Holy Guardian Dev 4 -Intuitive Compasion-

[22:59] Simply continued to sit there, looking at Roanna for a minute. Maybe she should ask about the use for ill. Yet, she knew better, the good hearted within Dawn were few and far between. Much to the poor youths detriment.

Though, rather than leave she'd hesitantly ask a final question, this time her tone one of fear.

"What does Sareen say about the N-nethradin?"
(Ulyssa)
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[23:07] This question was a bit different from the others. It caused Roanna to pause, mulling over what the correct response would be. Far be it from her to put words into her Goddess' mouth that weren't Sareen's own.

"I do not believe Sareen has ever publicly spoken her opinions on the Nethradin. They were not a Valmasian problem in her time as far as I recall...

However, I believe she would absolutely pity them."

Roanna had to recall much of what she knew for sure about the Nethradin and their home in the Spirit World.

"Nethradin are corrupted spirits. They were once people who - burdened by guilt in their lives - eventually went mad from their continued existence and inability to change and atone."

There was a hint of bitterness in Roanna's voice, seeing their existence as a grave injustice towards those that would become such creatures.

"� These poor warped creatures exist solely because of the flawed cycle. To force some to continue an unchanging existence without the chance to amend their ways and seek true rest.

While their actions are evil, I can do naught but pity them. They are forced to become the monsters they are without any chance at redemption or cure because Necromancy did not offer them another opportunity to undo what they regretted in life."
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)
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[23:10] Was silent a bit longer, thinking long about what they'd been told. It wasn't an answer she'd wanted, she'd wanted to hear that Sareen would have smited the Nethradin. Yet, she'd not known that they were forced to be monster. That made it harder to hate them.

"I. . . How are they forced? I don't understand."

She'd look down a bit, she felt truly dumb. She knew so little about the world, so little about anything. It kept becoming clearer and clearer to her.
(Ulyssa)
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[23:16] It was not the fault of those who did not know so long as they sought out knowledge. Roanna was more than happy to give what she knew to Ulyssa, both on a personal level, as well as seeing it as a responsibility to elevate everyone.

"When we die, our spirits become static. We cannot change or adapt, we cannot alter our thoughts and beliefs no matter how hard we try. Frozen in thought as we were when we died.

Because of this, we cannot really say they have choice or free will. They may act, yes, but they cannot change their minds. A level of stubbornness even they couldn't stop if they wanted to - and many probably would."

The very thought was subtly unnerving to the woman. She wondered how it would be like to be so unchanging, that she could live a million years and still be the same person without variance as the second she died.

She was thankful she fought against such a curse with all her ability.

"� because of that, you might consider your actions pre-destined from the time of death. You'd be unable to stop yourself."
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)
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[23:20] Looked down at the table, they couldn't stop themselves. It was hard to understand. She'd whisper barely audible above the masses.

"They killed my parents because they had to?"

It was a quite question, the young girl almost asking herself. It wasn't so long ago, the event that'd rendered her a homeless street waif. As the time passed a small hiccup escaped her breath, small pellets of water dropping upon the table from behind a curtain of hair.
(Ulyssa)
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[23:28] Roanna wasn't quite sure how often she'd been in this exact or similar scenario, yet all the same it still elicited her empathy. The short woman rose to her feet, moving to scoop up the girl and sit Ulyssa on her lap if she was allowed. If so, she'd try her best to comfort her physically by wrapping arms around her waist.

"It is... complicated. It has to do with subjects such as free will... I would rate the Nethradin alongside violent wild animals or a natural disaster than a mortal murderer.

Yet, your parents deaths were most certainly tragedies. All death is, no matter the cause of it. That is why we fight so hard to prevent this senseless pain and suffering..."

Even now, it felt so alien to her that untold numbers of people fought, bled, died, and killed for the continuation of senseless suffering. And for what? Even now she demanded into the blackness of her thoughts, for what? She didn't expect a response, yet still felt a note of annoyance that she received no answer.

How could anyone justify this? With some false sense that they had to feel this intense pain because it was 'natural'?

No, there was no natural. This system was built by a flawed and vain being, unfit to be called a god. If there was no real natural order, then there was no basis for this meaningless worldwide cruelty.
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)
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[23:40] Didn't resist the affection, allowing herself to be scooped up. She'd not gotten a great deal of such things in years sense the Nethradin struck Dawn. It'd feel a lot longer back, but she knew it'd only been a hairs breath to most of the immortal residents.

She'd simply sob sporadically for a few minutes, it was a lot to think about. It was a lot she had refused to think about. Yet, there it was the truth. Her parents had died in what amounted to chance. Chance and fear.

"C-can you bring them back?"

It was a simple question, one that any child raised among the traditions of Azreal would ask. Yet, deep down she knew that most people even at this point, were never brought back. Lost to the cycle that she couldn't understand.
(Ulyssa)
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[23:48] Remembering how far back it was, Roanna knew that was at least a few years ago at this point. So much time passing by in a blur. Most of the city had rebuilt most of the damage, yet there were still scars remaining.

She already knew the answer, but pondered on whether to reveal the truth. Truth had to be tempered with wisdom: the wisdom of whether the student could handle the truth, the wisdom of how to present the truth, the wisdom of whether they deserved the truth.

Ulyssa was nothing if not deserving of it, yet the question remained of if she could handle it well. Grief on top of grief on top of grief... A recipe for a fallen Angel.

No, Roanna decided it would be worth it to tell the truth, yet she tried her best to deliver it gently.

"� I'm sorry, dear. It is likely that your parents have already returned to the cycle and have been reincarnated by now. Only someone awash with the dark arts personally would be able to resist the call for so long.

� Even I question if I myself would be able to sustain myself with the knowledge that Astaria would resurrect me at all costs. Barring that, I would still hold on, knowing that she would die trying.

I made her an oath I would wait for her in death should we die for good..."
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)
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[23:56] Silence was the only response for some time. It'd be as if the truth was always known to the young girl. Yet, how can one truly accept that they're parents where gone for no reason and couldn't be brought back?

Sitting within the woman's lap the small girl would rub the back of her hands against her eyes. Clearly trying to push down whatever demons where bothering her. After a few moments she'd look up at Roanna, her face was damp, eyes tinged with redness, yet she bore a look of thanks. Her face almost glowed in the dim light, almost.

"Thank you ma'am."

It was said simply, her voice a wobble but clear. She'd held out hope for a long time. That much was clear, but, she felt better now. As if a heavy burden of grief was lifted.
(Ulyssa)
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[00:01] * You have been awarded 4 Roleplay Points! *
[00:02] Even if she'd told the truth, it felt bad to have to impart additional pain on the young girl. Hope - even false hope - had its uses at times. It couldn't last forever, but it could hold someone together until they were safe from other pains.

The hardest part was always in letting go.

While she spoke with the same confidence as before, it wasn't filled with the same gentle joy as she usually had. This had stirred up bad memories for her. She had her own losses that ate at her. No matter how much she told herself she was 'okay', she wasn't fully healed, even if the damage was done so long ago.

"� While it will be a small solace, you should use this as a catalyst for your betterment.

You can help the world and prevent such tragedies from befalling others and yourself from now on."
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)
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[00:05] Nodded, that was her hope after all. To help prevent such horrible things happening again. She'd simply give the older woman a hug, perhaps sensing that they needed it as well as she did. Though the young waif wasn't the smartest person, it seemed they could sense when someone was in pain.

"That's why I wanted to be a knight, b-but I think they just cause pain as well."

She wasn't sure at first, but the longer she'd lived the more she'd seen it. Many of the Knights walked with a look of anger on their face, many openly bragged of killing their fellows for sport.
(Ulyssa)
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[00:13] "� Pain is part of our current existence. For now, we must learn to deal with it as best we can..."

Roanna accepted the hug in full, returning it with enthusiasm. Each sharing in the others warmth and existence. Still, it was only a comfort against the pain, not a cure.

"� no matter how large that pain becomes."

But sorrow could not last forever. Roanna wiped the frown from her face, laughing from out of nowhere. It was as if she'd found her previous encompassing sadness humorous.

"Becoming anything with responsibility is a massive undertaking. It is something that must be carefully thought out beforehand, and yet few people seem to.

� Many do commit acts of pointless suffering, forgetting our true purpose. That is why The Grey Church must return to remind the people of our ideals, rather than the grim commands of a grieving Angel at his wit's end."
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)
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[00:18] After a moment the young girl would get off of Roanna, laughing a little when she'd realized that has almost as tall as the older woman. It was a silly thing to laugh at, after feeling so small. Yet, it was what helped her start to feel batter.

Wiping away the sadness the young girl would beam with a spotty smile once again. Her eyes no longer red-tinged and damp. Instead they were red-tinged, damp, and beaming with renewed hope.

"I'm gonna make 'da world better someday, then we won't have to hurt again!"

It was to large a claim to make, to great. Yet to a young child budding into adolescence anything seemed possible. All one needed to do was believe they could do it. Or so the young waif thought.
(Ulyssa)

[00:23] Roanna rose to her feet as Ulyssa got off of her. Roanna was most definitely pleased with having brought a smile back to her face. She mirrors it, beaming right back at Ulyssa.

"Excellent! I hope to see your results some day. Should you do your best, I know you shall accomplish wonders.

Hopefully too I will see you alongside us when we begin the next Mass."
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)
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[00:25] Gave a hearty nod, she'd be here if she could help it. Luckily the church was super close to the library where she stayed.

"I wouldn't miss it!"

After she spoke she'd twirl about and trot outside, perhaps a bit more upbeat than when she'd walked in.
(Ulyssa)