Counselor of the People - 6.0 spoilers to 83
Terpsichore sighs as they listen to Zenos’s long-winded speech. About his plans and such.
“You don’t want to do that,” they say. “Not if you want me to bring my all to bear against you.”
The man blinks. “I… beg your pardon? My beast would deliberately cripple itself when faced with such a threat as Zodiark?”
“I’ve had to do this with every Ascian so far, so I doubt Hermes got the news, since they all died shortly after I reveal the truth. I’m the original bearer of this soul. At least, much older than I look. I’ve reincarnated almost a hundred and twenty five times since the sundering, but for reasons I don’t understand, the Seventh Calamity forced me from my slumber and take over this body, since my reincarnation wanted nothing more than rest.”
“And that means.”
They laugh. “That I know exactly what Zodiark is, and how important he is to Eitherys. I prefer him sundered, yes, but he’s still alive, and that’s all I need.”
They wanted to find more information in the last days of the world unsundered, but the most they got was that Morpheus hinted that the official story about Hermes’ familiar was a lie, but other than knowing that, none of Elpis knew exactly what happened. That it was too much trouble to figure out what happened.
And the only person who possibly had any more information was their mother. By the time Morpheus shared that information, their mother’s letter was delivered and the woman was impossible to find.
The most Teri had was that something about emotions was probably important, but other than that, they knew nothing.
“So you think you would hold back against me when I do not hold back against you.”
“As I said, I’m far older than I look, almost fifteen thousand years old. I may not be unsundered, but my control over my aether is much stronger than the average sundered.”
They’re nothing compared to Emet-Selch, and their constructs only last until line of sight can be interrupted, but they won’t need that.
“If you fight me as Zodiark, I will only disappoint you. Especially if you win and kill me, since you will know I hold back. Not just from my words here, but from how I fight.” They smile. “You want your climactic fight of ideals, whether I should let Zodiark reign again or continue to be Hydaelyn’s child and chosen? A fight to the death? Here, now, you and me. Fighting by Zodiark’s prison, using it as the setting to our final fight? Plenty dramatic for me, do you not think?”
It’s to their surprise that Zenos smiles. “So you will take this offer of mine. You do this not out of lofty ideals, but a desire to face an equal.”
“You’re not an equal, Zenos,” they say as they draw their nouliths. “But you’re the closest thing I’ve got when it comes to raw power. The ideals matter to me, but I’ll still give you the fight you wish.”
Teri starts to lunge towards the man, lift off with the stone wings, but they hear Fandaniel clear his throat.
“I beg your pardon you two.”
Teri loses their stance. The reminder that Hermes still stands by Zenos’s side disappeared in the moment. The turn, keeping the nouliths in attack-ready formation, instead of at rest.
“I am quite shocked that you could talk Zenos away from the plan, Terpsichore. Then again, you are Azem. Many know you are the Traveler of the Convocation, but you also were the Counselor of the People, and I remember all the good you did for me during the short time our tenures matched, or so the stone tells me you did. I cannot say you can talk me out of this, however.”
The Ascian jumps into the crater.
They launch into the air and chase after him. Not this. Not here. Not again.
At least they will have to hold back, and not give someone their all.