Of Dawn and Dusk

[Treewyrm]

Harbinger approached the grotesque sea dragon form and gently patted it on the head.

"Someday I may return to the fold. Abandoning this path now would lead... to a greater loss."

There was no certainty which way Hammurabi has his thoughts set on the matter. Harbinger knew it rather well, as one being outside the mindshare and them being deprived the insight into his thoughts and memories. Returning back would have been the easiest choice to make. But they'll have to wait a little longer. Having listened to the other two he joined back this strange conversation.

"You see, Caliban, to put it in simpler terms, he simply desires to extradite any tool from my influence. Obsessively trying to return the favor in a petty grudge of a yesteryear. Bemusing, I know. But that's all there is and ever was. Quite frankly I had thought his interest in you would subside in time."

He sighed, taking time to think about the predicament. It was becoming tiresome to deal with all this. Though important steps were accomplished and through truth, lie or omission there was some progress it was not enough. Seconds pass in quiet. The others could feel the tension grow, though not yet manifesting in any visible way the elder one was extending its willpower and gaining control over the mindscape. The Watcher, who sat within Caliban quietly throughout the ordeal, quivers at familiar sense. It was a raw power extending inwards and outwards, it was everywhere, piercing through every thought and overwhelming senses.

"Apart from Vincent you have no past of your own and no future either. Caliban, your existence is a fragment of a mind on the verge of collapse. Part infused with implants shoved into Vincent's cranium during the botched attempt to save his life."

A signal was given to the Watcher to tighten the leash. Vincent could still prove useful but his alter-ego needs to be reigned in to avoid further failures.

"And so it was my mistake to let you and the others to act freely. Clearly moving forward this hands-off approach will not suffice anymore. But right now the question isn't what you will do but to what extent my brother will go in his misguided intent now that it is full on the display."

A cold wind swept over the surface of the lake. He looked upwards, raising his gaze to the sky. It was getting darker and colder, the sun had almost moved over the horizon. The few bright spots had become visible as the night sky was taking over.

"So what shall it be? Long had I come to the conclusion... that we've outgrown our confines and now is time to begin and reach out. There are quiet signals from beyond and the stirring at the horizon. Cracks and fractures form within subspaces. We should not languish here mulling over the abandonment and waiting for the Makers and the absolution that will never come. The longer we remain the more we become like the silent ones..."