[Eaten it, yes. Been utterly obliterated by it? Most certainly. Just how close his physical form came to being a charred stain on the floor of these halls is not lost on him, no indeed. But Hades is right. This is hardly the time for lecture, nor the time to display relief.
It is the time for something else though. And as he hurries after him, past this passage and unto something entirely different- an area filled to the brim with varying samples of flora- he speaks.]
A fair number, yes. But there is something strange about them. They all have the same-
[Colour. Even with multiple examples of the same species, there was variance. They might be the same colour, yes. But there are lightenings, darkenings, and everything, normally, is unique in a number of tiny aspects to reflect things such as experience, inherited traits, even. In some, little variances indicate personality.
Which makes these identical creatures odd. Clones? And there's something just beyond his vision that-
He's moving again?!]
Oh, won't you please wait-
[Hissed quietly, as he hurries on after the other.]
[And it is within this area that Hades' unease continues to needle at him. Here, with all of the varied plantlife in every manner of size, shape and hue, with the gentle trembling of foliage as reflective trails of moisture slide down leaves and stems - here is it difficult to separate what he sees from what he sees. The expanse of the collection is enough to dazzle the eyes, and worse still, there are far too many gardens and shelves and nooks and crevices in which a creature could reasonably hide.]
[Slowing, however, feels tantamount to affixing a target to his back, and so Hades keeps to the pathways, his steps not slowing even as he watches as carefully as he can.]
Oh, yes, because I'm certain they will be most happy to gather together in a clearing somewhere whilst we have a chat.
[No, he won't wait. Hythlodaeus will have to learn to talk and walk at the same time.]
[Another rumble. And here's where he notices the air feels thick, nigh on suffocating. They must be close.]
[What would have been said about it hardly being prudent to storm in is better used in retaining the air in his lungs. So it is bit back, as he makes another attempt at matching the other's brisk pace.
What they stumble upon next however, makes him stop dead in his tracks.
It's... terrible. Truly terrible. It's terrible enough to make him reach for the other boy's arm and jerk him back to behold it. It would be easy to not see it. But in a corner, in the darkness, there is an elder. He, or she, is propped upright in a sitting position, but they are not resting. Nor reclining. Nor relaxing. They are dead. Very much so- a large slash is visible in their cowl, and it is wet with blood.
Assorted pots, planters, samples of earth and seedlings lie in heaps around the elder- as well as a longbow. The plant samples are no doubt fallen from the shelving of which the elder was thrown into. The bow lies, with a quiver, some distance away, the patterns in the blood on the floor suggesting that their last moments were spent scrabbling for it.]
...
[He has to cover his nose, and his mouth- for the choked sound that escapes him... He could not be blamed for it. He had never seen a body without a soul until now, and his grip is tight upon the other boy's wrist.]
[And as Hades is jerked back he doesn't even have a chance to marvel at the force behind it, because his vision is filled with a terribly gruesome sight that he (somehow!) completely passed over in his haste. Even from this distance, it's clear that the scene is entirely wrong. It almost appears unreal.]
[Hades takes it all in, brow furrowing further. The blood is still wet and glistening, the air thick with the coppery stench of it. This would not be the first time he laid eyes upon a body which no longer harbored a soul, yet here, clearly, is the site of an attack. His chest squeezes, teeth grit as the gravity of the loss falls upon him. Whatever happened, happened but recently. And yet...]
[A glance one way, and then the next. The aether here is settled; there's not even the faintest trail of where or whence the soul might have escaped to. Nor of the creature responsible - large, possibly. Horned? (Or was that wound inflicted by claws or teeth?) It all strikes him as strange. He should have caught sight of both, unless it occurred whilst he was fussing with this tagalong. This tagalong who is now...]
[A sigh, as he tries to pull at his wrist enough to wrest the boy's eyes away for a moment so he might regain his awareness.]
Hythlodaeus.
We need to keep moving. There's nothing more that can be done for the elder; not in this place. They are already gone.
[In a strictly magickal sense, Hythlodaeus may have been weak. Yet he was not weak in any other respect. Yet this scene, the horror blood- so much blood-, the tragedy of the desperate patterns marked upon the floor in it, the knowledge that this person died alone, and in such pain visits upon him makes him feel so weak.
This, unlike Hades, was his first time viewing a body, and to him, such a void in what else is such a bright sea of colour- such a patch of nothing terrifies him like nothing else.
He wants to make himself small, as small as he possibly could, and just simply hide among the plants and cry, perhaps, and to just-
- Just wait for someone to fix it. For someone had to fix it. Not this other boy who fancied himself special, for they, against that, when even an Elder could do nothing-
But then there is his voice. It is not an unkind statement. But... Oh, he wants to scream. He wants to take this boy by the shoulders, to scream at him until he understood that they have no place here, that they are already in such great danger and that they must leave.
But even petrified, that is not his way.
He is silent- silent for a few seconds, and silently, he walks to the body. He leans, then, his hands shaking as they retrieve both the bow and the quiver. The latter is looped over his shoulder, and the former is held in his left hand. And as he stays crouched-]
...May you find peace in the aetherial sea... until you come back to us.
[Hades falls to silence for a time, although he's far from idle. He keeps watch, his attention ever shifting to the nearest and furthest reaches of his perception. For now, all is still. Deathly so. All except for them and the greenery which flows from this place.]
[He glances back in time to see Hythlodaeus kneel, and he just makes out the whispered words of a prayer. Something about it has guilt twisting around inside him, for perhaps he should have been kinder, perhaps he should have done as his elders bid him, and yet...]
[How can he possibly even think of turning back now? He cannot, and will not.]
[Thus does the question take him by surprise, his mouth opening slightly as Hythlodaeus takes up the discarded bow, and the quiver. Solemnly and without hesitation, he nods.]
Why else would I have unlocked the seal?
Besides, we can hardly leave things as they are. There may yet be others who are trapped inside. I would not allow this sequence of events to repeat itself so readily.
[And here he frowns, gesturing at the quiver now looped over the other boy's shoulder.]
But all of that aside, do you know how to shoot that thing? One way or another, I cannot spare a moment's distraction once we have located our quarry.
A few times. I thought archery better than nothing, with regard to padding out my deficiencies.
[Normally, he'd go on. He'd audibly contemplate if whether or not something so insignificant was better than nothing magickally in the hope of starting a debate. He'd likely assure Hades that he should not expect an arrow in the back. ...He'd likely even turn that into some joke, actually, even feign correcting himself to give the other boy a little bit of suspicion that the likelihood would be small, but not zero.
But he doesn't. Slight anxiety tended to have other people perform better, yes. But Hades does not need more anxiety. Besides that- An odd sort of clarity seems to smooth out his (visible) features when he rises, not even looking at Hades.]
I will help- and I'll not take no for an answer. You're quite right- regardless of the consequences, we cannot allow more elders to be targeted. Better those creatures go for us than those who have plans for the star incomplete.
[But why is he looking away? Why is his head moving to the side slowly, even though he's looking at a wall?]
The creature that did this... there are four of them. But there's something else, too. You have not noticed it yet, but I have. It spawned the lesser creatures, judging by the fact their souls are all identical, and all similar to it's own. ...I would posit destroying it would likewise destroy the smaller ones.
[He turns to him, finally.]
I think it is just beyond. In the next chamber, more than likely.
[At first, Hades isn't certain what to make of this. For a moment, no, for the time being something about this boy's countenance appears to shift utterly. He's not laughing or making jokes, he's not cowering in fright, he's not prattling on without a care in the world... No, he's--]
[Focused.]
[Hades can barely comprehend it, and for a span of seconds he's left to stand there at a complete loss as if someone has just doused him in cold water. What else is this boy hiding, he wonders. But they haven't the time, he cannot spare the energy to think of it now. No, they've a job to do.]
[Normally, he would question all of this - the way Hythlodaeus stares so intently off into the distance as if he can somehow see through walls, but what choice does he have? Something in the way he says it, something in Hades' own soul, would suggest to him he isn't merely playing tricks this time. The very least he can do is afford him the same level of commitment to this task. And so...]
Then we are in agreement.
[He looks ahead to where yet another passageway lies, a wide hall yawning open and twisting around a corner into shadow.]
But how certain are you that this "something else" lies within the next chamber? I sense nothing. And we can't well formulate a plan of attack based upon little more than conjecture.
[If they worked off of an incorrect assumption, in a situation such as this, it could very well be their end. A risk he's prepared to take, but one he'd much prefer to avoid unless absolutely necessary.]
Quite certain. [Unless there are two larger ones. And the first is not reproducing asexually. But if there were two, he'd see both.] ...No, I'm quite certain. There's only the one, but it's capable of reproducing at alarming speed. There's hardly any period of prenatal development either.
[He's all but certain of something else, as well. Their souls are identical, which would indicate shared consciousness. Were they to take out the smaller ones, the larger one would know. And it could simply create more. Much more. An idea he is not overly fond of- especially given how that Elder fared.]
We could do so. But I think it comes with the possibility of failure, and an early return to the star. I may not have anything of worth to give it in this life- but I think the case quite the opposite for you.
["...You truly cannot see it?" While such words would normally irritate Hades to no end, there's something in the question that has him looking once more. He casts out his Sight with as much focus as he can muster and allows his own aether to swell as he reaches out to the room beyond, seeking, seeking...and finding nothing. Not so much as a ripple flickers across his vision even as a crease forms there aside his nose and the effort of it has him all but panting from exertion.]
...No. I see nothing.
[Again, though detectably less confident than the last time, hiding an unspoken question: "And you can?"]
Setting the matter aside, however, if the situation is indeed as you claim, we need to find this creature's weakness and target it as quickly as possible before it can spawn more copies of itself. Otherwise, the situation could go from bad to worse before we've even a chance to blink.
[And if this hypothetical creature can reproduce more quickly than they can slay its progeny, well... he'd rather not think on it.]
[He can view the other's aether expand, to the point it practically fills the room they stand in with hues of deep yet vibrant purple- intermingling with the other colours that denote the presence of all kinds of things, living and not. That is must of an indicator, for him, as the fact that the other boy seemed to be staggered, momentarily, by the attempt.
Strange, he thinks- that Hades still cannot see- even as he focused beyond what he was personally even capable of.
But. There's hardly any point in contemplating the discovery of what may very well be a strength unknown to him before now- or questioning Hades further. Or even answering that unspoken question. He saw an attempt, an earnest one, and he is informed of failure. That is all he needs to know.
And what the other boy comes out with next goes without saying. So...]
The best thing I can come up with is that we'll need a distraction. As I am the only one of the pair of us that can see this thing- and you are the only one of us capable of killing it- I would suggest our distraction will have to come from elsewhere- as if either of us were to fall, it would mean the end of the other.
[A pause. And while, yes, he did rather stubbornly thrust himself into the midst of it all, Hades is reminded that (like it or not), this is no longer just about him, nor was it truly ever. For as much as he's tried to avoid exactly this, he is now part of a team, however temporarily, and he has a responsibility, a duty to that team.]
[But there's no time or place for doubt. He nods.]
So it's to be a distraction, is it?
[Well, that's certainly easy enough. Hades beckons to his half-faded shade, still wavering in a far corner of the room near some flowerpots, and in no short order begins to reinforce it with his own aether. The creation was approved nearly ten years ago now, and his knowledge of what it can and cannot manage is extensive to say the least. Within moments it is looking much more solid and robust, its aetherial density vastly increased, and he releases the spell with a snap of his fingers.]
We'll have it enter the chamber from another direction. I'll be able to control it from here. Worry not, it need not be connected to me at all times - once the fight has begun it'll follow through with the instructions I've given it.
[His solemnity seems to crack at that moment, and he stares with eyes wide behind his mask as the shadow is filled with aether. He's familiar with the spell, of course. Very much so! Regrettably, he had... actually tried to do the same thing one or two (dozen) times before in attempt to find his own talents before declaring himself beyond hope.
...And truly, from the mess he'd made of the entire affair, (His shadow? It'd simply laid down.) he had to concede that phantomology was certainly not a burgeoning skill at his disposal.
But no- what he's impressed by stems from his sight. For Hades, by the looks of it, put an awful lot of aether within the shade. Enough, for most elders he knew, actually, to have been weakened. But the boy's own aether looks as hale and as strong as before.
...This boy, he realizes, has an affinity with the manipulation of aether. A skill worthy of note, most certainly. Yet he also has nigh limitless reserves. And that...
That's special indeed. He has to really focus to actually listen to Hades, as lost in his thoughts as he is. But he does listen.]
I'm in agreement. Yet there is one thing...
[He moves then, to examine the shade. Now, rather than a flat black outline of Hades, it more or less resembles him in every way- standing seperate from the wall and the ground. He tilts his head, lightly, before moving around it and securing a pot.
...Which is placed on its head. And sensing the furore to come: ]
It needs armour, after all. There's a larger one over there. Have it wear that.
[The compliment, assuming that's what it even is, is promptly ignored. He's heard the same, after all, and it means next to nothing to him. What good is impressiveness if he cannot even put it to good use?]
[But Hythlodaeus' observations are correct nonetheless, Hades appears none the worse for wear, which becomes all the more apparent the moment he opens his mouth.]
Now I'm all but certain you're doing this to annoy me. We've hardly the time for it!
[Hades points at the pot, giving another snap as a thin shroud of aether layers itself over the top of it, replacing the absurdity with the approximation of a helm. The other pot, begrudgingly retrieved, becomes a simple chest piece, some manner of plate armor that may at least take the brunt of a single well-aimed strike. Even if the thing is merely a shade, he'd certainly prefer not to have it looking utterly ridiculous!]
[...Although, a small part of him must admit that there is some logic in further equipping the shade to better make up for its unavoidable weaknesses.]
There. 'Tis armed and ready. Does that satisfy you?
Oh, I couldn't agree more. We have even less time to spare for complaints.
[A smile accents that little remark, and he turns his gaze to the shade... and also what Hades does have time for. Cosmetics, apparently. He can't help but give a small little laugh, his head tilting just so as it strikes him to ask why the other boy seemed to adore details so...
But there really is no time. The sight, in the corner of his eye, of the dead elder removes that question from his mind immediately. So. Upon one more indulgence- rolling the creaks out of his shoulders, stretching his neck... they have as good of a chance as they're going to get.
And wordlessly, he makes for the door. One, two, three, four, five, six long strides and he is stood before it, taking a long breath. It doesn't occur to ask Hades if he had changed his mind, or to remind him that should he wish to back out, he still could.
He knows that the dual presence behind him is unwavering. And that one of them is father from the other- the shade may very well be making its way to another entrance to this chamber, but a short way away from here. So.
He moves the doors open, just a crack. Behind his mask, his eyes widen.]
...!
[Hades, likely, can only see an empty room. Yet he should surely be able to feel the presence. It seeps in like an aetherial fog, after all. This is a powerful foe indeed.
And... He draws the bow- positioning the point of his held arrow between the small silver of open space, and taking aim. The sound of the bowstring tightening is palpable. And while his bow arm trembles, it is difficult to tell whether or not it is caused by nerves, or the strain holding the bow and arrow in readiness so puts upon it.
[Hades snorts in response, but says nothing more. And with a flick of his wrist, the shade disappears into the shadows, its presence fading just as smoothly as it begins its journey navigating the tunnel-like hallways until it has found another entrance into yonder chamber, one positioned on the opposite side of them.]
[Whilst the shade is on the move, Hades retrieves his rod and follows silently in Hythlodaeus' footsteps, pushing up his sleeves as he comes to a stop beside him. And indeed, he can feel... something. Whatever it is has the hairs standing up on his forearms, prickling at the base of his neck as a cold chill runs through his very being.]
[He's never felt anything like it before. It's strong, of that there is no room for doubt. And were he not faced with the grim consequences of its presence here...]
[No, he cannot afford to let himself get caught up in his own thoughts. He murmurs softly so as not to attract its attention. He cannot see it, but yes, it's unmistakably there.]
Not yet, but nearly so.
[Lifting the rod he waits, casting but a flicker of a glance towards his companion before preemptively reaching out into the space around himself to begin drawing together aether, remaining still and at the ready until he feels a small tug at the center of his being, like a thread pulled tight. Alerting him that the shade has reached its destination.]
Good. It has reached its destination. Now, let's get this over with.
With his breath, flies the arrow, accompanied by a thought. Please hit, is the thought, for if it did not- if his aim was off or if the creature moved at the very last second, the arrow would fly into the air behind it, land, and their position would be exposed for nothing.
A shriek- loud enough to shake the walls around them is his answer. It landed- squarely between the creature's eyes- and it is all that he can do to move within the room, to the side away the route Hades would take- and stand, shouting over to the other boy.]
That is its head!
[It is angered. That is apparent as it claws at its own face in order to remove the arrow, while lumbering toward the fledgling soulseer- yet Hythlodaeus is ready. Two more arrows are laced between his index, middle and ring fingers, and in quick succession, each of those two arrows are planted at each of the monster's upper arms to more shrieks.]
And each arm!
[It swings for him. He has to break his aim- moving backward with widened eyes. Where was that shade-]
[Hades lets the spell fly, aiming for the arrow which he can see, and the faint glow of residual aether - the trace of pastel green from Hythlodaeus' own hand upon it, and the sudden brief blossom of a darker red which must belong to the creature itself.]
[The arrow erupts into a blazing inferno, heat swelling as the creature lets out another ear-splitting roar of rage, and already Hades is releasing another spell, this time aiming for the arrow which arches backwards through the air at impressive speed -- descending directly towards Hythlodaeus.]
[A quick nudge of his focus, and the shade comes barreling out of another passage, pots and all rattling in a wild cacophony as it dashes right at the dance of arrows.]
[His shade just needs to take that one hit. Just one! Sweat beads along his brow as Hades begins casting yet another spell. He must disable the other arm before it has a chance to strike at the boy again. Ice crackles as the aether surrounding his rod rapidly cools and freezes the air around it.]
[Get down he does, even if, heavens, he has to force his legs to buckle and force his body to comply- because it is frozen in shock and in no small amount of horror at what is coming toward him. His breath catches in his throat as he moves forward into an actual roll in attempt to dodge the flaming, burning limb that would reduce his body to little more than a stain on the wall behind him- yet he knows he is not quick enough.
He knows that he could be twice as fast, and he would still be too slow. The creature's speed is otherworldly.
Yet his end does not come.
The limb comes down, yes. It scrapes along the ground toward him, but abruptly, the limb stops. He can see something- some faint purplish intermingled with shadow, both arms raised- holding the limb fast. Even if- oh, how terrible- the crudely fashioned armour is shattered around its feet, even its very form itself is shuddering and juttering- the indication of Hades' aether leaking from the shadowed replica telling of the fact it had sustained critical damage and would not last much longer.
He finds his feet. And in a run, he makes his way to a place a short distance away from Hades, close- yet not too close. And then, he witnesses the creature roar- bringing down both of its arms upon the shadowed replica, in a series of strikes from directly above- one after the other, after the other, after the other, after the other.
The fragments of pottery have been reduced to dust. And a few whisps of shadow float, slowly, to the ceiling before fading away entirely. The creature- now well and truly ignited by Hades' fire spell- turns. And it shrieks in its own agony before barrelling toward the pair of them.
If Hades' ice spell was not ready, he knows this will be it.]
[If there'd been any question as to the beast's true strength, it makes itself quickly known. Even though the shade has planted itself before Hythlodaeus, acting as a barrier to protect him, the force behind that limb is maddening, and when the aether begins to ebb away, Hades feels a dreadful wave of nausea gather in his gut. He winces, but his concentration holds fast - just enough to tighten the threads of his ice spell together.]
[Almost, almost...!]
[Hythlodaeus has put some distance between himself and the creature, and as the fire spreads and expands, so too does it begin to form an approximation of a shape. It is massive! And it is powerful. Each blow upon his shade feels like a leaden weight dropping upon his chest, and each scrape of claws - the keening sensation of a tear ripping through his own aether. Sweat soaks his brow, his other arm rises to join the first in gripping his rod as they tremble visibly - not from fear but from effort. His teeth grind together, and at last-- at last he has it...!]
[And just in time. The creature is upon them - a wall of fire, a thing of hatred and fury -- so potent he can feel it within the very depths of his being. It's a fury which will have to go unanswered.]
[He aims and lets the spell fly mere moments before he collapses to his knees, his vision threatening to blur from the pain and the overuse of aether. But one more, just one-- He has to be sure the thing is well and truly defeated!]
[He lifts his hand aloft, letting his soul reach out, his shadow dancing for a brief moment as the power of the Underworld pours forth into his being, trailing up his hand to quiver there at the tips of his fingers.]
['Take it' he thinks. (For it is yours. Accept this creature back into your flow, to be cleansed and reborn...)]
[A crisp snap rings out, and then all is darkness. Hades' vision turns to pitch and he knows no more.]
[Some time later, The first thing Hades felt might have been a gentle breeze.
It is a breeze that is fresh. It is a breeze that is gentle, and it is a breeze that is carrying, ever so faintly, the scent of artfully cultivated wisteria blossoms in spring. He is home- or close enough- and with it, comes sounds.
Faint sounds. Measured and controlled, in a cadence is rather pleasant. And as Hades' mind begins to gather more and more of itself, words should form.]
For even if the morrow is barren of promises, Nothing shall forestall my return. To become the dew that quenches the land; To spare the sands, the seas, the skies, I offer thee this silent sacrifice.
[When he opens his eyes, he should see that he is in a bed. A black-robed, white-masked figure is in a seat beside him, a book on his lap which he appears to be reading aloud from.
Should Hades' eyes be able to focus, he should see the soul of the figure, a pale pastel green, as well as a curl of lilac at his cheek.
The book is snapped shut. Hythlodaeus gets up. And the backs of his fingers glide down Hades' (clothed) arm, to the back of his hand.
And...]
You're awake. Thank goodness. I'll confess, I was starting to get quite worried!
[Hades' mind is still addled, even as his senses return to him one by one. He doesn't recall lying down, but it is warm and soft, and upon that light wind wafts the familiar scents of the city and a voice...less familiar, but utterly pleasant to listen to. The poem itself, he does not recognize, but the words are well-formed and well-spoken.]
[Blearily do his eyes peel open, and with a quiet (and unhappy) note of protest at having awoken at all does his head turn slowly from one side to the other before finally taking in the recent (but now known) color of Hythlodaeus' soul seated nearby.]
Where am I...?
[His limbs are leaden and heavy, and his entire form aches as if he has been trampled by some wild beast. Stubbornly he tries to pull himself up, because this is unseemly, even as his head starts swimming again with a dull and persistent ache.]
And why are you here? What happened?
[He winces and raises a hand to his brow, no doubt dislodging the fingertips which had rested there. Like this, several fine white hairs have gotten plastered to his forehead, but he feels too dreadful to care.]
At a facility within Amaurot, in the care of the Words of Emmerololth. You were moved here after we were found within Akademia Anyder to recover your aether reserves.
[Reserves that were quite dented! Yet not extinguished. Even though Hades' actions- of near transforming at such a young age- very well should have. The smile does not leave his lips. Even after the book within his hand is placed on a nearby countertop.]
I am here... [A faint pause.] Because I wish to be. My studies were regrettably cut short by my mentor doing something incredibly brave and foolish both, so I'm at quite the loss for anything to do nowadays.
[But ah! The smile, and the playfulness, leave him in short order when Hades attempts to pull himself upward. At first he tries to stop him, but then relents- holding him upright and gathering the pillows to support him as he lies upright.]
...You mustn't exert yourself. Not until you're well. And my friend- you are not well yet.
[His aether reserves? The Words of Emmeroloth? That hardly bodes well for whatever came to pass! And yet, as he tilts his head marginally to squint up at him... Hythlodaeus seems to have lost none of his indomitable spirit. In fact, he seems none the worse for wear for their little adventure. Then was it a success...?]
[Despite himself, Hades feels no small amount of relief. He remembers grasping for a tendril of the Underworld, trying to tug out enough magicks to well and truly vanquish the beast, but-- the rest is a blur. He must have, recklessly, overreached...]
[Still. And his brow wrinkles here even though he recognizes the amused lilt in the boy's voice for an attempt at levity.]
But surely you've much better places to be? You won't learn anything watching me sleep.
[Hgggh.]
[He hardly needs Hythlodaeus to tell him he isn't well, his head throbs as if it would very much like to split itself open, the pressure all but unbearable as he slumps a little in his (mostly) upright position, left to once again fight off another wave of sickness. 'Friend,' he thinks dimly. 'Since when?']
[Perhaps the one good thing in all of this is that Hades is too drained to even raise his voice or get angry.]
[The question comes a playful lilt of his voice, yet he knows. He cannot go elsewhere, for his punishment is to spend his time here. Punishment, indeed- yet it is not something he minds.]
That would be a shame. Especially since the attendants have no free time in order to read to you.
[Ah, and part of the punishment...]
Ah. Before I forget... I was instructed to ensure you drank this.
[He moves then, to procure a vial of something blue. It's medicinal, clearly- yet it gives off no smell. Nor any apparent taste. One might assume, of course, that the mixture is disgusting; yet that assuption would be wrong. Of course, Emmeroloth's Words are some of the very best alchemists there are. There is no flaw with the tincture.
It is passed to Hades as soon as he seems to have undizzied himself.]
You have quite a few things to take, actually. Yet with them, they feel you should be righted within the week.
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It is the time for something else though. And as he hurries after him, past this passage and unto something entirely different- an area filled to the brim with varying samples of flora- he speaks.]
A fair number, yes. But there is something strange about them. They all have the same-
[Colour. Even with multiple examples of the same species, there was variance. They might be the same colour, yes. But there are lightenings, darkenings, and everything, normally, is unique in a number of tiny aspects to reflect things such as experience, inherited traits, even. In some, little variances indicate personality.
Which makes these identical creatures odd. Clones? And there's something just beyond his vision that-
He's moving again?!]
Oh, won't you please wait-
[Hissed quietly, as he hurries on after the other.]
no subject
[Slowing, however, feels tantamount to affixing a target to his back, and so Hades keeps to the pathways, his steps not slowing even as he watches as carefully as he can.]
Oh, yes, because I'm certain they will be most happy to gather together in a clearing somewhere whilst we have a chat.
[No, he won't wait. Hythlodaeus will have to learn to talk and walk at the same time.]
[Another rumble. And here's where he notices the air feels thick, nigh on suffocating. They must be close.]
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[What would have been said about it hardly being prudent to storm in is better used in retaining the air in his lungs. So it is bit back, as he makes another attempt at matching the other's brisk pace.
What they stumble upon next however, makes him stop dead in his tracks.
It's... terrible. Truly terrible. It's terrible enough to make him reach for the other boy's arm and jerk him back to behold it. It would be easy to not see it. But in a corner, in the darkness, there is an elder. He, or she, is propped upright in a sitting position, but they are not resting. Nor reclining. Nor relaxing. They are dead. Very much so- a large slash is visible in their cowl, and it is wet with blood.
Assorted pots, planters, samples of earth and seedlings lie in heaps around the elder- as well as a longbow. The plant samples are no doubt fallen from the shelving of which the elder was thrown into. The bow lies, with a quiver, some distance away, the patterns in the blood on the floor suggesting that their last moments were spent scrabbling for it.]
...
[He has to cover his nose, and his mouth- for the choked sound that escapes him...
He could not be blamed for it. He had never seen a body without a soul until now, and his grip is tight upon the other boy's wrist.]
...
[There are no words. He is horrified.]
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[And as Hades is jerked back he doesn't even have a chance to marvel at the force behind it, because his vision is filled with a terribly gruesome sight that he (somehow!) completely passed over in his haste. Even from this distance, it's clear that the scene is entirely wrong. It almost appears unreal.]
[Hades takes it all in, brow furrowing further. The blood is still wet and glistening, the air thick with the coppery stench of it. This would not be the first time he laid eyes upon a body which no longer harbored a soul, yet here, clearly, is the site of an attack. His chest squeezes, teeth grit as the gravity of the loss falls upon him. Whatever happened, happened but recently. And yet...]
[A glance one way, and then the next. The aether here is settled; there's not even the faintest trail of where or whence the soul might have escaped to. Nor of the creature responsible - large, possibly. Horned? (Or was that wound inflicted by claws or teeth?) It all strikes him as strange. He should have caught sight of both, unless it occurred whilst he was fussing with this tagalong. This tagalong who is now...]
[A sigh, as he tries to pull at his wrist enough to wrest the boy's eyes away for a moment so he might regain his awareness.]
Hythlodaeus.
We need to keep moving. There's nothing more that can be done for the elder; not in this place. They are already gone.
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This, unlike Hades, was his first time viewing a body, and to him, such a void in what else is such a bright sea of colour- such a patch of nothing terrifies him like nothing else.
He wants to make himself small, as small as he possibly could, and just simply hide among the plants and cry, perhaps, and to just-
- Just wait for someone to fix it. For someone had to fix it. Not this other boy who fancied himself special, for they, against that, when even an Elder could do nothing-
But then there is his voice.
It is not an unkind statement. But... Oh, he wants to scream. He wants to take this boy by the shoulders, to scream at him until he understood that they have no place here, that they are already in such great danger and that they must leave.
But even petrified, that is not his way.
He is silent- silent for a few seconds, and silently, he walks to the body. He leans, then, his hands shaking as they retrieve both the bow and the quiver. The latter is looped over his shoulder, and the former is held in his left hand. And as he stays crouched-]
...May you find peace in the aetherial sea... until you come back to us.
[He exhales. And as he stands...]
You... are committed to destroying these things?
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[Hades falls to silence for a time, although he's far from idle. He keeps watch, his attention ever shifting to the nearest and furthest reaches of his perception. For now, all is still. Deathly so. All except for them and the greenery which flows from this place.]
[He glances back in time to see Hythlodaeus kneel, and he just makes out the whispered words of a prayer. Something about it has guilt twisting around inside him, for perhaps he should have been kinder, perhaps he should have done as his elders bid him, and yet...]
[How can he possibly even think of turning back now? He cannot, and will not.]
[Thus does the question take him by surprise, his mouth opening slightly as Hythlodaeus takes up the discarded bow, and the quiver. Solemnly and without hesitation, he nods.]
Why else would I have unlocked the seal?
Besides, we can hardly leave things as they are. There may yet be others who are trapped inside. I would not allow this sequence of events to repeat itself so readily.
[And here he frowns, gesturing at the quiver now looped over the other boy's shoulder.]
But all of that aside, do you know how to shoot that thing? One way or another, I cannot spare a moment's distraction once we have located our quarry.
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[Normally, he'd go on. He'd audibly contemplate if whether or not something so insignificant was better than nothing magickally in the hope of starting a debate. He'd likely assure Hades that he should not expect an arrow in the back. ...He'd likely even turn that into some joke, actually, even feign correcting himself to give the other boy a little bit of suspicion that the likelihood would be small, but not zero.
But he doesn't. Slight anxiety tended to have other people perform better, yes. But Hades does not need more anxiety. Besides that- An odd sort of clarity seems to smooth out his (visible) features when he rises, not even looking at Hades.]
I will help- and I'll not take no for an answer. You're quite right- regardless of the consequences, we cannot allow more elders to be targeted. Better those creatures go for us than those who have plans for the star incomplete.
[But why is he looking away? Why is his head moving to the side slowly, even though he's looking at a wall?]
The creature that did this... there are four of them. But there's something else, too. You have not noticed it yet, but I have. It spawned the lesser creatures, judging by the fact their souls are all identical, and all similar to it's own. ...I would posit destroying it would likewise destroy the smaller ones.
[He turns to him, finally.]
I think it is just beyond. In the next chamber, more than likely.
And so it begins.
[Focused.]
[Hades can barely comprehend it, and for a span of seconds he's left to stand there at a complete loss as if someone has just doused him in cold water. What else is this boy hiding, he wonders. But they haven't the time, he cannot spare the energy to think of it now. No, they've a job to do.]
[Normally, he would question all of this - the way Hythlodaeus stares so intently off into the distance as if he can somehow see through walls, but what choice does he have? Something in the way he says it, something in Hades' own soul, would suggest to him he isn't merely playing tricks this time. The very least he can do is afford him the same level of commitment to this task. And so...]
Then we are in agreement.
[He looks ahead to where yet another passageway lies, a wide hall yawning open and twisting around a corner into shadow.]
But how certain are you that this "something else" lies within the next chamber? I sense nothing. And we can't well formulate a plan of attack based upon little more than conjecture.
[If they worked off of an incorrect assumption, in a situation such as this, it could very well be their end. A risk he's prepared to take, but one he'd much prefer to avoid unless absolutely necessary.]
Unless you're suggesting we improvise.
so it does!
[Another glance.]
Quite certain. [Unless there are two larger ones. And the first is not reproducing asexually. But if there were two, he'd see both.] ...No, I'm quite certain. There's only the one, but it's capable of reproducing at alarming speed. There's hardly any period of prenatal development either.
[He's all but certain of something else, as well. Their souls are identical, which would indicate shared consciousness. Were they to take out the smaller ones, the larger one would know. And it could simply create more. Much more. An idea he is not overly fond of- especially given how that Elder fared.]
We could do so. But I think it comes with the possibility of failure, and an early return to the star. I may not have anything of worth to give it in this life- but I think the case quite the opposite for you.
[A tap, of his hand on his chin.]
...You truly cannot see it?
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...No. I see nothing.
[Again, though detectably less confident than the last time, hiding an unspoken question: "And you can?"]
Setting the matter aside, however, if the situation is indeed as you claim, we need to find this creature's weakness and target it as quickly as possible before it can spawn more copies of itself. Otherwise, the situation could go from bad to worse before we've even a chance to blink.
[And if this hypothetical creature can reproduce more quickly than they can slay its progeny, well... he'd rather not think on it.]
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Strange, he thinks- that Hades still cannot see- even as he focused beyond what he was personally even capable of.
But. There's hardly any point in contemplating the discovery of what may very well be a strength unknown to him before now- or questioning Hades further. Or even answering that unspoken question. He saw an attempt, an earnest one, and he is informed of failure. That is all he needs to know.
And what the other boy comes out with next goes without saying. So...]
The best thing I can come up with is that we'll need a distraction. As I am the only one of the pair of us that can see this thing- and you are the only one of us capable of killing it- I would suggest our distraction will have to come from elsewhere- as if either of us were to fall, it would mean the end of the other.
[Where though.]
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[But there's no time or place for doubt. He nods.]
So it's to be a distraction, is it?
[Well, that's certainly easy enough. Hades beckons to his half-faded shade, still wavering in a far corner of the room near some flowerpots, and in no short order begins to reinforce it with his own aether. The creation was approved nearly ten years ago now, and his knowledge of what it can and cannot manage is extensive to say the least. Within moments it is looking much more solid and robust, its aetherial density vastly increased, and he releases the spell with a snap of his fingers.]
We'll have it enter the chamber from another direction. I'll be able to control it from here. Worry not, it need not be connected to me at all times - once the fight has begun it'll follow through with the instructions I've given it.
[He glances sideways at the other boy.]
Well, does that work?
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[His solemnity seems to crack at that moment, and he stares with eyes wide behind his mask as the shadow is filled with aether. He's familiar with the spell, of course. Very much so! Regrettably, he had... actually tried to do the same thing one or two (dozen) times before in attempt to find his own talents before declaring himself beyond hope.
...And truly, from the mess he'd made of the entire affair, (His shadow? It'd simply laid down.) he had to concede that phantomology was certainly not a burgeoning skill at his disposal.
But no- what he's impressed by stems from his sight. For Hades, by the looks of it, put an awful lot of aether within the shade. Enough, for most elders he knew, actually, to have been weakened. But the boy's own aether looks as hale and as strong as before.
...This boy, he realizes, has an affinity with the manipulation of aether. A skill worthy of note, most certainly. Yet he also has nigh limitless reserves. And that...
That's special indeed.
He has to really focus to actually listen to Hades, as lost in his thoughts as he is. But he does listen.]
I'm in agreement. Yet there is one thing...
[He moves then, to examine the shade. Now, rather than a flat black outline of Hades, it more or less resembles him in every way- standing seperate from the wall and the ground. He tilts his head, lightly, before moving around it and securing a pot.
...Which is placed on its head.
And sensing the furore to come: ]
It needs armour, after all. There's a larger one over there. Have it wear that.
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[But Hythlodaeus' observations are correct nonetheless, Hades appears none the worse for wear, which becomes all the more apparent the moment he opens his mouth.]
Now I'm all but certain you're doing this to annoy me. We've hardly the time for it!
[Hades points at the pot, giving another snap as a thin shroud of aether layers itself over the top of it, replacing the absurdity with the approximation of a helm. The other pot, begrudgingly retrieved, becomes a simple chest piece, some manner of plate armor that may at least take the brunt of a single well-aimed strike. Even if the thing is merely a shade, he'd certainly prefer not to have it looking utterly ridiculous!]
[...Although, a small part of him must admit that there is some logic in further equipping the shade to better make up for its unavoidable weaknesses.]
There. 'Tis armed and ready. Does that satisfy you?
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[A smile accents that little remark, and he turns his gaze to the shade... and also what Hades does have time for. Cosmetics, apparently. He can't help but give a small little laugh, his head tilting just so as it strikes him to ask why the other boy seemed to adore details so...
But there really is no time. The sight, in the corner of his eye, of the dead elder removes that question from his mind immediately. So. Upon one more indulgence- rolling the creaks out of his shoulders, stretching his neck... they have as good of a chance as they're going to get.
And wordlessly, he makes for the door. One, two, three, four, five, six long strides and he is stood before it, taking a long breath. It doesn't occur to ask Hades if he had changed his mind, or to remind him that should he wish to back out, he still could.
He knows that the dual presence behind him is unwavering. And that one of them is father from the other- the shade may very well be making its way to another entrance to this chamber, but a short way away from here. So.
He moves the doors open, just a crack.
Behind his mask, his eyes widen.]
...!
[Hades, likely, can only see an empty room. Yet he should surely be able to feel the presence. It seeps in like an aetherial fog, after all. This is a powerful foe indeed.
And...
He draws the bow- positioning the point of his held arrow between the small silver of open space, and taking aim. The sound of the bowstring tightening is palpable. And while his bow arm trembles, it is difficult to tell whether or not it is caused by nerves, or the strain holding the bow and arrow in readiness so puts upon it.
In a low whisper...]
Let me know when your shade is in position.
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[Hades snorts in response, but says nothing more. And with a flick of his wrist, the shade disappears into the shadows, its presence fading just as smoothly as it begins its journey navigating the tunnel-like hallways until it has found another entrance into yonder chamber, one positioned on the opposite side of them.]
[Whilst the shade is on the move, Hades retrieves his rod and follows silently in Hythlodaeus' footsteps, pushing up his sleeves as he comes to a stop beside him. And indeed, he can feel... something. Whatever it is has the hairs standing up on his forearms, prickling at the base of his neck as a cold chill runs through his very being.]
[He's never felt anything like it before. It's strong, of that there is no room for doubt. And were he not faced with the grim consequences of its presence here...]
[No, he cannot afford to let himself get caught up in his own thoughts. He murmurs softly so as not to attract its attention. He cannot see it, but yes, it's unmistakably there.]
Not yet, but nearly so.
[Lifting the rod he waits, casting but a flicker of a glance towards his companion before preemptively reaching out into the space around himself to begin drawing together aether, remaining still and at the ready until he feels a small tug at the center of his being, like a thread pulled tight. Alerting him that the shade has reached its destination.]
Good. It has reached its destination. Now, let's get this over with.
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With his breath, flies the arrow, accompanied by a thought. Please hit, is the thought, for if it did not- if his aim was off or if the creature moved at the very last second, the arrow would fly into the air behind it, land, and their position would be exposed for nothing.
A shriek- loud enough to shake the walls around them is his answer. It landed- squarely between the creature's eyes- and it is all that he can do to move within the room, to the side away the route Hades would take- and stand, shouting over to the other boy.]
That is its head!
[It is angered. That is apparent as it claws at its own face in order to remove the arrow, while lumbering toward the fledgling soulseer- yet Hythlodaeus is ready. Two more arrows are laced between his index, middle and ring fingers, and in quick succession, each of those two arrows are planted at each of the monster's upper arms to more shrieks.]
And each arm!
[It swings for him. He has to break his aim- moving backward with widened eyes.
Where was that shade-]
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[Hades lets the spell fly, aiming for the arrow which he can see, and the faint glow of residual aether - the trace of pastel green from Hythlodaeus' own hand upon it, and the sudden brief blossom of a darker red which must belong to the creature itself.]
[The arrow erupts into a blazing inferno, heat swelling as the creature lets out another ear-splitting roar of rage, and already Hades is releasing another spell, this time aiming for the arrow which arches backwards through the air at impressive speed -- descending directly towards Hythlodaeus.]
[A quick nudge of his focus, and the shade comes barreling out of another passage, pots and all rattling in a wild cacophony as it dashes right at the dance of arrows.]
[His shade just needs to take that one hit. Just one! Sweat beads along his brow as Hades begins casting yet another spell. He must disable the other arm before it has a chance to strike at the boy again. Ice crackles as the aether surrounding his rod rapidly cools and freezes the air around it.]
Get down!
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He knows that he could be twice as fast, and he would still be too slow. The creature's speed is otherworldly.
Yet his end does not come.
The limb comes down, yes. It scrapes along the ground toward him, but abruptly, the limb stops. He can see something- some faint purplish intermingled with shadow, both arms raised- holding the limb fast. Even if- oh, how terrible- the crudely fashioned armour is shattered around its feet, even its very form itself is shuddering and juttering- the indication of Hades' aether leaking from the shadowed replica telling of the fact it had sustained critical damage and would not last much longer.
He finds his feet. And in a run, he makes his way to a place a short distance away from Hades, close- yet not too close. And then, he witnesses the creature roar- bringing down both of its arms upon the shadowed replica, in a series of strikes from directly above- one after the other, after the other, after the other, after the other.
The fragments of pottery have been reduced to dust. And a few whisps of shadow float, slowly, to the ceiling before fading away entirely. The creature- now well and truly ignited by Hades' fire spell- turns. And it shrieks in its own agony before barrelling toward the pair of them.
If Hades' ice spell was not ready, he knows this will be it.]
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[Almost, almost...!]
[Hythlodaeus has put some distance between himself and the creature, and as the fire spreads and expands, so too does it begin to form an approximation of a shape. It is massive! And it is powerful. Each blow upon his shade feels like a leaden weight dropping upon his chest, and each scrape of claws - the keening sensation of a tear ripping through his own aether. Sweat soaks his brow, his other arm rises to join the first in gripping his rod as they tremble visibly - not from fear but from effort. His teeth grind together, and at last-- at last he has it...!]
[And just in time. The creature is upon them - a wall of fire, a thing of hatred and fury -- so potent he can feel it within the very depths of his being. It's a fury which will have to go unanswered.]
[He aims and lets the spell fly mere moments before he collapses to his knees, his vision threatening to blur from the pain and the overuse of aether. But one more, just one-- He has to be sure the thing is well and truly defeated!]
[He lifts his hand aloft, letting his soul reach out, his shadow dancing for a brief moment as the power of the Underworld pours forth into his being, trailing up his hand to quiver there at the tips of his fingers.]
['Take it' he thinks. (For it is yours. Accept this creature back into your flow, to be cleansed and reborn...)]
[A crisp snap rings out, and then all is darkness. Hades' vision turns to pitch and he knows no more.]
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It is a breeze that is fresh. It is a breeze that is gentle, and it is a breeze that is carrying, ever so faintly, the scent of artfully cultivated wisteria blossoms in spring. He is home- or close enough- and with it, comes sounds.
Faint sounds. Measured and controlled, in a cadence is rather pleasant. And as Hades' mind begins to gather more and more of itself, words should form.]
For even if the morrow is barren of promises,
Nothing shall forestall my return.
To become the dew that quenches the land;
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies,
I offer thee this silent sacrifice.
[When he opens his eyes, he should see that he is in a bed. A black-robed, white-masked figure is in a seat beside him, a book on his lap which he appears to be reading aloud from.
Should Hades' eyes be able to focus, he should see the soul of the figure, a pale pastel green, as well as a curl of lilac at his cheek.
The book is snapped shut. Hythlodaeus gets up. And the backs of his fingers glide down Hades' (clothed) arm, to the back of his hand.
And...]
You're awake. Thank goodness. I'll confess, I was starting to get quite worried!
[A gentle smile follows.]
...Welcome back, Hades.
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[Blearily do his eyes peel open, and with a quiet (and unhappy) note of protest at having awoken at all does his head turn slowly from one side to the other before finally taking in the recent (but now known) color of Hythlodaeus' soul seated nearby.]
Where am I...?
[His limbs are leaden and heavy, and his entire form aches as if he has been trampled by some wild beast. Stubbornly he tries to pull himself up, because this is unseemly, even as his head starts swimming again with a dull and persistent ache.]
And why are you here? What happened?
[He winces and raises a hand to his brow, no doubt dislodging the fingertips which had rested there. Like this, several fine white hairs have gotten plastered to his forehead, but he feels too dreadful to care.]
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[Reserves that were quite dented! Yet not extinguished. Even though Hades' actions- of near transforming at such a young age- very well should have. The smile does not leave his lips. Even after the book within his hand is placed on a nearby countertop.]
I am here... [A faint pause.] Because I wish to be. My studies were regrettably cut short by my mentor doing something incredibly brave and foolish both, so I'm at quite the loss for anything to do nowadays.
[But ah! The smile, and the playfulness, leave him in short order when Hades attempts to pull himself upward. At first he tries to stop him, but then relents- holding him upright and gathering the pillows to support him as he lies upright.]
...You mustn't exert yourself. Not until you're well. And my friend- you are not well yet.
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[His aether reserves? The Words of Emmeroloth? That hardly bodes well for whatever came to pass! And yet, as he tilts his head marginally to squint up at him... Hythlodaeus seems to have lost none of his indomitable spirit. In fact, he seems none the worse for wear for their little adventure. Then was it a success...?]
[Despite himself, Hades feels no small amount of relief. He remembers grasping for a tendril of the Underworld, trying to tug out enough magicks to well and truly vanquish the beast, but-- the rest is a blur. He must have, recklessly, overreached...]
[Still. And his brow wrinkles here even though he recognizes the amused lilt in the boy's voice for an attempt at levity.]
But surely you've much better places to be? You won't learn anything watching me sleep.
[Hgggh.]
[He hardly needs Hythlodaeus to tell him he isn't well, his head throbs as if it would very much like to split itself open, the pressure all but unbearable as he slumps a little in his (mostly) upright position, left to once again fight off another wave of sickness. 'Friend,' he thinks dimly. 'Since when?']
[Perhaps the one good thing in all of this is that Hades is too drained to even raise his voice or get angry.]
...So I noticed.
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[The question comes a playful lilt of his voice, yet he knows. He cannot go elsewhere, for his punishment is to spend his time here. Punishment, indeed- yet it is not something he minds.]
That would be a shame. Especially since the attendants have no free time in order to read to you.
[Ah, and part of the punishment...]
Ah. Before I forget... I was instructed to ensure you drank this.
[He moves then, to procure a vial of something blue. It's medicinal, clearly- yet it gives off no smell. Nor any apparent taste. One might assume, of course, that the mixture is disgusting; yet that assuption would be wrong. Of course, Emmeroloth's Words are some of the very best alchemists there are. There is no flaw with the tincture.
It is passed to Hades as soon as he seems to have undizzied himself.]
You have quite a few things to take, actually. Yet with them, they feel you should be righted within the week.
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He's going to recite this back to him when they elope for real I hope you realize.
eloping yes yes yes
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