Paredoilia

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It was an odd evening indeed, when a shooting star came down and skipped right across the lake of Sanctuary.
It was a stranger day, the following morning, when a shower of them scattered across it, and a large object, or rather… a Being wrapped in bands of light… came crashing down into it with a horrific splash and a surge of tide.
Not even Anlirae, the Godling of the Cosmos, could have seen it coming, and yet… they welcomed the poor, sopping creature into their home of sanctuary as if an expected guest - drying it off, fluffing its feathers, and allowing it to curl into a basket of blankets right by the fireplace, as if it were something of a rather odd dog.
Now, some time later, no one seems to mind the glittering stardust it sheds and leaves behind, brushing it off their laps when it chooses to wander, or anticipating the moment it suddenly -pamft- teleports to someplace else within sanctuary, leaving behind a pile of the same static-charged, glittering dust upon a carefully prepared lap blanket, and not their own clothing.
Certainly, the vacuuming and dusting needs of Sanctuary have shot through the roof.

Even if it behaves as if it were some sort of dog, or other domestic animal, there is something about its eyes, and its piercing, soul-seeing gaze that seems to glitter with an intelligence that suggests cognitive ability beyond that of even the average caretaker.
Why then, does it not seek to communicate with the denizens of Sanctuary?
Why does it seem… content with the life of an abnormally large lapdog?

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We bring to you this exclusive report.

NOV–[Redacted], the beloved and well known spectacle having made many sudden appearances across the globe over past few years, has just been reported as MISSING from its home at the labs of SCI–009, with no reported sightings.

The researchers at SCI–009, however, assure us that while NOV–[Redacted] - otherwise known as Fortold here at the Millmeadows Gazette - is a non-aggressive organism, it is important to understand the dangers it could pose to magical ecosystems wherever it has ended up as an organism which actively devours magical energy.
Dr. Hodds, current and soon-to-retire caretaker of NOV-[Redacted], has provided us with the following statements regarding NOV-[Redacted], “Fortold”.

“NOV-[Redacted] is an organism formed from materials which we have traced back to the first two documented Novamancers, studied by the researchers of SCI-007, the Sorcerer-Astronomer Association of Sornieth, Lightning-Arcane Division.”
“Its appearance is varied and malleable, and it has demonstrated a keen mind for puzzles and adaptive reasoning in addition to mischief, and is credited with the thievery of mana cores from among those marked for proper hazardous waste disposal at site 17, which changed our disposal procedures drastically.”
“[Redacted] plays an integral role at SCI-009, as an organism that can feed upon and properly dispose of erratic and unstable magical energy with no harm to its system, and went missing from its enclosure two days ago. Our search for [Redacted] continues in an all hands on deck approach.”

“It is believed that - though [Redacted] has teleported away without its tracking beacon or tag - this is simply an escalation of its hide-and-seek adjacent behavior, and that it is patiently awaiting discovery wherever it has holed itself up. Our efforts in retrieval after each previous incident have proven to be very engaging enrichment for [redacted], which has also shown some signs of stress and restlessness over the course of the past month as staff have changed and procedures have been adjusted to better serve the needs of our community, our employees, and the continued future of SCI-009.”
“We urge citizens who happen to spot [Redacted] or who notice traces of its charged startrails near their communities to send in a report to SCI–009 through our hotline, especially if these traces are found near dead zones between the leylines, as it is unclear whether [Redacted] will manifest aggressive or even predatory mannerisms when its natural food source is limited.”

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Anlirae flicks the paper closed with one smooth motion, casting an eye towards their newest couch companion, almost serving as the backseat of the couch itself for all of its mass.

“They’re looking for you, you know. Do you want to go back?”
Its head tilts as it meets his stare, creating a warbling sound barely audible to the ear.
“No, You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I was merely asking. Sanctuary isn’t the kind of place - nor I the kind of overseer - to cast out any who find it. That, and I have plenty of mana at my disposal to share, so I can host you as long as you wish, especially after a re-entry like that. You’re lucky you landed here.”
More of the same sort of sounds, as the creature shifts and flares its mane and crest, form oscillating before settling.
“If you’ve no intention of going back, you ought to at least send a message their way, perhaps to someone who’d understand it. It sounds like you had a rather important job, would hate to leave them searching hopelessly, y’know?”
A huff, then its head settles upon their lap, an appendage snatching the post paper, scribbling upon it before placing it into Anlirae’s hand.
“Yeah, that’ll work.”

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The message, crudely written on the only available blank space on the newspaper reads:

Gone Away. Pass Message.

No Game, For Good.
Find Other Way for Job.

NOV– Paredoilia.

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