⚜ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ-ꜰɪʀsᴛ - [ ᴛᴇxᴛ + ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ]

[deathsought]

Action: Fairy Haven, Master's Quarters - Open to any member of Fairy Tail or anyone who lives in Fayren Haven

{ It would be quiet; barely audible, depending on where one was in the sprawling compound that Fairy Tail calls home. It was unmistakably Zeref's voice, but there could be none other heard. It might sound as if he were just... talking to himself. }

I almost gave this to them, you know. I was curious to know what they would have done with it.

{ There's the sound of rustling. Zeref sounded slightly sleepy, if one bothered to listen, as if he had only just woken up despite it being the middle of the afternoon. Maybe he was up late? }

What would they have done? Destroyed it? Opened it? They would have been in for a surprise if they had.

{ Whoever he's speaking to doesn't respond. If one bothers to peek into the room... he's speaking to a book laying on a desk parallel to the bed, propped up against the wall. Completely seriously, as if the book were alive and he was somehow expecting it to respond.

Suddenly, Zeref sighs, reaching for the white, outer-layer of his robe, unceremoniously discarded at the foot of the bed. He pulls it on, over the rest of his outfit. }

Why do I bother? I doubt you can hear me, anymore. I wonder if you're even alive in our world without this.

Text - OTA

I'd like to pose a rhetorical question, if I may. Much has been made about the issue of necromancy, in this world. The act of reanimating the dead into 'undead,' as the term I've been hearing up until now.

What I've heard little about is resurrection. Not merely reanimating the dead; restoring life itself. Reversing death. Bringing a soul back from the afterlife and returning it to this world. In my world, it is taboo, regardless of the circumstances or how unfair or undeserved the death was.

Death is ultimately meaningless in this world, at least for those of us with amulets. When one of us dies, we reawaken in the Bay, even if doing so often has a price. Regardless, I've heard some of us say that impermanent death cheapens it.

Why this distinction? What difference is there, truly, between necromancers, and whomever, or whatever it was that brought us here reducing death to a mere transaction?

Comments

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[forgottheoffbutton]

Subjective morality and the subjective view of the sanctity of life.

Necromancy is a perfectly respectable school of magic, in my opinion. In the end, people believe death should be permanent as it is for most mortal beings. It's a narrow view of the natural order of things.

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[deathsought]

'Natural order' is completely moot in this world.

Ostensibly, magic functions here just as it does in my world, but that is where the similarities end. I suspect the same is true for many, many others who were brought here, as well.

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[forgottheoffbutton]

Well yes but people often bring with them a sense of 'natural order' from their own worlds. In many worlds, Necromancy is seen as taboo and off limits.

Magic functioning here the same isn't completely unfathomable. Realities with limited or no magic are often cut off from the multi-verse. It creates a vacuum of magic and thus makes it harder to use.
I know of a world that inflicts sickness upon users of magic whenever they use their magic abilities.


As for this world, it seems limiting given being trapped here that people can't use the full totality of their abilities.

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[rulerofme]

I think it's too closely associated with making 'undead' for people to realize that restoring true life my be capable. Even then, the more religious people might view it as blaspheme with the whole "Only gods should have control over life and death" thing.

In my world, death is almost a revolving door. Someone that died weeks ago could come back today and be completely fine. I don't really know what the difference is between necromancy, at least the type that might restore true life, and what the beings here do. There are already a lot of questions about our existence here. I don't know that a real answer can be given until we have answers for those questions.

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[deathsought]

Something I am all too familiar with, yes.

{ A certain 'God of Life and Death' made it crystal clear how off-limits tampering with that kind of thing is, to him. Not that it stopped Zeref, of course. }

I have no stake in the debate, personally. { A half-truth. He doesn't have one anymore. If a certain somebody comes back to this world, however... } I was merely curious about the distinction that so many here seem to make.

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[fairysoul]

[Zeref will find Mavis leaning against the doorframe as he's about to leave their common quarters. She didn't speak up before because she didn't feel like interrupting his 'conversation'. She gives him a small smile.]

Hey. Are you alright?

Action

[deathsought]

{ Zeref hears the all-too-familiar voice, and turns to face Mavis. Well, this is awkward. }

Yeah, I'm... fine. { He sighs, taking a seat on the foot of his bed. His eyes flit toward E.N.D.'s book again, before turning back to Mavis. }

Be honest with me, Mavis. If and when he comes back to this world, do you think it I will be able to stay?

{ Natsu's only gotten more stubborn with age, not less. Zeref has no doubt in his mind that Natsu has all the respect in the world for Fairy Tail's First Master, but whether or not that will outweigh Natsu's (well-earned) anger for Zeref is another matter entirely. Not that Zeref wasn't intentionally trying to foster that anger, of course; it's just that antagonizing him is completely pointless in a world where, even if Zeref could die, he'd just come back anyway. }

[Video]

[kalmaleader]

[Necromancy is such an irritating subject in Qubine's mind. He has to wonder why people keep bringing it up.]

I don't believe life and death should be tampered with in any form, for any reason. What is dead should remain dead, even if we would wish otherwise.

I can't say I know anything about how death works in this world. Even if it is impermanent, I would still fight to survive. What sort of price are you talking about to reawaken after death here?

[Video]

[deathsought]

{ This must be the dragon that's running against Mavis. Give him a moment; he's still not entirely used to casually speaking to one, considering (real) dragons went extinct in his world four hundred years ago. How is he using the device, anyway? }

A view espoused by many in my world. Ironically, a fair number of those same people would reconsider that view if they knew what I knew. { About a certain friend of theirs, he means. } Something that is important to the one wishing to return to life. An ability, a possession, perhaps even a memory.

[Video]

[borntolove]

[Ohhh. So this world wants something in exchange for returning from the dead. Which means - his regeneration process probably doesn't work and apparently, there's also a price for coming here. Ten clicks his tongue. More to the point where do the given up things go?]

If you ask me. No one should be able to bring anyone back. Distorts the whole notation of the universe's equation.

[But what does he know, anyway?]

What sort transaction are we talking about here and with who?

[Video]

[deathsought]

{ Join the club, Doctor. Zeref's supposed to be immortal. }

The very nature of magic makes such an equation impossible to decipher. Every time I think I've learned everything, something either changes, or something new is discovered. Resurrection of the dead isn't even the tip of that iceberg, as much as certain parties try insist otherwise.

I can only tell you what it is. None of us have been able to discover the who, though there are a few leading theories. The cost for returning to life in this world is something that important to the one seeking resurrection. Usually, it's a material item, an ability, or even a precious memory.

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[youfool]

If death has a cost, and a pretty dear one at that, how is it meaningless? Do memories or abilities mean so little?

The distinction lies in the dignity of the subject. What necromancers bring back is a far sorrier, and usually more sinful, thing, sometimes living a fate worse than death. The world, on the other hand, seems to leave us off no worse for wear. And then there's the question of means, which ends, of course, never justify.

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[deathsought]

There are those out there who are only too eager to pay such a price. Some might even consider such a price a win-win.

There was a man here not too long ago who would agree with that sentiment. His name was 'Silver.' But he was also an example of somebody using such a second chance to his advantage, from what I understand.

[Text]

[space_jesus]

I have only ever met or heard of one person who could truly raise the dead back to life. He was the kindest, most selfless person I ever met, in over eight thousand years of walking among humanity. In many ways, he is the reason my home universe still exists - he gave me a reason to fight against my fate. The years I spent as his disciple remain among my dearest memories.

I would hardly call the loss of those memories - or any of the others I have made, through many long years - meaningless or cheap.

Necromancy is like any other form of magic. It can be used for good or evil, and only the person using it will ever know for sure what his reasons were. As with any power, however, it has the potential to corrupt - perhaps moreso, because it gives the illusion of control over the cycle of life and death.

[Text]

[deathsought]

{ Eight thousand years? And here he thought his four centuries were a hellish existence. His answer, however, was the most satisfying he's received yet. Zeref smiles briefly before responding. }

I, too, have memories I would not easily sacrifice.

You mention 'fighting against your fate.' What do you mean by this?

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[needssouls]

Heck if I truly know but to be this whole thing is simply fascinating.

[Mostly because her own ability means she can bring people back from the dead, but that even had a limit of up to five minutes after they die.]

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[deathsought]

I take it you are new to this world.

{ Phrased as a statement, not a question. }

You are in luck. Far stranger things happen here than the dead not staying dead on a daily basis.

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[livable]

So here's what I'm understanding from the ongoing debates:

1. Necromancy involves an element of control. Every time I hear someone talking about necromancy, it involves raising the dead and the dead follow the orders/will of the person who raised them. Whether or not they're rotting when they get risen varies.

2. Resurrection seems to be what this world does, but from a scientific standpoint there are way too many variables to really know exactly what they're doing. You say death is meaningless in this world, but there's always a price for it. It still has an effect on you, to die. Whatever the cost is, I have my doubts that our sacrifice is the only thing that's being paid for it.

3. Option 3: Those who are undead or raised through other means than human intervention (because those do exist too) like zombieism via disease. Not super common here but not unheard of. Plenty of movies to reference.

In all three, there are people who have the problem of it being disrespectful of those who may want to continue resting or it being unnatural but in my personal opinion, that should be left up to the people who are being raised. If someone happens to end up undead and they want to stay alive, that should be their choice and no one else should get to make it for them. But if someone were to, say, not want to then they should have the option to be other. Going back to death shouldn't be the only choice (and so not someone else's choice). Then if the person isn't the one in control of their body, that's painful to anyone who cared for them who has to deal with whatever took their face so that shouldn't be OK at all.

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[deathsought]

{ That... was a lot to take in, but he definitely appreciates the thought-out response. The bit about the loss of free will definitely made sense to him; Silver was the exception, not the rule. }

I only say that through the prism of somebody who became immortal through means not of my own choosing. It's somewhat ironic that I found a place that has magic and technology I'd never dreamed of in my own world, and chief amongst them is something that would render my search moot where the answer to be here as well. But your point about there being more than one price being paid is interesting. I had not considered that, before.

{ Maybe that's why Kefka never came back after he died? Because surely it wasn't because he was dropped right after his death! }

Let me pose a hypothetical question, then. Suppose that somebody was resurrected, and maintained full autonomy afterward, but with one caveat: Their extended lifespan is inextricably tied to something else, something that they have no control over. This object cannot be used to control them, strictly speaking, but if it were to be destroyed, they would die instantly.

Would that still qualify as freedom, to you?

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[tevinteraltus]

Funny you should question this, even rhetorically. You see, in my world "necromancy" has nothing to do with resurrection which is, inherently, impossible without the use of a very forbidden form of magic that requires blood sacrifice. Resurrection using such rituals involves murder.

I am a necromancer. Do I resurrect the dead? No. Am I capable of reanimating corpses? Yes. With spirits, which are not, I should mention, the souls of the dead. They are completely separate creatures, and their binding is not perminent, though at times the spirits prefer to stay. Sometimes, in situations such as...revenants, for instance, they've taken the bodies of their own accord. My rituals simply...heavily suggest which vessels they might occupy to best aid me for a time.

As such, rhetorically of course given how sensitive a subject it seems to be around here, I would move the term "necromancy" to be too broad a term for an interdimensional nexus and would further suggest, by way of disambiguation, breaking all forms of magic down by service and function rather than labeling things incorrectly.

Why, I even found in a dictionary from a world known as Earth, the term "necromancy" original referred to all forms of magic. Clearly our references, and several prejudices, need to be updated.

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[deathsought]

You are able to bind another spirit into a dead body?

{ Now that's interesting. Much more interesting than talk of murder or blood magic. }

So, you are saying the spirits of your world are similar to the spirits of this world?

{ The wheels in Zeref's head are starting to turn... }

anonymous text

[captain_by_the_book]

I don't have a problem with necromancy, I have a problem with the people I painstakingly killed being brought back, no matter by whom or for what price. I have a problem with the power to bring people back being in my enemies' hands.

anonymous text

[deathsought]

Then find a way to counter it. No magic is foolproof.

Action

[redhairedknight]

[Some time after Mavis's talk with Zeref, Erza stops by, looking into the room. The book's still propped up, and while Zeref's mentioned that it's different and not a threat in its current state, Erza still eyes it as though it's going to burst open and summon a horrifying demon at a moment's notice.

Zeref's still making conversation with the book, so Erza clears her throat to get his attention.]

I bought some cake, and the First was wondering if you wanted any. [Mavis was hoping that it could help to make the two of them get along better, though Erza's reluctant to share her cake as a general rule.]

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[deathsought]

{ The sudden throat-clearing startles him, turning to face Erza as soon as he finished adjusting the outer layer of his robes. Realizing the door to their private quarters was left open, he sighs, cursing himself under his breath for being so careless, and gets to his feet.

But what Erza asked him genuinely surprised him. Sure, he'd had coffee with Lucy once, but that wasn't exactly a casual encounter, either; Mavis had been present, and Lucy had joined them for the sole purpose of interrogating Zeref about her family, specifically Layla. He still doesn't know how she learned about his connection to the Heartfilias, and he highly doubted Layla herself told her. }

Well, I am feeling a bit hungry... { Mavis was trying to get them to bond, now? He sighs. Sure, he mostly got along with Wendy and Levy while they were here - unlike Erza, Gray, Natsu, and arguably Lucy, they never really had anything personal against him - but that was because Levy's curiosity seemed to ultimately outweigh her initial fear of him, and Wendy is, well, Wendy. Erza had every reason to be wary of him, if not hate him outright.

But if they were really going to be living together... }

Alright, then. { He gets to his feet, and moves past their table. Their Lejenca game was still ongoing, and the scoreboard had Mavis ahead, but only by one. She was getting really good at that game, now; he went easy on her the first time they played, something he quickly regretted, and hasn't done so again. He leaves the room, and closes the door behind him. } It isn't as if I have anything better to do, I guess.

{ It's a good thing nobody from Alvarez was here. He'd never hear the end of it. }