The fire in the Auru Tavern burned low. After a long day, Jedoi and Ajaxan had retired to the Tavern to reward themselves with some much needed rest and even more needed drink. The bar maid brought them both a final round of Golden Aurulian Mead, a favorite among the Aurulians. They sat and talked and laughed with many of the other Aurulians in celebration of another day complete, but now the fire was low and only the two remained. As they talked, conversation grew more honest, softened by a few rounds of Ale. As they talked, their conversations drifted to talk of the Ancients...
Jedoi: "I have wondered a long time who they were, what they did... Even if they existed. The rumors say they imprisoned the guardians themselves. That means they are powerful indeed."
Ajaxan: "The few glimpses of power we can see make me believe so, yes. Powers beyond what we could even imagine. The power over life and death itself."
Jedoi: "Aye, if they are the ones who created the Artifact... They are powerful enough to stop death."
Ajaxan: "Their Artifact follows us for a reason. We are destined for something great. All of us. Even those we call foe, those we know nothing of..."
Jedoi: "But why? Why won't it let us be... free?"
Ajaxan: "... Do you believe you are trapped?"
Jedoi: "We are all trapped"
Ajaxan: "I've been out there... "
Jedoi: "Aye, you were once free. You were free to live or die. the Artifact has taken away one of those options. from the moment our feet touched this soil... we have been prisoners."
Ajaxan: "Do you wish to die Jedoi?"
Jedoi: "To die? Without the Artifact I would have died long ago."
Ajaxan: "But do you wish to die?"
Jedoi: "I do not necessarily wish to die, no." But I know I should have died already."
Ajaxan: "Then every time the Artifact saved you was not a failed attempt at escape, but a second chance."
Jedoi: "I'm... I'm living a false extended. By the laws outside the Artifact's protection... I should be dead."
Ajaxan: "Just because things could have gone differently does not invalidate our current existence. there are countless ways to to both live and die. Which ever one you experience is just as real as the next."
Jedoi: "Heh. Countless ways to die. I feel I've experienced them all... Drowned, burned, broken...Stabbed, crushed, ripped apart..."
Ajaxan: "And yet you live on. Because they have seen greatness in you Jedoi. They have realized your true potential."
Jedoi: "I live on, only to die again and again."
Ajaxan: "...I would die a thousand times to reach my true potential. to be the best I could possibly be..."
They sat their in silence enjoying the dying light of the fire, beginning to feel the work of the day weighing heavy upon their eyes. Ajaxan and Jedoi both drank deeply from their cups.
Jedoi: "Have you ever paused to feel that moment between life and death? That moment between everything and nothing?"
Ajaxan: "...I have not... Despite knowing what to expect, the experience is made no more pleasant. Most times I simply wish it to be over so I may again walk upon my feet."
Jedoi: "I call it by a name a Goddess once gave me. Unbound."
Ajaxan: "Unbound... What an interesting name."
Jedoi: "There are creatures that lurk in the moment between. They're brought into existence by that moment. That great and terrible moment. And I can only imagine what.. or who... they were before... The Unbound Ones."
Ajaxan: "That name runs chills up my spine, be careful with names Jedoi. They hold... power... My curisoity will get the better of me though. What are they? ...Are they us?
Jedoi: "I've never been able to figure that out. We can only imagine and guess."
Ajaxan: "Well Ancients willing, I'll never know enough to find out. The very thought makes my body shiver.
Jedoi: "That's my fear. With every death, I fear we come closer and closer to being Unbound ourselves.
Ajaxan: "I pray that not be the case, for if so... I dare not think on it long. The Ancients would not allow such things to become our fate. My faith in them is matched only by their faith in us. It is my duty to spread that faith so we may move forward together. Enough talk of the darkness though. Our future will come as it always does. In time."
Jedoi and Ajaxan downed the last of their drink and stood up to leave the Tavern. Another long insightful night spent with friends. As the moon rose high into the Sky, the Lokians slept, waiting for a new day to rise.
Jedoi: "I have wondered a long time who they were, what they did... Even if they existed. The rumors say they imprisoned the guardians themselves. That means they are powerful indeed."
Ajaxan: "The few glimpses of power we can see make me believe so, yes. Powers beyond what we could even imagine. The power over life and death itself."
Jedoi: "Aye, if they are the ones who created the Artifact... They are powerful enough to stop death."
Ajaxan: "Their Artifact follows us for a reason. We are destined for something great. All of us. Even those we call foe, those we know nothing of..."
Jedoi: "But why? Why won't it let us be... free?"
Ajaxan: "... Do you believe you are trapped?"
Jedoi: "We are all trapped"
Ajaxan: "I've been out there... "
Jedoi: "Aye, you were once free. You were free to live or die. the Artifact has taken away one of those options. from the moment our feet touched this soil... we have been prisoners."
Ajaxan: "Do you wish to die Jedoi?"
Jedoi: "To die? Without the Artifact I would have died long ago."
Ajaxan: "But do you wish to die?"
Jedoi: "I do not necessarily wish to die, no." But I know I should have died already."
Ajaxan: "Then every time the Artifact saved you was not a failed attempt at escape, but a second chance."
Jedoi: "I'm... I'm living a false extended. By the laws outside the Artifact's protection... I should be dead."
Ajaxan: "Just because things could have gone differently does not invalidate our current existence. there are countless ways to to both live and die. Which ever one you experience is just as real as the next."
Jedoi: "Heh. Countless ways to die. I feel I've experienced them all... Drowned, burned, broken...Stabbed, crushed, ripped apart..."
Ajaxan: "And yet you live on. Because they have seen greatness in you Jedoi. They have realized your true potential."
Jedoi: "I live on, only to die again and again."
Ajaxan: "...I would die a thousand times to reach my true potential. to be the best I could possibly be..."
They sat their in silence enjoying the dying light of the fire, beginning to feel the work of the day weighing heavy upon their eyes. Ajaxan and Jedoi both drank deeply from their cups.
Jedoi: "Have you ever paused to feel that moment between life and death? That moment between everything and nothing?"
Ajaxan: "...I have not... Despite knowing what to expect, the experience is made no more pleasant. Most times I simply wish it to be over so I may again walk upon my feet."
Jedoi: "I call it by a name a Goddess once gave me. Unbound."
Ajaxan: "Unbound... What an interesting name."
Jedoi: "There are creatures that lurk in the moment between. They're brought into existence by that moment. That great and terrible moment. And I can only imagine what.. or who... they were before... The Unbound Ones."
Ajaxan: "That name runs chills up my spine, be careful with names Jedoi. They hold... power... My curisoity will get the better of me though. What are they? ...Are they us?
Jedoi: "I've never been able to figure that out. We can only imagine and guess."
Ajaxan: "Well Ancients willing, I'll never know enough to find out. The very thought makes my body shiver.
Jedoi: "That's my fear. With every death, I fear we come closer and closer to being Unbound ourselves.
Ajaxan: "I pray that not be the case, for if so... I dare not think on it long. The Ancients would not allow such things to become our fate. My faith in them is matched only by their faith in us. It is my duty to spread that faith so we may move forward together. Enough talk of the darkness though. Our future will come as it always does. In time."
Jedoi and Ajaxan downed the last of their drink and stood up to leave the Tavern. Another long insightful night spent with friends. As the moon rose high into the Sky, the Lokians slept, waiting for a new day to rise.
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