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]

[...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.

[threeofswords]

[picking at the tips of her hair]

Change is not for me...I am not an instrument of change.

[fates_end]

Even if one is not an instrument of change, they can at least change themselves. If you dislike yourself, then you can watch for an opportunity to change yourself.

[threeofswords]

[falls silent on this because how do you explain things like feels?]

[fates_end]

[Especially to someone who thinks that they barely have emotions at all.]

Well, in the end it doesn't mean anything for me to say it. The best suggestion I can give is to not be rooted to the past. Stasis doesn't benefit anyone.

[threeofswords]

Even if I don't want to change?

[fates_end]

Especially if you don't want it. The easy path is never the best one.

[threeofswords]

[makes a face at]

[fates_end]

[And you get an "isn't that obvious?" face right back.]

[threeofswords]

Why couldn't you have just had things stay the way they were?

[fates_end]

Because it's inevitable. Things are going to change whether you want them to or not. Ultimately you're left with the choice of whether to make sure it changes in a way you want, or let it change in a way you don't want it to.

[threeofswords]

...change is in the eye of the beholder.