[ This should be a surprise twist, shouldn't it? Just a young girl, forced to take the life of two lovers after exploring a world falling to ruin. For most, it would be too terrible a thing to do to a child. She should be at home, with her family, flourishing and happy, instead of given the task that she was.
Hua Cheng laughs, briefly, although it's a humorless, quiet sound. ]
My statement stays the same. You were tasked with something unkind. But sometimes, we are given a challenge, a burden, aren't we? Something that no one should have to face, regardless of whether we're alone or not.
Princess Emeraude should not have had to carry the weight of the world, and be expected to bury her heart beneath it. Taizi Dianxia should not have had to watch his own world fall apart around him, when all he had wanted was to take a third path to find peace.
You should not have had to be another person's blade, if that was not your choice.
Ignorance... that's its own kind of mistake. No matter what I was told to do... I could have questioned. I could have tried to learn more. But I didn't know, and I... I didn't want to know, any more than what seemed right.
[She grips the book in her hands, full of images of an ideal world. A beautiful world.]
It's... hard. To watch something fall apart, no matter what you wanted to happen. To have to do things alone.
[Just like Emeraude. Just like Dianxia. Like Virid... or Kano.]
All I can pray for is that... that something better comes. And that I... I can help Cefiro, until then. It's my home, just like... [Just like... whatever had existed before. It's not a surprise, to falter here, to think of what was before and see nothing but a gaping hole. But she trails off.]
[ Silent, he lets her speak. Because ignorance really does breed so much negativity into the world - cruelty, in every shape, but complacency, fear, hatred. In all 800 years, he's seen it. The worst of humanity, made reality because of ignorance, because what they thought was right was simply...
Unkind.
He reaches out, setting his hand atop her head as he sees how she grips the book tighter. ]
You could have. But what's done was done, no matter the cost, and the choices you made are what will shape you regardless how much time has passed. The same as every cruel or kind thing that you've ever faced, will ever face, have made you who you are now.
I say this simply because I've lived it. And even if this damn place tries to take those things away from me, they're so deeply part of me, now, that I refuse to truly forget. [ He slips his own book under his other arm, bringing his hand up to his chest. ] I am the Supreme ghost Crimson Rain Sought Flower, the feared Ghost King and city master of Ghost City. I am Hua Cheng, forever the most devoted believer of the Flower Crown Martial God, Taizi Dianxia Who Pleased the Gods.
[Her grip tightens further at his touch. It's a form of speech not many bothered to use with her, matter of fact and almost cruel... without belittling her as a person, as a child, as one who needed chiding for things she was already fully aware were wrong. It leaves her with an emotion she can't quite describe - not quite shamed, not quite proud, treading water but finding that perhaps, there might be solid ground nearby... she would just need to do her part to find it.
She exhales slowly.]
I'm Shidou Hikaru. A light that shines from the shrine of the lion.
I'm a Legendary Magic Knight. A swordsman. Bearer of the Rune God Rayearth... and murderer of Sol Zagato and Princess Emeraude. I'm someone who doesn't... who doesn't want to have regrets for my choices, just because I might be blinded by my own ideals.
And I'm someone who wants to make things better for the one who came before me.
I'm defender of Cefiro, regardless of what has happened, or what will happen. And once I go home... I will be its Pillar.
[ The worst of humanity, made reality, through the actions and ignorance of mankind.
But while people can be cruel, can pay those around them such unkindness that it goes down in history as an unbelievable story, a person... A person can be kind. A person can reach out, at the cost of themselves, and give hope. Hua Cheng thinks of the smiling prince in all of his beauty, faced with the true spoils of war.
Hua Cheng looks at this girl. At her age, he had faced terrible things - and while she should not have to face the terrible things here, she does not deserve to be coddled. Comforted, maybe, but not with sugar forced down her throat. It won't help her swallow the reality that was chosen for her, and that she finds her path through. ]
You will make more mistakes. You will face failure. You'll be afraid, and question your choices.
[ He keeps his hand atop her head, looking down at her and - it's almost an ache, really. An echo. Of all that was, and all that fell to ruin. Two worlds, with two different stories, but at their heart were hearts that beat like one. ]
But you know this already.
A building can't stand with one pillar alone. Only two hands can't hold up an entire world. Don't repeat their mistakes - learn from them. [ And the words come back, easily, more gently this time now that she has the origin of them - and he has the story of Cefiro fresh in mind. ] But do not let go of your belief as it is now. So long as you have it, you'll not lose sight of right or wrong. You may be able to find a third path.
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no subject
Hua Cheng laughs, briefly, although it's a humorless, quiet sound. ]
My statement stays the same. You were tasked with something unkind. But sometimes, we are given a challenge, a burden, aren't we? Something that no one should have to face, regardless of whether we're alone or not.
Princess Emeraude should not have had to carry the weight of the world, and be expected to bury her heart beneath it. Taizi Dianxia should not have had to watch his own world fall apart around him, when all he had wanted was to take a third path to find peace.
You should not have had to be another person's blade, if that was not your choice.
no subject
Ignorance... that's its own kind of mistake. No matter what I was told to do... I could have questioned. I could have tried to learn more. But I didn't know, and I... I didn't want to know, any more than what seemed right.
[She grips the book in her hands, full of images of an ideal world. A beautiful world.]
It's... hard. To watch something fall apart, no matter what you wanted to happen. To have to do things alone.
[Just like Emeraude. Just like Dianxia. Like Virid... or Kano.]
All I can pray for is that... that something better comes. And that I... I can help Cefiro, until then. It's my home, just like... [Just like... whatever had existed before. It's not a surprise, to falter here, to think of what was before and see nothing but a gaping hole. But she trails off.]
no subject
Unkind.
He reaches out, setting his hand atop her head as he sees how she grips the book tighter. ]
You could have. But what's done was done, no matter the cost, and the choices you made are what will shape you regardless how much time has passed. The same as every cruel or kind thing that you've ever faced, will ever face, have made you who you are now.
I say this simply because I've lived it. And even if this damn place tries to take those things away from me, they're so deeply part of me, now, that I refuse to truly forget. [ He slips his own book under his other arm, bringing his hand up to his chest. ] I am the Supreme ghost Crimson Rain Sought Flower, the feared Ghost King and city master of Ghost City. I am Hua Cheng, forever the most devoted believer of the Flower Crown Martial God, Taizi Dianxia Who Pleased the Gods.
Who are you, Hikaru? Who will you be?
no subject
She exhales slowly.]
I'm Shidou Hikaru. A light that shines from the shrine of the lion.
I'm a Legendary Magic Knight. A swordsman. Bearer of the Rune God Rayearth... and murderer of Sol Zagato and Princess Emeraude. I'm someone who doesn't... who doesn't want to have regrets for my choices, just because I might be blinded by my own ideals.
And I'm someone who wants to make things better for the one who came before me.
I'm defender of Cefiro, regardless of what has happened, or what will happen. And once I go home... I will be its Pillar.
no subject
But while people can be cruel, can pay those around them such unkindness that it goes down in history as an unbelievable story, a person... A person can be kind. A person can reach out, at the cost of themselves, and give hope. Hua Cheng thinks of the smiling prince in all of his beauty, faced with the true spoils of war.
Hua Cheng looks at this girl. At her age, he had faced terrible things - and while she should not have to face the terrible things here, she does not deserve to be coddled. Comforted, maybe, but not with sugar forced down her throat. It won't help her swallow the reality that was chosen for her, and that she finds her path through. ]
You will make more mistakes. You will face failure. You'll be afraid, and question your choices.
[ He keeps his hand atop her head, looking down at her and - it's almost an ache, really. An echo. Of all that was, and all that fell to ruin. Two worlds, with two different stories, but at their heart were hearts that beat like one. ]
But you know this already.
A building can't stand with one pillar alone. Only two hands can't hold up an entire world. Don't repeat their mistakes - learn from them. [ And the words come back, easily, more gently this time now that she has the origin of them - and he has the story of Cefiro fresh in mind. ] But do not let go of your belief as it is now. So long as you have it, you'll not lose sight of right or wrong. You may be able to find a third path.