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Post by knownasstation on Nov 20, 2009 15:14:05 GMT -5
Vathek remained silent for a moment or two. What do the guardians have to do anything? From what Vathek could remember, the guardians were doing the right thing. Of course, he didn't have enough time to think about them in the first place - his thoughts were focused on Meridian. So he couldn't understand what the princess was getting at.
"Are you thinking of sending me to fight the guardians or something?" Vathek asked. "I have no quarrel with them anymore. I hold no anger towards them. They didn't cut us off - they cut Phobos off. It's our loss that we're stuck in here with him. But as soon as we get his head on a pike and wave it, maybe the guardians will remove the veil."
Vathek smiled, imagining it all happening. Then he looked at Elyon and added. "Forgive me. What were you trying to say, princess?"
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Post by Elyon on Nov 20, 2009 15:37:19 GMT -5
"You're awfully optimistic..." Elyon commented, clearly a bit let down on the unimpressive impact she made with her statement...
"But okay. Imagine you people would succeed... Imagine you won. What's next? Probably a biiig celebration, quickly followed by all of Meridian falling into disarray because there's no one ruling it! Several people will rise to the challange - probably starting some in-fighting. Eventually, someone will have the throne, promising to do his or her very best to please everyone. Naturally, a small group of people can't be pleased and they'll start to persuade more people of their beliefs. Eventually, that small group will form a new rebellion, forcing the new monarch to stand up to them--"
Elyon cut her story short... "Do you see where I'm going with this? It's happening right now! A rebellion always believes that they're doing the right thing! They've got this stupid tunnel-vision that their way is the way. They're fighting for something which doesn't exist, Vathek! Something that can't exist! If the rebellion gets their way, Meridian will forever be like it is now..."
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Post by knownasstation on Nov 20, 2009 15:48:49 GMT -5
"You think the rebels are fighting for themselves?" Vathek replied ironically. "No. They're fighting for an idea - an idea of freedom, of truth - of people being happy. They're fighting to see the right thing happen. But that's not all. They have an embodiment of the idea - the Light of Meridian. And that, princess, is you! You are the one to rule Meridian - not Phobos!"
Vathek paused for a while, to let the words vanish into air. "You are right about one thing. There will always be fights - and one rebellion will follow another. That is a fact we cannot change. But why are the rebels fighting? Because something is wrong. And in this case, the entire world is wrong - as long as it belongs to Phobos. You see, if it would be just a small thing - some small problem, not many would agree to risk their lives fighting to change it. I wouldn't risk my head to lower the taxes. I wouldn't risk my life to get higher rations of food. But if some fool thinks that he can enslave the entire city, rob people and kill the ones who have nothing left at all - then I'll fight to my last breath to see him pay for all these crimes!"
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Post by Elyon on Nov 20, 2009 16:12:12 GMT -5
"And that's the tunnel-vision I was talking about." Elyon replied, smiling triumphantly. "Trying to attain freedom by killing the people who don't agree with you... Yeah, that's totally not exacly the same thing you're accusing my brother of... Those soldiers the rebellion killed... They were brave men too, you know! They had their ideas of freedom as well! They left behind a mourning familly all the same..."
"It's kind of funny when you think about it... You say I'm supposed to rule everything, yet you yourself claimed that I'm like Phobos just a moment ago..."
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Post by knownasstation on Nov 20, 2009 16:22:35 GMT -5
"That's because things are going wrong." Vathek replied. He was tired of speaking. "That's because Cedric filled your head with lies. About the soldiers we have here. I don't know how many of them are brave - on the contrary, most of them are cowards. If they would'n't be cowards, they wouldn't serve Phobos. Some of them are just sick - they enjoy killing and torturing. Haven't you seen their eyes, secretly staring at you? The soldiers here - only few of them know a thing or two about duty and have something decent inside of them."
Vathek sighed heavily. He was tired and very sad and all he wanted was for everything to be okay. "Besides, rebels never killed anyone without being attacked first. They sneak in, steal... no, retake supplies that were stolen from the people. They take weapons. They spy to learn more about the castle and its defenses. But they only kill when attacked. A lot of them aren't even warriors - they're just citizens that have no place to go - everything is taken away from them - their homes and families."
Vathek shook his head. "Listen, princess. I'm not here to speak about the truth of life with you. I am here to help you. I'm the only one in Phobos's army who wants to help you."
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Post by Elyon on Nov 20, 2009 16:54:39 GMT -5
"Okay, now I know you're making it up." Elyon calmly stated as she turned her back on the Galhot... His story was way too one-sided to be believable. Did Vathek actually expect her to believe that everyone around her is a heartless monster and all of the rebellion is the personification of goodness? Please! She's been around for a few days. She's seen her share of guards and rebels... "So you wanna help?" She repeated after Vathek. "Then go ahead and join your sorry excuse for a rebellion! And once you do, be sure to tell them that their 'light of Meridian' hates them and will destroy them if she ever sees any of them again!! If you would do that, it would be a great help!"
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Post by knownasstation on Nov 20, 2009 17:00:01 GMT -5
"Sure thing." Vathek said. "I just need to finish rebuilding the throne room first."
He couldn't help it. He had to joke around a bit. And even if it wasn't very funny, Vathek still started laughing out loud.
"The truth bites, eh?" He asked, still laughing. "You don't even want to consider the possibility that Cedric's the one who's lying to you - the one who took you away from the people that cared about you. You don't want to imagine that everyone who now smiles will bite one day. Why think? Why worry? Why, you are the princess of Meridian! Surely things will work out somehow. Best if you just go and mock the one who's trying to protect you. Best if you hate the ones who are dying out there, in your name! If believe a lie, then to believe it to the very end is that it? A very bitter end!!!"
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Post by Elyon on Nov 20, 2009 17:28:08 GMT -5
"SHUT UP!!" Elyon snapped back. Aparently, Vathek struck a nerve there... "Don't you ever dare to speak to me again!!" she started yelling. "I've been giving your tongue waaay too much liberty! Really! I could've accepted another meaningless comment on how lousy a job Phobos is doing or a weak attempt at defending your delusional ideals! But you just sit there, laughing at my face, all the while claiming you care!! NEVER have I been so insulted!!!" She turned around and faced Vathek, with both hatred and crimson light filling her eyes. "I'm going to hate myself for even giving you this chance. I want you to leave my castle now!! I never want to see or hear you again!!"
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Post by knownasstation on Nov 20, 2009 18:08:27 GMT -5
Vathek stood up again and crossed his arms saying. "No. You may do what you want to me, but if I'll leave, who'll be there for you when you'll need help? The day will come and if I'll be away, you'll be the one regretting it."
Vathek knew he was playing with fire here, but he had to take a stand - because it was the right thing to do.
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Post by Elyon on Nov 22, 2009 16:05:13 GMT -5
"I SAID SHUT UP!!" Elyon violently repeated. "I gave you a chance!! I gave you a chance to prove your point about Cedric! I just gave you a chance to leave quietly! Yet you couldn't convince or obey me!!" She looked prepared to bring down the ceiling again. But something she didn't understand prevented her from doing it. She wanted Vathek gone fast and forever. But something in her heart made her lose the urge to kill him, let soldiers loose on him, imprison him or anything similar... So instead, Elyon angrilly turned around and stomped towards the destroyed doors orf the throne hall... "Fine! Rot away in here for all I care!!" she yelled with flaring nostrills. "But I mean it! If you ever speak to me again, I'll..." she stopped midsentence, trying to figure out how to continue. "... Well... You'd better not speak to me again!!"
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Post by knownasstation on Nov 22, 2009 17:00:55 GMT -5
All Vathek could do was to obey the order - quietly. So he simply nodded, ignoring the fact that the princess turned away and couldn't see it. Things were going wrong, he wanted to become Elyon's friend, and instead he probably made her hate him. Well, he did his best - but as always, words were not enough. I'll just have to steal her away and try one more time. With that thought, Vathek turned around to continue working. Of course, no soldiers were there - they all were sent away by the princess. So Vathek turned around (again) and was about to go call them, but then he saw Cedric crawling out of his hideout like some worm. Cedric looked at Vathek for a moment, slowly shook his head and ran towards an alternate passage to the courtyard - he didn't want the princess to find out about his spying.
[Exit: Lord Cedric to the Courtyard].
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Post by Elyon on Nov 23, 2009 13:17:27 GMT -5
After she made her statement, Elyon angrilly stomped out of the throne room, heading back to the courtyard, where she left Cedric waiting...
[Exit: Elyon to the Courtyard]
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Post by knownasstation on Nov 23, 2009 15:43:56 GMT -5
Slowly, one after another, the soldiers returned to the throne room. Without talking, they resumed to their tasks and continued rebuilding the throne room. Noise soon filled the hall and the crane started raising supplies to the roof. Vathek didn't do anything. It wasn't something he could do better than the soldiers - on the contrary, with the crane in place, his big body would only get in the way. "Sir Vathek!" A soldier interrupted Vathek's thoughts about uselessness. "Sir Vathek!" "What is it?" the blue monster asked with a painful expression. Why couldn't the soldiers just leave him alone? "Forgive me for interrupting you..." the soldier said. "But I've got some important news and I'm sure you'd like to hear them." "I wouldn't." Vathek replied. "But since you already bothered to begin, then tell me your news." "Sir, the rebel leader just escaped the castle." "What?!" Vathek grabbed the soldier. "Are you sure?" "Well, yes... Half of the castle saw him in the courtyard. Also, he killed a soldier near the princess's chambers." "I see." Vathek let go of the soldier and turned away, to hide his joyful smile. The first good news in a long while! "Sir..." the soldier asked carefully. "Are you crying? It's alright, we'll catch him... No need to get all sad and all..." "Shut up, idiot!" Vathek tried to sound angry, but instead he almost laughed. "Leave me alone! Get back to work!" "Yes, sir." The soldier did as told.
Vathek then left the throne room.
[Exit: Vathek to the Forest]
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Post by knownasstation on Dec 11, 2009 5:54:24 GMT -5
[Enter: Vathek from Elyon's Chamber]
So there he was again. In the Throne Room, where everything was being rebuilt - except for his soul, that kept crumbling. The weight of all those innocent people that he killed. Hatred in Elyon's eyes and now... now Cedric hated him too. Vathek was falling down fast and there was no edge to grab onto.
Vathek knew that Phobos is alive and it was just a trick. A trick Caleb fell for. Even if Vathek felt disappointment, it was nothing compared to what the rebel leader will feel. So, the summary: Phobos was alive, Cedric almost got killed and now hates him, the princess hates him more than ever. And even more dead people. Was there a reason to keep on fighting? Vathek did not know. What's the point in life, if every action just brings more evil with it?
The ceiling was being rebuilt and the hole kept getting smaller. Vathek felt as if he was in a prison and the only way out would slowly be shrinking. He could see the sky. It was clouded. It promised rain.
"How is the progress?" Vathek asked a builder who was taking a break. "It's fine, sir." He replied. "At this rate, we'll finish the job very soon - maybe even tomorrow." "Tomorrow, eh?" Vathek walked away. It was strange to think about tomorrow - this day seemed to keep stretching, as if it was endless. But it still kept getting darker with every moment - both outside and in Vathek's soul. If they're doing the right thing, how come he's feeling worse than ever?
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Post by knownasstation on Dec 26, 2009 19:37:30 GMT -5
Enough of this Vathek's mind told him. Enough of staring at nothing. Vathek nodded, agreeing with his mind - not that it could see his gesture - and stood up. His sight got black for a second. Vathek breathed in deeply. But the air here wasn't fresh - dust was dancing in it. Vathek decided to go outside, to get a drink of clean air. And to get away from all the noise. He gave a sign to the workers and headed out.
[Exit: Vathek to the Courtyard]
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