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

[spikelet]

"I'm a-Qing-- ah, Wei Qing." The new name is still just new enough that her tongue's too quick for it, but she covers fast enough. She disagrees with him about revenge being pointless. Getting justice for someone is why she's here, she's pretty sure.

But she's not about to argue with him. Yet. Not when she's looking at him speculatively, trying to guess his age. Old enough, she thinks. "Can I call you uncle?"

[subcircuits]

"Wei Qing," he repeats, hands moving quickly in his lap as he notes that down.

They freeze and he looks up at her, absolutely startled by the question. "Uncle?" he repeats. "I-- er-- that is-- why?" He's absolutely baffled and it shows on his face and in his voice.

[spikelet]

"You look too old to be called big brother." Matter-of-fact. He looks like he could be the same generation as Hanguang-jun, she thinks. If it's a strange thing to ask, her expression doesn't make it seem so. "Since we're all as close as a clan or family, isn't it natural to call you familiarly?"

Hm. He's subjected to another, more doubtful up-and-down. "Are you one of the people who looks older than they are? Or... younger? Calling you grandfather... that would be a little strange."

If he's the kind to get offended over the others, she can do it, though.

[subcircuits]

"How old do I look?" Devero asks, a little despairingly. "I'm only thirty-four!"

Dodge the real question by fixating on the specifics of age? Dodge the real question by fixating on the specifics of age.

[spikelet]

"That's about what I thought," she agrees, not sure whether to be entertained or confused at his reaction to an ordinary question of introductions. "It's just that some people here look young even though they're hundreds of years old, you know? Don't be mad, big brother is fine too. It's just that people might think you're a bit younger if they hear it."

[subcircuits]

Her 'ordinary question of introductions' has got him well and flustered, that's for sure. "I'm not mad," he says faintly. He gives his head a shake vigorous to move down into his shoulders. "Sorry, I just-- families work differently on my world than most others, and I've never had any." Another shake, and then he says, "Please just call me Devero. Anything else is-- too weird. I'm just Devero."

[spikelet]

"Devero," she repeats, dutifully. She should have seen it coming, really. A lot of people like being called so familiarly on the train, right? But he's been so authoritative that she didn't want to risk it... and at least he's not telling her to call him Master Devero or Lord or anything so haughty. Her shoulders round further as the last of her tension leaks away, and her mouth twists with a smile as she adds, "If anyone tells me off for being impolite, I'll just tell them you said it's fine-- ah! What should I call the priest?"

Another guy she doesn't want to alienate. Since Devero's right here, she can get two birds with one social stone.

[subcircuits]

He takes a little bit of pity on her, sensing her discomfort. "Mx. Devero is fine, if you need to be more formal."

Even a mention of the priest makes his face soften a little. "Koumyou Sanzo," he tells her, "or just Sanzo, since he's the only one on the train." That could, theoretically, change someday, but for now, Sanzo alone is indicative enough.