[Rhea'li arrives not long after. Unlike the last time they were here, there is no stall; Rhea'li's finally gotten bored of serving cryptocarp and has given up the pan... at least for now. Additionally, he's started dressing in the local couture, bright colours rather much more eye-catching than his previous clothing.
He approaches, expression neutral as he tries to gauge Azem's mood.]
Azem.
[He shoves his hands into his admittedly very comfortable pockets.]
Well. Cat's out of the bag, hm? What did you wish to hear from me?
[ Much like Rhea'li, Azem has adopted the local style of dress. Colorful clashing patterns, though their choices are reminiscent of their robes, long and flowing. ]
Hah. [ Azem breathes out in something of a laugh at his choice of words. Their shoulders relax a little, however, they're still a little tense. ]
I would like to hear your side of the story. Ha-- Emet-Selch told me about how you killed him in order to stop what he and the others were doing. He also told me that you traveled to our time and met him, Hythlodaeus, and Venat in Elpis. That our star was shattered by my mentor in the aftermath of that visit.
[Rhea'li lets out a long breath through his nose. Explaining all that transpires upon the star never gets easier.]
Aye, that is true. Though from my perspective, I killed Emet-Selch before meeting him in Elpis, where and when he was a different man to the one I had clashed with.
[He glances away briefly, before returning his gaze to Azem.]
And it was the Venat of my time who guided me to the distant past to seek answers to the problems that faced the star in my present.
I see. [ Though they suppose the whole timeline doesn't matter that much from Emet-Selch's perspective when he couldn't remember that visit. ]
As Hydaelyn, aye? Am I to gather that somehow the same problem we faced reared its head once more? [ Azem can't see any other reason why Rhea'li would be sent back to that particular point. ]
Aye. The Final Days. The Calamity that caused the magics of your people to run amok, creating terrible, uncontrollable beasts that slaughtered all in their path. The people of my time do not have creation magic, so instead their bodies were affected, transforming into the same warped beasts that tore the remaining people apart.
And just like in your time, the cause was unknown. With our eyes fixed so firmly upon our own star, none could possibly imagine the source lying far beyond the heavens, nestled the furthest reaches of the universe.
[What a terrible fate, to ingest the despair of other stars like that.]
Emet-Selch told you about dynamis, I hope? The other energy besides aether that Meteion was designed to interact with? 'Tis one that had little application in your time, for your bodies are aetherically dense, hampering your ability to use dynamis. And in the space beyond our star... aether is rather scarce. Most of it is dynamis.
Edited (i should SLEEP) Date: 2024-07-26 08:01 pm (UTC)
I can see now why Hermes would create a being that uses such energies. But what of Zodiark? He was created to protect our star, was he not? I assume that protect endured even after the star was sundered.
The one who was raised to the seat of Fandaniel craved oblivion, so he used Zodiark as the tool to achieve it. I had to stop him, but doing so lead to Zodiark's destruction. And thus did the Final Days return to our star.
[He had not wished to tell them at all who he was and what was to come. But that decision was out of his hands...]
Us sundered peoples... our aether is thin. Thus we could wield dynamis and give chase to Meteion and her sisters in the furthest reaches of existence, ending the Final Days in earnest.
[His smile is thin, not at all like the easy grin he had when they met.]
Venat waited thousands of years for her champion... never knowing if mankind would overcome this trial.
I suppose that makes sense. [ Though they're sure they could have come up with another way if given the time. Time they simply didn't have because they didn't know what was to come.
A rueful smile forms on their lips as they look at Rhea'li again. ]
To think that that champion would happen to be a shard of myself. Fate is certainly a funny thing, hmm?
[Fate? That seems hardly the case. So much seemed tangled in who he once was and who he would become. And in one timeline, his life had come to an ignoble end... Having peeled back the curtain upon many mysteries of their star, he can say that much of it are the invisible machinations of people.
Still, he can't help mirroring Azem's smile.
Nevertheless, Themis' request has not gone unforgotten.]
Though the Final Days has ended in my time... to speak it plainly, it could not have been done without the assistance of Emet-Selch. Twice I petitioned his aid and twice he answered from beyond the grave.
[ It's difficult to say without all of the facts. Given Azem's penchant for predicting the future, there's no telling if they had some plan in the works or not. It's easier to just call it fate in the end. ]
He helped you? [ They look at Rhea'li with wide eyes. ]
[ Hades had seemed so bitter but what Rhea'li says makes sense. Even after everything that has happened, Azem couldn't see him ever giving up on his duty to the star. ]
I see.
[ It's after all of that that a thought occurs to them. ]
Out of curiosity, how is it he helped you from beyond?
[Hm, he hadn't thought about it too deeply after the fact. But...]
I know not for certain... But if I were to hazard a guess, mayhap the strong sense of duty allowed him to linger for a longer time in the Lifestream as himself. And...
[He reaches into his pocket. When he holds out his hand and unfurls his fingers, he reveals a crystal bearing a very familiar mark, resting upon his palm.]
...I suppose even after all this time, he would always answer the call of your magic.
[ They could see him stubbornly hanging on until whatever task was seen to completion. ]
Huh?
[ Azem blinks and looks down at the orange stone in his hand. Sure enough, it was their symbol, that of the sun, though not a crystal they themself recognized. After all, they hadn't created it. ]
I see. [ They find themself reaching out, not to take the crystal but simply to trace their fingers over its edges as they smily softly. ]
He and Hythlodaeus, aye? 'Twas our friend who suggested I masquerade as your familiar.
[And what an interesting experience that was! So many of the people in Elpis readily accepted his perceived strangeness the moment he mentioned he was Azem's familiar. Though there were those who seemed to share a similar gift to Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus...]
Though I was once enemies with your coworkers, we have made our peace with each other. [A small smile.] I cannot say that I forgive them, but... we must move ever forward, yes?
I do remember hearing something of a wayward familiar of mine, though had no recollection of sending one to Elpis.
[ They chuckle. ] I imagine it went over quite well.
[ They hum in response. ]
Having not lived those experiences I don't feel there is anything I can forgive, I can only accept what has been said. But, aye, we can only move forward.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 05:35 pm (UTC)i will see you anon
[ They head for the location immediately after sending their text and will be waiting if he's not already there when they arrive. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 05:51 pm (UTC)He approaches, expression neutral as he tries to gauge Azem's mood.]
Azem.
[He shoves his hands into his admittedly very comfortable pockets.]
Well. Cat's out of the bag, hm? What did you wish to hear from me?
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 05:57 pm (UTC)Hah. [ Azem breathes out in something of a laugh at his choice of words. Their shoulders relax a little, however, they're still a little tense. ]
I would like to hear your side of the story. Ha-- Emet-Selch told me about how you killed him in order to stop what he and the others were doing. He also told me that you traveled to our time and met him, Hythlodaeus, and Venat in Elpis. That our star was shattered by my mentor in the aftermath of that visit.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 06:34 pm (UTC)Aye, that is true. Though from my perspective, I killed Emet-Selch before meeting him in Elpis, where and when he was a different man to the one I had clashed with.
[He glances away briefly, before returning his gaze to Azem.]
And it was the Venat of my time who guided me to the distant past to seek answers to the problems that faced the star in my present.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 06:44 pm (UTC)As Hydaelyn, aye? Am I to gather that somehow the same problem we faced reared its head once more? [ Azem can't see any other reason why Rhea'li would be sent back to that particular point. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 07:13 pm (UTC)And just like in your time, the cause was unknown. With our eyes fixed so firmly upon our own star, none could possibly imagine the source lying far beyond the heavens, nestled the furthest reaches of the universe.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 07:36 pm (UTC)Meteion and her sisters.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 08:00 pm (UTC)Aye. Meteion and her sisters.
[What a terrible fate, to ingest the despair of other stars like that.]
Emet-Selch told you about dynamis, I hope? The other energy besides aether that Meteion was designed to interact with? 'Tis one that had little application in your time, for your bodies are aetherically dense, hampering your ability to use dynamis. And in the space beyond our star... aether is rather scarce. Most of it is dynamis.
go sleep!
Date: 2024-07-26 08:09 pm (UTC)[ Azem looks thoughtful for a moment. ]
I can see now why Hermes would create a being that uses such energies. But what of Zodiark? He was created to protect our star, was he not? I assume that protect endured even after the star was sundered.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-27 12:27 am (UTC)The one who was raised to the seat of Fandaniel craved oblivion, so he used Zodiark as the tool to achieve it. I had to stop him, but doing so lead to Zodiark's destruction. And thus did the Final Days return to our star.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-27 12:39 am (UTC)[ Azem stares at Rhea'li in disbelief before slowly shaking their head. ]
And then you were sent to the past to uncover the answer and in turn, told Venat what was to come and she ensured time could continue as you knew it.
[ They lower their head, brow knit as they frown at the water. ]
I suppose I can see why she'd choose that route but... [ But it still doesn't sit right with them. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-27 02:21 am (UTC)Us sundered peoples... our aether is thin. Thus we could wield dynamis and give chase to Meteion and her sisters in the furthest reaches of existence, ending the Final Days in earnest.
[His smile is thin, not at all like the easy grin he had when they met.]
Venat waited thousands of years for her champion... never knowing if mankind would overcome this trial.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-27 02:29 am (UTC)A rueful smile forms on their lips as they look at Rhea'li again. ]
To think that that champion would happen to be a shard of myself. Fate is certainly a funny thing, hmm?
no subject
Date: 2024-07-27 03:29 am (UTC)Still, he can't help mirroring Azem's smile.
Nevertheless, Themis' request has not gone unforgotten.]
Though the Final Days has ended in my time... to speak it plainly, it could not have been done without the assistance of Emet-Selch. Twice I petitioned his aid and twice he answered from beyond the grave.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-28 12:18 am (UTC)He helped you? [ They look at Rhea'li with wide eyes. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-28 08:06 am (UTC)Ultimately he does not desire the star be destroyed. He saw his duty to the end, even though the results were not what he hoped.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-04 01:28 am (UTC)I see.
[ It's after all of that that a thought occurs to them. ]
Out of curiosity, how is it he helped you from beyond?
no subject
Date: 2024-08-04 04:30 pm (UTC)I know not for certain... But if I were to hazard a guess, mayhap the strong sense of duty allowed him to linger for a longer time in the Lifestream as himself. And...
[He reaches into his pocket. When he holds out his hand and unfurls his fingers, he reveals a crystal bearing a very familiar mark, resting upon his palm.]
...I suppose even after all this time, he would always answer the call of your magic.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-08 04:05 am (UTC)[ They could see him stubbornly hanging on until whatever task was seen to completion. ]
Huh?
[ Azem blinks and looks down at the orange stone in his hand. Sure enough, it was their symbol, that of the sun, though not a crystal they themself recognized. After all, they hadn't created it. ]
I see. [ They find themself reaching out, not to take the crystal but simply to trace their fingers over its edges as they smily softly. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-08 04:14 am (UTC)I know not if he spoke of it... but we share the same soul. Or at least, I, part of it.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-08 04:21 am (UTC)[ They draw their hand back and offers a lopsided smile. ]
I wouldn't have believed him if not for his gift.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-08 05:34 am (UTC)[And what an interesting experience that was! So many of the people in Elpis readily accepted his perceived strangeness the moment he mentioned he was Azem's familiar. Though there were those who seemed to share a similar gift to Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus...]
Though I was once enemies with your coworkers, we have made our peace with each other. [A small smile.] I cannot say that I forgive them, but... we must move ever forward, yes?
no subject
Date: 2024-08-08 05:38 am (UTC)[ They chuckle. ] I imagine it went over quite well.
[ They hum in response. ]
Having not lived those experiences I don't feel there is anything I can forgive, I can only accept what has been said. But, aye, we can only move forward.
However, I first need some time to myself.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-08 05:57 am (UTC)Of course. If you have more questions later, you need only ask and I will answer.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-08 06:05 am (UTC)Now... to decide which way to wander first.