Much as I'd like to scour this town from top to bottom to find her, I recognize that there are several factors which would hinder my ability to do so.
I came here because of yesterday. Alphinaud described the mosaics to me earlier this week, and I confess to finding some similarities in what he told me and what we found.
Mm. Susato is very dear to me - I pray that we will find her quickly. [ and alive. more than anything else, he's hoping.
but, ah. ] ...Like those you saw on your adventure?
[ that catches his attention. he will come a little closer, standing at comfortable distance away so as not to encroach too much on alisaie's space, and looking up at the mosaics. ]
...We saw things in the catacombs of Otamo that were very helpful. Perhaps - would you mind sharing with me, Miss Alisaie?
If you do, pray let me know. I would like to think she and I were becoming close friends.
[But that is a topic that is not for now. Alisaie takes a breath to steady herself and nods.]
No, I wouldn't mind sharing at all. I think... What we found is like to be important in understanding the secrets that have been withheld from us thus far.
We woke in the ruins of a city that had been destroyed by fire and ash. In the distance was the mountain that had been the source of such a disaster. I believe it was known as the Kiln, but Akira or Rin would know more about that. As we were climbing it, the earth was shattered and van Zieks and I fell down into its depths.
After a short period of time, we found ourselves in what was known as the Garden. I cannot be sure, but I believe it to be the same one depicted in this mosaic.
[And she gestures to the first of the three mosaics!]
...The Kiln is not a place that I have been. Only one that I have heard tale of. But... it is a place where - if what I have gleaned from others is correct, it is a place where Supreme Ghosts are made.
Such as Qi Rong... or any of the others that I mentioned that first week.
That part I don't know, but it certainly explains much and more. We found a guide who told us that the Kiln would open and summon the dead to it to fight a battle royale at its close. I assume this is how those Supreme Ghosts are come?
[She frowns.]
And does that mean that the-- [What did he call them...] --"corpse eaters" are familiar to you as well?
... Yes. That would account for a Supreme - sometimes known as Calamities. The strongest ghosts of them all. There was only one, when I left my home and arrived here, but Qi Rong said there were four, in the eight centuries that have passed.
You...didn't see a ghost with a white mask, did you? [ because that's a scary thought. ] And - could you tell me more of your guide? If you wouldn't mind.
[ xie lian makes a soft, thoughtful noise at the second part. the corpse eaters... ]
...As for the corpse eaters, I am not entirely sure. It sounds like it could be something in my realm, just as easily - a lower level demon or ghost, perhaps a Malice? I have not traveled so far outside of the central plains...
[Standby. Alisaie couldn't see him herself, of course, so she has to confer with Taf in that strange way of them and their daemons, an exchange that leaves the information in her mind but only as though she's read it in a book, knowledge gained and understood without having ever seen it for herself.]
Our guide was a young man. He had dark hair, of that I am sure, but the rest of it... he was hard to pin down. His form shifted often; at times he seemed to become nothing but a ball of blue flame.
He said he had been there a while. But he was helping other living beings to escape the Kiln as well.
I didn't see anyone with a white mask, but as I mentioned, I fell into the caverns when the mountain began to quake. Akira and Rin were left outside; we've not had time to share our two stories yet. They may have more to say than I.
[ with her excellent hearing, alisaie will hear the soft sound of xie lian's inhale, like a surprised, quiet gasp.
he opens his mouth, and then closes it.]
...I see.
[ san lang makes a quiet noise, too, coming over to sit by xie lian's feet and closer to the two of them. he butts his hand underneath xie lian's hand, and he holds it there. ]
...Thank you, Miss Alisaie, for sharing that much with me. I...will confer with the others, too - at least of the rest of the details on that particular matter.
...There was a similar guide in my own trip to the catacombs, and she gave me a gift, that I later returned to its rightful owner - one of the Watchers.
Her form was also changing quite often. If... I had to guess, then... that guide of yours very well could be one of them.
[There's no uncertainty in her voice, but Xie Lian will absolutely notice the horror dawning on her face.]
He--oh, gods.
I can only pray that Akira or Rin recovered something from him, for I know that neither van Zieks nor I did. We were separated from them when the Kiln opened.
I - are you sure? [ he's not sure what the importance of the item he gave to suriel was - her guess was correct - but, it clearly mattered to her, and the idea of...
san lang makes a low, unhappy noise; he shivers, full body, and suddenly presses closer to xie lian's leg. ]
I can ask - don't lose hope, Miss Alisaie. I can ask that Watcher of it, as well. Surely...
[ surely it will be fine, right? it must be. ] They are quite dear to me; if they are missing something and know of it, then perhaps they will know and tell me of it. I'll find out what I can.
[ he nods…. Honestly also distraught but trying hard not to show it. ]
…yes. It is. [ and then a moment later - ] For his safety, Miss Alisae - please, please do not tell anyone that he and I are from the same realm. If the Watchers reveal too much information about themselves, they are punished for it - and I worry over him always.
[ he reaches over because it is affection week, and finds alisaie's hand, giving it a squeeze. the gesture matches his sincere tone. ]
Thank you, Miss Alisaie. Truly. It means the world to me.
Baraqiel is very - I don't think I can say much, but he is very, very dear to me. If there is any way that I can help those of you that went to a world that may have been my own, whether it is to answer questions, or, to help with Baraqiel-gege at all - I am more than happy to do so.
[It's surprising, but not unwelcome! Alisaie squeezes his hand back.]
I would like to know more, but not this day. [Taf, already understanding, is climbing to his usual perch on her shoulders, where he's been most of the week.] Right now, I think it best I find the others and ask if Baraqiel gave them anything. If not... we will have to find a way back. We cannot simply abandon him.
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as ever, his voice is very gentle, but - alisaie will hear a soft, sad quality to it, today. ]
...I was. I came back to look - hoping perhaps that San Lang would have been able to catch her scent.
[ san lang, a qilin, makes a soft whine noise - that's a no. ] ...but we have had no such luck. What's brought you here, something of the same?
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She shakes her head, though.]
Much as I'd like to scour this town from top to bottom to find her, I recognize that there are several factors which would hinder my ability to do so.
I came here because of yesterday. Alphinaud described the mosaics to me earlier this week, and I confess to finding some similarities in what he told me and what we found.
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but, ah. ] ...Like those you saw on your adventure?
[ that catches his attention. he will come a little closer, standing at comfortable distance away so as not to encroach too much on alisaie's space, and looking up at the mosaics. ]
...We saw things in the catacombs of Otamo that were very helpful. Perhaps - would you mind sharing with me, Miss Alisaie?
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[But that is a topic that is not for now. Alisaie takes a breath to steady herself and nods.]
No, I wouldn't mind sharing at all. I think... What we found is like to be important in understanding the secrets that have been withheld from us thus far.
We woke in the ruins of a city that had been destroyed by fire and ash. In the distance was the mountain that had been the source of such a disaster. I believe it was known as the Kiln, but Akira or Rin would know more about that. As we were climbing it, the earth was shattered and van Zieks and I fell down into its depths.
After a short period of time, we found ourselves in what was known as the Garden. I cannot be sure, but I believe it to be the same one depicted in this mosaic.
[And she gestures to the first of the three mosaics!]
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hold on just a moment. ]
...The Kiln?
[ that's not the part of that that would stick out the most to someone else considering - the mosiacs. but also. ]
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Did I say something strange...?
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....Did your... did your visit have anything to do with ghosts, by chance?
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Xie Lian. Did we happen to visit your world, by chance?
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Such as Qi Rong... or any of the others that I mentioned that first week.
[
????????????? ]
But, how...
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That part I don't know, but it certainly explains much and more. We found a guide who told us that the Kiln would open and summon the dead to it to fight a battle royale at its close. I assume this is how those Supreme Ghosts are come?
[She frowns.]
And does that mean that the-- [What did he call them...] --"corpse eaters" are familiar to you as well?
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You...didn't see a ghost with a white mask, did you? [ because that's a scary thought. ] And - could you tell me more of your guide? If you wouldn't mind.
[ xie lian makes a soft, thoughtful noise at the second part. the corpse eaters... ]
...As for the corpse eaters, I am not entirely sure. It sounds like it could be something in my realm, just as easily - a lower level demon or ghost, perhaps a Malice? I have not traveled so far outside of the central plains...
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Our guide was a young man. He had dark hair, of that I am sure, but the rest of it... he was hard to pin down. His form shifted often; at times he seemed to become nothing but a ball of blue flame.
He said he had been there a while. But he was helping other living beings to escape the Kiln as well.
I didn't see anyone with a white mask, but as I mentioned, I fell into the caverns when the mountain began to quake. Akira and Rin were left outside; we've not had time to share our two stories yet. They may have more to say than I.
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he opens his mouth, and then closes it.]
...I see.
[ san lang makes a quiet noise, too, coming over to sit by xie lian's feet and closer to the two of them. he butts his hand underneath xie lian's hand, and he holds it there. ]
...Thank you, Miss Alisaie, for sharing that much with me. I...will confer with the others, too - at least of the rest of the details on that particular matter.
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You knew him?
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based on his own experiences so far, in the catacombs, and his time spent here. ]
...I think we all do.
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[She's visibly confused by this one.]
Who...?
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Her form was also changing quite often. If... I had to guess, then... that guide of yours very well could be one of them.
[ he pauses, there, bites his lip. ]
... I'm not sure how much else I could say.
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[There's no uncertainty in her voice, but Xie Lian will absolutely notice the horror dawning on her face.]
He--oh, gods.
I can only pray that Akira or Rin recovered something from him, for I know that neither van Zieks nor I did. We were separated from them when the Kiln opened.
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no. ]
I - are you sure? [ he's not sure what the importance of the item he gave to suriel was - her guess was correct - but, it clearly mattered to her, and the idea of...
san lang makes a low, unhappy noise; he shivers, full body, and suddenly presses closer to xie lian's leg. ]
I can ask - don't lose hope, Miss Alisaie. I can ask that Watcher of it, as well. Surely...
[ surely it will be fine, right? it must be. ] They are quite dear to me; if they are missing something and know of it, then perhaps they will know and tell me of it. I'll find out what I can.
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Was it Baraqiel we met? Please. I need to know.
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…yes. It is. [ and then a moment later - ] For his safety, Miss Alisae - please, please do not tell anyone that he and I are from the same realm. If the Watchers reveal too much information about themselves, they are punished for it - and I worry over him always.
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I promise, I shan't tell a soul. Not even my brother. I understand well having someone you want to protect.
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Thank you, Miss Alisaie. Truly. It means the world to me.
Baraqiel is very - I don't think I can say much, but he is very, very dear to me. If there is any way that I can help those of you that went to a world that may have been my own, whether it is to answer questions, or, to help with Baraqiel-gege at all - I am more than happy to do so.
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I would like to know more, but not this day. [Taf, already understanding, is climbing to his usual perch on her shoulders, where he's been most of the week.] Right now, I think it best I find the others and ask if Baraqiel gave them anything. If not... we will have to find a way back. We cannot simply abandon him.