⚒ sixth - [ video - open to action ]

[deathsought]

[ Zeref appears to be in the middle of Fayren City; a very bad place for him to see something that angered him, or at least severely embarrassed him. He's glaring, but his eyes are barely visible; they're not quite red and glowing yet, though. ]

Who in their right mind would think this was a good idea? [ Zeref holds up a flier for the beauty pageant. The camera is centered on his name, in the list of male contestants. ] Whoever you are, do you realize what could happen if I participated in something like this!?

[ Ignoring the fact that he'd sooner volunteer one of the Books of Zeref to be reviewed in the Genessia Tribune, if his magic activated in the middle of something like that... ]

I can't participate in this. I'm sorry.

[ And with that, the feed ends. Attempts to convince him otherwise, go. Spoiler alert, they'll ultimately work. ]

Comments

[video]

[melonsaregreat]

Competition saved, vapid entertainment for all. I should do this more often.

[video]

[deathsought]

I don't think we would be competing anyway.

[ Unless he misread the rules. ]

[video]

[melonsaregreat]

If we were competing I wouldn't be encouraging you.

[For certain twisted definitions of 'encouraging']

[video]

[deathsought]

[ A long silence. ]

... I see.

[ Kind of. He certainly doesn't feel encouraged. ]

[video]

[melonsaregreat]

Not going to bite, huh...

Fine, I'll do this seriously. What's your worry?

[video]

[deathsought]

That I will lose control over my magic.

[video]

[melonsaregreat]

Which what? Kills everyone?

I wouldn't think magic would be so easy to lose control of. Doesn't it come from your own will?

[video]

[deathsought]

Actually, that's exactly what Death Magic does.

[ He slowly nods. ]

Yes... and no. Control over it hinges on whether or not I see any value in the lives of others.

[video]

[melonsaregreat]

Straightforward, at least.

Hm. In which direction? [It kind of makes sense both ways.]

[video]

[deathsought]

The less I value life, the more control I have. This way, I am always killing, whether I want to or not.

[video]

[melonsaregreat]

So the power to suppress it is the same as the power to wield it. As though it were a living thing in itself, not simply a skill. Is that a rare thing?

[video]

[deathsought]

There is a reason it is called a Black Art. { A forbidden form of magic where just being caught using it, no matter the reason, will have you declared a dark wizard and have the Magic Council attempt to arrest you. }

Magic that powerful doesn't come without a cost. Living Magic has a cost as well, but it is of a different nature than that of Death Magic.