un: starburst, toward the end of this arc.

[valeas]

( Emilia di Carlo has seen better days, by the look of her. Her battle leathers are torn, soot and cuts still on her face — but she doesn't give in to the exhaustion just yet, nor the bile in her throat. First, she addresses the people of Alem, dignified and resolute. )

Prince Haiva sacrificed himself and leaves his sister, the young Cle-Florens, spared.

I was witness.

( A pause, then, as she allows that to sink in. )

Hell is sealed.

You fought with valor so others might live. I'm glad to have fought beside you, and will remember your fallen just the same.

If you've yet to evacuate, the time is now. Hassir awaits.

Comments

[beitangmoran]

Believe it or not, demon excepted, I have been through something not exactly unlike this before. I got off worse that time, too. This time was more straightforward.

[Private because he is curious]

May I inquire how exactly the noble sacrifice occurred?

private.

[valeas]

Haiva came for me as Deimar anticipated. I fed him to the sirens.

private.

[beitangmoran]

A fitting end, since he wronged them.

Thank you for telling me.

private.

[valeas]

I know I can count on your discretion.

( A pause. )

He did wrong them, and in turn they set their jatharin loose. I don't believe they would've stopped until they found him.

private.

[beitangmoran]

Probably not, no.

Did he ever reveal the source of his obsession?

private.

[valeas]

The sirens were in possession of dark mirror shards. Consuming them granted the sirens human legs, albeit for a limited amount of time, and granted Haiva the ability to strengthen his body.

When the siren he seduced refused to give him any more shards, he killed her for denying him.

private.

[beitangmoran]

Childish, entitled and petty. Unfortunately not a rare combination in any royal family.

Still, those mirrors... their powers are too great. I don't think it would have done anything he would have liked to his body in the end. In fact, I do wonder if it might have turned him into one of those undead, if he had kept using them.

private.

[valeas]

I believe your concern to be founded. That is how the Beastmaster came to be, isn't it?

( the fabled man in white gifted the grieving father a mirror, and he returned inhuman from the forests. )

private.

[beitangmoran]

We do not have concrete proof of the how, but all signs point to it.