Beyond

[caressthedarkness]

1. (Locked - takes place right after the mission ends)

[Judgement disappears just short of landing before Lady Grey's location, which is shrouded by smoke from the UG's incredible joint attack. In the aftermath of the battle, Seta certainly can't ask the others to do more. So, she's chosen to approach her former teacher herself.

Wounded, and still affected by the venom, she lands, albeit unstably, and soon falls to one knee.]


"...The fight is over...

Please...stop this."

---

2. (Open - Frontdated to a day or so later)

[The recent events have been particularly difficult for Seta, both mentally and physically. After returning from the battle zone, she is now bedridden and in much worse shape than before.

Still, what happens in the infirmary now brings some much needed respite.

If you choose to visit, you'll see that Seta's bed is surrounded by...the same Kijin children from before. With the chaos regarding the Foundation, they have nowhere else to go. Looks like they've brought board games to play with her, too.

But as you approach, they surprisingly give way, and Seta waves a bandaged hand at you.]


"...Hello. I hope you are doing well...

"Things have returned to normal...and it would not have been possible without everyone's help. I am thankful."

---

3. (Open - responses not required, but welcome)

[It is snowing in Sakihama. But out here in the cold is where Seta stands, as soon as she is well enough to walk. Seems that she's chosen a location where she believes no one else is, too.

The amulet she had obtained from Lady Grey is in her hand. She activates it like she would a weapon created from a higher Kijin's soul. Instead of transforming into one straight away, though, it projects a small image...like a holographic display.

A silhouette of a man appears. His features are shrouded in darkness.

This is Shahryar...the one who led the rebellion against the Emperor.]

"...Seta. If you have received this...it means you have also discovered who you truly are. I hope...that by the time you hear my voice, you will be wise enough to make your own life decisions.

"There is no doubt that you are wondering: why was your own lineage concealed from you? The answer is that...I wished for it to be hidden.

"You should know who I am. You know the burden that I bear...as a traitor to my own race. As well, I will warn you that the power that you have inherited is a threat to your own life, like it is to mine...the more it is used, the more you will suffer..."

[He lowers his head.]

"My wish...is that you come to know yourself as your own person, not simply 'the daughter of Shahryar'. I do not want you to face the same agony I did. And...I regret that I could not spend my time with you...to show you the wonders of this world.

"But, no matter what may happen from now on..."

[There is a pause. If one looks closely enough, the silhouette appears to be smiling.]

"...I am certain that if I were able to see you now...I would, without a doubt, be proud. Out of everything that has happened while I was here on Earth, it was your arrival that brought me the most joy...

"Remember. You are my child, and I will always love you."

[The message ends...and Seta holds the amulet close to her.]


...

Comments

2

[herodrawing]

Seta! Seta!

[His forehead wrapped in a bandage, Izuru barges into the room. He tries to make a way straight to Seta's bed but kinda has to maneuver around the Kijin children first which kills his momentum.]

You did it!

You really were a hero!

[caressthedarkness]

[She looks rather doubtful of that, Izuru.]

A hero...?

I am not so sure...

There are mistakes I have made...and I was only doing what I should have done...

[herodrawing]

But you saved everyone. Isn't that what a hero does?

Besides, "I was only doing what had to be done" is what a hero would say!

[caressthedarkness]

...What a hero does...

[The Kijin lowers her head. Her expression becomes sombre.]

I wonder...why is it that I do not feel that way...?

[herodrawing]

...

I don't really know. But...

Thanks, Seta. Your heart is in the right place and that's the most important thing, right?

1

[srwu_runners]

"Have you already forgotten everything I've taught you?."

Despite her massive injuries, the haughty Kijin is still somehow standing on her feet.

"I'd much rather prefer dying here if it means that I can take you with me."

Another formation of dark spears form around her. However, their number and intensity have been drastically lowered. Her expression seems to change ever so slightly when she finally gets a full view of Seta's condition.

"Should I remove the pain? I want you to entertain me at the very least before I finish you off."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yk4PnX3RQc

[caressthedarkness]

[Seta shakes her own head.]

To earn your respect...I know that I must give it my all, regardless of my condition...

[She gathers the strength to stand on her feet, fighting the agony, and forms an appropriately sized version Judgement's pole-axe in her hand.]

So, even if that means enduring this...

[srwu_runners]

"...You're all such fools."

Lady Grey matches Seta by grabbing hold of one of her dark spears before sending the rest forward at her student in intervals of two.

[caressthedarkness]

...

[Seta's response to this is to quickly step out of the zone of those spears. Unfortunately, one catches her in the back in the process, adding to the pain she's already in.

The younger Kijin advances, but only for a short while, because moments later, she drives her own weapon into the ground - causing large pieces of rock to be displaced and at an angle before her.

Using one of these pieces as a ramp, she runs straight up and leaps, before descending upon Lady Grey with an overhead slam...accompanied by whirling scimitars made of lightning!]

[srwu_runners]

More spears began to erupt from the ground, shattering those rocks as Fortuna attempted to shoot down Seta as she closed in. Unfortunately, she's unable to do so and is forced to raise her spear to block the strike. As the polearm impacts the spear the crater they were fighting in grows deeper. Another shock wave roared out, shattering the debris around them further. Another two spears shoot out from ground to stop the Scimitar. The two seem deadlocked for a second but the blades shatter against the dark spears...however Fortuna is unable to hold back Seta herself. Her held spear breaks and the polearm digs deep into her shoulder as she attempted to break away from melee range. She manages to transform the broken parts of her spear into smaller arrows of darkness that surround Seta and converge on her.

2

[embracetheflame]

Aaaahhh, so this is where you all were!

Re: 2

[caressthedarkness]

[The children immediately shift their attention to the person who just arrived. Like animals that had just spotted their prey!]

"It's Astara!"

"Get her!"


Ah...

[Seta tries to raise a hand and stop them, but it's too late...

The kids pounce on Astara, executing various kids of wrestling moves; especially grapples. Judging by how precise they are, this seems to be a tradition or something.]

Re: 2

[embracetheflame]

Kya...stop stop stop, I need my limbs!

[She's quickly made short work of and pinned down.]

Give give give! I give up, you win!

[And she quickly taps out to the combined might of the Kijin Horde.]

[caressthedarkness]

"Astara's the best at this after all, huh?"

"Wrestling Seta isn't fun at all!"

"It really hurts when you run into her chest..."


...

[embracetheflame]

Please let me go, I already tapped out.

[The poor not-flat Kijin is still unable to move.]

2

[cloningblues]

Hey. I had a really bad feeling when people started going down, but looks like everyone's fine in the end. My stomach won't let me forget that anytime soon, though.

Doing fine, yourself?

[caressthedarkness]

...

[Seta hesitates, but decides to explain anyway.]

...The medical staff told me that...with the amount of venom in my body...I will not be able to recover for many months to come. It is likely...that I am already beyond complete recovery.

Moreover, we do not have time to be concerned about it...

[cloningblues]

...

What are the even worse news?

[caressthedarkness]

The Emperor cannot be left alone in the Kijin Realm...you have seen its effects - it increases our strength drastically.

He was over-confident...thinking that he could overwhelm the present Earth so soon after regaining his proper form. He was wrong...

However, he will not repeat that mistake again, and he will return - more powerful than before...and with even more Kijin under his command.

[cloningblues]

Then it's what I was worried about. He'll be back.

Any idea when it will happen?

3

[herodrawing]

That was... your father?

[Izuru stands there, experiencing a whole bouquet of emotions. That was quite a reveletion right there.]

[caressthedarkness]

[If Seta is surprised by your presence, Izuru, she's hiding it quite well. Then again, this reveal is much worse on her.

She looks up at the clouds.]

I had always wondered, ever since I was young...

'What were my parents like?'

But discovering this now...I do not know how to feel about it...

[herodrawing]

I don't remember my parents. My memories of them were removed, and besides - they were only people who were hired to take care of me until I was old enough. But I think...

I think they too cared about me anyway. A lot. And it looks like your dad cared about you even more, Seta.

[caressthedarkness]

Yes...

If I had known this when I was younger...I would have tried to live up to his legend, and nothing else. I understand why he did what he did...

Only...I wish that I could still speak to him now...

[herodrawing]

Yeah...

[Izuru nods. He knows how that feels.]

What would you like to tell him?