White Winter Hymnal

[Philomel]

Shinsou's surprised and gobsmacked expression was swiftly interrupted by the sudden appearance of a fully-fledged and fully-dressed geisha suddenly popping into the room. Philomel had known but one geisha in her life, and that had been many years ago, when she was first pregnant with Celandine. For three months or more she had lived with the entertainer and one-time midwife Sakura, a woman who had a past with the Ixian Knights, and whom had safely delivered Philomel's daughter. In the middle of an earthquake, during a terrible storm. As rioters who hunted them from Akashima stalked them, forcing them to find a damp, ugly cave.

"Lillith Kazumi, welcome to Whitevale." Shinsou was suddenly saying. Looking over to him, her hands instinctively curling tighter around Mao on her lap, Philomel watched his features battle the immense flabbergastery flooding his system. He went on: "It is a pleasure. Sadly, though, we'll have to dispense with the formalities for now. As I'm sure you are aware, we have much to discuss."

He slowly got up, gesturing for the others to come with him. He moved into a corridor and bade them follow, leading down a long panelled hall with dusklight peeking uncertainly through alternately shuttered windows.

"A quandry for you both, whilst we make our way to the briefing room," then he was saying, "What is good and what is evil? Are they not merely a convenient way for people to categorise everything in the world according to their own beliefs? After all, right and wrong are just viewpoints depending on which side of the fence you are on. One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter."

Philomel felt her brows rise as he spoke, her throat catching a grunting laugh from spiralling from her throat. She blinked, longing to interrupt but as he went on, she felt the temptation die away. Instead, a desire to simply hear whatever farcical, odd words he had took over, and a willingness to not make him look a fool in front of this Lillith Kazumi.

'Shut it, Shinsou, I was the one who asked you first,' she thought, 'Stop being all philosophical and just get to the point. We are here to fight, you should know that you idiot.'

Be nice, Veridian purred into her head. Let him have his time.

Philomel blinked, but did not look at him. Instead she kept focusing forwards. Really? Let him-

""In the case of Lye Ulroche, consider this; there is no cause for debate. He is an evil presence in this world," Shinsou was suddenly speaking again. And his golden touched those of herself and Lillith. And in that look ... she was lost. Stunted. Silenced for politeness sake. "And I intend his fall to be such a quiet thing. People can’t look past “good” and “evil” to see the truth, and usually I would be the first to accuse those people of being blind to the broader scope, but for him, his legacy is only darkness. He brings death and misery. He must be stopped, quietly and efficiently."

Philomel bit back the instinct to retort, neither exactly wanting to or willing herself to, and continued on her way. As Shinsou continued.

"I live by a philosophy; that from the smallest actions, the manipulation of the most subtle critical points, the universe and its workings can be moved. This is why we must be careful in all that we do and of the choices we make," he gestured to emphasise his point, "and what we chose was to set out today to kill a corrupt tyrant. This is amoral by definition but necessary by circumstance. Good and evil; opposing sides of the spectrum brought together by a singular purpose. Just like us three here. A beautiful thing."

She knew what power was - for the sake of Drys she had been fighting for her right to her own body and life since she had been born. Subtle critical points ... sure. Rolling her eyes just that little bit she paused, looking between the humans as Shinsou stopped. Looking forwards Philomel saw that they had come to a large, ornate door.

""Be under no illusions," the Telgradian said, "What we are going to do will change many things. If you can embrace that change, follow me inside."