The mystery of Benfal (Moore, Tryll)

[Anastasia]

Sylvie's expression instantly closes off. "It won't work." Her tone's fairly flat, though not hostile. "Moore, do you know that 21 lets me see the sins of everyone I see?"

[Nephrite]

"I was unaware of that." Moore says with an apologetic smile. "I might be wrong on what his plan is, because he'd probably know that wouldn't work then. But either way, whatever the plan is is worth a shot, I think."

[Anastasia]

Sylvie merely nods and flies on in.

[Nephrite]

"Do you see a lot of light when you look at me?" Moore asks as they fly along.

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Sylvie says plainly, flying in. Baleruk turns to her and the two are silent for a time.

"She's perfect, you know," Sylvie breaks the silence. "She's the only one I've ever seen that's like that."

"I know." Baleruk's words are solemn, silence spreading. "You remember?"

"Some," Sylvie answers laconically. As the silence stretches on, "How did you know?"

"Your eyes are awake," Baleruk says, sitting back and keeping his distance for once.

A small sound of agreement, "I'm not supposed to, but 21's beyond even perfection."

[Nephrite]

Moore clears his throat. "Sorry, for the less divinely-empowered?"

[Anastasia]

"I remember some of her," Sylvie says, "21's influence. She's perfect. She's the only creature I've seen that's beyond sin."

Baleruk turns to you, "Don't interrupt. I'll explain once it's done."

[Nephrite]

Moore folds his arms and waits, then!

[Anastasia]

"What do you think?" Baleruk asks, after another silence springs up and stretches out.

"It's not my choice, but I'd trust her with anything. If that's the path we have to take for Lifasa, we're in good hands." Sylvie crosses her arms as well, "If we choose another path, then so be it."

Baleruk exhales deeply, flames escaping his nostrils along with jets of ice, but does not comment. Or did he. Did he say something? You aren't sure.

Sylvie smiles - sadly. "I'm terrified. I..." She shakes her head, "It's too late now. I'm committed. Thank you for caring. If I do that, I won't come back."

"It may be better than the alternative," Baleruk says.

"I know." Sylvie looks to you and says, "Did you hear all of that?"

[Nephrite]

"Uhh... I mean, I heard parts?" Moore says. "It sounds like I heard a story with all the pronouns removed and I feel like I'm missing a few chapters."

[Anastasia]

"In short, what happened to Benfal is an option for Lifasa if we triumph but the damage is too great," Baleruk rumbles. "Which by itself nothing new if your brain is awake, the evidence is outside."

[Nephrite]

"Well, that's great, I guess, but that still doesn't answer what actually happened." Moore says. What was the point of this exercise?

[Anastasia]

"But," Sylvie goes on, "Only a deity can request it. As for what happened, what are you looking for there?"

[Nephrite]

Moore looks like he's having a really difficult time holding back some excessively bottled up bewilderment.

"Who did what and why it happened. I think I've already answered the why with your conversation -- The soul of the Prime... or whatever it is, was so corrupted by the devils and their chicanery that it was just going to more or less crumble, yeah? So Seira and Alicia invoked the power of... Whoever Is Too Holy To Speak Of Please Go Away to save it which is what brought it to Elysium. Do I have that mostly correct?" He asks, then continues on anyway. "It wasn't supposed to happen, but it had to happen to save the world. Is that right?"

[Anastasia]

"More or less," Sylvie says, "Shouldn't you have known all of that already from logical deduction? I thought it was obvious and not worth saying," Sylvie remarks. "I thought you were aiming at deeper knowledge than that."