"Then if you run across him you'd best be careful. Dying has only made him angrier."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“…what does he look like?” she asked reluctantly, feeling sick.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Septumus thought for a moment. "I'm surprised you haven't visited the graveyard yet. There's a statue of him there. But he's tall, with hair pulled back into a ponytail. A fairly thick beard, and eyes the same color as mine. He'd be dressed in leather armor and a sword should be at his side."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“God…” she murmured, feeling sicker. “…can he use the sword? Like… how much danger am I actually in here?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"He wouldn't use the sword. But I would say that if you approach him and he's aware of his ability to harm you then you're in a fair amount of danger. You ought to find someone to protect you."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
She resisted the urge to sigh. Or run away. Or cry. This was horrifying. “Like who?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Someone strong, I would assume. A general or a powerful Lord. Somebody with muscle."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky took a deep breath and let out the sigh this time. Great. A ghost babysitter to protect her from her psychotic uncle that she wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about. That wouldn’t be distracting at all. “…like…”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"If Nox were dead I'd suggest him. But he isn't; he's down in the dungeon. I don't know the other generals very well. I've said before that I keep to myself. You might try some of the earlier Lords; they were more warlike."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"Okay," Ky said quietly, nodding. She sighed again. "Thank you for the suggestion."
This was positively hopeless. What was she supposed to do? Wander around the Keep until she found a random spirit that seemed big and brawny enough to be able to fend off Michael and hope that he was inclined to do so? What if she accidentally guessed poorly and then whoever she prepositioned ran straight to Michael to tell him he had an opportunity to hurt her?
And, malice aside, she couldn't very well ask a stranger to babysit her all of the time on the off chance that she ran into Michael. If anything, that would just let Michael know he had the option and make him look for the opportunity to get her alone.
No.
This was a nightmare.
"... can you walk through locked doors?" she asked, glancing back at Septimus. "If I were in my room with the door locked, would he be able to get in anyway?"
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
He considered it. "We can open doors, but not locked ones. But you can't live in your room."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"I also can't expect a stranger to accompany me every moment of the day," she countered. "Or even most moments. People are going to start thinking me insane if they see me going around talking to or watching ghosts that none of them can see or speak to."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Then don't talk to them at all. They're your bodyguard, not your friend."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"I think I'd rather just stay in my room," she muttered, pulling another book from the shelf.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"That's a cowardly solution. And you'd worry Gaius, if what you say is true."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
