So she has hoisted herself up a tree to try and get a better look of the forest. How do you even lose a two ton blind horse sensei with a huge bow he should be walking into several trees in hikaru's very expert opinion.]
Down the tree she goes, skidding and scraping before landing to the ground with a rolling of her weight to catch herself. Where are you, Sensei, she can hear you...
She will find Chiron in a fairly secluded area of the forest, situated under a tree that's lit by moonlight... and of course, he will stop playing his lyre the moment he hears footsteps]
... Hikaru...?
[Sorry for the name, he still doesn't realize it makes her flinch]
[His mind pauses on her first few words, wondering... but he decides it's more important to let her speak her mind before circling back to that. He nods to her, encouraging, while setting down his lyre beside him.]
I know Chiron-sensei is a kind person, and that... if something bad that happened with Shiro-san that made Emet-Selch-san act, then it's a difficult decision.
But you lying and saying it was you, and dying in his place... that doesn't do anybody good. You're letting everyone else live... but what happens to us when we get left behind without you? When everyone including Emet-Selch-san would have to deal with voting for you, then learning you were innocent, and then having their trust broken apart and letting that affect whatever else happens...
You said you trust us, Sensei. This... isn't trust. It's just sacrifice.
... I will not argue with you, my student. And I do not think you are incorrect in some of your assessment.
[not saying her name because... he suspects, and so defaults to another word all-together, voice on a sigh]
But I do not regret my decisions, either. I did everything with the group in mind, aware that it would cause heartache and dissonance, but still acting on the information I had available to me.
[...]
Even my gaze might be clouded, especially here. It is possible I have made a grave error. But until I see proof of it, I will remain steady in my efforts.
[She is entitled to her opinions, and he would never reprimand her for speaking her mind when Chiron offered her an ear... but he is immovable in that way. Set in himself. Unwilling to compromise to soften someone else's feelings.]
I don't think you should regret it, Sensei. I... I believe you have a reason. I just think there had to be a better way than resorting to that. Losing Emet-Selch is bad enough, and... if people knew you were innocent, someone might have tried to kill him later anyway.
I... I can't judge what happened. I might have made Shiro-san worse without realizing it, anyway. He's been worried about me all week, and even wanted to bring me to a leader to make sure I wasn't...
[... No. That didn't matter anymore, and her voice trails.]
Um... Anyway...
You told me there are people here that have been asked to do other things. Have... they been here the whole time? Why can't they talk to us?
[... A light frown greets that confession, and Chiron considers her more carefully, taking in the sound of her voice as his head tilts.
Perhaps it isn't fair, but he's already dismissed the matter of his "betrayal" as him having done the best he could with the information he had, and so does not feel moved to discuss it without good cause. However:]
I cannot speak of them in great detail.
[In tone of "the less you know, the better"]
Only that they are here to help, and there are likely reasons they cannot out themselves to the group at large.
For my part, I am seeking out as many as I can, assuming they will speak with me at all. That is the duty I've committed myself to while I'm here in the Realm.
[Her expression tightens at the tone of voice. It isn't fair... it isn't fair for them all to left in the dark. But consequences made it tricky, and though young, she at least knows better than to throw a fuss over something like that.]
...I'm glad you're giving them a chance, Sensei.
I just... wish I could help. I wish we could find a way to work with those people, instead of being so scared of them...
There's people dying every week and things being done that we can't see or understand, Chiron-sensei... things that people can't talk about.
Of course some people are gonna be a little scared. Even if they don't say it out loud, or even if that fear is just for the people around them instead of themselves...
No, that is a fair assessment. I suppose I have forgotten what it means to be left in the unknown.
[So he understands where she's coming from]
Though I will say, there is nothing to stop you from searching yourself, if you should wish it. I myself have no role -- I've simply decided to look for those who do, to better assist everyone.
[It's only that he cannot guide her as much as he wishes, when the spread of information causes the Realm to freak out, apparently]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
WEEK THREE - SATURDAY - POST TRIAL
climbing trees
So she has hoisted herself up a tree to try and get a better look of the forest. How do you even lose a two ton blind horse sensei with a huge bow he should be walking into several trees in hikaru's very expert opinion.]
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If nothing else she will hear the music of a lyre playing, and be able to pinpoint Chiron's position from that.
Come find him, child]
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Down the tree she goes, skidding and scraping before landing to the ground with a rolling of her weight to catch herself. Where are you, Sensei, she can hear you...
intotheunknown.mp3]
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But it's okay speedrunning this.
She will find Chiron in a fairly secluded area of the forest, situated under a tree that's lit by moonlight... and of course, he will stop playing his lyre the moment he hears footsteps]
... Hikaru...?
[Sorry for the name, he still doesn't realize it makes her flinch]
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...Sensei.
I'm sorry. Whatever you just said, I... um...
...
Can I talk with you a little bit?
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[His mind pauses on her first few words, wondering... but he decides it's more important to let her speak her mind before circling back to that. He nods to her, encouraging, while setting down his lyre beside him.]
What did you wish to speak about?
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But... I still think it was wrong, what you tried to do.
Did Emet-Selch-san tell you what happened? Or did you help him?
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He told me, yes. And then I offered up my services and my life to help him cover the death.
[Said with mildness, his sightless eyes upon her, nothing reflected in his expression but calm.]
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I know Chiron-sensei is a kind person, and that... if something bad that happened with Shiro-san that made Emet-Selch-san act, then it's a difficult decision.
But you lying and saying it was you, and dying in his place... that doesn't do anybody good. You're letting everyone else live... but what happens to us when we get left behind without you? When everyone including Emet-Selch-san would have to deal with voting for you, then learning you were innocent, and then having their trust broken apart and letting that affect whatever else happens...
You said you trust us, Sensei. This... isn't trust. It's just sacrifice.
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[not saying her name because... he suspects, and so defaults to another word all-together, voice on a sigh]
But I do not regret my decisions, either. I did everything with the group in mind, aware that it would cause heartache and dissonance, but still acting on the information I had available to me.
[...]
Even my gaze might be clouded, especially here. It is possible I have made a grave error. But until I see proof of it, I will remain steady in my efforts.
[She is entitled to her opinions, and he would never reprimand her for speaking her mind when Chiron offered her an ear... but he is immovable in that way. Set in himself. Unwilling to compromise to soften someone else's feelings.]
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I... I can't judge what happened. I might have made Shiro-san worse without realizing it, anyway. He's been worried about me all week, and even wanted to bring me to a leader to make sure I wasn't...
[... No. That didn't matter anymore, and her voice trails.]
Um... Anyway...
You told me there are people here that have been asked to do other things. Have... they been here the whole time? Why can't they talk to us?
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Perhaps it isn't fair, but he's already dismissed the matter of his "betrayal" as him having done the best he could with the information he had, and so does not feel moved to discuss it without good cause. However:]
I cannot speak of them in great detail.
[In tone of "the less you know, the better"]
Only that they are here to help, and there are likely reasons they cannot out themselves to the group at large.
For my part, I am seeking out as many as I can, assuming they will speak with me at all. That is the duty I've committed myself to while I'm here in the Realm.
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...I'm glad you're giving them a chance, Sensei.
I just... wish I could help. I wish we could find a way to work with those people, instead of being so scared of them...
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[That is... not the term he would have expected, actually, and he blinks in her direction]
I did not realize people feared them.
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Of course some people are gonna be a little scared. Even if they don't say it out loud, or even if that fear is just for the people around them instead of themselves...
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[So he understands where she's coming from]
Though I will say, there is nothing to stop you from searching yourself, if you should wish it. I myself have no role -- I've simply decided to look for those who do, to better assist everyone.
[It's only that he cannot guide her as much as he wishes, when the spread of information causes the Realm to freak out, apparently]
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I... I understand, Sensei.
...
I spoke to Hansa-san for a while, but are... are you going to be okay?
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[Despite the pause, there is no actual hesitation in his voice]
Whatever must be done, will be done. Of that, I have no doubt. We shall see if I have a further role to play.
[Expression blank]
i forgot twice while writing this tag that he is a horse
He'll hear her walk closer, her hand drifting to tug uselessly at the edge of his shirt.
She doesn't want him to go. Not just yet.]
...May I listen to you play, then?
jOSIFHOFSIOSF
[His expression loosens into a slight smile]
Have you ever heard the lyre before?
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What you were playing before was really beautiful, Sensei.
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You said you were from near a mountain in... Greece, right?
What kind of stories do your songs tell?