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[He actually moves to sit beside Emet-Selch, folding his hands in his lap.]
True, but this one is special. It's all about a special artifact that grants wishes. And the sad thing is that a war is the least of the lengths those petty mages will go to get their hands on it.
True, but this one is special. It's all about a special artifact that grants wishes. And the sad thing is that a war is the least of the lengths those petty mages will go to get their hands on it.
[he glances up when hansa sits next to him, but he doesn't move away or tell him to go. this is acceptable, it seems.]
...I believe I have heard something similar before. Humankind is ever easily swayed by such things, are they not; I can well imagine the things some might do in search of that power.
...I believe I have heard something similar before. Humankind is ever easily swayed by such things, are they not; I can well imagine the things some might do in search of that power.
Oh, its a mess. Especially this war, for some reason. You see, those kinds of wars are based on a special ritual. The war itself is supposed to provide fuel to summon the artifact in the first place.
[He makes a flippant gesture.]
But this? Its a joke of a war. Its a bunch of mages who wanted to copy the ritual for themselves. The problem is...its extremely faulty. It already has mistakes baked in on the inside. So whatever they're thinking they're doing...I think that they're just stoking the fire that will eventually burn themselves up, and take the rest of us with them.
[He makes a flippant gesture.]
But this? Its a joke of a war. Its a bunch of mages who wanted to copy the ritual for themselves. The problem is...its extremely faulty. It already has mistakes baked in on the inside. So whatever they're thinking they're doing...I think that they're just stoking the fire that will eventually burn themselves up, and take the rest of us with them.
A group of power-hungry people, then, fumbling their way toward it and causing who knows what sort of damage along the way-- not to mention that if they have made mistakes in the ritual to call it, then even if it should work, there is no telling what such a creation might actually do.
[exhaling a heavy sigh, there.]
Rather than overseeing such a flawed effort, it seems as if it ought to be put to an end.
[exhaling a heavy sigh, there.]
Rather than overseeing such a flawed effort, it seems as if it ought to be put to an end.
Haha. That would be the best option. No more mages, no more Grail, no more war. Snowfield would be safe and sound.
[And then he heaves a large sigh.]
The problem is, I'm an Overseer. That's a neutral position that was given to me by the Church. Basically, the Church has its own investment in the artifact since its a holy one, so they've always taken a stance of a neutral party in such wars. No matter what, I have to play my role.
[And then he heaves a large sigh.]
The problem is, I'm an Overseer. That's a neutral position that was given to me by the Church. Basically, the Church has its own investment in the artifact since its a holy one, so they've always taken a stance of a neutral party in such wars. No matter what, I have to play my role.
Well, a Grail might still be viable, even in that broken war. But eh, I do what the Church says.
[Which is weird, he thinks, because he's not even part of the clergy, but, whatever!]
...Thanks. [He smiles over at Emet-Selch.] I appreciate it. Someone's got to do it, though, and I guess it just has to be me.
[Which is weird, he thinks, because he's not even part of the clergy, but, whatever!]
...Thanks. [He smiles over at Emet-Selch.] I appreciate it. Someone's got to do it, though, and I guess it just has to be me.
I'll drink to that.
[And he tilts his head. Afterwards.]
Well, I guess I'll tell you. My role, when I'm not an Overseer, is an Executor. The Church tasks me to hunt down vampires, heretical beings, and demons that pose a threat to humanity. I do that sort of as an on-need basis.
[He flexes a fist.]
I don't have this body just for show, you know.
[And he tilts his head. Afterwards.]
Well, I guess I'll tell you. My role, when I'm not an Overseer, is an Executor. The Church tasks me to hunt down vampires, heretical beings, and demons that pose a threat to humanity. I do that sort of as an on-need basis.
[He flexes a fist.]
I don't have this body just for show, you know.
Mmm. I suppose that yes, I do, but...its also sort of personal. I don't actually carry a grudge or anything. But I've seen what creatures like vampires can do to a place.
[He rolls his shoulders back.]
My village was destroyed by completely by one of those things, in a single night. I was the only one left from that massacre.
[He rolls his shoulders back.]
My village was destroyed by completely by one of those things, in a single night. I was the only one left from that massacre.
Thank you. It was a long time ago, but...
[It was what it was. He nods.]
I don't like thinking about those creatures doing whatever they want and hurting others. However, if one of them decided to live a quiet life, I would look over them. Its only the ones that desire to do evil that I have my sights on.
[It was what it was. He nods.]
I don't like thinking about those creatures doing whatever they want and hurting others. However, if one of them decided to live a quiet life, I would look over them. Its only the ones that desire to do evil that I have my sights on.
How gracious of you.
[it's not dismissive like it might normally be, though, just- slightly quiet.
he has to wonder what would change, if hansa knew what emet-selch truly was. if he knew the things that he had done. whether he would accept the situation, be able to view it in the way that emet-selch has always seen it... or if hansa would look at him the way he does those creatures.
and if it turned out to be the latter-- would it be kinder to allow him an easy exit from whatever feelings he might harbor, rather than having that attachment to him?
there's a stretch of silence, there, where he seems to just be thinking.]
[it's not dismissive like it might normally be, though, just- slightly quiet.
he has to wonder what would change, if hansa knew what emet-selch truly was. if he knew the things that he had done. whether he would accept the situation, be able to view it in the way that emet-selch has always seen it... or if hansa would look at him the way he does those creatures.
and if it turned out to be the latter-- would it be kinder to allow him an easy exit from whatever feelings he might harbor, rather than having that attachment to him?
there's a stretch of silence, there, where he seems to just be thinking.]
[He notices Emet fall silent. He really is a thinker, isn't he? The type to sit down, and plan, and work through things. Even with Kaiza's studies, he was always logical, methodical, patient.]
[Hansa also sits for a while in silence, honestly exhausted from the last few days. Two murders, a trial, an execution gone the opposite way. Its funny, how the last few days have also felt like ten years, of a kind.]
[After a long moment, Hansa just looks over at Emet-Selch, smiling.]
...Hm. Penny for your thoughts, there?
[Hansa also sits for a while in silence, honestly exhausted from the last few days. Two murders, a trial, an execution gone the opposite way. Its funny, how the last few days have also felt like ten years, of a kind.]
[After a long moment, Hansa just looks over at Emet-Selch, smiling.]
...Hm. Penny for your thoughts, there?
[he's tired as well, almost tempted to let his eyes slide shut for a few moments-- but then hansa speaks, and he glances back to him.]
Only considering.
[he debates, a moment, before he says all too casually:]
Were we from the same world, you may well have considered me one of your targets... though the situation in mine is quite different. Nevertheless, I am aware enough we are more often than not seen as villains.
Only considering.
[he debates, a moment, before he says all too casually:]
Were we from the same world, you may well have considered me one of your targets... though the situation in mine is quite different. Nevertheless, I am aware enough we are more often than not seen as villains.
What, are you a bloodsucker?
[He says, with a light laugh, but the last part gets him to give the other a questioning look.]
Villains? How so?
[He says, with a light laugh, but the last part gets him to give the other a questioning look.]
Villains? How so?
Hardly.
[don't lump him in with vampires, wow...
but he considers just where to start, first.]
...some of the details of our earlier conversations have grown a bit hazy, but I do not believe I have ever told you what became of the world I showed you, once. It was broken, shattered into one primary fragment and ten and three more reflections of it-- and while I know not precisely how we survived, I am one of two whose souls remained whole.
To make a long explanation very short, however, in answer to your question: these fragmented worlds do not recognize themselves as broken. They view our efforts to return them to the whole quite differently than we do, as they do not have any understanding of their true state.
[don't lump him in with vampires, wow...
but he considers just where to start, first.]
...some of the details of our earlier conversations have grown a bit hazy, but I do not believe I have ever told you what became of the world I showed you, once. It was broken, shattered into one primary fragment and ten and three more reflections of it-- and while I know not precisely how we survived, I am one of two whose souls remained whole.
To make a long explanation very short, however, in answer to your question: these fragmented worlds do not recognize themselves as broken. They view our efforts to return them to the whole quite differently than we do, as they do not have any understanding of their true state.
...The world was shattered?
[But not to oblivion, no, just...cut into pieces? Reflections? Its hard to visualize, and he frowns. It isn't like cutting a cake in half.]
So...the souls were cut, too? How strange. [He furrows his eyebrows.] And I guess its you and this other whole person who are trying to return things to the way they were?
[But not to oblivion, no, just...cut into pieces? Reflections? Its hard to visualize, and he frowns. It isn't like cutting a cake in half.]
So...the souls were cut, too? How strange. [He furrows his eyebrows.] And I guess its you and this other whole person who are trying to return things to the way they were?
So we are, yes. It is akin to a division-- were you struck by the same blow that split our world, the result would be a fragmentation; individual existences, yes, but all weakened, all reduced in every aspect. Each separate one cannot truly be called alive any more than one would call a broken shard of ceramic a bowl.
...but they cling to such an existence regardless, unaware that they have lost both the world as it was and their own immortality. To them, we are not trying to restore something to them, but trying to take away what they know-- never realizing what they know is false.
...but they cling to such an existence regardless, unaware that they have lost both the world as it was and their own immortality. To them, we are not trying to restore something to them, but trying to take away what they know-- never realizing what they know is false.
...
[He lets out a hum, trying to sort this through.]
So essentially they're...just like shades, in a way. Like they're not all there, since they're only pieces.
[i, crystal, personally hate how emet describes this and it sounds legitimate for someone who has never been through his world]
[He lets out a hum, trying to sort this through.]
So essentially they're...just like shades, in a way. Like they're not all there, since they're only pieces.
[i, crystal, personally hate how emet describes this and it sounds legitimate for someone who has never been through his world]
To us, yes. To you, they would likely seem much like yourself. Yet they remain naught but fragments without full souls of their own, believing themselves truly alive and their worlds whole.
[a slight pause, there.]
In order to be absorbed back into the whole, they must cease existing in their current state.
[a slight pause, there.]
In order to be absorbed back into the whole, they must cease existing in their current state.
...
[Believing themselves truly alive?]
[He frowns, suddenly. Kaiza...]
Do they at least...remember their previous lives, when they join back into the whole?
[Believing themselves truly alive?]
[He frowns, suddenly. Kaiza...]
Do they at least...remember their previous lives, when they join back into the whole?
You don't know?
[He just shakes his head, staring at the other man.]
Do you even know if your rejoining works in the first place?
[He just shakes his head, staring at the other man.]
Do you even know if your rejoining works in the first place?
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