Oz had some... intense protections up, so it wasn't exactly safe to enter the building, let alone re-engage his magic. Nor was it something I wanted stragglers like Akira deciding they wanted to explore just because of my involvement.
I figured it would be best for everyone if I kept it to myself. If the other manor wizards thought the worst of me, then it would keep attention away from what I was doing, especially when the rest of you were helping elsewhere in the country.
I watched over the village in the aftermath and helped reinforce them in case of a natural or wizard-sourced backlash. The entire situation drained my magic constantly due to how strong Oz's spells are, so travelling to the Forest of Dreams ended up a daily occurrence just so I could find more mana stones to keep up.
[ Bruno won't have an outburst over how much danger Solomon knowingly went into alone. It won't help. Solomon won't care if he's upset about that. He does still give the sorcerer a sad look, of course. ]
Look, I understand not wanting to involve Akira. He's... impulsive... but you're lucky I got him to stay put the night you hexed me. He knew something was wrong.
[ Bruno isn't even sure how? Why was Akira so quick on the uptake? ]
But the rest of us? C'mon, there had to be someone you trusted to help you. Even if just to keep an eye on the village or get you mana stones so you could rest or. Or anything. You didn't have to do any of that alone and you know it.
Oh, I'm aware. He gave me a thorough piece of his mind.
[And his fist and his boot and--
...
Bruno isn't wrong, though, and it fuels the momentarily apologetic sheepishness that drifts over his eyes, before looking back down at his cup.]
Maybe. I just think... I wouldn't have been able to look Tatara in the eye again if something had happened to any of you. Or... maybe that's just what I wish to think.
[Even for as old as he is, he's still human. And his pride is still one of the only things that keeps him upright.
...]
Regardless. I would like to see if you would be willing to do a favor for me, and find time to check on them while I'm indisposed. Not on your own, please. I'd rather you have more wisdom than this old fool. But...
I have no doubts for the lengths you would go with your compassion.
[ If he could have told Akira not to bother going after Solomon... If he could have, but he couldn't even mention Solomon at the time, much less discuss him. It's Akira, though, and Akira was strangely jumpy about getting out of here after he was sure Solomon wasn't about to die. That meant something. Something happened.
Time to see if Solomon will snitch the kid out! The likelihood of him doing that: low, probably. ]
I was hoping he wouldn't... [ Bruno says that with a sigh, but he has to refocus his worries on the rest of what Solomon has to say. ] Y'know, you two are way too alike. Running off, doing your own things, not bothering to ask anyone else. Pride's a sin for a reason, Solomon, and... and not because you shouldn't be proud of what you can do or who you are or anything like that.
[ Well, there, an awkward cough follows that and he moves on. He isn't big on preaching, honest. It's sort of weird if anything. ]
But I can do that, sure. I can think of a few people who I could take along.
It's alright. It's why I took him on as an apprentice of sorts. He reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger. Just... more intense of a temper, perhaps.
Besides. Demons are my specialty, Bruno. You don't need to remind me about my sins.
[smile smile smile
The coffee is brought back to his lips as Bruno continues. ]
I will handle that much. I've spent far too long strengthening my relationship with these people for me to send just any wizard out there on my behalf.
But... if you are willing to watch over them, I can send them in your direction.
As an... Solomon, are you even teaching him anything other than to be mad at you?
[ Because it seems that way, Solomon!
But he does trail off on that note because, well, the mention of demons makes him uncomfortable. Playing the King of Demons in a stupid little skit was one thing, but actual demons, being real? It's... weird and he looks away, though only briefly. ]
...um... a-anyway... I. Y'know, you can't just ask me to look in on them and then tell me they probably aren't going to trust me. I mean, I get why they wouldn't but. It isn't that I won't watch over them, I will, I just. How are you expecting that to play out?
Not recently, no. But he requested it, and he proved to me he was serious.
[Nobody likes talking about demons except for Solomon and Akira and maybe Mika if ur quick, so that's fine.
He carefully puts his mug to the side as he reaches for the bowl. Yum, breakfast.]
Mm? I didn't say they wouldn't trust you. The people themselves aren't my concern here when it comes to trusting you. If you mention me, you won't have any issues.
That's exactly why I don't want any random wizard taking advantage of that. Not everyone in this manor would put the priorities of the people first, or treat them with dignity regardless of their situation.
[ Say hello to a long, blank look when Solomon clarifies what he meant. It never fails to surprise Bruno how many people here look to him as worth that level of trust. He wonders if that'll ever change, someday, but... ]
O-oh, you. You really think that? I mean, there's, like, Akira or. Or Jing Yuan or even. I dunno, Urianger? Maybe? [ There's an uncertain pause, a second to think, then an addendum is made, ] Okay, maybe not Akira, he's a hothead.
[He snickers a little in the back of his throat as he pulls the spoon from his mouth.]
I do plan on asking Akira. But if he is angry, then I would rather he settle his heart than perform an errand out of spite, no matter how I think he might do. And I don't plan to ask him to act as any sort of leader here if there is no danger. For the care... I would leave that to people like you.
What he chooses to do is up to him. But... I think it's been an incredibly hard time for him, ever since the central mission a month ago. And while he knows how to play the hero, or even the culprit, he does not show himself much grace.
I just want to see him in a better state of mind to thrive.
[Whether it is with, or without, his involvement.]
[ Which is all he can say to that. He'll have to wait to hear from Solomon before heading out to the village, in that case, or Akira, or if he never hears, well. Solomon isn't wrong about Akira, though. Has he forgiven himself for what happened? Has he learned to let anything go?
It's undoubtedly a good thing that he doesn't know how he had treated Solomon, claiming it to be for Bruno's sake, otherwise this conversation about bringing Akira along wouldn't even be happening.
Here's hoping Akira doesn't tell on himself, right? ]
I'll head up in a week. Is the village on a map anywhere or...? Or is it one of those "oh, wow, a secret village" kind of deals?
[ Bruno cracks his knuckles and works a bit of magic to summon a book of maps to him from the library. He knows its there, he just needs to have it appear in his h— nope, it appears midair above his head and falls on him. ]
...oof! Hey! [ But it does bounce off that head into his lap, so, uh, same difference? ] Oh for the love of... I think the spirits are having a laugh at me every time I try summoning something...
Maybe it's their way of saying they like you? You were able to hear their voices pretty easy, right?
Ah, here... just roll it out on the bed for a moment. [He can help with at least this much. Once the Northern country is visible, he traces from their location in central up the mountain line.]
Up in this direction - the village is around here, and the castle is... here, roughly. The weather can be fierce, but at the absolute minimum, Oz's castle can't really be missed.
...maybe. They've been pretty serious about asking me to stick around.
[ Though dropping things on his head feels more like them pouting at him being indecisive if that's even a thing. Well, spirits aside, he'll set out the map of the North and watch the path Solomon traces. ]
Huh, yeah, I bet a big castle is pretty obvious even in a snowstorm. I think I can get myself up there alright, though. You know I've been up in the north a few times, though that was mostly around that forest.
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no subject
Oz had some... intense protections up, so it wasn't exactly safe to enter the building, let alone re-engage his magic. Nor was it something I wanted stragglers like Akira deciding they wanted to explore just because of my involvement.
I figured it would be best for everyone if I kept it to myself. If the other manor wizards thought the worst of me, then it would keep attention away from what I was doing, especially when the rest of you were helping elsewhere in the country.
I watched over the village in the aftermath and helped reinforce them in case of a natural or wizard-sourced backlash. The entire situation drained my magic constantly due to how strong Oz's spells are, so travelling to the Forest of Dreams ended up a daily occurrence just so I could find more mana stones to keep up.
no subject
Look, I understand not wanting to involve Akira. He's... impulsive... but you're lucky I got him to stay put the night you hexed me. He knew something was wrong.
[ Bruno isn't even sure how? Why was Akira so quick on the uptake? ]
But the rest of us? C'mon, there had to be someone you trusted to help you. Even if just to keep an eye on the village or get you mana stones so you could rest or. Or anything. You didn't have to do any of that alone and you know it.
no subject
[And his fist and his boot and--
...
Bruno isn't wrong, though, and it fuels the momentarily apologetic sheepishness that drifts over his eyes, before looking back down at his cup.]
Maybe. I just think... I wouldn't have been able to look Tatara in the eye again if something had happened to any of you. Or... maybe that's just what I wish to think.
[Even for as old as he is, he's still human. And his pride is still one of the only things that keeps him upright.
...]
Regardless. I would like to see if you would be willing to do a favor for me, and find time to check on them while I'm indisposed. Not on your own, please. I'd rather you have more wisdom than this old fool. But...
I have no doubts for the lengths you would go with your compassion.
no subject
[ If he could have told Akira not to bother going after Solomon... If he could have, but he couldn't even mention Solomon at the time, much less discuss him. It's Akira, though, and Akira was strangely jumpy about getting out of here after he was sure Solomon wasn't about to die. That meant something. Something happened.
Time to see if Solomon will snitch the kid out! The likelihood of him doing that: low, probably. ]
I was hoping he wouldn't... [ Bruno says that with a sigh, but he has to refocus his worries on the rest of what Solomon has to say. ] Y'know, you two are way too alike. Running off, doing your own things, not bothering to ask anyone else. Pride's a sin for a reason, Solomon, and... and not because you shouldn't be proud of what you can do or who you are or anything like that.
[ Well, there, an awkward cough follows that and he moves on. He isn't big on preaching, honest. It's sort of weird if anything. ]
But I can do that, sure. I can think of a few people who I could take along.
no subject
Besides. Demons are my specialty, Bruno. You don't need to remind me about my sins.
[smile smile smile
The coffee is brought back to his lips as Bruno continues. ]
I will handle that much. I've spent far too long strengthening my relationship with these people for me to send just any wizard out there on my behalf.
But... if you are willing to watch over them, I can send them in your direction.
no subject
[ Because it seems that way, Solomon!
But he does trail off on that note because, well, the mention of demons makes him uncomfortable. Playing the King of Demons in a stupid little skit was one thing, but actual demons, being real? It's... weird and he looks away, though only briefly. ]
...um... a-anyway... I. Y'know, you can't just ask me to look in on them and then tell me they probably aren't going to trust me. I mean, I get why they wouldn't but. It isn't that I won't watch over them, I will, I just. How are you expecting that to play out?
no subject
[Nobody likes talking about demons except for Solomon and Akira and maybe Mika if ur quick, so that's fine.
He carefully puts his mug to the side as he reaches for the bowl. Yum, breakfast.]
Mm? I didn't say they wouldn't trust you. The people themselves aren't my concern here when it comes to trusting you. If you mention me, you won't have any issues.
That's exactly why I don't want any random wizard taking advantage of that. Not everyone in this manor would put the priorities of the people first,
or treat them with dignity regardless of their situation.
no subject
O-oh, you. You really think that? I mean, there's, like, Akira or. Or Jing Yuan or even. I dunno, Urianger? Maybe? [ There's an uncertain pause, a second to think, then an addendum is made, ] Okay, maybe not Akira, he's a hothead.
no subject
I do plan on asking Akira. But if he is angry, then I would rather he settle his heart than perform an errand out of spite, no matter how I think he might do. And I don't plan to ask him to act as any sort of leader here if there is no danger. For the care... I would leave that to people like you.
So, yes, Bruno. I really do think that.
no subject
Oh, well, that's. I'll. I'll do my best.
[ Cough, right. Embarrassed fidgeting aside, he does have to stop and consider. If Solomon plans on asking Akira, but...? ]
I was thinking of taking Akira with me but if you, uh. If you have something else for him to do, I guess he is your apprentice.
no subject
What he chooses to do is up to him. But... I think it's been an incredibly hard time for him, ever since the central mission a month ago. And while he knows how to play the hero, or even the culprit, he does not show himself much grace.
I just want to see him in a better state of mind to thrive.
[Whether it is with, or without, his involvement.]
no subject
[ Which is all he can say to that. He'll have to wait to hear from Solomon before heading out to the village, in that case, or Akira, or if he never hears, well. Solomon isn't wrong about Akira, though. Has he forgiven himself for what happened? Has he learned to let anything go?
It's undoubtedly a good thing that he doesn't know how he had treated Solomon, claiming it to be for Bruno's sake, otherwise this conversation about bringing Akira along wouldn't even be happening.
Here's hoping Akira doesn't tell on himself, right? ]
I'll head up in a week. Is the village on a map anywhere or...? Or is it one of those "oh, wow, a secret village" kind of deals?
no subject
[Getting Akira to be honest isn't quite as hard as getting Solomon to be honest, but! Lol.]
No, it's not a secret. Bring me a map of some nature and I'll show you exactly where to go. Oz's castle isn't hard to miss.
no subject
[ Bruno cracks his knuckles and works a bit of magic to summon a book of maps to him from the library. He knows its there, he just needs to have it appear in his h— nope, it appears midair above his head and falls on him. ]
...oof! Hey! [ But it does bounce off that head into his lap, so, uh, same difference? ] Oh for the love of... I think the spirits are having a laugh at me every time I try summoning something...
no subject
Maybe it's their way of saying they like you? You were able to hear their voices pretty easy, right?
Ah, here... just roll it out on the bed for a moment. [He can help with at least this much. Once the Northern country is visible, he traces from their location in central up the mountain line.]
Up in this direction - the village is around here, and the castle is... here, roughly. The weather can be fierce, but at the absolute minimum, Oz's castle can't really be missed.
no subject
[ Though dropping things on his head feels more like them pouting at him being indecisive if that's even a thing. Well, spirits aside, he'll set out the map of the North and watch the path Solomon traces. ]
Huh, yeah, I bet a big castle is pretty obvious even in a snowstorm. I think I can get myself up there alright, though. You know I've been up in the north a few times, though that was mostly around that forest.