FINAL CHAPTER

[faentasy]

Final Chapter

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Like the secrets that spilled out into the open, the night sky above Aira Niluc also seems to be running free; whatever part of the land you find yourself in at night, you'll find that the night sky has been painted with shooting stars. Watching them brings a certain comfort, the feeling of chicken soup on a cold winter day, the nostalgia of meeting an old friend again, a warm fuzzy feeling from your core.

A boost to your spirits is likely welcome at this point, and it seems be the only thing Aira Niluc has to offer you at this as no new locations open up to you this week. There's a certain energy in the air, but not all of that can be blamed on the shooting stars, given the explosion that happened this weekend. For now the chasm in what was once the fountain remains impassable, but who knows when that will change?

[[Welcome to Week 6! Feel free to make top levels at your discretion, and remember to note it in your header if you plan on investigating any locations. However, please try to keep investigations to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday! You can also privately contact Hamelin at your leisure through Wednesday of this week.

Also, please note the shop's discount on magnifying glasses! ]]

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Comments

[scythegun]

Oh, I suppose it was smart to do that first. It's good that they'll accept their new peach-filled waters, at least!

[ideismo]

As long as they don't mind it, that's honestly good enough.

[Anyway, down to the lake we go, and...into the lake they go. As he'd said, they don't seem to hate it? They just seem to swim around in small awkward circles before going wherever fish go.]

[scythegun]

[FREE THEM!!!

Anyway, look at them go!! They seem a little confused but then off they go...]

I hope they enjoy their new home! It certainly is much larger for all of them!

[goodbye paper fish, we knew you well....]

[ideismo]

I let the ones from my room go first. Just to make sure.

[And that way he'd only kill like, five instead of all of them.

As it is, they're either going to go off and live their best little paper fish lives, or they're going to like. dissolve as soon as they're out of our line of sight or something, but either way it isn't as though anyone's going to be around to take care of them after everything.]

[scythegun]

[Look we don't talk about the fact that we may have just killed them all!!!]

Well! That was rather fun, but they should be just fine now that they're free. Shall we take some time to spar?

[ideismo]

Very well. The archery range should have enough open space, assuming that it's not currently in use.

[He does intend to stick to the general agreement of not breaking your ribs, incidentally. Might bruise you up pretty well, but he seems to be figuring out restraint, at least.]

[scythegun]

It shouldn't be. Let's get going, then~

[C'mon, please try not to bruise him so badly he can't fight well tomorrow!! But he's definitely here for sparring and he's certainly going to enjoy himself!!]

[ideismo]

[He will try very hard to not bruise or break anything, but that doesn't mean he isn't going to go until exhaustion takes one or both of us out. ...God, his men must absolutely hate doing any practice with him whatsoever. He'd consider going easier on them once all of this is over but...eh, nah. Either way, you going to be going at him with the bow or the usual?]

[scythegun]

[The usual, the bow's only for long ranged combat and he's not comfortable enough with it to bring it into a fight against Alexei. So it's definitely a good workout, and one that pushes him much harder than normal training usually does. Which is good, but...

By the end of it, he holds up a hand to stop Alexei, moving to sit down as he's catching his breath. His free hand rests over his chest, and after a moment he laughs.]

You really don't ever go easy on anyone, do you? I'm going to feel that in the morning...

[But it won't be all that bad, and it certainly won't be enough to risk hindering him. He needed an opportunity to go all out again today, anyway.]

[ideismo]

I have no reason to go easy on people. My men certainly won't learn that way, and I need to get practice in as well.

[But all right, all right, he'll leave you be.]

[scythegun]

I'm not one of your men, you know...

[But he sighs and lifts his shoulders a bit once that's out there. Alexei's always going to be Like This.]

Though if you want to make it up to me, there is something I could use your assistance with.

[ideismo]

So you said. I won't promise anything until I hear what it is.

[scythegun]

[Yeager nods at that and his free hand moves up to toy with the brooch he always wears.]

I haven't precisely been able to have anyone examine the... the blastia since I left the Empire. I thought it might be good to make sure that it will continue working fine through whatever tomorrow may bring.

[He's trying very hard not to let any uncertainty or hesitance slip into the words because it is important. But that doesn't really make this any easier. He's spent ten damn years keeping it hidden, it's hard to acknowledge it even now, even after Raven allowed everyone to see his.]

While I wouldn't say I've been pushing myself harder here and I can't imagine there's any real risk for concern... I want to be sure. We can't exactly afford to lose one of our best fighters, ja?

[ideismo]

[He's quiet for a moment at that. Just...considering, really.]

Yes, of course. Come see me later this evening.

[Maybe after the Edelparty.

It isn't really a question of whether he would want to or not, because he's the only one here capable of it. It's more...well, he doesn't know what he's supposed to do about it if it isn't in decent enough condition, short of repurpose part of Dein Nomos and pray for the best.]

[scythegun]

[He nods at that, a bit hesitantly at first before moving to stand.]

Ja, of course. I appreciate it. I'll be sure to swing by at some point~

[If it's in need of repair, the best he can really do is try to take it easy when fighting; at least knowing will be better than going on his best guess. So it's important, but he can deal with that later.]

[ideismo]

I'll be waiting for you, then. I could possibly manage mild repairs here, but I don't know if I can promise anything else.

[If magic was working here then that would be something else, but...]

...After we leave this place, if you're questioning it for any reason, bring it to me.

[scythegun]

[It gets a soft laugh from him.]

I've been taking good care of it. I don't think it will be too much of a concern, but...

[After seeing Raven's and how easily the damage caught up to him, he doesn't want to take any chances. He's hardly an expert with blastia, and no one's seen the damn thing in ten years. It's better to have it checked now than to be surprised tomorrow.]

Well, anyway, I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

[ideismo]

[He doesn't hate being asked to check, he just hates this whole fucking thing.]

My concerns are largely with where this is going to go for the group as a whole. I know better than to assume that everyone will live and things will be fine.

[scythegun]

[Alexei is always required to hate it here.]

Ja, I don't expect that at all. We need to keep morale up, but be prepared for the worst. We'll be lucky if even half our number make it.

[ideismo]

At least I'll be with all of you this time.

[It's something he just...says, without concerning himself as to whether it's something he wants to say or not, because fucking hell it's what he means and he doesn't get enough opportunities to actually say what he means.]

I'm tired of being held back while people die. At least this time I can be with all of you.

[scythegun]

[It gets a sharp exhale from him and it takes a moment for him to release the breath he's holding.

It isn't exactly a surprise, in some ways. It explains so goddamn much, however.

The momentary surprise doesn't last long, and Yeager relaxes easily enough, lifting his shoulders a bit with a wry smirk.]

Come now, you're talking like it's already decided that we're all going to die. Try to have a little faith in some of us, ja?

[ideismo]

Don't try to stay through the worst-case scenario. If there's an opportunity to leave whatever happens alive, then I expect you to take it.

[scythegun]

[He's not sure how to respond to that, and he doesn't like that it's even been brought up in the first place. It would have been so much easier to just pretend everything would be fine and work itself out, but it's not like Alexei has ever done things the easy way.]

...I understand. I can't promise that because we don't know exactly what will happen, but I will keep it in mind.

[That's the most he can offer, though he'd be lying if he said he felt good about it.]

[ideismo]

That's all I'm asking. I trust that you'll do as you see fit either way, but I would prefer that as few die as possible. If the worst-case scenario does come to pass, then the others are going to need someone who can watch out for them until a different opportunity arises.

I'm not asking because I don't have faith in you. It's quite the opposite, actually.

[scythegun]

Because I'm someone who can keep them safe.

[He knows. And that's something he can agree to, because he doesn't like the idea of leaving them behind.]

I wouldn't want to leave them defenseless, so should things go in that direction, then... Ja, I'll protect them.

[It's likely the one thing he's considered in the past ten years that Casey would be pleased with.]