[...ah. Urianger's expression also turns quite serious.]
That doth reflect what we have come to know of this wish giver. Whilst wishes are granted without a price, the interpretation of the results...may not be as expected or desired.
[He looks at Thancred as he says it, reflecting on the nightmares that Thancred and Lynne experienced. Not to mention Henrietta van Zieks escaping her fatal illness only to become a monster...
He exhales and shakes his head.]
At the very least, we now know our reason for arriving here...strange though it may seem. Did she have further insight as to how we are meant to discover the cure? And...didst thou have a confrontation with her?
...One at a time, I suppose. If you'd bear with me a moment.
Initially, she didn't. All she confirmed was that what she had provided to us was all we needed to find the cure. That included our patchwork surroundings - so, places that were desired by those who had made the wish, as well as places closer to "her". But it also included our own presence... as well as the presence of infection, and our ability to be infected. She said without the risk of infection, we would not believe it to be true, and thus would not look for a cure at all.
[A very frustrating and stupid way to set that up, in his opinion.]
But she has no issues with wishes contradicting. She has no issues with what happens to us, or others, as a result of her wish granting. It isn't her purpose to understand. It is only to grant.
[A sigh, as he glances down at his arm, before continuing.]
Eventually? Something in her cracked. I don't know whether it was the hostility and doubt we showed. But she suddenly changed.
She demanded that a wish many had, one she could not ignore, was the need for a monster. Something to be the villian. Something responsible for taking, just as much as granting.
So that is what she turned to. Something hungry. Something that now craved souls.
[...]
That is when she confirmed she was the original source of the infection. The first. And that, if we wanted our cure, we would need to find the second. Someone here in town, among our own.
[A beat, and his voice goes tense.]
And while we tried to ask more, she started devouring. Starting with Finis. Falling apart under her hands, just like how the guilty have been picked apart.
[Gods, but the emotional journey that Urianger goes through with this story. By the time Thancred finishes, Urianger's hands are clasped tightly in his lap. He has so much to say about all of this, he doesn't even know where to start.]
We must needs seek out this second source, then.
[That much is obvious. He just needed to make note that he heard that.
But eventually he lets go of his hands to move one Thancred's shoulder. A gentle touch.]
I am very sorry for what happened. Not only for the child, but...everything else she did take.
[He forces out an exhale. A familiar tension his more attuned relationships will immediately recognize. That of a wall going up.]
Aye. All of the more gruesome injuries were in our escape of her. Only when we all demanded an exit did she grant our "wish".
[A beat. He has more to share, but he needs to let the tension die from his clenches fist, first. His arm aches, all phantom.
...]
According to her, the second source will have signs. It will have been a slow process. Their behaviours will have changed. "The more they succumb to the madness, the less likely they are to show their face to the public."
Magi cannot be "wished" to stop. She cannot be removed from the process. Doing so will cause the cure to become impossible, and we will be stranded in turn.
She also cannot grant every wish she hears. Sometimes a wish is so strong she cannot ignore it. But she also said she doesn't always "have enough time" to answer everything, and that her wishes come too late. I believe Childermass asked about Henrietta, Urianger... that was, unfortunately her case. The family was granted a wish. The girl was too far gone.
[…yeah, he can see that wall going up. But this is something he doesn’t need to press Thancred on. He can intuit the rest without making the man talk through something that’s still very raw.
He rubs Thancred’s shoulder as he continues.]
I see. So that was Lady Henrietta’s fate…
[And why she ended up a monster. Twelve preserve.]
I imagine we are far from done dealing with this Magi if we cannot remove her from the equation. As for the second source…I would know if they have been aware this entire time that they have been harboring the infection. [Because if they have, uh. Wow.] At the very least, there will be signs.
I'd not hunt them down when we have a night of possible infection on our hands. But perhaps once the dust has settled, we can take a closer look.
In addition is the matter of our missing and dead. She did not confirm as much. Only that they are as close to her as possible. But from what she did to us, and what she said? I believe they are stuck in the belly of the beast. Perhaps more literally than any of us would like.
She admitted to devouring for the souls. Perhaps that is what is still left of those that were taken. [Just. Yknow. Being slowly dissolved like a jumbo jawbreaker.]
She was also responsible for Seymour and Ramuda. But not Lynne, Yuki, or Giyuu.
Ah. Their wishes to receive their abilities back, I presume. Then the infection did indeed consume Lynne and Yukinosuke… Giyuu, I still know not what precisely did happen with him.
[His eyes flick to her, but soften almost immediately. Waiting for her to speak her mind, without interruption.
He knows she cared about Yuki probably just as much as he cared for Lynne, if not more. Why he wasn't spared, and Lynne was, if both had earnest wishes being extended... was it just luck?]
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That doth reflect what we have come to know of this wish giver. Whilst wishes are granted without a price, the interpretation of the results...may not be as expected or desired.
[He looks at Thancred as he says it, reflecting on the nightmares that Thancred and Lynne experienced. Not to mention Henrietta van Zieks escaping her fatal illness only to become a monster...
He exhales and shakes his head.]
At the very least, we now know our reason for arriving here...strange though it may seem. Did she have further insight as to how we are meant to discover the cure? And...didst thou have a confrontation with her?
[Thancred, your arm.]
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Are we in a Monkey's Paw kind of situation?
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[He doesn't like it either.]
1/2
Initially, she didn't. All she confirmed was that what she had provided to us was all we needed to find the cure. That included our patchwork surroundings - so, places that were desired by those who had made the wish, as well as places closer to "her". But it also included our own presence... as well as the presence of infection, and our ability to be infected. She said without the risk of infection, we would not believe it to be true, and thus would not look for a cure at all.
[A very frustrating and stupid way to set that up, in his opinion.]
But she has no issues with wishes contradicting. She has no issues with what happens to us, or others, as a result of her wish granting. It isn't her purpose to understand. It is only to grant.
2/2
Eventually? Something in her cracked. I don't know whether it was the hostility and doubt we showed. But she suddenly changed.
She demanded that a wish many had, one she could not ignore, was the need for a monster. Something to be the villian. Something responsible for taking, just as much as granting.
So that is what she turned to. Something hungry. Something that now craved souls.
[...]
That is when she confirmed she was the original source of the infection. The first. And that, if we wanted our cure, we would need to find the second. Someone here in town, among our own.
[A beat, and his voice goes tense.]
And while we tried to ask more, she started devouring. Starting with Finis. Falling apart under her hands, just like how the guilty have been picked apart.
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We must needs seek out this second source, then.
[That much is obvious. He just needed to make note that he heard that.
But eventually he lets go of his hands to move one Thancred's shoulder. A gentle touch.]
I am very sorry for what happened. Not only for the child, but...everything else she did take.
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Aye. All of the more gruesome injuries were in our escape of her. Only when we all demanded an exit did she grant our "wish".
[A beat. He has more to share, but he needs to let the tension die from his clenches fist, first. His arm aches, all phantom.
...]
According to her, the second source will have signs. It will have been a slow process. Their behaviours will have changed. "The more they succumb to the madness, the less likely they are to show their face to the public."
Magi cannot be "wished" to stop. She cannot be removed from the process. Doing so will cause the cure to become impossible, and we will be stranded in turn.
She also cannot grant every wish she hears. Sometimes a wish is so strong she cannot ignore it. But she also said she doesn't always "have enough time" to answer everything, and that her wishes come too late. I believe Childermass asked about Henrietta, Urianger... that was, unfortunately her case. The family was granted a wish. The girl was too far gone.
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He rubs Thancred’s shoulder as he continues.]
I see. So that was Lady Henrietta’s fate…
[And why she ended up a monster. Twelve preserve.]
I imagine we are far from done dealing with this Magi if we cannot remove her from the equation. As for the second source…I would know if they have been aware this entire time that they have been harboring the infection. [Because if they have, uh. Wow.] At the very least, there will be signs.
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In addition is the matter of our missing and dead. She did not confirm as much. Only that they are as close to her as possible. But from what she did to us, and what she said? I believe they are stuck in the belly of the beast. Perhaps more literally than any of us would like.
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[:StopTheVore:]
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She was also responsible for Seymour and Ramuda. But not Lynne, Yuki, or Giyuu.
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[Maybe he was just a rogue agent?]
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Lynne was only spared because of a wish to save her life. From who, she didn't say.
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That's how Yuki saw himself]
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[ Nala looks upset and points at herself with a tilt of her head. She could read that much in what Thancred was saying.]
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He knows she cared about Yuki probably just as much as he cared for Lynne, if not more. Why he wasn't spared, and Lynne was, if both had earnest wishes being extended... was it just luck?]
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She likes Lynne too, but the sacrificed evoked by pointing at Yuki to be the main culprit had never sat well with her]
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I'm only passing on what I was told. But I'm sorry, nonetheless.
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[ Her voice is slow, stilted. Her expression conflicted]
But. With Ramuda. If Hyunjung hadn't lied for me...
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We don't know what might have happened. Tensions were high.
But I want to hope you would have managed to stay safe.
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