling us everything about this corruption.
As my suspicions grow, I find myself caught in a struggle between duty and doubt. By my very nature, I am bound to follow the Celestial Host, yet unease continues to gnaw at me, refusing to be silenced. The path ahead is uncertain, but I have no choice but to press forward. Perhaps, in time, the truth will reveal itself.