dear_mun | On looking for a game

[The answer is stern.]

My kingdom.

Funny how that works. Especially in your case. Yes, I know all about you. One cannot have the throne without the kingdom, can they? You say you wish to protect the kingdom, and yet you oppress your people.

And for what? To defeat some shadowy foe looming in the distance? One that would be just as easily defeated if the people loved you?

Trust me, m'boy. It's a nice word and calming concept, but there is no such thing as altruism.

I oppress the people for a short time so that they will survive the Darkness. The people would hate me far more if they all die. I do what I must to protect my people, that's my duty.

I am the king of Albion. I was raised to rule and that is what I will do.

Technically, they would be incapable of hate if they were dead, but semantics.

Again, I must ask, when your sibling is able to defeat this foe of yours while simultaneously being either ten times the tyrant you were or the ideal benevolent ruler, I must wonder, are you oppressing them to protect them? Or oppressing them to keep them from rising up and challenging your power?

I do what I must to protect them. Overthrowing me without a capable leader on hand would be suicide. If my sibling can defeat me, then they are as capable as me. If not, I won't hand Albion over to a leader that will get it destroyed.

All things in the world of man decay and crumble to dust. Your kingdom is no exception. The only question is "when?"

You fight your own sibling to maintain your power, most likely so that it is you immortalized in song for being the great "savior" of your country. Look deep within yourself, and answer honestly. After all, every time you deny that side of you, you only make your Shadow that much stronger.

[The mention of shadows makes him frown and shift his weight uncomfortably.]

My sibling isn't ready for this responsibility. I am Albion's only hope until that changes.

[Victor just makes an amused face and shakes his head.]

We all have our darker sides, sides we don't want to admit to anyone else. For some, it's as simple as being too frightened to think for themselves and wanting a hero to come save them. For others, it's seeing tragedy and wanting to be the hero for the downtrodden not for the victims themselves, but so that they'll be needed.

You... I believe you wish to maintain your power, slay whatever beast looms on the horizon, and be forever immortalized in history as a great hero.

Let me show you a secret...

[He taps his arm-brace cane on the ground, and after a brief flash of light, a massive 8-headed serpent rises up behind him.]

This is Yamata-no-Orochi. A beast of legends said to have wreaked havoc across the countryside, leaving naught but destruction in its wake.

[He taps the cane again, the serpent vanishing, replaced by a more angelic figure that still has an air of darkness about it.]

And this is Lucifer, the angel that challenged the almighty God for his throne in heaven and cast down to the bowels of Hell for his treachery.

These are Shadows of people. When a person accepts the darkest aspects of themselves instead of denying them, those shadows become Persona. Willing guardians with power beyond what any mortal man could accomplish. A Persona alone possesses the power to truly slay a Shadow. Try as you and your sibling might, your Shadow will continue to return and plague this 'Albion' of yours forever until either it kills you and takes your place, or you accept it as part of yourself and make it heel to your commands.

[He makes to protest the stranger's assumptions, but the man continues talking before he can. The more shadows are mentioned, the more he frowns, the more uneasy he gets.]

[He is still ready to protest until the man's last point. Logan blinks at him.]

Are you saying the Darkness can be controlled?

[Victor grins.]

It serves me like a slave.

How?

[Victor taps his cane once more, as a carbon copy of Logan steps from behind him. Well, almost. There's a malicious look to his face, and inhuman golden eyes.]

By facing your innermost darkness. To stare down the most hated and feared side of yourself, and accept it as yourself.

[And that's when the Shadow speaks, a voice that is both Logan's and not at the same time echoing throughout the area.]

As if this weakling could ever face anything down without hiding behind an army. After all, even the lowliest of peasants terrifies me... right, me?

[The appearance of his doppelganger makes him grip his sword instinctively. He looks to the stranger, then back to the Shadow. As much as he wants it gone, he wants to control the Darkness more.]

I am not a coward. My soldiers reinforce my decisions.

[Victor himself remains silent and even steps to the side in order to watch the exchange.]

Reinforce? Or do what we are too scared to do? They slaughter our people for simply voicing opinions. They commit the atrocities we are too weak to do. Instead of explaining what threats loom beyond Albion's borders, we cower in fear within our own walls afraid of what the people might think of us for telling them the truth.

Face it. Not only can we never live up to the example our parents laid before us, we're too terrified to even try. It's so much simpler to let Reaver make all our decisions, and hide behind the blind loyalty of soldiers to stupid to know how much of a failure we are.

[As the Shadow talks, the hatred in each word is almost more obvious than the last. Even as it sports a mocking unhinged grin.]

The people would never understand. They couldn't. I can't oversee every action personally, I have other duties to attend to. I have plans to make, resources to divide... I have to rule.

I am the best person for Albion right now. I am doing the best I can for it. You are my shadow, you are nothing.

[Even as he says this, he feels himself waver. Whether it's because it's a shadow in front of him or part of him agrees with it is hard to tell.]

No, they wouldn't. Such brutish ignorant beasts could never understand the weight we carry! Living in the shadow cast by the Hero of Bowerstone, living up the expectations and duties thrust upon us, duties and expectations we didn't ask for!

They are no better than violent sheep! Looking to the 'hero' to tell them what to do, and getting mad every time they're told to stay away from the cliff! Their minds are too primitive to comprehend the horror that awaits them! How could they possibly understand that a dragon looms just over their heads when they're too busy stuffing their faces with the grass WE give them!

[When Logan says the shadow is nothing, the shadow's grin just widens, and Victor sighs silently to himself.]

What are you talking about? I'm you. I've been with you every step of the way, felt the sting of every betrayal - even our own sibling's knife in our back. I am you, and you are me.

[Logan shakes his head. He both disagrees and agrees with the thing in front of him, claiming to be him. At least, he wouldn'tt phrase it the same way. It's... confusing.]

You are not me. You are a reflection of me, but you're not real.

[The Shadow of Logan just laughs as Victor shakes his head.]

Denying it only gives it power. ...I'll admit, none have called it a mere reflection, and I am most curious to see how that will effect things however.

[The Shadow is enveloped in black smoke as it twists and contorts into a large shadowy monstrosity. When the smoke clears, Ivory armor with gold inlays cover a grotesque and all too familiar hide. Most disturbing, though is the misshapen head. A face Logan would know all too well stares back at him, a crown of white gold sitting atop its head.]

I am a Shadow. The true self. There is not enough room in Albion or any other realm for the two of us to coexist!

[Without warning, the monstrosity lurches forward, aiming a blow at Logan's throat.]

[It's true that the man had told him to accept it, but he didn't expect it to change forms. When it does, the blood drains from his face.]

[He might deny its existence, but when it strikes he steps back, drawing and slashing his sword. Once, twice, thrice in a blind panic. It's a miracle he doesn't throw his sword away. As tightly as he grips the hilt, he feels no strength in his hands.]

No! No, you can't be...

[Victor grins to himself, impressed that Logan could fight at all.]

Impressive... When a Shadow takes on their true form it is usually enough to send a person into a state of shock. Perhaps there is indeed merit to this 'blood of a hero' you carry. Remember, in a battle with one's shadow, physical strength means nothing. Only the strength of one's heart will avail you now.

[The Shadow recoils with each hit, but shows no outward signs of damage, and in fact just acts annoyed. It rears back once more, attempting to deliver a fatal blow.]

Concentrate, face yourself for what you are, and its power over you will be no more! A Shadow's power comes from self-doubt, break those shackles and it will be yours to command!

I don't doubt myself!

[He brandishes his sword, not like swordsman he is but as a child might. Eyes fixed on the horror in front of him. It's not the Crawler, it is the Crawler. He's not afraid, he's terrified. He doesn't hide from fights. He wishes he could hide from this one.]

Enough!

[It continues to lunge as if going for a killing blow. Victor is all set to wipe the gore off his clothing when something very strange happens. The Shadow obeys? Or perhaps it hit something invisible? Either way, it's claws stop mere centimeters from Logan's body. These 'heroes' of Albion were most intriguing indeed.]

What's the matter? Going to run from this fight as you did the throne? Of course, after all, it is better for another to shoulder that burden, rather than you, right? Even if it is a traitorous brat.

[At the lunge Logan instinctively lift his arms to protect himself, head turned, eyes closed. When he hears the thing speak instead of strike he opens his eyes, uncertain as to the creature's intentions.]

It... was time for a new ruler. Sometimes a king must step down.

On looking for a game

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