oneandmikleonly | [SPELLBIND

I don't know what we can do about it with the resources we have. Not that I like the idea of just waiting around until a solution falls into our laps. But I feel like we're too stuck right now. I don't like it.

...

[exhales.]

I had an idea. I don't know if it will work, but it might be better for us than doing nothing at all.

[perking up, interested and hopeful that it's a place for them to start]

Yeah? I'm all ears. It can't hurt to try, right?

[a slow nod]

You've got...your power. If the child you saw was me, then surely--surely there are signs of that somewhere, inside...

[curls one hand into a loose fist against his chest, illustratively]

If you wanted to go in, and look, dig around for answers that way -- I would let you.

Is...Is that something you want to dig up?

[even when asking the question he already knows the answer, but he can't help but worry.]

I don't know if I can dig that far back, to be honest. But if you want to try then I won't say no.

I want to know. I want you to know. We both need to understand...what this means. Don't we?

Yeah. If we have a way to find out here then I'd rather not pass it up.

[he shifts his feet around, suddenly restless with a direction to go towards.]

Did you want to try right now?

...sure. Guess we're up now...

I'm still freaked out enough about that nightmare that I'd rather not go back to sleep just yet, that's all. If you're not sure we can wait a few hours too.

I'm not going back to sleep anytime soon either, but...maybe it's better for us to figure out a way to unwind, too. If you think using your power would be the best route to that, I'm game. If you want to...I don't know, head to the library for a while instead, that's fine too.

[he just wants Sorey to feel better.]

Unwind...

[going through Mikleo's soul isn't going to be less stressful, especially considering what he'd be looking for. as impatient as he is to find them some answers, he knows that rushing it won't help either. the answer is dragged from his lips with reluctance.]

The library would be best for that. Since my power has a time limit we shouldn't rush it.

[squeezes his shoulder]

Up you get, then. We should at least have shoes on before we head there.

...At least we know something we can do about it now.

We don't have to put on shoes.

[reaching over and ruffling Mikleo's hair before stretching and pulling himself to his feet. he wiggles his toes a little and looks down at them like he is, in fact, contemplating whether or not he really wants to put on shoes.]

I'm glad, though. That we have something that we can do.

You're going to step on a sharp stick and complain about it if you don't.

[well, for the five seconds before Mikleo heals his dumb bare foot. still though. shoes, Sorey. it's not like there's a smooth-paved road between the beach and the library.]

...I guess it goes to show, we're never entirely without resources.

[because he knows Mikleo is the one who will have to stand there and heal his dumb foot if he steps on a stick or a rock, he meanders over to his side of the hut and fumbles around for his shoes.]

We're never without resources, but between...something that might help in the future so you tuck it away for later, and something you know ties into answering your question.

[Mikleo finds his own, considers telling Sorey to put on something warmer than a sleep shirt, and then decides it's probably warm enough to not matter for once. better to get out in the open air for a bit. holds open the door.]

Mm. A list of questions isn't great if you can't look for answers. Still, now we can, right?

[Sorey doesn't even look at his jacket before stepping outside; there's a slight chill, but nothing that he isn't already used to. he lowers his voice as they head out, mindful not to wake anyone inside of the huts nearby.]

Yeah. I'm still hoping that we'll find more information on other worlds too, if we're going to be here for a while. There have been enough worlds that sound like they have similarities to ours without being the exact same. They might not have exactly what we want to know, but they could be a useful reference for comparison.

...We've only been to one world so far, though, so maybe that's too optimistic.

We could interview the people here, I suppose. Though most of them seem puzzled by the concept of malevolence...and purification too, come to think of it. Still, if there's an infinitude of worlds, the chances of a match popping up get higher.

[makes a bit of a face]

Though it's a needle in a haystack that way, isn't it?

[he gives a rueful nod]

It's not the best way to go about it, and our chances of hitting on an exact match are low. But at least some people know what the concept of malevolence is even if they don't have it where they're from. And there are a lot of worlds with spirits that sound similar enough to seraphim. That's bound to be useful somehow--at least for reference or comparison.

Or for finding out more about other people's problems. Not the worst, I suppose.

[the library's not too far off...]

...Sorey, what are we going to do if things are going on without us, though...?

[his steps slow]

...I don't know. If we could at least find out what's happening it would make a huge difference. I'm sure things are fine, but...

[he lets the sentence hang, unwilling to give too much voice to his worries]

Surely...a balancer of worlds wouldn't bring in people at the cost of those people's worlds.

[he'll say it if Sorey won't. someone has to.]

I don't know about that.

[he doesn't say it with any malice, just as a statement of fact; Qri's priorities aren't their priorities, and while he doesn't begrudge her that, he doesn't put any stock in her making sure that all of their worlds remain safe while they're gone.]

But I do know that we have some very determined friends back home. I don't know what it was like while I was asleep or how much of the land was purified, but I do know that Lailah and the others can prevent it from going back to the way it was before. If Maotelous is feeling up to it then I'm sure he could make a pact with a Shepherd too.

It's mostly that...I didn't want to put that burden on anyone else. I wanted everyone to be able to live peacefully, after everything. So it sort of feels like I left the job half-finished.

Yes, you definitely raised your hand up from the earthpulse and waved. Qri, I'm tired of sitting here to purify the Lord of Calamity, take me away from all this, you said. I told you your sleep-talking would get you in trouble one day.

[Mikleo is a bad friend]

[MIKLEO IS A BAD FRIEND!!! Sorey takes a swipe at him]

You know what I mean!

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