fifthofthecovenant | The Last Voyages: IC Contact

Well met once again. [It's nice to be able to talk this time.] We met back in October. How have you fared since then?

[Chase can't be bothered to switch on the video function and position a camera, so Song Zichen just get his voice.]

Hey, yeah, you brought be dinner once during that signs flood, right? Song Zichen? I guess you got your voice back.

Could be worse I guess. I died once. Got thrown overboard in that last port. Dreading whatever this month's flood is going to be. But I'm still here, right?

I did. [It still amazes him that he can talk again.] Lady Ulla assisted me.

[Poor man. Zichen lets out a small sigh.]

I will do all in my power to protect you this month. I'm sorry you've suffered so much.

[There's a long pause while Chase just kind of stares at the phone.

Finally he says,]

You'll protect me? From the flood? And overboarding? Seriously?

I worked it out with the guy who killed me. I don't think there's anything anybody can do about the other things.

I will protect you to the best of my abilities. I am not powerful enough to stop a breach or a flood.

[But in terms of defending his inmate from monsters, Zichen isn't a bad choice.]

I commend you for accepting peace rather than revenge. Mm likely not, but my offer stands.

Revenge is stupid when the people you kill just come back to life.

[Chase wants to laugh, a little. This is such a dumb conversation.]

Anyway. I think I'll be okay, but thanks. I guess that's nice of you to offer.

[What will really impress him is if the guy sticks around after this conversation. Nobody else has, yet.]

As someone who has experienced death, it is not easily forgotten.

[It hurts and it's spooky, okay. ~~Also this convo is rad, how dare you.~~]

Would you mind meeting me in person? I like to get to know my inmates.

[As best as he can anyway. It's also a way to ensure they eat something.]

Uh huh. We're both people who've experienced death.

[It does hurt, though, he'll give Song Zichen that much.]

Sure, if you want to meet up, I guess. Pick a place.

[He should get up and stretch anyway.]

Come to the Cafeteria. We can get something to eat and take a walk together.

[Why sit around if you can enjoy some light exercise?]

[This guy is so weird. But he's not annoying yet, so Chase will go with it. For now.]

All right, fine. I'll be there in a little bit.

[He has to put his notes together, tidy up, drop his things off at his cabin, and then he'll be at the dining hall.]

[He waits for Chase near the door, smiling faintly when the man arrives.]

Are you hungry? [Zichen stands at a respectable six feet, two inches. He is wearing his usual black robes and his hair is pulled back with a guan that is much like one he had in the past.]

[Well, Zichen is a good few inches taller than Chase, anyway. He doesn't necessarily hold it against him, but it doesn't really endear him, either.]

I could eat, sure.

[He might've skipped lunch because he'd been engrossed in a book.]

Are we going to grab and go, or sit?

We can sit. [Zichen motions to a table where tea is already waiting for them. He pours them each a cup.] What would you like to eat?

[Tea, of course there's tea. Chase at least doesn't mind most teas.]

I'm not picky. I usually get a sandwich or maybe some soup. And whatever dessert they're serving whenever I come in.

[Tea is calming for Zichen; he is hoping it will have the same effect on Chase. Nodding at the choices, he stands.]

I will be right back.

[When he returns, he will have a sandwich for Chase - along with some cake.]

Tell me something important about yourself and I will return the favor.

[Is Zichen kidding right now? Really? Chase stares at him for a beat at the question, not yet touching his lunch. Zichen hasn't earned anything important yet. He can't be bought with food.

He settles for important but also common knowledge by now:]

I'm a witch.

[Chase can choose why the piece of information is important. It could be his favorite color or his favorite scent. Zichen never set up any parameters.]

So am I apparently. [The flattest of flat deliveries. He isn't sure about the classification.]

[Chase'll take it. If given the option, he'd always rather talk shop.]

Yeah? What kind of stuff do you do?

I'm a Cultivator. That includes using my Golden Core to perform spells, create talismans and use my sword, Fuxue. Part of what we do aligns with what Exorcists do; we can banish spirits or put them to rest. But we can also fight demons and monsters.

Oh. Hey, Ye Zun talked about golden cores. He couldn't really explain what it was, though.

A core either forms or it doesn't after a certain amount of Cultivation. If one doesn't form, the Cultivator can only manage low level spells. However if one does form, it can be strengthened quickly - especially while the owner is young.

Edited 2024-03-18 12:23 (UTC)

Okay, and what exactly is Cultivation?

[There's a capital letter there, he can hear it.]

It involves strengthening one's spiritual and physical core. Some can Cultivate to immortality. Others can only manage simple spells. It all depends on one's potential.

Uh-huh.

[Which still doesn't actually tell him anything.]

Well, we're born with magic where I come from. You either have it or you don't. You can train it, sure, but you can't build it up from nothing.

[But that is Cultivation. Think of it like growing a crop. It needs certain nutrients to be at its best. A Golden Core is really no different.]

The same applies to our cores. Some could train for several lifetimes and never develop a Golden Core. Others come by them easily, awakening them in childhood.

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