[OVERFLOW] Event: Healing Waters

[voidtreckermods]

This is an overflow post for the Healing Waters August event. Please feel free to continue threads here from that post, to avoid captcha.

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[eyeslikeblood]

"How extraordinary," he muses, caught up for a moment in Roland's description. "If Taiki were such a size, I'm sure Whitejewel Palace would be arranged very differently."

The idea of a kingdom shackled to a creature with the potential to turn on it... It unnerves him. But then, it is no more dangerous than his own rule, in the end.

"The ruler receives the mandate of heaven when he ascends, and with it, the directions set by Tentei for correct governance. There are many ways he might stray: excessive warmongering, decadence or pride, or neglect of the people..."

[adregem]

Roland admits it's a rather amusing, if not slightly disturbing mental image, to imagine Taiki with the giant body of Bastion or Longfang. But he wouldn't be surprised if his form changed as such either; the power of kingmakers and kirins perhaps running too similar for it to not be a possibility.

He only resumes picking at the bushes because his hands turn idle. However, Roland's full attention is still with Gyousou, and what he says to him.

"Hm. I see." The Way was like a kingsbond, in its own regard. "And in betraying the mandate of heaven thru the Way, you jeopardize the well-being of your kirin." Roland gazes up at the blue of the sky, mind traveling somewhere else for a moment. "The bond between guardian and ruler...For one to thrive, the other has to succeed too." It's always the same, huh?

[eyeslikeblood]

"Just so. In the beginning, I had to force Taiki to speak out when he disapproved--"

He sighs, the frustration an affectionate, nostalgic kind, and reaches up to pull down a bough particularly heavy with berries for Roland to collect. "He appeared as a young child, quiet and fearful, but he possesses an unparalleled will. A suitable kirin for a land as harsh as Tai. It is my hope we can return there, before it is too late. Is it so with you?"

[adregem]

The berries are received gratefully, but his attention is still fully on Gyousou. Harsh is quite a way to describe a kingdom, but he knows Gyousou isn't the type to wax poetic even if they've only just met. Roland can't help but imagine it for himself either, though he's been given enough to work with to fill in some details...

He hums low before picking out another bunch of berries, holding them up for inspection. Gyousou might just spot discoloration on some of the fruits.

"Yeah. Something like that." Roland answers. The truth is, he doesn't know where he'll be returned to, if at all. The first world, probably destroyed with no one left, or the second world, where he could resume his duties to the King. "However things end for us here...I know there's going to be a lot of work ahead of me."