• Mature • (emea) Twisted Synapse II

[Wald Lowca]

The small Emean seemed to blink slowly, taking in what the student was saying. "...I..." The little ball of light turned around, looking over to the tree. Time in the real world was not something they thought about. They had been around for countless arcs, even now it seemed like just yesterday when they meet Wald. There was a slight sinking in the motion of the small Emean, as it drifted down.

They took a deep breath, and turned around. "Fine!" The small creature said, as it rubbed its eyes. "I tried... I did, keeping those memories locked up in here." The slow sigh came from the light. "Time seems to have... Slipped by..." The small figure of light moved over to the tree, looking inside. They looked at the small child, the same look they had each time during these dreams. Backing up, the small figure let the student through. "Go ahead, he can't see me as you can, perhaps... You being his first human friend was fate." The Emean fluttered out of the way, resting next to a tree.

The child in the tree, seemed to carve out a diagram. It was four figures, one was X'ed out unlike the other three. The child was trying to figure out, who he really was now, as nothing made sense. He was told the stories of the past, and if he was a second born. Does that mean his family's journey ended, before his birth, when his older brother died. It has always been the first born son, Wald would be the first second born. Does that mean he is inferior to his brother, was he going to fail to continue the legacy?

[Sybil Malach]

VI

Vlahar 34th, 719

... Protection through ignorance.

Sybil's eyes softened, as the Emean being finally explained what it was doing. It... Began to make sense. Wald was trapped in a spiral of unremitting torment. He could not improve, because he was never given a chance to. He was allowed to bathe in a deep, sticky ichor that drained out all the lessons he had learned, the experiences that he felt. Something that they had attributed to Wald's own stubbornness... Was something that was out of his control. He wasn't even offered the option to change: The issues that held him back were simply blacked out.

A slow breath crossed Sybil's lips. ... They had hoped that it would be easier than this.

"You tried what you saw as best, Emean." They say, walking forward, towards the young Wald. As it fluttered away, their eyes still tracked the creature, "But just as I tread on land that you know best, I tread on land that I know best. You see him as something he sees himself as. I see him for what he is." As they continued forth, the sole of their boot crunched a branch beneath their foot, "You did not know what was happening in the waking world, just as I did not know what was happening in here."

Something about this was hollow, as they passed the creature by. There was no 'Eureka!' moment of resounding success. Sybil was merely awakened to the fact that Wald had been deprived of choice his whole life. Stunted. What success came out of knowing this? It only gave a road forward.

...

Sybil approached the tree, and idly knocked on the bark. The rough texture was harsh against their smooth skin, but it was something they were nonplussed by, "Hey, Kid." They offered, "Come on out." Their eyes half-lidded. They didn't even bother to put the hood up over their head anymore. It was... Just as it normally was. Exposed.

They had grown weary from the constant hiding and attempts at changing things from the shadows at this point.

[Wald Lowca]

The Emean would sit off to the side, and watch as Sybil continued to do what they were going to. It was true, they were doing things that may not be right. Trying to protect someone was not just keeping things away, but allowing them to learn from events.

The crunch of the tree caused the young Wald to jump for a moment, as he went against the wall, knife ready. Then whoever approached started to knock on the tree, and spoke out in a stranger's voice. Wald's mind was confused for a moment, as it sounded so familiar, yet it was not at the same time. Who was this person that was just outside where he was hiding? Lowering the knife slightly he poked his head out of the tree, looking up. He saw Sybil's face, he could not put his finger on where he knew it from. Without past knowledge of events, or the thoughts of the real world. It would confuse the child, but his gut told him to trust this person.

Wald would get out of the tree, as he looked to the student with a confused look. There was a moment of silence for a moment, as Wald tried to figure out what to say. He looked back for a brief time, thinking over what he carved before looking back. "Hey," Wald spoke a few teeth missing from his mouth. "Do you know me?" Wald would drop the knife and tug on the students cloak. "If so... Who am I, Why am I here? Why is my brother not the one here, and what am I supose to do?" The child was full of questions, as doubt filled his voice while he spoke. Searching for answers from whoever he could get a hold of.

[Sybil Malach]

VII

Vlahar 34th, 719

"You're here because the will of nature demanded it. Nothing more, nothing less." Sybil answered, eyes scanning at the child within the tree. Their brows furrow, though, at the mention of Wald's brother. They'd not heard of anything of the sort: Wald's family was a recurring mystery, always in the background of their mind, but something that they never found the correct moment to ask about. But now... It seemed that this was the reason why it never came up. Their lips spread into a thin smile, as they let out a sigh, "Care to walk with me?"

Sybil extended their hand to Wald's childlike form. They didn't try to grab, or anything other than allowing the kid to take their hand. Mostly though, it was a means of helping him out of the tree, as well as so they could start to guide him elsewhere within the dream. Their mind settled on the simple fact that things had to keep moving. There wasn't anything that was going to happen by remaining in limbo, environment and expressions unchanging. In Sybil's mind... This would at least start to consider other options than just stagnation, now that he'll have the choice for change and improvement.

"We'll have plenty of time to talk about it when we start getting you back to camp." They offer, regardless. But... This was Wald's younger mind they were dealing with. Furrowing their brow, they let out a defeated sigh. Bribing it is, then, as well, "I hear that one of them smuggled in some icing. They'll be making sweetrolls."

Thankfully, this was a dream. And while their skill at acting natural within a dream was slowly improving... It wasn't fully there. A lucid dreamer would be able to spot them in no time flat. And, their mind reminded them... Wald would definitely be able to remember them, even as he woke. Their eyes lid, but...

It was something that had to be done, regardless.

[Wald Lowca]

The small hand of the child grabbed a hold of Sybil's hand. As Wald's eyes seemed to flicker through colors for a moment just before they started walking. The child would walk with Sybil while the scenery would change around them. The trees grew very distant, as they entered the grassy field, where a long trail was formed heading to the camp by the Ithecal's tail.

The answers to Wald's question seemed to be odd to the child. It caused the small figure to ask a new question. "What is a sweetroll?" Wald had no idea of sweets, even in the waking world as an adult. The sweetest things he at were berries that he had picked from bushes. Sugary treats were a foreign concept. Curious eyes would look up to Sybil, though the blue eyes seemed to turn green since they started the walk.

Wald's head slowly looked down to his feet, as the two seemed to walk and in hand down a field. "Do my parents even want me? Or was I just a replacement for what they lost?" The child seemed to be confused if the affection given to him was meant for him. His feet slowed as they walked, the change of events causing the course of events to change. When they arrived to the camp, it was empty, the group had gone out to look for Wald. Though with Sybil delivering the child, it would not lead to them finding him.

The child sat down on a log next to the fire, as he kicked his feet. Looking over to Sybil for the answers that he was promised.

[Sybil Malach]

VIII

Vlahar 34th, 719

"Think... Sweet berries, spread on a bun. With honey." Sybil explained, bemusedly, after giving a mild chuckle, shaking their head slowly with a light smile on their face. This young Wald was... Different, than the ones they saw.

"If your parents didn't want you, do you really think you'd be here, right now, Wald?" They ask of the child, eyes glancing down to the side at him. They tilt their head, as they slowly lead the kid to camp. What a strange thought. The only time they'd heard that kinda talk was when it came to people from Rynmere or Rharne. Where children are born more out of political convenience rather than the simple act of reproduction or love, "They couldn't have created you without making the conscious choice to."

They thought on how best to put it, as they began to walk further with the kid. The camp was coming into sight, "... You see... When a mama wolf makes a litter, she made that choice to do that. It might get hard, Wald, but a mama wolf always loves her cubs until they're old enough to go into the world." A chuckle escapes their lips, as they keep walking, "... I've seen wolves scare away other animals, like bears, to protect their kids. I'm sure your parents would do the same for you."

But then... The comment about a replacement started to hit their skull like a brick. Brother, replacement, it was starting to make sense. Maybe he learned of a miscarriage?

"Mm... They can't replace what they lost, Wald." They answer, as the two begin to enter the camp, and Sybil gestures to one of the seats around the fire, "... But you're you. They don't love you because you look like your brother. They love you because you are yourself."

Sybil raises a hand and rubs it into the kid's scalp, giving him a mild noogie, "Always remember. No-one can ever be better than being Wald, than you, the original."

Their eyes slowly trace the empty camp. A confusion laces their mind. That lizardman ran off to try and find him. A click in their skull occurred. Another learning moment, "... See? They're all out looking for you. They cared. Your parents care. Would they, people that only know you, and not your brother, look for you, if you were truly just a replacement?"

"If you were replaceable, they'd not try so hard."

[Wald Lowca]

The small child's eyes began to water as the listened to the words Sybil was saying. The pools of water would turn to drops as he blinked and tried to rub them away. He began to sniff as he looked down trying to hide his face. Though his eyes were closed, a static film covered the dreamscape for a moment. A shift in the events would be noticeable to the dreamwalker. Wald would clear away the water from his blue eyes after a few moments.

The sound of footsteps running could be heard closing in on the camp. The sound of a woman shouted out as it came closer. "Wald!" A woman with hair almost exactly like Wald's nearly tackled the child to the ground. She grabbed on tightly to the child, rubbing her face on his cheek. "Are you alright, you are not hurt are you? Why would you go and hide like that? Why did you make me worry?" Despite her talking fast in here panicked relief, the manner in which she spoke would be familiar to Sybil. It was almost an exact copy of how Wald spoke, down to the syllable.

A hand would take hold of Sybil's shoulder. It belonged to a man that looked very similar to Wald, though his hair was a dark color instead of a blonde. "And who you is?" The man however did not share in the mother son manner of speaking. It was much more rough around the edges, something you would expect form someone in the wilderness. The Ithecal seemed to be not far behind them, his large stature slowing him due to having to run back and forth so much.

[Sybil Malach]

IX

Vlahar 34th, 719

This moment... Right here.

Surrounded by friends, and what Sybil assumes Wald considers family. Now at least able to argue with his mind over what he felt, rather than allowed to live in blissful ignorance. A step forward. As Sybil's eyes glanced upon Wald, they took a light breath, unresponsive to the dream around them. They would... Have to do something.

Letting him remain asleep would be the coddling way to handle this. He would eventually begin to digest these memories as they were made available to him, yes, but this was... Something else entirely. He would wake up feeling better, and likely not know why. Vague impulses of the dream that was finally made available to him, allowing him to move forward with just one more aspect of his life.

Making him lucid would ruin such a soft moment.

... But it would make the memory stark, and stick.

Sybil readied two of their fingers. Pressing their index finger into their thumb, they raise their hand towards Wald's childlike forehead. They knew how violently Wald reacted to being awoken this way. Most of the time, it woke him up. They had learned this through the Emean that kept him on such a short emotional leash.

Sybil flicked Wald's forehead, granting him the spark of lucidity.

Their eyes lingered on the Ithecal that asked them such a question directly. And for a moment, they considered telling him something profound, or heart-touching. Their lips parted. ... But the machinations of dreams were thorough indeed. Saying anything to the Ithecal would quite literally do nothing. It would only be closure on Sybil's part.

So instead... They stepped back.

And fell.

Their body would be gone, before Wald gained full lucidity, slipping through the portal that looked like a ring of fire.

[Doran]

Wald:

Knowledge:
Discipline: Dealing with grief stage Denial
Discipline: Figuring out your place
Discipline: Understanding who you are
Discipline: Learning of who you are to people
Discipline: Asking questions that help you understand yourself
Meditation: Dealing with grief stage Denial
Meditation: Denial can be stuck if not helped forward
Meditation: Understanding that you are not your feelings
Meditation: Taking control of your doubts
Meditation: Letting emotion out to help clear your mind
Meditation: A child's mind is easier to mold then your Adult mind

Loot: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: -
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

Sybil:

Knowledge:
(Persuasion x 4)
Persuasion: Talking another into accepting their strengths
Persuasion: Convincing another that certain flaws do not exist
Persuasion: The target's state of mind matters when persuading
Persuasion: Mentally vulnerable targets are easy marks
(Psychology x 6)
Psychology: Growth cannot occur without mental growing pains
Psychology: Blacking out memories isn't useful to progress
Psychology: Emean beings can actively hinder the psyche
Psychology: Emean beings can actively help the psyche
Psychology: Dreams are influenced by one's memories
Psychology: Dreams are influenced by one's emotional state
(Rhetoric x 4)
Rhetoric: Self worth as a talking point
Rhetoric: Knowing when to speak and when to remain silent
Rhetoric: Prioritizing the targets that actually matter in an area
Rhetoric: Familial bonds as a talking point

Loot: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: -
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

- - -

Comments: The first paragraph of Wald‘s post reminded me of something that could happen in the waking world – and then I realized that Wald is a child here. You described the way he felt and his sadness quite well.

I like that Sybil didn’t approach the camp right away and start talking, but that they tried to get a glimpse of what was happening first. It amused me that they apparently see children as nasty creatures. They do cry a lot and do stupid things sometimes though!

I quite enjoyed the conversation between Sybil and the Emean! It revealed a lot about Wald!

Both of your posts were beautifully written!

Enjoy your rewards!