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

[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.