week 7; wednesday ( dragon )

[axilium]

[BURSTS INTO THE ROOM

not literally, but he does seem a little less composed than usual.]

Two questions:

One... [because this has been bugging him for a while, honestly.] My first wish—did that actually come true, or was that just an illusion by the well?

[...]

Two: According to Cardia, you said that there's "still more to learn for the sake of our friends". What did you mean by that?

Comments

[themodsgrimm]

The first wish that you made with a coin that you earned via objective...? [She clarifies, just in case - ] It was not an illusion.

[And next:]

... it is a last resort, in case I do not win and cannot resurrect those who have passed before Tiger uses the ink.

[axilium]

[his shoulders sag in relief.]

So—it happened. She's happy and—?

[because he so desperately needs it to be true.]

... Then, what do we do in that case? If there's something for us to learn, that means there's still something we can do, right?

[themodsgrimm]

[She nods.]

Yes... she's happy. You do not need to worry about her - you have done well.

[As for the rest...]

But yes, there is still more that can be done - just in case. However... I cannot give you that answer freely.

[axilium]

... Would it require our remaining half answer?

[themodsgrimm]

[Her expression grows uncertain.]

... you do not wish to wait for Cardia?

[axilium]

I mean, that was just confirmation.

What about Cardia, though?

[themodsgrimm]

[She shakes her head.]

I cannot tell you more than that.

[axilium]

... So, what? I run back to Cardia, who has no idea what you meant, and tell her I can't proceed until I wait for her input on something that she doesn't understand either?

[themodsgrimm]

You are seeking an answer, yes? One that I promised to Cardia.

However I cannot tell you the circumstances in which I may tell her, nor can I give you the answer on your own. Not because I do not want to... but because there are pieces in play that I must respect.

[axilium]

In other words... not so clear-cut as "we'd like to use our remaining half answer for this", huh?

... Can you at least say how vital this answer is to the ending? Is it likely to screw us over if we don't know?

[themodsgrimm]

[She sighs, brow furrowing.]

.... it depends on Tiger.

This information matters not at all for my ending - because I intend on making sure that all of you get another chance at life.

However hers... is less clear than that. Not all of you will be able to revive... I can say that with certainty. There is simply not enough ink, even after all your work.

[axilium]

[he groans.]

Great. Well, guess I'll consult with the others.

[themodsgrimm]

[She nods.]

If... there is anything that I can do, please let me know. I want to help you - and I worry that it is a hard thing to convince people of.

I haven't lied to you... but I understand that all I have are words.

[axilium]

Trust me, I'd like to know if there's anything you can do. I'm kind of running out of ideas here.

[themodsgrimm]

[She furrows her brow.]

... I've had some people come to me - they seem to be expressing concerns regarding a future war... or Tiger's fate -

Does that sound correct?

[axilium]

Well, I guess that's one thing. The appealing thing about Tiger's ending, after all, is that it would put more of a permanent end to things.

[themodsgrimm]

[She tilts her head in response.]

Would it...? Perhaps you all trust her a bit more than I do - that she truly would be done with her pursuits once I'm dead....

But breaking the cycle of Tiger and Dragon...

[She taps her chin.]

I did not think there was anything wrong with a system of balance, when it was all I was told growing up.

[axilium]

... You know, the fact that you two constantly make each other sound like a villain makes things complicated for us.

[ :/ ]

Does the system of balance require murder all the time? 'Cause, you know, that sucks.

[themodsgrimm]

I only give you what is true... I dislike her, but I do not wish for her eternal suffering.

[She shakes her head.]

As for your question - not at all.

Murder and suffering only began when she started the war, after all.

[axilium]

Uh.

Why?

[themodsgrimm]

[A blink.

A curious tilt of her head.]

Why to... which part?

[axilium]

Murder and suffering.

[themodsgrimm]

I believe she started the war in pursuit of the ink.

[She sighs faintly.]

My father matched her.... and that was his mistake. However before that... I did not think that life was so bad. Perhaps she grew restless... or lost something important to her that she wanted to change with the ink.

I cannot say... but regardless, my answer remains the same.

Dragon and Tiger do not need to fight each other - their purpose is only balance.

[axilium]

What was life like before?

[themodsgrimm]

I do not know what hers was like... I was not the Dragon at the time, so our lives were not connected.

[But she tilts her head.]

But... I was very happy, then. Life was peaceful, and people could go about their lives and make their choices without worrying about death or tragedy.

[axilium]

And what part did ink have?

[themodsgrimm]

It didn't.

[She sighs faintly. Her expression grows troubled.]

It was a piece of magic that was hidden away... until she found it, and decided that it was worth beginning a war over in order to produce more of it.

[axilium]

[...]

I heard she had a son?

[themodsgrimm]

[She tilts her head.]

... it would not be impossible.

I presume she had a family, as I did.

[axilium]

Apparently, Hiro reminded her of him.

[themodsgrimm]

[Ah...

Her expression falls then, her eyes softening with the explanation - it seems like she hadn't heard this before.]

... Perhaps he did.

He was a bright, headstrong young man after all. Misguided... but I suppose it would make sense if that is what led to her defenses falling.

[axilium]

[...]

What would've happened to her family? Do you know?

[themodsgrimm]

If she broke the cycle...?

[Her brow furrows... and she shakes her head.]

No... I do not.

[axilium]

... Well, okay, let me rephrase and then ask a second question: what happened to her family?

And what's with this cycle?

[themodsgrimm]

... everyone we know is gone, Belph. I imagine they passed, just as mine did.

[Which hurts - unbearably so. Her voice is softer as she admits it, before she tries to regain her composure again.]

The cycle of Dragon and Tiger... merely ensures that you cannot have one without the other. That is the story we have always known.

[axilium]

[...]

I know I'm like that annoying kid who asks, "Why?" to everything, but—why?

[themodsgrimm]

When it became the two of us... when I inherited the role of Dragon - I believe there was some click of fate or other magic that led to our lives being sealed.

I could not die without her, and she could not live without me.

Everyone else... was not needed in our story - and so they met ends long before us.

[ . . . and she shakes her head.]

That is what I know... that is all I have known. My father would tell me that the Dragon and Tiger need each other to survive, in order to maintain balance in the world... and I thought it might have even been a beautiful story.

But I see - she did not agree.

LATER

[axilium]

[well, everyone sure had a funny happy time and now belph is holding the pot of ink out.]

So... what's up with this?

[themodsgrimm]

[that's nice - but Dragon notices the pot of ink and her expression lights up - ]

Oh...! More ink! Perfect - you've done so well.

[axilium]

... Is this, like, ink from previous dead people?

[themodsgrimm]

[She looks contemplative]

I cannot say... perhaps it is from objectives? The two are very similar, after all.

Did you receive this on your adventure?

[axilium]

Yeah. What the hell was up with that, anyway?

[themodsgrimm]

The castle at work, I presume... I know that on occasion people are able to take adventures elsewhere, that bring them away from the castle.

This ink is likely your reward for a completion of a story.

[axilium]

I have to say, that was one weird story.

[themodsgrimm]

[She gestures for him to take a seat in a chair by her.]

Do you care to share it with me?

[axilium]

[he sits down.]

Took a ferry to a carnival full of kids, played therapist to a few of them until our surroundings started trying to kill us, so we ran for the ferris wheel and then they turned into pots of ink or whatever?

[themodsgrimm]

[ . . . ]

Interesting.

[She really seems perplexed by this.]

What a curious adventure... well, it appears what you did was correct...? If this is what you were given in exchange...