spark of idea

Nerin says, "We're not supposed to come to the Moonfall precisely- but we can patrol around it."

Eustace says, "Exactly."

Eustace says, "We're suppose to be looking for occultists and the like."

Nerin says, "Mm."

Eustace says, "I'm sure Elijah won't mind."

Nerin says, "You can lead the way."

Eustace exclaims, "..!"

Eustace asks, "Has anyone ever told you that you need a haircut?"
Cold and silent.

Amidst such a forest did the glow of fires and lamps practically illuminate this single village. Men and women alike which had been hidden, shrouded beneath those trees where witchcraft and occultism had begun to flourish.

"I'm not quite sure how close we should get. Beyond this bridge is their outer areas, I'd assume pressing forwards would alert someone." One kick of his boots against the ground practically showing that hidden frustration.

"Well... Feeling adventurous today, Nerin? Or should we stick to looking for anyone wandering too far from their hole?"

Much like a game of cat and mouse? They could only wait for these mice to leave their hole.
(Eustace)

"..I considered a haircut and wardrobe change." He pauses, if only to add. "Marisol is helping me with that." It shouldn't be surprise that Nerin isn't exactly the most style-apt person out there and that he needs someone's eye and taste to compensate for it, but to digress..

His gaze drifts to the areas ahead.

Here, his eyes steadily narrow, almost a bit.. uncertain about this entire endeavour. He imagines that they would not be welcomed, and in fact, most likely they would be attacked if they come too close- but that's to be expected around an area like this, isn't it?

"Probably the moment we see their entrance, we should most definitely back off, and.." His gaze trails off to Eustace.

"I'm quick enough to outrun most magi in case we get swarmed. If anything.. I'm rather certain I should be fine, and it's unlikely anything will happen to me."

"Questionis, what about you? We can easily get swarmed, you know." Which would be quite unfortunate fate, but..

"Considering everything, I'd say even if we come closer, we should not come near entrance or any hotspots."
(Nerin)

"I see." Practically his only comment on the lack of style which Nerin had for himself. Even still, his doubts placed upon Eustace seemed almost insulting. Never once allowing his gaze to break from those trees shrouded by that gentle light in the distance.

"I'm sure I can escape most. However, those that do reach me? Well, my sands would prove more than enough to knock them down." That much he could say with the utmost confidence behind his words. One quick stride soon taken forwards, a boot placed upon this bridge.

"I'm more worried about someone between us falling for their tricks, allowing them to assault your mind again."

Those sands which followed behind Eustace seeming to snap and crack now.

"Either way. I've no issue with keeping away from the entrance, provided there's a large force around there."

As there usually was.
(Eustace)

Chop!
(Wano)

So long as he was confident in his ability, then.. he assumes that it'll be fine; and yet, despite the fact that they're holding down a conversation, he keeps on peering about the area as a whole. Truthfully, when Eustace remarks that they could fall to such tricks again.. he merely nods along.

"True."

"I'd hate to lose myself to.. something, only to realize that we've been fighting, or already fought- if anything, I feel like it'd happen again." For some reason, he tends to be the target for such things..

"Mm. Just stay away from any hotspots, and back away if you see a large force ahead. We have no business trying our luck with getting the swarm of Moonfall residents stare at us angrily."

"Or, well.. throw their magic at us angrily. That's probably even worse."

"Feel free to lead the way if you're going anywhere."
(Nerin)

As their boots soon began clanking against this bridge?

Well, something could be said about how subtle these men truly were. Sands soon snapping upwards and coiling around each leg of Eustace as they pushed just that much closer. Inching towards what had ever quickly become a land of hostile forces.

"You don't think their druids would attack us, do you?" The question seemingly spoken on a whim as closer and closer they continued to move. Voices upon the other side of that massive opening, covered and protected by the natural wall gifted by nature itself.

"I mean... So long as we don't show any hostility. I'm sure they'll understand we're there to help them."

One long pause following.

"The Occultists threaten their way of life, do they not? They need only understand we're acting on their best interest."

Or so he had chosen to believe.
(Eustace)


Eustace says, "... You should kill your torch."
Nerin wasn't necessarily the most subtle individual there is.. but at the same time, he wasn't going out of his way to attract attention; if anything, he would rather step among the soft grass to mute the click and clanks of his boots, so much so that it would be heard as naught but a gentle press upon the vegetation below.

"Oh, they will, Eustace."

"Why do you think the druids have never rooted out the witches and Occultists? Why do you think they were ready to attack us first, before Banshee showed up - and only after it did, they actually decided to direct their efforts to that creature?"

"It's because they hate Osrona. They hate everything about us, of how we live."

It's simple as that, really.. but he didn't necessarily blame them for it - because unlike witches and Occultists, who seemingly poisoned the way of life all around, druids actually kept to themselves.

"Atmost, you can expect them to let witches and Occultists attack us - but they will not defend us."

"..Instead, I expect them to join on assault against us, really." Which is why he was weary, but still..

"That's also why I suggested to Radiant Soleis that we convince druids that we're not a threat - and Occultists are. Perhaps, that way, they would boot them out."

"They hate us both, but it's in our interest that they hate them more."
(Nerin)

"I'm not so sure. We keep pinning the blame on them, however for all we know? Those Witches could have dug their claws into the minds of many." Accompanied by the darkness of night they pushed ever forwards, his voice still littered with that same level of confidence. As though he had been refusing to accept that simple fact which Nerin now spoke.

"They won't act against them out of fear, no doubt. No doubt fearing that their mind may be altered, fearing that they may become nothing more than another death. One upon the mountain of bodies those witches and occultists seek to build." His head seemed to shake the more he spoke on this matter, the more they so casually discussed this serious matter.

"I don't blame them for not acting. However, we need to prove we're more powerful than those witches and occultists."

One step at a time.

"By crushing them all. One by one until they can no longer strangle those Druids."

Soon there came a pause, glancing back now.

"Don't you agree?"
(Eustace)

It's not about not helping druids. Despite the druids actively admitting that they actually disliked, or even hated Osrona, he didn't necessarily put the blame on them- if anything, he's more than certain that the witches had everything under wraps in the Moonfall, and quite literally kicked druids out of any control.

Rather quaint how they took over..

"I don't exactly think we should be doing anything about the druids. I'd rather leave them alone and let them tend to their forest." He makes a pause, and adds. "But I'm also not convinced that they would not help witches, whether it's out of fear or their minds poisoned."

"It makes it a necessity to have them restrained, should they assist witches. For all that we know, their magic could become a weapon against us if the witches decide to utilize them that way."

And he had no doubts that they most certainly would. But.. it's rather difficult, isn't it?

"I do agree that witches need to be rid of. Speaking of which.." His gaze drifted forth.

"Don't you think that Order is a bit.. lax on what they're doing? I mean, I understand there's a re-structure, but.."

"Okay. We know there are witches now- and we know that there are dangerous Occultists and whatnot. Radiant Soleis mentioned that it's most likely a trap - but what exactly are we going to do about it?"

"What exactly is being done, anyway? Last I heard we needed informants, but.. is anything getting done on that front, at least?"
(Nerin)

Silence, not so much as a single word.

Movements had seen fallen still as a moment of pause had taken hold of Eustace. The sounds of his knuckles popping being all that would echo across this silent forest, soon enough there came a shake of his head. No doubt some level of refusal about the entire situation, about how The Order continued to sit back and remain idle.

"I'm not sure. I understand the focus on squads now being placed, pushing and aiming to have each pursue this matter in their own ways. I don't disagree with that level of thinking, however..." Soon enough a sigh would escape, pressed through those slender lips of Eustace as he peered ever forwards.

"They're afraid. We lost Jasper by sending them in and getting into trouble. We can't push this matter through war as innocent lives would be caught in the middle. The Order won't mindlessly slaughter this village in hopes to root out every Witch." Even those they did know couldn't be pursued so easily.

"It's difficult is the best way I can put it. How to move forwards, all of it makes this hard."

He could only imagine the stress this had placed on Elijahs shoulders.
(Eustace)

He could understand the notion.

They can't just march in and hope to kill every single witch; as the record shows, a lot of innocents could suffer when things get chaotic and messy.. for every single witch that has been confronted in any way at all so far, they had at least several more innocents that could suffer irreparable fate.

Nerin included.

For he never assaulted Erika and Reina out of his own volition, he never assaulted them because he wanted to- if anything, the moment this influence has gripped him, something came over him and he couldn't really do anything about it. With the trend of others doing the same, such as Asphira, Clancy, Tyr and many more..

It's clear that it was no coincidence.
But organized attempts at chaos.

"Doesn't that mean we should try and root them out with subterfuge?"

"Druids are there, and as much as they hate both Osrona and Occultists, so far they're clearly not convinced - if they aren't doing anything to point fingers at the witches and do something about it."

"If anything.. I feel like there should be some sort of the plan to annoy druids with the witches- perhaps cause chaos in return that would result in witches losing their control."

"I mean.. if we can't take them directly - why not do that? This game can be played by two."

Or at least, he believed so.
(Nerin)

"I'm not sure." His only response to such a situation. Claws which had sunk into the minds of so many had caused endless pain, forced conflict and doubt within their very ranks. Trust had begun to sever and doubt would continue to spread and spread, until they could counter those voices which assaulted one too many.

One more sigh.

"To be honest, I don't know. I'm sure you realized that The Order doesn't like being underhanded. They'd much rather handle things in a direct manner, capturing and securing the names that we do know and not pursuing a thing else." More set on a single goal than looking at the broader picture, in his eyes that was.

"Druids won't work with us, we'd need all of them. Not just one but their entire people, one could be twisted and molded back into line by witchcraft. So... Like I said."

One quick stride following forwards, pushing ever closer through these trees.

"It's difficult."

Simply said.
(Eustace)

"Hm."

There's a lot that could go wrong with this. So much that they could not only lose support of druids, but also slaughter innocent in the war that could otherwise be either avoided or finessed around. Still..

"I imagine that Radiant Soleis could potentially call out for Cornelia to be arrested for Occultism, at the very least. And, well.. she's got to be Occultist if she's a witch, right?" At least, that's what he assumed.

But what proof would he have?

"I imagine they would demand proof from Soleis for that, but.."

"Occult and Holy magics act very violently against one another. He could attempt to simply shine Holy magics upon her, even with intent to soothe her, and it should not go smooth. It'll burn her, if anything."

But this implies that druids would let them get anywhere close. As far as they're concerned, they would be distrustful..

"I don't think we'd be allowed to do that, even if we offered. It feels like Moonfall would just.. seclude her away, so long as she doesn't do anything 'bad', and.."

"If we do that? It'll suggest to witches that they're short on time. They'll begin compelling and transforming Moonfall very rapidly." Which is a concerning thought. "Even if we get to them by then.. I imagine we'll be far too late to mitigate damage."

"We'll still be responsible for suffering and fall of many, no matter how we put it."

A sigh. Here, in the silence of the dark woods.. he merely follows along with a frown. Even if they were to directly call out for confrontation.. it feels like there's no 'smooth' way around it.

"..This is frustrating."
(Nerin)

Now he was beginning to see.

How confusing and difficult this situation was, how no matter what action they took pushing forwards? Such would lead to nothing more than questions, to seclusion of those which had already ingrained themselves within Moonfalls community. One hand reaching, resting upon the weight of his staff as Nerin continued to speak.

"I'm sure he could expose her with his own holy light. That alone isn't the issue, the issue is what comes after. Seclusion as they claim we stole one of their own, executing her without so much as concrete proof." They wouldn't believe anything their Order could come up with, no matter what happened.

"Hiding away their own, becoming that much more violent. Knight Squads patrolling as close as we are? They might even be killed in retaliation, finding any excuse they can to push and push against Osrona." Despite how massive such a city had become. Even so, his lips would purse tightly against one another.

"No matter what route we take? People will suffer and blood will be spilled. That much I can say for certainty, so I've chosen not to worry about all the details."

Caring little for what the top chose.

"And instead shine as bright as I can amidst The Orders light, exposing each that slither in the dark and killing them off."

One by one.

On his own, if need be.
(Eustace)

Maybe druids had to be shown how dangerous the presence of the witch is. If anything.. this gave Nerin an entirely different idea on its own, something that he didn't really think of until now. It made him realize that if they go like this, there's no way that the druids would believe the dangers that witches hold..

Perhaps.. they had to be shown.

"No, no-- you're right. They won't believe anything that Order says, and they'll keep thinking we got some tricks up our sleeves. I think that.. even if we directly show it, right infront of them?"

"They'll still think it's some sort of a trick - that we're burning her with Holy magic on purpose, rather than Occult reacting back in any way possible."

After all, Holy magic is actually capable of inflicting such burns.. and for all that they know, druids would think these are 'ordinary' burns, made to make it seem as if she's Occultist.

Distrust was the issue.

"I suppose we should stop caring about such details, then. In truth, I.. I don't know what else we can really do to make sure that nobody aside suffers."

"It's just.. picking between greater and lesser evil, it seems."

Or else, what kind of things they could do, anyway? It's not like Nerin hasn't spent his time thinking about it- and he's actually certain others have too, and so did Radiant Soleis. And yet..

"To shine and put them down would be our only choice, it seems."

Even if there's another idea upon his mind, but.. that one remains unspoken, with his eyes trailing off elsewhere.
(Nerin)