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

[deadwenwalking]

Eating and sleeping are things that Wen Ning does actually need to do! Though less so than others. Like anyone else, he's at his best when he's slept well and hasn't gone hungry for any length of time. He doesn't know what he ate while he was locked away in the Jin dungeons and honestly has never wanted to think about it. They had to have fed him something at some point, though.

It pleases him when Jiang Cheng decides to take a seat beside him without argument. This feels like progress. Whatever irritation he'd ever held toward the Jiang Sect Leader had dissolved after he'd given in and revealed the secret about his core. Now he's just pleased whenever he can interact with him like any other human being.

"It should be over, I think. If not, we'll know. Right now we're waiting. People need some time to heal." He's sure they can heal on the train just as well, but there must be last minute check-ups and inspections being run. They need to be certain their tasks are done here, since who knows if they'll be able to come back if they're not. He doesn't know how the train works when it comes to repeat visits.

[fennu]

It's difficult for Jiang Cheng to sit here and act as though things are normal, as though there is nothing bothering him and that being in Wen Ning's company is fine. There is still a great deal left unsaid between them, things that he could say but doesn't, words that die heavily in his throat. It's easier to keep them buried than it is to face them, and he accepts that - for now.

Instead, he lets them engage in idle conversation. Maybe that will make things feel better for the two of them, make things less tense. Jiang Cheng is still overwhelmed with the knowledge that Wen Ning had given him, the fact that he had been there and saved their lives. There is kindness in Wen Ning that he had deliberately ignored and overlooked, frustrated and deep in his own agony.

"I understand that," he nods. "It seems as though there are a great deal of people here with the skills to heal wounds with magic and other things. Hopefully they will take care of the people here."

[deadwenwalking]

Wen Ning nods enthusiastically at the comment, eager to grasp for conversation that doesn't involve anything personal between the two of them. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it? Some of the things people can do. The train brings in all sorts." He doesn't know what his sister thought of those who could heal using magic rather than medicine. She might have thought it was cheating in a way. She might have been jealous. He wouldn't blame her for either of those thoughts.

He personally found it wonderfully fantastical. Being able to heal the worst of wounds without being concerned with whether or not you had the right supplies on hand was amazing. So many more lives could be saved. Traditional medicine would always be around for when those that used magic ran out of energy or couldn't help for whatever reason. He wishes it was a talent he had, in fact, as useful as his inhuman strength could be.

"E-even those who can only provide moral support - they help more than you'd think!" It always helps to come back from a difficult task to warm smiles and someone saying he'd done well. Wen Ning is a sucker for simple praise.

[fennu]

"There was someone who healed with magic," Jiang Cheng admits, though he's not quite ready to admit what exactly he had that needed healing. "Different to the kind that we have in our world. It was something incredibly useful - if we could bring it back to Yunmeng, or even Gusu." But that doesn't seem possible. Their magic didn't seem like something he could learn, even with the powerful core of Wei Wuxian.

Another ache inside of him, but...

Shaking his head, he refocuses.

"There are a lot of children here," he admits. "I've spoken to a few who feel out of place in the middle of all the fighting. As long as they're safe that is all that matters." He had been trying to give them encouragement, trying to give them support, but he's not sure how successful he had been.

[deadwenwalking]

Again Wen Ning nods in response, though this time his expression is more serious. He always worries for the children among them, especially for the ones on their team since he feels directly responsible.

"They always seem in high spirits, but I do have my concerns... There should always be a safe area made for them during moments of conflict so they can stay back and help in their own ways." If there's a way for them to remain safe without feeling left out it could help greatly with morale. Maybe there already is, or precautions are taken that he's not aware of. Too much had been going on last time for him to be able to spread his attention in all directions.

Thinking of the children does cause him to smile again, though, and he turns that smile right on Jiang Cheng. "Have you been talking with our younger team members much? Aren't they friendly?"