buried alive

They are calm, but there are signs of battle.

So your name-title is Ravka? It hears and understands.

Thank you, First of Make. This Sentinel is in your debt. Repair-help, required?

This sentinel merely wanted to help. In debt, you are not.

As for repairs, assistance is not required, but appreciated regardless. This sentinel plans to head for the Architect.

It salutes to its Sibling-Superior, and refocuses its attention on Ravka. It offers her its hand.

[But just before the tension boils over, she moves to accept the Sentinel's open claw with her own.]

(...Why is this so hard?)

[Slowly, she lays her palm across the offered hand.]

(...)

[]̶̙͒̈́͝͠

[Her expression, however, shifts. It doesn't match the action.]

(...What?)

(Ravka?)

(...Ravka? Hello? What are--)

(--Wh-- What? Sorry, what? I---)

[Her claw is gripping the metal a little bit too harshly. The sharpened tips are threatening to root themselves into the Sentinel's chitin.]

[Then she startles. The haze clouding her eyes vanishes. She quickly returns her claw to her side, as if the Sentinel's claw had burned her.]

(....When did I do that? ...shit, I-- sorry, I... don't know what happened-- I just...)

[Her eyes return to the Sentinel's. Her expression is... tentative. Waiting for something; the anxiety is written between her eyes.]

(It's. It's fine. I think we're fine. We. We're fine.)

(...are you okay? what just happened?)

(Nothing. I just zoned out. It's fine.)

[She attempts a wry grin. It flutters and falls short.]

[...she doesn't return her claw. Instead, she circles around, opting to fall in line with the Sentinel's step herself.]

[Throughout, she never enters within two arm's length of either the Sentinel's or her own reach.]

(...)

(...Okay. I...)

(I trust you.)

And it wouldn't. But it also could not ignore the devastation she wrought - the loss of life that it was honor and duty bound to allow to happen, and emotionally unwilling to allow another Sentinel to kill her.

Weak and pathetic, it is.

No more. Come to blows, they would not, but a sacrifice of its morality had to be made. For Pharloom.

Its voice box shifts and adjusts. A melody underpins its words, adding slight but easily overlooked distortion.

...

[For just a moment, she loses focus. Her eyes haze again, but this time, instead of clenching robotically, she relaxes. Her claws and antenna go limp. In that brief half a second, she looked as if the wind could push her over.]

[Then, it passes. She returns to the Sentinel.]

(Okay.)

(Wh--)

[She nods.]

(...What??)

(...?)

(That's it?!)

(Yeah.)

(Don't you-- I mean, not even a question??)

(I thought about it. This is what I want.)

(I--

...

...What??)

[She gives the Sentinel an expectant look, asking with her eyes to be shown what is to follow. Her chest is high, and she seems unbothered and ready to move. It's a complete one-eighty from her demeanor just moments ago.]

(Let's go.)

*...

*Wh...

They are calm, but there are signs of battle.

So your name-title is Ravka? It hears and understands.

Thank you, First of Make. This Sentinel is in your debt. Repair-help, required?

This sentinel merely wanted to help. In debt, you are not.

As for repairs, assistance is not required, but appreciated regardless. This sentinel plans to head for the Architect.

It salutes to its Sibling-Superior, and refocuses its attention on Ravka. It offers her its hand.

[But just before the tension boils over, she moves to accept the Sentinel's open claw with her own.]

(...Why is this so hard?)

[Slowly, she lays her palm across the offered hand.]

(...)

[]̶̙͒̈́͝͠

[Her expression, however, shifts. It doesn't match the action.]

(...What?)

(Ravka?)

(...Ravka? Hello? What are--)

(--Wh-- What? Sorry, what? I---)

[Her claw is gripping the metal a little bit too harshly. The sharpened tips are threatening to root themselves into the Sentinel's chitin.]

[Then she startles. The haze clouding her eyes vanishes. She quickly returns her claw to her side, as if the Sentinel's claw had burned her.]

(....When did I do that? ...shit, I-- sorry, I... don't know what happened-- I just...)

[Her eyes return to the Sentinel's. Her expression is... tentative. Waiting for something; the anxiety is written between her eyes.]

(It's. It's fine. I think we're fine. We. We're fine.)

(...are you okay? what just happened?)

(Nothing. I just zoned out. It's fine.)

[She attempts a wry grin. It flutters and falls short.]

[...she doesn't return her claw. Instead, she circles around, opting to fall in line with the Sentinel's step herself.]

[Throughout, she never enters within two arm's length of either the Sentinel's or her own reach.]

(...)

(...Okay. I...)

(I trust you.)

Hello Sibling. Hello Ray.

Greetings, third of make. Searching for you, this sentinel and Ravka were. She seems to know you and, after encountering and helping her, this sentinel thought it best to lead her to you.

[If Trinn looked, it would likely notice the claw marks on the sentinel's shell and the slightly torn edge of its cloak.]

[For once, her constant movement ceases. The wild around her brushes at her ankles, as if to reclaim her being, stretching up to draw her into the earth, now that she is finally still.]

[She's travelled so far (killed so many), and yet it's only turned her in circles.]

[...Was this not what she wanted?]

[Contact. Accelerating pulses reanimate tensions that should have been long buried. Surroundings fade away as fear slicks the air, turning it to molasses, and she can't breathe. The room is no longer a haven, but a cage. She's been trapped. She needs out. There's danger. Danger. Danger. Danger Danger DangerDangerdaNGERD]

(--Hey. Are you there?)

(--Wh--)

(You crushed our food.)

[She blinks, looks down to where her claws have fallen by her sides, and finds them clenched into fists. Sure enough, the carcass she was holding earlier has been mangled beyond coherent form, hemo slowly dripping from her claws and staining the pure grasses beneath her.]

(...Do you want me to handle this one?)

[...Was that all real? What did it all mean? Was she supposed to just... what? Just forget? Forget that all happened?]

[She looks to the sentinel closer to her. Its cloak has gashes along its edges, with much of the decorative embroidery there sheared off. The window of missing fabric reveals serrated gashes along the otherwise unmarred metal of its abdomen. A testament to its earlier strife. With her.]

[And yet, she stands here behind the Sentinel, neither stalking it as a predator nor preparing to run as prey. Her claws are not raised for battle, nor are her muscles tight with the adrenaline of life-or-death struggle. She's only... here. Calmly existing beside it, despite everything.]

[Amazing.]

[...Across from it, Third stands waiting. Its expression is unreadable to her—something she is confused by, and she isn't sure she appreciates. As a hunter, she prided herself upon being able to read the field of battle; to know every aspect of it and its players. To be unable to perceive the thoughts of her adversary is not something she is accustomed to.]

[But she's not standing here as a hunter, is she?]

[No. She's only here. There is no battlefield—no test of strength or mental fortitude. No war. This is neutral ground.]

[There will be no schemes, no tricks, no traps.]

[None.]

(...)

(No.)

[So she only waits for Third to provide its own answers for her unspoken questions.]

(I think I need to do this.)

[After a few moments, it noticed Ravka slowing in pace. The automaton briefly glanced back to see her seemingly admiring the woods around them. It was about to return its own gaze to the forest when Ravka set off to harass some wildlife, to which it simply paused and watched.]

[It didn't try to stop her. Instead, it figured she probably needed this, to release some unseen tension.]

[Then Ravka stared at it, silently daring it to say something. It only tilted its head slightly.]

If you mean for this sentinel to bid you stop, it will not. You are not killing needlessly. You've slain only one wildbug. So long as you keep your hunt to a small fraction of the wildlife, so long as you leave possible travelling Pilgrims be, it will not stop you.

This sentinel understands you may need this.

(Yeah.)

(--that makes sense.)

Very well. This sentinel requests that you follow it.

[With that, the construct began to lead the way through the Citadel. It lead Ravka to a location or two it thought its sibling could be. Upon discerning the Third Sentinel wasn’t within the Citadel, the automaton began leading her to one other place it thought its sibling might be.]

[Down through the Citadel, out of the Grand Gate, through the Blasted Steps, all the way down to Shellwood did it lead her. As they descended, the sentinel helped Ravka whenever she needed it.]

[It wasn’t sure exactly where in these woods its sibling resided, but it did have vague knowledge of Trinn spending some time here.]

[It came to a stop beside one of the many ponds in Shellwood, turning to face Ravka.]

It apologizes for making this journey longer than perhaps necessary. It had to be sure third of make was not within the Citadel before venturing to these woods.

Unsure, is this sentinel, exactly where its siblings spends its time most here, but it knows third of make is here within the wood. Third of make will be found in due time.

(...the forest is beautiful.)

(I never took you as the type to say that kind of thing.)

(...)

(...I'm glad you think so. I've always been more of a city girl myself, but... it makes sense you'd feel more at home here, in the wild. 'Sides, I've always appreciated a good hike.)

(...)

(I never saw it before.)

(...What?)

(When we were in the forest with Third... I never saw how pretty it all was. I was too...)

(...too...)

(...)

*...

(Hey. Listen. I know that things got bad, and I know you feel like you messed shit up real hard. But listen -- what matters now is that you're going to fix it. Look ahead. We'll be fine.)

(How can you be so sure? You keep saying that, but do you really know if Third will let us back into its good graces? We did a terrible thing. I did a terrible thing.)

(...Yeah. It's a rough situation. But from your perspective at the time, it betrayed you first, and I have a feeling that Third is smart enough to put two and two together on that one. You're right to be nervous, but it's worth it to give it a shot.)

(...Okay. I trust you.)

(Thank you. That means a lot to me.)

(Let's keep going.)

(...)

[She keeps behind the Sentinel as her attention slowly returns to the world around her. Eventually she regains enough of her presence to find the mind to start harassing the nearby wildlife. She looks over one bug, cutting them off as they try to flee and watching them struggle as they slowly realize that they're corner, before dropping them and moving onto the next one once she's had her fun.]

[...At least she's finally letting go of some of that tension...]

*Good.

[Eventually she grows tired of her little games and just skewers one before chomping down on it as she returns to following behind the Sentinel. She catches its eyes mid-bite and tosses an incredulous stare, all but outright asking, "Yeah? You gonna say something?"]

[She's doing it again. She's testing you. Gods, what an asshole. Seriously.]

(Wow. You're a real asshole, you know that? You're--)

(Heheh.)

[The sentinel tensed slightly at Ravka growing more defensive and the glow building on her claws. She was hyperventilating. It still did not move. It should not. It would only worsen the situation. One would think the sentinel was deactivated if not for its eyes still holding light in them.]

[Slowly, after several minutes, after the unseen conversation Ravka had within herself, she began to calm. Her shell stops shaking and she carefully pulls herself out of her defensive stance. The glow that surrounded her claws had faded too. If the sentinel could truly breathe, it would've let out a quiet sigh of relief.]

Sorry, is this sentinel, Ravka. It had never intended to scare you, and it is sorry that it has. Glad, is it, that you have calmed.

[Trailing off, it watched as Ravka stabbed a claw into one of her hands, drawing hemolymph. Ensuring she could see it, the sentinel rose to get a closer look as she crouched to write something. It kept its distance and only drew close enough to see what she wrote.]

[Show.]

[The sentinel tilted its head at that.]

Show? Do you wish to show this sentinel something? Or for this sentinel you lead you to where third of make may be?

...This sentinel realizes you likely mean third of make. Disregard its questions. This sentinel can lead you to it, yes.

Uncertain, is this sentinel, where it is at the moment admittedly, but this sentinel knows where to look.

(Second thoughts?)

(...)

(no.)

[before a single, sure nod is asserted.]

[It must have, because Ravka bolted out of the water, very clearly afraid, confused, and most of all, furious. The sentinel straightened up from where it sat beside the water, completely and utterly surprised by Ravka’s sudden fear and fury. It stared at her, its confusion mirroring hers.]

…Did this sentinel say something wrong? From your expression, this sentinel sees you are afraid, confused, and angry. Is…is everything alright?

[The automaton didn’t move from where it sat. It didn’t reach for Ravka or its longpin, nor did it move to stand up. If she was afraid of it, then it must remain calm and not do something foolish. It did not want to hurt her or for her to end up hurting herself.]

[Why was she afraid of it now, though? What did it do? Surely it had been doing what it should have. It was calm, it was gentle, it made sure she would feel safe. So what did it do? Ravka had been calm since the end of their battle earlier, so what did it do wrong? She had been calm…until it…]

[Oh.]

…You thought this sentinel was one of its siblings. You thought it was someone else. Third of make, most likely, since that is the name-title you reacted to. This sentinel apologizes. It must not have introduced itself and in failing to do so, led you to believe it was another.

This sentinel so, so sorry.

This sentinel is the first of its make, or simply First Sentinel.

Please know it was never this sentinel’s intention to trick you like this. Since its battle with you, this sentinel’s intention has remained the same. To help you.

If you would prefer third of make helps you, this sentinel can go find it.

(WHO. IS THAT.)

(I-- they're-- just hold on, let them EXPLAIN, WE'RE FINE, they've only shown good intentions just PLEASE, HOLD ON--!)

(LET. ME. GO.)

(Not-- ghh-- not until you realize that not everyone has to be your godsdamned enemy-- hkk-- and STOP-- DRIVING AWAY-- THE PEOPLE-- WHO JUST. WANT. TO HELP--!)

"KKKKRKKKKRRRR--"

[At first, as the Sentinel tries to probe her for answers, she only heightens her defense. Hyperventilation begins to take hold. Her claws begin to glow with the sharp shimmer of silk, muffled by layers of exoskeleton and chitin, and her snarls grow more pointed as each word passes by without providing an answer. But she doesn't move.]

[She lets the Sentinel explain. Or perhaps she's only barely holding herself back from running or attacking. But she remains rooted.]

(I--)

*Deep. Breaths.

(I'm sorry for getting mad again. Please, just-- just think about why we're alive. They've only helped us, just like Third.)

(They're not. An enemy.)

[slowly, as the Sentinel explains,]

[she calms down.]

[the glow begins to fade]

[and her shaking quells, just slightly.]

(...)

(...Third's sibling?)

*I figured.

(...First. Hey. They know Third. They're family. And they've shown themselves to be just as kind.)

(It's fine.)

(We're fine.)

[eventually, as the Sentinel finishes explaining,]

[she lowers her claw]

[and her expression loses its edge.]

(We trusted them before, and we're better for it now.)

(There's no reason why that has to change.)

(...)

[after a long silence, she draws to her full height]

[and relaxes her arms fully.]

[she just stands there, silent, gaze pointed at a tile on the ground, unfocused -- remnants of confusion still etched in her eyes.]

(...I'm sorry.)

(It's OK. I know this is hard. Nobody can blame you, you couldn't have known otherwise.)

(I'm glad that you're getting better. We can work off the steam hunting later, but for now, I'm very, very glad.)

(Thank you.)

(...)

(Do you want to find Third? Or maybe some other time... We don't have to go now, of course.)

(...If you want, we can go alone, too.)

(...)

(...I think...)

[...]

(...Alright.)

(I'll tell them for you.)

[Eventually, she wakes up from her daydream, refocusing. She closes her eyes and breaths deep.]

[Suddenly, she jabs a sharp clawtip into the palm of her other claw. It breaks chitin and bleeds. The pain doesn't phase her in any visible way, if she even feels it at all.]

[She points her gaze at the sentinel as she kneels down, before it falls to the floor again as she turns around.]

[with the bloody clawtip, she writes:]

S h O W

[She examines her work briefly before standing and walking over to the spa's waters and dipping her injured claw in it. A soft glow once again illuminates the air. After a few long moments, she lifts her claw out. The wound is gone.

[She turns back around to face the Sentinel. Her eyes are strangely quiet, but hardened.]

[But within a moment, that faded. The joy and the pleasure just seemed to dissipate. Ravka robotically took the towels and rags the sentinel held, and scrubbed away the hemolymph that stained her shell.]

[The way her mood changed was interesting to the sentinel. It wondered what happened that made Ravka's previous grin fade into something more empty and cold. What was she thinking about?]

[It wasn't long until Ravka had cleaned off the hemolymph. The sentinel collected the used towels and whatnot, as well as the unused medical supplies, and put it all away in the next room. When it returned, it was holding a white cloak, like the ones the Choirbugs wear. This cloak appeared to be missing the emblem of Pharloom that the Choirbugs usually wear.]

Uncertain, is this sentinel, if you would like a cloak or if you prefer to be without. Regardless, it thought it should offer.

[The sentinel quietly seated itself on the walkway besides the pool Ravka was in, cloak in claw for when Ravka wished to take it.]

[It was silent for a while, thinking.]

...This sentinel is unsure of what to do from here. Your wounds are healed and the hemolymph has been washed away. You are safe and you are calm, yes? Foolishly, this sentinel has not thought ahead, of what to do after those tasks were completed.

. . .

...It supposes a good question to ask is: do you have anywhere you can go, Ravka? A place to stay, bugs to be with, anything such as that?

If you do not, you can stay at this sentinel's home for the time being, until you and it can find a place your own. It is within the Citadel and should be relatively safe for you.

(Are you sure?... Last time--)

(That was just a misunderstanding. Third has shown itself to have only good intentions.)

(...and besides. It was really nice when we had that. I want to go back.)

(Can we go back?)

(...Oka--)

[She jolts at the mention of Third.]

(...What...?)

*Crap.

*Did she notice?

*...Not now, we were so close--

(...)

(...)

(What's wr--)

(That's not Third.)

*Shit.

(I-- what are you--)

(THAT'S NOT THIRD.)

[Something set her off. She leaps out of the waters again, liquid splashing out of the spa in a raging torrent as she rushes backwards away from the Sentinel, skidding to a crouching, defensive stance. The relaxed air of the spa rushes out of the room with her.]

(Hey, wait, HOLD ON--!)

(WHO IS THAT?)

"KRRRRRAA!!"

[Her expression, so blank just a moment ago, is again distorted by the ferocity of a wild animal, tinged with fear and confusion. Any sense of stability is gone; she's a bomb ready to go off, a hiss escaping her maw.]

[She points at the Sentinel with a tense claw, snarling. She's all but ready to fight to a bloody pulp again; it seems like she's only barely restraining herself. But why? What happened?]

"ssSSKRAAHHHNN..SSSSS...SSAHHH!!"

[Oh- wait. There they are. Shoved into the back of a hidden drawer were some rolls of bandages and other such supplies. Seemed there was not much left. The sentinel took a note of that; it would need to restock the spa if they were running low.]

[Gathering up the supplies, the automaton returned to the main chamber where Ravka was floating in the middle of one of the pools and...glowing? That was...strange. The sentinel tilted its head at her as it approached, supplies in claw.]

Returned, this sentinel has. It sees you are enjoying yourself Ravka. It managed to find some medical supplies hidden away, though not much. Later, this sentinel shall restock.

[It watched Ravka for a few moments, trying to discern why she was glowing. Coming to a stop on the walkway, it could see the streaks of white light that danced across her shell, rapidly healing wounds in her chitin big and small. The sentinel had no idea why that was happening. To it, the spa was simply a place to relax, with soothing water to ease a bug's shell. Had the bugs of the Citadel infused the water with something that could heal oneself? Intriguing.]

This sentinel sees these medical supplies are unnecessary. Healing you, the water is. Unsure as to how or why, this sentinel is, but it is glad the water is healing you. Bandages, medicine, they can do the same, though much slower.

Curious though, is this sentinel, why the water is making you glow...an effect of the healing properties? Or something else? It is unsure.

Perhaps it doesn't matter. Regardless, this sentinel sees you have not yet cleansed yourself of the hemolymph on your shell.

Do you simply wish to relax for the time being or...?

. . .

...This sentinel has realized it did not give you anything to use to clean the hemolymph. For that, it apologizes and will provide.

[Setting the medical supplies down away from the water, the sentinel went and collected rags, towels, soap, the like for Ravka. It was rude of it to expect her to clean off the hemolymph on her shell and not give anything to do so. It shall remedy that.]

[It returned as swiftly as it left, and set the materials down near the pool where Ravka floated.]

Here. This sentinel apologizes for not gathering these sooner.

(...awabbauhhh.)

(Yeah.)

[She finally calms down enough for her senses to register as thoughts.]

(This is... SO weird. I used to come here to relax, but now... I've never felt like this here. Now, I feel like I could run full-sprint for days. I feel like... like lightning.)

[She rights herself in the water, coming to a standing position, and makes a few testing hopping motions, before she jumps clear out of the water and onto the tiled floor in one leap. She grins, pleased with herself, but then she refocuses. It doesn't seem like she's even noticed the Sentinel standing nearby.]

(Hey, I was enjoying the water. Why'd you leave.)

(Come on. I thought you'd be the one who wanted to get all this energy out of our system. Don't you feel it too?)

(...I... I do. Yeah, you're right.)

[Her shell tenses as she enters a staggered stance, as if to fight, then places her weight on her back foot, winding an arm back with her lead claw ahead of her.]

[She remains there for several moments. Her shell only continues to tense, energy building, coiling in her limbs...]

[She's lining up a blow on an imaginary target.]

[With a half-snarl, half-yell, a vicious growl upon her maw, she explodes off her hind leg and thrusts her rear arm forward, claw snapping through the air with an audible *CRACK!* as she drives an open palm through her imaginary enemy.]

[She's very pleased with this result.]

[And then she notices that she's literally glowing.]

(...Woah.)

[She draws her outstretched, luminescent claw closer to her face, observing the glow curiously.]

(What is this..?)

(Were we always able to do this?)

(Sometimes it just happens whenever we fight.)

(...I think I remember that. But... we were just in a spa. Not a fight. I mean, I know the Citadel spa's water is infused with soul, but this is ridiculous. This whole experience has been strange, really; what the hell is going on with--)

The ward.

Body cut to pieces, a weapon takes its place.

Soul turned silk its prime fuel.

...

*...Oh.

*When we fight, it happens because of the silk.

*The spa water gave an excess of soul that was converted into silk, which is why it's happening now.

...

*They designed it to be like this, didn't they?

(...)

(...What--)

(Nothing. I think the Sentinel has been waiting for us to clean ourselves. We should do that.)

[At some point, she must have noticed the Sentinel waiting with fresh toiletries. She collects them without so much as acknowledging the Sentinel before dipping back into the water and beginning to scrub. The motions are robotic.]

*[Somehow, the water doesn't feel as nice anymore.]

...

This sentinel understands. Very well. It shall lead you into the spa now.

[With that, the sentinel led Ravka into the Citadel's Spa. As the two entered through the small tunnel that was between the tall room and the spa itself, a larger room opened up. There were two pools of water separated by a small walkway with a lever in the middle. There were steps into the water and ledges one could sit on to relax. The scent of steam, metal, and soap was stronger in here than it was from the hatch. It was a rather calming atmosphere.]

[Luckily, it would appear there were no Choirbugs or newly arrived Pilgrims using the spa. There would be no-one to shoo off today and no-one to witness Ravka's state. For now, at least.]

This sentinel shall look for medical supplies, both here and in the next room should there be nothing immediately nearby. In the meantime, you can cleanse yourself of the hemolymph upon your shell.

(Damn. I was hoping we'd get to scare the shit outta someone. Lame.)

(...It's just water.)

(Huh?)

(You said that I'd love it. This is just water.)

*Figures that she wouldn't care for a good resting spot. Always struck me as the 'go-go-go' kind of girl anyway. But...

(Nuh-uh. This isn't 'just water.' There's something... special, about this water. Trust me, I used to come here a lot with... with...)

*With... Who?

(...With--)

(Whatever. Just check this out.)

[After a moment of concerning silence, she leaps forward and jumps into the water with more haste than is probably due, and--]

(WHHHHhhhhhggghhhhoollly shiiiiiiiIIIIIII--)

[--something... strange, happens.]

(--IIIIiiiihhhwhwhhhhhaiiiyy?? WHY? WH-- hah. Hah hahahaHAHA! I-- why-- WHY is it this good?? I don't remember it being this good. It was definitely never this goo-- whatever, I don't care, this is awesome I NEEDED this so badly holy fuuuuuhahAHAHAAA--!)

(--hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh--)

[Most bugs frequented the spa as a nice way to wrap things up after a particularly rigorous day, or to treat themselves on a break. Something to calm the nerves and soothe the soul with a pleasurable, easy-going session of perfect relaxation.]

[Evidently, Ravka is not 'most bugs'.]

[She was completely lost the moment she entered the water, utterly blissed out, and has since broken out into hysterics, positively glowing with euphoria as she floats on her back.]

[...Except, hold on.]

[She's... actually, physically glowing. Her shell is emitting light. And it's getting brighter. Oh gods it's getting brighter.]

[The soul that gave the spa its signature glow is being drawn to her in quantities much larger than should be the case for most bugs, even more so than avid silk-mages, to the point that her chitin is starting to glow by degrees that would be painful to stare at for an organic bug for more than a few seconds.]

(--HAHAHA--!)

[Although, she's too lost to notice it, apparently.]

[Luckily, the rising luminescence stops its worrying intensification before it gets too absurd, and has even begun dissipating slightly; although, it is still by no means a comfortable glare. With the improved visibility, however, her chitin reveals a surprising development.]

[All of her superficial wounds have completely vanished, and even her deeper ones are visibly mending at a supernatural pace. Silk darts at incredible speeds through the remaining lacerations, sealing chitin closed and even replacing it in some areas.]

(--hhhhaaaaaauuuuuuuuhhhhhhh--)

[It seemed this sentinel was not that much for conversation.]

[The automaton continued forward, silent as ever as it lead Ravka through corridors and down tall rooms. She would likely notice it kept an eye on her as it leap down the taller rooms, staring up expectantly while it waited for her to follow. Was it out of concern? With a face as unmoving as the sentinel’s, it was difficult to tell.]

[As Ravka landed on the last platform, the Cogwork bug paused for a moment. In the wall the platform was connected to was an open hatch. Warm air wafted from the hatch, carrying the scent of water, metal, and soap. The sentinel gave Ravka a small bow.]

We have arrived. Beyond this hatch is the spa of the sacred Citadel. This sentinel is unsure if it in use by any pilgrim or Choirbug, so if you will allow it, it will investigate and ask any Voices within to kindly leave.

(…I thought we said we trusted it. W..What—)

(We do. I’m just tired of waiting. I also wanna see the looks on those choirbugs’ faces when we walk in side-by-side with their prim-and-proper little Sentinel while we’re covered in ‘decorations’.)

(…)

(Hey, you laughed.)

(No, I—) (Yes, you did. I totally just made you laugh.) (That wasn’t a laugh, you—!)

[Outwardly, something evidently seems funny to her. What it could be, there is no indication. Maybe she really is crazy.]

[Actually, scratch that, she’s definitely crazy.]

(Heheh. Sure, alright, whatever.)

(Let’s go.)

…

[She doesn’t move.]

(…Uh. Is something, wrong?)

(…What is… a… ‘spa’?)

*Riiiiight. No outside world experience and all that. That’s fine. More than fine, actually.

(Oh, trust me, you’ll love it. No spoilers, though.)

(Huh? Wait— let’s go then—)

That was easy.

[The moment passes. Ravka addresses the Sentinel, pointing between it and herself with her claw, before pointing at the entrance to the Spa. She taps her foot impatiently, but at least she’s not so brash as to charge ahead despite the Sentinel’s expressed wishes.]

Ravka. That is a nice name. Unique. This sentinel does not recall anyone with your face nor your name, so it believe this is its first time meeting you.

[Slowly, carefully, the sentinel gave Ravka a bow, though did not pull its longpin into the gesture as it normally did. It did not want to instill the idea it was going to attack.]

Greetings then, Ravka.

This sentinel shall now guide you to the spa on the eastern side of the Citadel. There, it shall tend to any wounds you may have and you can cleanse yourself of the hemolymph on your shell.

[Her gaze wanders with her.]

[This is the first time since... she left... that she's really observed her surroundings. She had scanned her environment for prey, yes; it's all she's done for the past few days, without rest. That was the problem, really; she had never thought to lift the veil that muddled her vision, which filtered out spectrums, except for shades of red where bugs crawled --- marks for her claws to score; all other information superficial, greyscale. Her newfound vision leads her to piece together bits of information as she walks -- she's in the Citadel (again), that's for certain. The liberal gilding of the walls would be recognizable from miles away. Not to mention the automaton that walks ahead of her. All shine and elegance, polished metals, soft feathers, well-mannered; icons of the Citadel's vanity, most likely imprinted upon it by only the will of its creators. To top it all off, the polished longpin that it draws by its side. The longpin, which...]

[...which...]

[...the longpin?]

(Wait.)

(What?)

(Wasn't it wielding dual shortpins last time we met?)

(...Why?)

(Uh. I...)

*...Is this...

...Is this a different cogwork bug?

The way it fights... and, now that I can see.. no mandibles, and... a different cloak...?

That one (?) called itself "Third"; was that more than just a name? Is there a First and Second? Is this one of them? Are there more?

Wait.

If this is a different bug, then I... we... everything...

...I can't let my other suspect anything, can I? Not yet, at least. She's operating under the belief that this is the same Sentinel whom we've already met twice before. I'm not entirely sure myself, but...

To uproot that foundation would be to endanger the entire sense of peace we've achieved so far. She can't suspect anything.

(...Just wondering.)

(...Okay.)

I'll get my answers later.

...

[When it spoke, it still kept that calm voice, not wanting to frighten them.]

There. Everything will be alright, this sentinel promises.

[As it spoke, it gently, slowly ran its thumb over the bug’s claw in a soothing manner. Or a hopefully soothing manner, at least.]

If it is alright with you, this sentinel is going to help you up and guide you to the spa within the Citadel. Drenched in hemolymph, you are, and while this sentinel knows it is likely primarily the blood of the Voices you have slain before meeting it, it is uncertain if you yourself are injured. It wishes to tend to that, if you will allow it.

(...do we have a name?)

(I do.)

(...You don't.)

(You were never given a name. The character and number that they labelled you with wasn't a name. Only a designation; made to suppress identity, rather than embody it.)

...How ironic, she thinks, that such an identity was born from the very act...

(...Oh.)

(What should we tell her?)

(...)

(...Let me.)

(I--)

(...)

(...Okay.)

[Something in her face changes, again. A subtle shift in the lines around her eyes; softer, but more sure. Her maw holds a tighter line --- on the whole, the contours of her face are more defined, neater, less scrambled by panic, confusion, or ferocity. The effect is as if surfacing from beneath a moving body of water, which, in its restless fury, continuously re-distorts the image of whatever it covers.]

[She slowly removes her claw from the Sentinel's grip and brings it to her face, gathering some of the fresher hemolymph that covers it on the tips of her index and middle claws, before lowering them to the ground that she is kneeling upon. There, she traces --- slowly, shakily, but firmly and with a sure direction --- five letters:]

r v

A k A

(...That's... a nice name.)

(...Thank you.)

(...I think... I want a nice name, too.)

(Would you like to share mine?)

(I don't know. Maybe.)

(...Let me think about it.)

(Alright.)

[After a moment, she rises to her feet without taking the Sentinel's claw again. Her gaze, which is still on the shoddy script painted on the floor, is... nostalgic? Reminiscent? Uncharacteristically sentimental.]

[Eventually she snaps out of it and turns to the Sentinel, a waiting look with a touch of smugness dashed across her mandibles, as if humorously daring the Sentinel to criticize her scrappy calligraphy, or even challenging it to do something as drastic as arrest her on the spot for her crimes; but in reality, it is simply a beckoning for the Sentinel to speak.]

GUARD (1d10): 10

E (6) + G (half the value, 5) = 11

[The sentinel raised its longpin defensively for…an attack that never comes? It watches from behind the longpin as the bug falls to their knees and raises their hands up, palms toward the automaton.]

[They were surrendering.]

[It waited a moment, watching them carefully before slowly attaching the longpin to the magnetite set in its back. The bug was still very much afraid, the sentinel could see that in their eyes and how their body shook. Just like before, the sentinel lowered itself into a crouch to bring itself to the bug’s level, keeping its distance so as to not frighten them any more than it already did.]

Glad, is this sentinel, that you have chosen surrender. It truly did not want to hurt you once it saw your fear, and knew that if the fight continued, it likely would not have a choice to do so in defense of itself.

Let us try this again, shall we?

This sentinel will help you if you allow it. So, how can it help? It is willing and capable.

(...)

[She barely moves her gaze from the floor to the offered hand. She still looks shellshocked.]

[She does nothing.]

(...)

(...What... am I supposed... to do...?)

(Here. Just follow my lead.)

[...]

[Her claw stirs, rising to meet the Sentinel's hand.]

[...]

[...It stops halfway. She's shaking.]

(...I'm scared. Don't make me do this. Please.)

(There's nothing to be scared of. It won't hurt. I promise.)

(...It was afraid of us, last time. It wanted to kill us. You saw it.)

(...If it wanted to kill us, we would be dead by now, weakened as we are. That's why I have so much faith here.)

(It was just a misunderstanding, I'm sure of it.)

(...are you sure?)

(I'd bet my life on it.)

(...that's not funny.)

(Hey, since when were you humor judge extraordinaire?)

(...)

(...okay. I'm ready.)

(Alright, then. Let's go.)

(I've got you.)

[Slowly, she lays her claw atop the Sentinel's own and grasps gently.]

[She still looks afraid. But her breathing has slowed down, and the tremors have stopped.]

[Above everything else...]

[She just looks lost.]

[Seems like she trusts you to find the path.]

[4/6 masks]

[The sentinel forgoes blocking and simply sidesteps the frantic attack, looking at the bug in confusion as it did. The way they moved…there was something more going on, the sentinel could see that much, but it wasn’t sure what that could possibly be.]

[It didn’t understand. Before, the bug seemed more focused or sure of themself. But now…something has changed. It didn’t notice it before, but it certainly has now and was only wondering what changed.]

How much longer must this fight go on? Since the start, this sentinel has not wanted to hurt you, and while it has attacked, it has been in self-defense and still has not hurt you.

This sentinel does not understand. It does not understand your fear and anger. It knows not your motive attacking the precious Voices nor it.

It sees your fear, your anger. It wants to help.

Surrender, stand down. Let it help.

[It does not want to hurt them. It has chosen kindness and mercy. It will stick to that choice. The automaton only hoped it could persuade this bug before it actually does inflict pain.]

EVASION CHECK (1d12): 7

GUARD (1d10): 3

(…I—)

(‘Sides, you’re not in condition to finish this fight on your own. When was the last time you let us sleep? It’s been… what, five days? I know you at least partly believe the Sentinel. After all, you've been letting its words through enough to empower me.)

(…N-no... that's not true... I can—I can finish… the fight...)

[Evasion Check]: 1d10 — Rolled 2; nothing to evade, Ravka takes no damage.

Offensive roll: Ravka used [Slash]. (1d13 - 1d4)

Rolled (1 - 3 = -2) -2...

[She throws a claw against the Sentinel's guard, but it barely even taps the metal, too weak to deal any real damage, even if it wasn't blocked.]

[Her movements look pained. There is confusion and anguish written on her face.]

(…C’mon. I can tell you didn’t really mean that one.)

[Ravka has 5/5 masks remaining.]

[First has 4/6 masks remaining.]

(...I'm sorry about earlier.)

(I have... a temper. Most of what I said earlier probably wasn't justified. You're scared, and I responded poorly. But I know you see that we mean well.)

(Now that I’m back, we’d be so, so much stronger if you just. Let me. Help you. Please.)

(Let the Sentinel help us.)

(We don't have to be alone.)

(You don't have to be alone.)

...

[Evasion Check]: 1d10 — Rolled 6.

...

[She falls to her knees — whether due to exhaustion or something else is unclear. When she turns her shaky palms up in surrender, however, the fear in her eyes, and in fact, throughout her whole body, is unmissable.]

GUARD (1d10): 6

E (12) + G (half the value, 3) = 10 [SUCCESS]

[4/6 masks]

[As the bug charged towards the sentinel, it raised its longpin to block the oncoming attack. When their claws met with the pin, the automaton pushed back against the bug and leapt away out of reach.]

[Again, words failed to persuade the bug, or at least it seemed that way to the sentinel. It was frustrating and the sentinel truly did not want to hurt them. But the more its words failed, the more the bug attacked it, the less of a choice the construct had in choosing to not cause harm.]

[Did it perhaps make a mistake? Should it not have chosen kindness?]

[...No. It didn't, and the sentinel knew this. It had to keep trying. But if words were not enough, then it must fight back.]

This sentinel does not want to hurt you. Continuing to attack will only result in pain for us both.

Stand down.

[The automaton was repeating itself. What more could it say? Were its words even heard or was it merely talking to the air? It did not know. It could only repeat itself as it attacked and defended.]

[The sentinel raised its blade once more.]

LONGPIN [SLASH] (1d10): 6

Offensive Roll: Ravka used [Slash]! (1d13 - 1d4)

Property: Build the Momentum — Every time Ravka uses this move, the dice for [Guard] gain +3 power for the rest of the fight. Max Gxd20. (Actually, no. You don't get this one either.)

(Wh— WHAT ARE YOU DOING??)

(I'm pointedly not helping the one leading us to our demise. Sabotaging the saboteur, if you will.)

([Guard] is... still G1d14, then.)

Rolled (8 - 3 = 5) 5. 5 < 10; failure, First evades the attack and takes no damage.

[She stumbles over her own momentum and only stops herself from faceplanting by posting with a frantic claw.]

[Ravka has 5/5 masks remaining!]

[First has 4/6 masks remaining!]

(Saboteur? SABOTEUR?? YOU'RE ALIVE BECAUSE OF ME! AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW!)

(Maybe true, maybe not. But that's also definitely true for you. Even in my previously subdued state, I still helped you where I could, either because our goals aligned or because I wasn't fully aware, and that's the only reason you survived half of those battles. Although if you keep going like this, that will change. The living part, not the helping part, because I've already stopped helping you — and it will stay that way until you wise up. Like I said, my main interest is survival, which means that I'm gonna need you to quit making an enemy out of the literal fucking war machine, and make friends instead.)

(NO. NO, I WON'T. YOU'RE LEADING ME INTO A TRAP.)

(No, you childish, aphid-brained buffoon; I literally just said for the second time, now my third, that my main goal is survival, and you already have the proof that I'm not lying to you.)

[Evasion Check]: 1d10 — Rolled 4.

Offensive Roll: Ravka used [Slash]! (1d13 - 1d4)

Rolled (1 - 2 = -1) -1?!?

[She tries to swipe a claw outward after righting herself, but her body pulls her in different directions, sending her harmlessly careening off balance into the sentinel with no control.]

(Pfft. Look at you. You act all scary and monstrous, but you're really just a pathetic, sopping wet rag without me. Oh well, if you insist on throwing yourself into the acid lake, then don't complain to me about the water being too warm.)

(I HATE YOU!!)