Now, now, none of that. [He leans himself back against the headboard with a rough exhale, letting his weight go limp.] I can manage for a moment. I'll lose my patience if I have to act so feeble.
Likely something similar to what happened to them.
I was teleported from where I stood and ended up out in the wilderness outside the City of Ice. A chimera was originally all we had to deal with, and it attacked us almost immediately on our arrival, so we had no time to plan.
While we were attempting to get it under control, we were attacked by two other witches, who made it clear they were there to kill all five of us and take the bounty of the creature for themselves. Naturally, none of us took kindly to that, but they were far more powerful than any of us. [He might have gotten yeeted off into the wilderness once or twice by sheer force. Don't worry about it.]
Ithaqua and I were able to subdue one of them... Sophie. She broke into mana stones as soon as she perished. That enraged the other, Eva, who said Sophie was her apprentice. She was beside herself and turned the entire battlefield into a blizzard in the process and started attacking wildly.
One of our number was in such dire straights, I felt one of us had to take more drastic action. So I took up Sophie's mana stones, and taunted Eva in my direction by devouring them, hoping that she would lose her control of her magic in her distress.
I crossed a pretty severe line, which we didn't realize until Eva did, in fact, start losing control, except in a very dangerous fashion. She started emitting shockwaves that were hitting most of us rather hard, and she'd taken me as a target on top of that. Due to the blizzard, the amount of injuries, and the fact that we had to maneuver the chimera on top of that, none of us could reach one another for healing or even protective barriers outside of a few moments.
So I committed to my role, and let those that had the better position do what they needed. I may have my disagreements... but in that, at least, I felt I could trust each and every one of them, even if they would not trust me.
Eventually we were successful, and the rock was exposed from the belly of the beast. We purified it, and I remember Tatara and G'raha arriving...
...Well, and then I woke up in here. So I suppose I must have used up what little I had left.
[ While Day's listening to Solomon's explanation, around when he explains what happened with the witches, Day is just. Staring, at Solomon, with the kind of look of someone who's wondering if he heard all that right and then, well, he did.
Which is probably why after Solomon's done, Day just sort of. Opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again. ]
[His expression grows tired - perhaps more than Day has really seen it on the man. But he knows what Day has seen, so he doesn't bother to hide his weariness at the subject matter:]
The master has to take responsibility for the apprentice. Even in death.
Part of me... deeply regretted it the moment I had that mana stone down my throat.
[ Like, even knowing that Solomon was willingly taking a risk to try to give them an advantage in battle. Because Solomon is a master with an apprentice himself. ]
Just because we feel empathy does not mean we can show mercy.
Were we in a dialogue, I would have wanted to speak to her more. But there was something more important to me than that, and that was making sure someone I cared about survived.
I gave her the option to leave. Many, many times. Had she done so, I would have handed her her spoils and left her to mourn however she felt was proper.
She refused.
So in the lack of a dialogue, I did what I set out to do. Even if it was a lesser of two evils in the end.
[He would play the villain, if he had to. Take the shots, if he had to. Bleed into the snow, if he had to. So long as his heart did not waver.]
Perhaps Eva and I would have not been so dissimilar, in another situation. But I don't think there was any getting through to her.
I figured it was somethin' like that. [ Because that is how things tend to boil down to in conflict: when compromise cannot be reached because some beliefs, some principles are not to be compromised on, for whatever reason. ] It's just...
I'm glad they're okay. There is just something else I worry about in their stead, something I don't know if anyone had the energy, or desire, to check.
The chimera was attacking the City of Ice. While we redirected it... as far as I've heard, we never made it back to the city.
I do not feel right, being here, when the people we should have been fighting for have not even seen us make sure they were alright.
I think that would be wise, though Tatara should probably be involved with that level of damages. My worries there are only because I've been unconscious and don't know what's been done.
[...
He hesitates visibly, before his expression grows firm.]
Day... I'd actually like you to check on something else for me, if you could. At a different village.
There's a village to the far north, right next to the mountains, flanked by a castle. They used to be under the care of Oz. Where they live is particularly inhospitable, but they have been lucky to have a wizard at their care who has not treated them like subjects or livestock or sport.
Ever since Oz departed, they have been struggling. Oz's magic is powerful, but it isn't going to last forever. And, for a while, some of it went out. The lights of Oz's castle have been like a scarecrow to the fields, scaring other wizards away and keeping that land safe, so that they might prosper in some level of peace. With him currently out of the way, the castle was dark for a great amount of time, and the people were panicking.
I've already been to Oz's castle myself. I was able to restore the lights, though I don't believe the castle will let anyone else in now that I tried that much. I have been working on restoring their barrier, their buildings and their borders, while taking responsibility for any wizards that might question Oz's return.
I would just like someone to check on them, in my absence. To make sure that they are still well, and that their repairs are holding.
And I'd like you to be wiser than me, and make sure you do not go alone... but you can at least let them know that Solomon the Wise sent you. Ask for Henry.
[ Day, hearing Solomon went into Oz's castle: Sir you are a lucky bastard to have still been standing to get yoinked away to a deathmatch with a chimera and two witches.
But, well, this answers the question he had meant to ask Solomon in the first place. Certainly explains why he hadn't been coming back to the manor.
(Suddenly, he feels a little guilty about how their trip to the forest turned out, too.)
He nods. ]
I can do that. You got anyone else in mind, or is it gonna be at my discretion? [ It's like Day just got handed a mission brief. ]
[And now you know why he was all scuffed up in the forest! And why he's been in the forest downing mana stones like his life depends on it!]
I do. But I want to talk to them myself.
You've all seen how the people of the North tend to act by now. Oz's village is no different.
I would like whoever goes to them to put the needs of these people first, without coddling them, or without treating their current customs as though they are abhorrent. People need time and patience. And we unfortunately cannot give them any more time than what we have.
That's why I'm asking you. Because I trust you to be compassionate, even if the world is not compassionate to you.
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Heh, fair enough. I heard from Malice and Robin, but the hell happened to you?
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I was teleported from where I stood and ended up out in the wilderness outside the City of Ice. A chimera was originally all we had to deal with, and it attacked us almost immediately on our arrival, so we had no time to plan.
While we were attempting to get it under control, we were attacked by two other witches, who made it clear they were there to kill all five of us and take the bounty of the creature for themselves. Naturally, none of us took kindly to that, but they were far more powerful than any of us. [He might have gotten yeeted off into the wilderness once or twice by sheer force. Don't worry about it.]
Ithaqua and I were able to subdue one of them... Sophie. She broke into mana stones as soon as she perished. That enraged the other, Eva, who said Sophie was her apprentice. She was beside herself and turned the entire battlefield into a blizzard in the process and started attacking wildly.
One of our number was in such dire straights, I felt one of us had to take more drastic action. So I took up Sophie's mana stones, and taunted Eva in my direction by devouring them, hoping that she would lose her control of her magic in her distress.
I crossed a pretty severe line, which we didn't realize until Eva did, in fact, start losing control, except in a very dangerous fashion. She started emitting shockwaves that were hitting most of us rather hard, and she'd taken me as a target on top of that. Due to the blizzard, the amount of injuries, and the fact that we had to maneuver the chimera on top of that, none of us could reach one another for healing or even protective barriers outside of a few moments.
So I committed to my role, and let those that had the better position do what they needed. I may have my disagreements... but in that, at least, I felt I could trust each and every one of them, even if they would not trust me.
Eventually we were successful, and the rock was exposed from the belly of the beast. We purified it, and I remember Tatara and G'raha arriving...
...Well, and then I woke up in here. So I suppose I must have used up what little I had left.
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Which is probably why after Solomon's done, Day just sort of. Opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again. ]
Solomon, what the fuck.
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[It's not a very forceful little chuckle, but at least it is one.]
I'm guessing Malice and Robin left out that part. I'm surprised.
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[His expression grows tired - perhaps more than Day has really seen it on the man. But he knows what Day has seen, so he doesn't bother to hide his weariness at the subject matter:]
The master has to take responsibility for the apprentice. Even in death.
Part of me... deeply regretted it the moment I had that mana stone down my throat.
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You shouldn't have done that.
[ Like, even knowing that Solomon was willingly taking a risk to try to give them an advantage in battle. Because Solomon is a master with an apprentice himself. ]
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Are you saying that because of what those stones are? Or are you concerned for a different reason?
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[ And today, it just seems cruel, both in a general sense and to Solomon himself. ]
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Just because we feel empathy does not mean we can show mercy.
Were we in a dialogue, I would have wanted to speak to her more. But there was something more important to me than that, and that was making sure someone I cared about survived.
I gave her the option to leave. Many, many times. Had she done so, I would have handed her her spoils and left her to mourn however she felt was proper.
She refused.
So in the lack of a dialogue, I did what I set out to do. Even if it was a lesser of two evils in the end.
[He would play the villain, if he had to. Take the shots, if he had to. Bleed into the snow, if he had to. So long as his heart did not waver.]
Perhaps Eva and I would have not been so dissimilar, in another situation. But I don't think there was any getting through to her.
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I figured it was somethin' like that. [ Because that is how things tend to boil down to in conflict: when compromise cannot be reached because some beliefs, some principles are not to be compromised on, for whatever reason. ] It's just...
[ Day sighs. ]
Nevermind.
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[With some effort, he'll lean himself up, just enough to pat an empty spot on the bed with his palm. Sit, kiddo, he doesn't want this to be awkward.]
Nothing you say will leave this room, Day.
Please. I'd rather you speak your mind.
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...
How many times do you gotta play the villain, Solomon?
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As many times as I must.
Do you see me as one in this string of fate?
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My question remains the same.
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[ Thanks, Malice. ]
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[Just not deserved.]
I'm glad they're okay. There is just something else I worry about in their stead, something I don't know if anyone had the energy, or desire, to check.
The chimera was attacking the City of Ice. While we redirected it... as far as I've heard, we never made it back to the city.
I do not feel right, being here, when the people we should have been fighting for have not even seen us make sure they were alright.
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[...
He hesitates visibly, before his expression grows firm.]
Day... I'd actually like you to check on something else for me, if you could. At a different village.
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What is it?
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Ever since Oz departed, they have been struggling. Oz's magic is powerful, but it isn't going to last forever. And, for a while, some of it went out. The lights of Oz's castle have been like a scarecrow to the fields, scaring other wizards away and keeping that land safe, so that they might prosper in some level of peace. With him currently out of the way, the castle was dark for a great amount of time, and the people were panicking.
I've already been to Oz's castle myself. I was able to restore the lights, though I don't believe the castle will let anyone else in now that I tried that much. I have been working on restoring their barrier, their buildings and their borders, while taking responsibility for any wizards that might question Oz's return.
I would just like someone to check on them, in my absence. To make sure that they are still well, and that their repairs are holding.
And I'd like you to be wiser than me, and make sure you do not go alone... but you can at least let them know that Solomon the Wise sent you. Ask for Henry.
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But, well, this answers the question he had meant to ask Solomon in the first place. Certainly explains why he hadn't been coming back to the manor.
(Suddenly, he feels a little guilty about how their trip to the forest turned out, too.)
He nods. ]
I can do that. You got anyone else in mind, or is it gonna be at my discretion? [ It's like Day just got handed a mission brief. ]
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I do. But I want to talk to them myself.
You've all seen how the people of the North tend to act by now. Oz's village is no different.
I would like whoever goes to them to put the needs of these people first, without coddling them, or without treating their current customs as though they are abhorrent. People need time and patience. And we unfortunately cannot give them any more time than what we have.
That's why I'm asking you. Because I trust you to be compassionate, even if the world is not compassionate to you.
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