genessia | Action in Holodeck'd, Genessia City

[Karla feels awful, to put it mildly. Throughout the past week, she had craved nothing but battle, a ravenous hunger that could not be sated. She cared not if she got hurt, or if others got hurt. She just followed the sword, as if it had a mind of its own.]

[Now, she's finishing yet another Holodeck's simulation, by striking down a generic sword-wielding opponent, and the room changes back to its plain, empty form. Karla stands still, gripping the hilt of her sword in a calm rage directed only at herself.]

[This cursed blade, only good for cutting people down, cleaving flesh, and spilling blood, nothing more. Karla asks herself again and again, why does she wield it? She ought to break the thing before it completely takes over her mind. She raises the blade above her head, preparing to strike the ground and hopefully shatter the blade against it...]

[But then she freezes. Even now, her brother is somewhere in Elibe, seeking opponents to cut down, trying to sate the hunger of the blade that will never be truly satisfied. Karla has to see him again, and hopefully bring him back home. And for that to happen, she needs her sword.]

[She brings the blade in front of her, gazing at the shining blade, an expression of longing on her face. She then collapses to her knees, propping herself up with her arms. Everything hurts, from her heart to her muscles. She's aware that she hasn't done much to fulfill her basic needs, like sleep. And with the blistering cold weather, can only lead to one thing. Tears begin to trickle down her cheeks. ]

What...what have I become...?

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[He shakes his head a little.]

I know a lot about not being able to control your actions. You can't blame yourself for what happened. You weren't in control of yourself. The person that was in control, the person that did those things wasn't you. I can't say..I know exactly who that person was or why the change happened, but that's not the Karla I know.

But...it was me... It may not be the Karla you know, but...it's a side of me that itches to come out with each battle that I fight...

[She shakes her own head.]

It just feels like I'm sinking into a hole, and eventually that hole will become too deep for me to climb out of...

It was a version of you. There are likely many other versions of you as well. The multiverse is endless.

[He puts an arm around her in an attempt to comfort her and pulls her a little close to him.]

Me as well as others are here for you, Karla. There is no hole too deep that we won't help you out of. Though, I do believe you are strong enough to do it on your own. There is nothing wrong with enjoying fighting.

Multiverse...?

[She's partially curious, she know she wouldn't understand it if he explained it to her.]

[When he pulls her closer, she leans against him. She suffers another small coughing fit before she speaks again.]

But...I don't enjoy fighting...

Multiverse, it's a term used to reverse to the multiple universes that exist.

You're certainly good with a sword for someone that doesn't like fighting.

I see...

[Since she knows she won't be able to wrap her head around the whole multiverse thing, she decides to drop it. She then sighs as her lifelong goal comes to mind once again.]

My brother is...passionate about the sword arts. He left home long ago to hone his skills, and to seek out worthy opponents. I couldn't understand why. I couldn't understand the appeal of cleaving flesh with this steel. So...I began to study the sword arts, hoping to understand. I felt like it was the only way to grow closer to my brother at this point. I left home to search for him. I've visited many arenas all over Elibe, traveled to many places where warriors gather...but my brother always seems to be two steps ahead of me. During my journey, I heard rumors about a Sword Demon. A man who kills opponents with a mere stroke or two. I knew they were referring to my brother.

What happened to me last week...I fear that's what happened to my brother back home. So consumed by the hunger for battle that he can't think of anything else. I...I don't want him to live like that...

I see. So you became a swordswoman to better understand your brother? [Maybe swordsmanship ran in her family if that simple desire could lead to her becoming as good as she had been.]

And now, after last week, you're worried that you will end up becoming like your brother? Or at least, you feel like you are starting to become like him now?

[Another tear streaks down her face as he hits the nail on the head on all points.]

Exactly. I've always felt that I would become like that eventually. After last week...

[She shakes her head, knowing that she doesn't need to finish the thought.]

One would think that the logical thing to do would be to put down the sword for good. And yet I feel like I can't turn away from it either.