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Snow Night
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>Fap with the robe. There has never been a better time for you to be able to say "I fucked with the future" and know for a fact you did.
…what’s really terrifies you is that a part of you actually think this is a good idea. Is it thanks to Xuv or have you always been this big of a perv?
>Does Kronos have to conquer himself or "conquer" himself if you know what I mean? *wink wink nudge nudge*
Dammit! Stop it brain! Think with the big head, not the small one!
>Makes me wonder if mortals have also subconsciously made little totems of the Dreamer in the shape of certain innocuous items, similar to how the book preservation magic thingies the librarians use are shaped kinda like Chronicler.
Its face marking does resemble that symbol that dreamcatcher usually have… hmm…
>Face the mirror, act like you're gonna fight your clone in fair combat then just pull out your gun and shoot him.
…that’s either going to end with you shooting yourself or you destroying the mirror and barring the way forward.
>I don't think Kronos has a gun right now.
Apparently, a gun comes with the clothes…
>That soon? Given that something seems to be killing every mage that attempts to tap or study the River of Souls, you thought it'd be much longer, if ever.
A few hundred, a few thousands… details doesn’t matter… what does is that you’ll probably be long dead by that point.
>By the way, who or what is it that's killing those that try to unlock the River of Souls' secrets?
The old man does not take kindly to intruders… though, in a way, he does give them exactly what they want, doesn’t he? Just a bit too much of it… to fast.
>Ask Dreamer what the lockdown was about.
When you wake up, ask the sentinel who wards you. She will know by then.
>How come your clothes appeared on you, even though that wasn't what you were trying to will to happen.
Because that is how you see yourself. That is who you are.
>What happens if I lose?
With conquering yourself or in general? Well, if you fail completely the kingdom and those next to it will fall to ruin and destruction. If you fail to face yourself… well, what’s the worst you can do to yourself?
>Can I return here another time?
Do you dream?
>What did consuming Xuv net me?
More than you can fathom, though I cannot teach you how to utilize it. There’s no one left that can… hasn’t been for a long, long time. Right now, you are here, aren’t you? I’m sure if you explore a bit you’ll find out exactly what that entails. Let’s just say that you’ve gained quite the weapon to wield against a nightmare.
>Life isn't going to be pissed at you for devouring Xuv's mind is he?
You are mortal… well, will be when Xuv’s “blessing” is removed. All mortal ceases… thus the souls you consumed will return to the cycle, one day. Say what you will about the old man, he is patient when it comes to that.
>What about the child Bri and I wanted to have together? Now that Xuv is dead, is it still possible for Bri and I to have a child together or is it too late?
There might still be children laughing in your future, dreamwalker. Xuv’s blessings are still there, even if she is no longer with us.
>Wait, wait, wait... Is Dreamer saying that Xuv's god-like powers were tied to her soul, not her body?
Magic are souls… or souls are magic? Souls would be the wrong word… it’s more of a… life essence. The very same power that breathe life into everything is the one mages bend to create fire, thus Xuv’s soul would be where here power is, no?
>Because if that's the case, then presumably the god-like power of the rest of the Five left with their souls as well.
The corpses are mostly inert, indeed, but there is enough there… each body might contain… oh, a little less than one fifth? One sixth? Enough to ascend, for sure.
>But if there is a great power tied to the corpses of those god-like, then doesn't that mean there's a bunch of god corpses left in the world that others could dig or dredge up?
Most was ripped to shred as the world fell apart. You don’t need to concern yourself for those that might be left.
>Perhaps Dreamer could tell you what actually happened to kill the gods of that age.
Tell me, what would happen if all air suddenly disappeared for a year?
…we would die horribly?
Indeed… now, take a being made out of magic… one that feeds on it completely… whose very existence is tied to it… and then remove all magic for a year.
…they would die horribly.
Bodies needed it to function, food was grown with it, water created, vehicles powered… the very cities was held together with it. Suddenly, there weren’t any left… and the world fell apart, ending the age and those that ruled it. No one was spared… but one.
…Xuv?
Xuv died with the rest… no, the old forgotten one is a story for another time… for another generation. All you need to know is magic ceased… and so did the self-proclaimed gods as well.
>...Oh, and also ask what was the reason for Xuv's imprisonment in the depths of the Soul Kiln, anyway?
Rage, jealousy and bitter rivalry. She and Illasia never could see eye to eye. Xuv did get the last laugh, though, as those left of the seven blamed Illasia for the coming storm… and managed to punish her seconds before their demise.
>So, what you're saying is the Nightmare never would've existed if Krotos had died a few seconds sooner, right?
Or if he had taken a left instead of a right… or your sister didn’t drop that pen… or if you had just taken a few more seconds to say goodbye to your father. So many pieces… yet it all came together. To think, such small change would be needed... to make Xuv and the nightmare threat never to accrue. Indeed, what if for but a nail, eh? Ah, the bitter taste of hindsight, eh?
>So what would happen if the lid of the Catacombs/Soul Kiln was ripped off so the souls could return to the cycle of the River of Souls?
…BOOM! No more capital.
>So, is there a way to drain that energy off so it doesn't blow up when the top is popped off the Soul Kiln?
It’s already broken, already draining. Give it time… and don’t feed it with more needless wars.
>And how pleased would the Old Man be if all these trapped souls are freed and the trap that's been slowly diverting souls from the cycle is broken open?
It’s already broken… and it’s already finite. He doesn’t care how long it will take, as long as the souls return.
>Ask where these intrusive thoughts that you're pretty sure aren't yours are coming from.
Are you sure they aren’t yours? Sometimes, you’ll be surprised who you are in the dark.
>So, is this smirking mirror version of you part of the Nightmare, part of you, or something else?
Ah, my apologies, as I can’t help you face yourself. If I did, you would never be able to emerge victorious.
>Ask Dreamer just what those voices in Krotos head were and where they came from.
Your family is known for their mental illnesses, aren’t they? Now, ask yourself, where do the voices you hear come from?
>Ask what caused those Sakkilian orphans in the Grand Temple that attacked Karas to turn so vicious, and what caused Karas' attitude to Sakkilians to turn so much harder than you'd expect.
Rage, paranoia and fear does that to the mind… coupled with endless nightmares, things will always look rather bleak and desperate, no?
>Ask who or what has been slipping visions of the Rune of Eternity into Belseth's dreams since he arrived here.
Why, no one but his own eyes.
>Who told the Archbishop where to find the corpses of the Five, and presumably also gave her directions through the Catacombs of the Godless to find the Soul Cradle and any other relics she found down there?
She saw it in a dream… or was it a nightmare?
>We can ask about the clergy and their motives. It's possible they're ascending belseth as a power play?
While their motives are not unified, none of them do it for self-gain or selfish reasons. They truly believe he might save you all.
>Were the souls I ate in the soul cradle, thereby raining on the archbishop's parade?
No, they were not.
>How does the golden age wrought by godly Belseth usually end? How does Belseth not asking for help cause that?
He already have a hard time asking for help… and he usually think himself the best for the job, no matter what it is. But, even as a god, he can’t do everything… and immortality is in the end but a word. Everyone has something which it has no defense against, be it steel, time, disease… regret… not even a god can save everyone… or can they? To really make things a better future it would require something that Belseth cannot do…
…which is?
Sacrifice. Not only yourself, but others as well… in the end, not everyone will get a happy ending…
>Tell them they look adorable all wrapped up like that.
…you know, I can honestly admit, I did not expect to be called adorable when I woke up at the start of this existence.
>End the conversation with a "Pleasant dreams."
I which I could say the same. Now… let me just… rest my… … …eyes… zzzzz…
…and like that, it is gone…
>Well, I'm guessing it's time to man up and conquer yourself.
…right… there’s nothing to fear, is there? It’s just… you… it’s just… disappointment…
>Just what is standing in the mirror when you look in it?
…a failure.
…
…the only thing looking back is the constant failure that is you. Thinking back, do you even realize how much pain, how much suffering you’ve caused? “I was only trying to help”… oh, what a hero you are… there’s a reason no one trust you with anything. You just mess everything up, don’t you?
…
…you’re just a failure…
…
…
…have you ever succeeded in doing anything right?
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