A long way to the gate

[Anastasia]

"Mn." A noise of acknowledgement, "Thought it was something like that, but it's easier to ask you. You'd be surprised how many questions can be solved by asking the right person." Melia draws a dagger, idly spinning it by the hilt before flipping and catching it. "What's got the natives all worked up? I've heard things but not gotten around to chasing it down."

[Nephrite]

"That's a bit complicated." Moore says. "The light of Chronias -- the final place most people from Celestia end up. So the light emanating from it -- the top of the mountain -- seems brighter. No one knows why exactly."

[Anastasia]

"Yeah? That does sound big," Melia concedes, "Want me to try looking into it?"

[Nephrite]

"I think you'd come up with nothing." Moore says with a smile. "It's one of those... well, you know how you couldn't find any information on me? Sort of like that. If I find out, I'll tell you, though."

[Anastasia]

"Eh, everyone needs a dragon to chase, something big and probably impossible to catch." Melia says, "I think that's the important parts."

[Nephrite]

Moore chuckles. "Very well. Let me know if you need anything else."

He can go check on the refugees/slaves now, if there's nothing else.

[Anastasia]

Sure, gimme a quick d100.

[Nephrite]

[23:05] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[23:05] <Penuche> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 97 > [d100=97]

[Anastasia]

Altogether, they're doing fairly well. Jetina and Cresiel are seeing to them, along with a gaggle of lantern and hound archons.

Softly, in the quietest parts of Moore's mind as he overlooks the saved? Do you think this changes anything, Moore? You have severed but one head of an infinite hydra and far more heads now gaze in your direction.

[Nephrite]

Moore blinks. Can he just... respond to whoever that is? Hmm...

'It changes the lives of those who are saved. That's enough for me. Anything is possible with enough hope and determination.' Is what he responds with, if they can even hear it.

Having a look at the divine text emporium makes me think he would know who this is since they did meet before, but I'm not sure if the intent is for him to not know, so I'm making this kind of vague.

[Anastasia]

That's fine.

What does hope lead you to, Moore? No matter how you try, you won't stop anything meaningful. Fate cannot be challenged and judgment cannot be appealed. Put aside your meaningless quest and enjoy what time you have left.

[Nephrite]

Moore simply shakes his head. How sad that someone can't understand something as simple as this?

'Hope leads me to a better future for everyone. Are you trying to tell me the fate of Lifasa wasn't meaningful to everyone who calls it home now? You obviously didn't pay much attention to Taelfagn if you think fate cannot be challenged.

I'm already enjoying my time, bringing hope to the hopeless and the possibilities of a better future to those who've lost their way. I'm not going to stop until hopelessness is a word that no longer exists.'

[Anastasia]

Then let me show you how little you can do to protect your love. Let me show you how meaningless your struggles are.

[Nephrite]

'She's strong enough to stand on her own feet, without me needing to protect her.'

Still, though, a prayer to Titania to keep watch over Ilsenine is quietly uttered.

[Anastasia]

No further response to that.

Going to do anything or merely continue on?