eachdraidh | VIDEO | SEELIE + HERMIONE-NET (backdated to the 25th)

[ The video opens to the woodlands surrounding Caer Glaem. Aslan rests not to far away from a shrine to the White Hart, which is visible in the distance.

His expression is grave, indeed, but his address is made with poise. ]

To those of you to whom I have never spoken, greetings. My name is Aslan, and I arrived in the drabwurld approximately a year and a half ago by this world's reckoning.

I speak to you now, to those who may be unaware, of events that may be coming in the near future.

Earlier this month, I dreamed a dream like unto the visions that came to a number of individuals at the turn of last year. In my dream, I saw great beasts made of metal ravaging the lands with fire. They destroyed everything in their path, and the light of their eyes glowed like unto the very Shards we bear.

I cannot say when, but I believe this vision will come to pass.

I give this warning so that you might not fear, but prepare.

The End comes, and we must be ready to meet it.

[ He lets his words sink in a moment, then- ]

Be well, all of you.

[ With that, he ends the feed. ]

---

[ ooc: Please check out Aslan's permissions post if you would like him to know your character, and make a note in your tag so I know to look! c: ]

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Naturally. It's the one instinct that's nearly impossible to overcome: survival, and the more the odds are stacked, the harder they'll fight.

[A pity, perhaps, but Joshua has to admire their courage.]

If they're born of fire, then I must question how that is possible, considering that fire magic isn't something easily viable for those native to the Drabwurld.

[He has a hunch of the answer, but not much more than that. He has no proof, after all.]

[ Aslan admires courage as well. However, denial and self-deception are of little help to anyone. ]

To harness the power of fire in the drabwurld as it is now, they would require either the assistance of the new fire god or a shardbearer who wields fire.

Since the fall of Mount Verla, there would be no other way.

I can't speak for the Unseelie, but from what I've observed of our known fire users, they wouldn't find working with shards in that way to their taste.

[It's clear that while Joshua doesn't think a shardbearer is offering their assistance, he's not totally ruling it out. There are ways to force someone to do what they don't want to, after all.]

All I know of Kaio is that he's only a few months old by now, and that none have seen him for an unusual amount of time. Given the visions and the absence of our fire god, I'm led to think that his supposed assistance is the most likely answer.

I am inclined to agree.

[ On all counts, actually. ]

If he is indeed providing his assistance, there is no way of knowing whether it is voluntary or not.

[ Or at least, not right now. ]

Not unless someone is able to spy on the creators of those golems. Even in that case, I'm not sure which is worse: if Kaio agreed to helping or if he'd been forced into it.

[Since, honestly, those are both really bad scenarios.]

Taking into account those monstrosities and adding that to the destruction that will be caused by the Void getting nearer, it seems clear that there's no time for a third option to be satisfactorily successful. Not unless someone is able to pull a large scale miracle that won't result in destroying the worlds already lost to it, not to mention the rest of this world.

[It's really his only objection to the Unseelie's path: the slow death of the universe. He doesn't care if it's a permanent one, as he can understand being tired of being given yet another chance and botching it up yet again. Merely the fact that it means suffering in this world, which will then echo to the other worlds, is why he can't accept their goal as a viable means to an end.]

Desperation may drive people, and even gods, to do great and terrible things.

[ He speaks of Kaio, but also of people. He has not heard of any plans to enact a third option, but regardless, he would stand against it and put an end to it if word of one should reach his ears. ]

The danger of attempting such a thing is far too great, especially when the world itself is breathing its last breath.

The Void must complete its course, regardless of the thoughts and feelings of those who would stand in its way.

I hope for more greatness to come of their desperation, but I expect that it will be terrible.

[History has taught him that much.]

I'm in agreement. [There's a hint of sadness in his voice, though. He's reminded of the last time he'd spoken to Hiro about the End.] A year ago, I entertained the possibility, as there had still been time enough to find out something safe. Not any longer.

[Yet...he harbors some doubt and guilt over this decision. Joshua has never said these particular thoughts aloud, but he feels that it's safe to do so with Aslan. Perhaps a part of him has been crying out for that same level of trust he holds for Sanae. It's a cry he's ignored for over a year. Now...it's worse than ever.]

Aslan, if you have the time, I would like to speak to you in person about a personal subject relating to the End.

It may or may not.

[ Aslan remains hopeful, but he is also, in some ways, a realist. Of the Seelie shardbearers he has knows, very few, he thinks, actually support the Seelie goal. ]

I am available whenever you are ready.

[Joshua takes a moment to gather his thoughts before nodding.]

I'm ready. I'm in the woods of Glaschu.

I will find you.

VIDEO | SEELIE + HERMIONE-NET (backdated to the 25th)

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