unyieldingmarch | Aefenglom Log Overflow

I see...

[She does actually understand that. Friendship is a valuable gift. Standing beside a friend, going against one's supposed "purpose" is a blessing, too.]

A witch, then? I take it that whatever you could do before, you can now not? My own retainer lost access to his magic, and we both lost our ability to tap into our Crests.

No I cannot. [They look down at their feet on the ground.] All my abilities are gone.

[Maybe the worst thing is that they've lost their connection with the earth beneath their feet. Because their feet are on that ground, but the ground does not tell them anything anymore. It is just...the ground. Just dirt.]

So I take you are still able to use the abilities you had? Except for your Crest, that is?

My magic is gone. And my Crests are sealed, yes. I was not much of a mage, but the change did not take away my abilities as a soldier.

[She knows how to fight and use weapons, and that won't go away.]

It's strange. But I am not unhappy with the loss of Crest magics.

[Enkidu thinks they aren't going to become much of a witch. They are good at what they are created for. A weapon made to match the strength of a god.]

My abilities are all tied to my purpose. And I seem to have lost that.

[They have to find a new purpose here and they figure it is not going to be easy. This isn't Chaldea or the woods close to Uruk. There is no Grail and there are no gods that need to be defied.]

Quite a challenge.

[To say the least.]

Is it something bad? Crest magic?

The magic itself, no.

[It's simply a tool.

A tool she does not like. Though, going into the why is a touch personal for the moment.]

However, in my world, society is based around Crests. Those with Crests make decisions and hold power and sway. Think of them as marks of status. The war I was involved with...the war I started...was to reforge our society into a world where merit and not Crests they were fortunate enough to be born with determines the worth of a person.

What sort of merit will replace those Crests?

[They lean forward a little.]

Have you replaced your own Crest? [That seems a logic thing to do. Otherwise humans might think nothing has changed and things are still the same. And wars are never pleasant. Humans can be very violent and stubborn. They can say this and do the opposite.] Or merely refused to use it?

Ability. Some have natural aptitudes towards scholarship, others towards leadership or strategy...there will be meritocratic examinations for government positions.

[Simple as that.]

...As for replacing my own Crest, I have not. I cannot, yet. Crests are in the blood, tied in by magical means and passed down through family lines. Science has not advanced far enough to remove them yet, though my scholars are working on a solution to that.

When they manage the art, I will gladly be the first in line to have it removed.

[Enkidu smiles while they listen to her. She seems like a strong ruler. One that stands for her beliefs but also manages to care for the ones around her.

Of course, she isn't Gilgamesh. She is far from Gilgamesh. No one comes close to Gilgamesh. But still, Enkidu appreciates her demeanour.]

You want everyone to be equal, not? Also the ones without the Crests? I take it that the ones who are opposing you are the ones who like to keep these Crests?

[Once again they lean forward and when they look at Edelgard, their face is full of intense fascination.]

May I see your Crest? What does it look like?

The ones that opposed me have been defeated, but yes. They were the nobility that clung to the idea of Crests as the sole determiner of worth, and the Church that preached their virtues at the expense of others.

[In other words, she had gone to war with God herself.]

As for showing you, I cannot. I...cannot summon them here.

[She could show Enkidu the markings, but no. That would involve showing them her scarred hands. That she will not do. No one has seen those hands save Hubert since she was released from the care of her tormentors. So, she lies. Somewhat.]

They require access to my magic to conjure, you see.

But what if someone without a Crest lacks any ability to be of use for your goal?

[While humans are fascinating and exceptionally strong, they can also be without any sort of talent. They can be very lazy and very mean.]

This entire world is rather magical, I think it won't matter if you'd use your own magic to show it. [After saying that they finish their drink.] But I understand what you mean. [They keep on smiling and it is obvious that they enjoy this conversation greatly.]

Then they'll not have positions of rank within a government? If one cannot effectively lead troops, then one should not be a general. If one is bad with money, then they should not be a finance minister. There is nothing wrong or shameful about honest trades, like cooking or blacksmithing. So long as they are not turning to banditry or other criminal activities, they'll be able to do as they wish.

[She's all about that equality.]

This world is definitely magical, too, you are right. But I cannot summon it. this world's magic is incompatible with my own.

That is very fair. [They hum a little before they speak again.]I am not very experienced with troops... [That was more a thing Gilgamesh did.] ...but it is important that there is a common goal... [Oh, and...] ...and that the commander isn't an idiot. I think you fight for a noble cause, Edelgard.

[Enkidu nods slowly after saying that.]

I hope I will be able to see it one day.

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Enkidu

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should we end it here?