Fifth trial

[letsplayamod]

[Just as you believe you’ve gathered enough to make a case, the sky crackles a hazy red.]

Enough! Enter the arena at once!

[There’s a change in Typhon’s tone. The bluster of his usual pride replaced with a more tangible frustration. Like the thunder he summons, his rage punctuates every word.

That matter aside, all the survivors eventually return to the arena. The mood is dour, not helped by the surrounding. For the first time, this place was a fresh murder scene; bloodstains and scorch marks continue to stain the stones. It seems that there just wasn't time to remove Ferdinand's body from the scene. So it remains, impaled on his own spear, left to fill the void of Ferdinand's absence from the surviving party in the worst way.

Again, a rift opens beyond the barrier, and Typhon forces his head through.]

You know why you are here, do you not? Now, go! Complete your task, find the culprit or die trying!

[TRIAL START]

Comments

[murchada]

Ah, well. I'm glad you're all so much smarter than we are. [dripping with contempt.] Your plan is so much more important, after all.

[eeeonetwothree]

...It has nothing to do with you being smarter than us...

[murchada]

Then what. Oh, is it that you're less important? Because that's bullshit, too.

[eeeonetwothree]

[ ...He can't bring himself to answer her.

"I was the only one who could" and "I am the only one who can be both a weapon and a bridge" would be meaningless right now. ]

[murchada]

...I hate this. Yelling at you won't even change it, either. You and Ferdinand thought you should make decisions for us. Now he's dead, and you'll be gone soon, too.

And for what?

[eeeonetwothree]

...I WISH I COULD TELL YOU.

[murchada]

...Do you.

[eeeonetwothree]

MORE THAN ANYTHING.

[ He turns to face her, and for once...just once...regret and devotion can be seen etched across his face. ]

FERDINAND MAY HAVE BEEN MY BEST FRIEND.

BUT...

...YOU WERE THE ONE WHO HELD MY LIFE, AND EVERYTHING THAT I AM, IN THEIR HANDS.

1/3

[murchada]

[...]

2/3

[murchada]

Ah.

...I didn't notice this time. I was so distracted with everything else, I didn't notice anything about you or Ferdinand. Have I been slacking...?

[she's kicking herself. of course she's kicking herself, of course her guilt is flaring up again. it can't do anything else. it's out of her control.]

I didn't notice, so I couldn't do anything. I just... can't get it right.

[why can't she get it right?

why can't she save anyone...?]

3/3

[murchada]

[she wonders, not for the first time, if this is some sort of divine punishment. if she's still paying for her sins.

...for Cerejeira Elron's sins, whatever they may be.]

...I wish... I could have protected it. Your life.

[eeeonetwothree]

...YOU...MORE THAN ANYONE...HAVE FINALLY MADE IT A LIFE WORTH LIVING.

[murchada]

...Then you should have kept it, shouldn't you?

[eeeonetwothree]

...PERHAPS.

BUT IT IS TOO LATE NOW.