Free City, Truce - Fountain
A tiered fountain marks the center of Truce, water gushing from its
summit and trickling into a deep, wide basin, wrapped by a ring of benches.
Roads flow like rivers away from the fountain, and houses sprout like weeds
all around them. Not far to the east, the ocean roars in the harbor.

Crossroads once again found herself at the fountain with a book
borrowed from one of her co-workers. She was grateful to have the
quiet time after everything that was happening. Now that she had spent
some time with Lorastine. A little ‘me’ time was in order.

Unfortunately for Cross, someone had other plans. Kyrk came rolling
right in from the southern road, and stopped the moment he spotted
Crossroads there. "Clairvoyant, there you are. I need to bother you
for a moment of your time." Blunt and to the point, as always.

Crossroads raised her eyebrow. Had this guy ever bothered to learn her
name? Sighing, she placed a bookmark into the book and closed it.
"What do you need it for?"

"Something important, but possibly not so much that it cannot wait. I
figured that maybe I could help you understand a few things about
yourself, that's all." Kyrk seems to casually stand to one side as he
speaks, now fully bringing to light the massive breaker blade strapped
parallel to his body, against his back.

"It isn't something I can tell you about; in this case, actions do
speak louder than words. If you're interested, then please follow me.
The fields will be perfect, so that we do not have to worry about
injuring or upsetting the locals." Kyrk turns without another word,
briskly heading south.

Crossroads stands up. There is a sinking feeling in her stomach as he
mentions injury. She follows him though.

Peaceful Fields of Guardia
The rich fields of the westlands continue on a little ways to the west,
and still farther towards the south. A stream flows alongside the north,
blocked off by a fence. A gentle breeze blows through the luxuriant
meadowlands, causing a rustling wave to spread across the grass. A few
passing birds sing merrily overhead. Also, the main road can be accessed to
the east.

Kyrk stops just inside the fields of Guardia, pondering the region for
a moment before nodding to himself, satisfactorily. He turns after a
moment, addressing Crossroads, whom he assumed to have followed. "I
haven't truly seen what you are capable of, but I have an idea. If
you would be so kind, so that I may be certain..." He trails off,
turning absently and removing his breaker blade from his back, edging
it partially into the dirt.

Crossroads looks around at her surroundings getting a sense of deja
vous. In fact she was feeling something. Like certain things were
lining up. She knew this place. She had seen it before in a vision
that she had been dreading for a long time. And seeing Kyrk take out
his blade confirmed it. She knew what he was doing.

"You are going to take my ability." Crossroads said quietly. She had
seen herself split into three and seen him do so as well. But she
wasn't really sure she liked the idea of giving it to him.

Kyrk looks up, puzzled. "Take your... hm. So it isn't just a fluke.
That clairvoyance of yours is top-notch, isn't it? Fair enough, then.
Let me show you something." As if reading her fear, Kyrk tosses his
weapon in the grass, a few feet away.

He turns, and places a hand at his neck, covering his rose soul gem;
he is encompassed in a soft white light for a moment, emerging from it
with the same detail, minus the cape he tends to wear. Immediately
following, two shadows leap out from him and elongate alongside,
rapidly transforming into exact duplicates of himself; what he's
wearing, doing etc.

All three Kyrks look up at Crossroads, removing their hands from their
respective necks, though only the center Kyrk speaks. "I have taken
nothing from you, nor do I intend to. Why do you distrust me so? I
have done nothing except attempt to help you understand yourself and
your new surroundings as Wishborn."

Crossroads stares at the three Kyrks, her hand clenching tightly. "I
trust you in battle. Is that not enough? Why do you care how I feel
towards you outside of that? " Why the focus on her in particular too?
Was she really the only person who didn't blindly trust him? Or didn't
like some of the things he had done?

"Because if you don't, you're going to wind up dead. Or worse. I'm
doing what -I've- been told, to ensure that you and your comrades are
sharp enough to survive your own trials, since I get the feeling at
least a good portion of you jumped into this thing both-feet-first.
I'm judging from the earlier pulse of your friend's Soul Gem that she
almost didn't make it once already." Kyrk looks levelly at
Crossroads, his tone flat.

"I don't care if you dislike me. I CAN'T care; its part of my curse,
and I'll bear it with no request for sympathy. But if I'm told to do
something, I take my job seriously, and I will do as I'm told. Your
lack of ability to see what is in your best interest will be your
downfall if you don't wise up and just take things as they come, once
in awhile." He drops his gaze, and moves to retrieve his weapon; as
he does, both clones of him vanish into thin air.

"And you thought that talking to me took priority over talking to
her?" Crossroads follows his movements, refusing to take her eyes off
of him. "And what do you mean by you can't?"

"My wish. I can't feel anything, anymore. Not sorrow, not sadness.
Not hope, not joy. I act as the situation demands, and respond as it
changes." He recovers his sword, reattaching it to the strap on his
back, but not turning to face Crossroads. "By the time I realized her
state, you had already reached her. I figured the problem was better
resolved between you and her than her and I. Am I incorrect in this
assumption?"

"If you can't feel, you can't relate. I suppose you are right in
assuming that." And to Crossroads, that sounded like a rather stupid
wish to make. Sure it probably was helpful to have in battle but when
it came to things outside of that... But then again she didn't know
what his reasons were, "Why did you make such a wish?"

Kyrk turns halfway around; something is visible in his eye for a
moment, but it could've been a trick of the sunlight. He looked
almost... remorseful. But nah, he just said it wasn't possible.
"Because I had nothing left. The Witches took everything from me. My
family, my home, my life. Everything was finished in one bloody
massacre. Kyuubey promised me justice, so I took it. I don't claim
to have been any smarter in my desires than anyone else who has ever
taken a wish from him."

"I hunt the witch responsible, and I have not been able to locate her
yet. That is why I fight." Kyrk nods low, his rose-colored irises
searching for something unseen.

There is a brief flicker of interest in Crossroads eyes as she seems
to be turning these thoughts over in her head. There was an
opportunity here, a few actually. She needed only to figure out the
best way to use it. "My trust has to be earned Kyrk. That needs to be
understood. But I think after hearing you tell me this..." Crossroads
pauses lost in thought for a moment "Would you be willing to help me
with something?"

Kyrk looks back over his shoulder, fully. Understandably, his
expression hasn't changed. "This is a turnaround, considering this is
not what I envisioned. What do you require?"

"Don't get me wrong. I still don't think much of you." Crossroads said
with a small shrug, "But seeing now that you have my ability, more
experience in battle than I, and are closer to my size than Tyrranis I
was wondering if you would be willing to help me become better at
fighting."

Kyrk regards Crossroads evenly for a moment, turning to fully face
her. "I don't have anything of yours. What you saw came from someone
else; two of them, actually. My curiosity has risen somewhat,
however, since I now assume you to possess an ability similar to
theirs. This is interesting."

"And that was my intention, to help you understand and possibly evolve
your growing abilities, in whatever way I can offer. But I do not
think this is the right atmosphere; for one thing..." He trails off,
and immediately bolts forward toward Crossroads, bringing one of his
fists back and around to apparently strike her full in the face!
However, -just- before reaching her, whatever her reaction may be to
the proposed assault, he stops, holding his knuckles a scant few
inches from where they might have otherwise struck.

Crossroads saw his attack coming a few moments before it happened, she
also saw that he wasn't intending to connect with his strike so she
didn't bother moving or even reacting. Instead she just stood there
with a small smile as his fist stopped just a few inches from her
face.

Kyrk pulls back, standing up straight. "Exceptional. I take back
what I said, then. You're more prepared and willing than I gave you
credit for, moments ago. Very well then." He backs up a step, and
turns toward the south. "Tomorrow. Right here in this field. I'll
do what I can, if you're truly willing to learn. I have something
else I need to attend to, at the moment; I apologize for this, but the
disagreements between us took more time than I had planned."
"Bring Tyrranis with you, if you feel it warrants better feelings of
your well-being. But I will be here, just the same."

Crossroads nods, "Very well, name your time and I will be here."

Kyrk heads south, not bothering to look back. "I don't need to name a
time. Not for you. You'll know." There is a possibly-coy tone to
his voice, but it could've just been the statement itself.