winds_voice | 21

21 - [Video]

[Hello, Luceti. Today, Eley's decided to set up a little video for people to look at while he asks a few important questions. He appears to be sitting under his willow tree, as he so often is, but this time he isn't alone. And he's not joined by a fellow Lucetian either, at least not the kind of Lucetian you might expect.

Sitting in his lap is a rather resplendent and fluffy chicken who appears to be enjoying some pettings whilst turning her head to glance at the camera every so often.]

I am not sure how many would recall but sometime in the past I found myself under a shift whereby I would believe in daily messages known as 'horoscopes'. On the final day, I found myself with an irresistible urge to adopt a chicken, and with the help of a friend we found one.

...however, I do not know exactly what to do with it now. I usually allow it to roam as I would hate to rob it of its freedom yet... I grow concerned for it at the same time. I leave food for it here and it often comes back for it, yet I know little about chickens or their care, or indeed their proper diet.

I am also unsure about its gender, nor do I know what name it should go by. If anyone could help me in that regard, I would be grateful.

[He seems to be about to turn off the feed but then changes his mind.]

I have one more question. I recall that my explanation of how I care for my people could be likened to that of a parent and child. Then I must ask, what is it like to have a mother? To be a mother? Or even a father for that matter?

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Yeah. They all have different forms, I think...

[There's a small thinking noise, as Rudy tries to recall them. Honestly, Cecilia honestly would be better at explaining this, but she wasn't exactly here anymore.]

Like... Moor Gault, the Fire Guardian looks kind of like a phoenix. And Schturdark, the Water Guardian, is like a turtle. A really big turtle.

[A really big turtle, huh... Well, all of the Spirits forms were different sizes too after all. Though... no turtles.]

I have not seen him first-hand, but there is a legend about a Healing Spirit who integrated with humans. It is said that he also took the form of a phoenix. I wonder if the legend is true...

[A Healing Spirit... That one catches his attention.]

A Healing Spirit, huh... You mean he lived among people?

Yes, at least that is how the story goes. He became attached to the people in a particular village and lived there is a resident. People came to him when they required his powers. He was rather famous there.

[He looks a little sad then, as he recalls the rest of the story. Talking to Rudy about it in particular was somewhat uncomfortable.]

Then later he would be cursed... and banished, through no fault of his own.

... I see.

[Understandably so, as Rudy's tone takes a turn for the somber. The part about being cursed does draw his attention, but what stands out even more...]

Banished too, huh...

[It's a faintly audible murmur - not even something he intended to voice aloud.]

[Considering he has Eley's full attention however, the Spirit can't help but pick up on that extra comment. Or at least... he thinks that's what he heard. Naturally he grows concerned by the words, though he speaks carefully, not wanting to sound imposing.]

Banished... too? Rudy?

[... Oh. Welp. He really ought to pay attention to what he's saying.]

... It's nothing. [Rudy shakes aside those thoughts. Let's try and change the subject!] Why was he banished?

[...no Rudy, it definitely wasn't nothing. He'll go on though for a moment.]

It is said that the Spirit fell in love with a woman there... someone who was well-versed in ancient spells. But one day he discovered that she had betrayed him. In his anger, a new Spirit was born - one that spread disease. Unfortunately, this Spirit bore a striking resemblance to the Healing Spirit and once people began to fall ill, they suspected him and nobody else. The woman he loved cursed him to slowly die and banished him as punishment.

[He pauses, before continuing.]

I wonder if you have also been ill-treated in this way... I understand if you would not wish to make this knowledge public.

That's awful... No one should have to go through that sort of pain. Spirit or human, nobody should have to suffer like that in silence. To be singled out as an outcast like that. ... It isn't right.

[Rudy certainly understood the feeling... perhaps a little too well. He can't help but tightly grip the fabric of his jacket over his heart. Hearing that... it strikes a chord for the boy as his expression sinks. Enough for him to set up a filter.]

... It was a long time ago, Eley. [His tone is very somber as he replies.] It's all in the past now, so... it shouldn't matter.

...there is more. Since the Healing Spirit and Plague Spirit were connected, the Plague Spirit also became cursed. The Healing Spirit spent his remaining time hunting down his dark counterpart, to try to destroy him... whilst also sacrificing himself.

[He sighs.]

But... you are right. That it should have happened in the first place was unfair. After all, I know what it feels like to be betrayed. To be pushed away like that so forcefully would be even more painful.

Whether or not it was a long time ago, it does matter to you, I can see that. You should not carry these thoughts and feelings alone.

[... For a long while, Rudy is silent to the point if this weren't video, one might wonder if he was still even there.]

Maybe... But I can't change what happened. It was my fault to begin with.

[He feels his stomach tightening, an uneasy feeling building up inside him as unpleasant reminders resurface without him even wanting to. ... If he was going to talk about this, he didn't want it to be over a network wher it could potentially be overheard.]

Can we, um-- [a pause.] Let's talk about this somewhere else.

[His fault? Then it was no surprise he was so quiet... had Rudy been carrying this guilt all this time?

Of course, Eley had no qualms about meeting somewhere else. The Spirit wouldn't want to betray Rudy's trust considering how serious this sounded.]

Of course. Would you... like to come to my tree? It is far enough from civilisation to be able speak in private.

... All right.

[And with that, he shuts the journal, making his way for the cherry blossom hill. He isn't in any hurry to get there, hence his slow pace as he walks. There was a lot on his mind, frankly. He's made sure to bring his ARM too, which may come as a surprise to the spirit. But once he arrives, there's nothing but silence from the boy.]

[When he arrives, he'll find Eley sitting beneath his tree, waiting patiently. He doesn't move as he sees Rudy's slow progress towards their meeting place, but chooses to wait for him, to let him come in his own time.

As he gets closer, the Spirit can't help but notice the weapon in his hand... His eyes rest on it for a long moment, almost as if judging it, before he looks back to his friend.]

Rudy? What is this about?

[The judging look is expected at this point, his expression sinking. ... Still, he'd came out all this way. For the most part, he'd intended to keep his past buried. Forgotten. No need to tell anyone. No one needed to know. And yet... he also couldn't keep bottling up his feelings forever - both Eley and Jane had pointed that out to him, after all this time.]

There's just one thing I need to make sure of. [His tone is calm... almost unusually so.]

This isn't something I've talked about. Not with anyone. [Silently, he rests his ARM in front of Eley, his back turned to him.] So, this... the things I'm about to tell you? It stays between us. ... All right?

[There's a tense silence afterwards. ... He hopes by now Eley is his friend - someone to be trusted. And he wouldn't be the type to break his trust. To reject him.]

[Eley watches him closely as he lays the ARM down in front of him, his eyes falling to the weapon before he looks back up to the boy, despite his back being turned. The heavy silence, his oddly calm demeanour and the words that followed led the Spirit to understand just how serious and important this meeting was about to become.

Despite the pause, he didn't hesitate in his answer. Rudy was someone Eley trusted, so it was only right that he did not betray Rudy's trust in him.]

You have my word. Everything that is said here will remain with me.

[And his back will remain turned, closing his eyes as he takes a breath inwards. Where to even begin?]

The ARM sitting in front of you... I've already told you a little bit about it. It's a weapon that operates based on the user's compatibility rate - in other words, whether or not they can bond with the bio-mechanical structure of the machine, and accept it as an extension of themselves. ... Jane and I are both capable of using them.

[It was going to be a long story indeed. He takes another breath inwards, trying to breathe slowly.]

Originally, they were weapons that belonged to the demons during a great battle fought over a thousand years ago. ... Not everyone is capable of bonding with ARMs. And not everyone capable of using ARMs is necessarily a good person, either. Some people are frightened of its power - the power associated with what we call demons.

[He'll pause, allowing Eley a moment to take that in, as well as gather his own thoughts.]

[It was a concept that was difficult for Eley to follow, particularly as technology in Aether wasn't very advanced - at least not from what he had seen in Luceti. He certainly hadn't heard of weapons that bonded with people... and truthfully, just the idea of it scared him as well.

But... he was sure Rudy was a good person. He had never seen him use his ARM for anything evil after all, right?]

Hmm... I can certainly understand why any weapon would be feared, let alone one that can bond with a user. But then this ability to bond with them was not strictly tied to these 'demons'? After all, I have seen no evidence that you or Jane should be described as something so... monstrous.

Some would disagree. And humans - humans like Jane who can use them... they're not as common as you think. Even then, not all users have perfect compatibility with them. Deadly accidents can and have happened from people trying to bond with an ARM far too powerful for them. That's another reason why they're so feared.

[There's a brief silence, as he reaches for his left arm. And if Eley is particularly perceptive, he may notice something off about Rudy's phrasing.]

Those who are fully, 100% compatible with bonding with ARMs are either demons... or those who share a similar body structure to them.

Edited 2014-06-21 16:52 (UTC)

[One thing did stand out to him. 'Humans'. It was the kind of wording his kind might use when referring to beings other than themselves. As Rudy continued his explanation, Eley felt he was beginning to realise where this was going.

There had already been things about Rudy that Eley did not see much of in his own world, but given the nature of Luceti he had ignored these differences. Yet it seemed the differences ran much deeper than he thought. Someone with a similar body structure to demons... someone related to the violent beings who had endangered his planet.

He speaks carefully, his voice soft. Eley wasn't exactly sure what this meant yet and the last thing he wanted was for Rudy to feel he was being judged or threatened.]

Rudy... are you perhaps referring to yourself? You are... not human, are you?

[Silently, he turns back to face Eley, his eyes wide at first, then softening into a somber gaze. He's looking - staring directly at the spirit. That alone should say everything there needs to be said. Then he turns away, continuing:]

During the war, the people of Filgaia needed a way to fight back against the demons invading their planet. So, the humans and Elw began a project, gathering the best scientists and alchemists of both sides.

They had the idea to create a weapon made of living metal - a living weapon that would have a bio-mechanical body system based off demons. It was meant to be the perfect weapon, fully capable of bonding completely with ARMs and strong enough to be able to survive under any conditions. You... could say it's like fighting fire with fire.

[There's another shaky breath inward. He was always uncomfortable talking about this, but Eley deserved to know.]

It was called the "Holmcross Project". [He looks over his shoulder at Eley, his expression grave.] ... I'm that weapon.

[Meeting Rudy's eyes in that moment made something stir within Eley, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what is was. Some fear or anxiety for his friend perhaps, as he tried to understand.

There were no interruptions as he went on with his story. It was when he started talking about the creation of a weapon that Eley realised just why Rudy wouldn't want to tell someone like him... someone so opposed to violence. It was one thing using weapons but... to be a weapon yourself? To be built for violent means as your sole purpose? That was... a concept Eley found difficult to take in.

It wasn't because Rudy was a weapon though. Because what had Rudy really done to show that? He fought to protect others and that was something he couldn't fault him for despite his reservations about fighting in the first place.

There's a long silence as Eley tries to process all of this, tries to decide exactly what he should say in this situation.]

I... I am not sure if I completely understand. You are a perfect weapon, yet you display all the qualities of a human with a good heart. Then how can I look at you as something other than that?

Perhaps... was kindness something you were unaware of in your past? Is there something you have done? Something terrible?

... I didn't know what I was at first. I always thought I was the same as anyone else - a human. But I began to realize I was different from the other kids my age, and, well... [A shallow sigh.] Likewise, they realized the same.

[To put it very, very lightly. He closes his eyes; placing a hand over his heart, his voice still quiet and even as he continues.]

My grandfather ... He's the one who found me and taught me the meaning of kindness.

That must have been... difficult.

[Understatement right there, but Eley had no idea how he must have felt to realise those differences, growing up around normal people. He had come among them knowing he wasn't human in the first place and that was difficult enough...

The Spirit stands now, approaching Rudy. He rests a gentle hand on his shoulder.]

I have watched many kinds of humans throughout their lifetimes. I can tell the difference between someone who is good and someone who is bad. Despite being a weapon... to me, you are simply a kind person. The kind of person I would wish for in my world. I am glad that your grandfather was there to teach you the correct path.

As long as you do not forget what you have learned, I have no reason to turn against you, Rudy.

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