- 88 [Action]

[fortunefail]

[With all these newcomers about, Yuan simply isn't comfortable staying at home. Against all better judgment, he ventures out into the village to have a look. Catch him anywhere, any time!

Later, he'll return to house #8 to find it ravaged, after Kratos had a little 'argument' with Lord Kvar. Wonderfully foreboding. What other surprises may lie in wait here?]

Comments

[nihilconcerto]

[She gives one slow nod. As she does, the mist closes around them completely. They are now cut off from the outside world.]

Give yourself to me, and I shall end your cycle of death.

[fortunefail]

[It's chilling. So very chilling. Not like normal cold, but the kind that reaches inside you. And still, Yuan keeps walking. The woman's words are cryptical, but they make a surprising amount of sense.]

... How?

[nihilconcerto]

[She gives no evidence of satisfaction as she watches him. She only waits.]

Should a child give up everything, then so shall that child's pain fade forever in the eternal void.

[She makes no welcoming gestures, no great or dramatic movements.]

Come. Let me lull you to sleep.

[fortunefail]

[Schwartz doesn't need to make any sort of welcoming gestures. Her words are doing all the luring for her, so Yuan keeps walking towards her at a calm pace. He hardly realizes he's moving at all.

Pain will fade forever... Pain he's been struggling with for over four thousand years...]

... Is that truly possible?

[nihilconcerto]

[She nods, just once.]

Your time in this world has long since passed. Accept your end and you shall find peace everlasting.

[fortunefail]

[It has long since passed. Yuan is perfectly aware of that, but he has no means to stop it. He's doomed to keep living, or so he convinced himself.

And then this woman appeared, and all his convictions seem irrelevant.]


... What must I do?

[nihilconcerto]

Surrender yourself to me.

[Just slightly, she holds out her hand. It's virtually the only movement she's made during the entire conversation.]

[fortunefail]

[Something about the word "surrender" has Yuan snap back to reality again, if only a bit. Both Lloyd and Martel have already accused him of 'giving up'. Of lying down and accepting his fate without fighting back.

He's being controlled. This woman... She's controlling him.]

I... I can't. I won't! [He takes a step back again.]

[nihilconcerto]

[She makes no move to stop him. She only says in that same emotionless voice:] Do not deny yourself the peace and freedom from your sins I offer.

All lives must come to a close. Even time itself will someday end. You cannot resist the way of the universe.