The City of the Specter, Atem's Palace

[metagame]

The corpse sinks to the floor
Even the brightest gold, even the sharpest blade
Becomes sand, becomes dust

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[prozaic]

Ah. [That's the sound of a man who just had a revelation. He just figured something out-- well, perhaps it'd be more accurate to call it a hunch.]

I see. You can't live without him, is it? However, this wallowing in the whims of a young man would not be a good ending for you. [He places both of his hands on Richard's face.]

Richard, what's something you can show, but you can't see?

[ledbythewind]

[Where has he heard these words before? He knows that he has, because there's something familiar in that echo, a feeling that he's been asked this question before.

But what was the answer he had given then...?

"From now on, no matter what happens..."

"... the three of us will always stay friends."

Friends. His friends. People who care about him...

... and then he thinks of a girl, quiet and seemingly emotionless, but who took his hand with such kindness.

Ah. He understands now.]

... friendship.

[The one thing he's wanted to believe in above all else.]

[prozaic]

[Interesting answer, good answer.

Many would call it cliche, but it always turns into something.]

And how shall that guide you out of this fog?

[ledbythewind]

There are people waiting for me here.

[People he needs to get back to, people he needs to protect.]

They need me.

[prozaic]

Then... wake up.

[ledbythewind]

[It's like swimming through water at first, groping blindly for the surface, but Shalem's voice gives him a direction to head for, something to try to focus on...

... and so he reaches out his hand, trusting that there will be someone there to grab it.]

[prozaic]

[Richard is reaching out once again, and this time Shalem takes it. His hand is gloved, so even if there's a bit of an inhuman touch, the leather will keep Richard from getting alarmed from the coolness of his skin.]