Event Seventeen.

[awashmods]

I went to the wood and got it; I sat me down to look for it And brought it home because I couldn’t find it.

he magical vines creep ever onward, slowly infringing upon the Town. No matter how many are chopped down, no matter how many are set on fire, they keep coming even so. And slowly, one by one, the people in the Town start to fall to the curse that they bring along with them. Stay and tend to the cursed? Venture out into the woods to find the castle at the source of these vines? Whatever you choose to do, you'd better decide quickly; the curse only seems to get worse and worse the longer everyone is afflicted. Welcome to Awash's seventeenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event! If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

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[shizun]

[ You don't have to be so fucking honest!! ]

I merely had a moment of confusion.

[ Don't roast me so hard! ]

[superioritis]

[ He stands there, strongly considering just leaving Shen Qingqiu behind. In the end, he sighs. ]

Fine. Tell me, what would allow you to distinguish between mirages?

[1/2]

[shizun]

[ Oh. Shit. Good question. ]

[shizun]

Could you find some topic of interest to you? If you are talking, then when that voice talks, I know it can't be real.

[ I'm a fucking genius!! ]

[superioritis]

[ He arches an eyebrow. What an inefficient method. ]

I will not prattle for the sake of it. Ask me a question, and I shall answer as I see fit.

[shizun]

[ That's not helpful!

But he thinks that he is always bothering Berkut with heavy, painful questions and thoughts. It would be nice to have a conversation with him where he can just smile easily. ]

Your uncle is someone you said deserves all the respect in the world. Could you describe him more to me? I wish to know of the person that you look up to so much.

[superioritis]

[ And smile, he does. If it is his uncle, Berkut has no qualms with speaking at length. He resumes their march to the forest. ]

His Majesty Emperor Rudolf is a wise ruler of considerable strength. From a young age, he claimed numerous victories on the battlefield and came to be renowned throughout the land. None can compare. If anyone is to gather the Valentian continent under a united banner, it is His Excellency.

[shizun]

[ His heart warms at seeing such a smile. It is on the wrong fact, but it is good to see it all the same. Yeah, boy!! I'm not yet disqualified from coming along!! ]

I see. [ Oh, but?? ] And as an uncle? [ Come on! You got all the juicy stories!! ]

[superioritis]

[ What about it. ]

The same. His Excellency is as fair as he is wise.

[ In other words, he doesn't receive special treatment. Rudolf the Emperor and Rudolf his uncle are very much the same person for Berkut; however, it is their familial tie that allows Berkut to trust so deeply in the man. ]

[shizun]

[ That's the public talk! Come on! You can honestly tell me!! Did I not share something embarrassing -- ah, ah, let's forget it! Let's absolutely forget it! Especially since he's starting to hear his voice yet again. ]

Surely, there were times that he was not His Excellency but simply Uncle Rudolf?

[superioritis]

[ Berkut considers this. His uncle was emperor long before his birth, so it's difficult to think of a time when he might have separated the roles. ]

I suppose there were, in my childhood. But I've since grown and learned what my responsibilities are.

[ These days, the only times he would refer to His Majesty as uncle would be out of fear. A crutch, so to speak, that he isn't proud of using. ]

[shizun]

[ Oh.

His expression falls. Seriously?! Somehow, his heart ends up feeling stuffy about the idea that an emperor could not take the time to be an "uncle" even when Berkut is grown and could remember. It is good that you set an example, but being a soft uncle to a nephew wouldn't kill ya, either!!

Speaking of, what about Berkut's parents? Ah, but if he's a cannon-fodder villain, his parents are probably already passed. That's just what happens to the family of villains and protagonists! At least, we're all equal in that right. But he can't get the stuffy feeling to leave his chest. I'm making a lot of assumptions, but if that is the case... Berkut! Shouldn't you be a little angrier about this?! ]

I see. Did you always live in the palace, then? [ Kings and royalty have to live in palaces, right?? ] With your parents and tutors teaching you all on your responsibilities?

[superioritis]

[ Then he hesitates, the pause growing longer by the second at the mention of his parents. That matter is too close to his heart to share as a throwaway topic to separate hallucination from reality, so he says nothing. A few more beats pass before he answers. ]

Yes. But I've a detachment of my own to command. I seldom linger within the castle.

[ Not as luxurious as a palace, but vastly more fortified. He wouldn't have it any other way. ]

[shizun]

[ I FUCKING KNEW IT! The pause is damning enough. In many ways!! He lifts his hand to press his palm over one ear as he feels relief at the answer that he gets -- relief more that Berkut is talking again than the answer itself.

Emperor Rudolf! Your nephew loves you this much and you couldn't even give him a soft face to look upon?! I can't fucking believe this shit! At least, this is a topic that Berkut enjoys even if Shen Qingqiu feels like he is about to throw hands. ]

Your own detachment, huh? That must have been a great honor to receive. Your uncle must have such high hopes for you. [ I'm not gonna talk shit about someone's loved one to their face, so I'll say this instead!! ]

[superioritis]

[ Totally oblivious to Shen Qingqiu's assessment of his familial relations, Berkut's voice lowers in deliberation. Indeed, the honor had been great—consequently, the pressure to succeed had been stronger as well. ]

That is why I must gather my might for the Empire.

[ Just thinking about it reminds him yet again of the war back home. His jaw tightens. He can ill afford to waste away here while there are battles to be fought. ]

[shizun]

[ Shit! We've come full circle! The hand pressing itself against his ear slides up to twist in his hair instead. Aren't you putting a lot of stress on your nephew's shoulder, EMPEROR?!

Certainly, his disciples are all prepared and know their own responsibilities. Certainly, they cannot be much older than Berkut and vise-versa. But I just can't get a sense of ... I don't have one feeling of warmth from your uncle to you. Is that really okay!? A prince that has to stand apart from everyone is just waiting to fall apart alone. ]

Of course. [ He bites his bottom lip. ] Prince Berkut, do you have any hobbies? I find myself wondering what it is that you did before when you had free time. [ Are you okay. ]

[superioritis]

[ Why would he wonder that, Berkut thinks.

His upbringing was strict. When would he have had free time to waste? Although, he supposes, there were those brief gaps—and blissful, they were. ]

I trained. And I danced—with Rinea, my fiancée.

[ Common knowledge in Rigel. He doesn't mind sharing this much. As he shares this, they start to come upon larger clusters of vine, closer to the forest. ]

[shizun]

[ Fiancée?!

He could give two figs about the training part, because hearing that just made him want to cry. Even on your off-time, you're putting in OVERTIME?! And, in a small corner of his heart, Shen Qingqiu worries about how Berkut is with the fairer gender. With how rigid that he is, he was going to worry if he even knew how to yield to a pretty face! And of course, that is what you do! If she asks for a flower, you bring her a garden! ETC! ETC! But if he has a fiancée, that breeds a lot of hope in his heart!

And how unexpectedly endearing that he dances with her! How unexpected! He wonders if it is a situation where Berkut changes from the stern, proud young man to a soft, sparkling betrothed! Hm!! Shen Qingqiu looks towards the cluster of vines and takes a step back. No, thank you. If one scratch does this, I don't want to think of what another would do. Another fire spell, maybe? Oh, but first--! ]

I am so happy for you.

[superioritis]

[ Ah, Rinea. Berkut's heart warms at the thought of her lovely visage, perfected by her kind nature. It is a piece of good fortune that she hadn't been spirited away like him. He tucks that warmth in, his expression hardening again.

The teacher's response is customary, and one that Berkut acknowledges with a small dip of his head. ]

Now then, this ailment of yours . . . Will it interfere with your performance?

[ On the one hand, an old illness; on the other hand, a sickness that induces hallucinations. Berkut nearly snorts. Shen Qingqiu is a deathtrap waiting to happen. ]

[shizun]

[ That beat of silence! He is only sad that Berkut has his disciple's face as he is certain that it would be a faint blush thinking about his bride-to-be! What man doesn't blush a little thinking about how deeply in love they are!?

And oh, right! ]

I don't see why it should.

[ Time to redeem myself! He decides to put on a little show when he doesn't need to -- snapping his arm out in a pose that just breathes cool in his mind, his empty hand suddenly has three paper talisman between his fingers. Ha! God, I'm glad I didn't fucking drop them. That'd be real embarrassing. Holy shit. Flinging his arm out in a wide arc, he sends the spells out to snap onto the vines and set them on fire.

Well, it'll just deal with a small part of the problem before they grow back, but at least we can progress, ah? But he can't help but step a little closer toward Berkut. See? It wasn't a bad idea to keep me around. Such a thing was really cool, right??? ]

[superioritis]

[ Fire is useless, this much Berkut knows. Nonetheless, that same fire clears a wider path into the forest. Humming, he regards the spectacle with a deeper nod as he moves forward. ]

What else can you do?

[ He has not forgotten that Shen Qingqiu is of common birth. Were it someone of a higher station, he might have slipped in a word of praise, for that was truly impressive. Though he is no practitioner, the magic of his world does not operate this way. The fact that he bothers to inquire further should indicate his piqued interest, his apathetic approach notwithstanding. ]

1/2

[shizun]

[ Quite a bit!!

He feels like bragging a little, but honestly, he thinks listing all the things that immortal cultivators do makes them sound like god-tier level characters!! The kind that people could only unlock after playing 100+ hours and doing all the side-missions! Yet the reality of it is that even with all those skills, we're still just cannon fodder if we aren't the main character. The laughter in his head is hollow. ]

The talismans that I threw earlier are ones I created. I can create more and put different spells within them. I can also channel my energy within my body so even my hand could have the strength to break bones. [ Shen Qingqiu resists lifting his hands up in a typical karate pose. Just barely. ] This same energy can be used to place it into other people's body to ease their swirling energies or increase their healing. Your body, after all, heals on its own and so with added energy, you can heal significantly faster.

[ Um. ] I cannot regenerate limbs or anything of that sort. [ Like that's way too crazy!! ] Because it can only heal as much as your body could heal. But even serious injuries like a ruptured organ can be repaired with enough qi given. [ Thank God! 'Cause I nearly killed Liu-shidi that one time! If I didn't know about that hack, I would have been super fucked!! ]

If I had a sword, I could show you my skills with it. [ If I had my sword, I could show you how I could do like fucking telekentic shit with it! Call it to me like from far away! Here, sword!! Super cool!! ]

[shizun]

[ Isn't this a good time to ask? If Berkut is the villain of his own story, he wonders if he is a boss fight or not. ]

But that is my ramblings... I wonder, could you tell me some of your skills? I only know of the cultivation way and so am poorly educated on anything else. [ Not true! But do you have an ultimate attack, Prince Berkut! Something like ... I dunno... FIRE-STORM OF BLACK LIGHTNING BLADE?! ]

[superioritis]

[ If all of this is true, Shen Qingqiu is a remarkably gifted man. The cultivation way . . . Just what exactly is it? It almost sounds mystical, though there was no mention of religion. In comparison, Berkut's own skill set is very straightforward—not that he minds. ]

As a paladin, I wield the lance on horseback. [ He's got the weapon with him, but not his horse. He left the shield behind, too. ] Because of these vines, I was unable to bring my steed.

[ Too bad he's an awful unit in the mobile game. Not everyone can be the ultimate secret character. (Don't tell him.)

But he should like to see Shen Qingqiu's skill with a sword someday. If nothing else, he is curious. ]

[shizun]

I see. Only I don't.

[ That is, if Berkut has a weapon on him, he can't see it. He only sees Luo Binghe -- but ah, looks like the hallucination is now accounting for the weapon and having him see his young disciple's sword. A sword that is in pieces and buried. Thanks. ]

Still to wield a weapon on horseback takes incredible skill.

[ Shen Qingqiu feels the anxiety growing inside of him at hearing that skill set. I was really hoping that you'd suddenly tell me of an amazing super army-decimating attack!! But since you didn't... that would mean that the main villain is most likely the Emperor?! Such a thing makes sense, but that means that the two of us are really cannon-fodder! The amount of sympathy he feels increases that much more. Oh! But hold up! ]

Did you mean to say that you have a horse here?