Meanwhile, far below and to the East of Inkara's shore, Launu was lying straight, alone in the shadows of his home, pondering the recent information he'd been handed and new problems he had to solve. The messengers from the elders had stopped, along with his sisters' fraternisation with the Human. Just like always, his contact with the School of his birth was once again reduced almost to nothing. He was isolated, but not lonely. He was satisfied with the business of his life, at least for now.

As he often did when he was thinking, he held his shell flute, making a soft tune that created notes too high for the Human ear to perceive, that echoed back and forth through his home, creating new sounds and reverberations that his own ear could pick up on. It helped to relax him.

Suddenly, he felt the faint and distinctive sound of a sensor scream, the subtle indication that someone was at his door and waiting for his attention. He sighed and returned his flute to its place, then kicked into the winding tunnel that led outside, navigating effortlessly through the darkness without even needing to use his own scream to feel where the walls were.

He parted the dark deathweed and glanced outside, and froze. It was Oouka. She was drifting, naked and glorious, outside, wearing an uncomfortable but warm expression.

Launu blinked, then nodded at her. "Second sister," he said. "This is somewhat unexpected."

"Only brother," she said, smiling. "Look, let's not talk. Not yet. I would, if you are willing, like to listen to your music," she went on, turned her eyes downward to the silt sea floor. "May I?" She asked, very quietly.

Launu paused in the entrance, then drifted out and turned around, began to return inside. He looked over his shoulder at her, and nodded. "If that is your wish, sister," he said.

Oouka followed him in, and was directed to his lounge. She lay there, curled up, as Launu considered things for a few moments, then took up his flute and began to play, pretending for a time that there was no-one else with him, yet feeling somehow glad that he knew there was. His sister, on the other hand, lay on the lounge, listening with her eyes closed, focusing on the sounds alone, picking out the small discordancies and bad cadences with her sharp ears.

When Launu was done, they said nothing to each other for a time, before he asked her opinion on the piece. Oouka began to tell him, pointing out the strong and weak parts, offering what little advice she could, suggesting things he could try to improve it. They talked, and there was no argument, and somehow, both of them felt just a little better about themselves and their lives for it.

And there, in the quiet darkness of the loner's home, a gossamer thin bridge was formed betwixt two opposing souls that were once aligned, as Yuza fulfilled the unknown destiny he been assigned.