Intro

[threeofswords]

Who: Intro and anyone!
When: Day 96, Evening
Where: Shrine Room
What: Cold, wet, scared.

[There's a newcomer in a tattered wet dress with drenched blonde locks. She looks like a drowned fish (which is accurate considering how she got here) and is huddled in a corner, trying to hide herself behind whatever shrine she can.]

[Why don't you come reassure her that you're not crazy?]

Comments

[fates_end]

[Head shake.]

I don't even know who you are.

[threeofswords]

[looks away]

Good.

[fates_end]

You dislike having a guard, then?

[threeofswords]

I dislike being me.

[fates_end]

Ah, I was like that too. It's why I became a mage in the first place.

[threeofswords]

It helped you stop to be you?

[fates_end]

In a way. It allowed me to see myself for what I was. It gave me the power to control my self. It gave me a path to push my efforts into. It gave me true life. It's no mistake to say that magic is the greatest thing about my self.

[threeofswords]

I...can't.

[fates_end]

[Oh, right. That was probably insensitive to a normal person, wasn't it? Uh, I should probably bow, huh?]

Ah, I apologize. I had forgotten for a moment.

[threeofswords]

[gives a barely perceptable shake of the head, long blonde hair hacked off on one side as if in a hurry]

No...

[fates_end]

[Then, Akiha will just be quiet for a bit. Awkward silence?]

[threeofswords]

[I'm a fan of awkward silences.]

[This one seems content to sit here. Maybe for the next 10 years.]

[fates_end]

[Well then, things continue for a bit, before Akiha finally speaks.]

Do you know why you dislike being yourself? The first step is to know what it is you dislike.

[threeofswords]

Everything.

[smiles a little]

[fates_end]

[Well, you won't get anyone to tell you that that's wrong around here, but...]

That's too broad. Even if one hates everything, surely something specific comes to mind. Once you have something specific in mind, you can do something about it.

[threeofswords]

[looks down]

I... have no self.

[fates_end]

[...Well, this is surprisingly familiar to her, actually. The solution is magic! ...Except no, not quite, since... yeah. She tries for a gentle smile, and... actually somewhat manages it! This is a great victory.]

I also have no self. The best I can do is suggest trying a lot of things, or putting all your energy into work. It's what worked for me, at least.

[threeofswords]

You sound strong.

[fates_end]

Strong? I think it's more that being a mage kind of forces a person to constantly refine themselves. It's kind of a job where you have to grow quickly or wind up dead.

[A mage's life expectancy in her world is about six months. And that's a high estimate.]

[threeofswords]

Did you have a choice then?

[fates_end]

Yes, I did have a choice. It wasn't exactly informed, but it was a choice.

[threeofswords]

...

[fates_end]

My group was one of the more informed ones, too. For the most part, mages tended to be uninformed and expected to not last long enough to find out anything important.

It was the way of things, it seems.

[threeofswords]

It sounds like hard work. Is it really better than before?

[fates_end]

Of course. Nothing can change immediately, but unless you put in the effort, nothing will change. That's also the way of things. Perhaps things haven't changed in a significant way, but we created a path to change them. The path is enough.