Event || Melodies of Death

[melodiesofdeath]

Characters: Kalki and you.
Where: Aqures Ixen, 03rd District.
When: August 03rd.
Summary: As promised, Kalki is before the Crystal of Fire. Every character has the possibility to speak to her (or try to kill her). If you want to speak to her individually, please reply to the first thread! If you want to play out the conclusion, please reply to the second thread-- It is a lead-in to the next part of the Anniversary event and will be one single, big thread.
Warning: All of them.

Open Thread
Where It All Began

Comments

[line_piece]

You're right. I do want to put an end to that cycle. But I don't see how killing hundreds of people is the best way to achieve that goal. There's got to be a better way than that.

[You don't stop death with more death.]

If you aren't the one with that power, then who is? The missing Queen?

[melodiesofdeath]

They're already dead. You will understand soon why their death is a necessity.

[She shook her head once again.]

Of course not. Who is the one in history people have always turned to in time of need? People have credited for every feat they didn't understand? The being who can answer every question and solve every problem?

[line_piece]

It's wrong to talk about people that way. They aren't just pieces on a chessboard. They're not here for you - or anyone - to control, or to sacrifice.

[Ironic coming from someone like Chiaki, who was created for a very specific purpose herself. But she's gained a new perspective on things here.]

...God.

[Of course. It had to come down to that eventually, didn't it? Most console RPGs do, and this world sure has been behaving like one so far.]

You're trying to kill God, aren't you?

[melodiesofdeath]

[Kalki didn't reply to her assertion that people weren't pieces on a chessboard. There was nothing worth replying to here-- But she did laugh however at her assumption that she wanted to kill God.]

God doesn't even exist, how could I even hope to kill him?

[line_piece]

Then if it's not that, you must be trying to become this world's God.

[It's always one or the other.]

[melodiesofdeath]

That would be the last resort only.

[Once again, she shook her head.]

You all have the potential to become God.

[line_piece]

Last resort?

[Chiaki tilts her head in apparent and momentary confusion, but then starts trying to talk through this out loud.]

So if God doesn't exist, it can't be the 'kill God and supplant him to guide the world in his place' motivation. And it also can't be the 'kill God because God is a jerk and humans should live free' motivation.

[She's been counting this out on her fingers and sort of staring off into the sky, but at this point she looks back at Kalki.]

And if 'there is no God, so I will become God' isn't your main plan...

[And here's where her countenance finally takes on an edge.]

...then the only motivation left is the 'destroy everything that exists, because that's the only way to end the cycle of death and sorrow for all eternity.'

[Her eyes narrow slightly.]

Is that right, Kalki?

[melodiesofdeath]

Ah, you are so limited Chiaki.

[She paused.]

You can only think in terms of what you already know. In terms of how you expect people to behave and then you try to prove yourself.

[She smiled.]

I am sorry, but that is not right. I am afraid the safe confines of a game will not give you the answer here.

[line_piece]

Everyone is like that. You can't approach a problem from any perspective other than your own. That's why it's best to work together toward a solution. Only by pointing out the holes in each others' ways of thinking can we ever arrive at the truth.

[Far from being frustrated, this conversation is arousing Chiaki's curiosity. She's been treating this world like a game because that's the best framework she had to understand it until now. But if there's something deeper at work, she wants to know what.]

You obviously know more about this world than the rest of us do. It makes sense. You've been here a lot longer than any of us have. But just as no one Hero of Light can save this world on her own, I don't think you can achieve whatever you're trying to do alone either. So if we both have the same ultimate goal, wouldn't it make more sense for everyone to work together?

[melodiesofdeath]

The difference Chiaki, lies in imagination. You have much to learn when it comes to creative approaches to problem solving.

[She marked another pause.]

I have worked with you, ever since you first appeared in this world. You simply didn't know.

[line_piece]

You've been more obvious about it as time goes on.

[She smiles a bit for the first time.]

Thanks for the Ettin Snake, by the way.

[But then she's back to serious.]

But you've also been working against us. And I haven't been able to figure out why. Do you need the Heroes of Light for your plan to succeed, or do you need us to die?

[melodiesofdeath]

You are very welcome.

[However, her next answer probably wasn't as friendly.]

I need both. One is not exclusive of the other.

[line_piece]

So you need us to accomplish something for you first, and then die when we're no longer convenient? Or are we a sacrifice to bring about a change?

[Still trying to piece this together. And thinking out loud has at least been helping so far, as Kalki seems relatively forthcoming with answers. For Chiaki, this has become a game of finding the right questions.]

[melodiesofdeath]

[She slowly shook her head.]

Words couldn't explain this. You will see it soon.

[line_piece]

So you're going to show us again.

[melodiesofdeath]

[She didn't reply, Kalki seems done replying for now.]

[line_piece]

...I hope it's worth it. I hope all of this has been worth it.

[Sensing she isn't going to get much more out of Kalki, Chiaki shakes her head. She only has one more thing to say.]

As for me, I'm going to keep looking for a better way. It's only when all the available options seem utterly hopeless that you find a way to create a miracle.

[A small smile, as she turns away.]

Maybe that miracle will even save you.