[Diarmuid wouldn't blame the man for squinting at his affiliation with the Order. But he was always a Knight first. Regardless, that was not important right now. And through his emotional exhaustion came a focused weight in Diarmuid's tone.]
I assume you first knew of her as the "Warrior of Light", then. [Diarmuid knew enough through her words, his time with her and from adjacent hearings of Takame to understand.
That wasn't the reason he hesitated here. The reason was because fundamentally this was going back on his word. On him swearing on the Fianna's honor to keep this secret. It took a moment of him closing his eyes as if in contemplation to work up the will to speak.]
I will be blunt; she may be in grave danger. She swore me to secrecy, to not speak of this to even my Master. [Interesting word choice. Followed by an even stranger one.] But if what I noticed after I manifested again is true... it is pointless to keep it from her friends any longer.
[...]
It has to do with that crystal on her hand. Two months ago, she revealed to me that since receiving it she's not eaten nor felt hungry. I noticed as well she hadn't slept in the days we were trapped.
Her mana is fused with it in an abnormal way. Though I'm not sure of specifics, I witnessed something similar happen in reverse in a battle against one of the Unyielding named Kratos. Likewise, she showed wings to me that resembled his. The similarities are too great to be coincidence.
[He listened quietly through Diarmuid's explanation. He didn't understand why this man would have a 'master', but the rest was...disquieting, and yet not wholly unexpected.]
It's been...two months, you say? ...She hasn't mentioned a thing.
[Not eating, not sleeping. Manifesting wings. And...] A mutual friend of ours said as much. When- when she perished in last week's incident...he claimed her soul was inside the gem we found beside her 'body'.
I don't...understand as much as some about souls and their ailments. [What he would give for an Archon to consult with right about now.] But...why wouldn't she have said something? Why ask you to keep this secret?
[Diarmuid was more glad than ever she returned. A fate like that... was surely worse than death.
As for the why of the matter.]
She feared the wings were a sign of lingering corruption during a time she absorbed too much Light mana, or rather aether. But most of all, she feared this reaching Takame Kesi and their shared loved ones, my Master being among them. He is like a brother to her and Takame.
[His tone sharpened slightly, and the way the his next words came out seemed to come through teeth clenched in frustration.]
[But if there was some kind of creeping corruption in her, that only made it more important to treat the situation and not ignore it. But none of them would have made her some kind of pariah for this. But they would worry anyway, inevitably, on finding out the truth which couldn't be hidden forever.
But they would want to help her.
There's no point in arguing these things with the messenger rather than Rose herself, though. He's clearly as upset as Maxima is by this situation.]
...Thank you, for bringing me this news. And...I am sorry, truly, that our mutual friend and savior of our world is playing such foolish games, causing all of us distress in the process. You may rest assured that I'll speak with her about it.
[Diarmuid has wanted to help her. Deeply, dearly and desperately. But he knew nothing about this, he could help no one if he did not know what to look for. And he could not learn if he was honor bound to keep it hidden.
There is a tinge of offense, hearing anything of Rose described as foolish. A brief knee-jerk reaction of sorts.]
No, she didn't... I...
[He paused for a while, unable to come up with a justification here. He... he was angry and frustrated with her. How far has this issue progressed? Though he must also take responsibility. It is not as though everyone understands his code of honor. Why he tried so hard no matter what to keep this hidden until it couldn't be.
He shook his head, hoping to brush aside the temptation to voice his frustration.]
As a friend of Rose's that hails from her world, you have every right to know. I hope that if nothing else... she listens to your word.
I have kept this from you all for too long and I realize that may seem... irresponsible. For that, I must offer my own apology to you and all of her loved ones. If I can do anything more to just make her listen to reason...!
[He couldn't hide it entirely, it seems. It's clear more about this has him emotional. But it could be chalked up to the taxing last few days. He cared for Rose with all his heart, that was what mattered here and now.
[Maxima kept his calm, as always. Diarmuid was clearly distraught over the whole situation, enough so that there was really no point to berating him further even if Maxima had been inclined to.]
You owe no apology to me, at least. ...Your friend asked you to keep a secret for her, from someone who you didn't know. Who wouldn't have done the same, in your position?
Of course, I can't speak for the others who do know the both of you. That will be for you to puzzle out. But as for myself, I'm just glad you came to me now.
[He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose and then straightening his glasses afterward.]
As far as what's to be done about it...I'll speak with her, and keep you informed of what develops.
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no subject
I assume you first knew of her as the "Warrior of Light", then. [Diarmuid knew enough through her words, his time with her and from adjacent hearings of Takame to understand.
That wasn't the reason he hesitated here. The reason was because fundamentally this was going back on his word. On him swearing on the Fianna's honor to keep this secret. It took a moment of him closing his eyes as if in contemplation to work up the will to speak.]
I will be blunt; she may be in grave danger. She swore me to secrecy, to not speak of this to even my Master. [Interesting word choice. Followed by an even stranger one.] But if what I noticed after I manifested again is true... it is pointless to keep it from her friends any longer.
[...]
It has to do with that crystal on her hand. Two months ago, she revealed to me that since receiving it she's not eaten nor felt hungry. I noticed as well she hadn't slept in the days we were trapped.
Her mana is fused with it in an abnormal way. Though I'm not sure of specifics, I witnessed something similar happen in reverse in a battle against one of the Unyielding named Kratos. Likewise, she showed wings to me that resembled his. The similarities are too great to be coincidence.
no subject
[He listened quietly through Diarmuid's explanation. He didn't understand why this man would have a 'master', but the rest was...disquieting, and yet not wholly unexpected.]
It's been...two months, you say? ...She hasn't mentioned a thing.
[Not eating, not sleeping. Manifesting wings. And...] A mutual friend of ours said as much. When- when she perished in last week's incident...he claimed her soul was inside the gem we found beside her 'body'.
I don't...understand as much as some about souls and their ailments. [What he would give for an Archon to consult with right about now.] But...why wouldn't she have said something? Why ask you to keep this secret?
no subject
[Diarmuid was more glad than ever she returned. A fate like that... was surely worse than death.
As for the why of the matter.]
She feared the wings were a sign of lingering corruption during a time she absorbed too much Light mana, or rather aether. But most of all, she feared this reaching Takame Kesi and their shared loved ones, my Master being among them. He is like a brother to her and Takame.
[His tone sharpened slightly, and the way the his next words came out seemed to come through teeth clenched in frustration.]
She didn't want you all to worry about her.
no subject
[But if there was some kind of creeping corruption in her, that only made it more important to treat the situation and not ignore it. But none of them would have made her some kind of pariah for this. But they would worry anyway, inevitably, on finding out the truth which couldn't be hidden forever.
But they would want to help her.
There's no point in arguing these things with the messenger rather than Rose herself, though. He's clearly as upset as Maxima is by this situation.]
...Thank you, for bringing me this news. And...I am sorry, truly, that our mutual friend and savior of our world is playing such foolish games, causing all of us distress in the process. You may rest assured that I'll speak with her about it.
no subject
There is a tinge of offense, hearing anything of Rose described as foolish. A brief knee-jerk reaction of sorts.]
No, she didn't... I...
[He paused for a while, unable to come up with a justification here. He... he was angry and frustrated with her. How far has this issue progressed? Though he must also take responsibility. It is not as though everyone understands his code of honor. Why he tried so hard no matter what to keep this hidden until it couldn't be.
He shook his head, hoping to brush aside the temptation to voice his frustration.]
As a friend of Rose's that hails from her world, you have every right to know. I hope that if nothing else... she listens to your word.
I have kept this from you all for too long and I realize that may seem... irresponsible. For that, I must offer my own apology to you and all of her loved ones. If I can do anything more to just make her listen to reason...!
[He couldn't hide it entirely, it seems. It's clear more about this has him emotional. But it could be chalked up to the taxing last few days. He cared for Rose with all his heart, that was what mattered here and now.
Quieter, less sharp:]
I am at your disposal for her sake.
no subject
You owe no apology to me, at least. ...Your friend asked you to keep a secret for her, from someone who you didn't know. Who wouldn't have done the same, in your position?
Of course, I can't speak for the others who do know the both of you. That will be for you to puzzle out. But as for myself, I'm just glad you came to me now.
[He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose and then straightening his glasses afterward.]
As far as what's to be done about it...I'll speak with her, and keep you informed of what develops.