Alain looked up at the sky. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and a gigantic ash cloud rose into the atmosphere. Or rather, a column.
"A volcano? But the ash should disperse. Curious..."
"I've seen stranger things," Louis muttered. "Once, one of my students wanted to show a circus trick. He swallowed alcohol to spit fire... through his nose. His nose hairs burned off."
"... I don't see what this has to do with the volcano," comnted Mirscella.
"That's because you didn't see him spitting fire from his nose. He must have had a bit of a blocked nostril, by the way, because..."
"Anyway!" Alain interrupted his friend. "Sothing strange is happening. Certainly a Tribulation. I don't know why, but I'm thinking about my son..."
"That's normal. He's about to unleash his own."
The three seniors turned to look at the newcor.
"Juana," greeted Louis and Mirscella. "What did you say?!" exclaid Alain.
The blind woman ca closer, leaning on her cane. Alain stepped forward to help her, annoyed. The Tutorial had sohow cured them of their old age. With her attributes, Juana could do a sorsault. Instead, she enjoyed playing the grandmother.
"You're cute, Alain. I'm sorry about Priam, I didn't know before. But you have to believe in him. Maybe he'll be the first man to withstand a Tribulation. To be honest, I can't see much, but that's not a bad sign, you know?"
"What do you an?" asked Alain with patience. Juana was a hundred years old, as well as the senior of their group. Everyone respected her, not only for her wisdom but also for her Talent. She could see things.
"I don't read the future. I see probabilities, knots, places, or monts that could change history. Your son is a knot heading for another knot..."
There was silence for a second before Louis spoke.
"Am I the only one who understands nothing?..."
Juana laughed.
"I sotis speak in Delphic ways on purpose."
Louis grunted, and Mirscella clarified. "It ans enigmatic."
"Juana, please," pleaded Alain.
"Sorry sorry, you'll have to excuse an old lady's eccentricities. Well, two things can happen. If your son survives, he'll form a giant knot. A kind of star with intense gravity. But of course, his thread can also break..."
A deafening noise rang out, and the air shook. The four elders turned towards the pillar of ash.
Alain turned first and headed for the main building. "Where are you going?" shouted Louis.
"To see my son. I might not be able to do anything but look at him, but I want him to know that his father has his back."
"But you don't even know where he is?!"
"I don't, but this Claire should know."
Alain entered the building, and Louis sighed before looking at Mirscella. "I'll go with him. He can manage, but he's not the best fighter. Maybe well stop so rascals from disrupting his son's Tribulations."
"Why are you telling this?"
"... No reason," said Louis, moving away.
When he disappeared, Juana laughed.
"You should go too, you know?"
"... To help Alain and his son?"
"For Louis, you stupid girl. Your husband's been dead for half a century, and it's a new world."
Mirscella remained silent. Suddenly, a blow from the cane struck her shin. "Ouch! That hurt!"
"What hurts is seeing your indecision. I won't see Louis again until the next Reunion, but there's a good chance he'll die without you. The woman who ca for Claire and then ran away..."
"Seraphine."
"Maybe she'll kill him."
"We defeated her last ti," Mirscella replied scornfully. "She had to flee, and I almost caught her."
"Louis barely had the advantage, and she escaped when she saw that Louis wasn't alone. Besides, you almost caught her."
"... Louis is better than her."
"I'm glad you're standing up for him, but that's only in a fair fight." Juana sighed. "You're too stubborn, Mirscella. It's snack ti, so see you."
Mirscella stood alone, watching the ash cloud. The trees shivered in the wind, and one of the world's oldest assassins was hesitating.
Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / N 10 / TA 0)
PHYSICAL:
Strength 160 ( 1)
Constitution 284
Agility 195 ( 1)
Vitality 298
Perception 323 ( 24)
NTAL:
Vivacity 180 ( 4)
Dexterity 218 ( 16)
mory 50
Willpower 295
Charisma 161 ( 11)
TA:
ta-affinity 163 ( 15)
ta-focus 107 ( 8)
ta-endurance 101 ( 3)
ta-perception 51
ta-chance 114
Potential: 3761 ( 2491)
Tier 0
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRID.
[Tribulation]: A Tribulation is coming.
Ti: ???
Delayed.
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