[Again Emet-Selch acknowledges the offering with a glance, yet he does not move to take it. Perhaps he can do one better after this discussion comes to an end, but for now he simply crosses his arms. He doesn't seem angry exactly, nor does he seem particularly upset. Merely thinking, considering their words.]
[Well. Perhaps it is better that such a question was not posed of him. Unlike Hythlodaeus, his answer is not so charitable. He is the same man, yes, but in many ways he is forever changed. Oh, his convictions remain ever true, but the eons have afforded him much to ponder, much to weep over and regret, challenged his sense of morality and what is good and just and necessary in such a way that even he was surprised at the results. The Emet-Selch who had implored Hythlodaeus journey with him to Elpis in search of Hermes and the Emet-Selch who dutifully stood outside the counsel hall an hour early each and every morning could not have fathomed what had come to pass nor the many things he had wrought with his own hands. How can he say that his choices would be the very same with the knowledge he now wields?]
[But that is his own burden to bear. The question of whether he would do it all again in exactly the same manner one for himself to uncover. At least, he thinks, there is now one choice he cannot make the mistake of wresting from another's grasp.]
I expected as much, coming from you.
[Back then, even as he had pleaded, he knew. Whilst skirting around doing the unconscionable thing and disregarding the Convocation's own directive, Emet-Selch had sought to appeal to his friend; to change his mind. But Hythlodaeus's answer would remained been the same irregardless. Selfless to the very end and so full of faith.]
In the end, we each followed the path we deemed necessary. Who can truly say what may have occurred had our choices erred? Whether the resulting world would have been better or worse for it, whether the day would have been won or lost, or if we might have ended up exactly as we are now. Our choices are our own, yet the course of our star is a complex weave.
At least we have arrived at a conclusion we can live with - such as it is. One in which you are yourselves and no one else, with a whole new procession of choices to make on your own behalves.
no subject
[Well. Perhaps it is better that such a question was not posed of him. Unlike Hythlodaeus, his answer is not so charitable. He is the same man, yes, but in many ways he is forever changed. Oh, his convictions remain ever true, but the eons have afforded him much to ponder, much to weep over and regret, challenged his sense of morality and what is good and just and necessary in such a way that even he was surprised at the results. The Emet-Selch who had implored Hythlodaeus journey with him to Elpis in search of Hermes and the Emet-Selch who dutifully stood outside the counsel hall an hour early each and every morning could not have fathomed what had come to pass nor the many things he had wrought with his own hands. How can he say that his choices would be the very same with the knowledge he now wields?]
[But that is his own burden to bear. The question of whether he would do it all again in exactly the same manner one for himself to uncover. At least, he thinks, there is now one choice he cannot make the mistake of wresting from another's grasp.]
I expected as much, coming from you.
[Back then, even as he had pleaded, he knew. Whilst skirting around doing the unconscionable thing and disregarding the Convocation's own directive, Emet-Selch had sought to appeal to his friend; to change his mind. But Hythlodaeus's answer would remained been the same irregardless. Selfless to the very end and so full of faith.]
In the end, we each followed the path we deemed necessary. Who can truly say what may have occurred had our choices erred? Whether the resulting world would have been better or worse for it, whether the day would have been won or lost, or if we might have ended up exactly as we are now. Our choices are our own, yet the course of our star is a complex weave.
At least we have arrived at a conclusion we can live with - such as it is. One in which you are yourselves and no one else, with a whole new procession of choices to make on your own behalves.