folklorist | ϡ - Chapter TwentyFive; the price of battle [voice/action]

[ It’s almost surreal, really, how at one moment the person you cared deeply about is there next to you alive and well and the next moment not. If he had only been a little bit faster a little bit more conscious of where Giles was during all that chaos...none of this would have happened. Instead he’s sitting in his room and has been for the past few hours thinking of something to say. Something to notify everyone out there who knew him that Giles was dead. The pain doesn’t ebb or go away but only gets stronger and hard to focus on something else. The scene replays out in his mind on constant repeat until he has to shake his head and just focus on something else. This is real it’s not a dream or something equally as mythical. It’s nothing but real and nothing but the price one has to pay for living here.

There’s a shaky sigh and a deep breath that comes out on the other end for anyone listening into the broadcast. The voice that speaks next it not colorful or usual in its tone it’s not anything, really. Lifeless, dulled, colorless in its presentation. He wants to apologize, but refrains. ] For those of you…who, who didn’t know…didn't hear. [ didn't see. ]

Giles, he—[ another semi-profound pause. He told Buffy he would do this for her, for him. And he will make that one last leap. ] he’s dead. It happened yesterday in all the, the fighting. S-So he should be back in, in about a week. The twenty-fifth. [ He doesn’t know why but it’s odd saying that. Odd but true. He and many others are proof of that here. ] Please keep an eye out for him. If-if you don't know what he looks like...he’s a bit taller than me. Has a British accent, wears glasses, and has brown graying hair. He might need some assistance, even if he’ll say otherwise. Just help him...when he gets back I'm sure you all will though.

Th-thank you.

[ Shaken and exhausted he’s not sure which is worse. He can't stay here, not right now, he needs to walk and get away from the confinements of this room. And so he does, he'll be sitting on one of the bridges, the one near house P and G. And one might see Helios simply staring out over the running water and they recognize him as a man who lost someone, someone easily capable of being family to him. He'll wipe away at the stray tears every now and then and compose himself for those passing by. A brother…a friend…

They comeback. It's a mantra in his head; he can't help but feel the Malnosso will trick him again and do the opposite though. It puts him on edge, makes him afraid of just how badly Giles will return next week. More profound is the pain that stems from once again not being able to protect someone he cared deeply about. First Elise, and now Giles. He can't protect anyone from the aftermath of his announcement either, but they all had a right to know, a right which is not his to deny them. Or perhaps it was? He's not even sure himself anymore. It will be the toughest week Helios, and many others, will have to endure. It could have been avoided...and that thought alone sparks a small bit on anger in his otherwise tired mental state. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

First impressions always can get a little bit skewed, depending on the timing of things. It sounds bad but I've gotten used to it. I-I think it enhanced or took away something from us. Making you far more paranoid that usual, for instance. O-or making people like Robert more social it seems. [ He sounds a little awkward mentioning the other. ]

Oh, I'm not anything special really. Especially not by standards in my own world. [ A slight pause. What happened? The only thing that's happened is...oh. Giles told him then about the draft? The next question is almost whispered. ] ...He told you about that?

Ah, yes. I met social Robert. That was a little bit spooky. [Which makes Mulder wonder which is worse to go thought- enhancement or losing something...] Anyway, I'm an investigator of the paranormal- you name it, I'm into it. Which is why your power sounds really interesting to me.

...and... well. Yeah. [Winces unseen.] I ran into him... after it happened, when we were out there.

It was...very strange seeing him like that. A paranormal investigator? I take it you've never encountered anything like magic before then?

Ah. I-I see. He, he mentioned running into Donatello and Frederic...but not you. Nothing happened, did it? [ Not that it matters now, really. Helios still feels guilty about it though. His power, his fault naturally. ]

I've encountered a few different varieties of magic- and things that are unclassifiable but similar- although especially around here I've noticed it comes in many forms.

...No, nothing bad. The Third Party deserved what they got anyway. [A pause as he goes back and filters things mostly for the next part.] I was told later on that he'd been... enhanced, by your powers.

Yes there's a very broad classification of magic here. Especially what one can do and how someone wields it. [ Helios appreciates the filtering. Since he can't read, can't make a filter. Just a sigh. Helios hates violence hates having to use his powers for it. But he knows in the back of his mind that they really did deserve it, everything. ]

He-he was...I, I should have known better than to let him take all of it. But in his world one can transfer or take the magic of another.

[Mulder likes seeing the bad guys get what they deserve, justice done in whatever form it takes. One thing about being away from home is that he's less constrained by rules and regulations... which might be a bad thing, one day if he goes on a vengeful warpath.]

...Speaking of that magic, do you mind me asking if it was successfully returned to you?

Not at all. It was returned to me. I-I'm not surprised though. [ This isn't the first time Giles has done that. Admittedly he didn't go insane either. Let's hope they don't make this a common occurrence between the two of them. ]

That's a relief, at least. When Giles mentioned that it had been... uh... spent, for him out there, I'd wondered what would become of it. It sounds like you have a lot of offensive attacking spells that you're capable of?

[Don't mind him, these things just really fascinate him.]

I suppose it's different when the user isn't used to it of different worldly mechanism play a factor. My-my magic can't really be used up completely. [ Unless you're dead. ]

It usually will slowly replenish itself with lots of rest and abstaining from further usage. You're correct, I do. Some are passed down from mythological beings, others are created by humans we-well magicians like myself. I prefer to mix and match the two, it gives good results...most of the time.

[ Besides when it blows stuff up. ]

Only most of the time, huh? [Yes, that does sound like potential disasters have to happen, but Mulder could understand magic being a dangerous occupation.] How does that power from mythological beings work? I assume you've already drawn it from before coming here...

There are mishaps...occasionally. When two spells don't coincide right. [ You know, like chemical reactions and stuff. ]

Ah, well, spells in my world need an incantation to be said in order to unleash their power. Mythological beings have certain incantations passed down through generations upon generations. Not many people know about them and it takes a skilled magician to even learn the basics on how to use them. Even at my level...the amount of power I have behind mythica spells is a mere fraction of what it should be. I-I picked up a few...in my line of work as a headmaster. I try not to use them frequently. They're extremely taxing and powerful, naturally, given the beings that use them.

I'd like to see your magic at work someday. [Not... counting what happened out there on the draft.] It sounds like it's still very powerful, even with their power cap in place here.

I wouldn't mind giving a demonstration someday then. [ When things are better. And they will be. ] Mm it is. Sometimes it's not enough. [ It wasn't...enough. ]

Someday. There's no rush, of course, given... everything. [Yeah, he can understand that "it's not enough" feeling.] I'm sure you still did everything you could, out there.

Yes. We do have plenty of spare time in Luceti after all. [ A sigh. ]

It would almost be an extended vacation, minus the experiments and the frequent bouts of doom and disaster...

ϡ - Chapter TwentyFive; the price of battle [voice/action]

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