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

[10billionpercent]

"I'm going to." Senku promised, although he'd given into hubris, he probably wasn't going to make that mistake again. "I've had other people offer to spot me if nothing else." So at the very least they could watch him do dumb things.

"Oh, well you can send them my way. Everyone else has screamed at me for being an idiot, what's two more?"

[flatteries]

Inigo raises his eyebrows, almost as if Senku's words catch him by total surprise.

Though it soon starts to fade a little with the realisation that no, right, this is just what Senku is like. Of course that guy would say something like that so easily..

"Come on, Senku. We're friends, I'm not just going to throw you under the cart."

(These expressions are different when you come from a place without buses, okay.)

"Especially not when it's about something this serious. Or at least, I think they'd be pretty worked up if something happened to me, anyway."

[10billionpercent]

"I appreciate that, but it's still an open offer. I'm willing to accept the consequences of my experiment, whether it's getting screamed at or potentially getting hurt." He exhaled. "And I feel inclined to protect you if you're helping me."

Senku wanted to take the burden upon himself, to protect his friends. He was like that. It didn't matter what it was, he wanted to do his best for the people around him.

"You're right, they would, because they care about you."

[flatteries]

That really is very much like Senku. Just those few words - that he's inclined to protect the people who help him. No matter how much Senku may struggle with emotions, or stuff like friendship.. or how differently he expresses it than Inigo himself, Inigo still knows this much is true. That Senku isn't uncaring, that would stick his hand in the fire for others if necessary.

".. Thanks."

He smiles as he says it. There's genuine gratitude in his voice, since he just thinks it's sweet on Senku's part. And Inigo can always admire it when people care about each other.

"Still not going to throw you under the cart though." Sorry, Senku!! "But.. take it easy for now, yeah? I can't imagine it was a very pleasant mission with all of that happening."

[10billionpercent]

"That's true enough. I have such a headache." Senku agreed with a nod and he smiled. "Well I appreciate you not throwing me under the cart as you said."

He knew the bus expression, but well, seemed out of date didn't it?

"I definitely need the break before the next mission." He exhaled. "Oh, I'm going to do another test, on board the train later if you're interested. It's significantly safer to do and I want to see if I can do it with a few people just to see how strange a result I get. Tidus suggested it."

[flatteries]

Inigo's head dips into a nod.

"Sure. Of course."

After all, they'll be on the train, so there will be much less of a problem if something goes wrong - and it's not like Inigo has to be in the best shape possible anymore, considering there's no more mission nor battles to tackle. So then it doesn't sound terrible even if something would go wrong for a moment.

"Is it also just about taking off the SCA, or is there something different this time?"

[10billionpercent]

"It is, which is pretty safe on the train." Senku gestured between them. "I'm curious about something. I want to trade them." He explained.

"Then I want to get some urushiol which I am very allergic to, and put both of our hands near the open container to see if my SCA on your arm beeps, or if yours adapts temporarily to my allergies."

Senku paused. "It probably wouldn't be more than a few minutes, so I can't think of any long term effects and I promise not to touch it. I don't need to, my SCA usually warns me ahead of time."

[flatteries]

That does sound like it's entirely risk-free.

Unless Inigo suddenly turns out to have some super similar allergies, but he doubts it. He's never been allergic to anything before, surely he would've found out earlier than this! Besides, it sounds like he probably won't even have to go as far as actually touch it - though it's an idea in the back of his mind, if Senku's SCA doesn't start beeping right away on his wrist. So he just nods, not seeming worried at all.

"Right, so you're trying to see if the SCAs are individually linked to us or if they adapt to the person wearing them, right?" If he's understanding this right.

[10billionpercent]

"That's exactly what I am trying to do." Senku said. "I know it's attuned to me because of the warnings I get about my allergies, so it has to know that much about me. But how fast does that change if you grab someone else's?" He smiled. "That's more the question I want to know. It's like a test of sentience that way."

[flatteries]

He nods.

"Sure. We can try that." He smiles a little. "There's a few people I need to look for right now.."

Or, well, rather.. there's one person Inigo really has to look for right now, especially since no one seems to have seen them.

"But let's meet up when we're back on the train and try it out, alright? I'll see you then."

[10billionpercent]

"Sure." Senku nodded and raised a hand.

"See you later." He wouldn't interfere with Inigo's quest to look in on other people.