A Crumbled Empire

[quicksmart]

I read all the volumes and records pertaining to the rise and fall of the Scarlet Moon Empire... I read all of them. It all makes sense, it's all so cohesive... and yet I still don't understand how the Empire fell, nor how the corruption spread. I can barely comprehend any of that, let alone how I even arrived here. Is there a reason behind any of this? A True Rune, even?

At least that boy still has a home and people he knows of in Falena if he is indeed from IS 450, but...

I couldn't even find my name anywhere... Did I amount to nothing?

... How may I obtain more books?

Comments

[aloof_savant]

So it's really true? I came to the same conclusion last night... but it couldn't be right...

[quicksmart]

How can you believe that I'm from before the Empire fell?

I clearly have mountains of evidence here around me, yet you have nothing. Some sort of thief-boy and a girl.

[aloof_savant]

To be honest, I didn't believe it all. In fact, it's a whole lot easier to believe that you're just a nutjob or some sort of elaborate prankster... but you're not, are you?

[ Won't admit that he's been closely observing/eavesdropping on her, nope. ]

[quicksmart]

I can say all I want to defend myself, but in the end perhaps you're the "nutjob" for believing the situation now.

[aloof_savant]

Geez, your friends must miss you a lot, huh? Alright, bookworm, you tell me what I should believe, then.

[quicksmart]

[ IGNORES THE FIRST JAB. :C ]

Stop calling me that!

It's not my duty to tell you what to believe in a circumstance like this. I just find you very trusting is all.

[aloof_savant]

Well, I find you vexatious. All I know is that if I, hypothetically, were to wake up in a different time and place, I sure wouldn't be biting the hand that feeds me! So to speak.

[ ...Realizes he can't let her get under his skin, then takes a deep breath and starts again. ]

Now... surely you've read about Occam's razor somewhere in your books.

[quicksmart]

I would hardly call this a simple explanation. A prank or mental debilitation would be a simple explanation.

[ She realises she's being a little difficult though, and still feels a bit guilty for yelling at him when they first met. ]

... I suppose I do owe you an apology, however. You have my name, but I do not have yours.

[aloof_savant]

It's not only the simplest, but it makes it the only explanation if we eliminate the other two. But who knows, perhaps more information will present itself in the next few days...

In any case, my name is Caesar.

Caesar Silverberg.

1/2

[quicksmart]

>

[quicksmart]

Silverberg!?

As in Julian and Lady Elenor Silverberg?

[aloof_savant]

[ Surprised by her seemingly positive reaction; though the names don't sound familiar to him. Too far back. ]

Well, well, there are a lot of us!

...
Were they... friends, or enemies? Ahaha...

[quicksmart]

[ Completely ignores him in her excitement! ]

Are you a strategist as well?

[aloof_savant]

[ Finds it weird to see Agnes even smile, given what he's learned of her in the past few days. ]

Why, only in times of war!
...And not for hire at the moment. Not until Master Thomas returns, at least... And even then, I'd only help if I wanted to.

[quicksmart]

Maybe there's a reason I wound up here after all...?

[ Barely listening to him! ]

I'm sure you pick who to assist very astutely. Do you need a housekeeper?

[aloof_savant]

[ SLIGHTLY NERVOUS LAUGHTER. ]

Y-yes... no?! Wa-wait, what do you mean? What about your situation?

[quicksmart]

I don't have a home anymore. Where else should I go?

I'd very much like to stay with you and assist you.

[aloof_savant]

[ Finds this SOOO weird... but also feeling mischievous about it! ]

You mean, like my very own right-hand man? ...Err, woman? Girl?

Man, talk about a complete 180...

[quicksmart]

[ Doesn't see a problem with this at all! ]

Yes. If you'd like to call it that.

[aloof_savant]

[ No, he secretly liked calling it "housekeeper". ]

Well then, welcome aboard, Agnes! After you've sorted out the numerous books in my room that I've had to go through last night, I'd like you to organise a new comment box for this castle!

And find out what happened to the old one!

--Wait, don't do that. I don't want to discipline anyone.

Okay-- you find out, and then deal with perpetrator! Can you handle that?

[quicksmart]

[ On some deep level she finds him a bit immature, but is too starstruck to particularly notice. ]

Of course, Sir Caesar.

Can I read your books after I've sorted them? And may we play chess afterwards?

[aloof_savant]

Chess? I suppose we can make time for that. I must say, I have never met anyone so interested in the Sliverberg name before. ..Not that all of us are that great...

[quicksmart]

Lady Elenor Silverberg was the greatest strategist of her time, as well as the most kind.

I do not know how the Silverberg family is reputed to be now, but if you, a Silverberg, are a strategist, then I have high hopes.

[ She is 10000% smiles ever since she found out who he was. ]

[aloof_savant]

Heh. It's only a name, you will learn in time that even Silverbergs lose battles. In any case, I hope I don't disappoint...

I would like to hear more about my ancestor over our game, if you don't mind.

[quicksmart]

[ She seems shocked! ]

You don't know much of Lady Elenor?

[aloof_savant]

I'm afraid not. Until recent years, I wasn't the most attentive student of history...

[quicksmart]

[ She's a little bit disappointed. ]

... Well, perhaps we can learn together, then. I will tell you about Lady Elenor if you will tell me about the Silverberg family as it is now.

[ She pauses. ]

And... I can stay free of charge as your housekeeper?

[aloof_savant]

Aw, Agnes, did we just become study buddies?

[ Kind of amused that she has no idea about how much he naps during his study hours. ]

Hey! Don't worry about that, it's all taken care of!

[quicksmart]

[ Wrinkles her nose, not appreciating how casually he's taking this. ]

Sir Caesar, we do not have to be buddies to study. I'd simply like to learn with you. That's all.

[prince_of_bandits]

Ha! You finished through the library already? Maybe it's time to get a hobby, huh?

[quicksmart]

Comment box, please.

[prince_of_bandits]

Eh? What about it? You wanna read more useless junk?

[quicksmart]

I would like the box. The contents are optional.

[prince_of_bandits]

Oh yeah? And what's in it for me?

[quicksmart]

I won't tell anybody you took it.

...

And if you don't give it to me, I will inform people.

[prince_of_bandits]

Sweetie, I can't let ya do that. Besides...

[prince_of_bandits]

...I threw it away!

[quicksmart]

Oh. I see.

[quicksmart]

Please find it before I find the authorities.

[prince_of_bandits]

Hey, we had a deal, remember?! The fact that ya allowed me to have it until I threw it away makes YOU an accomplice! ...Right?

[quicksmart]

No.

... But I will allow you to find a replacement comment box to atone for your theft, just this once.

[prince_of_bandits]

Hmph! Well, ain't you just kind? So ya wanna make an enemy out of the great and mighty Roy, huh?

[quicksmart]

Great and mighty people don't steal comment boxes. They do, however, fix such oversights.

[prince_of_bandits]

Oversights, huh? So, like, if I find a replacement comment box, I'm totally off the hook? Plus, it would force ya to admit that I'm great and mighty... HMMMM.

[quicksmart]

Precisely... Roy, was it?

I will let you think about it for a few days. In the meantime, where exactly are you lodging?

[prince_of_bandits]

That's my name...

And like I'd tell ya anything more now that I know you're a snitch. Ha! Nice try!

[quicksmart]

Oh.

That's too bad.