But Claude is probably making his way back towards the inn to grab some things! In fact, he's probably on his way to his room, even? It's where his bow is and all. )
Xie Lian? (What is this? He frowns, clearly concerned but looks alert,) What's wrong?
[ yup yup that's fine. xie lian goes immediately, and shuts the door behind him. he's not running, or anything, but it is clear something is wrong, and he speaks with that same quiet urgency, utter seriousness to his voice: ]
(And here's something he didn't expect at all. His immediate thought is, "Who told you?" Because why else would he come to him but that isn't important? Maybe.)
Have you spoken with her this week, at all? I first... I thought perhaps someone had cursed her, like they did to you and San Lang, but I -
I just finished speaking with her. I came straight here. [ the danger senses xie lian has so finely tuned in the past eight hundred years are screaming at him, and have been since the moment hikaru approached him today. ] She couldn't pick up anything. She showed me; her hands disappeared out of existence and returned, like things did a few weeks ago.
...Claude, she couldn't remember my name - the one she gave me, "Chijin". And, when she started to talk to me about what was wrong, she couldn't remember any of it.
I noticed but... she wouldn't tell me! And I couldn't make her, either.
(And he had wondered after a discussion he'd had with her before this week but. A whole week? A whole week.)
All this time... (Ah, he looks at Xie Lian. He's... honestly? He's afraid.) When you splinter, you forget things more easily. Do you remember that night I stayed with you and Hua Cheng? I was splintering but it only started that day.
(So he should have an idea of what it means,)
You lose memories quickly, faster than we normally have. If it isn't stopped, you forget everything until you're not even a person anymore... you're just a shell of a what you were. There's only one way to stop it and return to normal...
(And here's a hint: Claude was completely fine the next morning.)
[ though xie lian's quiet, for a second, he nods. claude won't see any shock or horror or fright on his face -- just a grim seriousness as he speaks, opening his mouth, then closing it. ]
...I have told you before, your secrets are safe with me. [ but he moves with him, going to sit down where directed. ] I have no intentions of doing something like that. Believe me when I say so - I am not one to act rashly.
But, Claude, I need you to tell me everything. For Miss Hikaru. [ ... ] Please.
First, most of this is what I learned a few weeks ago. It’s possible that things have changed or aren’t quite what we thought at the time... it’s hard to get information if you don’t know exactly who or what to ask.
( Something important to note before he continues, )
That first weekend, when Virid killed Hajime, someone supposedly told him to kill. He wouldn’t really explain why but something happened... we were able to fix the disruption but not completely. As a result, these... infections started slipping through. Normally the Realm would be able to take care of it but it’s weak right now.
When these infections get through, people splinter. That week I stayed with you and Hua Cheng, Cater had begun to splinter. A leader only noticed on Wednesday and told someone on their team to take care of the disruption before it spread. They hadn’t noticed any signs leading up to that moment... it seemed pretty sudden.
( Which has him... thinking about Hikaru who has apparently been experiencing this since at least the beginning of the week? Hm. )
It’s possible they might not have know what to look out for. The leaders can’t talk about these things easily. The one responsible for Cater was alone with this information at the time. They didn’t have anyone else to talk to. Maybe if they had someone else to think things through with, they would have known what to look for and caught it sooner.
( Maybe they would have found another way? )
Because Hilda and I exchanged teams, her leader and mine have been able to talk. I don’t know if they’ve found any of the other leaders who would know, though. They can’t exchange information freely until people on their teams come to them with the right information.
[ even so, weeks old information is new information. xie lian nods, listening along as carefully as possible, his hands clenched into fists at his thighs. he is calm as he speaks. ]
...You and I have exchanged teams - will it be alright if I tell my leader this information? I think... I think it would benefit them to learn these things. Brother Goat is unaware - he has yet to sense anyone with splintering nova, at all.
Do you know how the infection spreads, Claude? What happens to the people who are infected once the source is removed from the Realm?
So your team hasn't had to act against anyone yet?
(Thanks Shima for letting everyone know which team you were on and why you did what you did!!)
... I don't mind if you tell. If anything, knowing what could happen might help him look out for signs before it's too late. All of my information is from another leader, though... one Fox is has also spoken, too. So I'm not sure how forthcoming Fox can be without revealing their own source.
(A truly complicated web of networks here,)
Essentially, we're all in a sick place getting sick. We can try to cure the people who are sick and we might be able to help some of them, but we can't stop others from getting sick. It seems random. I had no contact with Cater and I still became afflicted.
For myself, I was better once the source was removed. The next morning, I remembered everything except what I'd forgotten before everything fell apart. I've never met anyone else with the same condition and it was a while back... so there's nothing else for me to compare it to.
If Hikaru is splintering because of someone else, the only solution right now is to remove that person. If Hikaru is the first contact, though... (He grimaces. He doesn't like this but he understands how it works.) ...someone will come for her tonight.
[ xie lian shakes his head. ] I talk with Brother Goat fairly often, and I have asked. He said that he trusts me, and I trust him, as well.
[ goat is like arguably xie lian's favorite person in the entire world besides hua cheng which is very funny but that's fine.
anyway. the source thing makes sense. xie lian hates it too - he can recall the infection that ruined his own life once, and just the talk of the spread of nova makes his stomach churn with it. it seems random. it just happens.
(you will never save anyone, xian le.) ]
...Her case seems even worse than yours was. If it's been like this all week, then that does make sense, but... [ xie lian's expression matches claude's, then, a grimace, his eyes dark. he hates that. ] An undetectable disease, until the moment that it strikes - and by the moment we start to notice, it can be too late. Not to mention, we are barred from intervening by the way we are forced to sleep.
[ ...but is it right?
to intervene. is that the right thing to do? he thinks about hikaru, her sunny smiles, her deep, bright heart.
xie lian's fists tighten a little more. ]
...Do you think that "monster" that was mentioned may be the ultimate source? You said there may be another way to stop this.
Usually, the Realm would be able to take care of this on its own but right now? It's weak because something is draining it.
The only way we can stop it is to recover all of the missing nova stop whatever is taking it. If we do that, the Realm will be at full defenses again. This is what I was told.
It's been difficult finding information about this monster, though. Everything I know is basically what Elsa told us all.
That's all I've heard, too. I much prefer the idea, to be quite frank. I'd rather destroy a monster than lose a single other life to the side effects of its hunger for nova.
[ you can, after all, beat up a monster. there is nothing gray area about it. a monster siphoning nova is an evil being, harming them all. ] I've been trying to find out information about it.
...This has been helpful, Claude. I will pass as much of it onto my Leader as I can.
It would make gathering nova easier, too, if we didn't have to worry about making up for whatever is being taken all the time.
(He really doesn't have anything else to share and... well, it's interesting. The way his shoulders seem to relax and it really does feel like some burden has been taken off.)
I'm sorry I couldn't share sooner.
(He really had wanted to but Xie Lian can probably understand why that was difficult.)
It's okay, Claude. [ his tired smile is soft and still doesn't quite reach his eyes, but it's reassuring, nonetheless. he's too worried to really be a great source of easy smiles. ] You were protecting someone important to you - I do understand.
Here, it is never easy to know exactly who or what to trust. We are all meant to kept secrets, and you have borne many, for yourself and others. I hope that I can help to ease that load just a little, for you.
...We... will have to see what happens, tomorrow. [ oof. he hates it. he really does. ] Right now, that is all we can do.
(It's all they can do. It's not like they could protect her while they're all asleep. And honestly? Knowing Hikaru, he fears the worst. )
Xie Lian, how many times has your PHS flashed since you've been here?
(Look, they know each other's teams and everything so,)
Raven wrote to me. He said our devices flash after someone on our team has killed. Mine flashed once after Shima's removal and... I know the same happened to another team, too.
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But Claude is probably making his way back towards the inn to grab some things! In fact, he's probably on his way to his room, even? It's where his bow is and all. )
Xie Lian? (What is this? He frowns, clearly concerned but looks alert,) What's wrong?
(Just gonna usher him into the room,)
Tell me what's wrong.
(Because something is clearly wrong?)
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What do you know about splintering nova?
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It... depends on what you want to know.
(The truly unfortunate answer.)
Why are you asking?
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...Because it's happening to Miss Hikaru.
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Since when?
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I just finished speaking with her. I came straight here. [ the danger senses xie lian has so finely tuned in the past eight hundred years are screaming at him, and have been since the moment hikaru approached him today. ] She couldn't pick up anything. She showed me; her hands disappeared out of existence and returned, like things did a few weeks ago.
...Claude, she couldn't remember my name - the one she gave me, "Chijin". And, when she started to talk to me about what was wrong, she couldn't remember any of it.
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(And he had wondered after a discussion he'd had with her before this week but. A whole week? A whole week.)
All this time... (Ah, he looks at Xie Lian. He's... honestly? He's afraid.) When you splinter, you forget things more easily. Do you remember that night I stayed with you and Hua Cheng? I was splintering but it only started that day.
(So he should have an idea of what it means,)
You lose memories quickly, faster than we normally have. If it isn't stopped, you forget everything until you're not even a person anymore... you're just a shell of a what you were. There's only one way to stop it and return to normal...
(And here's a hint: Claude was completely fine the next morning.)
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[ xie lian shifts.
he meets his gaze. ]
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There might be another way but... we don't know much about it yet.
(And he reaches out to Xie Lian with both hands. He needs him to sit down,)
Look. I'll explain what I know from the beginning, okay? I don't want you to get any wrong ideas. Don't do something like Shiro did.
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...I have told you before, your secrets are safe with me. [ but he moves with him, going to sit down where directed. ] I have no intentions of doing something like that. Believe me when I say so - I am not one to act rashly.
But, Claude, I need you to tell me everything. For Miss Hikaru. [ ... ] Please.
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( Something important to note before he continues, )
That first weekend, when Virid killed Hajime, someone supposedly told him to kill. He wouldn’t really explain why but something happened... we were able to fix the disruption but not completely. As a result, these... infections started slipping through. Normally the Realm would be able to take care of it but it’s weak right now.
When these infections get through, people splinter. That week I stayed with you and Hua Cheng, Cater had begun to splinter. A leader only noticed on Wednesday and told someone on their team to take care of the disruption before it spread. They hadn’t noticed any signs leading up to that moment... it seemed pretty sudden.
( Which has him... thinking about Hikaru who has apparently been experiencing this since at least the beginning of the week? Hm. )
It’s possible they might not have know what to look out for. The leaders can’t talk about these things easily. The one responsible for Cater was alone with this information at the time. They didn’t have anyone else to talk to. Maybe if they had someone else to think things through with, they would have known what to look for and caught it sooner.
( Maybe they would have found another way? )
Because Hilda and I exchanged teams, her leader and mine have been able to talk. I don’t know if they’ve found any of the other leaders who would know, though. They can’t exchange information freely until people on their teams come to them with the right information.
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...You and I have exchanged teams - will it be alright if I tell my leader this information? I think... I think it would benefit them to learn these things. Brother Goat is unaware - he has yet to sense anyone with splintering nova, at all.
Do you know how the infection spreads, Claude? What happens to the people who are infected once the source is removed from the Realm?
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(Thanks Shima for letting everyone know which team you were on and why you did what you did!!)
... I don't mind if you tell. If anything, knowing what could happen might help him look out for signs before it's too late. All of my information is from another leader, though... one Fox is has also spoken, too. So I'm not sure how forthcoming Fox can be without revealing their own source.
(A truly complicated web of networks here,)
Essentially, we're all in a sick place getting sick. We can try to cure the people who are sick and we might be able to help some of them, but we can't stop others from getting sick. It seems random. I had no contact with Cater and I still became afflicted.
For myself, I was better once the source was removed. The next morning, I remembered everything except what I'd forgotten before everything fell apart. I've never met anyone else with the same condition and it was a while back... so there's nothing else for me to compare it to.
If Hikaru is splintering because of someone else, the only solution right now is to remove that person. If Hikaru is the first contact, though... (He grimaces. He doesn't like this but he understands how it works.) ...someone will come for her tonight.
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[ goat is like arguably xie lian's favorite person in the entire world besides hua cheng which is very funny but that's fine.
anyway. the source thing makes sense. xie lian hates it too - he can recall the infection that ruined his own life once, and just the talk of the spread of nova makes his stomach churn with it. it seems random. it just happens.
(you will never save anyone, xian le.) ]
...Her case seems even worse than yours was. If it's been like this all week, then that does make sense, but... [ xie lian's expression matches claude's, then, a grimace, his eyes dark. he hates that. ] An undetectable disease, until the moment that it strikes - and by the moment we start to notice, it can be too late. Not to mention, we are barred from intervening by the way we are forced to sleep.
[ ...but is it right?
to intervene. is that the right thing to do? he thinks about hikaru, her sunny smiles, her deep, bright heart.
xie lian's fists tighten a little more. ]
...Do you think that "monster" that was mentioned may be the ultimate source? You said there may be another way to stop this.
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The only way we can stop it is to recover all of the missing nova stop whatever is taking it. If we do that, the Realm will be at full defenses again. This is what I was told.
It's been difficult finding information about this monster, though. Everything I know is basically what Elsa told us all.
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That's all I've heard, too. I much prefer the idea, to be quite frank. I'd rather destroy a monster than lose a single other life to the side effects of its hunger for nova.
[ you can, after all, beat up a monster. there is nothing gray area about it. a monster siphoning nova is an evil being, harming them all. ] I've been trying to find out information about it.
...This has been helpful, Claude. I will pass as much of it onto my Leader as I can.
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(He really doesn't have anything else to share and... well, it's interesting. The way his shoulders seem to relax and it really does feel like some burden has been taken off.)
I'm sorry I couldn't share sooner.
(He really had wanted to but Xie Lian can probably understand why that was difficult.)
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Here, it is never easy to know exactly who or what to trust. We are all meant to kept secrets, and you have borne many, for yourself and others. I hope that I can help to ease that load just a little, for you.
...We... will have to see what happens, tomorrow. [ oof. he hates it. he really does. ] Right now, that is all we can do.
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Xie Lian, how many times has your PHS flashed since you've been here?
(Look, they know each other's teams and everything so,)
Raven wrote to me. He said our devices flash after someone on our team has killed. Mine flashed once after Shima's removal and... I know the same happened to another team, too.
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...Only once. And I do not know who was the cause.
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We can talk about this more later. For now, let's try to find Hikaru. Hopefully, everything will be okay.