==Lude Begin== * Niri picks her way carefully along the snowy path to a tree not far from the Spire's entrance. In the cold ground beneath the tree is a patch of freshly turned earth. Niri stops next to the grave, standing with her hands clasped behind her back, and takes a deep breath. Suppose this is good bye... * Tanan projects himself into existence, standing behind Niri. He's solid, nearly looks 'real' now. He reaches out and puts a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "She deserved better, but you did what you could for her." * Niri nods, seeming a bit surprised at the projection's sudden appearance, but she reaches up and covers the hand for a moment in thanks before letting her arm fall to her side once more. "I'm just sorry it wasn't enough. But...we'll make sure she's avenged." * Tanan moves his hand up to briefly touch the circlet on Niri's head. "She's still with us, in a way. What she's left us will help her to rest peacefully, I hope." * Tanan lets his hand fall as well, his voice subdued. "Three minds, all confused... the poor soul. She was spent badly." I...had no idea she had that much going on in her head all this time. So...Leah, Ghaleon, and this Ninth Elementalor. I feel guilty, in a way. Looking back, the clues are all there. Her ears, her power... I'm sorry, Niri. If I'd put it all together, maybe something could have been done. * Niri sighs somewhat bitterly. "Well...no use in worrying about what's past. It happened, and even though we tried..." I just wish that we could get an artifact without having to lose someone. At least my mom will be all right, it seems...but I'm worried about my dad now. ...The sword's the last thing we need, isn't it? * Tanan looks up at the sky, sounding distant now. "The sword... yes. I think we're ready now. Thanks to Leah, I'm strong enough to take it. It's not your father's sword, though. He cannot power it. I don't think you need to worry, unless he refuses to part with it." I...don't think he would. Not if we need it. The only argument he would possibly give is that he'd like to go in my stead. But...I think at this point he might not say that. Not anymore. I.. yes. You're ready. But don't lose yourself in anger or revenge, Niri. This.. may sound strange coming from me, but we need to kill him quickly and cleanly. We can't give him any chances to weasel away. * Niri nods. "You're right. Besides...if we think too much on revenge, we become like him, I guess. It's about preventing him from doing this to anyone else. Killing Zophar won't bring Leah back." Yes. I wish it would, for your sake, but... yes. Going back home... we can't let the same thing happen to Vytor, at this Lazarus place. The same thing? I might just be worrying about nothing, but who knows what kind of memories it could... * Tanan puts his hand on Niri's shoulder again, leaning forward to look at her face. "Wait, you don't know?" I...no, what? * Tanan looks a little confused. "Oh. I.. well, maybe I shouldn't have said... no, I don't want to keep anything from.." He's... he's connected to the place. His whole family is, I guess. His parents died up there, I think. And when we were in Bluetooth he.. remembered things. About how things worked, and he wasn't sure why. If he has... a connection... and Zophar's doing something with or to that place, I guess I'm just worried about backlash? I'm sorry, I have no right to ask you any favors. * Tanan looks down at the grave. "I don't want to see something like this again if we can help it. Maybe I'm worried for nothing. I hope I am. But... could you help me keep an eye out for him there?" * Niri nods. "Of course. I don't know why you would feel you can't ask me for favors...and besides, Vytor is my friend. I'm sick of watching things happen to my friends, and that includes him. I'll keep a close eye out." * Tanan nods. "We won't let this happen again, if we can help it. And we're nearly ready. We can do this, Niri. We can end this." * Niri nods. "I know we can. It won't be long now." * Niri hesitates. But...what then? Then? This world can start new. It can be cleaned, fixed. Maybe not as easily as the prophets would have done, but.. well, it'll be up to people what happens next. Well, yes...and I have hope that it will work out just fine. I guess I meant on a more personal level. What's next for all of us? For you, maybe? What to do when everything you've wanted is done? I don't know. I've changed, grown. I'm not who I was anymore, I guess. I don't think I expected to last very long. No longer than Zophar maybe. But I think I'm.. we're.. strong enough now. Stronger all together than he'll be alone. * Niri nods, smiling a bit. "I think so." She shrugs. "Well. Do think about it. I guess I've slowly come to understand what you meant, about not being human. It works differently for you, and I'm not sure I'll ever quite get it. But I hope that after this is all over, you can find what makes you happy." * Tanan laughs once, barely a chuckle. "Mikel asked me the same question once. I couldn't answer him, but maybe I'm something that's good to have when you need me, but when you don't, maybe it's best for me to seclude myself, or to sleep. Even I can't say if I'd stop at Zophar. What's the difference between any murderer and him but the scale of the crime?" * Tanan smiles. "I think he was right, though. People don't need some sort of watchdog. To rest, to...relax? I think I'd like to try that." * Niri nods, looking perhaps a little sad, but maybe resigned. "All right. Well, we'll see what happens. Just...keep in mind, that whatever you were designed to be, there were some things not in Johnathan's specs. Whatever happens now, you've become a friend to all of us. I think we'd be just as upset to lose you as I was to lose Leah." Resting is fine...but remember that we'll miss your company if we don't see you now and again, I suppose. Hah. Well, maybe I'll just stay with you. * Tanan laughs again. "That would make life awkward. Armor can't pass for casual or formal attire." * Niri chuckles. "We'll think of something. Can't say I'd mind. Maybe we could work out a more versatile form for you, I don't know." Who knows... * Tanan fades. "We can always worry about that when this is all over." * Niri nods. "You're right. There's time enough for it then. For now..." She tries to think of what more needs to be said, and decides there really isn't anything. "Leah knows how I feel. Good bye, Leah. I promise, we'll win this battle." She turns. "Time to head back to the others." Yes... if you're ready, let's go. * Niri nods and heads for the Spire. ==And dones!==