Catch-all: Bradley

[ercnerd]

Comments

[battling]

We only got humans and wizards where I'm from. Wizards don't die from old age, but we can be killed.

[ercnerd]

. . . Anyone can be killed. It doesn't matter whether they're mortal or immortal.

[battling]

Just a matter of bein' strong enough to kill them.

[ercnerd]

Strength is part of it.

[Before he can say more, another memory fragment plays:

You hide behind a thicket of trees, dead and alive, with an expressionless girl—Mari—who watches your sullen expression. Now that the conversation has steered this way, you're caught up in the torrent of boiling emotions over the terrible fate your brothers met centuries ago. But you've agreed to tell her the truth, and it would be wrong to back out after making that promise.

"May I ask what you're after? Although I don't have the Klara Libri . . . " She trails off, but continues when you neglect to respond: "My knowledge may be of help."

"I want to learn more about the demon who devours other demons," you answer flatly.

Mari's eyes widen. "A demon who devours demons . . . "

"You know something?"

"No. I can't think of anything. But I'll tell you if I do."

You sigh, the tension in your mien unraveling as you receive the answer you were expecting. "What a waste of time."

Mari watches you for a moment, then says, "I have a question for you as well." She doesn't budge when you suggest leaving this dangerous place first. "It will be safer to wait for our friends than to run away from Duel. May we keep hiding?"

You don't like the thought of cowering in a battlefield, but this is Mari. She's the last of the royal bloodline from the ancient kingdom your brothers once protected. There are forces, like Duel, who would use her as the key to endanger her life and the world. It's your duty to ensure that no harm befalls her.

You muster up a smile to lighten the mood. "I don't like it . . . but it's a rational suggestion. What did you want to ask me?"

"Well . . . I'm interested in immortality. Please let me experiment on you."

"Ack, you're not going to dissect me, are you?"

Mari smirks, and the light appears to reflect off the lenses of her spectacles as she replies, "I don't know. Maybe . . . "

You find yourself too speechless to say anything.]

[battling]

... ?

Who's that girl you were with?

[Dissection...?]

[ercnerd]

. . . Just another kid who's too interested in my invincible body.

[battling]

There's more than one?

[ercnerd]

Well, there's that brat who threatened to tears my limbs apart.

They're both too curious, if you ask me.

[battling]

Yer limbs? What did he want yer limbs for?

[ercnerd]

How should I know what he wanted to do with them? He's a demon. He was just excited by the idea of a human toy that wouldn't die right away.

[battling]

That the demon ya were askin' about, or was it somebody else?

[ercnerd]

. . . No. It's somebody else.

[battling]

Ever find the info ya were lookin' for?

[ercnerd]

I did . . . for a time. He was right in front of me, too. The slippery bastard keeps moving.

[battling]

Still on the hunt?

[ercnerd]

The next time I see him . . . I'll get him for sure!

[battling]

Sounds like yer gettin' closer.

[ercnerd]

It's closer than I've been in centuries.

. . . But first, there's this place.

[battling]

Just a couple weeks before we're outta here.

Long as that info was right.

[ercnerd]

We'll see when it's time. You can't afford to stay here, either.

[battling]

I'll tear this place apart if it tries to keep me here.

[ercnerd]

Heh. That makes two of us. There's no way I'm going to let a school stop me from doing what I have to do.

[battling]

Shit t' do and places to be.

[ercnerd]

The life of a bandit is busy, huh? I don't envy you.

[battling]

Better than bein' bored in here.