After 'The Successor'

[holdthefuture]

[Lenore suddenly finds herself in a barren, desert-like area, with clear blue skies above. She immediately knows something isn't right, since she remembers being in a fight only moments ago.]

This again...

[As she takes in her surroundings, she realizes she isn't alone. The figure of a slender female with long, white hair, wearing a flowing dress stands not too far away - facing the only tree that stands for miles around. A tree that looks very healthy somehow.

This figure is someone familiar to Lenore. The first time they met in this mental landscape was shortly before Lenore escaped Carina's facility mere months ago - when she was calling for help and no one else answered. This mysterious person was the same person who bestowed the power of the Phantom Guardian to her, and though she didn't recognize her before, her encounter with the UG changed that.

Lenore's right arm, normally wrapped in a thick sleeve, is exposed here. It is covered in white-silver scales, which are glowing with golden light. There was no doubt...]


Seta Albreich.

[The figure turns around to face Lenore.]


Yes. You recognize me at last...thank goodness.


D-don't give me that look, please. The only time this arm glowed was when that name was mentioned. It didn't take long to figure out... and I had to run away not knowing how to explain...!

[Seta only smiles at that.]


There are many things I wish to speak to you about, Lenore. But...the time we have in this space is short.

So, I will tell you this... you are in good company now. Even if their individual methods may leave you questioning them, at times. With their help, you will be able to bring closure to this, for both of us.

And, there is one more thing...


...What would that be?


In one of the places you will be at... there is a tree on which I have inscribed a message. I... may have done so in a hurry and made a mistake.

If you could... please check it for me.

[Lenore is a bit stunned by this request, but...]


S-Sure...

[At that point, the surroundings start to fade away...]

===


1. [A certain Kijin awakens in the infirmary, in one piece thanks to Roy's intervention.]

Ugh...

[She is mostly fine, if a bit drained, which only leaves getting the answers needed...]

---


2. [Eventually, Lenore manages to make her way to the tree where Seta's message was written. She gazes down at the words, and exhales.]

It's hard to figure out exactly what you're like...

But, you did save me, so I'll take your word for it. I'll stay here.

Comments

Re: 2/2

[majestic_keiki]

[There is a long break at the outburst before there is a reply.]

...No matter what you're going to do, she'll pay for that.

[holdthefuture]

I'll be the one to make her pay.

And then, with Kazan's power of rebirth, I'll bring back what she took from me.

[majestic_keiki]

...Can you bring them back even if you're not the one to deal the final blow?

[holdthefuture]

Even if that's possible, I didn't come all this way to let others finish this.

Clone or not, I'm a Kijin, and fighting is what I do.

I don't know much about what she was like, but Seta should have told you that much.

[majestic_keiki]

I just wanted to know if I was risking people's lives by having someone else do it. But if you don't know, having anybody else do it would risk them.

And Seta fought to keep both Kijin and humans safe, not because of a sense of racial identity mandating it.

[holdthefuture]

[That brings Lenore a moment of hesitation. There is something she finds difficult to admit...]

I...don't know. I doubt even the Gloster Foundation does.

And that might've been the case for her, but it's the only thing I can do.

[majestic_keiki]

You can learn to do something else. Everybody can.

[There's just a bit of strain to her voice as she says this.]

[holdthefuture]

...Do you want to keep me from fighting that badly?

[majestic_keiki]

And after you beat Carina? Are you going to just find somebody else to fight then?

You're more than how you were made for and what was done to you. You have a life you need to figure out what to do with.

[holdthefuture]

I'll worry about that once I get Carina out of the way.

[majestic_keiki]

Trust me, it's easy to get swept up if you don't try to take charge of your life. Especially when you didn't grow up normally.