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Inviting a Guest (For chiron_survivor!)
((Directly following up to these two logs Here and Here! ))
As much as Abysa wills it not to, time continues to pass; minutes, to hours, and hours to days go by as the priest contemplates his next move. One day alone was lost to fervent prayer at the hanging banner of his Lord of Guilt, and later taken to his proper shrine elsewhere in the massive, maze-like dwelling he has made home. His Dark Lord's answer came with both relief and fear, knowing that if the priest wished it, he could visit his realm any time, to turn himself in for this breach of conduct. Yes, that about confirms the presence of a sin! That in losing his temper, Abysa had used a particular magic in a way it is not meant to; He stole complete control of another's body, and without permission!
The day after that is fraught with anxiety and procrastination as Abysa decides if this will be the right course of action. Absolution by Guilt's court will be permanent and final in the cosmic scheme, but it cannot force the victim to forgive the perpetrator, or restore any of that lost trust. He spends much of the day at the bedside of his sleeping charge, relieved that at least, he seems to be dreaming peacefully. This magic too, this spell of suspended sleep that can leave a mortal in dreaming near-indefinitely, should not be used in this way, and the demon knows it, he just needs time. Abysa also knows that his eventual sentence may be too brutal for a mortal to witness, or 'witness', since his poor patient's eyes are yet to recover fully. This leaves him at a loss for his next step. If only he had better perspective, a mortal one, perhaps...
During the night, he is pulled out of his thoughts as he hears a muffled 'clunk' on the floor of Micolash's soft blanketed room. Looking over, the demon spots Henry the cat, busy pushing at objects on the desk with his paws. A book or two, a roll of bandages, and a sealed potion bottle have journeyed quite close to the edge, ready to join whatever it was that had taken the first plunge.
"Ah, you have been neglected without your master to entertain you. My apologies, Henry, but these belongings are not toys-" He begins to say, floating over to see what had fallen, and notices that it is his new 'tablet'. Now, it is not made of stone as he might have expected, but is a delicately encased device with a display screen that projects images and symbols. In other words, it is a communications rectangle, or a 'phone', and a brand-new one at that, purchased almost immediately after his and Micolash's last outing.
"Henry, you clever beast! I had forgotten I now have a means of communication! Not to mention, a new contact." Indeed, Abysa made his purchase with the specific purpose of inviting a guest at his leisure. He pokes at the device until the screen activates, and is caught up in the moment of learning to navigate the interface of this shiny new piece of technology, until he finds the contact list. There is one name on it so far: Adia.
She seems like such a kind mortal woman, and her helpful nature might aid Abysa in finding the insight he needs, but the demon still finds himself hesitating for a time. Even kind mortals may change their natures, especially if he is to admit of the events that transpired... But surely she might see that Micolash had been wearing down his patience and his graciousness with ill intent? Even then, if she were to take the human's side, it would only assure Abysa that facing punishment is the correct course, and then he would need someone to watch Henry while taking a visit to Hell! Maybe she would be up for that! Henry is an innocent in all of this, after all, and quite a charmer.
With one long finger, he delicately taps the screen in deep concentration, writing a 'text' message to Adia, detailing an invitation and some instructions:
Awfully formal for a text message, really. It took up two bubbles! Abysa lets go of the device, allowing it to float beside him as he goes back to watching his charge sleep. Nothing to do but wait, now!
Henry knocks a book off the table.
As much as Abysa wills it not to, time continues to pass; minutes, to hours, and hours to days go by as the priest contemplates his next move. One day alone was lost to fervent prayer at the hanging banner of his Lord of Guilt, and later taken to his proper shrine elsewhere in the massive, maze-like dwelling he has made home. His Dark Lord's answer came with both relief and fear, knowing that if the priest wished it, he could visit his realm any time, to turn himself in for this breach of conduct. Yes, that about confirms the presence of a sin! That in losing his temper, Abysa had used a particular magic in a way it is not meant to; He stole complete control of another's body, and without permission!
The day after that is fraught with anxiety and procrastination as Abysa decides if this will be the right course of action. Absolution by Guilt's court will be permanent and final in the cosmic scheme, but it cannot force the victim to forgive the perpetrator, or restore any of that lost trust. He spends much of the day at the bedside of his sleeping charge, relieved that at least, he seems to be dreaming peacefully. This magic too, this spell of suspended sleep that can leave a mortal in dreaming near-indefinitely, should not be used in this way, and the demon knows it, he just needs time. Abysa also knows that his eventual sentence may be too brutal for a mortal to witness, or 'witness', since his poor patient's eyes are yet to recover fully. This leaves him at a loss for his next step. If only he had better perspective, a mortal one, perhaps...
During the night, he is pulled out of his thoughts as he hears a muffled 'clunk' on the floor of Micolash's soft blanketed room. Looking over, the demon spots Henry the cat, busy pushing at objects on the desk with his paws. A book or two, a roll of bandages, and a sealed potion bottle have journeyed quite close to the edge, ready to join whatever it was that had taken the first plunge.
"Ah, you have been neglected without your master to entertain you. My apologies, Henry, but these belongings are not toys-" He begins to say, floating over to see what had fallen, and notices that it is his new 'tablet'. Now, it is not made of stone as he might have expected, but is a delicately encased device with a display screen that projects images and symbols. In other words, it is a communications rectangle, or a 'phone', and a brand-new one at that, purchased almost immediately after his and Micolash's last outing.
"Henry, you clever beast! I had forgotten I now have a means of communication! Not to mention, a new contact." Indeed, Abysa made his purchase with the specific purpose of inviting a guest at his leisure. He pokes at the device until the screen activates, and is caught up in the moment of learning to navigate the interface of this shiny new piece of technology, until he finds the contact list. There is one name on it so far: Adia.
She seems like such a kind mortal woman, and her helpful nature might aid Abysa in finding the insight he needs, but the demon still finds himself hesitating for a time. Even kind mortals may change their natures, especially if he is to admit of the events that transpired... But surely she might see that Micolash had been wearing down his patience and his graciousness with ill intent? Even then, if she were to take the human's side, it would only assure Abysa that facing punishment is the correct course, and then he would need someone to watch Henry while taking a visit to Hell! Maybe she would be up for that! Henry is an innocent in all of this, after all, and quite a charmer.
With one long finger, he delicately taps the screen in deep concentration, writing a 'text' message to Adia, detailing an invitation and some instructions:
Dear Miss Adia: I, Abysa, humbly request a visit as soon as you are able. The matter is urgent but not life-threatening, and for which I would appreciate the opinion and perspective of a mortal in advising a course of action. If you are able to, respond to confirm your attendance, and instructions are to follow:
Arrive to the Nexus, and wait at any spot you wish, but send your location to me. I will arrive shortly to teleport with you to my abode. Any additional accommodations such as food, hydration, medical care, and so on can all be provided on request. If you decline this invitation, there is no need to give your location, nor will you be beholden to any grudge or ill will. Yours Truly: Abysa, High Priest of Hell.
Awfully formal for a text message, really. It took up two bubbles! Abysa lets go of the device, allowing it to float beside him as he goes back to watching his charge sleep. Nothing to do but wait, now!
Henry knocks a book off the table.
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Her internal musings are cut short by the demon's question. Oh, yes, that serious matter he wanted her advice on. He seems troubled by it, and as pleasant as it is to simply sit and drink tea, she doesn't want him to have to wait longer than necessary. "Now is fine, if you don't want to wait. I can tell that it's important."
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"I admit, the entire situation has given me great anxiety, and perhaps you may think of me differently when I am done explaining myself. I would not blame anyone for such! But I do wish to have a human input, as demonic solutions tend not to mingle well with mortal sensibilities." That certainly sounds cheery and encouraging!
"Oh but you know not what even has occurred, let me sum it up for you. I ah, you may notice, Micolash is not present. He is not dead! Not even physically harmed! But I am afraid I have done wrong by him." Abysa sits up straight once more, and clasps his hands together as he rests them on the counter.
"You see, we had an argument earlier, and while I did speak of unkind things, they were quite true, regarding his callous and unsympathetic nature. Perhaps then, I did not expect him to regard me so coldly later that night, when it was time to check upon his status and give him his evening meal. Oh, you must understand, especially as of late? Treating his ailments, teaching him with patience, it is all so frustratingly futile... He does not learn kindness, he knows not even the concept of LOVE, he doubts me time after time, but have I ever given him reason to? Oh, but I certainly have now." Abysa picks up his teacup and drains it, then sets it down upon the saucer with a loud CLINK as his hand wobbles a bit.
"You see, he refused to let me give him his evening nourishment. It is not the most pleasant mixture, but it is perfectly mild, and he has never denied it so strongly. And he threw a vase at a door, did I mention that? After our argument. I had a music room made for him, you see, it was a decorative piece... But it is where we had our disagreement. He also stepped on the glass, so of course, I healed it as well, but he went so far as to say I did NOT want his eyes to recover. I bound a piece of my SOUL to him, to ensure his recovery. Such a contract is verboten among demons, yet, I thought, unconditional kindness would move his spirit... I am getting mixed up. Let me start over." While he speaks, the sugar container has had numerous teaspoonfuls scooped from it and set into Abysa's teacup, and the kettle floats on over to refill his cup. He stirs it by hand, some of the purplish tea dripping over the edges and pooling in the saucer.
"So, in the music room, after he had played some of the piano, we got into a discourse over... Well, past deeds of his, as well as past deeds of the humans of his world. I should not have to say that it is, incredibly troubling. They have had a history of robbing their gods not just of their blood and flesh, but of their spouses, their children, telling me of Mergo, the infant Great One whom he stole away for his own ends, and the mother Yharnam whose spirit cannot die who was bereft without her dear child. He stole from her..! And she was bride to a God! Her function is nearly the same as mine, really, as I am Divine Lover to my Lords." He takes a big sip of his tea.
"I believe completely that Micolash had been brought down by divine will, and that it was justified not just in the Gods he had wronged, but of the numerous deaths he orchestrated, though I know not the complete scope... This enraged him, of course, as I speak my mind freely to him. He believes himself successful, yet, he died, and lost his progress and his revelation. He cannot even love the Great Ones he claims to aspire to be. He cannot even comprehend that his selfish ambition and heartless cruelty was not his strength, but his undoing..." Abysa halts his rant for now, trying to compose himself instead, and sip more of his tea. The sugary, pleasant taste does little to soothe him, as much as he would like it to.
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Slowly, so as not to startle him, she reaches out and pats one of his hands. "I understand," she says reassuringly. "I know about Mergo... I know more than that, too. It's so frustrating that he won't acknowledge any fault or responsibility for the hurt he's caused others. And the fact that he won't even trust you, after all the kindness you've shown him..."
She pauses, intending to give him a chance to rant further, if he wishes, or compare notes on Micolash's faults, but the demon's earlier words remind her that there is more to this subject than already mentioned. "What did you mean by having done him wrong?"
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"But, to give context to what I had done, I must clarify; no physical harm has come to him, but as a psychic, of a species inclined towards psychic ability, there are also societal rules regarding the concept of mental and spiritual harm. And such concepts are of great importance within the Dark Temple specifically, as consent is of a high priority when it comes to rituals and blessings... Abusing such power is a sign of inexperience or of grave misjudgement." Abysa sighs, but looks to continue speaking after a small pause.
"Like I said, he had refused to take his evening meal, which is liquid that I serve to him as he is too weak for solids. And he is acting belligerent, even malignant towards me... I am just, desperate to administer some nourishment so he does not remain so weak, and at last I convince him, or so I think." The demon steels himself for the next part, which he must take a breath for.
"He spits into my face, instead. Even without sight, he just- spits on me, in defiance, and he seemed so PLEASED with himself! For such disrespect! Guilt Absolve Me, I lost my composure...! I did yell, but what was truly unbecoming of the High Priest of Hell, I took control of his body, in order to render him receptive to his meal, and fed him his mixture while he was in a state akin to being possessed. The horror I could sense in him as I relinquished control, ah, sent me into a panic, so I put him into enchanter slumber. And so he sleeps, and I have been just unable to decide on what to do next!" Abysa rests his head in his hands now, and his teacup with saucer slides a small distance from him.
"I am not some reckless acolyte or corrupted priest, yet... I have failed in my duty to remain in control of my emotions and to use my powers wisely."
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The moment passes quickly as the situation is explained, and her anger turns to sadness and a deep, churning worry. She does not blame the demon for taking matters into his hands, for forcibly restraining the uncooperative scholar. But Micolash will. And perhaps this Dark Temple of which Abysa speaks.
"Abysa," she says softly. "I'm so sorry..." She fidgets with her cup of tea, turning it this way and that on its saucer, trying to find the right words to comfort him. "When faced with such hostility, I'm not surprised you reacted as you did. I don't think anyone of your own species -- or any species -- would have kept their cool after an evening like that." She taps the table nervously. "How long can you keep him asleep? What do you think will happen when he wakes up?"
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"As for the enchantment, I am able to leave mortals in a sleeplike state for, well... To put it this way, left as is, the spell lasts longer than most human beings live. Of course, it is also immoral to use it in such a manner, I do add a limit to how long he may sleep." There's a little slurp noise as he drinks more tea, before continuing.
"As for when he wakes, ah, it brings me nothing but pure dread. He had such fear in his heart, Miss Adia, that his trust in me has surely shattered, and I will find him to be afraid of me, and no longer a dear friend. I felt it within every piece of his being! And you do know that Dear Micolash hates his corporeal form, yet with my possession I made him aware of every last bit of flesh that comprises him. He must hate me..." Abysa droops once more, finishing his second cup of tea sulkily.
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The part of her that avoids conflict wants to suggest that he keep his patient asleep indefinitely. (Or maybe it is Caspar's practical cynicism rubbing off on her.) Either way, she knows that isn't a viable solution. It breaks her heart a little to see Abysa so distressed, however, in addition to the empathy she feels over Micolash's double trauma -- a loss of control and a hyper awareness of his own flesh. "He'll feel betrayed," she says sadly, "But, I... I don't think he'll hate you. I don't think it's possible for him to hate someone he admires as much as he does you."
She wants to believe that. She has heard his praise of the demon, as intrusive and inappropriate as it was. "Is there a way you can make reparations? Speed his healing at all? I know he'll feel a lot better once he can see again."
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"And I have already consulted with my Lord of Guilt, of course. It was the first thing I did once making sure Dear Micolash was resting safely and comfortably. As I mentioned, Guilt's court has agreed to sentence me to a punishment should I accept, but... I worry it is too harsh for a human to witness. We demons are not as frail, nor are our lives as brief, and so our various methods might seem barbaric and traumatic to a mortal viewer, and I would hate to cause him more distress." Abysa sighs, and looks down into his newly-filled teacup.
"I am sure my beloved Lord Guilt would hate to see me punished so as well. Which is why I must ask, what would a human do in this situation? What do humans do in order to be forgiven, or to gain trust?"
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She takes a small sip of tea, concerned at what sort of punishment a Lord of Guilt would deem appropriate. "Honestly? I don't think he'd be put off. He's seen a lot of unpleasant things." But before she can dwell on this more, she's asked for her human perspective, and she spends a moment fitting her cup into the indent of the saucer just so while she thinks of a satisfying answer.
"I can only speak for myself," she begins. "But I would apologize and promise to do better. I'd..." She sighs. "I'd give Micolash the option of being put into someone else's care. I'd accept that punishment, but that would only be to ease my own mind. Trust and forgiveness... they take time."
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"His suspicion seemed to start some time after bringing him back from the Harvest festival... or, what was it, the Hallowed festival? He despaired so greatly during those first few days, I did all I could to soothe and heal him, and this is when I enacted the contract as well..." He puts his hand to his chin for a bit, tilting his head one way and then another. Was there anything that happened? Something that was said?
"While he is quite desensitized to awful things, I have been able to teach him a little bit of compassion... I worry that exposing him to violent acts might be counter-productive in that regard. And so I must consider your suggestions." Abysa spends a bit of time draining his third cup of tea. Normally he does not have so much, but the taste of the tea he has back home is a little comfort amidst a lot of stress.
"It pains me to think of him accepting treatment from another, but... I suppose it would be fair to offer him the option, and I would of course, abide by his wishes. Perhaps I may accept the punishment but not have him attend? In the cosmic scale, I would be absolved, and it is important I leave no outstanding trespasses upon my record, as it reflects poorly on both me, and the Temple. An apology, is of course on my list. Perhaps I may ask him directly what has caused him such doubt, if he will tell me..."
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Instead, she focuses on the puzzle of why Micolash would suddenly become so suspicious of someone he considered a good friend. Was he confronted with a demon-related vision in the Nightmare? Or was it the very loss of his vision that turned him paranoid? "He's taking his loss of sight very badly," she murmurs thoughtfully. "Eyes are important to him... not only because he needs them to see, but the symbolism of it, as well... my Nightmare was full of eyes. Sightless ones growing on things... and a -- a Great One that had a dozen eyes..."
A shudder escapes her and she clasps her hands together in frustration. This isn't fair. A man who fails to take responsibility for so many reprehensible things is sleeping soundly in another room while the demon who has worked tirelessly to aid him must accept a punishment that likely far outweighs his crime. "Abysa... why did you decide to help him in the first place? I don't mean his eyes, I mean before all of this. He wasn't even asking for help back then."
Huge Infodump Ahead
"Perhaps, fate sensed this venture was a selfish one. I wanted to, ah, know if humans, even evil ones, could change their ways. If given enough kindness, and patience, and guidance, that they could rehabilitate, learn compassion, and empathy and goodness. Perhaps, I especially wanted to know if an evil one could learn... If I may, I wish to tell you of my reasons in full, and it is quite a long story." Abysa stares down at his cup for a moment.
"Please do not take it as cynicism or disparaging you personally, when I say that humans are... Well, they are, so very capable, of wickedness. Perhaps it is due to the brief lives they have, or that they live in the midworld, which is so rich in magic, and in life, and everything else, that encourages their volatile natures. Perhaps it is because they are the favoured of the Heavenly Ones, and so the instinct for cruelty has become innate. And to us demons, humans are a menace, who have struck us down time after time, since the universe was young." Abysa's cup and saucer slide away from him once more, and he leans over the counter, looking back at Adia (or more or less close to where she is, it takes a brief moment for her blurred image to come into focus, like a camera lense).
"I spent my entire life working towards a mission of peace between our realms. If mortals and demons, earth and hell, could establish a truce, and even make amends, no longer would my people be forced to cling to the domains of our beloved Dark Lords for protection. Humans use demons, summoning us into their world and bound into servitude, or draining our very life to channel what they call 'black magic'. If mortals could cooperate with demons, they would no longer need to take from us, but only borrow our strength, and given the right offerings, they could call upon greater powers still without hurting and killing us.
"One Dark Lord fought me on this more than any other: my dearest Lord of War. I stood for peace, and he embodied his domain in every sense. So unalike were our goals that it delayed our courtship. And so when I went to earth, I took along my beautiful Lord War, thinking it would be a lesson for him too. I would show him that peace was not impossible, as I would show humankind too." As he finishes that last bit, Abysa shakes his head once, sadly.
"It worked, for a time. I showed humanity the benefit of cooperation, and in turn, War and I, we helped change the course of an entire civilization to exist in harmony with demons, and to prosper... I cannot stress enough, how tirelessly I worked to show humans our true selves, our capacity for kindness and generosity, how War learned to see how mortals live, and how their lives were not so different from ours. We built a great kingdom together, unified, without violence, without pillaging or oppression, and I thought then that I had succeeded where others have failed." With the way Abysa's tone grows solemn, and how he clasps his hands together while reminiscing, it's easy to tell what comes next.
"Upon the day we were meant to establish peace between that kingdom and of War's domain officially, humans betrayed us. My dearest Lord War was beheaded in front of me. They wielded holy Light, and conspired with Heavenly Ones in secret for the chance to destroy him, as he has opposed humanity without ceasing and without dying for eons. But, this was the one time he extended his hand without a blade in it, the one time I convinced him that peace could be obtained... He was so gentle, and so hopeful... We gave to them everything, and in the end, we received nothing but the ends of their blades. So in his place, I defied them, and then I too was slain." Abysa bows his head.
"I had made a grave error. Not just in trusting humans, but also in believing that they would abandon their lot as servants of the Heavens. Heavenly Light will ever scorch the body and soul of every demon, Lord to Lesser, and so mortals will always take the side that will triumph with might and force. When I discovered the Nexus, a place where the many worlds intermingled without that universal constant, I thought perhaps this was my chance. I could make peace here, I could find proof that humans are not destructive and wicked by nature, but instead predisposed to cooperation and kindness, if they could only learn..."
"And then I found Micolash, dying, on the steps of that great Library. Within him I sensed such horrors, such deep, terrible secrets... His mind broken and body failing. The perfect 'project', where I would teach him to be good as I healed his body and his spirit, and so give me renewed hope in return. Only, I went in knowing it may very well be impossible. I think part of me wanted it to be so. It would be so very easy to give up my dreams, Miss Adia. I have no reason to suffer eternally, believing I can defy the very universe, when that same universe created me with the intention of being an obstacle for humans to destroy." And hopefully, miss Adia has not fallen asleep once Abysa reaches the end of his tragic tale, for he is still leaning forward, face now tilted up to look at her. His mouth is a small line on his face, his form looking strangely meek, as his posture droops and he draws his arms close to him.
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Of course, the Cylons are not exempt from blame, either. So very much like humans in that regard. But she recognizes the struggle, the desire to find peace but the fear that it is forever out of one's grasp.
And the hope that within the cruel heart of one's enemy, there is something worth saving.
"Oh, Abysa..." What can she say about his self-sabotaging plan to rehabilitate Micolash that he hasn't already? "I can't say that I understand much about angels or demons. We don't have either. But we've had our own struggles. It took... oh, it took so much death, but humans and Cylons found their peace together. I don't think it's out of line to look for proof that humans can learn to be kind..."
She sighs tiredly.
"But you picked a real doozy of a case. And I say this as someone who tries to see the good in everyone. His intentions aren't as cruel as his actions, but he gets so defensive if you suggest that he might be responsible for the suffering of others. And even after all this time, I don't think he understands that he's out of his world. That whatever twisted rules he learned to live by, they don't apply in the Nexus."
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"Perhaps that is another key point, then. He must learn that this Nexus is not a Dreamland plane, and that many worlds exist that are not necessarily like his own. I noticed that he is curiously myopic for a scholar, and I wonder if appealing to a more curious and adventurous side of research will help him to understand." In fact, Abysa catches himself thinking of possible ways to go about this, and he almost seems cheered up, a brief smile flashing across his face before he remembers and turns serious once more.
"Of course, first, I must apologize to him, and continue with his healing. It saddens me to know there is naught but time that stands between his eyes regaining sight, and his heart regaining trust. It was my error that caused this slight, but suppose I use this situation to ask him what grievances he holds inside?"
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"I think he'd like that. Honestly, anything that exposed him to other points of view would be helpful. The Nexus is... well, even I thought I was dreaming, when I first found it. It wasn't until that I'd been off-world a couple times that it truly sank in that my world was one of many, and the same rules didn't always apply."
So long as he keeps his hands to himself when meeting any new non-humans...
"Yes, you should ask him. Just... don't be surprised if the answer doesn't make sense at first. He doesn't see things the way we do." And yes, she means it when she says "we". Abysa may be a demon, a consort to to the Lords of Hell, but she feels like she understands his motivations a heck of a lot better than the caged scholar's.
Although, now that her mind returns to Micolash, she can't help but feel a little guilty. Their last conversation ended so poorly; maybe some of this could have been avoided if she had tried harder to be his friend, to hear him openly instead of insulting his relationship with the Great Ones. "Abysa? I want you to know something. If you're not planning to give up on Micolash, then neither am I. Okay? If there is some good in him, maybe I can help you find it."
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"To meet a human who is already genuinely good and kind is rare, but I believe I have had the fortune to meet one in you, Miss Adia! And not a moment too soon, I should think. Ever since the Harvest Festival, I have felt my confidence waning. Ah, and waking Dear Micolash will still be ever so difficult, yet I find my fate and his a great deal less uncertain now." Having a clear, mortal-advised plan seems to be bringing cheer back into the demon's voice and demeanor, as he rubs his hands and eases back to his usual constant smile.
"For all my sorrows and toil, I would truly regret not giving my care of Micolash my all, and so I must, and having support in this endeavor will only increase the chances of success. If there is anything you should want for in compensation for your advice, please, be not afraid to ask."
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Looking up into his smile, she shakes her head in response to his offer of compensation. "I want to help you as a friend, I don't need anything in return. Although... well, I would not mind your counsel, as well. Something happened to my in my Nightmare. That Great One I mentioned, the one with the dozen eyes. It put a rune into my brain, and now... things are different for me. Not bad! Just... different. Different enough that I'm hoping to talk to a mage friend for some guidance. But I wouldn't mind your thoughts on the matter, either. I imagine you've heard Micolash talk about these runes. Do you know what they do to a person, other than simply teach them a word in the Great Ones' language?"
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"I have heard of these runes, though I do not possess one myself, and I have speculated quite a bit based on what I know of similar things. To start with, the rune you bear is conveyed in the form of a symbol, yes? And this symbol may evoke imagery, or sound, or scent, or stimulate most any sense, as they are, ahh, this may sound nonsensical, but they are like words that predate language itself. And so thus runes are almost like spells in the sense that knowing them causes a tangible effect on the person who has memorized them, as you have already noticed. This is because their utterance is to speak of fundamental, primordial qualities of the universe itself." Abysa speaks also to himself as well as Adia, pausing between sentences as he seems to consider his words.
"I suppose you could say, because some of this Great One's wisdom has been given to you in the form of a word that it speaks, and by knowing this symbol that represents that word, your brain has now been able to pull at reality just enough to alter it! It is fascinating, really. As a High Priest to my dearest Lords, a great deal of my work involves interpreting similar messages and what it means for my people to know them."
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"I wish I had talked to you about this first," she admits with a sheepish look. "Micolash didn't bother explaining anything to me, although we communicated with our runes. He has the same one as I do, a moon rune..." She trails off, frowning. "Makes me wonder how he earned it. The only way he tried to help the Brain of Mensis, so far as I can tell, was to try putting it out of its misery."
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"I know OF this Brain of Mensis, but dear Micolash is reluctant to explain what sort of Great One it is. I can only assume, since you share a word it knows, that you have met it or something similar?"
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"I either met it or a... a projection of it, in the Nightmare," she replies. As for what sort of Great One it is, she hesitates to reply. It feels a little underhanded to dish out more of Micolash's mistakes, especially when she promised to be a better friend. But how will Abysa ever hope to rehabilitate the scholar if he doesn't have all the facts? "It's not a typical Great One, it's the result of an experiment at Micolash's school. A class of students attempted to... ascend? Join him in the Nightmare? I'm not entirely sure of the details. But... something went wrong. Very wrong. I know that part, at least, wasn't Micolash's intention at all. He tried killing it, but the Brain only reforms. He tried praying to Kos, some say Kosm... but she didn't answer. So he... he used the Brain as some sort of guard for the school, projecting its aura to keep away trespassers." Her mouth turns down in disgust; she can't help it. A dozen lives or more crushed into some endlessly suffering creature, hoisted above the school gates like a bloody mascot. "So far as I know, that's where it still is. I only gave it a small break from its pain."
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"I suppose that matter will need to be addressed later. I have no doubt that my beloved Lord Guilt will be able to advise me about the process of absolving such acts. Micolash carries with him a great many sins, and they weigh him down, and they slow, if not outright halt his progress. As much as I would like to hold him accountable, this situation we have currently is of a great priority. Ah, the process of saving one soul is never so simple, let alone the souls of many, as all things are connected in some way." It does pain Abysa to wait, knowing something out there may be suffering, but if he has learned one thing, it's that he cannot shoulder every burden at once. Even a High Priest must pace himself!
"That is not to say I will not create a plan to aid the poor thing. If I am able to learn more, or even meet it, I might be able to gather enough information to relay to the Temple for a plan of healing... Or if necessary, severing its manifold consciousnesses to return to the Sea. One of my beloved Dark Lords is Death, and amongst demons, Eyeless Demons have long pioneered technology and magic regarding the cycles of life and death. I am confident that in time, all loose ends may be tied. Then leaves the matters of the present..." He tilts his head, now leaning with his cheek on one palm as he sighs.
"Despite being his 'nurse', I find myself knowing much too little about his previous life than I would prefer, and it seems you may be able to fill in even more blanks in this regard? You know just not of this Brain of Mensis, but of Mergo too?"
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The fact that Abysa wants to help the Brain of Mensis, too, fills her with a warm hope. But that hope is tempered with experience. "That's very kind of you," she says, her hands resting on the counter's edge so she isn't tempted to fidget. "I'm sure your Lord of Death is very wise and powerful, but the Brain is from a different universe than yours. Not all of the same rules may apply."
But, anyway. Back to the matter at hand, Abysa's primary concern. "I only know what he told me, which wasn't much." She rubs the back of her head in embarrassment. "I thought he had maybe kidnapped a baby... I mean, I guess he did, but..." She clears her throat. "It sounds like he was another Great One who was created rather than... um, already existing. It was his Nightmare that Micolash was hosting before he came to the Nexus. I don't really know any more than that."
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"Just before, or perhaps just after Mergo's birth, Queen Yharnam was slain by her own, and Mergo too did not escape the bloodlust. Ah, but Great Ones do not live and die as mortals do; the poor thing's little consciousness had persisted all this time, lingering with its mother who also could not rest. It seems the queen exists in a state of undeath, unable to rest after her violent death, or maybe her marriage to a Great One has given her eternal life? But yes, Micolash not only abducted a child, but did so from an eternally grieving mother." With that the priest sighs and folds his arms once more.
"Her situation was similar to mine, as a bride of a god. Yet he still could not fathom my distress at her entire story."
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"I'm sorry he couldn't understand why that would make you upset. It makes me upset to hear, and my life is nowhere near that sort of situation." She looks up at him worriedly. "Has he said at all what's happened to Mergo, now that Micolash is no longer hosting his Nightmare? He may be a Great One, but he's still a baby..."
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that icon is really cute!
-3!
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