bakabaka | All my powers back now I'm scary to zombies

All my powers back now I'm scary to zombies

[ Deep within the confines of a mountain rage to the west, a dense and lush temperate forest blankets the land. The same forest serves as the proud "mane" of the lion-shaped Titan that swims throughout the cloud sea, carrying life and death upon its back as it has always done for millennia. It has only been more recently that it seems to be carrying more death along with it, but not by any fault of its own. Instead, it is the inhabitants that its has hosted for years that have turned to worshiping the art and philosophy of wars and battles-- wars and battles that span the world greater than just this single Titan's back.

It is during one of these battles that a fire razes many miles of its mane, clearing both brush and animals from their lands, charring the ground to render it useless, and forcing the evacuation of one of the cities housed upon the Titan's shoulders. And within one of the valleys of the mountain, it just so happens to char away enough vines and shrub to reveal a set of solemn stone doors carved directly into the cliffside.

There the Aegis lies within her sealed chamber, lying quietly within a glass casket decorated with ornate runes that have since fallen out of human language, faded and chipping away. A sword remains upon upright within the center of the room, steel worn and rusted, giving away that it is a replica. The Aegis herself, in all of her fabled might and glory, may look underwhelming in her current form as she lies there. Legends say that she had hair the color of gold, but here she is with a head crowned with red. The songs of old may also speak of how the emerald crystal upon her chest shone like the right eye of the dragon constellation, glorious and blinding and unmistakable; instead, the crystal's light is a dim, quiet pulse within the bleakness of the ruins, and barely able to cast any shadow.

The air is heavy within this chamber, thick like smoke and tasting like steel, stirring with only the slightest of movement from the shifting stance of the Titan itself. But that air, this chamber, and the Aegis herself will soon be disturbed when someone decides to enter. ]

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[ Known to both his friends and his rivals as the Little Conqueror, Sun Ce had inherited a dream from his father: a dream to build a new world, one devoid of war and suffering. One might think that someone who enjoyed fighting as much as he does would grow bored with such a world, but such is not the case with him. As much as he appreciates a thrilling challenge, he bears in his soul an earnest desire to bring an end to the countless battles that have ravaged the world, even outside of this lone Titan.

But fighting is the only way to attain this goal, and he excels at it. The enemy had attempted to lure him into a trap, setting fire to the vegetation around him. He hated such dirty tricks, especially for the harm they caused to others. But if not for the enemy's conniving, he never would have seen those stone doors on his patrol.

His curiosity, as it so often does, gets the better of him, and he enters the cliffside chamber with equal parts excitement and trepidation. And he only makes it a few steps past the musty entrance, waving the stale air away from his face, before he stops in his tracks. ]

What in the world...

[ He's heard the stories about the Aegis, but he also knows that stories tend to transform as they're passed down from generation to generation. But rather than think on the differences between what he sees before him and what he's heard from his father, all he can focus on is the beauty before him... beauty, in every sense of the word.

Astonished to the point of speechlessness, he takes another step toward the glass casket. His heart has only ever beaten this fast in the heat of battle before. ]

[ She may look nothing more than a painted statue, all marble-like skin and each strand of hair set neatly in place where she rests. Or she may look like a mannequin of sorts, artificial and plastic, cold and still. But what she does not look like is human within the dim glow of the core crystal upon her chest.

Should he approach the casket, he may see that a thin line surrounding the first step leading to her alter. It begins to glow as soon as he is near the threshold, an electronic hum following its wake that grows louder. The line of light travels and crosses, drawing intricate patterns upon the floor before they congregate towards the replica sword in the center. As soon as they strike the pedestal the sword shatters into pieces, clattering to the ground. Within the empty chamber, its fall echos like thunder.

But the lines of light continue, flowing like snakes upon their tracks on the floor until at last they point towards the glass casket. Striking into it, they fade into shadow. A moment of silence passes within the chamber, and then slowly... the glass lid opens, and the glow of the crystal upon her chest increases.

What will he do now? ]

[ The statuesque figure before him continues to captivate him, and he takes the last few steps forward before he is taken aback by a sudden glow. That on its own is enough to steal his attention, but soon, the entire chamber whirls to life around him, light dancing across his field of vision before coming to a climactic end. He holds an arm up in front of himself instinctively as the rusted blade breaks apart.

He pauses a moment, his brow furrowed in concern. All is quiet, save for the sound of the lid opening and his own steadily beating heart. He takes another careful step toward the mysterious figure, his eyes finally taking in the finer details. He finally reaches the casket, showing an almost uncharacteristic abundance of caution as he looks her over, his gaze moving from the glowing crystal on her chest upward toward her face. She's pretty... almost too pretty to be real, his senses tell him.

Without thinking, perhaps to make sure that his eyes aren't playing tricks on him, he reaches a hand out. As a curious gesture, he brushes aside some of those meticulously placed strands of flame-red hair with the backs of his fingers. He's checking for a temperature, or really any sign of life, wordlessly and instinctively. ]

[ With the chamber settled into silence once more and the only light within the steady glow of the crystal upon her chest, all is enveloped in an eerie emerald light. The figure itself does not move when his fingers gently brush back stands of her hair upon her face, and he’ll find that despite the otherworldly appearance they are soft to the touch. Still not quite human, but almost as if it were built to imitate it. Her skin too, should that same finger have accidentally brushed against her cheek, is oddly smooth. Soft, yes, but not exactly organic either.

And the moment he fixes a single strand of hair, the emerald crystal pulses once, twice, three times.... and it continues to blink in a steady cycle. On, off, on, off, slowly and lazily as if beating to a hymn. It seems to be a signal of sorts.

Or an invitation. An energy begins to develop around the it demanding attention. No instructions or words appear, but perhaps the message will be clear that he must touch the emerald core crystal of the Aegis.

Once he does, he will no longer be within the chamber. Or on the same Titan. Now he stands in a vast, green field, open and clear save for the single tree at the top of the hill. Overhead is a deep blue sky as far as anyone can see, washing white towards the horizon. A solemn bell tolls in the distance, the only noise within the realm because nothing else is there.
No birds, no rodents, and not insects. Nothing expect the field, the hill, and the tree.

And the Aegis standing next to it.

Her back is to him as she stands there, hand idly resting upon the trunk of the tree, but she’s no longer so statuesque. The wind in this realm brushes the fabric of her grab and the short locks of her hair, and the Aegis herself moves. Slightly, steadily, but she is indeed breathing, shifting her weight, and at even one point reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. And when he at last approaches she will actually speak, voice soft and melodious despite years of not using it. ]

You’re the first one that’s come here... in quite some time.

[ There is no bitterness in her voice, but neither is there joy despite the calm smile carrying with her words. She states it as an observation, but she still does not turn to properly regard him. ]

[ The verdant glow catches his eye, and soon, he finds his gaze drawn toward it. The stories his father and his father's father had passed down about the Aegis may not have been entirely accurate, but he knows even without the glow cluing him in that the crystal must have some great importance. Perhaps, he thinks to himself, he was supposed to find her all along.

And still, despite knowing that what having such a resource in his arsenal could accomplish, he hesitates. Would he just be making the fighting worse? Did he even have the right to claim something... no, someone so powerful?

Yet, the thought of someone else taking advantage of this discovery is enough of a reason for him to throw caution into the wind. His fingertip touches the glowing crystal, and as soon as it does, the chamber disappears around him.

He opens his eyes. not even aware of having closed them in the first place, and is greeted with an unexpected sight. The must of the chamber, filled with stale air and particulars, is gone. In its place, he feels a gentle breeze, one that brushes aside his hair as easily as it causes the blades of grass to lean beneath him. But most incredibly, the figure that had been so still that it didn't even seem alive now is very much so.

He steps closer, unsure of every step. This day was just supposed to be about fighting back the forces of his enemies, a territorial conquest and nothing more. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought that he would find himself in such a fantastical situation as this. ]

I'm... not really sure where "here" is.

[ There's a certain degree of humility in his tone. Despite his reputation for heroics to the point of foolishness, he's well aware of his own shortcomings. Admitting that he was out of his element was an easy step for him to take. ]

A dream... of Elysium. [ She replies quietly, letting the revelation sink in.

Elysium is the fabled paradise of legend where once humans had lived in peace, where all had wanted for nothing, and where they were cared for under the watchful eye of the Father. The Architect of the world. And while the various faiths and religions of the world have shifted, changed, and ebbed and flowed in their popularity as time marched on in her absence, the legend of Elysium has remained. According to it the paradise sits atop the World Tree, far above the flight of the Titan-continents.

At last the woman turns to face him properly, a breeze catching the short crop of her hair as she looks at him, gaze unwavering.... and incredibly sorrowful despite the quiet smile she bears. She knows that he recognizes her for what she is at this point, but she also sees the conflict in his eyes-- or perhaps more accurately, she can feel it within him. ]

....You have found me, Lord Sun Ce. The Aegis.

[ And she also knows his name. ]

What will you do now?

[ Elysium. He's heard that name, and he's heard the legends. And yet, it still is so hard to believe that it could actually exist. Maybe it's because the world he lives in is so plagued by war and hardship that a peaceful place like that seems like nothing but a distant dream, a lie that parents tell their children so that they can find some comfort in all the suffering. A bedtime story so that they don't lose hope.

His gaze shifts to her face, and that melancholy expression very nearly breaks his heart. Before, she had seemed so utterly devoid of life, but now, he can only see a deep sadness. It's powerful enough to sadden even him, a young man whose spirit burns so brightly that it's earned him a reputation of sorts.

What will he do? With the Aegis, he could bring a swift end to the fighting. He could probably take on all of his enemies and demonstrate his strength. There would be none who would oppose him if he mastered this newfound power.

But that's not who he is. That's not what he wants.

There's some hesitation before he answers, his gaze cast partially downward. But when he looks back up at her, any signs of uncertainty are gone, replaced with a warm smile. ]

I should probably keep you safe. There are a lot of people out there who would stop at nothing to find you. But besides that... well, I guess that's up to you.

[ It shouldn't just be his decision to make. No matter what advantage she can bring to his forces, no matter how certain his victory would be, the world he wants to build is one not unlike Elysium. And how could he ever hope to accomplish that if he denied someone the power to make their own decisions? ]

[ At the end of the Aegis War, she had been left shaken and broken-- she had been left sealed to be like this, a choice she had made voluntarily. It had been to curb her power and become the red-colored Aegis instead of gold, to be Pyra, to put a limit on how much power she could exercise. Because at the end of that war... she had sunk an entire continent with all of its life upon it.

A power like that... does it really deserve to exist?

He wants to keep her safe, he says, and her smile turns a bit softer in response, although it's as if he's only put a bandaid onto a bleeding heart. He's here because he needs her power, he's here because there is another war; that can be the only reason he's here, the real reason. What makes him different from the others who would use her for their own gain and glory?

But then he says that. That bit about it being it "up to you", and spoken so casually at that. She can hardly believe it. ] ...I....shall follow your will. [ She tells him slowly, calmly, closing her eyes. That's all there is for someone like her. That's all she has known to do, even before she even had a consciousness. Yet...

I guess that's up to you. ]

....But can you promise me one thing?

[ Plenty of people in his position wouldn't think twice about using the Aegis to their own ends. Some of them might have reservations about it, knowing that she thinks for herself, but ultimately, they'd act in their own self-interest. They know what the Aegis is capable of, as does he.

But that's exactly why he doesn't want her to follow his every command. If he truly deserves to have that power by his side, then she should choose to be by his side. Maybe he's not meant to have it. Maybe no one is. But she's not just some weapon. She must have her own dreams, hopes, and fears.

And that's why he's actually very glad when she asks him to make her a promise. He nods, his smile growing warmer. ]

Of course. What is it?

[ Pyra steadies herself before replying, the question forming at her lips feeling almost sacrilege, perhaps even ingenuous given that she asks for a promise before he even knows what it is. She doesn't know what has going on with the world outside these ruins, but she knows that it is safe to assume that another war has engulfed the Titan that carries her, if not more expansive than that. She feels that she ought to care more of said war as well; with her power, she could very well bring peace.

But the peace the way she knows how to bring about has too high of a cost.

With a breath, she asks: ] Will you take me... to Elysium? The real one.

[ She's asking him to do the impossible, but there she will be safe... and the world will be safe from her. ]

[ The real Elysium? That answer just leaves him with even more questions. That means that Elysium is real, not just some promise of a better world. It seems so improbable to him, and his eyes widen slowly in surprise, disbelief, and then realization.

He supposes that she would know better than he would if Elysium was real or not. But such a journey wouldn't be easy. And he wouldn't even know where to begin looking for it, so hopefully, she'd be able to guide him there.

But even with such a daunting task, he shows no sign of backing down. A smile forms on his lips again, and he nods in determination, offering her an outstretched hand. His palms and fingers are worn with callouses, and above the gold and crimson bracers that cover his forearms, his muscles are dotted with the faint scars of battles past.

No matter what challenges get in their way, he'll face them for her. It's not every day that someone gets to help a legend like her, and for some reason he has a hard time describing, the thought of helping her brings a smile to his face. ]

Alright... I'll do what I can. But first things first... what should I call you?

[ She clearly knows who he is, so a name would place them on a bit more equal footing. And while she's obviously the Aegis, that's not a name. Not one he feels like he should call her, anyway. ]

[ A name. Not simply "the Aegis", but an actual name. ]

Pyra. [ She replies, almost forgetting that he's left his hand out between them for her to take. Her fingers will gently press into his palm as if it might cause some static, but then her hand slowly slides to encompass his. ] My name is Pyra. [ She tells him again, a bit more firmly this time as she now brings her other hand up to join theirs, cupping his fully between hers. A warrior's hands, no doubt. Strong and sturdy, calloused and rough. He has been through much already, she can tell, and yet he is smiling at her so genuinely as if his heart is thrice the side of any other human's.

Her gaze travels up his arm, his style of armor unrecognizable, yet the types of scars familiar. She is sure each one has its own story, but there will be no more so long as he wields her. Finally her eyes return to his face, and she feels--... guilty, perhaps, at seeing his smile and knowing that she is not telling him everything. That one day she will betray it, what with asking him to take her to Elysium.

With a gentle tug, she will guide his hand towards her as she steps towards him at the same time. Her eyes do not leave his as he smiles at her, patient as she releases both of his hands. ]

Sun Ce, place your hand upon my chest.

[ She^{means the^{core^crystal.}} ]

[ He allows himself the luxury of watching at her as she takes his hands, even staring at her face as if to memorize it in case this is all just a dream. He's heard about the Aegis, of course, and he never expected to actually encounter her in his life. But it's not the promise of unlimited power that captivates him right now.

Pyra. It's a suitably fitting name, one that matches her flame-red hair, eyes, and even her clothing. Her voice is calm and soothing, setting him at ease even after the danger of battle and the discovery of her chamber set his heart to racing. He's no idiot, so he's fully aware of both the fact that he finds her genuinely attractive and that it's probably not a good idea to act on that.

It takes a beat for him to process the directions he's given, and the abruptness of it catches him off-guard. His eyes widen with surprise, and a bright red glow rushes to the tops of his cheeks as he freezes completely still. He's a bit too easily distracted, particularly by an attractive girl. ]

Uh, I... oh. Um, right.

[ He realizes her true meaning soon enough, which is for the best. That worn hand of his cautiously reaches out, fingers spreading outward so that he can place his palm can cup over the emerald crystal at the top of her chest. That, and absolutely nothing else. But that doesn't stop his cheeks from being almost as red as she is. ]

[ The crystal begins to glow brighter as his palm approaches it, and the light that manages to filter through the gaps in his fingers radiate all throughout the expanse of field, growing brighter and brighter with each passing second until finally all is washed in an emerald light.

He may see visions just then as the tree, the field, the hill, the entire world around him, and both him and the Aegis begin to fade into the oblivion of the crystal's power, brief glimpses of her life as it once had been, and may will become. A blonde woman with the very same core crystal hovers within an empty chamber surrounded by floating glyphs and lights, her gaze hollow and unfocused. Then there is chaos, loud and unforgiving accompanied by panic and confusion, regret and despair. He might feel it as well, the rumble of explosions so powerful that it may shake his heart and lungs within his ribcage, the sense of loss so sharp it feels like a knife to the gut, and the horrid scream of a laser as it tears through the ground, ripping apart the essence of the land.

There are others that appear in her vision, men and women of different ages, yet their faces pass too rapidly within the vision for any of them to be memorized. All of them begin with smiling before their eyes fill with horror, soon wiped away by the emerald light as if erased from history. The vision culminates until at last all the images pass too rapidly that they blur together. The final figure lingers, however, obscured within a void with only the familiar faint glow of the core crystal illuminating a part of her figure within the darkness.

And then they are back within the ruins, the dust in the air parting around them in waves by her presence. Pyra is standing in front of him, arms outstretched and now holding a weapon out to him. In its deactivated form, it is heavy and blunt, more of a club than that of a sword. But it's her. ] ....My blade.

[ However once he takes it into his hands for the first time, he may wish to step back because it will activate, expanding and generating flames that actually form the true edge of its blade. ]

[ The visions that he sees are almost overwhelming. While they certainly confuse him, overwhelming his senses with images and sounds that are too removed from any context he can recognize to truly comprehend quite yet, what is even more disorienting is the sense of dread and danger that he feels as destruction seems to surround him. Despite his unfamiliarity with the events that he experiences, he still feels their weight, and it sits on his chest like a leaden weight.

The next vision that he sees is more along the lines of what he'd expected the Aegis to look like, not that he ever expected to actually see for himself. Yet there's something familiar, at least in the core of the crystal, but he is left with more questions than answers.

Those questions only amplify as he sees yet another figure, too cloaked in darkness to be recognizable for him. And then, as suddenly as it began, it ends.

The chamber. She had been resting motionless in the casket when he found her, but now, she is standing before him just as she had been in the grassy field. His eyes look down at the weapon she has held out to him for him to take. He's well-trained in many different weapons, but it doesn't look like anything he's ever used or even imagined before. She calls it a blade, but it doesn't have one that he can tell.

That is... until he takes it in his hands.

He takes a sudden, involuntary step back as the weapon all but comes to life in his hand, and instinctively, he holds it in front of him in a two-handed stance, as if to become accustomed to its weight. It doesn't handle like any of the swords he's carried, though he's more used to blunt weapons and polearms than anything like this. ]

You... you want me to have this?

[ He sounds unsure of himself for the first time since she last heard him spoke, though that uncertainty is only because he would expect her to want to wield her own blade to protect herself. He almost doesn't feel worthy to hold it, just like he doesn't truly believe he would be worthy to hold the power of the Aegis for himself. ]

[ It's hard not to feel a little subconscious when he's taking her blade from her hands and then looking at it in awe. Because that's basically her he is appraising.. or one form of hers. And he's not looking upon her blade-form as if it were merely a tool to accomplish his own ends, a way to raze entire armies to the ground or cities to ruin.

She steps back, closing her eyes as she feels the warmth of her own blade radiating throughout the room. He doesn't realize it, but he's tempered it already, controlling those flames into a solid form. If he hadn't been one of those meant to wield her, then he would have been rejected outright... and it wouldn't have been pretty.

Pyra closes her eyes as relief washes over her, and she closes her eyes. ] It is yours.

I... am yours.

[ And then once more opening her eyes, she motions to the blade. ] This-- [ As if the form of the blade, him being able to hold it at all. ] --tells me all I need to know that you are meant to wield me. Whether you handle the blade yourself, whether you allow me to fight with it, or we share the weapon together.

[ ...Had she been wrong before? About wanting to go to Elysium? Because now that she sees him holding the Blade, perhaps-- perhaps the world will still remain safe, even if she continues to exist. Perhaps in his hands, instead of the world being destroyed... it will be saved. It's too soon to tell, but the seed has been planted. ]

[ I am yours. While it's not difficult for him to see the true intention behind the words, that does little to stop the more instinctual part of his brain from willfully misinterpreting it, and for a moment, his cheeks feel about as hot as the rest of the room does.

Once that impulse has died down, however, the full weight of her words hits him. She's pledging herself to him, a person she's never met before. He still can't help but feel like he is being handed something that he has no right to bear, but if this is her choice, then the least he can do is try to be a person worthy of having her aid.

He's seen what some men do when they get a taste for power. That's not the kind of person that he wants to become. ]

Well... I think I like having you by my side. [ His gaze stays focused on the sword in front of him, as if to try to distract himself. He wonders for a second if she even notices the redness in his cheeks, or if she is simply being polite in not saying anything about it. ] I mean... if that's what you want.

[ Following her wishes isn't something he's insisting on just because she happens to be a beautiful woman. He believes strongly, as strongly as the normally easygoing young man feels about anything, that nobody's fate is written in stone. He couldn't bear to compel her into following him, no matter what advantages it might bring. ]

[ It's hard not to notice the sight flush to his cheeks, but out of respect for him she won't bring it up. She actually finds it endearing in its own way, to see such a strong, grown warrior like him being flustered at three simple words.

But it also comes attached with some amount of guilt. It's a reaction she expected, if not outright wanted, from him in addition to letting him know that she is bound to him. And she's simply letting him have those embarrassing. He may have said he will bring her to Elysium on his own, but this also serves as an extra layer of protection-- protection for ensuring that he lets her have that goal. ] I would like that, too, Lord Sun Ce.

[ And she would, because she's felt how he is as a person the moment their bond was forged. Powerful but kind, confident but humble. One who wishes to use all that he has to bring peace. She can only imagine what it would have been like, then, if he had been the one to find her last. If he could have controlled her power, could have saved--

Well, there's only one way to save this world now in her mind. Or at least, protect it from being destroyed.

...So she wants to be by his side until Elysium and it all comes to an end. She'd be leading him into a treacherous territory to get them there, but she knows that she's the one who will be the most treacherous in the end. Because she will be breaking the bond they've forged all for her own selfish desire. It's for the greater good. It's to save the world. But she refuses to think about that at the moment.

Pyra lifts a hand so that her palm rests upon the blade, engulfed in is strange flames. ] ...Look at these flames. [ She will continue quietly. ] They're burning as if-- as if they have much to accomplish. [ They're his flames as much as they are hers. ] What will you do with them now?

[ Even before he stepped foot in her chamber, he had much to accomplish. He's inherited his father's grand ambition, to bring an end to the fighting that's ravaged the Titan they've considered home for as long as their family's history records. It's not the sort of thing he can just walk away from, but at the same time, he has a brother to whom he can entrust that goal.

Besides that, he has a feeling that her goal and his are linked in some way. He can't quite describe it, and perhaps it's nothing more than a hunch. But now, he feels like this is something he needs to do.

His heart warms at hearing her say that she would like to stay with him, and the flush on his cheeks subtly deepens. But as it does, the smile on his face grows wider and more confident, and he nods in affirmation. His determination is a powerful force, and right now, his determination is to help her in any way he can. ]

I want to take you to Elysium, wherever that is. But first, I have to make sure that my family can take care of our home without me.

[ There are still enemies in hiding, plotting their next move. He's made no shortage of enemies, what with the powerful clans and common bandits alike having grown attached to the power and influence they've accumulated. While it seems that none can match him in a fair fight, they would probably try to take the Aegis for themselves if they found out about her.

And he'd rather avoid that, for multiple reasons. He has a duty to protect her now, even if she's supposed to be the one protecting him. It's not just about keeping a powerful weapon out of his enemy's hands or even protecting his own people... it's about a promise that he made, one that he intends to never break. ]

...Here. I want you to fight with this if we have to. [ He holds the blade out to her with both hands, a sincere expression taking over his face. ] I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do, but just promise you'll take care of yourself, alright?

[ She will take it into her hands, the flames then retreating back into its core without even a wisp of smoke as evidence they had once been. So too do the edges of the greatsword retreat back into its dormant form, blunt and heavy. ]

You won't need to worry about me. [ It may sound like promise as she says it, quietly and nodding towards him with that same smile. But it's actually a dismissal of his want for her to promise him entirely. Pyra chooses her words carefully when it comes to protecting herself... and her heart. ]

Besides-- [ She continues without missing a beat, placing the dormant form of the sword upon her back. There are no clasps actually attached to it, but instead it simply hovers there as if there were. ] ...I feel as if I should be saying that to you, Lord Sun Ce.

[ She inclines her head, eyes traveling to one of his arms. ] You have many scars...

[ Her comment causes his attention to shift, as may very well be her intention, to his own arms, faintly dotted with the wounds of battles past. Most were minor lacerations at worst, perhaps training nicks and cuts, and the only particularly deep wound he's received was an arrow to the thigh early in his reign. Such things are bound to happen when one fights on the front lines like he does. Not many rulers would do such a thing, but how can he inspire his followers if he's not willing to share in their dangers as well as their glories?

Of course, just fighting and training isn't enough to have earned those badges of honor. He does so with a sometimes reckless abandon, and while he's not met the foe he couldn't beat head-on yet, left to his own devices, it would only be a matter of time before he met his end to some conniving or simply powerful foe. But that's the only way he knows how to fight.

Which is why he needs someone at his side, perhaps: to keep him from being too reckless. ]

They're not that bad. [ Whether he means that to downplay their severity or simply as a statement of fact is up for debate. He turns his gaze back up to her, lips formed into a cockeyed smile. ] If a few little scars are what it takes to bring peace, that's a price I'd gladly pay.

[ Despite his easygoing nature, there's a hint of sorrow behind his words. His father is one of those who was lost to the chaos. If he can build a world where that doesn't happen to other people's fathers or mothers or siblings or loved ones, where his family can enjoy peace and safety as well, then his well-being is a small price to pay. ]

[ The Aegis may be a powerful Blade, but it is not omnipotent. Still, if there were a way to ensure that he would never be hurt again... she would do it.

That thought alone surprises her with how deeply she feels it. She's only known him for a few minutes, and while, yes, his imprinting upon her core crystal gives her better insight as to what type of person he is, it shouldn't have that much of an effect. Maybe it's because of his earnestness, the sincerity, the sorrow from that statement that she senses from him, as if he's already paid enough of a price for peace.

If there were one man who could change the world for the better, even without her,... would it be him? ]

Then, [ She steps to the side, motioning to the exit of the chamber. ] Shall we be off?

[ Through all the hardship and heartache the Sun family has faced, Sun Ce has never let it get the better of him. There are many things that he wears on his sleeve, but his grief isn't one of them. Someone had to be strong for his family with his father gone, and as the oldest son, the duty has always been his.

But around Pyra, he doesn't feel that need to hide every vulnerability of his behind a veneer of strength. She's already noticed the faint scars from past battles on him, and she may well come to notice his other shortcomings, such as his tendency to approach every challenge head-on. And yet, he doesn't quite mind if it means that she'll stick around.

Maybe he can show her the new world he wants to build. It would be nice if she could enjoy it, too.

He nods over his shoulder at her in affirmation, then turns toward the entrance of the chamber. The light that had been pouring in to it doesn't seem so bright now, though that may simply be because his eyes have adjusted. He reaches to his side and unlatches a pair of crimson and gold-trimmed tonfas from his belt. They're a fairly mundane weapon compared to her Blade, adorned with a few glowing crystals and not much else. But he won't wield her like a weapon, no matter how much stronger it might make him. ]

Let's go. I think my friends have already cleared the surrounding area, but there's a lot of people who were displaced by the fighting. I'd like to make sure they're alright before we leave.

[ As she steps into the light once more, she feels the warmth of the sun upon her for the first time in what appears like ages. And it's positively brilliant. She didn't know that she had missed it so much until now...

But then her expression falls at the mention of fighting, and coupled with the scars she has seen upon his skin, it definitely sounds as if it's more than just the haphazard skirmish...

Pyra may know about him as a person from their bond, but not about him. The specifics. The land he calls home, his family, his friends. The people he has vowed to help and defend. ] ...Ah, is there another war?

[ Another war. Another. War. ]

[ Even during the first several years of his life, when there wasn't officially any war, there had been fighting between some of the clans. By the time he was an adolescent, however, that situation had escalated into a truly fractious divide. It would've been wishful thinking to believe that the fighting only extended to one single Titan, in fact. And his homeland of Wu, with its verdant hills and beautiful rivers, isn't free from that strife.

He's so used to war as a state of being, in fact, that he is taken off guard when she asks if there is another war. His mouth opens as if to answer, but he finds himself unable to come up with the words for a moment. His gaze wanders downward before he finally manages to speak. ]

I'm afraid so. My father was one of those who was trying to stop it, but we lost him eight years ago.

[ And now, he's the one to inherit his father's legacy. When he was younger, he'd always thought he would just fight under his father's leadership and help him bring peace. He had never expected that the responsibility would fall to him.

And yet, he's grateful for the chances he's been given. As difficult as it should be to take care of his family, to take care of a country, those are what motivate him now. He just hopes he can live up to their expectations. ]

[ So not only is he involved in a war, it seems that he is quite the important player within it. ] ...I am sorry. [ For his loss.

Pyra can't say she knows what it is like to lose a member of one's family as she has never had one-- not through blood-relations, anyway. But of those she does remember from her past, of their values, their dreams, their laughter, the way they had been determined to bring the wars of their own eras to an end... she remembers that well enough. That they no longer exist in this world is something truly heartbreaking.

Knowing that her words may not be enough, she will take a few more steps to be closer to him, placing a hand upon his arm in comfort. It's a brief touch, but the connection is there for that moment, as is the message: he has her support, should he ever need to speak further about his grief. ]

Someone like that.... I would have liked to meet him. Still, he must be very proud of you.

[ For someone who has never known the joy, responsibilities, and heartache associated with having a family, she certainly does know how to set his mind at ease. He doesn't react like some blushing schoolboy again this time when her hand rests upon his arm, but his eyes do move from her hand to her eyes. His gaze, and the gentle nod he gives her, is a quiet sign of his gratitude, but more than that, it's a sign that he's comfortable around her.

He steps further ahead, away from the chamber, and into the flame-scarred valley. It's fortunate that the fire hadn't spread much farther. But there were still people who had been displaced. And while he'd ordered his subordinates and soldiers to tend to the people, that would do little for those who had lost their homes. ]

The enemy got desperate. They were willing to sacrifice the people they were supposed to protect, knowing that we'd focus on trying to protect them.

[ There's more bitterness in his voice than there had been before, the suffering clearly weighing on him. He tries not to show it in his expression, but unfortunately, he has a hard time being the stoic type. ]

I'm sorry that you have to see this. I wish you could have woken up to a more peaceful world.

[ When she sees the charred earth, she's caught between grief and outrage. The titan is burned, and each step they take upon its flesh must hurt it more; but it will not get a chance to heal so long as their is war. How dare they, how could they do such a thing to the land they live upon, who carries them upon their back across the cloud sea?

And then there are the people who have been displaced from their homes, families and memories both lost to the destruction. But it doesn't surprise her that she's woken up to this; she is a weapon of destruction as well. It's only appropriate that she sees this, reminding her of how much worse it could be if she remains.

But if-- if she were to help... how sooner would this war end for him? ]

What needs to be done? To bring an end to this. [ She asks him. ]

[ That's an answer that he wish had an easy answer. Some of the warlords whose wars are ravaging the titan fight for their personal ambitions, while others fight out of desperation. For a while, the land had known peace, but as those in power grew complacent, they became more corrupt. The people started to suffer, and as a result, they started rising up. Everything that's happened since then is a result of that.

Sun Ce doesn't consider himself much of a strategist. He's not dumb, but he approaches situations directly, often too much so. But even he knows that it won't do to just bring an end to the war: they have to bring an end to the root cause of the suffering that enables it.

He closes his eyes for a brief moment, remembering what his father's ambition had been: not to gain power for himself, but to restore peace and reform the crumbling institutions of the emperor who rules their enormous titan. It may be too late to fulfill that ambition as it stands, but bringing peace is still possible.

Opening his eyes once more, he turns to her, his off hand holding both of his tonfa by the handle as he places a hand on her shoulder. ]

It won't be enough just to defeat our enemies. Things fell into chaos because those in power stopped taking care of the people they were supposed to be looking after, and if we just crush everyone who gets in our way, then it's just a matter of time before the fighting starts again.

[ He removes his hand from her shoulder and takes another step outward, treading lightly. The clouds overhead are starting to form into dark grey, low-hanging clouds, and a gentle thunder rolls in the distance. His strategist had told him that it would rain soon, but unfortunately, it hadn't started early enough to stop the enemy from lighting fires. Still, he hopes that the rains would at least help put out whatever smaller fires were still burning farther away. ]

The way things are going, all of the smaller forces fighting right now are going to get swallowed up. Soon, there will just be three of us left. When that happens, we need to see if the other two will work with us or if they'll turn against us.

[ He's not terribly optimistic about that. But then again, he wasn't expecting to find her today. And seeing how much it hurts her to see the damage done to the land, to the titan they live on... it makes him want to believe that they can end this quickly. ]

[ She listens carefully, but it's a... lot to take in. Even if she had fought in a war previously, she can't claim to have know all the political workings behind it. It had been a blur, a mess, chaos, with the only order that helped her through it coming from the steadfast hand of the one who wielded her back then. ]

...You don't seem like a common footsoldier, Lord Sun Ce.

[ Aaand it's back to addressing him with a title, for the one moment she had only used his name without it had been when their pact, so to speak, was being formed. ]

[ He feels his cheeks redden at her statement, and he's glad for a moment that she can't see his face. While he never lacks confidence, he's just modest enough to have that instinctual reaction to praise. He rubs the back of his head distractedly with his free hand, hoping that he can live up to her expectations. ]

...I'm just lucky enough to have strength and people who support me. The only thing I want is to build a world that's safe enough that I can leave it to my family.

[ He looks over his shoulder and smiles at her, a genuine smile despite the heavy topics of conversation. ]

With you by my side, I feel like it's just a matter of time before we make that happen. When that happens, we'll enjoy that world together, alright?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

All my powers back now I'm scary to zombies

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