Fight against fantasy - IC

[S121]

Lake Ljóst - 4:38 PM

Azeruk thought about Sidna's questions for a moment, then spoke.

"That could be the case. She might not have any magic at all. She might draw it from the necklace of infinity, and if that's true, then she's adept at using it. It's either that, or she found some way to create it. I really don't know if she has a true magic type, but if she does, then we should respectfully ask her about it later.", Azeruk calmly said to Sidna.

In truth, Azeruk didn't really like Galdura at all. It still felt as if she was simply using them and would later dispose of them. Azeruk had no real reason to trust her, and the only reason he was following her was because she seemed to be the only person that had any idea what was going on. She was out cold now, but if Azeruk did anything to her, then they would never know why these memories were stored in this giant stone, and what other mysteries waited in the future. Azeruk felt this animosity towards Galdura, but he wouldn't tell anyone about it, at least not yet.

[wonderweiss]

Meanwhile, Frank was thinking heavily on everything that recently happened. Then, he had an idea as to why he might have failed.

"... Maybe... I failed to reach infinity because my mind was clouded by doubts from the while memories thing... Either way, I think we're done here. All we gotta do is wait for Galdura to awaken, right?"

[Katrix]

Lake Ljóst - 4:40 PM

Sind atough over what Azeruk said for a second. "To be honest that would be even more strange than if her main type of magic was for example Time. Then she wouldn't be just a early person. She would be the only one of her kind. I guess we just have to ask her when she wakes up. I don't really have any idea of what to do anymore, so I guess we just have to wait." Sidna picked up a different book and started reading about different things.

Lake Ljóst - 6:32 PM

After a few more hours Galdura finally woke up. She walked out after thinking for some time. "Give me my necklace," was the first thing she said after she woke up. She then forcefully took the necklace for her self an took it on again. "I didn't find my memories. They must be sealed another place. Are you guys ready to leave?"

[S121]

Lake Ljóst - 6:33 PM

"Yea.", Azeruk flatly said to Galdura.

As Azeruk stood up from the sand, he raised his arms up, stretched, and let out a deep breath. He was now finally ready for the journey at hand. Where were they going next? Azeruk did not know. He had a feeling that if he asked, Galdura would either give him a cryptic message, or chastise him for "being nosy", saying that he would know when they get there. Either way, it was worth a shot.

"So where to next?", Azeruk asked Galdura.

[Katrix]

Lake Ljóst - 6:33 PM

Just as Azeruk had anticipated, she mocked him and the other quite a bit when she responded."Where we are going next? Isn't it obvious we are going to look for the other memory stone, wherever that might be. I was thinking of going to Máttur to do some more research on the stones. This one was hidden in plain sight, but the other one isn't that easy. I know for sure it's in Lake Skrimsli, but that is where it stops. Do you dare to follow me? I can't guarantee that you will not be caught, but I will make it a little easier."

After this she switched to a more serious tone. "My memories wasn't in the stone. I was lying there for hours looking, but they didn't come to me.If my memories aren't in the other stone, they must be in the third, and no one knows where that is or how it looks like." Suddenly the bubble that provided them with air began floaing to the surface without Beth doing anything. Galdura then turned to Beth and talked. "It's alright, I'll do it. Now I must ask you, what do you intend to do? Do you intend to come with us or are you going to stay here? Those are your options as I see it"

[wonderweiss]

Beth was taken aback. But she answered anyways in her soft gentle voice.

"Oh, this sort of thing isn't for me. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to find another water mage. I do have an inn to run, after all."

Frank turned to the group. "But I am worried about one thing. That battle Azeruk and Galdura had was pretty flashy... Do you think we should hurry out before any SYSTEM agents come along?"

[S121]

Lake Ljóst - 6:34 PM

Azeruk was very tempted to simply leave, but what about Frank and Sidna? From what Azeruk could see, they would be stuck following Galdura.

"You say that as if we have a choice. Wasn't it you that threatened to hand us over to SYSTEM? Who's to say that you won't hand us over if we choose to leave?", Azeruk coldly said to Galdura, obviously angry about her mocking him, making it clear that Azeruk felt animosity towards her.

Azeruk then turned his attention over to Frank.

"If they knew we were here, they would have found us by now.", Azeruk said to Frank.

[wonderweiss]

"That's what I'm saying," Frank continued. "What if they're already here, up there, waiting for us?"

He looks up.

"... I just hope I'm wrong."

[Katrix]

Lake Ljóst - 6:33 PM

Galdura tough about if she had taken it a step to far, but decided it was fine. She just had to watch what she said a little bit. "Why kill the goose before it lays it's golden egg? As long as you do something productive, you can do whatever you want."
Sidna then interfered to ask a question. "And what do you define as productive. What productive can come from that we follow you?"

"You guys are interested in the older types of magic, yes? I'm not the only one that can do research. I'm sure you guys can do it to. Whatever it be on why we don't remember things past 10 years ago or something else linked to this. Oh and by the way. If you guys want to remember those memories you just saw you should write them down. The further away we get from the stone, the fainter they'll become. So what will you do?"

"As for the guards and if the know you guys are here. I'm suprised you actually slept inside of the town. You confirmed yourself back then and that ice bridge serves as a confirmation that you are still here. "

[S121]

Lake Ljóst - 6:34 PM

"Why kill the goose before it lays it's golden egg? Are you implying that you're simply going to kill us after this? You have not given us a reason to trust you, and the only reason we're following you is because you coerced us to. You basically threatened to hand us over to SYSTEM.", Azeruk coldly said to Galdura.

"As for what I'm interested in, I'm interested in going back to the way things were. I was fine with being in my house and making weapons. I might have been alone and had to constantly fight for survival against organized bandits, but at least I wan't a prisoner to some 'omni-mage' that treats me like crap. If anything, I'm only here because of SYSTEM.", Azeruk said as he looked away from Galdura and towards the shore, looking for SYSTEM's soldiers.

Azeruk did not like to be in the company of a possible enemy, and what stressed him out even more was the fact that nobody seemed to question her motives, or even what she would do to them afterward. She said that she wanted to know what happened ten years ago, but why did she want to know? What would she do with that information? For all Azeruk knew, Galdura would probably just stab them in their sleep when this was all over and leave them to die. Was he the only one that felt like she was malevolent and was only using them?

[Katrix]

Lake Ljóst - 6:36 PM

When Azeruk mentioned that she would dispose of them afterwards she got a little confused. "Wait, what? Ok bad analogy. What I am trying to say is that I have no reason to kill you guys. I understand that it might not be easy to trust be, but trust this. The only reason I am working for SYSTEM is to have access to information. I am a scholar in search of knowledge. Now I think I am on to something big, but I can't do it alone. So I looked for people that could suit the job. One day I was ordered to take two people living in a forest as prisoners and take them to Máttur. Instead I decided to go against them as you seemed like someone suited for the job" she said while trying to explain and gain their trust. "But you are still a SYSTEM agent no matter how you look at it. And besides, why do you follow such orders when you already have the knowledge you need? Then there is also the fact that you don't threat us too nicely." Sidna said trying to get her into a corner.

"Actually I'm not SYSTEM, like those guys on the shore. I don't have access to special weapons and they are always hiding things for me. In a way, I'm lower in the hierarchy than it's possible to be. And I'm sorry if I talk a little harsh to do. Being under those guys does that to a person. Oh, and did I mention the fact that I am not allowed to actually leave SYSTEM even tough I've asked multiple times? In a way I am a prisoner myself, and you guys would have maybe been on your way to Máttur by now. As for going back to how things were. If all of this is true, doesn't that look like my goal as well? Do you really want to live in a illusion like this? And even if you do want that, I don't think SYSTEM will allow that. Now let's try to find a way out of here before they come closer" she said in her defense.

[S121]

Lake Ljóst - 6:37 PM

Azeruk remained silent for a moment while he had his back turned to the group. He was thinking over what Galdura had said, as well as the possible outcomes of their adventure. The fact of the matter was, he didn't have much of a choice anyway, but at least he knew a little bit more about Galdura. At least he knew that she wasn't going to kill him afterward. He still had little reason to trust Galdura, but at least he knew a little more about her motives and reasoning behind her actions. Despite his reluctance, Azeruk knew that his best chance at survival was to follow Galdura, to trust her. After a few short moments, Azeruk let out a deep sigh, turned to face Galdura, and spoke.

"Okay. When do we head out?", Azeruk asked Galdura in a less hostile tone than before.

[Katrix]

Lake Ljóst - 6:38 PM

When Azeruk showed signs of accepting him, she relaxed a little again. "I'd say that we should just go for Máttur, and I got an excellent way of getting trough them" she said as she smiled a big smile. She then pulled out a few pairs of handcuffs and put them on the others. "What is this supposed to mean? Didn't you just say that you wouldn't deliver us in or something like that" Sidna said when she saw the handcuffs on her hands. "I'm not taking you prisoners. I'm making it look like I am doing my job so they won't bother with us. I'll take them off again when we get away from the town." she answered as she began walking with them on the ice path towards land again.

[S121]

Lake Ljóst - 6:40 PM

Azeruk could feel all the alarms in is head going off when Galdura pulled out the handcuffs, but Azeruk mentally fought hard to trust what she was doing. Azeruk's face contorted into one of hesitation as Galdura walked with the handcuffs, and it was as clear as day that Azeruk hated the idea of being in handcuffs, then taken to Máttur, but it seemed like he was willing to let Galdura do so.

"Why are we going to Máttur?", Azeruk asked Galdura.

[Katrix]

Lake Ljóst - 6:57 PM

While continuing to walk Galdura began to explain. "I said it earlier right? To do research. Currently there is three memory stones in this country. The first one is this one. The second one is supposed to be in Lake Skrimsli. The third one is pretty much just a myth. I don't want to hunt myths so I am going for the second one. However, I do not know any more specific where it is" she explained. "But why couldn't you just ask other people in SYSTEM. They should know right?" Sidna asked in response. "I told you didn't I? They won't tell me too much. Thus I have to do all my research myself. Usually I just tell them I am working on a bit of magic theory" she explained.

After a while they reached the shore. There SYSTEM was waiting for them. "It's alright. I already got them. I'll be taking them to Máttur now" she said the the guards. "Do you need any escort? They have been said to be dangerous" they asked. "No. I'm fine. Besides, if they escape, I'll catch them in no time" she replid, hoping it would let her go alone. "Alright. Take care then" the guard replied as he let them pass trough. After they had been walking for a while and had gotten away from SYSTEM, she took of the handcuffs again. "Alright, let's go. We still have a few hours we can travel."