Watchers - IC [Closed]

[Charlia]

Void

"Ah, Chralotte, stop, I'm blushing." Void said, "And will you just shut your devil damned pie hole. If I had interest in breaking her, I sure wouldn't want an assistant. And you know it is possible to kill beings of the mind, I've seen it before. After Mer tricked me, and imprisoned my soul in his, he had a voice much like mister second rate here ravage his mind. He eventually killed that voice, and has only from that point had to deal with me. So mister second rate, would you kindly shut the fuck up. Thank you."

"Now, I should probably answer your questions. You deserve to know. Then again, so does the Watcher crew. Mer is dead, sort of... There isn't exactly a simple word to describe his current state. His heart isn't beating, so he is by all medical and scientific definitions dead. I'll explain more during his funeral, I promise on my lack of honour."

...

...

For a moment, there was pure silence in Charlotte's mind. It was... unbelievable.

You actually got him to stop talking... Thank you.

As for your promise, against all my better judgment, I'll believe you. If you haven't decided to destroy the world yet, chances are you have at least some honor. No offense.

The headquarters was in sight, and she steeled herself for the news she was going to have to deliver.

Then she knocked on the door.

[MEGA ULTRA DESTRUCTO LORD TOPIA]

Void

"Ah, Chralotte, stop, I'm blushing." Void said, "And will you just shut your devil damned pie hole. If I had interest in breaking her, I sure wouldn't want an assistant. And you know it is possible to kill beings of the mind, I've seen it before. After Mer tricked me, and imprisoned my soul in his, he had a voice much like mister second rate here ravage his mind. He eventually killed that voice, and has only from that point had to deal with me. So mister second rate, would you kindly shut the fuck up. Thank you."

"Now, I should probably answer your questions. You deserve to know. Then again, so does the Watcher crew. Mer is dead, sort of... There isn't exactly a simple word to describe his current state. His heart isn't beating, so he is by all medical and scientific definitions dead. I'll explain more during his funeral, I promise on my lack of honour."

...

...

For a moment, there was pure silence in Charlotte's mind. It was... unbelievable.

You actually got him to stop talking... Thank you.

As for your promise, against all my better judgment, I'll believe you. If you haven't decided to destroy the world yet, chances are you have at least some honor. No offense.

The headquarters was in sight, and she steeled herself for the news she was going to have to deliver.

Then she knocked on the door.

Kiri's ears perked slightly at the sound. It was the sound of someone knocking on the door. She raised her hand meekly, gripping the sleeve of Everton's suit.

"There's someone... at the door..." she whispered faintly.

"It... would be rude... not to answer..."

Letting go she retreated under the warmth of Quart's trench coat.

[True Refuge]

Kiri's ears perked slightly at the sound. It was the sound of someone knocking on the door. She raised her hand meekly, gripping the sleeve of Everton's suit.

"There's someone... at the door..." she whispered faintly.

"It... would be rude... not to answer..."

Letting go she retreated under the warmth of Quart's trench coat.

Everton let her slide away from his gentle grasp, and laid his hands on his knees. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards a little bit. "Did she really just go from broken and crying to concerned about politeness," he said with a dash of bewilderment, shaking his head slowly. Quartz let his mouth turn upwards, an occasion quite rare these days. "I suppose you should get that then, Everton. She seems okay now."

So, the suited Watcher got up and walked through the kitchen and the seemingly maze-like layout of the Watcher HQ. Before he began to step away, he glanced at Kiri's little pale hand poking out from underneath Quartz's heavy coat. [i]Maybe I shouldn't have taken her out after all...[/b] he thought sadly, thinking about all the injuries and stuff-ups that he had bequeathed to Kiri, and those would continue to come. The slight despair was persistent in its niggling of Everton's consciousness, but he tried his best to shove it aside for the meantime. After all, he had to look presentable for whoever was waiting patiently at the door.

The entry to the HQ was a rather elaborate affair, lots of old, grand and expensive woods wound together in a fancy pattern. Clearly the work of an experienced Watcher, probably something done by Matthew when he was bored or procrastinating going to a meeting with the other Watchers. The doorknob was quite smooth, possibly gold or some other extremely valuable material created by magic, and it turned easily underneath his hands.

He was quite surprised to see Charlotte standing there, looking all forlorn as usual. His jaw dropped slightly at the sight of Merlin all limp in her arms, silver hair spilling out a little bit. To preserve his image, he quickly closed it and hid it away. "Right... I guess that explains Kiri's collapse somewhat," he muttered, glancing downwards. Sighing, he ushered Charlotte in and closed the door behind her. "Kiri and Quartz are in the living room."

[Luminesa]

After wandering the halls for some time, Ichiru managed to find the Watchers' expansive library. Walking inside, he immediately found himself attracted to the place. It was calm, quiet, and smelled of wood and old books. Lots and lots of old books.

Perhaps later, when we have helped Kiri, I can come hide away in here sometime... he thought, with a blush.

When he had taken in the atmosphere of the library, he began to walk around looking for Walter. Eventually he found him, sitting at a table near the back. He was reading a book, and a huge stack of books sat next to him on the table. "...What are you reading?" he inquired, speaking barely above a whisper.

[Charlia]

Kiri's ears perked slightly at the sound. It was the sound of someone knocking on the door. She raised her hand meekly, gripping the sleeve of Everton's suit.

"There's someone... at the door..." she whispered faintly.

"It... would be rude... not to answer..."

Letting go she retreated under the warmth of Quart's trench coat.

Everton let her slide away from his gentle grasp, and laid his hands on his knees. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards a little bit. "Did she really just go from broken and crying to concerned about politeness," he said with a dash of bewilderment, shaking his head slowly. Quartz let his mouth turn upwards, an occasion quite rare these days. "I suppose you should get that then, Everton. She seems okay now."

So, the suited Watcher got up and walked through the kitchen and the seemingly maze-like layout of the Watcher HQ. Before he began to step away, he glanced at Kiri's little pale hand poking out from underneath Quartz's heavy coat. [i]Maybe I shouldn't have taken her out after all...[/b] he thought sadly, thinking about all the injuries and stuff-ups that he had bequeathed to Kiri, and those would continue to come. The slight despair was persistent in its niggling of Everton's consciousness, but he tried his best to shove it aside for the meantime. After all, he had to look presentable for whoever was waiting patiently at the door.

The entry to the HQ was a rather elaborate affair, lots of old, grand and expensive woods wound together in a fancy pattern. Clearly the work of an experienced Watcher, probably something done by Matthew when he was bored or procrastinating going to a meeting with the other Watchers. The doorknob was quite smooth, possibly gold or some other extremely valuable material created by magic, and it turned easily underneath his hands.

He was quite surprised to see Charlotte standing there, looking all forlorn as usual. His jaw dropped slightly at the sight of Merlin all limp in her arms, but he quickly closed it and tensed. "Right... I guess that explains Kiri's collapse." Sighing, he ushered Charlotte in and closed the door behind them.

She laid Merlin's body down gently once she'd made it inside, and felt a new round of tears threatening to fall. She refused to cry, though.

She didn't think Merlin would have wanted that.

"...you're going to want to know what happened, aren't you," she said in a dull, empty voice, more of a statement of fact than a real question.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Void

If you wanted to cry, go ahead. Mer would understand. Heck even he cries, so if you want to cry do it. I'll make sure to take pictures Void said, the smug smirk could be heard in the tone.

[Charlia]

Void

If you wanted to cry, go ahead. Mer would understand. Heck even he cries, so if you want to cry do it. I'll make sure to take pictures Void said, the smug smirk could be heard in the tone.

Filling in for 'Mr. Second-Rate' now, are you? she snapped, mentally, of course. You two can act so alike, it's a wonder you even had the audacity to tell him to shut up. It'd be like telling yourself to shut up, now, wouldn't it?

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Void

Whoa, calm down, unlike him, I was actually trying to give you some advice. If you want to cry, cry for god sakes. Even Mer cries, heck, if you died, he'd be balling his very soul out. Void said.

[Charlia]

Void

Whoa, calm down, unlike him, I was actually trying to give you some advice. If you want to cry, cry for god sakes. Even Mer cries, heck, if you died, he'd be balling his very soul out. Void said.

...What? she questioned. ...That can't be true! I'd like to think that he'd at least shed a few tears, but... you're just exaggerating to try and mess with me, aren't you?


A little part of her subconscious whispered, As if anyone would cry over you. How pathetic.

But it was very quiet, and Void probably wouldn't even be able to hear.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Void

Shut up mister second rate before I come deeper in and beat your hypothetical ass. Void said, Ok, maybe a little exaggerated, but he would cry a lot. That's the point.

[Charlia]

Void

Shut up mister second rate before I come deeper in and beat your hypothetical ass. Void said, Ok, maybe a little exaggerated, but he would cry a lot. That's the point.

...

...

Call me ignorant, but... I don't understand. If you're really telling me the truth... then...

...That would mean...

Now, she felt a tear making its slow way down her face.

[MEGA ULTRA DESTRUCTO LORD TOPIA]

Void

Shut up mister second rate before I come deeper in and beat your hypothetical ass. Void said, Ok, maybe a little exaggerated, but he would cry a lot. That's the point.

...

...

Call me ignorant, but... I don't understand. If you're really telling me the truth... then...

...That would mean...

Now, she felt a tear making its slow way down her face.

Kiri reached her tiny hand towards Charlotte, cupping her cheek gently.

"It's okay", she whispered, wiping the tear away.

She stood from her place, Quartz' Trenchcoat falling off and hugged Charlotte tightly.

"It's okay", she whispered once again, more to herself than anyone else.

[True Refuge]

She laid Merlin's body down gently once she'd made it inside, and felt a new round of tears threatening to fall. She refused to cry, though.

She didn't think Merlin would have wanted that.

"...you're going to want to know what happened, aren't you," she said in a dull, empty voice, more of a statement of fact than a real question.

Everton walked gingerly around Kiri and sat on the couch that she had fallen off, releasing a great sigh. "I'm curious, as I always am. But I'm struggling to process recent events, and with the business of figuring out what the hell's going on. Kiri's gone and collapsed into a coma and then woke up." He exhaled heavily. "I don't know what to think of it at the moment," he muttered. "Quartz, your thoughts on the matter?"

The runesmith snapped out of his focus and frowned, looking at Charlotte and Merlin's body. "I haven't got anything to say that wouldn't make look insensitive or disrespectful, apart from whatever happened to Merlin seems to have happened suspiciously around the same time as Kiri. Charlotte, I'm sorry for your loss, but I've got nothing else." He returned to his comforting of Kiri, namely giving her a reassuring squeeze of the hand occasionally. He wasn't such a man for affection.

[Charlia]

...

...

Call me ignorant, but... I don't understand. If you're really telling me the truth... then...

...That would mean...

Now, she felt a tear making its slow way down her face.

Kiri reached her tiny hand towards Charlotte, cupping her cheek gently.

"It's okay", she whispered, wiping the tear away.

She stood from her place, Quartz' Trenchcoat falling off and hugged Charlotte tightly.

"It's okay", she whispered once again, more to herself than anyone else.

"...Kiri?" Charlotte asked quietly in that same, half-empty voice. "...I... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

She didn't return the other girl's embrace, and merely stared at the ground as if staring down into the depths of hell itself.

At least... I did one thing right...

I managed to keep control of myself... until you were gone...

I didn't hurt you.

I didn't destroy your precious soul with the knowledge and the feelings that destroyed mine.

The only, only thing that I ever did right... was to save you from myself.

She laid Merlin's body down gently once she'd made it inside, and felt a new round of tears threatening to fall. She refused to cry, though.

She didn't think Merlin would have wanted that.

"...you're going to want to know what happened, aren't you," she said in a dull, empty voice, more of a statement of fact than a real question.

Everton walked gingerly around Kiri and sat on the couch that she had fallen off, releasing a great sigh. "I'm curious, as I always am. But I'm struggling to process recent events, and with the business of figuring out what the hell's going on. Kiri's gone and collapsed into a coma and then woke up." He exhaled heavily. "I don't know what to think of it at the moment," he muttered. "Quartz, your thoughts on the matter?"

The runesmith snapped out of his focus and frowned, looking at Charlotte and Merlin's body. "I haven't got anything to say that wouldn't make look insensitive or disrespectful, apart from whatever happened to Merlin seems to have happened suspiciously around the same time as Kiri. Charlotte, I'm sorry for your loss, but I've got nothing else." He returned to his comforting of Kiri, namely giving her a reassuring squeeze of the hand occasionally. He wasn't such a man for affection.

"No!" she suddenly snapped. "Don't apologize to me! I'm the one who should be apologizing! If it weren't for me... None of this would have happened!"

[True Refuge]

"...Kiri?" Charlotte asked quietly in that same, half-empty voice. "...I... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

She didn't return the other girl's embrace, and merely stared at the ground as if staring down into the depths of hell itself.

Everton walked gingerly around Kiri and sat on the couch that she had fallen off, releasing a great sigh. "I'm curious, as I always am. But I'm struggling to process recent events, and with the business of figuring out what the hell's going on. Kiri's gone and collapsed into a coma and then woke up." He exhaled heavily. "I don't know what to think of it at the moment," he muttered. "Quartz, your thoughts on the matter?"

The runesmith snapped out of his focus and frowned, looking at Charlotte and Merlin's body. "I haven't got anything to say that wouldn't make look insensitive or disrespectful, apart from whatever happened to Merlin seems to have happened suspiciously around the same time as Kiri. Charlotte, I'm sorry for your loss, but I've got nothing else." He returned to his comforting of Kiri, namely giving her a reassuring squeeze of the hand occasionally. He wasn't such a man for affection.

"No!" she suddenly snapped. "Don't apologize to me! I'm the one who should be apologizing! If it weren't for me... None of this would have happened!"

Everton shrugged from his position on the couch, watching Kiri intently as she rose to console the Nephilim. Looks like she's fine again, he thought somewhat happily, before turning to Charlotte. "Then what did happen, Charlotte? I doubt that you did it, or anything like that?"

Quartz opened his mouth, but rapidly thought better and closed it again, instead picking up the coat and placing the rose back into the lapel. Everton, however, caught his hesitation. "Going to say something, Quartz?"

The old man grumbled unhappily. "Again, nothing that wouldn't make me look like a complete ass."
"What was it?"
Quartz sighed again patronizingly. "Everton, please. This is not the time for questioning."

[Charlia]

"...Kiri?" Charlotte asked quietly in that same, half-empty voice. "...I... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

She didn't return the other girl's embrace, and merely stared at the ground as if staring down into the depths of hell itself.
"No!" she suddenly snapped. "Don't apologize to me! I'm the one who should be apologizing! If it weren't for me... None of this would have happened!"

Everton shrugged from his position on the couch, watching Kiri intently as she rose to console the Nephilim. Looks like she's fine again, he thought somewhat happily, before turning to Charlotte. "Then what did happen, Charlotte? I doubt that you did it, or anything like that?"

Quartz opened his mouth, but rapidly thought better and closed it again, instead picking up the coat and placing the rose back into the lapel. Everton, however, caught his hesitation. "Going to say something, Quartz?"

The old man grumbled unhappily. "Again, nothing that wouldn't make me look like a complete ass."
"What was it?"
Quartz sighed again patronizingly. "Everton, please. This is not the time for questioning."

"...He was trying to protect me when it happened," she said quietly. "I tried... I tried to stop it... but there was nothing I could do... just like always..." She covered her mouth with a hand, as if trying to soften the pain the words brought her. "It's my fault... I tried to warn him... but he wouldn't listen... and now..."

Now he's gone.

And I'm still here.

Isn't that ironic?

It should have been me.

I wouldn't have been killed. I would have suffered... but I wouldn't have died.

"It should have been me," she whispered.

[MEGA ULTRA DESTRUCTO LORD TOPIA]

Everton shrugged from his position on the couch, watching Kiri intently as she rose to console the Nephilim. Looks like she's fine again, he thought somewhat happily, before turning to Charlotte. "Then what did happen, Charlotte? I doubt that you did it, or anything like that?"

Quartz opened his mouth, but rapidly thought better and closed it again, instead picking up the coat and placing the rose back into the lapel. Everton, however, caught his hesitation. "Going to say something, Quartz?"

The old man grumbled unhappily. "Again, nothing that wouldn't make me look like a complete ass."
"What was it?"
Quartz sighed again patronizingly. "Everton, please. This is not the time for questioning."

"...He was trying to protect me when it happened," she said quietly. "I tried... I tried to stop it... but there was nothing I could do... just like always..." She covered her mouth with a hand, as if trying to soften the pain the words brought her. "It's my fault... I tried to warn him... but he wouldn't listen... and now..."

Now he's gone.

And I'm still here.

Isn't that ironic?

It should have been me.

I wouldn't have been killed. I would have suffered... but I wouldn't have died.

"It should have been me," she whispered.

Kiri clung to Charlotte, hugging her as reassuringly as possible. She didn't return the hug, instead choosing to try and distance herself from Kiri by looking away. Kiri took the hint and stepped away from Charlotte, instead choosing to take her place by Everton's side on the couch. Sinking into the sofa she wrapped her arms around her legs. They were still hurting from earlier and a green healing rune pulsed faintly on her thigh. She hugged herself tightly.

That voice. It told me Merlin was dead. Yet it wasn't sad. It told me... to organize his funeral... but it's strange. I can still... sense something-something faint. something fading.

Kiri looked up from her knees and eyed Merlin's body carefully.

"He's not dead," She said quietly, just enough for everyone to hear.

"I don't know... but, it's strange... It's like I can still feel him."

She stood again and slowly made her way towards Merlin. She approached his still body and lifted her hand resting it over his heart. Closing her eyes she focused on the center of her palm.

IHe feels so... familliar.

She ran her hand from his chest, up his neck and eventually found his face. Every angle, every curve. She knew this face. It was the face of someone warm, someone kind, someone who would follow to the ends of the world. It was the face of a friend. She opened her eyes, both her hands held his cheeks his face so close to hers. She lifted herself away from him and turned back to the others and spoke

"He's still here with us. I don't know why I feel this way, I just know."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Void

Charlotte would have felt it, Void was no longer in her mind. Not only that but they all would feel a strong surge of magic around Merlin's body. As the magic surged, shadows in the corner of the room began to birth something. A certain man came from the shadows, with a smug smirk on his face.

"Very perceptive of you Kiri Masaiah. But also, so wrong. He is not here, nor is he gone. Also, Charlotte if you want to cry, then cry." he said as he approached the group, "Thank nothing that there was hazelnut near by. You know, 12,000 years is really a pain in the ass. Anyways, I should probably introduce myself. Though Charlotte here knows who I am, and Kiri you heard my voice already. So, for all of you, excluding the dove, I am the being that is imprisoned in Merlin. I am the ultimate fate of all things. I am not death, as death is not permanent, to many afterlives. I am Void."

[Charlia]

Void

Charlotte would have felt it, Void was no longer in her mind. Not only that but they all would feel a strong surge of magic around Merlin's body. As the magic surged, shadows in the corner of the room began to birth something. A certain man came from the shadows, with a smug smirk on his face.

"Very perceptive of you Kiri Masaiah. But also, so wrong. He is not here, nor is he gone. Also, Charlotte if you want to cry, then cry." he said as he approached the group, "Thank nothing that there was hazelnut near by. You know, 12,000 years is really a pain in the ass. Anyways, I should probably introduce myself. Though Charlotte here knows who I am, and Kiri you heard my voice already. So, for all of you, excluding the dove, I am the being that is imprisoned in Merlin. I am the ultimate fate of all things. I am not death, as death is not permanent, to many afterlives. I am Void."

As soon as Void vacated her psyche, the other voice returned with a vengeance.

Charlotte was a girl who had hidden a great secret for five years, with no one to listen, no one to care. She had walked in a world of darkness and pain, and in those brief moments where there should have been relief, she found nothing but guilt and blame.

It was a sad thing, the way others often saw those like her. The way they were blamed for what they couldn't stop. Mocked, shamed, and torn down again and again, when they should have been comforted and cared for.

Charlotte had lived with guilt for a long time, and it was truly no wonder that she had internalized the way the outside world saw those like her. She had learned to see herself as the one at fault when things went wrong. If she was mistreated, she decided she must have done something to deserve it. If someone she cared about was hurt, she blamed herself for not being able to stop it. Instead of putting the fault on those who committed sins, she blamed herself for being 'too weak to stop them'.

The voice was really just a part of her, and it knew this. The things it was saying to her were so horrible, so cruel, that to repeat them would almost be a sin in itself. So they will not be repeated.

And yet not repeating them does not take away the fact that they were, indeed, said. Or at least, thought.

And the weight of guilt Charlotte carried grew heavier... She bowed her head in shame, allowed a few tears to escape her tired, hollow eyes, and allowed the others around her to say their pieces.

For, surely, her failure to save Merlin--though she had offered everything she had to give, though she had been willing to face a living hell--meant that her words would not be welcomed? No doubt they would hate her, she thought. Merlin had been an ally, a friend. What was she?

What are you? Oh, that's right. A pathetic little whore. Didn't we go over this already? And you even offered yourself to me, for a price. Yes, the price was your precious Merlin's life, but still... Isn't that what whores do?

What, nothing to say?

You're so pitiful.

The trading of his life for her freedom had been one that should never have occurred, she thought. And the Watchers knew that.

A spark of red flickered in her lowered eyes for a moment... perhaps she should simply leave. Surely she was unwelcome, now.

[Luminesa]

Void

Charlotte would have felt it, Void was no longer in her mind. Not only that but they all would feel a strong surge of magic around Merlin's body. As the magic surged, shadows in the corner of the room began to birth something. A certain man came from the shadows, with a smug smirk on his face.

"Very perceptive of you Kiri Masaiah. But also, so wrong. He is not here, nor is he gone. Also, Charlotte if you want to cry, then cry." he said as he approached the group, "Thank nothing that there was hazelnut near by. You know, 12,000 years is really a pain in the ass. Anyways, I should probably introduce myself. Though Charlotte here knows who I am, and Kiri you heard my voice already. So, for all of you, excluding the dove, I am the being that is imprisoned in Merlin. I am the ultimate fate of all things. I am not death, as death is not permanent, to many afterlives. I am Void."

Being as sensitive as he was to darkness and demons, Ichiru could feel Void's presence even from the library. His calm, gentle expression immediately became horrified and tense, and he grabbed Walter's shoulder. "...Something terrible has happened..." he muttered, his quiet voice full of dread, "something evil has entered this building...we must go back to the others and stop it."

[Charlia]

So, how are you going to explain to them what happened to Merlin? How are you going to explain that you pulled him into a dangerous situation and then ran away as he was dying? That's going to end well. You're already disliked, do you really--

Leave her alone.

The new voice was soft, but it had an undeniable authority to it. And the dark voice that tortured Charlotte went silent.

Why do you listen to him? the new voice asked, its tone caring, and Charlotte stifled a gasp as she recognized it.

He just keeps saying the same things over and over again, because there's nothing else for him to say. All he can do is twist things. Why do you let him tear you down like that?

M-Merlin?

...But you're dead.

I saw you die...

You saw him die, too, didn't you? You overcame your past and saved yourself... I knew you didn't need me to save you. All you needed was the knowledge that you weren't alone... But I'm getting off track, aren't I? You saw us both die, and yet here we are... It would seem that neither of us is taking deadness particularly well.

...You shouldn't even be dead. I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry...

Stop it! he snapped, sounding truly angry with her, and she physically flinched.

W-what?

Stop blaming yourself! You think it would have been any better if you had given yourself to that bastard and I had lived?! I promised to protect you, as long as I lived, and I kept that promise! I died protecting you, and it was that that enabled you to overcome your tormentor once and for all! Don't blame yourself for this. I knew the risks, and I accepted them. And when it came down to one or the other of us, and you tried to trade yourself for me...

Even if I had known that I would die, I would never have let you go through with it. I died quickly, Charlotte. You would have survived... but it wouldn't have been a life. If I had taken the offer, broken my promise, and left you there alone with that monster to save my own life...

You know what would have happened. You know what he would have done to you. And I would have to live with the knowledge that you were suffering things that no one should ever have to go through. Bad things happen to good people--we're living proof of that--but if I could save you from that hellish excuse for a life and I didn't? I would hardly be any better than him. I might not be physically harming you, but I would be condemning you to a life of humiliation and shame for the sake of my own selfishness. Charlotte, I chose to do what I did for you. Because I care about you.

I know how you think of yourself. I know how you look down on yourself. You've been used and abused, degraded and defiled, and then blamed for your own suffering so many times that you've begun to believe everything that is said about you, because that man took your self-esteem along with your innocence. He took your identity. That's what you think...

But it's not true.

You have lost yourself--but only to your own mind. You can still save yourself.

I know. That's not how you feel. You wish you were someone else; every night, you fall to pieces. You think you're damaged, beyond repair, and you cry yourself to sleep every night because you just feel so worthless, so empty, so dead inside. But there's no need to hurt yourself this way, not anymore. Can you trust me? Can you believe that what you see isn't what I see? The reflection you see in mirrors... that's a lie.

You're an amazing, wonderful, beautiful person, Charlotte Noble, and nothing you've seen or been through will ever change your worth. You're not the invisible sufferer you think you are, and your cries do not go unheard. I saw you. I heard you. But now... now you don't have to suffer any longer. Time has moved on, and you need to move on as well. You're free, Charlotte. Don't waste the life you've been given crying over me. You've grieved for so many losses, but that's over now. You're worth everything, Charlotte. You are worth dying for.

And if Merlin could still speak to you, I'm sure he'd say exactly the same thing.

...I... I thought you were...

Oh, Charlotte... I'm no more Merlin than the other voice is Michael. We're both just parts of your mind... You wanted to hear those things, didn't you?

...more than you could believe.

You wanted him to say that he still loved you. That it was possible to love you, even after all that's been done. That you're not pathetic for falling for him so fast, that he felt the same way you did.

...You make me sound so desperate.

You wanted him to live.

...yes... yes... Tears beaded in her eyes, and this time, she let them fall.

He did care about you, Charlotte. That's why he died--and if he could speak, he'd be telling you to live the life he gave you instead of weeping over him. He gave up his life to break your chains, the chains that held you down and allowed you to be hurt so badly.

But those chains are broken now... you can fly again.

Fly free, Charlotte.

That's what I would have wanted.

[True Refuge]

Void

Charlotte would have felt it, Void was no longer in her mind. Not only that but they all would feel a strong surge of magic around Merlin's body. As the magic surged, shadows in the corner of the room began to birth something. A certain man came from the shadows, with a smug smirk on his face.

"Very perceptive of you Kiri Masaiah. But also, so wrong. He is not here, nor is he gone. Also, Charlotte if you want to cry, then cry." he said as he approached the group, "Thank nothing that there was hazelnut near by. You know, 12,000 years is really a pain in the ass. Anyways, I should probably introduce myself. Though Charlotte here knows who I am, and Kiri you heard my voice already. So, for all of you, excluding the dove, I am the being that is imprisoned in Merlin. I am the ultimate fate of all things. I am not death, as death is not permanent, to many afterlives. I am Void."

The insufferable runesmith gave the new figure with nondescript clothes a studious glance, dashing away little tidbits of information away for further use. "Interesting," he muttered, "I finally get to see a demon..." He sprung up and folded his arms. "Quartz Ernst, Master Runesmith. I was hoping to meet you at some point, hopefully through Merlin, but I suppose not. It's a pleasure, for now at least.

Everton wrapped an arm around Kiri's shoulder and pulled her close. "Everton Tallow. Perhaps cut back on the bombastic language, will you?" he said calmly. "The fact you can appear is enough to impress, no need for flowery language at all, Void. Just wondering, do you have any explanation for Kiri's collapse and it's rather similar timing to whatever's happened to Merlin?"

[Charlia]

Void

Charlotte would have felt it, Void was no longer in her mind. Not only that but they all would feel a strong surge of magic around Merlin's body. As the magic surged, shadows in the corner of the room began to birth something. A certain man came from the shadows, with a smug smirk on his face.

"Very perceptive of you Kiri Masaiah. But also, so wrong. He is not here, nor is he gone. Also, Charlotte if you want to cry, then cry." he said as he approached the group, "Thank nothing that there was hazelnut near by. You know, 12,000 years is really a pain in the ass. Anyways, I should probably introduce myself. Though Charlotte here knows who I am, and Kiri you heard my voice already. So, for all of you, excluding the dove, I am the being that is imprisoned in Merlin. I am the ultimate fate of all things. I am not death, as death is not permanent, to many afterlives. I am Void."

The insufferable runesmith gave the new figure with nondescript clothes a studious glance, dashing away little tidbits of information away for further use. "Interesting," he muttered, "I finally get to see a demon..." He sprung up and folded his arms. "Quartz Ernst, Master Runesmith. I was hoping to meet you at some point, hopefully through Merlin, but I suppose not. It's a pleasure, for now at least.

Charlotte heard that, and the small smile that had briefly crossed her face when the new voice had been heard vanished.

She stared at him, her eyes fading from dark blue, to purple, and then into a blazing red, demonic hatred burning into him.

Merlin is dead, and all you can do is fawn over Void? If only my fire could burn you...

Don't fall into that trap, Charlotte.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Void

"I have a theory, but that is unimportant. And I speak how I wish." Void said as he tried to sit down only to fall through the chair. Smirking he stood back up."I owe some explanations so here I go. Merlin is dead. His heart has stopped beating, therefore by the very definition of the word, Merlin is dead. Therefore I should be free, but I'm not. How's that? Simple, this stubborn bastard won't even die properly. Mer is stuck between heart beats, his mind is still active, and his soul is still there. So you could say he's between life and death."

Void shook his head, Next question is likely how did he end up like this? Well, sit down and listen. Remember Charlotte's little holy fire explosion? That's when it started. Her explosion caused Mer's connection to me to be damaged. When it was damaged, something found its way into Mer's mind. A parasite. Though it preferred a different term, but I can not honour the parasite. The parasite was the reason I could not speak to him. In fact, I tried to fight it, but, um... I lost. The parasite casted me deep into Mer's mind, where I would be unable warn him." he said. "This isn't really me as you could likely guess. I am just projecting myself through the hazelnut over there. Anyways, the parasite sat in wait, for the perfect opportunity to trap Mer, and when it came... Well, this happened. Charlotte can tell you what happened in this world."

[Charlia]

Void

"I have a theory, but that is unimportant. And I speak how I wish." Void said as he tried to sit down only to fall through the chair. Smirking he stood back up."I owe some explanations so here I go. Merlin is dead. His heart has stopped beating, therefore by the very definition of the word, Merlin is dead. Therefore I should be free, but I'm not. How's that? Simple, this stubborn bastard won't even die properly. Mer is stuck between heart beats, his mind is still active, and his soul is still there. So you could say he's between life and death."

Void shook his head, Next question is likely how did he end up like this? Well, sit down and listen. Remember Charlotte's little holy fire explosion? That's when it started. Her explosion caused Mer's connection to me to be damaged. When it was damaged, something found its way into Mer's mind. A parasite. Though it preferred a different term, but I can not honour the parasite. The parasite was the reason I could not speak to him. In fact, I tried to fight it, but, um... I lost. The parasite casted me deep into Mer's mind, where I would be unable warn him." he said. "This isn't really me as you could likely guess. I am just projecting myself through the hazelnut over there. Anyways, the parasite sat in wait, for the perfect opportunity to trap Mer, and when it came... Well, this happened. Charlotte can tell you what happened in this world."

...Oh, no.

My loss of control... did this?

I knew it... I even managed to hold on until Kiri was out of the picture, so I wouldn't hurt her... but I still... I just mess everything up.

Everything I touch burns.

Stop it.

...I'm sorry... I'll try.

What am I going to tell them?

What will I do when they ask me to explain how all of this happened?

Tell them the truth.

...but they'll hate me.

Somehow, I doubt that.

And if they do...

Then their friendship was never worth gaining.