Forum Thread

Freyr rolled his eyes.

"I hate you, but yes. I feel like I owe him many apologies for everything. I think I owe him more, but I'm too much of a coward to think about it. Plus, if it comes to fighting, I have almost no stamina. There's also the possibility that this entity isn't Atticus. If it isn't Atticus, then there's a high chance that he's dead and it's all my fault. I haven't even checked up on him after what happened last time!"

He whipped his head around to face Shirin, panic in his eyes.

"I don't know what to do if this entity is Atticus is or not... I- I... I just feel so guilty."

---

Shirin raised an eyebrow at Freyr's emotional outpouring, her sarcastic wit not missing a beat even in the face of his turmoil.

"Well, Freyr, hate is such a strong word. But don't worry, guilt and confusion are definitely your color palette, and I'm here to see you wear them well." She leaned back against a rock, her expression a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation. "You know, if we ever start a club for people who feel responsible for the entire universe, you'd be the president. And I'd be the one handing out the eye rolls."

She let his words hang in the air for a moment before continuing, her tone becoming more contemplative. "As for Atticus, who knows? Maybe he's sipping cosmic tea on some celestial veranda. Or maybe he's decided to take up pottery. Point is, you can't change the past, but you can definitely make pottery jokes about it."

"Here's a word of wisdom for you: this isn't going to turn out how you want it to. But if you want to move on, you have to do this, you have to meet him. Closure is usually overrated, but this time, you need some."

"Anyway, I promised you a story 'bout the time I accidentally started a cult. You wanna hear it or not?"

---

He calmed down and nodded.

"Thank you. And yeah, I'd like to hear how you accidentally started a cult."

He had a relieved smile on his face.

---

"You're not off the hook, darling. That, I promise. But here it goes..." She smiled.

"Once upon a time there was me. A scrappy, smart, observant, enigmatic, magnetic, attractive... Okay, okay. An oracle who lived on the streets. I was a prophet of the common people, for the common people. An anomaly. I was the street prophet of Shalazar. My official job, of course - I did have one - was to ferry traders across the entity-infested dunes. From Shalazar, to Bhagan, to Ibis, I kept them on the straight and narrow, making offerings to the power-hungry monsters as not to incur their ire. Dangerous stuff, but manageable if you knew what to do."

"Once upon a time, within Shalazar's walls, lived a sultan and a sultaness of great wisdom and power. Their reign was respected, their counsel sought, yet a shadow lingered over their hearts—a barrenness that whispered of an uncertain future. A future without an heir to inherit their legacy."

"One sun-drenched day, as whispers of the sultaness's struggle reached my ears, she sought my counsel in secrecy. Of course, only after she saw the other stuffy oracles first. She confided in me, her voice tinged with vulnerability, and revealed her heart's deepest desire—a child to carry her name forward. Guided by celestial forces that flowed through me, I gazed into the stars and saw a truth that defied the odds—the sultaness would conceive, and her barrenness would yield to life."

"I was sent away from the castle, thought to be insulting them. At first. The city held its breath as the days turned to weeks, and the impossible came to pass. The sultaness, once deemed infertile by the cruel whims of fate, now carried life within her."

"Murmurs of astonishment echoed through the city's streets, and the tale of my prophecy spread like wildfire. But here's where things get interesting. Inspired by my cosmic mojo, a bunch of folks started flocking to me, curious as sandworms. They wanted a piece of that celestial action. A little cosmic insight? Yeah, sign 'em up! Before I knew it, people were following me. I left the city, and started a little settlement of my own off in the dunes. Now, let me set the record straight: I didn't set out to start a cult, alright? That was never on my to-do list. It just kinda happened, like when you accidentally spill tea all over a map and discover a hidden treasure... But I wasn't about to say no to a bunch of people waiting on me hand and foot."

"I got in touch with my powers, took long walks in the desert, used my resources to find priceless treasures, you know the usual. My visions continued to help the desertfolk, and my reputation spread."

"And now? Well, that reputation travelled so far that I've been recruited to this crappy taskforce. Suicide mission it is."

---

Freyr watched her carefully.

"Sounds about right. About this mission, I hope we don't all die."

He shifted and reached into one of his many pockets and brought out a dagger. It was oddly shaped, as if it had a tube in the center of the blade.

"The main reason I didn't pretend I was dead and pass the invitation to someone else was this. It draws blood to store in a capsule in the handle. I was hoping to sample blood from many creatures and entities alike. I believe using these liquids would help me create a... never mind."

---

Shirin cocked an eyebrow, her enigmatic gaze meeting Freyr's with a mixture of intrigue and amusement. "Well, Freyr, I must say you've got a way with words that really boosts morale." She gave him a half-smile, her tone light despite the seriousness of the situation.

Her attention was immediately drawn to the dagger he produced, its odd shape piquing her curiosity. She observed the blade, noticing the tube within its center, and raised an eyebrow. "Now that's a dagger with a flair for the dramatic. Or perhaps just a particularly dramatic thirst for blood?" Her lips quirked into a wry smile as she made her comment.

As he explained the purpose of the dagger and his intentions to sample blood from various creatures and entities, a spark of recognition flickered in Shirin's eyes. She felt a faint tug at the edges of her memory, a sense of déjà vu that she couldn't quite place. She hesitated for a moment before letting her curiosity take the lead.

"Interesting," she mused, her tone thoughtful. "You've got me intrigued now. What exactly do you hope to create with these samples? A potion, a remedy, or perhaps a concoction that's best left untold?" She leaned in slightly, her gaze unwavering. "Come on, don't leave me hanging in suspense. Share a little of your alchemical dreams with the ever-curious Shirin."

In the depths of her mind, an image stirred—a fleeting vision she had seen before, stars aligning over a figure with an oddly shaped blade. It was a vision that had left her pondering its meaning, a puzzle piece that now seemed to fit into this very moment. Yet, she kept her musings to herself, allowing Freyr to reveal his intentions first.

---

He keeps his eyes on the blade, watching the moonlight gently shimmering on the dagger. His fingers run along the edge. After a silent moment, he opens his mouth, trying to think of how he could put it.

"I put together a recipe for a humanity ending potion. The way I see it, if the entities take over too many of us, before anybody can suffer, I can just... end it."

He keeps the blade in his sight as he spins it around in his palm.

"I have seven more ingredients I need. Two of which I can get easily, but don't have the heart to. 3 are things that could get me killed. Still, I'm always kept up at night thinking what would happen if I lose hope too early on. I worry if I get the recipe wrong and we'll die in our sleep. Plus, there's the fear that those two soldiers managed to tell others about it before I-"

He shook his head.

"I'm worried that people would find out about it and think I'm a traitor to humanity instead of what I actually mean."

---

Shirin listened intently as Freyr spoke, her gaze unwavering as he laid out his thoughts. The moonlight played across the blade of the dagger, its glimmers seemingly matching the weight of his words. She sensed the gravity of his intentions, the complex mix of fear, determination, and a heavy sense of responsibility that he carried. Her own eyes remained steady, watching his fingers trace the edge of the blade, feeling the weight of his emotions even before his words took shape. When he mentioned the "humanity ending potion," her expression didn't falter; she absorbed his confession without judgment.

"I know. I've... seen your potion as well. It's a heavy burden you're carrying, Freyr, and I can see the weight of it in your eyes." She paused, her gaze softening. "But let me be clear—I don't judge you for your fears or your intentions. The world we're facing is filled with uncertainties and tough choices. Your concern for humanity's well-being is evident, and it's a noble cause."

Shirin's gaze met the shimmering moonlight on the dagger's blade, a reflection of the complexities of their situation. "But," she continued, her tone firm, "I can't support the idea of ending humanity. A light in the darkness and all that. I can't condemn millions because I personally don't see hope. For all you know, one survivor could have a brilliant enough mind and powerful enough strength to save the rest."

---

"Yes, I know. That's why I've been thinking I won't be able to finish this potion. The last seven ingredients... I don't know how to get any of them without hurting myself physically or mentally."

He drew out a thin paper from a hidden compartment in his notepad. It had scribbles and crosses and furious noted jotted around it. Freyr began to read out the only words that hadn't been crossed out.

"1- Blood of an animal that has one of it's species left."

Freyr nodded to the door that Felicia had gone through in search of the General.

"It'll probably be obvious that I don't want to hurt her."

"2- Entity blood, I probably wouldn't survive that one.
3 - Jade Honey, it's all gone, as far as I know.
4 - A section of a lamb's brain, lambs are extremely valuable now, and I haven't seen a single one in the past two years.
5 - Still bubbling lava, I'd have to get that after I get everything else.
6 - A fairy's wing, I don't know if those exist anymore, but they'd be vicious if I went to get a wing."

He paused before saying the last one. He folded the paper and tucked it back into the notebook.

In his mind, he was screaming the last ingredient over and over, wanting to say it, but knowing the small bits of trust Shirin potentially had in him could immediately be lost if he said it.

7 - The blood of an Oracle.

---

Shirin's gaze remained steady as Freyr explained his ridiculous potion to her. As he pulled out the thin paper and began to read the remaining ingredients, she listened attentively, her features a mix of curiosity and consideration. When he mentioned the first ingredient, her lips twitched into a wry smile.

As he continued down the list, her amusement shifted to thoughtful contemplation. The mention of entity blood earned a concerned furrow of her brow, and she nodded slightly at his acknowledgment of the danger. The mention of jade honey and the rarity of certain resources resonated with her understanding of the world they navigated.

When he arrived at the last ingredient, he paused before folding the paper and tucking it away. Shirin leaned back slightly, her expression unreadable for a moment before a faint smirk danced on her lips. "Oh, well, isn't that a surprise? The blood of an Oracle, you say? How utterly convenient." She chuckled softly, her tone light yet tinged with a hint of irony.

She met his gaze squarely, her eyes locking onto his. "But I have to say, Freyr, that last ingredient will be a bit tricky to come by. In fact, I'd say it'll be over my dead body." Her smirk widened into a mischievous grin. "Sorry to burst your potion-making dreams, but my blood is off the table. It's an... ethics issue, among others."

With a casual shrug, she leaned back, her fingers drumming a soft rhythm on the ship's wheel. "But hey, you're resourceful. I'm sure you'll come up with something. And who knows, maybe there's a loophole or two out there." Her gaze remained playful, a flicker of camaraderie in her eyes as she faced the challenging puzzle before them.

---

Okami had been walking towards the kitchen when she heard Freyr's list of ingredients and couldn't help but to interject.

"Fairies are still around, just rare. They've gone into hiding; only a few specific people have access to their hiding places.

...Does the animal one have to be the liongator?'

I wouldn't consider myself an animal, but technically I am. Humans are technically animals too. And I've never met another person like me.

Freyr smiled at Okami. "Thank you, I'm just a bit afraid of fairies. with the liongator one, not really... She's just the only one that has been confirmed to be the last."

His smile wavered as he soaked in Shirin's words. Was it just him? She seemed... off. Freyr nodded carefully.

"Yeah... loopholes. I'm sure there are other oracles somewhere..."

---

As Okami's voice cut through the conversation, Shirin's attention shifted gracefully toward her. She listened to the exchange with a languid, almost detached air, her eyes a steady mirror of curiosity.

"Ah, fairies in hiding, are they?" Shirin chimed in, her tone carrying a blend of amusement and curiosity. "Well, isn't that a charming secret they've got going on." Her gaze shifted to Freyr as he addressed Okami's question about the animal ingredient, and she noted the subtle shift in his smile.

The change in atmosphere didn't escape her notice, and her response came in a slow, almost measured manner. "Of course, loopholes tend to reveal themselves when you least expect them. As for other oracles, well, they're a rare breed indeed. But who knows what might be lurking in the corners of our world?"

Shirin's demeanor remained nonchalant, as if she were merely an observer watching the ebb and flow of the conversation. Yet, beneath that calm exterior, her mind was alert and calculating, her thoughts moving like the sands in a desert breeze, always seeking to steer the ship in the direction she desired.

---

Alex sat bellow the deck, in her room, listening intently. She didn't trust what Shirin might reveal to Freyr, so naturally, she was listening, having left a micro camera/audio recorder on the bench. His description of this potion caught her attention. Particularly, the first ingredient. "1- Blood of an animal that has one of it's species left."... This naturally startled her, knowing that if he were to mistakenly come across certain information, it would mean her death. Her father spent the rest of his short-lived days destroying all traces of the monster he had created; the monster that had taken his daughter's humanity. Without doubt, E-DMP-14 was now one of a kind.

---

"I don't know what you'd need a fairy wing for, but I can get ahold of one for you. For the right price, of course. Sorry, but I have a good relationship with them and I'd rather not ruin it. They...."

Took care of me...

"They're kind creatures, not very hostile unless threatened. Anger them, and you'll wish you were dead."

Okami passes back and forth, trying to figure out what to say next.

"That goes for anyone. You need a rare ingredient, I've probably got links. Comes with the territory I guess." She sighed, suddenly feeling lonely again. "Tell me, oracle, can you see the past as well?"

Alex heard the wolf-girl speaking of aquiring a different ingredient. Firstly, why are they helping him end the world? And secondly...if it gets their attention away from the first ingredient...well I should support that. She said to The Database and herself. She walked up the stairs.
"No." her voice rang out. "But I can." She looked at Okami.
Highlights.
🄼🄾🅂🅃 🄸🄼🄿🄾🅁🅃🄰🄽🅃 🄸🄽🄵🄾🅁🄼🄰🅃🄸🄾🄽:
🄽🄰🄼🄴: 🄾🄺🄰🄼🄸
🅂🄿🄴🄲🄸🄴🅂: 🅆🄾🄻🄵-🄷🅄🄼🄰🄽/ 🅂🄸🄼🄸🄻🄰🅁 🅃🄾 🅆🄴🅁🄴🅆🄾🄻🄵
🄲🅄🅁🅁🄴🄽🅃🄻🅈 🅁🄴🄻🄴🅅🄰🄽🅃 🄸🄽🄵🄾🅁🄼🄰🅃🄸🄾🄽:
🄻🄸🅅🄴🅂 🅆🄸🅃🄷 🄵🄰🅁🄸🄴🅂
🅃🅁🄰🄸🄽🄴🄳 🄰🅂🅂🄰🅂🅂🄸🄽

---

"At times. Everyone thinks it's always on command. 'Shirin, see my future. Shirin do this. Shirin do that.' And while there are certain things that I can use to trigger and focus my visions, it's not that simple. The past is one of the more unpredictable aspects of my powers. Even when I see visions, I'm not always able to immediately identify is as past and not future." She sighed.

At least she always knew who she was seeing the present. Ogd, that hurt.

---

"You have visions? Do they occur often or do you have control over them?" Lira questioned. Clearly having missed a lot, she had softly moved over towards the small gathering. She had been pretty much silent for the whole 'boat-ride', either half-staring at the moving water or gazing towards the setting sun. But Shirin's.. power was something that ignited a small spark of curiosity.

---

Shirin's gaze shifted as Lira approached, her lips curving into a sardonic grin. "Ah, the inquisitive mind awakens from its slumber," she quipped, her tone dripping with amusement. "Yes, dear Lira, I possess the gift of prophecy. Visions that dance through my mind like desert mirages, tantalizing and elusive. They're very persnickety, often becoming annoyingly persistent until I figure out what they want me to. It's a rather obnoxious drone inside my head."

With a flourish that matched her dramatic flair, she reached for a hip flask at her side and took a nonchalant swig, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "As for control, well, let's just say I don't have much. They come and go as they please, leaving me to decipher their cosmic riddles. I can trigger them, almost channelling and directing them to what I'm looking to find with the right objects, but they have a mind of their own."

She tilted her head, her gaze locking onto Lira's with a mixture of challenge and amusement. "So, my dear, if you're ever in the mood for a dose of celestial entertainment, just give me a nudge, and I might just grace you with a vision or two." Her grin widened, a playful edge to her words as she shared a glimpse into her enigmatic world.

---

"The gift of prophecy is golden, but the way you put it, your visions aren't exactly the most glorious of things. Nevertheless, it's useful and I think that many would envy what you have. Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. Good night" Lira's husky voice was thick with the desire of sleep and so, she gave in, stepping down towards her single cabin. This was the time that she was glad of her own space, no groggy mumbles or thumps. Sleep was a bliss and those who disagreed were either foolish or having that luxury every day of their lives.

---