Post Discussion

Casimir returned to his room after the meeting, the weight of the discussion lingering in the air. The camaraderie between Varen, Aric, and Adeline felt amicable, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that there were veiled intentions. His experiences dealing with underworld kingpin lackeys back in Cestane had honed his instincts for deception, and the leaders' overt friendliness triggered his sense of caution.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Casimir pondered his next steps. The challenge lay ahead, and the path to power within the ruins seemed fraught with both mystery and peril... mostly peril. He glanced at his glyph, a silent companion in this unfamiliar journey.

Name: Casimir Nagid

Fable: Gedeon's Last Prince

Aura: [Destroyer]

Soul Core rank: I

Origin [Primus]: Arcadia's ruin

Abilities: [Hearth of desolation]

Artefacts: [Iron maiden][Gedeon's ichor][Tranquility][Gedeon's tome][Blight Scale][Cestane Armour][Forgotten Tachi]

Heritage: none

Ether: [464/1000]

'What an ordinary name...' he thought, his focus was on the blade he had received from the forge master. He was yet to receive armour but Garel told him it would be ready before he knew it. However, that wasn't the main reason for looking at his glyph. The decision to consume Gedeon's Ichor loomed in his mind, a source of potential strength but also a realm of unknown consequences.

'What if it changes me?'

He paused. Then, he let out a sigh in response to his stupidity.

'Of course, its going to change me... what I should ask myself is am I ready for the change it brings...' 

Casimir's internal debate continued as he weighed the risks and rewards of unlocking more of the dormant power within him. The underwater battle against the Umbra Trawl had already altered him, and the heir of oblivion within had embraced the chaos of destruction. He had felt it when he used Hearth of desolation, his ether had changed drastically after the flames licked clean through the fish's body and devoured its very being as well. The thought of further transformation left him with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

As he summoned the vial containing Gedeon's Ichor, a knock on his door disrupted his contemplation. Surprised, Casimir opened the door to find Evander, the old sage, standing in the corridor, his presence emanating a sense of wisdom and ancient knowledge.

'Did he always look this... wise?' Casimir wondered.

"Evander, what brings you here?" Casimir asked, curious about the unexpected visit. He hadn't seen the old man since he brought him to the camp. After their talk with Adeline, he just vanished on what he claimed to be important business.

The old sage smiled, his eyes reflecting a depth of understanding. "Gedeon's last prince, the ruins have a way of unravelling threads, and your journey is no exception. I sensed the internal struggle within you, and I thought a word of guidance might be in order." It felt strange to be addressed by his fable but surprisingly he also felt comfortable with it. Strangely enough, he could swear it felt even more natural than being called Casimir

Casimir, still holding the vial in his hand, raised an eyebrow. "Guidance huh? I've been feeling like everyone here has their own agenda, and they're not sharing everything. What are they hiding, Evander?" He let it out there and then. For some reason, he felt like the old man was not entirely subservient to the whims of the settlement. He behaved and carried himself as if he were a completely different entity all on his own. Perhaps he was.

The old sage's gaze held a mixture of surprise, sympathy and knowledge... maybe a little bit of annoyance as well. "I am much older than you brat don't call me by my name... as for the Forgotten, as they call themselves, they have their reasons for secrecy. The ruins are a tapestry of enigmas, and not everyone is ready to lay bare their threads. Be cautious, Casimir, but remember, trust can be a powerful ally."

Casimir sighed, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders, yet the mysteries persisted. "What about this?" He gestured towards the vial of Gedeon's Ichor, a secret he was unwilling to share. "Should I consume it? Will it change me?"

Evander chuckled, his eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom. "Change is inevitable, my friend. It's the nature of the awakened. The Ichor holds the essence of whatever it belongs to I believe, a power that may reshape you for the better, so long as it is in line with the power of a destroyer that is. Would you care to tell me where... is see stingy little brat, but whether for better or worse is a tale yet to unfold. Trust your instincts."

With those cryptic words, Evander left Casimir to his thoughts. The vial, still in his hand, seemed to pulse with quiet energy, its contents holding the promise of transformation. Casimir, now more uncertain than ever, let the vial disappear, deciding to postpone the decision for a later time.

The room fell into a contemplative silence as Casimir considered the words of the old sage. Later, Evander returned to Casimir's room, this time with a different proposal that would further entwine their fates.