|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Nov 1, 2019 2:17:50 GMT -8
When the warm sun slipped behind the horizon and the cool evening breeze started whispering in the trees, all sorts of strange, adventurous souls came out to play. One after another, smiling shadows appeared on the town streets. Wearing wild colors and friendly energy, they gathered together. Some wanted to enjoy their vacation to the fullest, others simply wished to celebrate being alive. And all of them shared similar ideas of fun. Numerous appropriately themed bars opened their doors. Bands began playing. Nectar started flowing. Feasting, drinking, singing and dancing... The night offered something for everyone. Cheerful voices and gleeful laughter echoed far. It was utterly disgusting. Outside, all alone, a grim silhouette stood and stared at one of the many questionable establishments. A pair of crimson eyes gleamed despite the vaning light. In stark contrast to the lively locals wandering around, the short girl looked like death warmed over. Her skin was deathly pale and her long hair a mess. Dirt and blood stained her long, dark robes. A wide-brimmed hat cast a dark shadow over her features. Some people passing by complimented her witch costume and politely inquired where the party was. They received no response, not even a passing glance. Something else occupied her mind entirely. Well, someone actually. When the small witch approached the entrance, a burly bouncer stepped in her way. “Sorry, kiddo, but this place is for adults only. Maybe you should... uh...” He awkwardly trailed off when he caught the girl’s gaze. There was no childish innocence or curiosity behind those red eyes. Only something icy and sinister... A quiet command left her lips. “Step aside, mortal.” He hesitated briefly. Something deep inside of him -probably self-preservation instinct- was telling him to move. Thankfully for everyone involved, he listened to it. Upon entering the bar, the young noble immediately felt out of place. She was forced to wade through a sea of garishly colored shirts and utterly shameless outfits. Worse yet, even without a mirror she could tell her appearance was a shameful mess. Why had she even come here...? Well, she wasn’t quite sure herself... Tch, no, it didn’t matter. Answers. She needed answers. And the man who could provide them was right there. A change of clothing could not disguise the despicable power that dwelled within him. Soon, a cold voice chimed from behind the man, demanding his attention. “Kiryu Miyazawa, I presume.”[405/405] Kiryu
|
|
|
Post by Kiryu on Nov 4, 2019 22:42:14 GMT -8
Kiryu Miyazawa was, indeed, standing there. The young warrior had changed into his more traditional garb, the flowing monk's robes that he favored when adventuring or fighting. if Lilith was a bit out of place, then certainly Kiryu was as well. Still, he at least did not look like a child and was not stopped from ordering drinks, so he had a cocktail in hand when Lilith approached him.
As she drew nearer, Kiryu got a look at her. Her garb was dirty and torn, and in some areas, soaked through with blood. She had to be in pain, but she stared intently at Kiryu. He inclined his head towards her, acknowledging her comment. It could only have been him that had left the letter for her, after all. This was just after Lilith had accosted him in her forest. It had been a rather large mistake on the diminutive witch's part; though Kiryu was quite unrefined when it came to the proper use of magic, he had power to spare, both physically and with the mystic arts. Despite Kiryu's best efforts to get her to stand down, Lilith had persisted, and Kiryu had had to do enough damage to knock her out.
He had also maybe implied that he wouldn't give Lilith any mercy. It had been a bluff, and unlike him, but he had been attempting to intimidate her into changing her ways and ceasing the conflict. It had not worked; Lilith Nevermore, no matter her moral fiber, was determined and tenacious. She had not budged an inch... and of course, Kiryu being Kiryu, he had not harmed the woman any more than he had to. He had hoped that the revelation of his true strength, along with the hastily written letter he had written, was enough to interest Lilith.
Apparently he had been right.
"Please, have a seat," Kiryu said. "Can I get you anything? Beer, wine, a cocktail?"
Kiryu did not really know what he was going to say. He had not really expected Lilith to take him up on his offer... she had seemed too rigid, too set in her ways. Kiryu was going to have to be careful about what he said here; from what he could tell, Lilith had a vast amount of pride, and Kiryu would have to be mindful that he did not offer too many insults to that. She was probably already feeling vulnerable, or scared.
"I'm glad you decided to take me up on the offer."
[WC=417]
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Nov 5, 2019 22:47:55 GMT -8
Seeing the foe so nonchalant, so... carefree... cut deeper than any physical wound. Lilith gripped her beloved spell tome tighter, until her pale hands trembled. In stark contrast, the strange man held a cocktail of all things. Where she was barely able to stand, he was drinking the night away like nothing ever happened. An insulting reminder of the sheer power difference between them. Just... What was he? When offered a seat and a drink, the young noble shot back a defiant glare. Charity for an enemy? How dare he?! However, her lips parted hesitantly... And nothing came out. “...” Warily her crimson gaze glanced around. She wasn’t scared, mind you. Just... confused. By many things. So eventually she did take a seat, carefully settling down on the nearest chair. Every small motion sent a shock of pain across her body. Yet she clenched her teeth and kept it hidden beneath the cold mask. A quiet, defeated mutter crept from her lips. “I’ll take some red wine... please...” The word that was a part of the routine in her usual circles now tasted bitter on her tongue. Yet it was sadly appropriate for the occasion. That letter... It still weighed heavily on the grim girl’s mind. The words spoken did not match the words written.. She couldn’t tell if the man was being genuine or not... And no matter how much she tried to silently assure herself that it didn’t bother her... It bothered her immensely. This had been a terrible idea after all. Why was she playing along to his whims? Was this some sort of twisted ploy? A control curse already cast on her? Her tome hadn’t revealed any such spells on her body, but... If he was as powerful as she surmised, then he could very well be hiding something. Ultimately, she shattered the awkward silence. “...Why?”Why what? Well, Lilith wasn’t quite sure herself. There were so many questions swirling around her head. Most of them began with that very word. Still clutching the book like a shield between herself and him, she carefully searched for the words. “You threatened to kill me...” Her stare hardened with cold hate. “You showed me your true face...” When she closed her eyes, she could remember that ghastly look all too well. Compared to it, this mask of... friendliness and kindness... was simply laughable. Struggling to keep her voice from trembling, she voiced the most important question. “So why did you let me live?”[421/826] Kiryu
|
|
|
Post by Kiryu on Nov 11, 2019 19:16:28 GMT -8
When Lilith sat and asked for a red wine, Kiryu summoned a server and asked for whatever they recommended. Given his assistance to the establishment, they were only to happy to provide the beverages gratis, though Kiryu made sure to tip. He wasn't a savage.
At Lilith's question, Kiryu paused. A look of quiet contemplation flitted across his visage, as he pondered the hidden depths behind that deceptively straightforward single world.
Why, indeed?
Before he could formulate a response, however, Lilith continued. When she spoke of his true face, Kiryu winced. He pinched the bridge of his nose and grimaced, clearly unhappy. It had been a gamble, and it clearly hadn't payed off.
This wasn't going to be a clean conversation at all. So he decided to start somewhere entirely differently.
"Do you know," Kiryu began, voice thick with memory, "The thing I remember most about my childhood? It's not a friend. Not a sport. Not getting a present I really wanted during a holiday or birthday. It's not a beloved pet that was my constant companion.
It's being in pain all the time.
Not that I was injured all the time, exactly. But I was constantly training. See, when you're a child, you have to be very careful about the way you train, or it will damage your bones. My father was brilliant when it came to that. And I don't want you to think that he was some monster that forced me to do torturous things. He's a great man... but he saw my potential early and guided me towards a certain path. And I wanted to be like him, you understand? So I did it. No matter how sore I was I always pushed through. When I went through puberty and my joints and tendons became far less elastic so I had to do grueling stretches for months to get my flexibility where it needed to be. When I was nine, I trained for a year straight to be able to easily create an energy blast at will. I passed out at least once a month from exhaustion. I was just a kid, so it was hard for me to be able to generate and utilize ki reliably and safely and without being completely exhausted from the effort.
It's interesting. I realize now that one of the reasons it was so hard in the beginning was because it wasn't just ki; I was learning to channel my magical energy into ki through sheer will. I think that's what gave me the base I have, you know?
Anyway, I did all of that for one reason. Because I believe in something. I believe that my Path is to help others. And I am going to do that without killing anyone. Ever. I never have, and I damn sure wasn't going to do that to you.
I guess my acting skills must be getting a bit better. I was just bluffing.
To tell you the truth, Lilith... I'm scared of you. Of what you could become, of what you could do. Hell, you summoned a knight and had it try to take my head off because I wouldn't give you something. So... yes. I flexed. I tried to intimidate you to get you to stand down because I didn't want to find out what you were capable of when you were backed into a corner.
Tell me the truth... would you have done it? Killed an innocent person who had never done anything to you? And if you would... well, then my question is the same as yours.
Why?
[WC=600] [TWC=1,017]
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Nov 13, 2019 3:41:08 GMT -8
When the glass of wine arrived, the young noble accepted it without a word of thanks. Servants were not entitled to the same politeness she offered her peers. Which the strange man was now, technically. Such an odd realization. Lost in thought, she took a tentative sip. ...And nearly gagged. She aimed an incredulous glance at the glass, half-expecting to find colored dishwater in it. Eugh, what was this cheap swill? Did poor people actually drink this? She shuddered at the thought. And yet... Soon enough she took another reluctant sip, desperately trying to withstand the taste. Thirst had scratched her throat all evening and this was better than nothing... Between the small sips, Lilith listened attentively to Kiryu’s tale. It was the proper thing to do, even if she quickly found they had nothing in common. In stark contrast to his cruel, brutish upbringing, her childhood had been one of riches and wonder. Her days were spent studying magic and practicing the various arcane arts. Ah, things had been so much better... Simply reminiscing those days lit some wistful flames in her soul... Not that she would ever admit it. Instead, she snuffed out the pointless feelings and focused on the tale. It honestly explained a lot about the man. Yet each answer she received raised two more questions. However, when the mage revealed that he had been bluffing all along, the witch blinked. This felt much too genuine to be another lie. The cold expression cracked beneath confusion. Disbelief. Sheer shock, really. Nooo... An imaginary brush painted her pale cheeks with an angry blush. No no no... She barely managed to stammer a response. “You were... merely bluffing...?” The realization sank in like a cannonball into a body of water. Shame splashed inside her mind. “But... you... I...” When words failed her, she quickly averted her gaze and scoffed. “Gah, never mind...” To think she had been prepared to die when her opponent was just... toying with her... The humiliation burned as hot as glowing coals inside her head. When Kiryu asked his questions, Lilith finally managed to muster enough composure to look at him again. Her voice chimed like a silver bell. Light. Clear. And deathly cold. “Yes.” Shifting her gaze onto the red liquid in her glass, watching it sway, she let out a pensive hum. “Such a strange question. Why does a fish swim, why does a bird fly?” She didn’t let the philosophical questions linger. “Because they are born to do so.” Pausing for a bit, she took another sip. And pondered. Perhaps... She owed some elaboration... With a deep sigh, the witch set down the glass and clasped her hands together. Why was she even considering telling this? Then again, he had shared his tale, so it was only proper to return the favor. Locking eyes with the odd man, she continued explaining. “I am the heir of the Nevermore witch clan. Thus it is my birthright to rule those beneath me. Naturally I give peasants a chance to submit, like I did to you. Those who do so may live unharmed. Violence is the last resort. But... If I must take a life to get what I desire, then so be it.” A corpse could still serve... As a reminder. Briefly the witch... hesitated. She had the utmost confidence in her world view, but... There was one thing that didn’t fit the picture. And he was sitting right there. “My only mistake was... misjudging you.” She searched for the words, trying to form a coherent question. Perhaps the thing that puzzled her most was... “What is it that you are trying to achieve?” No, that didn’t come out quite right. She hurried to clarify. “You hold all that raw power... You even possess the sacred artifact... And yet, you still mingle among commoners. You... seek to help them? For what reason? What could you possibly gain by lowering yourself to their level?” Despite her best, honest attempt, she just couldn’t comprehend it. [675/1501] Kiryu
|
|
|
Post by Kiryu on Nov 15, 2019 12:49:14 GMT -8
"Because I'm not better than they are," Kiryu said simply.
The young warrior mage watched as Lilith 'enjoyed' her wine. If Kiryu had have been more worldly, he would have known that the house wine offered at a vacation resort would probably not be to the liking of a member of the nobility, who had likely learned to discern the variety of the wine by smell as part and parcel of their education. Kiryu, however, was not what one would call a wine connoisseur.
Kiryu considered his words for a moment before considering. What Lilith was saying was foreign to him. It was like she thought she had some divine mandate to rule, simply because she was born with a certain last name. It completely baffled Kiryu. Why would you think you were better than someone else because you were lucky enough to grow up with money and power?
Kiryu pursed his lips for a moment, forming his words, and then he continued speaking.
"You say that you are descended from the Nevermore clan. You refer to others as peasants... commoners. Clearly there's some noble lineage there.
But so what? If you go back far enough, every king has an ancestor that was a commoner. More times than not someone became nobility because they were a commoner with enough sense and charisma for an army to form around. And this is all, of course, glossing over the fact that that just isn't the way the world works anymore. There are elected officials. The people have a say in who governs them. But let's not talk about the reality of it right now; let's talk about the philosophy of it.
You put yourself above the 'commoners'. Why? Tell me what you have done to be deserving of such elevation.
Perhaps your family did something spectacular. Perhaps they were all as you are presenting yourself, and seized wealth and power and status by force. But they are not you. Tell me, with this power and privilege you hold... what have you done to be worthy of it?
Because power isn't just for us. It can't be. If it is, then it's just power for power's sake, and that's a self propagating, infinite cycle. You will always seek more power simply to have it. But it's not for you. Power is to be used for the people you would rule. It is to better their lives. Because otherwise, well...
Can you tell me the point of it, Lilith?
Because let's think this through. You say you deserve power because of your lineage. Fine. Let's say you get it. What do you do with it? What's it all for?
You could have the world, but if you did, would you even want it? Why? What do you really want?
And it's a shame because I feel like I see these... glimmers in you. Of someone that maybe could understand. I just... Lilith, I feel like you have absolutely no idea how much more you could be."
[WC=502] [TWC=1,519]
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Nov 16, 2019 7:32:53 GMT -8
The young noble nearly spat out her wine when the martial artist deflected her questions with a single line. He dared to imply that possessing all these rare gifts didn’t elevate him above the common rabble. Lies. Slander. Sacrilege. She leaned forward and raised a finger, ready to list several reasons why he was not only wrong but also foolish. Unfortunately she couldn’t quite get the words out before the strange man continued. Interrupting would’ve been incredibly rude... Even if he was wrong, wrong, wrong... Reluctantly she withdrew her hand and went back to sipping the red dishwater. Trying to understand this man’s preposterous ideals was proving far more difficult than she had anticipated... So was remaining quiet, as she was about to learn. When Kiryu correctly deduced that the Nevermore clan was of noble blood, Lilith allowed herself a smug, little smile. That smile shattered the moment he questioned the value of nobility. Her gaze narrowed into venomous glare. The glass in her hand trembled as her grip tightened. Each word that came from his mouth was a dagger stabbed into her pride. She had not come all this way to be insulted like this. And yet... She bit her tongue. Bit it until she could taste the seeping iron in her mouth. While it pained her to admit, she could not match this man. Getting angry at him would accomplish nothing. Once the young man had spoken his mind, the little lady set aside her glass. A quiet, cold whisper left her lips, an icy echo of his earlier questions. “What have I done to deserve my status...? To be worthy...?” The pitch-black tome she had been clutching against her chest was hoisted onto the table. “Awaken, o’ Tome of Nevermore and share thy secrets...” With the command spoken, the pages fluttered open as if browsed by invisible hands. Soon an empty spread presented itself and ink started spreading across it, written by an imaginary quill. It drew something resembling a twisted tree, with names, dates and small portraits appearing on the branches. Until it got to Lilith and suddenly stopped. Meanwhile, the witch kept her bitter, hateful stare on the martial artist. “I have spent countless hours studying and practicing magic ever since I could read. Everything I possess is the result of undying dedication to the dark arts.” She pointed at the book, tapping its pages insistently. “The fact that the sacred family tome recognizes me as its master is proof enough of my worth.” Her other hand directed a sweeping gesture at the people around them. “These commoners cannot cast a single spell. They age quickly and accomplish nothing in their pitiful lives.” The tapping hand rose back to her chest. “I wield power beyond their imagination. Reality bends to my will. So do not speak to me of being more, when compared to these lousy mortals I am a goddess.” Taking a deep breath, she slumped back onto her seat. Perhaps... she got a bit carried away there... But she refused to let these insults go unanswered. A heavy sigh passed Lilith’s lips. Deep breaths... Focus... “What do I really want...?” To be honest, up until now, she hadn’t given it much thought. That wasn’t to say she didn’t know the answer. It was always there, lingering in the dark corners of her mind, whispering in her ear. “Vengeance.” A single word, spoken with chilling calmness and clarity. Her eyes held nothing but cold hate. “There is a man I will find and kill.” A man much like the one sitting in front of her right now. “And once I have dealt with him... I shall restore my family...” Suddenly she fell quiet, realizing she had said too much. [633/2134] Kiryu
|
|
|
Post by Kiryu on Nov 20, 2019 12:20:15 GMT -8
Kiryu watched her face, intent on Lilith as she responded. There was... Kiryu didn't know what he was dealing with, exactly. There was so much anger, and pride, that it was hard to hone in on anything that he could latch on to, any point of debate that could help him get through to the witch. As the wheels turned in his mind, Kiryu spoke.
"So, I asked what you have done to be worthy... and you tell me that you have studied a book, mastered some magic and extended your life span. That, to normal men and women, you are, essentially, a divinity.
And I have to say, Lady Nevermore, I feel like that is not an answer to the question I asked.
I recognize that you must have spent countless hours honing your craft. In fact, I respect that. I have trained since childhood myself. But I was not asking what you, personally, did to earn the power that you possess. That's not being worthy of it. A person can lift weights to increase the power of their muscles. They can read and study to increase the agility of their mind. Doing these things, though they are hard, sometimes grueling, is no proof of merit. It's what you do with your abilities that speaks to if you're worthy."
Kiryu drummed his fingers softly on the table, the rhythm helping him think.
"Power and privilege, on their own merits, lead to corruption and decadence. Maybe you don't care about that... but you should. Because I believe that a person is only truly strong, truly powerful, when they use their gifts in service of something greater than themselves. That's why I push myself. That's why my will is iron and I can shape magic without a tome, or incantations, or other components. That's why I will never stop training, never stop growing. Because it's not about me, in the end. It's about leaving this world better than it was when I came into it. At least, that's what it's about for me."
Lilith mentioned wanting to kill someone, and seeking vengeance, and restoring her family. Curious. She spoke like someone that had grown up with servants for every task from dressing to bathing her. Like she would be confused by the notion of someone that had to work for a living. Yet she spoke as if she had no family, no home.
Curious indeed.
Kiryu sighed, rolling his shoulders to ease some tension. "I have... felt the desire to kill before. I'm not a saint. I have the same urges for violence and everyone else. So I suppose I can empathize with that, at least a little bit. Why do you seek vengeance? What did this person do?"
Here, at last, was a potential avenue of attack for Kiryu. He knew the extremes that vengeance could drive people to. If everything Lilith was doing was in service to this, perhaps there was some way for Kiryu to break through to her and get Lilith to see things a bit differently.
[WC=510] [TWC=2,029]
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Nov 23, 2019 2:39:03 GMT -8
Lilith’s eye twitched as Kiryu recounted her incredible achievements in... less than flattering manner. Was he mocking her? Because she most certainly felt mocked. Had this man not been so powerful, he would’ve paid for his insolence! A mouse, maybe... No no, mice were -erm- could be considered cute. A frog. Or a cockroach. Yes, had he not been so powerful, she would’ve cursed him into a disgusting critter on the spot. Sadly, she could only suffer in silence. Her venomous glare, however, spoke volumes. She was still stuck with more questions than answers. Like... Who did this man think he was? Hmph. However, the pair of armor-piercing questions stabbed deep into young lady’s chest. Why...? What...? The defiant light in her eyes died. Her composure cracked, like a thin sheet of ice receiving a touch too much pressure. Reminiscent of a spiderweb, the cracks spread across her mind. She had said far too much and now she paid the price. After an uncharacteristic moment of... hesitation... she finally managed to squeak out a single, suffocated sentence. “He killed them...” Facing reality was often difficult. Even for someone who could bend parts of it to her whims. The witch closed her eyes. A deep breath brought back some of the cold composure. Refroze the cracked ice. Her voice stopped wavering. “That man murdered my family, relatives and servants. He blundered our precious artifacts and left our castle in ruins.” As she spoke, she could still see flashes of that cursed night. Sharing it with anyone, especially a pretentious stranger, cut deeper than she cared to admit. This was the majority of her story... But not the whole story. She lifted the wine glass back to her lips to stop herself from saying anything more. The lousy wine barely washed away the bitter taste of failure in her mouth. But at least it cleared her mind somewhat. The reason for the attack... How she had survived... Beside the point. Unimportant. Irrelevant. So she silently assured herself. When the former noble opened her eyes again, they had grown even colder. “He took away everything.” Calm and clear with a chilling purpose. “I shall return the favor.” It was just like her grandmother used to always say... Don’t get mad... Get sadistic. To reach that goal, however, she needed power. Absolute, overwhelming magical might, greater than her family combined. The kind this infuriating man wielded. Her stare narrowed at the mere thought. After a moment of just staring, she finally sighed. “I do not understand you.”Swirling the remaining wine in the glass idly, the little lady clarified. Sculpted her frustration into words. “You speak of your power like it is meant to serve someone... something else...” She fumbled over the borrowed argument, trying to arrange them into some order that made sense. “Well, that whole manner of thinking is utterly backwards. The powerful and brilliant are born to be served by those beneath them. That is how the world has always been and shall be forevermore. One fish swimming against the current will never change that.” She was a woman of tradition, like her mother before her, and countless grandmothers before them. [536/2670] Kiryu
|
|
|
Post by Kiryu on Dec 4, 2019 12:41:53 GMT -8
Kiryu listened to Lilith's answers. As the witch spoke, Kiryu could plainly see the pain of her loss. It seemed to Kiryu that that pain engulfed her, consumed her, making it nigh impossible for her to veer from her chosen course. It was, in a way, very sad. Kiryu's face softened, sympathy plain on his face.
"I am very sorry for your loss," the young magus said quietly. "If I had lost my family... truly, I do not know what I would be doing.
But I guess, in a way, that's kind of my point."
Kiryu rolled his shoulders, stretching them out, pursing his lips and carefully considering his next few words before continuing.
"Those that you call peasants. Those people you say are beneath you. They have the same thoughts and feelings and passions as you or I. Yours aren't worth more than theirs. At least, not to that individual. Every person you have been cruel to, every person you have hurt, every person you have killed or maimed... they have a family, too. They have people that love them. And that pain of loss that you feel? You are inflicting that on the people that will miss them when they are gone.
Tell me, does that sound like someone who is a good person to you?"
Kiryu paused, shaking his head and sighing, his shoulders falling slightly.
"Maybe you don't care about that. Being a good person. Doing some good in this world. But you should, because if you did...
You know, you are right. One fish swimming against the current? Not much will happen. One person, no matter their power or will or valor, can't hold back the tide alone.
But what if that wasn't just one person? What if they had friends? Everywhere I have gone, I have made allies, because I believe to the core of my being that it is the duty of those with power and privilege to act on behalf of those that are not born with it. And because that is the way I live my life... I have friends. I have people that I can count on to stand with me when I need them. To swim against the current. To turn the tide. To help others and in so doing help ourselves.
I might be wrong about this, Lady Nevermore... but you seem sort of... alone. Maybe you like it that way, but, to me, that is no way to go through life. Power for it's own sake is isolating.
Imagine if you used your gifts to do good. Hell, you could have come to me as a friend. You could have told me what happened, and my heart would have bled for you, and I would have devoted all of my strength and will and skill to finding this person that killed those you love and bringing him to justice."
Kiryu paused then, biting off whatever else he had been about to say. He had begun to feel increasing anger and frustration, both at Lilith and on her behalf, and he did not want that to color his thoughts and words.
He was, however, absolutely sincere in what he said.
[WC=532] [TWC=2,531]
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Dec 6, 2019 7:42:51 GMT -8
When Kiryu presented his quiet condolences, Lilith kept her mouth shut. She could feel it, the venomous retort seeping from her tongue. A reflex, really. Her prickly pride was whispering in her ear, telling her how she didn’t need his pity. Unfortunately... She was fairly sure this strange man was being genuine... As such, it would’ve been awfully rude to snap at him. So she settled for listening. His words stirred the awful emotions in the cauldron of her mind. Was this how all those peasants felt...? She blinked at the unusual thought. And promptly shook it out of her mind. No, nonono, she couldn’t afford to get sidetracked like this. Curse this man and his strange ideals... For a brief moment there, the witch thought she had finally reached the man, gotten through that thick skull of his. She even allowed herself a smug, little smile. “Of course I am right. It is ob-” However, her words were cut short when the philosophical mage dared to flip the argument around. The smugness turned to puzzlement... Her brow quirked. Any counter-argument she had died on her lips. Strength in numbers was the very reason why witches formed covens. To share ideas and cast greater spells. As much as it frustrated her to admit... And she couldn’t believe she was thinking this... The mage had a point. Distracted by the reversal, the girl was hit hard by the seemingly innocent observation. Alone... Like a spike, the word struck through the icy facade. Her composure shattered. Wide-eyed shock washed over her features. She didn’t respond, but the answer was written all over her reaction. Her head drooped. The hat cast a grim shadow over her face. She flinched at the mention of friendship. Had that really been an option? Simply telling a complete stranger her woes? Would he really have been so willing to help? As the questions clashed against each other within her skull, a single word left her lips. “Liar...”The witch sniffled weakly. “You would have never accepted me. People like you turn against me the moment they learn my true nature.” She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. What? No, she wasn’t crying! It was just... The surrounding stench was making her eyes water. Giving up on trying to regain her shattered composure, she sighed. “I know exactly what I am.” She gripped the glass tighter and downed the rest of the swill in a single gulp. It did nothing. Her throat still felt so raspy. Each word got stuck. “I just... do not know what to do...” This meeting was supposed to give her answers, yet she found herself burdened with more questions than ever. [454/3124] Kiryu
|
|
|
Post by Kiryu on Dec 10, 2019 21:13:38 GMT -8
Kiryu cocked his head to the side. One of his eyebrows raised in genuine puzzlement at Lilith's words. Still, as she reacted, and as she spoke, Kiryu held his tongue.
To be honest, he could relate. More than once, during his recent journeys, Kiryu had had his own morality, his sense of right and wrong, called in to question. Kiryu had been tested, and he felt, rather strongly, that he was far removed from the person he had been even a few short months ago. Kiryu was lucky in that he felt that he had come through the experience stronger, with a better sense of himself and his resiliency... but he had had family and friends to lean on.
Who did Lilith have?
Kiryu was struck, then, by the most intense urge to hug the woman. He resisted, but it was still there.
"Tell me, Lady Nevermore, why do you think that? Why do you call me a liar? Let us be fair, here. You did try to rob and murder me... like, a couple of hours ago. And not only did I not end your life, I treated your wounds. I asked you to come find me, so that we could talk. So that I could know why you had done these things... and now, so that I can try to help you, to turn you from what I believe to be an evil, ill path.
I am certain that you have done less than charitable things in your life. I know that to some that seek to walk the path of magic, dark roads cam draw you in. It's a seductive, isolating path to power. Well... to be fair, I say I 'know', but that's not true. I don't know, not really. But I can guess.
But that doesn't have to define your future. You don't have to keep making the same choices. You can decide, right now, or tomorrow, or the next day... that you're going to choose something else. That you're going to choose to be better than you were the same before. Somebody with your abilities... you have so much to offer the world.
I don't know what you mean by your true nature. But the fact of the matter is that you tried to kill me, and I am sitting here after tending to the injuries I inflicted on you in defense of myself, continuing to try to help you."
Kiryu sighed, then, raking a hand through his coal black hair. "I may not suffer from an overabundance of education, but I'm not a simpleton. I don't think that after an hour of conversation you're going to walk away with your outlook on life completely changed, ready to go down to the soup kitchen and help feed the homeless. That's not how this works. People can't change fundamental things about themselves in one moment. But you can change, if you want. You can make different choices. And the thing is... you can still get everything you want. You can make yourself safe. You can get vengeance on those that committed atrocities against you. You can do all the things that you are driven to do.
But if, instead of trying to oppress others with your power, you choose a different path... well, you need not do so alone. You could do so with friends, allies, people you like and trust and care for and feel the same for you. Gaining those types of allies is no easy task. You have to show that you're trustworthy. That you mean well, that you want to do good, and not just for yourself. It's not an easy path, especially considering the one you have likely been walking.
But you can still make that choice. You have all the power over your future, Lady Nevermore. I am merely here asking you to choose a different one. One that I think is better. Brighter. For you, and for everyone you meet."
Kiryu left it there for the moment. He did not, at this time, say the rest of what was on his mind. That if Lilith did not begin to change... Kiryu was going to have to watch her. And stop her. He did not think that he would say that... but it was certainly heavy, weighing on his mind.
He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking... and then he laughed. It was a low, deep chuckle, something that issued from his very core. It was a laugh that, at the moment, he sorely needed.
He smiled over at Lilith, nothing but warmth and kindness in his eyes.
"I am sorry, Lady Nevermore. I wasn't laughing at you. I just had a thought. See, I was thinking how nice it would be if there was something I could say, some phrase, that might make you change your mind. Then it dawned on me... I was looking for the magic words."
Kiryu smiled over at Lilith. She might not be amused, but he sure as hell was.
Right then and there, to keep going forward, he had to be.
[WC=850] [TWC=3,381]
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Dec 13, 2019 7:40:36 GMT -8
Between the strangled sobs, the young witch was unable to form any kind of coherent rebuttal. Why...? Well, because it was the only possibility that made sense. Either he was a liar, trying to manipulate her for personal gain... Or he was actually telling the truth. The first option she knew well. It was predictable. Safe. The second one... Was completely unknown to her... Strange. Threatening. When the man pointed out her failed attempt on his life, she actually flinched. Her nervous fingers poked together. She couldn’t really argue against any of his points either. He... a man she had so insistently labeled a dumb brute... actually had a point. And that... Terrified her... Because whenever someone was right, someone else had to be wrong. Beneath the confusion and fear bubbled indignation. Pride seeped through the girl’s mind like poison. First she had gotten beaten by this man and now he dared to lecture her like... like a... She grit her sharp teeth together and banished the thought. Who was he to claim making this stupid choice would actually make her better? How presumptuous. “I do have allies... Every fiend I summon and every familiar I contract...” What was supposed to be a scathing rebuttal, a truth to shut him down, came out as a pitiful mutter. One could argue fiends and familiars weren’t really allies. They were more of pawns. Or pets. You couldn’t hold a meaningful discussion with one. When the monk dared to laugh, the lady’s cauldron nearly boiled over. Her crimson glare narrowed. Here she was in tears and he had the sheer audacity to laugh?! However, the explanation left her blinking. Once. Twice. And finally it sank in... Her eye twitched. She quickly dragged the brim of her hat even lower. To think she nearly lost her cool over a joke... Shame burned inside her chest like hot coals. An imaginary brush painted her pale cheeks with a touch of pink. She managed to spit out a bitter, little comment. “Tch, I hope you realize word play is the lowest form of humor.” No, she did not find it funny. Absolutely not. ...Seriously. Somehow resisting the urge to simply storm out, Lilith peeked from beneath her hat. One more question... She assured herself this would be the last one. “Why are you so concerned over my future...?” No, perhaps that wasn’t the one she wanted to ask. Very well. A better one then. “I mean... What do you gain from this? From changing me? If you simply brought my heart and crest to the Full Moon village, you would be hailed a hero. You would gain their eternal gratitude.” Painful memories flashed through her mind. So vividly she remembered what had happened when that... other monster... had beaten her in the city. How the people had cheered when she had lost. She spoke softly, without that haughty chime she usually held. “I am worth more dead than alive after all...” In the end, she couldn’t actually ask the real question... Was it okay for her to be alive? [520/3644] Kiryu
|
|
|
Post by Kiryu on Dec 14, 2019 12:39:17 GMT -8
"You might say that, but I think I see a smile in there nonetheless!"
It was, in some ways, the only question Kiryu had not been prepared for. It was not actually something that he thought about often.
What did he get out of all of this?
It was actually a much deeper question, at least to him, then it seemed on the surface. If he really thought about, he could wax poetic about how in actuality there might be no such thing as altruism. How even everything he did, though he had noble intentions and was motivated to do good, came from a place of he himself getting fulfillment and satisfaction from doing such things. However... that was Kiryu's own existential philosophical quandary. That was not, of course, what Lilith was asking him. She was asking him what gain there was for him to help her, specifically, when there was more material gain from harming and imprisoning her.
Kiryu looked at her with kind eyes.
"Lilith... I am not a hero. I don't care if people see me as one or sing my praises. If they do, they are welcome to think of me kindly. But I don't do this so that people will inflate my ego. I do it because... because I believe that there is right and wrong in this world. And I believe that you have done wrong, yes... but that is the past. You can make a different choice, and if I can help you do that... I will. Because if I can change you, even a little bit? If I can in any way help you towards a gentler path, if I can perhaps convince you to be a force for good and not oppression in this world... that will be worth more than all the Zeni in the world to me.
If all I cared about was wealth or prestige, that would be easy enough to maintain. Go save a village from a rampaging dinosaur and they'll make me their lord. I could make enough money fighting in tournaments to live the rest of my life in comfort. But that means nothing to me.
What does mean something to me is leaving the world better than it was when I found it. That's why I travel, why I train, why I fight when I would rather do this, talk and see if we can't just change how those that would be our foes see things.
That's why I would get out of it. A Lady Lilith Nevermore that sought not only to increase her power and wreak her vengeance no matter the cost to the lives of those around her, but someone that will help others, and allow them to help her in return. Someone that would prize justice over vengeance. Someone that would find a stranger with a powerful and see a potential ally, not a potential target. Someone that could use her incredible gifts not to build a castle and a monument to her own ego, but could use those gifts to make the lives of everyone around her better.
A person like that in the world has worth beyond measure. That is what I would get out of this.
Why not try it my way? After all, what have you got to lose by extending an open hand rather than a closed fist?"
Kiryu truly had no idea if his arguments were going to be persuasive enough. But he prayed they were, because he meant what he said... and beyond that, if Lilith did not turn over a new leaf, there was a cold, hard fact that Kiryu had to consider.
He would have to stop her.
Kiryu did not know exactly what he would do. He would not kill... that was not his way. Could he find a way to strip her of her magic? To imprison her somehow? He did not know, and truly, he did not want to consider it, but Kiryu was who he was, and he would not let innocents suffer due to the actions of would be tyrants.
[WC=684] [TWC=4,025]
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Dec 15, 2019 4:03:20 GMT -8
When Kiryu dared to call Lilith by her first name... to address her so casually... her eye twitched with irritation. Yet she said nothing. Well, actually she couldn’t muster the energy to snap at him. To correct him. It would have sounded like pitiful whining at this point. So she let it slide. But only because she was tired. Not because they were on first-name basis. Or ever would be for that matter. Such things were reserved for family, friends and lo... Family and friends. And he was neither. The noblewoman focused on listening. She was hoping to glean at least some sort of insight from his words, but... His ideology was so strange. Like listening to a translation of some ancient riddle. Individually she recognized and understood every single word, but combined together they were nonsense. The sentences circled around her head. A man who didn’t care about wealth or prestige? Impossible. Yet there he was sitting right in front of her. A walking logical impossibility. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was right. His words were like weeds, slowly spreading their roots across her mind... As the kind martial artist ended with a question, the young witch found herself without answers. “Because I...” She hesitated. It was a chilling sensation, not knowing the answer to a question. Why not try it his way...? Her gaze dropped to the floor. The hat cast a shadow over her eyes. “Because... I do not know how...” Admitting it made her feel sick. ...Or maybe it was the wine. She was going to blame the wine. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. “You are a strange man, Ki... Sir Miyazawa.” Gah, he almost got her doing it too. How irritating. Suddenly Lilith picked up her spell tome and rose from her seat. While she hadn’t asked the real last question that weighed on her mind, she had still asked more than she could stomach. She turned without looking at the man. “Please do not get the wrong idea. I have no intention to follow your ideals.” Frost slowly crept over her tone as her frigid composure returned. “This conversation changes nothing.” When she faced the door, however, she stopped. Hugging the spell tome tighter against her chest, she fumbled over her words. Quietly they drifted across the air. “But... thank you... for your kindness...” She trembled, wiping her eyes against her sleeve. Tch, it was this awful air again. If Kiryu didn’t stop her, she would soon vanish into the dark night. [426/4070] Kiryu
|
|