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Bai sat in meditation, his eyes closed and his breathing even as he sensed the presence of his visitor. ~Hello Shadra.~ ~What? Afraid to hear my voice, Saint of Truth? Afraid to gaze upon me and know at last the form of your true love?~ The mental voice giggled in Bai's mind, mercifully clear as belonging to its true owner. ~Yes.~ Bai sensed the figure shaking its head but refused to open his eyes. ~How can you be the Saint of Truth if you're unwilling to know this truth about yourself? The very truth she chose you for.~ ~Ask Mirgianne. You know why I accepted her offer.~ ~True, and if I had made such an offer we would still be on the edge of an apocalypse. You realize that your position threatens the very pact that allowed us to put an end to the Wars don't you?~ ~I know that Mirgianne violated the pact by granting me my position. As I said, you should ask her for her reasoning.~ The voice giggled in his mind once more, ~But you didn't SAY, you thought. Don't you want to tell me what I can do with my preaching the way you told Mirgianne?~ Bai sighed, ~No. I need your blessing.~ The voice retreated a step, ~My blessing. Surely you do not expect my assistance in your duties to destroy the peace we spent so long building.~ ~I have no desire to destroy the pact.~ ~Then renounce your position. We six forged the pact to create an alliance to win over the faithful of this world. To put an end to the chaos that had reigned since Archon's banishment. We agreed that we would take as saints those who had proven worthy to stand among our ranks. You have proven nothing. And the one who worded the pact is the one who violated it first. Her reasoning is insufficient. Even if you have the influence on Yb that she suggests, even she admits that in the end you will be able to do nothing more than sacrifice yourself in an attempt to confine Yb to an isolated area. Renounce your position. Spare the world, spare yourself, spare your loves the retribution that may be delivered upon them simple to persuade you.~ ~I can not, and you know why or you would not be here to torment me.~ ~A pact then. Renounce your position and I shall grant all of you my blessing.~ ~I can not. That would be the same as abandoning Yb.~ The voice became questioning, ~And you believe you can save her? How?~ Bai sighed, ~She can not be saved. All of us know this...But I can not abandon her either. To do so would be to abandon myself.~ ~And what if Lini'leah asked you to abandon her?~ ~Lini'leah has not asked me to abandon Yb.~ ~But what if she does? What if that is her condition to leave Jaret and be only with you?~ ~I don't know...~ ~And that is why you are afraid to open your eyes, because if you did you'd know what choice you would make and then you'd have to abandon one of them.~ ~Yes.~ ~Wouldn't your life be easier if you knew? You could proceed forward with a clear conscience, unfettered by these doubts that now weigh you down.~ ~The virtue lies not in the ideal, but in the struggle. If I simply gaze upon you and know, then I will have learned nothing. And now if you will excuse me, I must return.~ Bai rose to his feet, his eyes remaining closed. ~You mean you must run away before temptation gets the better of you.~ ~Yes~ And with that thought Bai teleported away. Shadra laughed, a black hand brushing brown hair behind a round ear. "Oh Mirgianne, you may regret your decision for aeons to come, but he seems to promise me the most fun I've had since I was mortal." Shadra's laughter echoed as she vanished. |
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