Rissada - Session 53.3

Later that evening, returning from Athel's mansion with a weight on his mind, Engir seeks out his companion Arastalia, finding her in their shared room in the guild.

Arastalia: "Ah! Master, welcome back!"
Engir: "Ara! ...thank heavens you're alright."
Arastalia: "Of course. Miss Laneria has been very kind in teaching me the basics."
"I haven't been given permission to actually treat any soldiers yet, but... one step at a time, right?"
Engir: "You'll certainly get to. Hopefully they give you some practise before the fighting starts."
Arastalia: "Yes. Though... obviously, I still hope such skills won't be that necessary."
Engir: "What were they teaching? How to cut off infected limbs?"
Arastalia: "...Wait, they do that?"
Engir: "War is a grisly thing. Out in the field, open wounds, mud, trampling..."
Arastalia: "Mmm..."
Engir: "Well, hopefully you yourself won't have to be put in the position to do anything quite that intense."
Arastalia: "...On one hand, I don't want this war to happen, and want everyone to get along. But... people like Miss Laneria... aren't treated properly, are they?"
Engir: "Right. This is why we need to fight for our beliefs."
"I have to wonder if more bloodshed can really solve the fear and hatred borne of centuries of bloodshed..."
"Looking at the plans we're given though... I suppose this is more of a surgical extraction."
Arastalia: "Cutting... off... the infected wound... of Valesia?"
Arastalia looks bothered by the concept.
Engir: "It's the best metaphor I can think of in my current state. We're trying to take down their leaders."
"And honestly, I think most Valesian soldiers and people are not inherently bad. The problem is those few in power fooling them."
Arastalia: "Mmm... though some of them are still bad enough to defect."
"From Rissada, I mean."
Engir nods.
Engir: "War brings out the worst in all of us..."
Engir bites his lip at the thought.
Engir: "...hmm, Ara, there's another reason why I was worried about you."
Arastalia: "...Really, Master, all the guards at the castle are watching out for us."
Engir: "You remember how that Succubus was out to get you?"
Arastalia: "Yes..."
Engir: "We went to the library at Athel's manor. I followed your note of a locked door, and we found it was owned by... a Rakshasa."
Arastalia: "Rakshasa? The beastlike fiends?"
Engir: "Yes. Cunning, duplicitous and capable of reading minds. ...it knew about, well, us. And you."
Arastalia: "Most of the more knowledgeable divine beings are aware of nephilim..."
"It's... vaguely important."
Engir: "Right. That's good to know."
Arastalia: "I mean, it's kind of part of the covenant, and the covenant kind of needs to be known so they don't just... go causing trouble again. ...Right?"
Engir: "Right. What bothers me is that not only did he identify that we had a pact, he spoke of us 'bringing ruin to the pact'. "
"I was worried that, if left alone, he'd call people from the lower planes to go after us."
Arastalia: "I see..."
"You know... how there aren't many nephilim around?"
Engir: "Yes. I also remember you talking about how ...four of them, I think, were either hunted or imprisoned."
Arastalia: "Yes... three are dead, one is locked, so it's only me and Cyr."
"Having so few nephilim makes us... surprisingly easy to keep track of."
"So don't worry about what might happen if he tells people in the lower planes on us... they likely already knew. Ehehe... heh..."
Engir slumps.
Engir: "I..."
Arastalia: "They can't actually act actively against me, though. They still can't... meddle with the mortal plane."
Engir: "...right..."
Arastalia: "And it's okay, anyways, because the celestials know about me too so it... balances... out?"
Engir hangs his head.
Engir: "Ara... there are two things weighing on my mind right now."
Arastalia: "There's a lot of guards there, so I'll be fine at the castle."
Engir shakes his head.
Arastalia: "And when I'm here, there's you and Lady Nalzij and the others..."
Engir: "You've convinced me that you're safe."
"I'm more worried about... what we've actually done. What's made you become mortal, and why he was so knowing and... disgusted."
Arastalia: "I... I don't understand."
Engir: "Well, let's run over what happened when it started..."
"Athel's mansion, you expended all of your magic, and so... your very being."
"But, the Quill Archon offered to help you and died doing so."
Arastalia lowers her head.
Engir: "It was willing, and I believe right to do so."
"We have much to do. You and I are destined for many great accomplishments."
"But we need to understand what this is. This toll you're suffering."
Arastalia: "Ah... the 'losing my outsiderness', as they called it?"
Engir: "Yes. I am certain it must be a result of those nights."
Arastalia: "Mmm."
Engir: "So, I think our best bet on that regard is to speak with another knowledgeable outsider. A Codex Archon, perhaps."
Arastalia: "Ah. Do you know how to contact them?"
Engir: "Not directly. I suspect the library will be able to teach us."
"But..."
Engir looks down again.
Engir: "...Ara... I broke my personal rules, and had the Rakshasa killed."
Arastalia: "I see.... You had personal rules about it?"
Engir: "For one, it seemed to have legal right to the library. Odd for an outsider, but fair."
"I justified what I did out of fear for your sake... but in reflection, I made so many rash actions. Broke so many rules."
"And of course, I didn't even need to."
Arastalia: "But... it's... just a demon, right? A fiend."
Engir: "It was taking such good care of the library, and made it a real home. I mean, you're right. Anarod reminded me, too. We did what we had to. ...but I should have better standards, better discipline than this."
Arastalia: "Mmm..."
"I can probably accompany you to the library, now that you've made sure it's safe, at least."
Engir: "Please, do."
Engir moves closer to Arastalia.
Arastalia rests her hands on one of Engir's.
Engir leans in towards her.
Engir: "I'm so glad I have you beside me."
Arastalia: "Yes... I treasure our time together. It's why I work so hard on trying to make things better for us..."
Engir nods.
Engir: "I don't think I could face tonight alone. First, Laria's tears, then examining a treasured, personal belonging from the body of the creature I just ordered dead..."
"Don't leave me alone tonight, okay?"
Arastalia nods, leaning towards Engir.
Arastalia: "Don't worry. I never want to leave you if I can help it."
Engir: "Thank you... it warms me so much to hear that."
After a brief moment of calmness, taking in each other's warmth, the pair get up, returning to the Armaneus library.