[ Dragonmail: Nova Kylethe ]

[socarnivorously]

[ evening]

Look up Sardonyx on the player's message board.

Read her post on the 30th.

[ not an actual link in a dmail, just for the sake of convenience ]

Comments

[transfer_student]

[...that's his player.

so what about the post? stupid comments about school and wow she's different around her friends, isn't she! exuberant, that's weird, that's obnoxious, really, why is she so carefree

why do you want him to read this post, Alex, what is so special about

ah it's getting a little weird...

what happened with her, why is she 'smarter'

the forces that arrange our fates saw fit to have me eat a magic brain

...what?]

That can't be what it looks like.

[socarnivorously]

It's possible that it isn't.

[ but also possible that it is ]

[transfer_student]

Ravindra said his guild leader was a player. Could something be happening? Are the earthers attacking them?

But mine's not capable of that. She couldn't do it, she doesn't deserve that power.

[this can't be happening!]

[socarnivorously]

Someone is attacking them. There are reports on Google about someone "dressed" as the Ahura found dead in an alley with his stomach missing. Another report about an undead dragon attacking a festival. Medena, the druid's dragon, in a building. Fall City of Oregon, of the United States of America. Events appear to be centered there.

They recently had a bombing at their university.

[transfer_student]

That's where they live. Heimdall and his sister, at least. And Theresa. Maybe more of them. Probably mine.

I'm going to have to kill the Khshathra...

[socarnivorously]

[ nova how are you feelin

Nova........ ]

What's going through your head?

[transfer_student]

I got to keep most of my alchemy, even though my memories are garbage.

It was mine and she didn't understand it and it had nothing to do with her.

Now she's taken over that too, I guess.

Maybe not, maybe she's an idiot and she was just playing.

[socarnivorously]

[ nova :<

he feels for you, murderbro ]

At the rate we're merging with Earth, you'll have access to her soon enough.

[transfer_student]

[not good news it's happening too fast!!]

I guess I'll send her a message.

And then... get a new life.

[socarnivorously]

What does that mean?

[ please do not mean get a new guild ]

[transfer_student]

I can't stay an alchemist with her in charge, knowing more than I ever will.

[turns out his answer to 'what would you do if your own player turned out to be your guild leader' is drastically different than 'what would you do if a player turned out to be your guild leader']

[socarnivorously]

[ no damnit, he doesn't want to have to find another alchemist again! ]

There's no confirmation that she wasn't "roleplaying".

[ even though there is a dedicated roleplaying section on the forums, and her post was not in it... maybe she's just that stupid and tasteless...?

(argh, what is thus sudden bullseye on his alchemists?!) ]

[transfer_student]

She might have been. I'll have to find out.

[but that weird full-day takeover was just before that... and he never found out the reason]

[socarnivorously]

Let me know how it goes.

[ why are players a bunch of fucking idiots ]

[transfer_student]

[some time later]

It was true.

[socarnivorously]

[ AW MAN ]

I'm surprised she told you the truth.

[ would've been stupid to lie, tho ]

You aren't honestly going to leave the alchemist's guild, are you?

[transfer_student]

I guess it's possible I'll change my mind.

Do you want any potions first?

[socarnivorously]

I like to have an alchemist on hand. I've lost my last one, so you've taken his place.

You lose the craft you know like the back of your hand. You may be playing into her hands.

[transfer_student]

Artemis could help you.

...

There's no playing into her hands. She doesn't plan. It might benefit her in the end, but I don't want to belong to the guild while it's hers.

[socarnivorously]

[ BUT I DON'T LIKE ARTEMIS

VAGUE LENGTH OF TIME ]

I understand.

[ he does -- he wouldn't want to be in a guild jordan ran either, but likely his choice would be to stick it out just to spite her

but nova, of course, isn't him ]

I'm sorry this has happened.

[transfer_student]

[he doesn't understand the angle where this inconveniences Alex at all

but the sympathy is nice to have]

Thank you for telling me.