genessia | video; Backdated to late evening, 30th (After the defeat of the Merrow)

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video; Backdated to late evening, 30th (After the defeat of the Merrow)

[There's a faint click as the video feed initializes. Richard looks toward the camera with a weary and troubled expression.]

One of the shards we were told about fell in an area of the Fayren forest the locals call Loci's Wabe. We were warned about the dangers of the Wabe, but the shard was more important. [His frown deepens as he nears the point of his broadcast.]

Five others entered the Wabe with me: Koishi Komeiji, Gale Reinhardt, Yugi Mutou, Ib, and Rydia. The creature that dwelled there, and the reason the locals tried to warn us away, played...tricks with the mind. I was able to resist...barely, but I wasn't fast enough.

[He looks away from the camera for a moment before continuing.] If these people were your friends, I'm deeply sorry. I wasn't fast enough to save them.

[he clenches his jaw and takes a steadying breath before finishing his report.]

Know that the beast has been defeated and the shard recovered. They did not die in vain. [A pause.] I searched the area and collected what I could find of theirs. I wasn't going to leave it in some forgotten glade to be looted. If...you would like to claim them, please let me know. I would rather they be handed to loved ones than left to rust or collect dust.

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Ted was gonna wait to get the tremors out of his voice before he offered his cold congratulations.

"Don't be sorry; you slew the beast. I'm envious of that deed. As for the belongings...if none come to claim within a week, I'll hold on to them.

Thank you."

A few hours later, he'd try to get in touch with Koishi, making sure she hadn't disappeared via PM. "Koishi, please tell me you're still here."

You can bring their stuff to them in the hospital when they come back.

[He only recognizes one name from the five, and given his experience with her, he's strangely not surprised that Ib got herself killed. He frowns a little.]

Sounds like you guys got thrown to the wolves.

[This kind of gives him another reason to not like Fayren.]

At least one of you got out in one piece. You holdin' up alright, kid?

[Cue a worried looking princess.]

Richard, you're alright. [She sounds relieved, her lips curling into a bright smile. She only heard people were going into the forest after the fact and she's been worried ever since.]

It'll be okay.

[She pauses, unsure if he knows that people here come back to life.]

Not okay but... death isn't permanent. They will come back but they'll give up something to do it.

[She keenly remembers watching as Fai was killed protecting her and then seeing him a week later on her phone.]

[Kahlan waits until Richard is off the strange device before approaching him. She knows that there are things he'd want to do and settle before they spoke but the need to confirm that he was truly alright weighed against her shoulders. When it seems like there is a lull in his communications she walks over to his side.]

Richard.

[Her fingers lightly presses against his cheek looking at his eyes as she spoke to him.]

Please tell me what happened.

[She can tell that it's put a heavy weight on him and while she'd never ask him to stop fighting she does want to know what's wrong. Her voice is calm and she doesn't demand however her concern and affection is noticeable in the expression that's fixed across her features.]

[Mewtwo had been so absorbed in his work of finding Death's Hand that the fragments had been barely a blip on his radar. This came as a massive shock to him. He had stopped his work entirely to give the post his full attention.]

I thank you for your efforts, and will be coming by to survey the area and make sure the beast is well and truly dead. [He knew just how resilient the mind could be and if there was a chance of obliterating it personally, he would take it.]

If you could, please send Koishi's things to the Guardian's office in Fayren. Her sister would undoubtedly like to hold onto them until Koishi's return.

[As per her usual daily routine, Alice had been making dolls up until she heard this announcement. One of her dolls moved to lift up the communication device, camera on Alice's face while she rose from her work table.]

"Are you certain the items you found belonged to Koishi? Because her hat is still here in Chireiden, and she wouldn't go anywhere without it."

[Of all the names given, Satsuki is extremely stunned to hear Koishi being one of them. It's odd in the sense that she never thought that someone like her was even capable of ceasing to exist.

A heavy and lengthy sigh passes her lips before she turns off the feed then buries her face in her palms. Satsuki convinced herself into thinking that she kept enough distance from her company to keep things from getting too personal, but the sinking feeling in her stomach certainly reminds her the truth of the matter.

It would be a couple of hours later before she sends an anonymous 'Thank you for telling us.' message back to Richard.]

...Koishi's really gone? Oh no...

[Cue a sad little dragon...]

[Luke had to listen to the video post several times before he really understood what was being said. For clarity, he listened to it three times. And then, he slowed down and rewound the feed when the names were given. Just to be sure.

And then, he panicked.

Call Satsuki? No, call Satori. No, they can see the feed, and they'd certainly recognize Koishi's name just the same as he had, and they'd probably figure it was hers faster than he did too. Because they were adults, and they knew what they ought to be doing in times like this, and Luke absolutely did not.

He didn't even mean to turn the video feed on. Which is why poor Richard will be greeted with a teary eyes, Luke crying with no attempt to hide it. It's not until a few seconds later that he realizes the video is on, and hurries to wipe his eyes. All he manages to successfully do is knock over his communicator. There's a choked sob audible before the apprentice speaks.]

M-Miss S-Satori would want K-Koishi's things--

Satori had signed onto the feed rather urgently. Even if she couldn't read anyone's thoughts through a video call, she could clearly tell there was something very wrong about this.

The weight of her disbelief hung her head downcast as she tried to keep herself calm. She couldn't bear it. The very thought of her sister having succumbed to this monster made her want to scream. She'd cried enough over her younger sister long ago, when she'd nursed her back from the brink. And even then, that was over many years. Within an instant, Satori guessed, this thing must have taken Koishi away from her.

"...Never again..." she caught herself muttering.

Satori forced herself to look up. The normally stoic youkai's eyes were filled with bitter tears. And she remembered. She couldn't stop that memory from leaving her so shaken.

"My sister's belongings...Send her things to me. No one else is to lay hands on them."

Envious? [Richard can't help the scoff.] Don't be. It was not an easy task. [But he pauses.]

...I don't even know you. [Why do you think I'd just hand their things over to you?]

when they come back...?

[Richard offers the man a half-hearted smirk along with a mirthless scoff.]

Wolves would have been easy. Wolves I can handle.

[He offers the man a shrug, though he doesn't know how he feels about being called kid. He'll let it slide for now.] Honestly, I've...dealt with worse.

[He nods to the man.] I'm Richard Cypher.

Death...isn't permanent? [That...sounds like an oxymoron.] Yes, I'm fine, Sakura, but...how is that even possible?

[He smiles warmly, if slightly, and takes her hand as she brushes his cheek.]

It's...complicated, what happened, Kahlan. [But you don't keep secrets from the person you love.] The creature, the...Merrow. It tricks it's victims, lulls them into a comfort, and shows them lies.

[He swallows, looking away as he continues.] It pretended to be you.

[He takes a moment to blink at the video feed. Whatever Mewtwo is, it's not something Richard was expecting to speak with.]

I...will do that. [He nods.] I can assure you it's dead, but I warn you, it's illusions are very believable. It's...also possible it wasn't the only one.

[He nods, his expression somber.]

I've met her before, and we entered the Wabe together. All I found were her shoes, but...they're hers.

You're welcome, and I'm very sorry.

I've...been told death isn't permanent. [And by his expression, he looks like he's hoping that's true, and that it may be a comfort to her as well.]

[Oh...oh spirits.]

Alright, I'll make sure she has them. [His voice is calm and gentle, like one would use to speak to a frightened animal...

...or a very upset child.]

My name is Richard. Koishi was your friend? [He smiles, even though his eyes look a little watery, too.] I only met her a few times, but she's always been very friendly and kind. You were lucky to know her. I wish I could have known her better, myself.

[He pauses here, and then changes the subject slightly.] What's your name?

[There is nothing in Richard's eyes but empathy at her words. His heart breaks for her just as he recalls keenly the breaking of his own heart as he held his dying father's body in his arms.

He swallows the lump growing in his own throat and nods.]

Just...tell me where to deliver them. I'll bring them personally.

[He'll give a half-hearted smirk right back, feeling a little sympathetic towards him.]

No need to act tough. It doesn't make losing companions any easier.

[He seems to hesitate a moment, Richard's last name kind of hitting him out from left field. But he returns the nod, reminding himself that this guy isn't the guy he knows.]

Pixy. [Yep, still not adjusted enough to start giving out his real name.] Sorry to meet under these circumstances.

[Richard's own smile grows slightly as he acknowledges the man's words.]

I'm not, but you're right, and it shouldn't be. Everyone's life is valuable.

[He shrugs off Pixy's apology.] It's a pleasure, regardless. [And now it's time to defuse the situation with a bit of humor.] But if we ever meet again, I'll be sure it's a place with ale instead of bad news.

Makes it rather more impressive, doesn't it? [Stay positive]

Looking after belongings is something of a...specialty, of mine. I knew one of the deceased and would like to know the others. But I don't insist on it; if there are none better.

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