• Aurelia waits expectantly, once we're appropriately clear.
• Arlie_B turns and leans against a wall. "Ok."

<Arlie_B> "For my own conscious, I need to know, what were you doing the first day we arrived in Ienova?"

<Arlie_B> conscious*

<Aurelia> Conscience?

<Arlie_B> yes

<Arlie_B> sorry.

• Aurelia looks up at Arlie, then away, then back again. "I hunted the Ravager."

<Arlie_B> emotion --><He expected that.>

<Arlie_B> <confusion, disbelief>

<Arlie_B> "Why did you end up in jail?"

<Arlie_B> "Why'd you do it?"

• Aurelia tilts her head, briefly surprised, then says, "I returned to the Staves. There was a nymph, too unwell to return home."

<Arlie_B> "And they held you overnight for that?"

<Arlie_B> "For returning a woman to their care?"

<Aurelia> "For ending the ravager."

• Aurelia 's voice is even.

<Arlie_B> "When did the nightmares start?"

• Aurelia blinks. "Nightmares?"

<Arlie_B> "About the ... hunting. You need to talk about it."

• Aurelia tilts her head, bewildered. "It was Service."

<Arlie_B> "... so you're perfectly fine?"

<Arlie_B> "Be honest."

<Arlie_B> <stern, disappointed>

• Aurelia looks up at Arlie, hurt by the disappointment. "He was evil. Emperess Marilyna named me Avenger, and in her garden told me of the ravager..."

<Arlie_B> <anger> "She named you an Avenger?1"

<Aurelia> "True Servant and Avenger of the Despoiled she named me..."

• Arlie_B smiles weakly. <anger, pity, empathic pain>

<Arlie_B> "I need to stop the training for a while, Aurelia."

• Aurelia tilts her head, blinking again. "Why?"
• Arlie_B swallows, pauses.

<Arlie_B> "I started training you because we needed another sword in the band. I kept on training you because I thought it would help you come to terms with what you face inside, daily."

<Arlie_B> "But.. did you hate the Ravager?"

• Aurelia listens, waiting.
• Aurelia shakes her head, then nods, then frowns.

<Arlie_B> "Which is it?"

<Aurelia> "He was evil."

<Arlie_B> "Did you hate him? Not the abstract idea of evil, but him personally."

• Aurelia reads for what answer Arlie wants.

<Arlie_B> an admission either way, and an explanation.

<Arlie_B> he doesn't think you are processing death properly, and he wants to know why you did it.

<Aurelia> "No."

<Arlie_B> "Does killing him make you good?"

• Aurelia shakes her head.

<Arlie_B> does she believe that or is she placating him?

• Aurelia believes it.
• Arlie_B sits against the wall.
• Aurelia continues to stand, watching Arlie.

<Arlie_B> "I've murdered people Aurelia, I still have nightmares where they scream for mercy, 30 years later."

<Aurelia> "Was killing them wrong?"

<Arlie_B> "No, and those questionable times I didn't have the time to think. I still regret it."

<Aurelia> "Why?"

<Arlie_B> "Because each time I kill I kill a part of myself."

<Aurelia> "Oh..."

<Arlie_B> "I won't help you do that anymore, Aurelia. I care about you too much."

• Aurelia nods slightly.

<Arlie_B> <sadness>

• Aurelia turns to leave.
• Arlie_B lets her go.