When I next slept my divine father came to me.
The two of us stood in an orchard of apple trees and oak trees. I found myself walking in stride with him feeling as if I been doing so awhile, talking of inconsequential things but not well remembering what they were.
Ogma reached out and plucked a large apple from the bountiful tree next to me and snapped it in half with his hands as if it were an orange. Inside I saw a healthy apple but at its center could be seen a black mold beginning to take root.
"As you can see son, Crom Cruach is wide spread and even now threatens Tír na nÓg. This sickness is a cancer that must be burned away."
He took a finger and I saw a small candle sized flame appear above it. He placed the finger into the apple and burned out the molded part. He then handed me the apple half and I saw that the mold was gone, but in its place a black singe of ashes sat at the core.
"Unfortunately burning out the impurities can damage that which you wished to protect. The Eye of Balor is a tool like many others but has the unfortunate side effect of tarnishing that which its gaze falls upon."
He held up the flaming finger and then extinguished the flame. There on the tip of the finger I could see a new mold growing.
"It runs the risk of infecting that which wields it as well. This is why the Tuatha locked it away, for fear that it would be a tumor that consumed us from within even if we had the best of intentions."
He took a knife from his belt buckle and separated the tip of his finger at the joint, quickly regenerating the flesh growing there, this time uncorrupted by mold.
"You must extinguish it at its source. For this reason I believe your Milesian general has wisdom and should be listened to. As for your choice between Danu and,"
he hesitates, averting his gaze from you back towards the orchard,
"erherm... The Morrigan... Well... Perhaps you have a loser's gamble on the table.
Moreover, Mannanan Mac Lir's Geas is not as simple as you believe it. He is sworn to protect Mag Mell until he dies. No God will tap the unbridled power of an Avatar so close to a Titan without something largely gained in the process. There is great fear that they could become consumed by the titan's power. They would most likely desire Mag Mell as payment and want to assume stewardship of the land. Should this happen Mannanan Mac Lir will have broken his geas causing himself great harm."
He pauses thinking for a moment.
"Perhaps a bargain might be reached? I do not know. The sea god is not a friend of mine and emotions are not something I read as easily as words. His moods switch like the ebb and tide of the ocean itself. My word of advice is this, think long on your choice. As you have pointed out both choices have great downsides. Whatever the choice is, I'm sure you will have thought through it with much consideration, son.
I am proud of the work you are doing, and the example you are setting for Aisling. You have come a long way and I can sense the growing power not only in your arms but also in your mind. I think you will find that when you awake you do so with more power than you feel you had when you laid to rest. Be well my son, hopefully I will see you again soon."
I awoke and faithfully and furiously wrote down in my journal as much of this dream as I could remember, as exactly as possible. I would need to discuss this with my team. Perhaps Nate's idea to call in Hachiman was a stroke of brilliance after all.
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