"Mistress. The buildings with red lanterns. Places connected to Heresy, I assume. Perhaps we should investigate."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy4sSNX_Mck
"Maaaan... What a drag! ...Shit... dammit... This stupid crap sticks to everything! Why is blood so damn annoying... Monster blood at least vaporizes... If I was a vampire, I would go abstinent. ...MAAAN! I just want to take a piss in some random storehouse, and freaking Heretics sacrificed people here! ...Shit..."
"...Grrgh..."
"Would you look at that... Well met, Sir. I can see that somebody here is still alive! Bwah! I mean I can SEE right through you! That is a gaping Fireball wound there. Bwahaha!"
"Gheh... As if I was not aware, Lady. ...Did you kill them all? At least I can die knowing the workers have been avenged."
"The ones that were still here, yeah. Unplanned killing, but I was getting bored too so it worked out. Sir, you did well for yourself."
"Hrrh... This... pain... You know, you can take a weapon hit, and maybe walk away, but against Fireballs, most of us can only take a single blast... gruuugh..."
"Eh... Well, even if I run to get a crate of Healing Potions, it is too late for ya. No Healing Magic on my end."
"...I would rather down something a LOT more fiery if you... grhh... catch my drift."
""...""
""Gahahahahaaaa!!""
"Grrh... Dammit... I am done for. ...I do not know how you- Wait... Lady, your eyes."
"...I wager it is a little too late for that. Bwahahaaa-haaa!"
"...Nhh... No, maybe it is just my life flashing, but... You are that girl. Your Highness... how have you been?"
"...Mother of... No WAY! Bwaahahhaaaaa! NO WAY! ...How much I love dumb coincidences! It IS you!"
"...Then I deserve no sympathy. Gheh."
"What? No. Listen, old man. You got me fair and square. I could not do a damn thing! Fair is fair in life! Besides... I would not have met the Zehibirian. Bwahahaa!"
"So you are the same girl."
"Here is a very short version. One day, the Princess was walking on the ramparts and saw the sunset. She wished to be at the top of the mountain far away. She slipped, fell down, and broke her neck three times. Bwahaha! ...So it is just me now."
"Gahahaha! I... understand. What about the Zehibirian boy? He must be all grown up too. Good lad."
"I am sure he is. Gheh. I am sure he attracts trouble still. I have been looking for him. Betting on dumb coincidences to cross his path eventually. To see what he is up to, and what crap needs to be done. Whether I can break his arm, or he breaks my spine! Bwahahahaaa! What about you?"
"I see... Gheh... Well, we eventually tried to capture a Demon. You can tell the rest. Murdered all of my buddies so that was it. Been there, done that, afterwards. ...Fast forward, I was working here when the Heretics suddenly stormed in, and started their bloody rituals. You would think being near a city..."
"Bwahahahaa-ahahahaaa! Naaah... Forget it. That does not matter. ...I have been avoiding cities. It is like walking into a mass grave. People smugly hide behind their laws. Everywhere. But the moment a Demon or a monster bangs on the gates, they hilariously panic! ...Bwahahahahaa-ahahahaaa! Gahahaaaa! Maaaan... At least we do not pretend that we are free, and we have no price."
"Sounds like somebody else."
""Geeehahahahaa!!""
"...I hope that you can find your Zehibirian... hero."
"..."
"Ghh... Dammit. Hurts so much... Can you do me a favor? I do not want to bloody your sword further so... see that rock? Just drop it on my head. It will be instant."
"Naaah."
"...I see. I understand."
"Ya do not, you dimwit. Sir, you do not deserve that. Hrrh... Zehibirian mercy killing. ...Close your eyes."
"Hauh..?"
"CLOSE YOUR DAMN EYES! ...Hrh... Good. ...Let me put my hands on your neck. Relax. You will not feel a thing."
"Ghh..."
"Do you see it? Do you see the place?"
"Huuh... Lake... Fishing..."
"A tree grows from the seed, yet does the hungry bird bear blame? A flood claims the mouse, yet does the falling rain bear guilt? A drought forces the migration, yet does the shining sun bear fault?"
"..."
"Did you deserve this? No. ...Look on the bright... side."
"Krrgh... rhh..."
"Rest in peace. ...You can only ever go through death once."
https://youtu.be/DXARwq3sH0k
"Mmh... But there will always be that angle to it as well. More monsters means more assignments for us! We have been all over the place! ...What clan is she from?"
"Oh oh! I do not THINK she has ever mentioned that! Pff-ahahahaa!"
"How very typical Zehibirian. The clans are so scattered that I often do not know myself!"
"Ahahahaaaa! ...I KNOW! It is the BADASS CLAN!! It HAS TO be the BADASS CLAN!! Pff-ahahahaa-ahahaaa!"
"...Haaa... Whatever earns me fangirl energy points for more Gigamax Plasmabooms, I suppose."
"Krr-chrr-chaaa-ahahaaaa! YES! You have an EXCESS of those!! Pff-ahahhaaaa!"
"...Speaking of which... Seeing all these ruins, something nasty must have happened here."
"..."
"First Heretic things, huh."
"..."
"Well, I have a question!"
"Tsk-aaawww! Ask! Ask ask ask ask! COME ON! Ahahahaa! OH! ...Measurements? Let's see-"
"I can TELL! ...Anyways... uh... no. But it is kinda... a very little boy question."
"Ooooh! I like little boys! Come on! Come on!"
"Ghh... S-Stop that... Hrh... You are going to LAUGH, but-"
"ASK ASK ASK! I knew BADASSES who always answered what I wanted to know so... ASK!"
"Nnn... Well... What is the strongest Magic?"
"..."
"Right... Uh..."
"...Pffff-aahahaa-hahaHAHAAAAA!!"
"DAMMIT!"
"CUUUUUUUUTE!! Yes! Yes!"
"H-Hey... hrh..."
"Impregnatus!!"
"...Kh... Never mind!"
"...Mm. I would say that whatever explodes a chunk of a mountain is something most people are looking for in the answer. Or something that turns entire forests into charcoal and defeats a Demon General in the process. Gets through a... Dragon's defenses?"
"Yeeeah, that makes sense."
"No no no! If I asked you what the strongest fighting move is, I would probably expect something that like... kills an Obsidian Dragon in an EPIC fight across an entire canyon! Pff-ahahaaaaa!"
"Please do not compare me to the Lord Commandant. That is a little too much? Ahahaa!"
"Krr-chrr-chrr... Tsk-aaaw... However, what about Magic that saves someone? Safety Bit is an enchantment on an object that prevents certain forms of death, and is destroyed in the process. Extremely advanced and rare Defensive Magic. How is that for powerful? It is not flashy, sure. Ahahaa!"
"That is a good point."
"There is... more. Once, there... there lived the Shadowlord."
"The... Shadowlord?"
"Before their own death... They had a wish. The Astral Plane we borrow from is only limited by our own skill and mindset. Given enough conviction and purity, impossible Magic that most know as Miracles is granted. A contradiction, but there is more still. The Shadowlord... they harbored a pure wish for... the death of all living things. No remorse, no emotional influence. A wish considered pure, so thus the Astral Plane granted it. Slow at first... sudden later."
"What... are you talking about? That sounds too grim and fantastical... that uh... clearly could not have happened since we are still here for many, many ages! I am sorry... I-I mean-"
"Noooo! No no. It is FINE! Okaaaay? ...Limits of their skill happened. Thankfully? Hahahaaa..!"
"Look... I am just a hamster, and and... I APPRECIATE how much you really know, but how in the NAME of the Goddess do you even- ...Demon!! Over there!"
"Okay! Okay! Oh oh... I do not think he noticed us!"
"Do not be a dimwit. You know that cannot be the case. A Zehibirian is high challenge too. He must have seen us already! ...No matter. Let's go. One Demon is not a problem, but who knows if he already sent out a Psychic Wave."
"I... guess he changed his mind? Krr-chrr-chrr."
"Goddess! This one is even WORSE! Hah! Changed his mind... Hahaaha!"
"Pff-ahahahaaa! ...Do not worry, okaaaay? He will leave us alone, I am sure! Really!"
"Dammit! Goddess!"
"Me and who?"
"Feeling confident here, huh!"
"...Krr-chrr-chrr... Ahahahaaa! MAKASERO! I am all the LUCK you need, Heeerooo!"
"Haaa..."
"AND all the SEX you need!"
"H-Haaa..."
"Immediate escape!!"
"Move it! Move it! I do not get it... but move it! Changed his mind... Seriously? Hahahaa!"
"Pfff-ahahaaa! YES! WATASHI NO BAN NE!! DEFENSIVE MAGIC! FANGIRL PHEROMONE AURA!! PFFF-AHAHAHAAA! AHAHAAA-AHAHAA! KYAAAAA-HAHAHAHAAAA-HAHAAAAAAA!!"
https://youtu.be/erKDJjWqjvs
"OBJECTION!! The defense keeps hiding behind Clause Two Hundred Seven as though the law itself personally reached down and absolved the accused!"
"Inquisitor, Clause Two Hundred Seven is presently the law whether you approve of it or not."
"...Kchhm... I am painfully aware of that."
"Then argue the case before you."
"I AM! Clause Two Hundred Seven states that an enchanted object is not considered a hostile magical instrument unless its enchantment is intended to directly cause injury."
"Correct."
"Which is an idiotic distinction."
"Inquisitor."
"IT IS! If I enchant a staircase to disappear beneath someone, apparently the staircase has committed no hostile act because falling was merely an unfortunate consequence!"
"Inquisitor."
"Or perhaps I could enchant someone's trousers to sprint toward a cliff. Perfectly innocent trousers! No direct injury intended!"
"Inquisitor, this court is not convened to hear your grievances with statutory language."
"MY grievance is that whoever wrote it had the foresight of a dimwitted Red Jelly!"
"That will be enough."
"I would like DIMWIT entered as a technical qualification."
"No."
"Very well."
"Return to the matter at hand."
"Gladly. Because the stupidity of Clause Two Hundred Seven is precisely why the accused's argument fails."
"...Explain."
"The defense selectively quotes the first part. An enchanted object must be intended to directly cause injury. Fine. But they CONVENIENTLY NEGLECT the interpretive provision adopted after the Darsen Barn Gate ruling. Aha!"
"The provision concerning foreseeable magical consequence?"
"Exactly! If a caster deliberately creates a magical condition whose ordinary and foreseeable result is bodily harm, the law treats that harm as intended!"
"That provision was introduced to clarify Clause Two Hundred Seven, yes."
"Which means someone else already noticed the law was RIDICULOUS!"
"Inquisitor."
"Grrh... Relevant RIDICULOUSNESS even!"
"Hhr... proceed."
"The accused enchanted the victim's boots so that whenever the victim stopped moving, they would violently propel themselves forward."
"The defense contends that the enchantment compelled movement, not injury."
"And I contend that whoever says that should be forced to wear them down a cliff."
"Inquisitor."
"Metaphorically."
"You were pointing at the defense when you said it."
"An unfortunate coincidence."
"It was not."
"...My apologies."
"Continue. Actually continue."
"The enchantment activated repeatedly. It could not be dismissed by the wearer. It accelerated with every activation. And the accused knew the victim would be crossing the Bridge Koklonska that evening."
"Knowledge of the route does not establish intent."
"Alone? No. COMBINED with the spell design? ABSOLUTELY! Why increase the force after each stop? Why prevent voluntary dismissal? Why bind the enchantment specifically to footwear the victim wore every evening?"
"The accused claims it was intended as a practical joke."
"A practical joke stops being a practical joke when its punchline is a ravine!"
"Control your language."
"Then let the statute say it for me. Foreseeable magical consequence."
"...Go on."
"The defense wants us to stare at the boots and ask: Did the spell itself break the victim's arm? NO! The rocks did. Gravity assisted. Perhaps we should arrest gravity! Kchrr..!"
"Inquisitor."
"But the law does not require the Magic to deliver the final blow. It requires that the harmful consequence be deliberately constructed and reasonably foreseeable."
"Which you believe applies here."
"I KNOW! I KNOW it applies HERE! The accused created the condition, selected the victim, knew the route, removed the victim's ability to terminate the enchantment, and increased its force until an accident became inevitable."
"So your excursion into legislative criticism... Hm."
"Was NOT an excursion."
"It sounded remarkably like one."
"It was a scenic route."
"Inquisitor."
"My POINT is that Clause Two Hundred Seven only appears to protect the accused if one ignores the very provision created to prevent precisely this abuse."
"..."
"So yes, Region Inquisitor, the wording is clumsy. Yes, I would personally throw half of Clause Two Hundred Seven's legislative counsel into a Horned Tartar burrow, and rewrite it before their breakfast."
"You will do no such thing."
"But even this law, this magnificently awkward law, recognizes what happened here."
"And that is?"
"The accused did not enchant a pair of boots."
"..."
"They enchanted an accident."
"Reasoning accepted."
"Thank you, Region Inquisitor."
"And your criticism of Clause Two Hundred Seven is stricken as irrelevant. Neither do Horned Tartars live in burrows."
"I OBJECT."
"On what grounds?"
"It BECAME relevant eventually! I KNOW that I AM RIGHT. Perhaps that itself should be a la-"
"Sit DOWN! Inquisitor."
"...Yes, Region Inquisitor."
https://youtu.be/E8cnQi80634
"Hey... You are doing this on PURPOSE, dimwit! I am hungry!"
"Naa naaa! Just a sec! We do not want a fire! No really, coming RIGHT up!"
"... ...Nhhhaa!?"
"Yeeep! Is that not something! Huu! Here ya go, Sister!"
"W-Whoa! D-Dimwit, it is not like I-"
"Shh! Thick juicy musky meat! Just the way you like it, pudding! ...Now THIS is Magic!"
"Gimme! ...Gimmeeeee! GIMME!!"
"Gahahahaaa! Papapa-papaaaaa! Hummus, kuskus, falaaafel! That is my favorite... speeeeell! Whoops!"
"D-Dimwit! GRAAAAH! ...Is there ANY place YOU did not work at!?"
"Come on. Never ever stay at one place for too long! That is BORING! Sign up, learn a skill, and disappear! You are the free spirit! They are not!"
"O-Oh... Nnnhn... Mmmm-slllrch... Mm.. Shhhoooo gooooodsh!! Mmmr... Nyaaaah... Mmmgm..."
"Whoa... Engraving sounds into my mind as you eat, Sister. Nnnnnice."
"DIM... WIThhgh..! Nngn..."
"Guys? Is everything all right?"
"Damn! I am suddenly getting jealous of my own cooked meat! Ghehh. ...I can easily make more, but it is kinda getting late. Hhrh... We are closin' 'ere, Young Lady! Get yer diamonds, and git goin'!"
"Mmmh... MAGIC SHTOOOONESH!!"
"Hah! I did not know you are familiar with it!"
"Mmgm... Well... ish... good... mmmg... But how do you do THAT all the time!? Ahahaha! You should have-"
"Neh! You cannot get more restricted than by recognition, fame or gold! ...Tun... tutu... tuuu! This one is for... youuuuu! Bro!"
"Thank you."
"No no no no! Noooo no no no no! I SEE the face! Naaaah! Naaaa-naan-aaah! Bro! No crap about how you do not need to... or crap! Gobble up! Pronto! ...Heeere our meeeat, makes your HEART skip a beeeat! Pa-papa-paaaa! ...I mean, if you even had a heart still, and was not like totally messed up."
"Mmm-hm-hm-hm. Indeed, I will take it. I am sorry that I cannot enjoy it the way I used to."
"Whateeever. Still beats gulping down black sludge!"
"..."
"DIMWIT! YOU- mmmpfff... hhrh... krrrch- Nnhn... Haaaa... SHUT... Hahahahahaaa!"
"What can I say? Am I right, or am I right? Gheh."
"Uh-huh... Are you guys familiar with Swamp Roughskins?"
"Yep! That is in my pants most of the time. Slightly marinated too."
"Can you just KILL him!? I vouch that HE will NOT come back EVER!"
"Ya do not worry, Sister! I prepare food with the OTHER hand!"
"GRAAAAAAAAH!! D-DIMWIT! SHUT UUUUUP!!"
"Whoa! ...Sit! Eat!"
"Nyaaa... Mmmh... Th-Thanks..."
"What was that, Bro?"
"...You might want to try cooking meat from a Swamp Roughskin, if we come across the creature."
"If YOU say it, then it has to be worth checking out!"
"Ishmaiyel was a picky eater. Mmm-hm-hm-hm. One time it was Astara's task to prepare food. Ishmaiyel categorically refused several ideas."
"Let me guess: Astara got mad, thinking he was doing it on purpose, so she asked him directly, and he made an outlandish request that got her even madder? Gheh."
"...Yes, that about covers it. Mm-hm-hm-ahahaha! Mmh. He proudly requested Swamp Roughskin meat since he was missing it since back home."
"Gahahahaaa! Hear THAT, Sister? That is something you are BETTER at! You can gorge yourself on anything..!"
"SH-SHUT UP, DIMWIT!! I will chomp off your SPINE, and SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS back in its place!! GRAAH!"
"...Na na na! Good kitty! Eat! Here!"
"...Nyaaaa... Mmm."
"...Guys. ...Afterwards, Astara disappeared for half a day, and later came back levitating two dead Swamp Roughskins."
""Whoa! Nice!""
"Mm-hm-hm. Yes, they all had their moments. I can tell you that eating the meat for several days on end only taught me that you cannot get tired of it. That is... why I recommend it. I do not know how rare it is nowadays. That is all."
"Nah, Bro! This is also good stuff!"
"You knew these... important... people, yet you barely speak of what you did."
"Sometimes it is better to arrive to your own conclusions. When the time is right, there will be no surprises."
""...""
"Let's get going then."
"...I am still kinda h-hungry..."
"Maaaan... We gotta stuff another one in your mouth, Sister! ...This time you can choose which one!"
"DIE YOU- GRAAAAAAAH..! DIMWIIIIIIIT!!"
https://youtu.be/rI-PP2sFbgc