@anonymous

[windsongs]

I have a question for the group. Has anyone tried to find family or friends they have lost over the years, or a trace that they might have passed through the Netherworld? Have you been successful?

If not, would you? What would you say to them if you managed to find them?

Comments

[windsongs]

I see. That must be confusing for them and for you. Do you remember anything at all? Can people regain the memories of their past life with time?

That's good. I would imagine it must hurt not being able to join them, if you believe all of us really are dead

[heavenstorn]

Not a thing! Though the little bits I learned from their opinions of the old me were enlightening... Memories can be preserved in other ways or restored by an outside influence, but there is no natural means of remembering those faded memories. Not that I know of.

And, well...many have proclaimed to still be alive. I would be very glad if they were right.

[windsongs]

I've heard of magic like that. I believe it is similar to psychometry, but instead of pulling the memories from an item, memories are placed within it
Although I can't say that I have met anyone with that ability. It is incredibly rare

[ Are you sure you haven't met anyone who can do that, Hibiki? ]

I feel alive. The last memory that I have feels too anticlimactic, and I know others feel the same
Maybe that is why we aren't able to find those departed souls here in the Netherworld

[heavenstorn]

Truly? It's not all that uncommon where I'm from; in modern times it's usually combat techniques being imprinted into crystals. Those crystals can be used by future generations to help them learn those abilities as well as record new ones.

[ He'd much rather talk more about job crystals than all the dead stuff, but... ]

It could be. I'll admit I feel alive as well, even if my own last memory tells me otherwise...

[windsongs]

[ Don't get too excited about the similarities, Hibiki. Or about how cool it would be to inherit someone's fighting style that way. That would probably be a dead giveaway. ]

Can anyone use these crystals, or is it limited in some way? Something like that sounds incredibly useful.

What happened to you? What do you remember?

[heavenstorn]

More or less anyone can learn from them, though as with anything, having an aptitude for it as well as an understanding of the fundamentals helps a great deal.

And I do remember. You would likely not appreciate the details, however.

[windsongs]

If you are willing to talk about it, then I'm here to listen

[heavenstorn]

[ It takes Cedrik a good while to answer. He thinks he gets the appeal behind anonymous posting now, but it's a little too late for him to take that option.

Well...it's not like anyone he knows is going to be find this and read it, right? ]

I was challenged to a fight. I could have walked away...but he was too dangerous to leave alive. Too strong. He'd already tried to hurt my friends and I could not trust that he wouldn't try again.

It was long, bloody, and brutal. The wounds we gave each other were dire. After he was the first to fall, I remember his voice, I remember hearing him exhale and fail to draw another breath.

It was getting difficult to keep my eyes open. I remember thinking of home, I could picture it...

Then I was here.

[windsongs]

[ That's... a lot more definitive than the "death" she remembers. She didn't even get to see what took her out, her life snuffed out like a candle's flame. ]

So it was a fight to the death. You died a hero. I'm sure that the people back home felt the same way
Still, this isn't a place for someone like you. The stories of a hero's death that I have seen always paint it positively

[heavenstorn]

[ Was it 'heroic'? Zenos had been goading him relentlessly, trying at first to provoke him and then grudgingly aiding him, but only to rid them of 'distractions'. In the end Cedrik gave in to his anger. Looking back on it it was hardly noble.

Especially that twisted sliver of satisfaction he felt at landing the final blow. ]

My friends may well agree with you. But reality is never as perfect as the stories can be.

[windsongs]

[ Even if it was just giving in to answer in his eyes, he still rid the world of a great Evil. But Hibiki can understand what he means, to a much lesser degree. ]

I guess you're right, it's the people who survive who create the story that is told. From my experience, it's usually either one extreme or the other