TEST 8.

[azumods]

FLOW. The feeling of pressure in here is immense. It's stronger than it was with Darkrai, something you can feel down to your core, something that you couldn't shake off even if you tried; there's nothing to do but power through it. Saturn, for his part, either isn't feeling it at all or is incapable of reacting in any sort of appropriate way even if he could; he simply continues to regard you from across the room, his words hanging heavy in the room. It's a far cry from his behavior during the first month you were here; he was civil then, willing to do you favors in exchange for the chance to talk to you. It's plain that he will be doing no such thing today; it may be difficult to know where to start, really. Especially when your Pokémon don't seem to be doing well - whatever's happening here, they seem reluctant, even unwilling, to fight anything in this room. Perhaps it's not surprising; the energy in the room is likely familiar to them, and it's the sort associated with someone deciding to take their spirit away last time it was angered. Whatever the reason, you're on your own for now; whatever happens is your choice, and yours alone.

Comments

[azumods]

[It's true enough, really - he's not like the rest of the world, but there's still something decidedly...off about the whole thing.]

Not yet. I'm still of use to Master Cyrus, after all.

[discutio]

You don't have to do this, Saturn. Living in a way like that is... [A pause, like Ignis himself wasn't too sure how to put words together for once.] ...Don't do what I have. No one else should feel they have to.

[azumods]

I'm not here because I have to be.

[It's cold, though. Not much behind it.]

[discutio]

You're here because you've gone too far to turn back. No one's forcing you but yourself and the knowledge that to turn from the path would feel like failing the person to whom you've sworn loyalty. Yet you also know what success will bring, and I harbor doubts that it is a price you wish to see paid.

You fear failure, but you fear success more.

[azumods]

[He tips his head slightly at that - almost as though he's considering, or at least not just dismissing it out of hand.]

The price has already been paid, multiple times over. A few more times, in the interest of perfecting the process, won't kill me.

[Again, though, it's blank. Cold.]

[discutio]

You’re wrong. It’s liable to do far worse than simply end your life.

Saturn, what’s happened? You don’t sound anything like yourself.

[azumods]

I've received some help, that's all. I have no reason to doubt or fear anything anymore.

[radiantflame]

Is that all you desire? To be of use to someone else?

[azumods]

There isn't much else in the world nowadays.

[And unlike the confrontation with him at the lakefront, he doesn't sound like that troubles him at all.]

[radiantflame]

[YEAH and she doesn't like that one bit.]

It doesn't have to be that way, you know this.

[azumods]

I do. But that doesn't mean it isn't necessary. It's hardly my fault that the rest of you haven't come to that conclusion yourselves yet.

[radiantflame]

No, I suppose it isn't your fault. The fault lies with Cyrus, if anything.

[azumods]

Master Cyrus knows what he's doing. If he's deemed all of this necessary, then it is.

[radiantflame]

Did he tell you that himself?

[azumods]

He wouldn't be doing this if it were unnecessary.

He doesn't hate the world, you know.