Amaravati

[bufudine]

Who: Serph and YOU
Where: In the Plaza
When: On the 12th!
Style: [action] preferred, but I'll match!
Status: OPEN

[It's been a long time since Serph's disappearance. Maybe it seemed like he wasn't going to be coming back to Vatheon.

But if you happen to be passing through the Plaza, there's someone appearing out of thin air and... falling into one of the fountains with a great splash. If you're curious enough to look at the water, it's gaining a reddish tinge.

...Yeah, that's blood mixing with the water.

But wait long enough, and there's a guy pulling himself out of the fountain, looking like a drowned rat. There's a break in his abdominal armour. But while there are some stubborn bits of blood at the break's edges, there's no wound in the flesh underneath; the skin is unmarked, like it had been healed perfectly.

Serph's back. And he's alive.

...And totally dripping water all over the Plaza again.]

Comments

[beauchevalier]

[He doesn't care much about his shoes getting wet, since he can always fix them later. He manages to help Serph out of the fountain and sighs.]

From you ending up in the fountain, I'm going to assume you went home and came back.

[bufudine]

[Home... That's not the word he'd use to describe the place he left, or the place he went to.]

My 'home' had been destroyed when I first arrived here.

[For better or for worse. Serph shakes his head.]

I entered a new world when Vatheon sent me away.

[beauchevalier]

[A new world? That's a bit odd to hear, but he's been to another world back home himself. That one was of pure darkness though and he didn't stay too long. Yet he inquires about this world from Serph.]

Would it be possible for you to tell me about this world?

[bufudine]

[Serph isn't really up for standing for a long period of time, so he's going to take a seat on the edge of the fountain. He's still soaking wet, but he seems completely unperturbed by this.

He nods. Ah, now that he thinks about it, "Nirvana" probably has more in common with other worlds than the Junkyard, huh?]

It's a world where the sun has turned black and the sky is a harsh, glaring yellow. Most humans cannot walk under the sun, as they will turn to stone. Those living in comfort averted their eyes from the suffering those who are hunted and killed by demons.

[One thing is certain; it certainly isn't the Nirvana he seeks for his Tribe.]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo sits next to Serph and listens to him, a sigh before he puts a hand on Serph's shoulder.]

That...sounds terrible, Serph. You shouldn't have to live in such a world, not someone such as you.

[bufudine]

[The hand on the shoulder surprises Serph, but he doesn't object to it, his gaze briefly going to it before he nods, acknowledging the show of sympathy.

Terrible? Perhaps. In some ways, it isn't much different from the Junkyard. Angelo doesn't know the full extent of his worlds' horrors. Besides... living in "Nirvana"? That's not a choice Serph gets to make any more.

But that last phrase, that gets Serph's attention, and he tilts his head.]

Why do you think that?

[beauchevalier]

[It began to seem as though Angelo was getting attached again, something he hated. He didn't want to become attached and didn't understand why he said such a thing. But another part of him felt actual pity for the other sitting next to him, even he couldn't deny that.]

Perhaps there's...something about you that doesn't deserve such a grim fate.

[bufudine]

[If Serph was the sort, he'd laugh at that. He'd spent his time in the Junkyard, questioning their suffering. He'd spent his time in "Nirvana" realising they're suffering because of something he did five years ago.

Something he doesn't remember.

He doesn't deserve it? Maybe he does. Maybe he does. That's his karma, isn't it? Serph's hand idly goes to his abdomen, where Agni's arm had torn through him. He was just paying it back, paying back the karma he owes.

He appreciates the words from Angelo nevertheless. He might not remember what he's done in the past, but... he's glad it seems he's done some good. He turns his gaze to Angelo and nods.]

Thank you.

[He means it. But the world he left behind, that doesn't really matter any more. He doesn't believe he's as good as Angelo seems to think he is, but...]

All I can do is keep searching for Nirvana from here.

[beauchevalier]

We're born into this world, we live in it for a period of time, and then we die with the prospects of joining the Goddess one day in the heavens. True nirvana nor paradise exist in the human life, but only after we die.

[He then sighs.] At least that is what I was taught at the abbey, rather ridiculous wouldn't you say? Why shouldn't the Goddess be glad her people are happy or trying to find happiness in the realm of our humanly existence?

[bufudine]

[So, in Angelo's world, it's a Goddess. Serph doesn't know what an abbey is, but that isn't really important right now, is it?

Ha ha... only after they die, huh? Serph suspects it. Suffering through their life to reach a Nirvana they can only live in after they die. His Tribe's condition... it doesn't matter how well they live their lives, eventually there will come a day when they will have to devour friends. The real world isn't the place for them. He can see that.

But while they can still make things better, there's no dying for the others, yet.

Ky had told him people were born in sin. Perhaps, perhaps. Perhaps that is why they must suffer. To pay back the sins of the past and become better people. To eventually reach Nirvana. "This cycle of sadness must not continue."]

Because the deeds of our past burden our present.

[He looks away for a moment.]

Perhaps we can only enjoy our efforts in the next life, after we have repaid the price of our past.

[beauchevalier]

[The way Serph speaks his words, Angelo is reminded of the priests back home and other clergymen who would come from other churches on the continent. He even remembers some holy fathers who came from Savella Cathedral to see Abbot Francisco, all of them spoke such words or ones similar to that.]

You sound like the priests back at the abbey, Serph. Maybe you should consider a career in the priesthood. [What follows is a sigh.] Though in a way, I don't disagree with the words you speak.

[bufudine]

[Ah... A priest? That was a man of God, right...? Or in Angelo's case, a man of Goddess? What an ironic statement, considering his origins. Careers? Serph doesn't know anything about what that means, either. Serph shakes his head.]

This is what I believe, based on what I have seen.

[All five years of it. Is he right? Who knows. He can only do his best to make something of his life.]

But there is still much to learn.

[So much he doesn't understand.]

[beauchevalier]

[While Angelo himself was no longer a practicing templar or priest of the church, he still had some belief in the Goddess. Thus seeing Serph showing interest himself, he decides to take it upon himself to use his knowledge from the abbey to "help" as this could be useful some point later on.]

I could teach you much more about the Goddess of my world if that interests you. Having been raised in an abbey, I've studied quite a number of books regarding the beginnings of my world and the Goddess herself.

[bufudine]

[Serph nods.]

I'd like that.

[Between Angelo and Ky, Serph's totally got religion covered, right? He tilts his head.]

What is an abbey?

[beauchevalier]

It's a smaller version of a church, but you take up residence there instead of only going once or more a day for services. An Abbot also serves as the authority of the abbey and only members of the same gender are allowed to be brought in. Thus, we don't allow members of the opposite gender in as it goes against the rules. Honestly though, I don't recommend you live in one. Until you become of age where you're allowed to leave, you're obligated to isolate yourself from the world.

[bufudine]

[But what is a church...? And why no opposite genders in the abbey? But most importantly...]

Why must members be isolated?

[That makes very little sense to Serph.]

[beauchevalier]

We are allowed limited contact with the outside world because the church considers anything outside of its walls to be sinful or full of wrongs that the Goddess frowns upon. It is our duty as priests and templars of the Goddess to help guide people to the Goddess so they may be saved from a life of damnation. So because of that belief, we must keep our human shells cleansed and purified of any impurities from the outside world. [He laughs a little.] I broke this rule at age fifteen.