[Video]

[unfadingdragon]

[So there is a very worried looking young man staring at the camera. They said other people could see him with this. That he can just talk and they'd see it. It's still strange to him, but he's supposed to deal with being told he's a 'fictional', right? Right. So after a few long moments, Ryu speaks.]

Um... I'm Ryu... I'm new here, I guess... uh...

[He shakes his head. This is too hard to take in.]

I don't understand any of this. How could I not be real? I just need to get home. I need to find him. I need to go back.

[No one's here that he knows. He'd asked.]

I don't know what to do...

[... He's not sure what else to say, so he reaches over and turns the video off.]

Comments

[twicecharmed]

What happened?

[unfadingdragon]

[He looks down at the ground, trying to hide the tears welling up. It hurts to remember what he did. He doesn't have a problem fighting people, but slaughtering them like that...]

I... they were hurting the villagers... they just wanted to get to me. He... he beat them... innocent people... just to taunt me. I couldn't let him keep doing that.

It's... hazy... but I transformed into something... new. A dragon form I'd never used before. And I wiped him out so easily. I wiped out the soldiers, too. And then I was going to hurt my friends, because I couldn't tell who was my friend and who wasn't. Nina calmed me down, but... I could have killed everyone.

[twicecharmed]

... But you didn't. It's important to know, in these situations, in these moments, that you have someone who will bring you back.

[unfadingdragon]

But she's not here. And I could hurt people again. I don't think I can control myself if I use that form. But I might need to at some point.

[twicecharmed]

But your, uh, baddies aren't here either! So you know, you don't actually have a reason to go berserk or dragony or whatever hip video game language they use nowadays.

You might need to, yes, at some point. But some point doesn't have to be right this minute. Okay? Okay. Let's get coffee.

[unfadingdragon]

Video game?

[What is that even.]

... You're right.

[He's just gonna follow along and try to push that from his mind right now as much as possible.]

[twicecharmed]

It's this game kids play these days. It can wait until we get you up to speed.

All right! Let's go. This place is depressing me.

[unfadingdragon]

Sure. I'll follow you.

[twicecharmed]

Excellent.

[unfadingdragon]

[Following, following. Trying not to gape at all the huge buildings. How do they even stay up?]

[twicecharmed]

Okay, so those are "buildings" and don't ask me how they're like that, I'm no architect.

[unfadingdragon]

Well I know they're buildings... they're just too tall. Won't they fall over?

[twicecharmed]

Nope. They're special.

[unfadingdragon]

Huh. Are they held up by magic?

[twicecharmed]

Science.

[unfadingdragon]

... What's a science?

[twicecharmed]

Science isss... well, how things are made or born. How flowers grow and how buildings are made.

[unfadingdragon]

[He shakes his head.]

The buildings being made, that's people. But flowers grow and things are born because of the power of the Endless. The ones brought to the world at the beginning of things there. It's because of them that life can flourish and go on.

[twicecharmed]

The ... Endless. Okay.

But you see, the Endless isn't here.

[unfadingdragon]

I'm here.

Though... I guess I don't count yet.

[twicecharmed]

What I meant was, this isn't your world, sweetie.

[unfadingdragon]

... Oh. Yeah.

[He's not the quickest on the uptake. :( ]

It's just... strange to me. Most things are, though.

[twicecharmed]

You'll get the hang of it. Trust me, the people who live here? Are probably not used to it either.

[unfadingdragon]

[Nod, nod.]

[There is... a question, though.]

Some of the people in the hospital were talking about school. What's school and why do they think I have to go?

[twicecharmed]

School is where people your age go to learn. It'll probably be good for you! Since you don't know much about this place. And yeah, you're underage, so you have to go.