He leads you on towards the fire, the air growing hotter as you approach.
"... Two memories, entwined. One becomes the vessel, the other - contents."
The street that led you here stops abruptly - and from here you can see a square below, the buildings surrounding it ablaze, and in the center of the square... a giant firebird. It looks injured, a wing hanging limply - but even as you watch, a glow surrounds the creature, mending the wing.
But it's a pointless endeavor. As soon as it's healed, the bird gives a screech, rising up into the air... and almost immediately throwing itself at the surrounding buildings, not caring about the injuries to itself. Again the glow, the healing, again the mindless thrashing; repeat, repeat, repeat.
"Mayhap he could have, had he been an ordinary citizen of Amaurot. But he had once been chosen to become the next Architect, one of the highest offices anyone could achieve in our world. 'Twas only because of his refusal to accept the post that "I" became the Architect, and he my second in command. He had a duty to his people. A duty in which he failed."
"The second. The first one is the firebird itself, though that is a memory of more peaceful times. Originally meant to be merely a healing magick in avian guise, it merged with a drifting soul - a soul burdened with regret and fear. Terrified of death, it struggled against the pull of the Underworld, destroying itself in its blind panic and healing itself repeatedly. Not even Hythlodaeus was strong enough to free it, and thus he turned to the man you know as Alexander for help. With that, the wayward soul was guided to its rest, and the firebird returned to being simply a magick."
"Much like Hythlodaeus, Alexander was gifted in the Sight - the ability to perceive the flow of life around us. But while Hythlodaeus had the keener eyes, 'twas Alexander who was more proficient in manipulating the aetherflow. A denizen of the Underworld, he was called; one with such great connection to both life and death. To a mage of that caliber, it was no impossible task to separate the soul and the vessel it found itself in."
And, well. The bird sure is Levity! Or part of him, at least - in the middle of all that flame is a smaller shape, once again in his position colour in contrast to the gold and orange of the bird itself.
"... 'Tis like a dance. Or swimming in a current, mayhap.
Concentrate on the energy around you, and let it flow into your soul. Do not interrupt the flow, nor should you try to take the energy for yourself. You are only meant to hold it for a time. Like filling a vessel with water, let it gather in you.
And, once you are strong enough... find the connection between the soul and the object. Untangle it, and draw the soul into the main flow once more. Thus you would set it free."
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"... A memory. And more. In some ways, the counterpart to the darkness you've already traveled."
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I see.
[ with a pause ]
Does it harm him?
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"He harms himself. Yet he cannot die, not here."
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"It is best if you see for yourself. Come."
The not-Alexander holds out his hand.
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"... Two memories, entwined. One becomes the vessel, the other - contents."
The street that led you here stops abruptly - and from here you can see a square below, the buildings surrounding it ablaze, and in the center of the square... a giant firebird. It looks injured, a wing hanging limply - but even as you watch, a glow surrounds the creature, mending the wing.
But it's a pointless endeavor. As soon as it's healed, the bird gives a screech, rising up into the air... and almost immediately throwing itself at the surrounding buildings, not caring about the injuries to itself. Again the glow, the healing, again the mindless thrashing; repeat, repeat, repeat.
A sad and gruesome sight.
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This is . . . Levity-san?
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"Yes. The part of him consumed by guilt and sorrow."
Not-Alexander sighs.
"A painful memory has returned to him. And it struck deeper than he can express, nor can he escape those feelings."
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"Do you know much of the story of our world, Lucifel?"
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Only the end of it, and only a brief understanding.
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"Then you know of the Final Days?"
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"Hythlodaeus... Levity recalled a memory of the Final Days. Of... his attempt to save a child. And his failure."
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[ softly ]
And . . . He cannot bear that hurt?
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"Mayhap he could have, had he been an ordinary citizen of Amaurot. But he had once been chosen to become the next Architect, one of the highest offices anyone could achieve in our world. 'Twas only because of his refusal to accept the post that "I" became the Architect, and he my second in command. He had a duty to his people. A duty in which he failed."
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Is that the second memory? Or, if not, then what is?
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"The second. The first one is the firebird itself, though that is a memory of more peaceful times. Originally meant to be merely a healing magick in avian guise, it merged with a drifting soul - a soul burdened with regret and fear. Terrified of death, it struggled against the pull of the Underworld, destroying itself in its blind panic and healing itself repeatedly. Not even Hythlodaeus was strong enough to free it, and thus he turned to the man you know as Alexander for help. With that, the wayward soul was guided to its rest, and the firebird returned to being simply a magick."
Re: WESTWARD OF TIME
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"Much like Hythlodaeus, Alexander was gifted in the Sight - the ability to perceive the flow of life around us. But while Hythlodaeus had the keener eyes, 'twas Alexander who was more proficient in manipulating the aetherflow. A denizen of the Underworld, he was called; one with such great connection to both life and death. To a mage of that caliber, it was no impossible task to separate the soul and the vessel it found itself in."
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looking back to that bird. how good is his own Sight ]
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And, well. The bird sure is Levity! Or part of him, at least - in the middle of all that flame is a smaller shape, once again in his position colour in contrast to the gold and orange of the bird itself.
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He's quiet for a while, then nods.
"... 'Tis like a dance. Or swimming in a current, mayhap.
Concentrate on the energy around you, and let it flow into your soul. Do not interrupt the flow, nor should you try to take the energy for yourself. You are only meant to hold it for a time. Like filling a vessel with water, let it gather in you.
And, once you are strong enough... find the connection between the soul and the object. Untangle it, and draw the soul into the main flow once more. Thus you would set it free."
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