Aefenglom IC Inbox

[unyieldingmarch]

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[arturiarex]

Almost two months, if I recall correctly.

[ Saber nods, happy to move on to another subject. ]

Yourself?

[unyieldingmarch]

Six? Roughly. I arrived in the early fall.

[And it's been a hard time.]

[arturiarex]

Ah. I understand that you've also been affected by the changes here.

[unyieldingmarch]

Correct.

[Edelgard reaches into a basket beside her chair and plucks out a small vial of reddish liquid that she unstoppers and begins pouring into her tea. Stirring it idly with a finger, she looks up at the other woman.]

I am a vampire, Saber. I subsist entirely on blood, though I prefer to mix it into things rather than drink it straight. The economy is set up to include people like me, so, I've a very steady supply.

You...appear to be a turnskin, by your tail. Is that correct?

[arturiarex]

I am unsure, but that certainly seems to be the case.

[ She lifts her hand to show off the talons or claws she's grown. ]

I suppose I have to wait and see. The blood-drinking sounds... unpleasant.

[unyieldingmarch]

There are worse things. I, frankly, count my blessings that my body isn't growing eight spider-y limbs like an arachne. Perhaps it's shallow, but...I like my body the way it is.

[She'd rather not slither or scuttle, thank you.]

[arturiarex]

I would prefer mine remain unchanged as well, but it seems not to be.

[ Saber sighs. ]

At least it has only been a tail and claws so far.

[unyieldingmarch]

Hopefully it remains manageable for you.

[Edelgard shakes her head, smiling sadly.]

Do...take care to discard any silver you have around the house. Better to be safe than sorry.

[arturiarex]

Oh? Are turnskins badly affected by it?

[ Saber arches a brow. ]

I do not have any silver, as it happens. But I'll keep it in mind.

[unyieldingmarch]

Yes. It's a physical allergy. It will make a turnskin break out, and wounds with silver are particularly grievous and heal slowly. Also, some vampires are affected similarly, though I'm not among them.

[Thank goodness for small favors.]

Fae are affected badly by iron, so if you find yourself becoming more fae-like then consider avoiding that too. Though I've not known any such beings that have tails and claws as of yet.

[arturiarex]

I haven't noticed anything like that, but I'll keep the potential allergic reaction in mind...

[ Saber frowns and considers this for a moment. ]

I doubt that I'm fae, though. They seem... much more insect-like than I seem to be. I mostly hope that the changes will stop soon. I would prefer to have it over and done with.

[unyieldingmarch]

This is true. You seem more mammalian.

[So, probably Turnskin. Maybe Chimera.]

I wish I could offer any reassurance there. My own changes dragged on for months, till early last month. It's...different for vampires though, as the final change is a temporary death.

[arturiarex]

Temporary death...?

[ Saber seems a little startled. ]

Vampires are undead, aren't they? So I suppose that makes sense. Still... it seems as if it might be difficult to deal with.

[unyieldingmarch]

I was dead, and then I wasn't.

[She shrugs, now that she's had a month to adjust to the fact.]

Life goes on, only I won't age. Though, I don't recommend dying. It was a dreadful experience.

[arturiarex]

I have not died. But... I have come close.

[ And the only reason she didn't technically die was because she cut a deal with the World. ]

I was dying, before. [ She mentions this a bit off-handedly. Or maybe just quietly, as if she's trying to get the words out properly. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[She sounds sympathetic, at least. It's genuine. But there's a lot to unpack in a statement like that.]

I hope that you find this place something of a reprieve.

[arturiarex]

I did not wish for one.

[ A reprieve, that is. ]

...it is a long story to recount. And not one I enjoy telling.

[ The guilt is still a little crushing, honestly. ]

What was your home like? [ Just gonna. Change the subject. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

Home is...a little bit of a long story, but not an unpleasant one.

[Folding her hands into her lap after setting aside her cup, she begins.]

I'm from Fodlan, the largest region on our continent, separated from the other by mountains. The nation I lead is the Adrestian Empire, which as of a few months ago encompasses all of Fodlan.

We've only just come out of a major war, five years of conflict. A conflict that I started.

[She has no problem admitting that out loud, though some people (mostly Lions) might think it makes her clearly evil.]

Fodlan, until very recently, was held under the claw of an ancient dragon masquerading as a human. This creature had control over the Church, and used it's influence to manipulate human society. I led a revolution to defeat the beast and unravel her machinations and now we are rebuilding a society where humanity can grow and prosper on its own.

[arturiarex]

[ That reminds her of other kings she's met. Of other rulers. She was not much of a conqueror herself, although she certainly fought battles to extend and to protect her kingdom - but never to throw down an existing social order. ]

That sounds like a story in of itself. I cannot say I envy you the task you set yourself, but... if you emerged victorious, it sounds as if it was for the better.

[ She knows well the cost of war, so she will not try to say anything pithy about the rest of it. ]

I imagine arriving here was not a part of your plans.

[unyieldingmarch]

We did. The dragon cast cast down. And...now I am here.

[Edelgard shrugs, not really sure what else to say.]

I came from merely a few days after the final battle. My plan was to leave troops to help rebuild the city she had decided to burn in her last act, and then to begin reforms. Alas, none of that has happened. Though I'm sure it will the moment I return home.

[arturiarex]

That depends on how much time has passed, surely.

[ She's not sure if time will pass for them in their own eras. But perhaps it will? ]

[unyieldingmarch]

My chief general and almost all of my commanders are present. I've made my wishes clear, so even if time does pass, I trust all of them to do the right thing.

[The Black Eagles are nothing if not compassionate people.]

[arturiarex]

I'm glad you have them, then.

[ There's something there that reminds her of her own knights. Her inner circle, who she could rely on, almost without fail. ]

I know what it means to have people who will follow you to the bitter end.

[unyieldingmarch]

[She isn't far off, certainly.]

It's comforting, yes. Knowing people share your dream....

[She sighs, then shakes her head to ward off the melancholic spell.]

Sorry, I can't help but miss them, too. Even if it's better that they aren't here.

[arturiarex]

Are you worried they might be pulled here?

[ She's curious. Genuinely so. ]