Relief

[Nephrite]

"Well, I got stronger because of my actions, so if everyone used it, then you'd all be at the same level as me." Moore says. "I don't mind if that's what you all wish to do. We're all in this together, one way or another."

[Anastasia]

Of you all, it's Kaja who speaks up after that. "The seed is a tactical resource as much as it is anything else. Let's ask ourselves another question: How do we gain the most out of it?" The half dragon begins to pace, "Sometimes spread force is better, other times concentrated force wins."

"That's one way to look at it, but let's put it another way. Honest show of hands," Sylvie declares, "Raise your hand if you genuinely want a charge from the seed. Want, not need, not desire, not want to sacrifice it for everyone else's good."

After a long moment, Cresiel raises his hand.

Xandra raises her hand, "I do." Nothing else, a simple statement of fact.

Kaja shakes his head, "Divinity is a sword I've not yet mastered. Only a fool advances further until they are ready."

Jetina looks back and forth, "No, not yet," Is Jetina's answer, "I'm not ready yet. I'm hardly ready for what I have."

Sylvie raises her hand without hesitation. "I'm a terrible choice to hold power, but since reality is what it is, I won't say no. Not now." Then her gaze travels to Moore, awaiting.

[Nephrite]

Moore nods to the discussion, then glances to Sylvie's question before a nod to each of them at the raise of their hands.

He follows suit by raising his own hand.

"If there's anything I've learned with all of this, it's that we've stepped into a pool much deeper than our legs can support us." He says, simply. "If we are to do what we've been asked to do, then we need to be stronger in order to do it. It is neither a selfishness to want to proceed down that path, nor is it cowardice to need more time."

[Anastasia]

"Four of us, five charges," Sylvie concludes at that, "Moore should take the extra - he went above and beyond to face the Hecatoncheires."

"Acceptable and agreeable," Cresiel seconds that.

"Better than to leave it to chance," Xandra agrees, "Moore is our leader, he should step further ahead."

[Nephrite]

Moore bows his head once - a small but humble smile forming afterwards. "I was going to make an argument about saving it in case of an emergency, but... I can't keep talking about the bonds the six of us share and then just ignore all of you when you tell me to do something."

A slightly larger smile after that. "But I didn't face the Hecatoncheires alone - you all helped, it was you all who gave me the strength. And there were others outside of that who aided us, too. But I don't think Lady Selune can gain anything from one of those..."

[Anastasia]

"She probably could," Xandra disagrees, "But - we need it more."

"In another time and another place we could, but this isn't that. We need this power," Sylvie seconds. "Are you ready, Moore?"

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "I won't insult all of you by demurring away from my duty and what you all ask of me." He says. "We'll all get stronger together - we all have to."

[Anastasia]

Thus the seed awaits - are you to use it?

[Nephrite]

Moore will touch it once - let his friends touch it, then touch it again.

You should always let people go first before you have seconds!

[Anastasia]

The raw surge is a new awakening. Power fills you as new vistas open, your divinity growing twice in mere moments.

"It's as good as it was the first time," Xandra declares once done, "The future is so clear to me now."

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles and takes a moment to feel out his new strength.

"Now that we've attained this, we're going to go try something that failed once before and see if we're more successful now." He says. "Cresiel, Xandra, Sylvie - we're going to go back to the First Prison."

[Anastasia]

"Again?" Kaja asks, "What for this time?"

[Nephrite]

"Last time we tried to take people out of there and it didn't work." Moore says. "We've grown in strength since then, and I'd like to try again. I think there are so many people there that don't deserve it... and the rest should still be locked away somewhere that isn't like that."

[Anastasia]

"Then we'll go," Sylvie agrees, as...

Before anything else, any prep plans for your return?

[Nephrite]

We'll hit up the Blessing Stone as usual, but we know the way there and back so this should be simple enough.