The Will to Fight: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

Comments

[enthunder]

"Ken--" she takes a moment to think over what to say. "You know, you had our backs out there. Your spells kept us safe."

His light magic had been decisive, keeping Alleyana, Kairi, Emporio - hell, herself - from being struck by those final spheres. He took some risks that she can't approve of, but training will iron those out. "So if you wanna get stronger, we can work on that, but you're not useless. Not by a long shot."

[miseris_socios]

"... Maybe. But I couldn't do anything when that thing grabbed me..." Helpless, Useless, needing a rescue. He'd felt himself go down and then go back up again thanks to Vexen's spell, but he still could have...

... He still has to take those risks. "I'm... I've got to show all of you that I can keep up. I don't want to slow anyone down... I don't want people to not take me seriously."

[enthunder]

"We'll work on you getting grabbed," she agrees. After all, that had been Buttercup's issue at first, too. Awareness, staying within range of cover.

Knowing how to trust that people had her back. She shifts, pragmatism overriding emotion. "That's on me, too. Keeping that thing off you was my job, and I messed up." She ducks, in a slight, apologetic bow, expression firm. "I'll do better, next time."

cw: suicidal ideation

[miseris_socios]

He shakes his head. “It wasn’t your job. It’d be easy to just leave me for dead and let me take the hit. It’s not like with my last group - we don’t have the same abilities so it makes it impossible to communicate, especially without a Navigator. Your job was to kill that thing, that’s it.”

Team leader of no, she’s not responsible for him. It’s like how it used to be - only he can be responsible for himself. Vexen is the closest to it, but even being ‘adopted’ isn’t the same. In a fight, family doesn’t matter - only winning or losing. That’s how it has to be. He has to be strong and reliable. If he isn’t, well... this is longer than he planned on living, anyway.

[enthunder]

That's not true, and she's already shaking her head by the time he's done refuting her.

"My job's up to me, and most days it's to keep everyone safe." It's not like they're lacking in firepower, even if they need to concentrate and figure out how to work as a group. "Sorry, but if we're gonna be sharing a battlefield, you don't get to decide if you're worth protecting."

[miseris_socios]

“... Why do you care?” Normally he’d fight with everything he had and just continue arguing, but right now he’s just tired. All of his emotions feel like they’re sliding towards sadness. Why does she care? No one can really care. No one can really understand, especially an adult.

[enthunder]

Leave it to a kid to keep asking 'why'.

Her shoulder rolls again, a shrug. "Guess I'm just stubborn that way." They're both worn out, though, so she leans back against the wall again, and flips her book back open. Gives him some privacy. She hopes. "If you ask me, some of us need to be slowed down. You have time to toughen up."

[miseris_socios]

"... Maybe. We have what, a month before the next mission?" That's what he read, at least. It might be just as bad. "I can make a lot of progress in a month but I... don't think I'll be more useful." Nemesis has her hard limits, she can't really learn other elements as far as he's aware. And this was one of the very rare instances that light magic actually worked.

[enthunder]

"You're useful enough," she reiterates. "Just focus on those reflexes. If it's options you want, we can work on those, too."

She looks him over, then considers her own deep weariness from the miasma and demonic chains over the past week. Her exhale is almost amused. "After we've slept, that is."

[miseris_socios]

"Mm. I want... options. Yeah. ... And reflexes..." He's too slow. He needs to be faster. There's only so much he can do, but he sure can try. "... I don't like going to sleep. At least when the train makes you sleep you can't remember anything."