A burned out failure

[stupidhonor]

...

...

By popular decision of the Lords, Ankaia will wage war on Earth. Ishin will be first in line, no doubt using his extraordinary might for great effect.

[Sielje is a mess. She sits with her head lowered, not bothering to change from her fancy dress - now torn and dusty from the fight.]

And it is all my fault.


If only... I was strong enough to face and defeat him...

If... only... I was stronger...!

[Her eyes are full of tears and you can hear pretty undignified sniffing.]

Comments

[stupidhonor]

All the more reason... if he took my weakness and made it part of his plans, that was all the more reason to prove how wrong he was. What I should have done...

[lostamigo]

I'm sorry. For putting you under pressure.

[stupidhonor]

It is not your fault. Someone else placed in my position would do better.

[lostamigo]

No. Ishin's plan... relied on winning. I think.

If he had a chance of losing, he wouldn't issue a challenge at all.

[stupidhonor]

Then if I grew much stronger during my absence, he would not know...!

[Sielje makes a sudden move forward, which causes some of the chocolate to spill. She looks down on the stain sheepishly.]

[lostamigo]

In just 4 months? You'd have to focus only on that. On beating him specifically.

You couldn't have known. Hindsight is always 20/20.

[stupidhonor]

There is truth in your words. However...

It does not make me feel any better about what transpired.