Test 6.

[azumods]

EMOTION After the discussions with Lucas, he seems calm enough; any visible nerves around you, muted though they may have been, seem gone entirely by now, and he seems sure that Mesprit will be able to make the right decision when it comes to what to do. Besides, even if it isn't displayed prominently it's clear that he's concerned about it; whatever is making it affect the Pokémon in the cave like this is more than a bit of a worry, even if the feelings flooding though those of you here haven't stopped, either - the sense that things will be okay somehow, the odd comforting presence, hasn't faded. Perhaps it's a good sign for things to come. Perhaps it's promising, perhaps it's meant to be an invitation. Perhaps it's a request for help. Either way, Lucas recalls Torterra - he isn't immune to the despondency flooding through the cavern either, though it seems it's taken a little bit longer to hit him - and he'll gesture for you to follow him; he weaves easily through the stalagmite structures everywhere, and after a while the lot of you will become aware of an area emanating a warm glow in front of what looks like another corridor. It's soft and pink, and looks more like a dim light than anything solid; however, touching it or pushing against it will prove to be like trying to move a steel wall reinforced with concrete, using nothing but your bare hands. In other words, for a soft pink glow, it's very, very firm. Lucas shifts a bit in front of it. "This is it. I've been working on it for a few days now, but nothing really seems to work - I've tried teleporting around it, but that doesn't work, and Pokémon moves won't break it at all. "I really think Mesprit is back there; we need to help it." Do your best; that's all anyone asks of you right now.

Comments

[azumods]

[The warmth you feel at that is decidedly less intrusive than the usual thought-pushing that the Lake Guardians tend to do; it seems that any sense of communication isn't going to be in words, but rather something hazier - the sort of empathizing that one experiences from knowing someone for a while, to a point of knowing what they're thinking without it having to be expressed out loud. Familiar, but not overly so. Soft.

For the time being, it bears with it a sense of curiosity. Mild amusement, maybe. You deal with gods and daemons, you have something you consider so worth protecting, and yet you don't feel you have much to say about yourself?]

[discutio]

I'm-

[A man of no consequence echoed distantly in his head, causing Ignis to hesitate for just a second.]

-...hardly of vital importance myself. Mine is a role of support; advisor and tactician.

[azumods]

[Further curiosity, honestly.

Do you not consider your support and advice to be valuable? Why offer it at all, then?]

[discutio]

My meaning is that my existence is one meant only to help another. My personal desires and the like are unnecessary for that purpose, and the person I am past that takes a distant second place if that.

[azumods]

[Mmmm...

And what sort of person do you consider yourself to be, past that? Even if it is a distant second to your purpose.]

[discutio]

...I can’t say I’m sure.

[azumods]

[There's a sense of concern that accompanies the thought this time. Not deep worry, but still, it's there.

...That sounds difficult.]

[discutio]

I can’t say I’ve ever had to give thought to the idea before I came here. Now that I have...it is a bit difficult, yes.

[azumods]

[Hopefully you'll find some sort of answer to that question eventually. Even if it's a small answer that you don't think is significant. It might help you.]

[discutio]

It's not help I ever thought I'd need. But...perhaps it is aid long overdue.

[azumods]

[Sometimes help is like that. It's not always something that we think to ask for.]

[discutio]

I can't say that you're wrong. Seeking a purpose beyond that which I was intended for...seems an insurmountable task. Or at least one which I'm not sure how to approach.

But if I'm to find one, I should like it to be discovered in the course of helping another world in such dire need of it.

[azumods]

[The world will help you, too, whether you ask it to or not. Those you're currently with will as well.

There's a lot of love here. It's...important.]

[discutio]

... [Ignis curled his left hand close to his chest--beneath the gloves, the ring-shaped burn still remained on one finger. A mark to match the scars on his face, a sacrifice out of love he'd carried without a trace of regret for each day since.]

It's the most important thing that there is.

[azumods]

[I think that says something. About the person you are.]

[discutio]

I hope that it does. Love is the driving force behind all that I have done in my life. I find the thought of living without that manner of sentiment...unbearable. So if it is within our power--no, even if it isn't, then we'll find what's required to make it possible to restore this world.