CHAPTER 5

[faentasy]

CHAPTER 5

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Almost half of the non-fairy population of Aira Niluc is gone.

Some may be feeling the absence of their fellow participants in this story. Others will stay focused on the wish they want to get. What never changes is that the story goes on, bringing you closer to the end -- and to another chapter. What will it bring this time?

Snow!

Snow as far as the eye can see, a cold blanket covering the new area. Some winter amenities are now available, ready for perusal! But that's not all there's to find: everyone also will find reminders of their homes, of people they know, of happier times.

Of their wishes.

Who will try to reach their wish this time?

[[Welcome to Week 5! 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.

In addition, a reminder that any Murder Proposals for this week are due by Tuesday 3:00 PM EST/12:00 PM PST! However, please note that you have the option of submitting murder proposals for a later week as well.]]

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[vogelfrei]

[ It is not a solution, but it is a start and sometimes that is what counts. ]

It's no problem at all. This week has been hard on all of us, myself included. I will be just a minute.

[ Which is probably time Alexei might like to collect himself further, too. ]

[ideismo]

[He is understood here on a deep and spiritual level, in that he's going to spend the few minutes McGillis is off doing tea prep quietly trying to hate himself enough to make himself get his act together. He doesn't usually act out like this; it's been a while since the last time, and guilt seems as acceptable a motivator as they come.]

[vogelfrei]

[ That's... probably not healthy either, but hey, whatever works.

McGillis will make a whole can of the most calming smelling tea he can find in this kitchen and eventually return with it. He's pleased to see Alexei has indeed not broken anything else. ]

Here you go. Maybe it'll ease your nerves enough to get some sleep, especially now that the mirror isn't a factor anymore.

[ He's not judging getting rid of the thing. It could have been more elegant though. ]

[ideismo]

...Thank you.

[He'll accept it about as gracefully as one can after having just shattered a mirror into a great many pieces; he has, in fact, not broken anything else.]

It seems it's been affecting most of us, if not all.

[vogelfrei]

Memories are a powerful thing. It is almost surprising it took him this long to draw on the content of our minds like this, but I truly would prefer if he had not done so.

This weekend seems like it might get ugly, but... it's too early to think of that yet, I suppose.

[ Not when this is supposed to be calming, or something along those lines. ]

[ideismo]

[Unfortunately, he's already ahead of you, McGillis.]

No, I've been considering that as well. It's difficult not to, given the content of my memories. The people I've been seeing... Too many have died because of me.

This weekend is going to be hard.

[vogelfrei]

Initially, I had assumed that the visions were meant to motivate us to kill in order to win this game and return home to our loved ones... but now I wonder how many wishes here are dedicated to making a death come undone? How many dearly beloved ghosts are there in these mirrors?

My own are no longer among the living either.

[ideismo]

[The sound that gets from him is odd, almost amused in a sick sort of way.]

At the very least, I can assure you that my own wish has nothing to do with that. I've no doubt that the dead would resent me deeply for it, among other things.

Their presence is just painful for me, that's all.

[vogelfrei]

The same goes for me. Well, I am sure we can each take an educated guess at each other's wishes.

[ They've talked about goals a fair bit, after all. ]

I don't dare to hope the same goes for everybody else here.

[ideismo]

I think the concern is valid, at least.

[We are really bad at this whole "not being depressing" business, McGillis.]

There's a certain idealistic sentimentality, in the idea of raising the dead. I can't imagine that it would go the way that those wishing for it would intend, especially with Hamelin in control of how the wishes are put into practice.

[vogelfrei]

[ It's fine, we're fine, this is at least a little more productive than smashing furniture or freezing ourselves to death at the will-o-wisps?? ]

It certainly is the kind of wish that would go wrong in many stories - and that seems to be a good measuring bar for this place. Someone might come back differently, hollow in a way they previously were not. And yet, the temptation remains.

[ideismo]

[...]

The one time I've actually asked the Goddess to intercede for me was during the war ten years ago. I disobeyed orders to stay back and went out to the front lines to assist my unit.

They were all dead. Dismembered, most of them. Torn apart in various horrific ways. Those were the ones I was still able to identify as having been human at one point; several of them... There wasn't even enough for that.

[Dark smears on the ground. Shadows.]

I would have done anything to find survivors, or even some with enough left of them to save.

I see them often, in the reflective surfaces here.

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis remains silent for a moment. This is heavy, the kind of reveal that needs to be given space for its gravity to sink in.

This is one way in which mobile suit combat is easier. McGillis never saw the bodies of those he lead to their death. ]

You've likely heard all comforting words about dying in the line of duty already. I understand none of that makes it easier.

Was the war won, eventually?

[ideismo]

It was. Unfortunately, that wasn't the last unit killed out from under me, nor was it the most brutal to handle. But that particular conflict... We did win, yes.

[vogelfrei]

Victory and survival of the people as a whole are always bought with very high prices, it's the same all through history and all worlds.

The only thing the living can do is honor what the dead have sacrificed.

[ideismo]

Those are my thoughts on it as well. Those of us that have been left behind have an obligation to continue living for those who no longer can.

[That sort of phrasing is...perhaps unfortunate, but it is what it is in the end.]

They wanted to help me make my goals and my dreams a reality. I fully intend to do so, both for the Empire now and for those who have gone before.