FOUR // [VIDEO]

[catsnboots]

[The feed starts, showing Sebastian sitting at the table of his croft. He doesn't look angry or tired but his face is dark and his usual smile has disappeared. Behind him, on the wall, there's colourful drawings, mostly flowers or birds. They obviously have been made by a child.

When he finally talks, his voice is strained.]I would like to

Comments

video.

[bloodforlight]

She - [Aureln's voice is high, almost shrill, her breathing sharp. She's scared, that much is plain, and even when she swallows down some of that distress, becoming more composed, she's well past the point of calm.]

No. That - can't be, she --

[Her hands, looking pale and delicate, come up to her face as she shakes her head.]

T-that - she'll...

I -

[She cannot steady her breath, nor the shaking spreading through her limbs, but she sounds sterner now, surer.]

I will find her.

video.

[catsnboots]

[It is strange to see Aureln so shaken, so upset. He knows Lihua and her were friends. It is something the warrior and himself have in common.]

Aureln... [He stops, noticing her eyes are green again. Does she remember their little talk ?]

Let me go with you.

video.

[bloodforlight]

No! No... [She shakes her head, a little frantic as she starts buckling on her weapons. The memories of the past week are still with her and, in truth, were distressing enough, enough to make her want to hide her face and avoid people.]

I will go alone.

video.

[catsnboots]

Aureln, listen to me ! [Anger is raising in his dark soul and his eye glow for a second before going back to their normal appearance.]

Lihua helped me when I needed it, without asking anything in return. And now that I can finally be of any help to her, you are refusing me this right ? [What happened during the past week has no importance to him right now.]

video

[bitchslaps]

Fae's corpses, you say?

[ not only do they in essence act like humanity, but- ]

So they're not immortal after all.

video

[catsnboots]

No, they are not. [And it's quite a good thing to know that.]

video

[bitchslaps]

[ it just gets less and less impressive, really... ]

I wonder what method they used to kill her...

Or, what method she used to kill them, presumably.

video

[catsnboots]

[Indeed. Though Sebastian is not very impressed by the Fae, really.]

I don't think she killed them. Besides, she was just a child when she disappeared.

[ audio ]

[desomnia]

... Maybe the fae just thought the images were really pretty, so they took her book.

[ Judging from her emotionless tone she doesn't sound too fazed by the sight of the blood. ]

[ audio ]

[catsnboots]

[He's a blood lover too.]

Oh, really ? So why isn't Lihua back then ?

[ audio ]

[desomnia]

[ It's not as much loving as just.. general indifference towards it by now. ]

I don't know.. Maybe she's hiding somewhere. Were you playing hide and seek?

[ audio ]

[catsnboots]

No, we weren't. [He can't feel Lihua's presence in Demeleier anymore. This is why he believes she isn't /just/ hiding.]

[VIDEO]

[a_la_turk]

Lihua Lightbinder has...

[ She falls silent for a brief moment, but her expression doesn't waver. It is one of calm and poise as opposed to surprise or grief, a fine mask of professionalism. Her feelings about the matter are checked. ]

I see. Thank you for bringing this to the attention of the community, Sebastian. If she was killed, there is a possibility that she will revive within the next few days. I will see to it that she's added to the list of missing persons effective immediately. If you would be so kind as to keep me updated regarding any additional information you may come across, I would appreciate it.

[VIDEO]

[catsnboots]

[Oh, Valeria. She looks better than the last time they talked. He offers her a smile, even if it lacks of his usual mirth.]

I will, Valeria, though I really don't expect anything good to come out of this. But I can only hope that you are right and that Lihua will soon be back amongst us.

[He pauses and his eyes drifts to the sketchbook open in front of him. They grow cold as he wonders once more why he cares so much.]

How have you been ? [He saw her as a child but doesn't mention it in case she doesn't remember.]

[VIDEO]

[a_la_turk]

Better.

[ And that's all she'll say about the matter. Her mind is still upon Lihua's apparent demise and also upon Sebastian's words about it. ]

It doesn't add up. Why would the fae kill their own in addition to Lihua? Was she armed with an iron weapon? Even if she was, she was a child, wasn't she? [ And she seriously doubts Lihua was a child disposed towards violence on top of that. Her eyes narrow. ] Did either of you examine the corpses before you left?

[VIDEO]

[catsnboots]

That is good, really. [It's alright, he doesn't need or want to know more.]

I can only agree, this is why I am not completely sure the Fae did it. She had he Rowan crown and iron with her but, as you say, she was just a child. And a very trustful one. [Maybe too trustful in his opinion. But like Val, he doesn't think Lihua could have shown so much violence.]

Of course we did. It seemed that some of the Fae have been tortured before being killed.

[audio]

[svelldrottning]

The flaw of mortality.

[audio]

[catsnboots]

[Oh, hi Sindragosa ! You're the last person he wants to deal with right now but he'll talk to you anyway. He's a polite demon after all.]

I see that we agree on something, for once.

[audio]

[svelldrottning]

[The message was not for Sebastian, but rather for Lihua. The dragon goes silent now, in that impeccably still way that only the dead can.]

[audio]

[catsnboots]

[He listens to the silence. He's used to that from her now.]

If you know something, please tell me. The last time I saw her, she waas going to meet you, Sindragsa.