- 74

[fortunefail]

[Accidental voice]

[The recording starts with a smashing sound, as the journal takes a nice snapshot of the ceiling and part of the underside of a kitchen table. Yuan's voice can clearly be heard nearby. He sounds rather disturbed.]

W-What the hell is this?!

[Action]

[A short while later, Yuan can be seen striding through the village with

Comments

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[Raine will probably be home by the time he gets there, assuming it's a little later in the day, tending to the plants in the herb and vegetable garden on the side of the house.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

[Oh, it's definitely later in the day. Raine may be able to see him coming from a distance, but he won't speak up until he's standing next to her. He doesn't want to be overheard.]

Do you have a moment?

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[She hadn't been looking up, more focused on the plants, though she can tell when he's nearby, and nods to acknowledge him. There's someone she hasn't exactly heard from recently. Hm.]

... Good afternoon. It would seem that I do.

[action]

[fortunefail]

[It's a shame this isn't a social visit. Yuan's behavior makes that rather obvious. He gives a curt nod to the house.]

Can we talk inside?

[action]

[wise_maiden]

... If you prefer. I was just finishing up, anyway. [She rises, frowning faintly.] Shall we?

[action]

[fortunefail]

[He bows his head lightly, waiting for Raine to lead the way into the house. Though, even as he does so, he raises a hand to his mouth to stifle a mild cough. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to assume he has a cold.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[She frowns at that cough. It seems strange that an angel would catch an ordinary cold. Especially in this season. But regardless, she leads him inside to the sitting room.

And waits for this explanation.] ... All right, we're inside. What's going on, Yuan?

[action]

[fortunefail]

[He isn't entirely certain where to start, as he isn't sure which symptom is most pressing, or whether they're even related at all. After a moment of silence, he takes off one of his gloves to reveal his right hand- the one that doesn't have a Cruxis Crystal embedded on it. A pitch-black stain is spreading from the back of his hand towards his palm and wrist. It might seem like ink at first glance, but sadly, it's not something that easy.]

This.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[Well. That certainly wasn't what she was expecting. And the black... after her startled look, she leans in to take a closer look.]

It... almost looks like geostigma. How long has this been a problem?

[action]

[fortunefail]

A few days. It's progressed more rapidly overnight.

[And he knows it can't be Geostigma. When's the last time he was in contact with Kadaj or his brother? Those two were sent home weeks ago.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

Have you come into contact with anything... strange?

[action]

[fortunefail]

Nothing too recent. Though I never retained my memories from that last... Shift. [Or whatever the hell it was.]

[action]

[wise_maiden]

You don't remember anything at all? How strange. [She does examine his hand however, frowning at it. And perhaps prying a bit with some magic to see if there's any way to determine what it is.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

[Sadly, the stain doesn't seem to respond to normal healing magic at all. Yuan clenches his hand into a fist for a moment, before flexing his fingers again. Ugh, it itches a litte.]

I was told I'd been turned into an old man. Physically.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

I hadn't spoken to you directly myself, but that did seem to be the case. Nearly everyone experienced a different form of reality.

[action]

[fortunefail]

Did you?

[Personal question, yes. But he won't know until he asks. What could be worse than being old?]