exsilium | 02. [video]

02. [video]

[An anxious Cedric appears on screen. He looks from left to right, his mussed hair flying just about everywhere. He taps the screen to ensure that it's turned on---in his mind this somehow serves a purpose. When he's sure everything's working, he waves.]

Hello! This is Cedric again. I've talked about this with one or two of you before. I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself or it's something you've all heard before, but this is something I need to sate my curiosity about. It's just that this world is so different from what I'm used to and there are so many different types of people. If that's even the word you prefer. And sometimes we have conflicts with one another.

So I have to ask: what do you think of people who are capable of using magic? Witches, warlocks, sorcerers, casters, wizards, or whatever you choose to call them. Are they all right, do you think? Or not?

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Yeah.

I don't do it---there's no point here, and even if there was I don't know how. It's highly advanced magic and I'm still just a student.

It's our government's job.

Mind wiping someone sounds like risky business anyway.

[ She takes a second to read the name attached to the tablet. ] Cedric, is it?

Yeah. It's really nasty if it goes wrong.

Yes?

I can only imagine.

Nothing-- I just didn't ask for your name. I'm Kate.

Oh! Well it's been nice to talk to you, Kate.

Same.

Which part of England are you from?

A small village in Devon. It's a toxic wasteland now, undoubtedly.

Sorry to hear, Cedric.

But I know what I'm fighting for. If this mess gets sorted out, that awful future won't happen---or so the story says.

I hope so.

You were just a student before you were brought here?

Yeah. I was a year away from graduating. So I don't know everything an adult wizard should, but I was getting close.

I'm guessing your community has its own school.

It does. I was a year away from graduation.

On the bright side, time "stops" back home while we're here so you won't fall behind.

I don't think I'll be going back, though. People who are dead in the timeline can't, right?

[ Oh, Cedric.

At length: ] I'm sorry.

So am I. But I've learned enough to survive in this world, I think. It's not as bad as it could be.

How old are you, Cedric?

Seventeen. But I'm all right. I know most of what I need to, and life's not so hard here.

You must be one of the first I've spoken to who's so calm about it all.

[ Even knowing he can't return home. Damn, what a kid. ]

I've had some time to mourn. I still don't feel great, and I miss them, but I do what I can.

[He still mourns, it's usually just in private at night.]

It's all we can do, right?

Right. And...thanks.

For?

The commiseration. It helps more than you'd think.

voice

gevurah - 2013-02-20 06:57 (UTC) - Expand

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