dragonofthelake | open post

[Gently Edelgard folds her hands in her lap.]

Let us just focus on what we're doing for now.

[No point in hiding her forearms if she's just going to kick it at forty.]

I wouldn't prioritize it.

[ Time to get things prepared. Drawing blood is the first step that needs her involvement, but he needs to get the data tables ready. ]

But if dragons were involved at all... I hate how humans won't clean up their own messes. Even if I'm not like your dragons, if they won't step up, I can.

I know you might argue this is not a matter of kindness, but of pride, but I cannot accept it from you. Not... not yet.

[Maybe... maybe if she finally slays the shadow that stole her uncle's body and walks around in his skin... Maybe then she can accept such a thing.]

It's not a limited offer.

[ Unless she does something to lose his trust, Sherry has no reason to retract the help later on. His tone implies that he won't even push it further. It's out there, she has the option. Now, he's focused on the bigger picture. ]

Thank you.

[It's all she can really say right now. Honestly accepting so much from someone is already putting her on edge. All she has known is people using her as a means to their own ends, so it's a tough habit to break herself of assuming others will be the same. There will be a lot she has to unlearn.

At least Sherry shouldn't have a hard time trying to find a vein. Her best spots for a draw are quite clearly marked with how many times she had it done in the past. Edelgard also had the foresight to hydrate herself more than usual to make it easier on him.]

[ That part, he tries to make quick. It's impossible for him to hide his discomfort at pricking a place that's so often been pricked.

Maybe a distraction is good for both of them. ]

Tell me about your kingdom?

The Empire was founded over a thousand years ago. It used to encompass all of Fodlan, but centuries ago the northern lands broke from Adrestia. In the beginning Adrestia was close to the Church of Seiros, after all Saint Seiros herself is the one that crowned the original Emperor - Wilhelm Paul Hresvelg. But overtime difference in opinion on governance cooled our relations with the church. They demanded the decommissioning of our printing presses, banned autopsies in favor of faith magic, and... well, you know about the telescopes.

Adrestia is fortunate to have many resources. We hold the breadbasket of Fodlan within our lands, and have a vast shoreline to take advantage of what the sea has to offer. Our sister nations who broke from us struggle now that they are independent. The Holy Kingdom in the northwest seems to always be going hungry from failed crops and infertile land. The Leicester Alliance to the northeast fairs better, but not by extraordinary leaps or bounds.

[Talking about this will actually get her to relax, and he may see that visibly. Edelgard used to read history books for fun, and studied Fodlan's previous monarchs extensively.]

If they couldn't support themselves, why did they break away?

[ Sherry may seem like he's asking standard questions to keep her talking as he works, but the question comes even after the blood was drawn. He didn't take too much, but he also wasn't so scarce that they would need to do this process again by his own estimation. Then again, creating magical artifacts can surprise even him. ]

Was your kingdom ruled by somebody cruel at the time?

It's possible they didn't know the severity of how much they were supported by the southern half of the original empire. However even if they did know, I have reason to suspect the break wasn't entirely their own idea. I found a book suggesting that the people who made me what I am assisted in fracturing Fodlan. Mentions of mysterious weapons and strange mages in the book. The Church sanctioned the split of the Holy Kingdom which I believe was a strategic move. The desperate will turn to religion if they fail to support themselves, and they had been needing a much more faithful base because of Adrestia slowly growing distant from them.

[The questions are appreciated. It helps keep her distracted during the process so she isn't as tense. It keeps her blood pressure and heart rate even.]

The weak are easily exploited.

[ They can agree on that much. Torn from their motherland, left desolate and without the ability to fend for themselves, Sherry can imagine how that group of people would be easily controlled.

Except, it doesn't seem like their faith is being rewarded. ]

Is the church helping them at all?

Not as far as I can tell. Rhea revealing herself as a dragon over five years ago... you'd think she would have known of an agricultural invention to help Faerghus through its harsh winters. But, if desperate people cling to religion I doubt she'd give up such powerful shackle.

[But she's no longer in power anymore, and Edelgard's restoration efforts have included sending plenty of provisions through the trade routes.]

Even religion has to offer something, even if it's a lot less than they take. If they're getting nothing, why not turn to something else?

[ His focus goes to the machine for a bit. ]

The church in my world hides under the illusion of being helpful.

Well, I suppose the local churches are known for their charity offerings. Some offer aid to the homeless and orphaned. However as far as the Central Church goes... all they truly have to offer is a place of schooling for the nobility. Which was originally created to prepare privileged young people for fighting off "outsiders" since the church doesn't allow us to officially conduct peace-talks with our neighboring nations.

[But as far as helping the desperate, though? The Central Church offers little and interferes much.]

Do the nobility give in turn?

[ Sherry doesn't bother hiding the doubt in his voice, but if there really is no benefit, he's surprised the church has stayed in power so long. Even if they played nice, it would be nothing more than a smokescreen, but to think they didn't even bother with that much... ]

The purpose of the nobility used to be to use their strength and knowledge to protect and help the less fortunate prosper. However whether it started that way and became corrupted, or was always a sham, is unclear. With much of our history unpreserved one can not make a solid conclusion.

I can't imagine it being that different from my own. It was probably always a lie.

[ His eyes stay on the screen. ]

Describe what your ability feels like. What parts of your body feel it first? Strongest?

It feels like... warmth. Fire. It seems to activate in my chest, but most prominently it's felt where it heals me. Like my flesh burns where it knits back together.

[It is called The Crest of Flames after all. And the "goddess of time" was supposed to bring about the "New Dawn". Both purifying and life-giving.]

Does it actually burn?

[ If there's a literal fire, Sherry will have to take note of that. ]

Not unless I purposefully use fire magic.

[Though sometimes her mood can influence flames around her. Too much excitement near a stove can be bad.]

I wonder how much of it is related to an actual fire.

[ That's Red's domain, but it's not like there's no documentation on it. If all else fails, it's not like the dragons don't communicate. ]

It might be burning low enough that you don't feel it, but if it burns consistently enough, it's still too much for somebody with a body that was originally human.

How funny that the power of the goddess I reject is what's killing me.

Was killing you. I don't plan on failing here. Suppression is a lot easier than elimination. That's especially true if it's related to fire. As a Blue, water is my specialty.

Will be killing me, until you show results.

[But she wouldn't be here if she didn't think he had a shot at it. She wants to be confident in him, but Edelgard has to temper her expectations less every dead end breaks her.]

You don't expect it to kill you soon unless you're going to finish your mission tomorrow.

[ His answer sounds distracted, but he's listening to her as well. ]

Even if I can't perfect it right away, I can get something to dampen it much sooner.

I suppose I am being quite difficult. I've learned to keep my expectations low.

[She'd rather be impressed than disappointed.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject