Reflections

This scene takes place directly after Moot.

It has been a busy night. The explosive moments of the interrupted moot may have lasted for mere minutes, but their consequences have kept the survivors busy for far longer. Healing the wounded treant, pursging the plague, debriefing and perhaps some decompression... all in all it makes it seem like days have passed, for some, though the evening has yet to expire. Having done all she could, Serene had accompanied Seldan on the journey back. It had been a silent journey, her intent to allow Seldan the time he needed to process what had happened, but as they approach the gates she turns to him. "Recent events have been eventful for you."

Seldan had been silent indeed for much of the way back, but the hours of journey have left him plenty of time to think. He seems in no particular hurry, although he keeps a steady enough pace, but has offered nothing, not speaking until spoken to. "It has been so for half a year and more, Serene," he answers, speaking for the first time since they left. "I am grateful for your help, this day, and I am glad that I sought you to accompany us." He lets the silence hang before adding, "I owe you much of explanations, I think."

"You owe nothing, Seldan," Serene says with a small shake of her head as she looks upon the approaching city. "But I do find my choices tend to be easier to make the more I know of the situation." The admission is made without rancor, and certainly without any implication that anyone has been holding out on her. There simply hasn't been time.

Seldan closes his eyes, looking down. "It is not my wish to lead you blindly into danger. I would have you know the fullness of what it is that we face, and what it is that I fight. Eclavdran is but a single player upon this board, and I ... it is wrong of me, that I have not told you the fullness of it. I did not wish to burden you, nor presume upon your time for a thing that I have undertaken, and yet, it is in my mind that you should know. The tale is long, though."

Serene nods once. "I was not so naive as to believe this limited to only one or two foes, though I admit that I can be.. and was.. perhaps too focused." She pauses, her gaze far off as though considering. "There is something you must understand, and what I am to tell you I have learned from experience. It is... I am going to use the word easy, though the truth is much more complex... but it is easy to fall into the mindset of not wishing to burden another. And for some this is wise. But when you isolate a problem, whether to yourself, or to a limited circle, you must be sure that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. I was.. still am.. prone to believing that my problems are my own. But my head knows that often a burden shared is a burden halved." Her eyes drift upwards then, as if seeking some sort of inspiration from the heavens. "I will never pry unless I believe I must for the greater good. But this means that I need to trust you will seek my assistance when it is needed. Not when you think it is needed.. for much like myself I feel you may be prone to taking too much on to your own shoulders for a fear of being perceived as not up to the task. But the true hero, Seldan, is the one that can rely upon her allies. The stories that have the hero declaring that he must do this task alone... well, they make good stories. But when a champion falls when they could have triumphed with help? That champion made a poor decision." She lets her breath out. "So... enough of a lecture. I hope you are not offended by it. If you are still inclined, I would hear what you have to tell."

Over the course of the journey, Seldan's steps have slowed some, but he still has said nothing of it, and says nothing of it now. "Your words are well taken, and it is well, yet the matter is not a simple thing. As I spin my tale, perhaps more shall become clear." He speaks quietly, pausing from time to time.. "Salina ... the elderly sil that you have seen - is not so at all. That is but one of her many forms. In truth is she one of the Immortal Fae, referred to by those who fear her most as the Endless Winter. Yukia - the demon you faced - is but one of her lackeys." A pause. "Eclavdran is a different matter, for she binds him to her service, and he cannot disobey her, nor act against her directly, but also is he bound by a foolish and desperate act to her destruction. He wishes to be freed, but needs aid in doing so, and thus does he attempt bargains with some." He winces visibly, at that. "Kol Demontry - the vampire that stalked the city for a time - was another of these."

Serene nods slowly. "I do not doubt she has more... and the hold over some seems absolute. The one last night, Yukia... she should have fled. She would have, I think, if not for this Endless Winter."

"Even so. She holds minds, manipulates and twists people to her desires, and does so pitilessly and without emotion. For many is she merely curious as to how they will react. She thinks naught of tearing a man limb from limb, merely to see the response." Seldan continues, nodding at Serene's words. "Yukia was but a distraction, and one she was prepared to sacrifice. She wished the treants dead, and I know not why. Her mind ... it is an alien thing, and yet, there must be a reason. She regards those she holds - as possessions, and marks them as such. The mark of the snowflake is her mark, and it bears powerful enchantments. Among the enchantments that it bears is the ability for Salina to use the victim as her eyes and ears, and thus any who bear the mark are her spies."

"Hmm. Like your friend, the white sith-makar," Serene offers. "And likely others who have been under her watch. Your mother? Sentinel Kira?" It's not that Serene is pitiless, not at all. But there are times when she doesn't skirt around the topic. "Seldan," she stops walking. "I must hear this to the end, but there is no reason for you to walk on... impaired. Enemies may pounce upon you at any time. Would you face another of her minions in such a state?"

"Both, and Cryosanthia's mate as -" Seldan stops short, blinking in confusion. "Wha-" Then it sinks in, and he flushes sharply, his head drooping as one caught. She's right, and he knows it. "I ... forgive me. My mind was elsewhere, and others were in need. It is not so bad as all that," he temporizes.

Serene shakes her head slowly.. and then she places a hand on Seldan's shoulder and does what he apparently seems unwilling to do himself. "I understand, Seldan," she says, though understanding and accepting may not be the same in this case as she calls upon Eluna's energy to heal him. "Propriety has its place. But she would wish you in top form, especially now, especially these days. You cannot help others if you fall."

Guilt settles onto Seldan's shoulders and into his bearing, but he does murmur a prayer of gratitude as the healing sinks into him. "She answered me when I called to her in desperation, Serene," he begins. "She banished my enemy and shielded me from Salina's magic - a magic that would have locked me in time and space for all time. She sent to me Her messenger, that I might find that which I seek, that another might be freed from Salina's yoke. How can I ask for more?"

Serene shakes her head slowly. "You ask for more because it is your duty." There, said plain. "We are given difficult tasks. A significant part of our arsenal are the gifts she bestows upon us. They are given to be used." One corner of her mouth curls up, just a little bit. "I think she would not be impressed to have put the effort into saving you and sending you her messenger only for you to allow yourself to be impaired by something as mundane as battle wounds. At the end of the day, Seldan, you do not keep yourself healed to spare yourself the pain or lesson of the injury. You do it so that you will always be ready, and always be in top form. She would not begrudge you that." Another pause. "Her messenger. One such as that would bear an important message indeed."

Silence while Seldan absorbs that, and he even smiles, a ghost of a thing that flits across his features and lingers for a breath, then buzzes off, leaving its memory behind. "I will remember." He takes a deep, settling breath, then turns to begin walking again, his pace and movement much better. "Thank you. The messenger ... I had thought to seek a communing of the Seers, that I might learn of Salina's location and perhaps gain insight into other mysteries, the better to find her. I had sought only a small one, but was directed to wait for High Seeress Aki." He refers to the blind and yet highly insightful High Priestess of Eluna's Temple in Alexandria. "It had been sent to her in a Dream that I would ask, and that she was to offer to do it herself.

"She summoned the messenger ... I know not if you saw it, or heard of it. Her angel, above the holy pool. It is clear to me that Eluna wished this so, and that the angel had a purpose. For myself ... and for others, for the angel removed the mark that had been set upon Sentinel Kira, if she would agree to aid me. For me ... that vengeance is not the duty of a knight, and that mercy is of the Light."

Serene's turn to absorb, and she does so silently as well as the message is given. If her eyes tighten a little, if her lips press together a touch more firmly... could she be blamed? Yes, yes she could. But also, perhaps, forgiven. She even starts to shake her head.. but aborts the motion. "No, vengeance is not the duty of a knight. But sometimes... " She trails off, not finishing that thread. After all, who is she to disagree with such a divine messenger? "I understand now. Some of your actions this night, and the involvement of the sentinel. If any are driven by mercy, it would be she. But remember, Seldan, that while mercy is without a doubt of the light, and I will never deny mercy that is asked for... when you offer it, you are responsible for the consequences. Everyone should be given a second chance, regardless of deserve. That.. is a burden."

"I am in need of the aid of all who will aid me, and I would have their hearts be open to Her wisdom." Seldan looks straight ahead, towards the gates that loom not far away now. "For too many times of late has an ally, in desperation, frustration, or perhaps mere impatience, brought down death and suffering upon innocent and allies alike? The Loremaster's swift turn on me? Is but one of many instances, these past months, too many to easily count. Salina twists minds, and she knows me for her enemy, for she has herself set upon me with mind-twisting nightmares." He isn't looking at Serene, still with that straight-ahead stare. "I know myself responsible for the consequences of mercy. Too well do I know that. I also know that I cannot harm her with any weapon I have on me. There is but one that may do so, and while I have its use, its owner fears its power, and knows not what it may do, and so do I not carry it always."

"To carry such a thing constantly would only invite challenge. She would not face you if she knew you bore it, and flood you with minions.. or send them to steal it. No, I believe such a thing should only be brought when you mean to strike." Serene's opinion comes readily enough. "To offer this one mercy, you must discover what drives her. I know I have said this before, and I know we have discussed it.. but then, it was for the purposes of anticipating her and destroying her. Now.. to give her mercy, she must want it. And for her to want it, we need to know how to appeal to that part of her."

"I ... may know something of it." Seldan walks in silence for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "She told me that once, she prayed too. Just before - Her power banished Salina. In her village - when demons descended on it. Her village sought to shield her, to protect her. They died, to a man, to do so. She wished to undo it, and I told her once that all the magic in the world cannot undo tragedy. I think ... that she wishes to prove me wrong. It broke her ... somehow." His eyes lower as he talks. "She seemed ... almost sad."

Serene grunts softly and has no immediate response. Too call this a revelation would be to call the river a little damp. So she walks for a time. Organizing her thoughts, likely. Or perhaps rearranging them based on this new information. Finally, "As you say, she is alien and to be confident we understand her would be folly. The very nature of something being alien is that it is not like us.. therefore will not always think like us. But were she mortal. Were she just a woman... I think I would be seeing one who was broken, as you say, by that event. One who carries an undeserved guilt that has driven her with single purpose for however many centuries. That she can see nothing save the goal, and that any task she takes to see that goal is... justified? No. I do not think she needs justification. Justification implies deliberation, and I think that to her every step towards her goal is just that. A step. Much like the steps you and I are taking right now. And your claim to her challenges the foundation of her entire world." Serene shrugs. "A theory. And again, I am attempting to put it into a mortal framework. I also do not see how her experiments relate to that idea.. so.. "

"Perhaps. Perhaps she merely wishes to understand a thing alien to her." By now, the main gates loom close, and Seldan's eyes as always go up to them as they tower above. "I ... know not what to think. Even do I understand why ... the fact remains that she is a danger to the innocent, that she has caused untold suffering. If she does not turn aside, and use her magic for good...." He trails off.

"She will be given the choice," Serene declares. "By you, I am sure, or by any in your place. I do not believe she will take it. A creature like this... I wonder what she was before this tragedy." Serene scowls.. the kind of expression one gets when a difficult job has just been made more difficult. "No. Not with Eluna's message. Offering her mercy will not be enough, as much as I would prefer to simply end it. And perhaps that is as much a sign as any... Seldan, to truly offer her mercy, we have to bend every effort to finding a way for her to accept it. I do not mean to simply keep asking and perhaps letting her go.. but in her current state?" Serene repeats herself. "She would not take it. And offering mercy to someone who you know will not accept it is not truly an offer."

"No." And yet there is still something on Seldan's mind, something in his frown, that holds conflict. He says nothing of it, though, instead lapsing into silence as they cross into Alexandria, both of them known enough to the guards that they would be permitted through the gates even at this hour of the night.

"Regardless. Tonight is a step forward. One bought with the lives of Shalehazel's people, which is tragic. But a powerful servant of Salina's is hopefully neutralized. A new source of information will hopefully aid us. And you have learned a piece of Salina's history." Serene leads Seldan along a course obviously towards the temples. "I feel for perhaps the first time in this trial that we have stymied the creature and not played an expected hand. We will see the end of this, Seldan. Hold on to that."

"That was well done of you," Seldan answers as he walks, following Serene's lead without thinking about it. "I had hoped merely to hold Salina off and stop her from aiding the demon, as she had done before." He pauses. "I should speak with the self-styled Loremaster."

Serene bares her teeth a little bit.. she can't help it. But she just shakes her head as the demon is mentioned. "In good time, Seldan. Rest and reflect tonight."