Tower of Ghenjei: An ICanon subplot

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

She nodded. “You’re from the eastern border, I’m guessing? Too important to lose?”

Uhhh... TAAron nodded weakly. He decided to redirect his attention to Haly and the man next to her. He tried to look on encouragingly.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Ookla the Inverted said:

Uhhh... TAAron nodded weakly. He decided to redirect his attention to Haly and the man next to her. He tried to look on encouragingly.

“Mmm, poor thing,” the woman muttered, following his gaze. “So much pressure! It’ll be hard even if he’s a nice guy. Which, judging by standard of Nolikar…”

Haly didn’t look at him, but she noticed and her mouth turned up a little as she answered a question.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

“Mmm, poor thing,” the woman muttered, following his gaze. “So much pressure! It’ll be hard even if he’s a nice guy. Which, judging by standard of Nolikar…”

Haly didn’t look at him, but she noticed and her mouth turned up a little as she answered a question.

The comment made TAAron uneasy. "What about the Nolikar?"

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

The comment made TAAron uneasy. "What about the Nolikar?"

“Warlike, rough, boisterous. We had a lucky few years there where we could sleep easy.” She heaved a sigh. “Those days are over, until those two wear matching rings.”

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

“Warlike, rough, boisterous. We had a lucky few years there where we could sleep easy.” She heaved a sigh. “Those days are over, until those two wear matching rings.”

TAAron felt worry and a twinge of jealousy in his chest. "Do you... feel bad for the princess?"

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

2 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

TAAron felt worry and a twinge of jealousy in his chest. "Do you... feel bad for the princess?"

Suppressing laughter, she nodded. “There’s not a Basilican who doesn’t. Or a Nolikan who isn’t amused by it.” Her demeanor turned more serious. “Too much pressure to put on such a young girl, even if she is Evalyn. They should have transferred the title to the oldest… though I guess she’s a bit sulky, and that wouldn’t be fair either… this turn of events is tragic. She’s the one paying the price for something that’s not her fault, or anyone’s really. Besides those Nolikans. Sharks, they are.”

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

Suppressing laughter, she nodded. “There’s not a Basilican who doesn’t. Or a Nolikan who isn’t amused by it.” Her demeanor turned more serious. “Too much pressure to put on such a young girl, even if she is Evalyn. They should have transferred the title to the oldest… though I guess she’s a bit sulky, and that wouldn’t be fair either… this turn of events is tragic. She’s the one paying the price for something that’s not her fault, or anyone’s really. Besides those Nolikans. Sharks, they are.”

"Hm. What do you know about Hal... um, Evalyn?"

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"Hm. What do you know about Hal... um, Evalyn?"

“Second youngest of the Basili girls, at least the blood ones. Her real name is Leiance Saeri—she prefers to go by Saeri, but accepts the title of Evalyn. She’s bright, hates shoes—be surprised if she had them, even now—and she spent some time away from Basilica for some reason. Only her family knows why.”

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

“Second youngest of the Basili girls, at least the blood ones. Her real name is Leiance Saeri—she prefers to go by Saeri, but accepts the title of Evalyn. She’s bright, hates shoes—be surprised if she had them, even now—and she spent some time away from Basilica for some reason. Only her family knows why.”

"Interesting." He smiled a little to himself. "And do you know much about her... betrothed?"

Quote

Would Sykel be present to give some kind of reaction?

 

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"Interesting." He smiled a little to himself. "And do you know much about her... betrothed?"

 

“Nope. Not even his name. He looks nice enough, but of course, he’s a Nolikan…” she eyed the man suspiciously. “Not even a prince. Some sort of cousin.”

Sykel reentered the room and settled at the opposite end of the table near her sister. Upon seeing TAAron, her jaw clenched and she stared warning daggers at him, then turned and chatted with a Nolikan general.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

“Nope. Not even his name. He looks nice enough, but of course, he’s a Nolikan…” she eyed the man suspiciously. “Not even a prince. Some sort of cousin.”

Sykel reentered the room and settled at the opposite end of the table near her sister. Upon seeing TAAron, her jaw clenched and she stared warning daggers at him, then turned and chatted with a Nolikan general.

"Why do you think the Nolikans didn't offer someone more important?"

TAAron gave Sykel an amused smile. She must be surprised. Hopefully no one noticed her glaring at me...

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

3 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"Why do you think the Nolikans didn't offer someone more important?"

TAAron gave Sykel an amused smile. She must be surprised. Hopefully no one noticed her glaring at me...

“They’re gloating. That’s what Nolikans do. Their king just likes to see us squirm.”

Sykel gave him a glance that said quite clearly, Watch your step, little man. Or else.

Quote

That’s my cue! Later.

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by The Halcyon Girl

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

4 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

“They’re gloating. That’s what Nolikans do. Their king just likes to see us squirm.”

Sykel gave him a glance that said quite clearly, Watch your step, little man. Or else.

TAAron caught the glance. Oh, well. What's she going to do, kill me? He almost laughed to himself, but then he remembered Lerac. His mood immediately dropped and he struggled to keep the sadness out of his expression. "Do you have any theories as to where the princess might have gone?"

Edited December 30, 2022 by Ookla the Inverted

[Ranryu she/her]

9 hours ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

The wounds on TAAron finished clearing, and Lerac fell to the floor, eyes open yet unseeing.

TAAron sat up with a gasp. "Haly!"

Wynn knelt next to Lerac's body, unmoving. 

"Lerac..."

No! This isn't what's supposed to happen. I didn't even get to tell him... Tears dripped down Wynn's cheeks, shiny and golden. TAAron is alive... but the price was too high. This is all my fault. Why does this always happen?

She stroked Lerac's cold cheek, careful not to disturb the flowers. Then she jumped on her duel runner and drove far, far away.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

21 minutes ago, Ranryu said:

Wynn knelt next to Lerac's body, unmoving. 

"Lerac..."

No! This isn't what's supposed to happen. I didn't even get to tell him... Tears dripped down Wynn's cheeks, shiny and golden. TAAron is alive... but the price was too high. This is all my fault. Why does this always happen?

She stroked Lerac's cold cheek, careful not to disturb the flowers. Then she jumped on her duel runner and drove far, far away.

Quote

Tell him what?

What a lovely place.

Malum spoke in Wynn's mind, but the pain was low and dull compared to the first time.

I saw what happened with TAAron. A shame that he should manage to survive again, but at least he was traded for another, albeit less important life.

Edited December 30, 2022 by Ookla the Inverted

[Ranryu she/her]

23 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

What a lovely place.

Malum spoke in Wynn's mind, but the pain was low and dull compared to the first time.

I saw what happened with TAAron. A shame that he should manage to survive again, but at least he was traded for another, albeit less important life.

Wynn stepped lightly to avoid activating the golems.

Yes, nice, isn't it? This is the place that wiped out an entire civilization. Seems like somewhere you would like. Unfortunately for you, this is my place. Always has been and always will be. Unless you want to become part of an ancient communication ceremony, I recommend you get out of my head now.

Wynn opened one of the trees and took the elevator inside up to the atrium.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, Ranryu said:

Wynn stepped lightly to avoid activating the golems.

Yes, nice, isn't it? This is the place that wiped out an entire civilization. Seems like somewhere you would like. Unfortunately for you, this is my place. Always has been and always will be. Unless you want to become part of an ancient communication ceremony, I recommend you get out of my head now.

Wynn opened one of the trees and took the elevator inside up to the atrium.

Ancient communication ceremony? I'm interested.

[Ranryu she/her]

5 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

Ancient communication ceremony? I'm interested.

That's actually helpful. The Wild Hunt will be a lot more likely to respond if I offer a god's presence in addition to my own. Oh wait, you're never helpful. I'm sure you have some kind of plan to kill me. Joke's on you, this time.

Wynn drew a magician's circle on the atrium's mosaic floor, using chalk from a small bin by the entrance.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, Ranryu said:

That's actually helpful. The Wild Hunt will be a lot more likely to respond if I offer a god's presence in addition to my own. Oh wait, you're never helpful. I'm sure you have some kind of plan to kill me. Joke's on you, this time.

Wynn drew a magician's circle on the atrium's mosaic floor, using chalk from a small bin by the entrance.

Mm. So, how do you feel about the trade of lives? I think you got a better deal. No one really cared about Lerac.

[Ranryu she/her]

1 minute ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

Mm. So, how do you feel about the trade of lives? I think you got a better deal. No one really cared about Lerac.

Wynn worked as she conversed, scattering ashes from an urn onto the circle.

Lerac made his choice. All mortals die. It was only a matter of a few decades. He died heroically, so I'm sure he has a comfortable place in whatever afterlife he went to.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, Ranryu said:

Wynn worked as she conversed, scattering ashes from an urn onto the circle.

Lerac made his choice. All mortals die. It was only a matter of a few decades. He died heroically, so I'm sure he has a comfortable place in whatever afterlife he went to.

Actually, I know the Death of that area. He likes to claim his souls are comfortable, but they all just kind of... degrade. They lose their memory, their identity, until they just become mist.

[Ranryu she/her]

9 minutes ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

Actually, I know the Death of that area. He likes to claim his souls are comfortable, but they all just kind of... degrade. They lose their memory, their identity, until they just become mist.

Silly god. Is that supposed to scare me? Decay is the way of things. To exist forever would be torture. I have peace knowing that his soul will be recycled when the universal cycle starts over, even if I won’t be there to see it.

Wynn cut open her wrist and let the blood fall to the floor.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

5 minutes ago, Ranryu said:

Silly god. Is that supposed to scare me? Decay is the way of things. To exist forever would be torture. I have peace knowing that his soul will be recycled when the universal cycle starts over, even if I won’t be there to see it.

Wynn cut open her wrist and let the blood fall to the floor.

I've been down there. The mists are all... screaming. And, the universal cycle? Is this some religious belief?

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

8 hours ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

TAAron caught the glance. Oh, well. What's she going to do, kill me? He almost laughed to himself, but then he remembered Lerac. His mood immediately dropped and he struggled to keep the sadness out of his expression. "Do you have any theories as to where the princess might have gone?"

"Funny enough... yes." The woman cocked her head and examined Haly pensively. "Ah, but rumors are nasty things... don't you have theories?"

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

"Funny enough... yes." The woman cocked her head and examined Haly pensively. "Ah, but rumors are nasty things... don't you have theories?"

"Not really. Go on, tell me the rumors."