soft birbs

[arcaniststaff]

[ It had been a foolish mis-step. Urianger (and Elidibus, elsewhere) had been exposed to the most extreme of Sharlayan trap in the Great Gubal Library. If a thief triggered such... well, they usually wouldn't be leaving. Why not keep those who wished to be with the books as a guardian?

It was a dark secret. And Urianger had been exposed to it. Thankfully, his magic and the others had stilled it, slowed it - and now he was a half-Skatene man.

Urianger had found himself staying in Dravania, not feeling he could return to the Waking Sands. Not while he was like this. He didn't know if the curse would continue, or if he would become too defensive.

And then the pains had come, and he had begun to nest. Thankfully, he found somewhere safe to nest... not so thankfully, it was out in the open. So perhaps people would see the robed figure who seemed to just be sitting out in the open.

Thankfully, he didn't look too different from a distance. And he had brought some of the books with him. So now he read, letting out soft whistles. ]

Comments

[elidibs]

[ He gave a little chirp, as he continued to soothe Urianger. Could an Ascian really be this kind...? ]

Ah, yes. The aetherial sea is what your people call it. Where all souls go. That detested sea, if you would believe my allies.

[wordsinthesoul]

[Thancred's still giving him a suspicious look, but as long as he's treating Urianger well…]

Detested? Why would that be?

[elidibs]

It is a perversion of the Lifestream, if you believe Emet-Selch.

[ ...That wasn't too revealing, was it? ]

[wordsinthesoul]

A perversion- is that not the Lifestream's natural state, then?

[elidibs]

Of course not! [ It was almost a shout, before Elidibus calmed himself. ] Nothing about this land is natural. Least of all the half-broken souls hovering around a Primal--

[ ...He said too much, he realises too late. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[Thancred stills, fingers hovering.] -a Primal. That's what you meant.

[That's- does he believe it? He doesn't know.]

How do you know that?

[elidibs]

I was there. [ It was said so simply. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

When Hydaelyn was- summoned? [Well, he supposes the Ascians are immortal, as best they know…]. What happened?

[elidibs]

[ He looked. Urianger was beginning to stir. Elidibus sighed. He supposed he was in a corner. ]

Our united community was in chaos after... [ Huh. His memory was faded, but he snarled under his breath. ] It was no longer united. And, those who caused such chaos summoned Hydaelyn. And broke the world.

[wordsinthesoul]

[He reaches out to touch Urianger, just gently, eyes still on Elidibus.]

After…? Some disaster, I take it. [He'd like to press for more details, but… that sounds as though it might be trouble.] And then you decided you needed… to cause more chaos to rejoin it. Do I follow you correctly?

[elidibs]

[ Urianger gave Thancred a tiny movement. He'll pretend to be asleep. ]

Zodiark existed first. To stop said disaster. But She-- she shattered Zodiark. We need to bring him back together. The chaos we cause brings back what was sundered away.

[wordsinthesoul]

[He brushes his fingers across Urianger's shoulder, appreciating it. He focuses on the conversation, frowning.]

To limit the power he had, was it not? But how can that chaos heal such a rift?

[elidibs]

Have your people not noticed every time there's a Rejoining, your own abilities are improved? Or was that just Urianger who noted such?

[ When he mentioned Urianger, a tenderness entered his voice. ] We're bringing everybody back together. Like heroes would.

[wordsinthesoul]

…I imagine everyone has been largely more concerned with dealing with the disasters.

[But… there are some observations, most notably on spells…

He purses his lips a little at that. Could Elidibus… truly mean that?] Heroes. That's how you see yourselves?

[elidibs]

[ Elidibus looked away a little. Before growing serious again. ] Did you think we saw ourselves as the villains? We are restoring our old home. We are fixing the disaster which caused all of this suffering.

[wordsinthesoul]

Yet that still causes suffering in turn. [He squeezes Urianger, gently. It seems clear Elidibus cares for him, but… in that case…] What comes of us, in the end?

[elidibs]

You, too, are reunited. No longer broken into little bits... no longer damaged. [ Elidibus sounds... soft? ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[As though… they mean something to him. Thancred digs the fingers of his other hand into the ground for a moment- he can't help but felt hurt at the thought of being thought 'damaged'- as much as some days, some more than others, feel ready to tip him into an abyss of failure.]

Are we still ourselves, then?

[elidibs]

[ A question he'd asked himself a lot. Elidibus stumbles over his words, quietly. ] I-- I don't know. I'm no longer myself-- it would be up to the others if you were...

[wordsinthesoul]

You aren't? [He stares, ears flicking for a moment, before he refocuses, at least for now.] The others- the other Ascians? How would they determine that?

[elidibs]

I... no. I'm broken. They see me and are saddened.

Two of the other Ascian are whole. [ Though why can't he recall which ones? He fluffs his feathers a little, before beginning to bite at one of his talons, starting to grow distressed. ] They remember before everything broke.

[wordsinthesoul]

…ah. I see. [Pitied, then, he imagines, and feels a stab of sympathy for the thought.

He reaches out to take Elidibus' hand, clicking his tongue.] Do you have something else you can bite? [Perhaps it won't do a lot of damage, but… it's not exactly a good habit.] And you… don't, then. Is there some way that you could- do you not have the Echo?

[elidibs]

[ He looks up at the other, concerned. Before trying to still his biting. ] My abilities with the Echo... you don't comprehend it. Tell me this, Scion - have you ever heard of one having a vision off of themselves?

[wordsinthesoul]

[He pats Elidibus' shoulder, hoping to encourage him, and settles back.]. I'd heard you knew more about it. I can't say I've heard of them from any of those possession the Echo who I know, but it struck me as within the realm of possibility.

[elidibs]

[ He quietly pauses. Wishing he was explaining this to Urianger - not noticing the other was awake. ]

The Echo - as your kind call it - is breaking down the walls of others' souls. Memories are only a small aspect of it. [ And then, Elidibus seemed to get a little smirk. ] I could awaken one in you. Though what you'd see, I could not say.