Regarding his Wiki article.

[harishas_last_blade]

My information is unfairly lacking, Mundane. I'm aware that it's not up to you to update those pages, but it is an "anyone can edit" kind of thing, isn't it? Surely the creator of the site wouldn't mind you adding some tidbits?

Ananta's page does have a lot of information about our story, but not me personally. Please fix it. If nothing else, I'm sure Alchemist Abel's mundane wouldn't mind providing some assistance.

Comments

[potential_wasting]

Supreme General, sir... When did you get here?

[harishas_last_blade]

Just a bit ago. Your father summoned us from the pass. We won't be leaving empty-handed, but we needed to meet with the Alchemists and gather more warriors.

[potential_wasting]

I see... I thought that was just a rumor, and that it would just be the Alchemists arriving but. Ah, it's an honor to meet you.

[harishas_last_blade]

They'll be here shortly. You already have one among you.

And your arm?

[potential_wasting]

[He lowers his eyes slightly, turning as though to hide the aforementioned appendage from the other man's view.]

I've been told that they will fit it with a limb made of gears and metal. It will be a weapon suitable for the front lines of the war.

[harishas_last_blade]

Is that what you want?

[potential_wasting]

[Ananta looks a bit shocked. So far, no one had asked him that.]

I...Well... I just.

No. Not really. It is the honorable thing to do. It is the right thing to do, and what is expected of me. It's either that or... I should be disposed of, if I cannot fight.

[harishas_last_blade]

I will not allow them to fit you with something that is not going to truly be a part of you, and I imagine Abel will not, either. Which is why I've asked the Alchemists to take him with them. They need a voice of reason amongst them. This war has hardened even their minds.

You will not be disposed of. But I need to know what it is that you want. Do you want to avenge your friends? Prove yourself to your father or your cousins or yourself? It is up to you.

[potential_wasting]

[Ananta takes a moment to consider this, reaching out in his mind to touch Freya's consciousness with his own. The dragon's presence brings him some peace of mind, and he manages to speak after a moment.]

I want to be useful. I want to fight. But I want to...

[An idea suddenly dawns in the young man's mind.]

Let me serve under you.

[harishas_last_blade]

So be it.

And your arm?

[potential_wasting]

I will let the Alchemists do as they see fit. So long as it works, I don't mind.

[He doesn't have to think about that, though. Ananta gives a small nod and lowers his head again.]

I may not look it, but I've been trained by my father my entire life. I won't let you down. I will prove useful on the battlefield.

[harishas_last_blade]

I look forward to it. If not...

...Do you know where we stand, Ananta?

[potential_wasting]

[His face, always rather severe is very serious.]

Last I heard, we were dealing with forces of raiders and invaders. There are rumors though, that it's worse than that; that the Etudians want to see us wiped out entirely. But they... it can't be that bad, right? The words of the philosophers have always said that generalizations and assumptions are what causes genocide!

[In Ananta though, it is obvious that there is still very much a frightened child beneath it all. ]

[harishas_last_blade]

Those words are true. The Etudians see us as barbarians. They would assimilate us, or wipe us out. Whichever suits their purposes in a more immediate manner.

We need a battlefront ready, but the Alchemists are prepared to be an envoy. The is a rumour that a group of four Etudians is traveling with the intent to do just the same. We need a chance to talk to them before the war.

Luka will not be likely to allow that. Our best bet is to keep the war at bay just long enough to let the Etudians see that we are a people just as established, if not as numerous, as themselves.

If they will not see that, then...

[potential_wasting]

Then what? Then we kill and kill and... what will come of it? More killing. Maybe we'll all kill each other in the end.

[Ananta says sullenly. He then realizes that he may have just shot off at the mouth and insulted their entire way of life. He feels a bit sick and then gives Isidor a pleading look.]

I just... Minimal loss of life would be. You know. Ideal. It should be our priority to meet them, right? But if they're such a small group that might mean that they don't speak for the Empire as a whole. We know they don't speak for Luka.

[harishas_last_blade]

I intend for the Alchemists to meet their group of four before the Etudians reach our front lines. The Alchemists are pacifists, but they can fight if they must, and they outnumber the Etudian envoy.

If it's not an envoy, then the Alchemists will split, half joining us as advisers and half moving into Luka's territory to try to claim an audience. It will be more dangerous for them than for the warriors. The Alchemists will be our only chance at a peaceful end to this.

I know our tribes would rather be wiped out than be forced to integrate with Luka's people. We would like to stop this war before it begins.

[potential_wasting]

Father always said that the sword was the one and only answer to our problems. I can't... I can't agree with that.

[He looks down for a moment, his tense body language still unchanging. All the same, Ananta feels a deep pride in this man who serves as their supreme general. If there was anyone that he could possibly want to throw his lot in with, it would be him.]

This gives me hope.

[harishas_last_blade]

[He grins.]

When words fail, life gives a valuable chance in exchange for that failure. You failed to Contract the Wyrmking, and he tore your arm off. Maybe you will be able to do things with a new arm that your sharp tongue alone could never have done.

[potential_wasting]

[The underhanded compliment makes a deep red flush rise into Ananta's pale cheeks. He frowns and tries his best to look grumpy.]

Yes well. I'll do my best to make myself worthwhile.

[harishas_last_blade]

I don't imagine you will have to try very hard, Ananta Narayana. Potential runs in your veins.

[potential_wasting]

[His heart is all but pounding out of his chest. Ananta is not used to being around someone of such a level of importance aside from his own father; one of Isidor's generals. Youth and strength are greatly prized among the Nendeeni people, and that was at least something he had.]

You make it easy to be at ease, Supreme General. Thank you for asking me what it is that I want. No one has bothered to ask me since I returned from the Kylan Fields.

[harishas_last_blade]

As I said. Potential. Don't think I'm referring to your father, Ananta. I refer to you and your remaining cousins.

[potential_wasting]

[Remaining. That hurt; but it was a hurt that Ananta would have to learn to live with.]

I... I am not worthy of such kind words from you, sir.

[harishas_last_blade]

You're worthy of a lot more than that. Don't base your worth on what your father wants from you. You've gone through your Rite of Passage. You are an adult now. What you do, you do for your own honor. Not your father's.

When you fight for honor as an adult, it is the honor of those you choose to honor, and no one else.

[potential_wasting]

[Ananta nodded slowly, trying to keep his composure despite all of the emotions that this meeting and the other strange things that have come to pass have caused to well up in him.]

I understand that. If I can prove myself... Well, I have Freya to help me now.

[harishas_last_blade]

I would have you two meet Fidda. She would like you very much.

Good luck, Ananta. I wish to see you heal well and fight by my side, should the war prove to be inevitable.

[potential_wasting]

[He smiled then, like he hadn't in longer than he could remember. Isidor was definitely gifted at igniting something in people-- no wonder he was the most popular commander-in-chief they'd had in ages. His popularity ratings were higher than even king Harisha himself.]

That is what I will do then, and gladly. To serve a man like you-- I never imagined that someone like me would receive such an honor.

[wings_of_lucidity]

Alchemist? Already? You always speak so highly of everyone, Supreme General.

[harishas_last_blade]

There are always things worthy of praise. I hear you're going through your Rite soon.

[wings_of_lucidity]

Ah... Yes, but that's all after whatever needs to be done to fix Ananta's arm.

[harishas_last_blade]

That's up to Ananta.

[wings_of_lucidity]

Is it really? I don't think anything's up to Ananta anymore.

[harishas_last_blade]

I won't allow his voice to be unheard. Neither will you. Am I wrong?

[wings_of_lucidity]

No, you're not wrong. I guess I just don't know what to do with myself. I want to help Ananta, but can he be saved?

[harishas_last_blade]

He's already been saved.

What about you? What will you do?

[wings_of_lucidity]

I'm not sure yet. I want to go through my Rite as my brother did. Cain did it alone, so that...

[ So what happened with Ananta would not happen. It was arrogant to go through your Rite unaccompanied by your companions, but at least it meant you would be the only one in danger. ]

A-anyway, I feel like one's Rite of Passage should be more than just a Contract. It would mean so much more if I Contracted a Kylan while I was out there walking my path. With the alchemists.

[harishas_last_blade]

That's how a Rite is meant to be.

I will be keeping an eye on Ananta. He will walk the path of war, while you walk the path of peace. However, he has mercy in his heart, and you have vengeance in yours, do you not? This way, there's fire amongst the Alchemists, and peace within the army.

[wings_of_lucidity]

I don't want to blame Ananta for what happened, especially when there's a war at hand. But... I can't forgive him, either. I want to see a peaceful end to this. The battle with the Wyrmking that killed my brother and my friends and took my cousin's arm... It was avoidable.

And so is this one. Right?

[harishas_last_blade]

...You're a clever boy. You'll do fine with the Alchemists.

Keep an eye out for those four travelers. There are strange stories surrounding them.

[wings_of_lucidity]

Yes, Supreme General. I will.

...Please look after my cousin.

[harishas_last_blade]

Of course I will.