Avalon:Volume 1 Chapter 1 - Revision history

Aorii at 14:30, 8 May 2013

2013-05-08T14:30:34Z

Aorii at 16:01, 2 May 2013

2013-05-02T16:01:53Z

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Aorii at 02:36, 2 May 2013

2013-05-02T02:36:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:36, 2 May 2013
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	Men might strive for perfection, yet they were also fragile creatures. They wore their pride like layered plate armor, always boasting of egos several times too large. They hid their heart deep down, not merely because of social demand, but also as self-defense. A single chink could wound their esteem; an open gash would irreparably damage their psyche. The result was a monster who merely appeared strong, who tore at the world in fits of rage over their hideous scars.		Men might strive for perfection, yet they were also fragile creatures. They wore their pride like layered plate armor, always boasting of egos several times too large. They hid their heart deep down, not merely because of social demand, but also as self-defense. A single chink could wound their esteem; an open gash would irreparably damage their psyche. The result was a monster who merely appeared strong, who tore at the world in fits of rage over their hideous scars.

	Kayeten's adoptive mother, Marshal Sidika, once told him the tale of Ekaterina 'Kato' Svanidze. The first wife of the Joseph Stalin, Kato died of tuberculosis within her husband's arms at merely twenty-two years of age. At her funeral, Stalin ~~said~~ "''this creature softened my heart of stone; she died and with her died my last warm feelings for humanity''". Sure enough, Joseph Stalin would rise to dictatorship over ~~Russia. He ruled~~ with inhuman cruelty and ~~committed genocidal~~ atrocities ~~that were~~ far worse than ~~even~~ the notorious Adolf Hitler.		Kayeten's adoptive mother, Marshal Sidika, once told him the tale of Ekaterina 'Kato' Svanidze. The first wife of the Joseph Stalin, Kato died of tuberculosis within her husband's arms at merely twenty-two years of age. At her funeral, Stalin gave the eulogy "''this creature softened my heart of stone; she died and with her died my last warm feelings for humanity''". Sure enough, Joseph Stalin would rise to dictatorship over the Soviet Union, ruling with inhuman cruelty and sending tens of millions to their death -- atrocities far worse than those of the notorious Adolf Hitler.

	''Love triumphs wasn't just a cliche. Without the beauty of feminine compassion, satan's lure would end us all.''		''Love triumphs wasn't just a cliche. Without the beauty of feminine compassion, satan's lure would end us all.''

	The bigger question, in Kayeten's opinion, would be whether Arkadi still had the courage and the fortitude to save himself. Otherwise, all the helping hands in the world ~~wouldn~~'t save a drowning soul who refused to reach out.		The bigger question, in Kayeten's opinion, would be whether Arkadi still had the courage and the fortitude to save himself. Otherwise, all the helping hands in the world couldn't save a drowning soul who refused to reach out.

	Distracted, neither of them noticed the look of concerned disapproval on Shirayuki's countenance before she shrugged it off, masking it with her usual amused smile.		Distracted, neither of them noticed the look of concerned disapproval on Shirayuki's countenance before she shrugged it off, masking it with her usual amused smile.

Aorii at 19:14, 1 May 2013

2013-05-01T19:14:08Z

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Aorii: Chapter full edit; directional switch to Kayeten/Shirayuki POV in vol1

2013-05-01T14:45:12Z

Chapter full edit; directional switch to Kayeten/Shirayuki POV in vol1

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Aorii at 20:13, 30 December 2012

2012-12-30T20:13:17Z

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Aorii at 05:33, 30 December 2012

2012-12-30T05:33:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:33, 30 December 2012
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	Kayeten had been his best friend in childhood, his sworn brother who grew to become an enemy.		Kayeten had been his best friend in childhood, his sworn brother who grew to become an enemy.

	The other was a lady of barely one-fifty-five (5'1"), with a thin frame and small body wrapped by white robes and a long ~~red~~ skirt, both of traditional Japanese design. She looked no older than seventeen, and although the immaculate features of her almond-shaped face hadn't quite matured into the realm of true beauty, they were certainly pretty enough. Small feminine nose, silky white skin, cute mouth with a hint of cherry lipstick, and two large vibrant heterochromic eyes, peridot-green left and blossom-pink right, all of which framed by her pristine red hair.		The other was a lady of barely one-fifty-five (5'1"), with a thin frame and small body wrapped by white robes and a long green skirt, both of traditional Japanese design. She looked no older than seventeen, and although the immaculate features of her almond-shaped face hadn't quite matured into the realm of true beauty, they were certainly pretty enough. Small feminine nose, silky white skin, cute mouth with a hint of cherry lipstick, and two large vibrant heterochromic eyes, peridot-green left and blossom-pink right, all of which framed by her pristine red hair.

	Appearances can be deceiving though. Her name was Shirayuki Kaguya, a renowned assassin and terrorist leader (or freedom fighter, depending on point-of-view) who had fought against him twice. Were it not for outside help, he would have died both times.		Appearances can be deceiving though. Her name was Shirayuki Kaguya, a renowned assassin and terrorist leader (or freedom fighter, depending on point-of-view) who had fought against him twice. Were it not for outside help, he would have died both times.
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	"Hmph, I've been wanting to do that all week."		"Hmph, I've been wanting to do that all week."

	The left side of Arkadi's otherwise perfect face swelled a brutal red. He coughed twice and spat out a mouthful of blood towards the ~~floor~~ besides his bed. His eyes ~~stared~~ back at Kayeten without a hint of anger, ~~as though fully accepting something he completely deserved~~.		The left side of Arkadi's otherwise perfect face swelled a brutal red. He coughed twice and spat out a mouthful of blood towards the waste bin besides his bed. His eyes looked back at Kayeten without a hint of anger, but with traces of concealed gratitude instead.

	Shirayuki's brief ~~moment~~ of surprise quickly turned to amusement. Kannon however, was shocked and worried as she slowly lifted herself from the chair by the wall...		After all, anger was far more intimate than indifference. It was a sign that Kayeten never truly gave up on him.

			Shirayuki's brief expression of surprise quickly turned to amusement. Kannon however, was shocked and worried as she slowly lifted herself from the chair by the wall...

	"Don't worry, I've got better things to do than to beat the living darkness out of him," Kayeten declared before reaching into his pocket and tossing a crystal chip onto the bed. "Kadi Simarshall. Since your old records were wiped by Kernow, that's your new one. I figure a slight name change might help down the road, given the extreme retardation you've displayed in the past eighteen years. As far as records are concerned, Arkadi is dead, and you've been working with resistance groups all these years. Just be thankful I'm still willing to call you that."		"Don't worry, I've got better things to do than to beat the living darkness out of him," Kayeten declared before reaching into his pocket and tossing a crystal chip onto the bed. "Kadi Simarshall. Since your old records were wiped by Kernow, that's your new one. I figure a slight name change might help down the road, given the extreme retardation you've displayed in the past eighteen years. As far as records are concerned, Arkadi is dead, and you've been working with resistance groups all these years. Just be thankful I'm still willing to call you that."

	~~As Arkadi~~... ~~Kadi's~~ right fingers took the chip into his palm and squeezed it tightly, Kayeten turned around and ~~walked~~ back out.		Kadi -- that was his new name. It was fresh, untarnished, yet ringing with nostalgia. It was already far more than he deserved.

			As his right fingers took the chip into his palm and squeezed it tightly, Kayeten turned around and began to walk back out. He stopped at the door and paused to take a deep breath. Then, staring into the empty hallway outside, he seemingly commented to nobody in particular:

			"People will shy away in cowardice, waiting for their hero to save them. But a true hero should never save them. A true hero would push them to save themselves. Join the system. Plot the system. Don't fight the system yourself. As long as you have an ideal, you are not alone -- ''that'' is faith, the words from Sidika that I will never forget."

			Kayeten waved backwards as he broke out of his monologue and stepped into the hallway.

	"Later girls. I can't stand to look at that piece-of-shit any longer."		"Later girls. I can't stand to look at that piece-of-shit any longer."

	Shirayuki looked at Kannon and shrugged: "~~At least~~ he's honest."		Shirayuki looked at Kannon and shrugged: "I guess he's sorta honest."

	"...B-but... he can do that!?" Kannon seemed more than a little bewildered at just how illegal this is.		"...B-but... he can do that!?" Kannon seemed more than a little bewildered at just how illegal this is.

Aorii at 03:53, 1 December 2012

2012-12-01T03:53:12Z

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	"Funny how your sense of chivalry extends to this kind of thing but not what everyone else recognizes through sheer common sense," Shirayuki replied with crossed arms.		"Funny how your sense of chivalry extends to this kind of thing but not what everyone else recognizes through sheer common sense," Shirayuki replied with crossed arms.

	"~~Ever heard the Chinese idiom 'intelligent people can be wronged~~ by ~~their~~ own ~~intelligence'?~~"		"Sorry, I was too impressed by my own cleverness to notice."

	"Shameless to the last," Shirayuki shook her head before glancing towards Kannon, whose focus just shifted back to her from Kadi. As usual, the young girl's slowness was barely keeping up with her conventional speed.		"Shameless to the last," Shirayuki shook her head before glancing towards Kannon, whose focus just shifted back to her from Kadi. As usual, the young girl's slowness was barely keeping up with her conventional speed.

Aorii at 02:34, 28 November 2012

2012-11-28T02:34:30Z

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	"Kadi... um, do you mind?"		"Kadi... um, do you mind?"

	"I'll get used to it," he replied, his words devoid of ~~feelings~~.		"I'll get used to it," he replied automatically, his words devoid of emotions.

	"...The last time I asked 'you', 'you' nearly shot me," Kannon continued after a pause. "But I wanted to ask you this time. I wanted to hear it in your own words again. More importantly, I want ''you'' to hear it in your own words as well. Just... why?"		"...The last time I asked 'you', 'you' nearly shot me," Kannon continued after a pause. "But I wanted to ask you this time. I wanted to hear it in your own words again. More importantly, I want ''you'' to hear it in your own words as well. Just... why?"
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	He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of a surveying eye still fixed upon him.		He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of a surveying eye still fixed upon him.

	"~~Well~~, I'm sure you've already heard during my fight with Kayeten. ~~But since you~~'~~re going to pester me until~~, ~~where do I start~~..."		"Right, you're still here... So tell me, what does a traitor want?"

			Kannon's expression quivered, but she held her composure.

			"...I'm not leaving until you say it."

			"Persistence is just about your only plus attribute left, isn't it? Ah well... I'm sure you've already heard during my fight with Kayeten. So let's begin, for the sake getting you out of my sight faster..."


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	Kayeten playfully stuck his tongue out at them.		Kayeten playfully stuck his tongue out at them.

	Kannon couldn't help but giggle (a couple of seconds later). She tilted her head, supported it with one arm on the table, ~~and~~ stared at the Colonel's handsome face --- particularly those honest emerald eyes --- as he continued to eat.		Kannon couldn't help but giggle (a couple of seconds later). She tilted her head and supported it with one arm on the table. With a gentle smile, she stared at the Colonel's handsome face --- particularly those honest emerald eyes --- as he continued to eat.

	"Hmmm? Like what you see?" He joked.		"Hmmm? Like what you see?" He joked.
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	"Ah... well that's classified," Kayeten shrugged with mixed feelings, "especially to you girls who don't understand guy-guy relationships. Besides, he already owes me enough favors. I think it's about time someone else take credit, and I figure you'd be good for him."		"Ah... well that's classified," Kayeten shrugged with mixed feelings, "especially to you girls who don't understand guy-guy relationships. Besides, he already owes me enough favors. I think it's about time someone else take credit, and I figure you'd be good for him."

	Kannon's face ~~reddened like a ripe apple within seconds~~. Fidgeting in her chair, her eyes immediately returned to stare at her own food.		Kannon's face flushed three shades of scarlet. Fidgeting in her chair, her eyes immediately returned to stare at her own food.

	Kayeten glanced over and simply smiled.		Kayeten glanced over and simply smiled.

Aorii at 20:38, 26 November 2012

2012-11-26T20:38:33Z

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 Accepting her 'little sister's request was one thing. But coming face-to-face like this, Shirayuki wondered if she could ever forgive this man for what he did.
-Moments later, Kadi sighed and leaned back against the bed, the room empty except him.
+"...You go ahead, I'll stay for a little longer."
 <nowiki>----- * * * -----</nowiki>

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	A dozen pairs of eyes turned as he, Colonel Kayeten Hans-Rudel, the Lancet Centurion and Commanding Officer (CO) of the Avalonian Republic 3rd District 36th Assault Legion, stepped over the threshold and into the room.		A dozen pairs of eyes turned as he, Colonel Kayeten Hans-Rudel, the Lancet Centurion and Commanding Officer (CO) of the Avalonian Republic 3rd District 36th Assault Legion, stepped over the threshold and into the room.

	His brilliant smile was as immaculate as ever, infectious and charming even without his favorite sparkling spell. His emerald-green eyes brimmed with energy atop a boyishly handsome face, accentuated by golden hair neatly-trimmed in a short bob-cut. With youthful maturity exemplified by his one-eighty-six (6'3") Scandinavian build that struck the perfect compromise between strength and grace, Kayeten appeared just a bit over twenty despite being thirty years of age -- a courtesy bestowed by Longevity treatments.		His brilliant smile was as immaculate as ever, infectious and charming even without his favorite sparkling spell. His emerald-green eyes brimmed with energy atop a boyishly handsome face, accentuated by golden hair neatly-trimmed in a short bob-cut. With youthful maturity exemplified by his one-eighty-six (6'3") tall and firm Scandinavian build that struck the perfect compromise between strength and grace, Kayeten appeared just a bit over twenty despite being thirty years of age -- a courtesy bestowed by Longevity treatments.

	With his lunch tray in one hand, Kayeten waved happily with the other. Nearly three-quarters of the room's occupants were female, and therefore pretty by natural order, insofar as his opinions went. The gender imbalance highlighted the heavy casualties his Auxilia squads took during the last battle, but it would be a sin for him to impose such worries upon the fair maidens.		With his lunch tray in one hand, Kayeten waved happily with the other. Nearly three-quarters of the room's occupants were female, and therefore pretty by natural order, insofar as his opinions went. The gender imbalance highlighted the heavy casualties his Auxilia squads took during the last battle, but it would be a sin for him to impose such worries upon the fair maidens.
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	He instantly switched on his serious face.		He instantly switched on his serious face.

	"The Centurions --- the Republic's front-leading, high-ranking, combat-ace officers program --- rate its members by five types: Champions, Strikers, Warlords, Magelords, and Archmages. The warlord-type are tactician-strategists with an emphasis on combined-arms coordination and enough personal combat skill to fend for themselves. ~~Contrarily~~, I'm a Striker Centurion; piloting and armored-spearhead tactics is our specialty. Shirayuki here would be a Champion if she joined--"		"The Centurions --- the Republic's front-leading, high-ranking, combat-ace officers program --- rate its members by five types: Champions, Strikers, Warlords, Magelords, and Archmages. The warlord-type are tactician-strategists with an emphasis on combined-arms coordination and enough personal combat skill to fend for themselves. Alternatively, I'm a Striker Centurion; piloting and armored-spearhead tactics is our specialty. Shirayuki here would be a Champion if she joined--"

	"No thanks," the paramilitary leader, assassin, and terrorist, depending on one's point of view, replied instantly. Her voice sounded uncaring, hiding the dripping acid behind it.		"No thanks," the paramilitary leader, assassin, and terrorist, depending on one's point of view, replied instantly. Her voice sounded uncaring, hiding the dripping acid behind it.
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	He watched the faint light of disappointment fade from the girl's opened eye. Kannon was a pragmatist who acknowledged her lack of athletism, so he wasn't putting her down much. It still felt bad, but it was better than getting her killed through false hopes.		He watched the faint light of disappointment fade from the girl's opened eye. Kannon was a pragmatist who acknowledged her lack of athletism, so he wasn't putting her down much. It still felt bad, but it was better than getting her killed through false hopes.

	"You both make a lot of valid points," Shirayuki ~~finally~~ came out of her reverie. "But... even aside from the fact that ''I can't trust him'', the ''Eclipse'' is an all-girls--"		"You both make a lot of valid points," Shirayuki came out of her reverie. "But... even aside from the fact that ''I can't trust him'', the ''Eclipse'' is an all-girls--"

	"All-women," Kayeten cut-in casually, only to wince in pain as Shirayuki silently stomped on his ''armored boots'' under the table. He thought she was wearing Japanese-styled sandals under those robes, which meant she just used an mentally-recited, armor-piercing, non-lethal spell just to kick him.		"All-women," Kayeten cut-in casually, only to wince in pain as Shirayuki silently stomped on his ''armored boots'' under the table. He thought she was wearing Japanese-styled sandals under those robes, which meant she just used an mentally-recited, armor-piercing, non-lethal spell just to kick him.
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	"...I'm an Agnostic-Theist. My parents encouraged me to find faith on my own," the youngest girl clarified. Then in surprise: "But I thought Buddhists are supposed to be all-welcoming?"		"...I'm an Agnostic-Theist. My parents encouraged me to find faith on my own," the youngest girl clarified. Then in surprise: "But I thought Buddhists are supposed to be all-welcoming?"

	"Which part of ''religious paramilitary'' didn't you understand?" Midori quipped back. "We're mages. You can't cast a faith spell if you don't truly believe in the omnipresent enlightenment of Buddha; or devote yourself to the path of universal liberation from suffering for all beings."		"Which part of ''religious paramilitary'' didn't you understand?" Midori quipped back. "We're mages. You can't cast a faith spell if you don't truly believe in the omnipresent enlightenment and walk the path of Buddha; or devote yourself to the path of universal liberation from suffering for all beings."

	"...I can do the latter just fine by having this faith called 'humanity'," Kannon shrugged it off. "But yes, you're right about the former."		"...I can do the latter just fine by having this faith called 'humanity'," Kannon shrugged it off. "But yes, you're right about the former."
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	"Actually faith magic is the product of channeled, shared belief," Midori commented dryly. "It does not come from the spirits, or the gods. We create it through the strength of our conviction -- hence why it's called faith magic and not miracles or divine magic."		"Actually faith magic is the product of channeled, shared belief," Midori commented dryly. "It does not come from the spirits, or the gods. We create it through the strength of our conviction -- hence why it's called faith magic and not miracles or divine magic."

	"One of the best legacies left behind by the Dominion-era government is the Universal Tolerance Act," Shirayuki kindly explained with an appreciative smile. "It outlawed any organizational prejudice against other humans due to their culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexuality. This didn't mean the church had to accept nonbelievers, but they couldn't just slap the declaration of gratuitous sin on everyone else, since that would be encouraging prejudice. The law is ~~one of~~ the major ~~factors~~ that led up to the Great Religious Reformation, which forced all Abrahamic religions to remove that--"		"One of the best legacies left behind by the Dominion-era government is the Universal Tolerance Act," Shirayuki kindly explained with an appreciative smile. "It outlawed any organizational prejudice against other humans due to their culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexuality. This didn't mean the church had to accept nonbelievers, but they couldn't just slap the declaration of gratuitous sin on everyone else, since that would be encouraging prejudice. The law is the second major factor that led up to the Great Religious Reformation, which forced all Abrahamic religions to remove that--"

	"''Nonbelievers are damned for eternity'' clause from the official biblical interpretation," Kayeten interjected.		"''Nonbelievers are damned for eternity'' clause from the official biblical interpretation," Kayeten interjected.
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	"...Are you a 2nd Reformist?" Kannon asked in curiosity, to which Kayeten nodded back. "Then... is the reformed church Catholic, or...?"		"...Are you a 2nd Reformist?" Kannon asked in curiosity, to which Kayeten nodded back. "Then... is the reformed church Catholic, or...?"

	Kayeten shook his head with a proud smile: "No, just Christian. Pope Celestine the 12th is easily one of the greatest saints in the history of faith. He actually seized the 2nd Reformation as an opportunity to abandon Papal Supremacy and de-centralized biblical interpretation enough to mend the Great Schism. The resulting Christian Church of the 2nd Reformation unified ~~the~~ Roman Catholic Church with nearly half of the Eastern Orthodox and Protestant ecclesial bodies within the Avalonian Republic. The sheer mass of the 2nd Reformist Church would entice many others back into the fold over the years. Although the strength of the church did bring other issues..."		Kayeten shook his head with a proud smile: "No, just Christian. Pope Celestine the 12th is easily one of the greatest saints in the history of faith. He actually seized the 2nd Reformation as an opportunity to abandon Papal Supremacy and de-centralized biblical interpretation enough to mend the Great Schism. The resulting Christian Church of the 2nd Reformation unified our Roman Catholic Church with nearly half of the Eastern Orthodox and Protestant ecclesial bodies within the Avalonian Republic. The sheer mass of the 2nd Reformist Church would entice many others back into the fold over the years. Although the strength of the church did bring other issues..."

	"As much as I support theological discussions," Aurora chimed in with, ironically, the voice of a descending angel. "We're straying far off topic."		"As much as I support theological discussions," Aurora chimed in with, ironically, the voice of a descending angel. "We're straying far off topic."
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	"...I don't mind," Kanon replied evenly. "Does it really matter who gets credit for it as long as both the individual and society benefits from it?"		"...I don't mind," Kanon replied evenly. "Does it really matter who gets credit for it as long as both the individual and society benefits from it?"

	Kayeten shrugged with his best ''what-did-you-expect'' expression and Shirayuki sighed softly before ending in a defeated yet pleased smile. Competitiveness wasn't an emotion Kannon could ever understand -- the original planners specifically removed that psychological tendency from her DNA.		Kayeten shrugged with his best what-did-you-expect expression and Shirayuki sighed softly before ending in a defeated yet pleased smile. Competitiveness wasn't an emotion Kannon could ever understand -- the original planners specifically removed that psychological tendency from her DNA.

	"There's still the allegiance issue though," Shirayuki pondered aloud, more to herself than anyone else.		"There's still the allegiance issue though," Shirayuki pondered aloud, more to herself than anyone else.

	"...He doesn't have anywhere else to go, and... I'm sure I can turn him. If you want, I'll vouch my life for him until he decides one way or another," Kannon declared with ~~complete seriousness~~. "Just like you did for me when we formed the alliance with Marshal Sidika." She nodded towards Kayeten, as the Marshal of the 3rd District was his adoptive mother.		"...He doesn't have anywhere else to go, and... I'm sure I can turn him. If you want, I'll vouch my life for him until he decides one way or another," Kannon declared with intent eyes. "Just like you did for me when we formed the alliance with Marshal Sidika." She nodded towards Kayeten, as the Marshal of the 3rd District was his adoptive mother.

	Shirayuki bit her lower lip for a second, a demeanor completely unnatural to the usually carefree leader. Then:		Shirayuki bit her lower lip for a second, a demeanor completely unnatural to the usually carefree leader. Then:
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	''Too good for him, in fact,'' he left the words unsaid.		''Too good for him, in fact,'' he left the words unsaid.

	Like any good Christian, Kayeten believed in forgiveness. But just because his once best friend and sworn brother deserved a second chance, it didn't mean he automatically forgot about all those men, those friends he lost at the hands of Arkadi Simarshall the 'Black Prince'.		Like any good Christian, Kayeten believed in offering forgiveness. But just because his once best friend and sworn brother deserved a second chance, it didn't mean he automatically forgot about all those men, those friends he lost at the hands of Arkadi Simarshall the 'Black Prince'.

	Yes, parts of him were still angry, mad, pissed. He was still human, after all.		Yes, parts of him were still angry, mad, pissed. He was still human, after all.
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	Men might strive for perfection, yet they were also fragile creatures. They wore their pride like layered plate armor, always boasting of egos several times too large. They hid their heart deep down, not merely because of social demand, but also as self-defense. A single chink could wound their esteem; an open gash would irreparably damage their psyche. The result was a monster who merely appeared strong, who tore at the world in fits of rage over their hideous scars.		Men might strive for perfection, yet they were also fragile creatures. They wore their pride like layered plate armor, always boasting of egos several times too large. They hid their heart deep down, not merely because of social demand, but also as self-defense. A single chink could wound their esteem; an open gash would irreparably damage their psyche. The result was a monster who merely appeared strong, who tore at the world in fits of rage over their hideous scars.

	Kayeten's adoptive mother, Marshal Sidika, once told him the tale of Ekaterina 'Kato' Svanidze. The first wife of the Joseph Stalin, Kato died of tuberculosis within her husband's arms at merely twenty-two years of age. At her funeral, Stalin gave the eulogy "''this creature softened my heart of stone; she died and with her died my last warm feelings for humanity''". Sure enough, Joseph Stalin would rise to dictatorship over the Soviet Union~~, ruling~~ with inhuman cruelty and ~~sending~~ tens of millions to their death -- atrocities far worse than those of the notorious Adolf Hitler.		Kayeten's adoptive mother, Marshal Sidika, once told him the tale of Ekaterina 'Kato' Svanidze. The first wife of the Joseph Stalin, Kato died of tuberculosis within her husband's arms at merely twenty-two years of age. At her funeral, Stalin gave the eulogy "''this creature softened my heart of stone; she died and with her died my last warm feelings for humanity''". Sure enough, Joseph Stalin would rise to dictatorship over the Soviet Union. He industrialized the nation and modernized healthcare to raise standards of living. But he also ruled with inhuman cruelty and sent tens of millions to their death -- atrocities far worse than those of the notorious Adolf Hitler.

	''Love triumphs ~~wasn~~'t just a cliche. Without the beauty of feminine compassion, satan's lure ~~would~~ end us all.''		''Love triumphs isn't just a cliche. Without the beauty of feminine compassion, satan's lure will end us all.''

	The bigger question, in Kayeten's opinion, would be whether Arkadi still had the courage and the fortitude to save himself. Otherwise, all the helping hands in the world couldn't save a drowning soul who refused to reach out.		The bigger question, in Kayeten's opinion, would be whether Arkadi still had the courage and the fortitude to save himself. Otherwise, all the helping hands in the world couldn't save a drowning soul who refused to reach out.

	Distracted, neither of them noticed the look of concerned disapproval on Shirayuki's ~~countenance~~ before she shrugged it off, masking it with her usual amused smile.		Distracted, neither of them noticed the look of concerned disapproval on Shirayuki's complexion before she shrugged it off, masking it with her usual amused smile.

	"Oh, before I forget," Kayeten reached into his pocket and took out a crystal data chip. "Here's all the info you requested that mother could access at the moment. She'd talk to you herself but she's still being overwhelmed with situational damage control, remotely and less efficiently, while we're still stuck on this planet."		"Oh, before I forget," Kayeten reached into his pocket and took out a crystal data chip. "Here's all the info you requested that mother could access at the moment. She'd talk to you herself but she's still being overwhelmed with situational damage control, remotely and less efficiently, while we're still stuck on this planet."