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epilogue

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EPILOGUE

As the world they've been living in so long quickly dissolves around them, the oppressive air from the Gate fades away from their senses and their vision turns turns completely white. It only takes an instant for their sight to return, but when it does, they'll find themselves in the same dim, dank chamber that they were in a moment before albeit with several main differences: the Gate and the machines that were clustered near it are now gone.

However, you'll only be able to take in this sight for a few seconds before the scenery blurs and suddenly there's the scent of the cool December air brushing past your face, blinding sunlight assaulting the eyes.

It's been six weeks since you've seen anything but the night, so it may take a bit of adjustment before realizing that there's a number of very, very familiar faces before you, as well as one who might not be so recognizable. Either way, one thing is for sure: that long, long Night is over, and it's the start of another Day.

Witamy w Krakowie.

[[Everyone will find themselves in the Main Square. Furthermore, those who had body horror will find that all traces of it are gone!]]

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[ Did that asshole just teleport him here without even answering his fucking question??

Well, we can all guess where he's going whenever he has the chance -- go hit the bar if you're looking for him. He'll actually have chilled out a little by that point, at least, and will be looking thoughtfully into his drink.

He's still mad as hell, but this isn't the worst that could have happened. To him, specifically. ]

[ He spots Rideaux while looking for Sebrandt! And... yeah, uh, he noticed that whole freezing out thing. That's rough, man.

Okay, okay, maybe he'll think about listening and kinda. Circle over to him. ] Can you tell me a little bit about this trial you mentioned?

[ ... ]

There's no "a bit" about it, but if you're open to the long version, then yes.

[ He takes a breath and exhales, crossing his arms. Are you ready for this bullshit? ]

The Great Spirits Origin, Chronos, and Maxwell started a game to test humanity two millennia ago. They gave my bloodline the power of the chromatus and told them that Origin would grant the wish of the first human to make it to the Land of Canaan and go before him -- but that if one million divergence catalysts formed from the overuse of the chromatus power before that happened, then the game was forfeit and humanity would lose and be destroyed.

[ This definitely sounds like something he's had to explain many times before; he doesn't have to stop to think about any of it at all. ]

The game was rigged from the beginning, because divergence catalysts create fractured dimensions, and using the chromatus is necessary to destroy them. If the fractured dimensions are allowed to proliferate, soul energy is dispersed across the dimensions and contamination grows to the point where Origin can no longer adequately handle the soul purification process, so their destruction is necessary for our continued survival. In short, as soon as the first chromatus user all those years ago gave into temptation and became a catalyst for a fractured dimension, everyone who came afterward was already caught in this cycle with no way out.

Now, we're just a few catalysts shy of one million.

[ So, you know, he probably doesn't need to spell that out.

...Though he is definitely leaving out the detail that either Bisley or Ludger is probably going to make it there in time even if he doesn't, because that does not help his case, and it pisses him off to think about it anyway, knowing he's going to be Bisley's ticket there. ]

[ Erik listens intently. It is kind of a raw deal, for the world and for anyone else from Rideaux's bloodline. It isn't their fault that somebody gave in and used the power when they shouldn't have.

He's turning this around in his head for a good while... ] Well, I think I understand why you're so desperate now. Things in your world sound about as rosy as mine.

[ Except he believes in the Luminary. Blah blah, Luminary, love, you get it! ] I've got some questions though. First, how the heck were humans supposed to make it to Canaan in the first place? And what would you even wish for if you did make it?

We had to collect the five waymarkers that were hidden across the fractured dimensions, and which wasn't possible until we had another Key of Kresnik who could transport objects across dimensions. Gathering those together made Canaan appear, and now we have to build a soul bridge to reach it. No one really knows what lies beyond that, but I would assume we'd have to fight against the Great Spirit Chronos, among other things.

[ ...He thinks about that for a moment. It's not like he hasn't thought about it before, but all of his ideas have usually been heated, in-the-moment desires rather than something he's seriously deliberated. Realistically, the wish Ludger intended to make would be a good one, but he'd rather tweak it a little to be more beneficial to him. ]

I'd probably wish to undo the transformations of all existing catalysts and in-process transformations, thereby erasing the remaining fractured dimensions and nullifying the need for anyone to use the chromatus again.

That's.... convoluted. Sheesh, I can see they tried to make things as difficult as possible for you guys.

[ Putting his hands on his hips now! ]

I barely get it most of this, but that sounds like the right wish to make. No chromatus, no problems. So what did you want Rembrandt to do? Take you straight to Canaan?

...Something like that, yes. Assuming I could return to either the point I came from or slightly earlier.

[ Slightly earlier, huh? That's an interesting thought. ] All right, I'll go find him and see if he can take you where you need to go. This will only take a minute.

[ Heading off to find Sebrant! ]

[ And here they are! ]

If only we had this meeting in St Mary's Basilica for old time's sake.

A shame it isn't a Tuesday.

[ ughhh got to rein in his natural spite impulse here ]

Shall I pretend you just didn't hear me before we left the Night?

If that's what you want. You don't have to be nice to him—actually, I kinda think he likes it better when you aren't.

[ He's weird like that. ]

It isn't even a Monday either~. [ Cause hey that happened too. ]

Certainly, let's go with that. And what are the specifics of your request? [ He's not addressing Erik's comment just shooting him a look. Don't call him out like this okay. ]

...I'll scale my original plan down a bit under the circumstances, but I'd like to return to about an hour before I was originally brought here, and catch a ride to Canaan.

[ He won't ask you to actually fight Chronos for him or anything, even though he sure as fuck would have if he'd gotten that contract!!! ]

[ Don't be like this then!! He's gonna shrug at Seb at that and step to the side!

Not much he can contribute to this conversation right now. ]

Edited (icon shh) 2020-02-18 03:31 (UTC)

The technology we will use to return is something Lucrezia built, but that might be possible if Ango is telling the truth. The second matter however, should be relatively easy once I am acquainted with the local geography. [ He tilts his head. ]

Normally I do not acquiesce to requests, as requests are not an order. However...I suppose you did take matters into your own hands. [ He smiles. ]

This really does remind me of our first meeting, though you've yet to say please.

[ Yeah, he sure did!!! ]

Are we really aiming for nostalgia here?

[ Okay, okay, let's see if he can remember what bullshit phrasing he used last time... ]

If you would please be so kind as to grant me the aforementioned favor, it would be most sincerely appreciated.

[ Of course he's going to laugh. ]

In that case, I can't very well refuse such a politely worded request now can I? { Well he could, but there's something be said of both following through and also with how he really didn't mind Rideaux even if he wasn't particularly interested in a contract. ]

I'm glad to hear it.

[ ...And he really, really is, much more than his tone or expression let on. It's the first breath he's been able to take in fifteen years without the threat of being used as Bisley's soul bridge looming over him.

Even if nothing about it is really a sure thing -- how much should he really be trusting a demon, anyway -- and even if there's a decent chance he may end up falling to Chronos or Bisley in Canaan, he'd much rather fight a risky battle than accept a certain death as someone's tool.

And maybe the odds aren't that bad. He's always been pretty good at surviving when no one else wants him to anyway. ]

I bet. Well then, is that the extent of your request? [ Just making sure there aren't any other finer details he may have missed. ]

Essentially, yes, though I should probably clarify that Canaan isn't a typical location that can be accessed by ordinary means, or I wouldn't need the assistance getting there in the first place. Word has it it requires the life of a powerful chromatus user.

[ So, yeah, there are some important details. ]

So we would either need to find a way around that, or find Julius before anyone else does.

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hors_devores - 2020-02-24 22:00 (UTC) - Expand

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pr159 - 2020-02-27 23:14 (UTC) - Expand

[ah... he should track down Rideaux, honestly, he was having kind of a bad time during the end there.

...

So was literally everyone, but. You know. He’s going to try and find him and sit down...]

Rideaux. Are you... well, I suppose “alright” is not the word for it, but how are you feeling?

[ This feels a little bit like post-week 4 all over again, but at least his anger is more narrowly directed this time.

He shrugs. ]

Well, I'm still here, for now.

[ And so are all of you. You're welcome. ]

Indeed. Somehow, we all are here and in one piece.

[...]

Well, aside from some things I very much will not miss.

[THANK THE GODDESS HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SPIKES ANYMORE...]

[ It takes him half a second to register what Seteth is talking about since the spikes' presence or lack thereof isn't immediately obvious when looking at him straight on, but-- ah, right. ]

So I see. Congratulations.

[ That actually isn't sarcastic, though it may come off that way anyway. ]

I hope we're in agreement now that that all could have gone much worse.

[honestly, he'll take it, because, well, really...]

It very certainly could have gone so much worse. I suppose I still have some regrets about it, but... well. We're alive, and that is what matters.

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