II. Red

[eightofseven]

[For once, "Al Saiduq" has chosen to make himself visible again. But rather than stare intently at people like he usually does, he seems to be thinking about something instead.]

[Namely, what it is he would do now. From his conversations with people here (mostly Oz), the possibility that he would come to be despised by all was becoming too great to ignore. Normally, self-preservation would be among the least of his concerns, and even though he now knew (albeit not firsthand) that death was impermanent in this world, he didn't know what would happen with regards to the Shining One's situation if he were to fall in battle. It wasn't time for that yet. He wasn't ready.]

[If you come and speak to him, he'll greet you with a "Hello", and possibly with a nickname, or a title maybe, if you have one.]

Comments

[eightofseven]

If The World is indeed a simulation, what is its purpose?

[galaxiapride]

[For a while, he says nothing.]

...Then we must brace ourselves if the purpose is malicious.

[eightofseven]

How interesting, though, if it has given us a means to fight back.

[galaxiapride]

[There is a slight pause in his movements.]

Just what are you implying?

[eightofseven]

The new powers we have received, our "classes"... They could be for our benefit or an instrument of our demise. It remains to be seen which it will be, and yet...

[it was so familiar]

[galaxiapride]

I thought it was a fair translation of our usual abilities. I was a swordsman long before I came to this world.

[eightofseven]

But there are so many here that had no talent in combat at all before.

[galaxiapride]

They'll learn. Any weapon is merely an extension of one's self.

[eightofseven]

If they wish to. If it comes to a matter of survival, they certainly will.

[He didn't consider his fans an "extension of himself", though. Aphorisms were something that he just didn't understand. It didn't show, though.]

[galaxiapride]

They'll have others as support before it comes to that.

[eightofseven]

Or perhaps they will be supporting others, or themselves.

[galaxiapride]

But isn't that a means to fight back?

[eightofseven]

I suppose it is. Against who or whatever administrates this world, it may prove to be vital or be completely useless.

[galaxiapride]

Considering this entity is powerful enough to pull us from different worlds and reduce our powers, it may be the only option so it better be vital.

[eightofseven]

It would be the more likely possibility, yes. It was the same in the world I observed.

[galaxiapride]

And it was the same for me when my fr--acquaintances were fighting the last abomination threatening my world.

[eightofseven]

Is that so?

Then how did you acquire the powers used by your enemies?

[galaxiapride]

[That surprises him]

Excuse me?

[eightofseven]

Perhaps it is not so similar after all... Humanity gained the power to copy the skills of demons and use them for themselves.

[galaxiapride]

Those are learned skills.

[eightofseven]

You would call it "learned" when a machine does it for you?

[galaxiapride]

[There's a bit of relief in the way his shoulders twitch. So he's not talking about his natural biology...]

If it is stored in memory, then yes.

[eightofseven]

Even if it is in the machine's memory, rather than their own?

[galaxiapride]

Does a pilot not know how to fly if the airplane is the one doing the flying?

[eightofseven]

Is there not more than one way to fly?