Hikaru Shidou (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
heartablaze) wrote2020-09-09 11:59 pm
heartablaze) wrote2020-09-09 11:59 pm
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[He notices someone out in the fields - that girl from before, he thinks. Her hair is hard not to notice. Hansa, hands in his pockets, makes it out to the middle of the field, casting his gaze towards the castle in the distance that she's facing. He's silent for a moment, before speaking up:]
Penny for your thoughts, little lady.
Penny for your thoughts, little lady.
Hansa-san...?
[She's plopped to a seat in a bed of wildflowers, arms against her knees with her chin resting on top. She's wearing a different outfit today, a set of short bib overalls with a loud checkered shirt in red and black.
She blinks, confused, before shaking her head slowly.]
I'm real sorry, but I don't have any money. My wallet is still back in Tokyo.
[She's plopped to a seat in a bed of wildflowers, arms against her knees with her chin resting on top. She's wearing a different outfit today, a set of short bib overalls with a loud checkered shirt in red and black.
She blinks, confused, before shaking her head slowly.]
I'm real sorry, but I don't have any money. My wallet is still back in Tokyo.
[He chuckles at that, shaking his head.]
It's just a saying. I'm asking you what you're thinking about.
It's just a saying. I'm asking you what you're thinking about.
[Ah. She nods her head, sheepish, before turning her eyes back to the castle.]
A lot of things, I guess.
There's a lot more I want to know... maybe if there was a way to ask the Realm, it would help, but...
[A hand lifts to press at her chest.]
They said you would lose yourself if you try something like that, right?
A lot of things, I guess.
There's a lot more I want to know... maybe if there was a way to ask the Realm, it would help, but...
[A hand lifts to press at her chest.]
They said you would lose yourself if you try something like that, right?
I'm actually not sure. They told you that?
[He didn't think to ask something like that, because why ask? It seemed the Realm was a network, a hub of sorts more than anything.]
[He didn't think to ask something like that, because why ask? It seemed the Realm was a network, a hub of sorts more than anything.]
[She shakes her head.]
Not me... um, not completely, anyway. Another girl was talking to Wolf about it.
The six that were here before... I guess they lost all their memories but got other things in return for it. It's why they know things. She asked if we'd be able to get things in exchange for giving up nova on our own, and that's what Wolf told her. That even if we found a way to connect to the Realm... we'd lose "ourselves."
Not me... um, not completely, anyway. Another girl was talking to Wolf about it.
The six that were here before... I guess they lost all their memories but got other things in return for it. It's why they know things. She asked if we'd be able to get things in exchange for giving up nova on our own, and that's what Wolf told her. That even if we found a way to connect to the Realm... we'd lose "ourselves."
...
[Hm.]
[Yes, he knew about those masked people losing their memories, but...this is news.]
Then I guess that option is off the table, then.
[Hm.]
[Yes, he knew about those masked people losing their memories, but...this is news.]
Then I guess that option is off the table, then.
Maybe a little bit.
...I don't want to give up on the idea. I want to know more about the Realm, and why it chose us...
There has to be a different way. One that won't destroy whoever tries.
...I don't want to give up on the idea. I want to know more about the Realm, and why it chose us...
There has to be a different way. One that won't destroy whoever tries.
What's the matter with playing with the masked crew and their little competition? All they said is that we have to gather enough nova and fix things.
[He doesn't sound like he really believes it, though.]
Unless you don't think that will work?
[He doesn't sound like he really believes it, though.]
Unless you don't think that will work?
[She takes a second to turn his words over in her head, biting at her lip.]
I don't know what I think right now, Hansa-san. Other than... I believe them, when they say they can't remember. I really think they're telling the truth.
I'm just really worried about... other stuff. I don't mind a competition if it's for fun, but...
If we're supposed to be saving everyone, then how come we aren't all together as one team?
I don't know what I think right now, Hansa-san. Other than... I believe them, when they say they can't remember. I really think they're telling the truth.
I'm just really worried about... other stuff. I don't mind a competition if it's for fun, but...
If we're supposed to be saving everyone, then how come we aren't all together as one team?
That's a good point. Why foster competition, when we all work for the same goal?
[Hmmmm.]
It doesn't add up, does it?
[Hmmmm.]
It doesn't add up, does it?
...There's a lot still missing. The only way we can fill in the blanks is to keep going.
I just don't like how familiar it feels.
I just don't like how familiar it feels.
[That gets him to frown down at her.]
Familiar in what way?
Familiar in what way?
Cefiro was falling apart, too. To not know the goals of all the people who are around you or the identities of the ones who brought you there... to have seen people trapped by something they didn't ask for and hurt by it... and even so, still wanting to find a way to help everyone, no matter what...
[Her eyes are tired as she glances back up at the castle.]
It's not my first time.
[Her eyes are tired as she glances back up at the castle.]
It's not my first time.
...
[Another world with people trapped?]
[What was this girl doing?]
Where is this...Cefiro?
[Another world with people trapped?]
[What was this girl doing?]
Where is this...Cefiro?
Somewhere separate from where I live on Earth. A totally different world, in a totally different universe. Nobody really knows about it - I didn't know about it, either, until I got brought there with Umi-chan and Fuu-chan.
[...]
It's important to me, though.
[...]
It's important to me, though.
[So it really is like this situation.]
Out of the frying pan into the fire... [He murmurs, half to himself.] What happened to that world? Before you came here.
Out of the frying pan into the fire... [He murmurs, half to himself.] What happened to that world? Before you came here.
...
It was falling apart.
In Cefiro, belief is what has power... it's what holds everything together. Normally, the most important person in Cefiro is the Pillar, who holds everything together with her prayers. It keeps Cefiro and all its people safe.
But their last Pillar... she was killed. Without someone to act as a Pillar, Cefiro will stop existing, and they'd gone so long without finding anyone that there was barely anything left.
It was falling apart.
In Cefiro, belief is what has power... it's what holds everything together. Normally, the most important person in Cefiro is the Pillar, who holds everything together with her prayers. It keeps Cefiro and all its people safe.
But their last Pillar... she was killed. Without someone to act as a Pillar, Cefiro will stop existing, and they'd gone so long without finding anyone that there was barely anything left.
[Sounds like something right out of a fairytale. A tragic one.]
So, can't they just elect a new Pillar? What does it take to be one?
So, can't they just elect a new Pillar? What does it take to be one?
[She shakes her head slowly.] It's not like a prime minister or a president or anything. Belief is what gives you power, you know? So while the people are important, the people don't choose the Pillar... something else does. Clef said that the Pillar has to be someone whose heart is strong, but... the only person who knew how to find the Road to the Pillar was the last Pillar, Princess Emeraude...
[...
Her fists tighten at her sides, but she exhales, raising them to rest against her chest.]
Other worlds were coming to invade Cefiro because of that. The Pillar doesn't need to be from Cefiro... [Dark eyes narrow towards the castle.] So if someone came from another world and was strong enough, then they could find the Road to the Pillar and do whatever they wanted with Cefiro and its people.
That's what Eagle was trying to do.
[...
Her fists tighten at her sides, but she exhales, raising them to rest against her chest.]
Other worlds were coming to invade Cefiro because of that. The Pillar doesn't need to be from Cefiro... [Dark eyes narrow towards the castle.] So if someone came from another world and was strong enough, then they could find the Road to the Pillar and do whatever they wanted with Cefiro and its people.
That's what Eagle was trying to do.
[Sure, that all seems self-explanatory. Someone chooses the next Pillar, keeps the world safe and sound, and it sounds good. But Hansa notes the last part, and the frown on his face deepens.]
Whatever they wanted? [Hm.] What if they decided they didn't want to do anything to save anyone? This place might be putting their faith in a person who wouldn't lift a finger to save their world.
Whatever they wanted? [Hm.] What if they decided they didn't want to do anything to save anyone? This place might be putting their faith in a person who wouldn't lift a finger to save their world.
Yeah... that's what I was worried about, too. Nobody really knew who would choose the Pillar - if it was a person, or if Cefiro just... picked whoever was strongest, no matter what.
That's why I was fighting Eagle. He was going to try to evacuate the residents if he could, but... he wanted to be the Pillar for selfish reasons. Really, really selfish ones. It's, um... complicated... but he's really sick. And... he wants to become the Pillar, and let himself die then, so that the people he cares about don't have to do that in his place. Even if it hurts all of them for him to do that.
[Her fists clench against her clothing.]
But he won't become the Pillar. Because I... I already beat him in the test.
That's why I was fighting Eagle. He was going to try to evacuate the residents if he could, but... he wanted to be the Pillar for selfish reasons. Really, really selfish ones. It's, um... complicated... but he's really sick. And... he wants to become the Pillar, and let himself die then, so that the people he cares about don't have to do that in his place. Even if it hurts all of them for him to do that.
[Her fists clench against her clothing.]
But he won't become the Pillar. Because I... I already beat him in the test.
[Wait, but that means-]
...You're the Pillar now, Hikaru?
...You're the Pillar now, Hikaru?
Yeah. I am.
[It's still so fresh in her mind that it sounds weird to admit it.
Her fingers trace against one of the gashes on her face.]
I got hurt because I was trying to bring Eagle back with me. Since he lost... he was supposed to disappear, and to go back down the Road to the Pillar was impossible unless it was just me. I didn't want that, though. If we could find a way to help him be able to live with the people he'd done everything for... I wanted to be able to give him a chance, no matter what happened to me.
[It's still so fresh in her mind that it sounds weird to admit it.
Her fingers trace against one of the gashes on her face.]
I got hurt because I was trying to bring Eagle back with me. Since he lost... he was supposed to disappear, and to go back down the Road to the Pillar was impossible unless it was just me. I didn't want that, though. If we could find a way to help him be able to live with the people he'd done everything for... I wanted to be able to give him a chance, no matter what happened to me.
[Hansa only goes to the planetarium because needs to get to a dark place - his headache is killing him, and the low light should help ease it. He steps in, gaze cast up to the night sky above, and then it moves down to see-]
[Huh?]
...Hikaru? What are you doing here?
[Huh?]
...Hikaru? What are you doing here?
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