PLEROMA | FRIENDS LOST (END OF SOVISERI)

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien can be felt in the communion space, after having essentially gone missing during the final days of the mission. He's only just now returning to Greentruth in the company of friends. The tone of his psychic transmission is fraught with sorrow and anger in kind.]

Himeka and Abel have been taken by the Kenoma. They... are the Regent's prisoners.

[His presence becomes distant for a few beats after, like he has to steady himself.]

The creature of Innocence we found in Venera... its hold on me is far greater than I ever realized. I was drawn into a battle with the Kenoma, in the defense of other Pleroma, and when I found myself outnumbered and trapped... it came to my aid. Yet, 'twas at a cost I would not have willingly paid.

Angered by their broken "promise", it lashed out at those that bore its mark. 'Twas this moment of weakness that allowed them to be captured. It struck Ryunosuke and Alphinaud as well... Ryunosuke is safe. Alphinaud... has vanished somewhere I cannot reach.

[He's doing his best to give an objective account, something he became skilled in doing as a soldier. It's clear how much this is weighing on him, though.]

The... creature has been attempting to enthrall me. To change my body and steal my memories... it told me that Alphinaud was 'among the light', and that he had no further need for me. That Himeka and Abel had chosen to suffer in this world. I...

[And finally, the anger takes precedent, a fire wrought with misery.]

I will take them back. No matter what it demands of me. I... will bring them home.

Comments

[dragonmount]

[ the reverb of anger in this particular connection.

living with ernesto means that he isn't hearing this information for the first time. but it's still new, and it's still dreadful. ]

You won't be alone in bringing them back.

[ it's as much a promise in the general sense as the personal. of course, abel and himeka are so loved by so many people. hard to imagine many, any, would be willing to let this be. but also: he, himself is ready to do what it takes to have them brought to safety, to settle this score. ]

[coerthantorment]

[There is a silent kind of acceptance on Estinien's side of thing, followed by tentative gratefulness. He didn't think the rest of the Pleroma would forsake them, but it's different to hear it for certain.]

To penetrate the defenses of the Citadel... I know not where to begin. I went hunting for a Kenoma I could question on its interior... and I found one, in a sense.

Meteion has changed her colours.

[dragonmount]

[ there's a little sense of reassurance, to that gratitude. an unsaid: of course. ]

She's one of us now?

[ with open surprise. has he heard of something like that happening before? but if there's a time for it, now is a good one. ]

Has she told you anything?

[coerthantorment]

She is. She threw off the Kenoma's shackles with conviction alone.

I have not yet been in the position to go over it in detail, but she is willing to provide what information she has. She has been... unhappy, being in the Regent's employ.

She will be an ally when needed.

[dragonmount]

[ what strange, wonderful news. it doesn't outweigh the bad, but...he admits, ]

I didn't really think it was possible.

[coerthantorment]

I had heard tales, but nothing certain. 'Tis another matter to see it with mine own eyes.

[It's definitely a spot of light in this overwhelming darkness. Even if his claiming of her had probably been unnecessarily violent.]

Full glad am I. She is a kind spirit, but one that has been bent to the whims of despair too much already. If she could see another way, with all she's seen... there is hope.

[dragonmount]

[ he breathes out. when he answers, his tone is softly amused but also hushed, as if trying not to startle. for his own sake, in truth, as much as estinien's. ]

Abel and Himeka will be glad when you tell them about it.

[ thought, but not said: you sound like them, right now. ]

[coerthantorment]

[It's a kind sentiment, but one that brings him to the edge of his emotions once again. It's hard to follow their example, with the way that he is. It's not in his nature. But...]

'Twould mean... even if they fell to the Kenoma's influence... they could be brought back. I know they could.

[dragonmount]

Of course they could.

[ readily, but not insincere. reassurance comes easily to rand al'thor even under less dire circumstances, and the subject of abel's and himeka's affinity with the light isn't difficult to believe in. ]

Those two, of all people? Himeka told me that she's a Warrior of Light. And Abel can find hope anywhere.