[-----LOG TAKEN FROM CROSSROADS' PERSPECTIVE-----]

Kyrk is seen heading up the path from the south, apparently in no
hurry. He is without his weapon this time; at least one that is
clearly visible, anyway. His dark cape flutters loosely behind him,
and he leaves the grass flat where he tromps toward a spot in the
fields.

Crossroads was already sitting in the grass waiting for Kyrk to show
up. Despite his suggestion, she did not bring Tyrranis with her nor
did she bother telling the gigantos that she was planning on training
with him.

Kyrk doesn't acknowledge Crossroads publicly as he moves to a location
nearby, stopping as such. He remains silent for a moment, as if
determining the best way to open up upon his arrival. Typically, he
goes for the blunt approach, turning with an inadvertent flip of his
cape. "Alright. We'll start where I intended the last time. I'm
going to assume you're familiar with what I did, in that you have
something similar. Show me."

Crossroads stands up and dusts herself off. She studies him for a
moment then tilts her head to the side, "Before I show you would you
mind satisfying my curiosity? How is it that you are capable of taking
these powers? I mean, do you just need to see it to replicate it?"
Before he can answer, she clutches the gem in her hands and
transforms.

Kyrk thinks for a moment, his rose-colored irises searching for the
best way to put it. "You wished for clairvoyance. Your abilities, to
that extent, are based on or around this clairvoyance. In short, you
asked to be given something, as your wish. What do you supposed
happens to someone who asks not for something, but to be relieved of
something? With no unique power to base myself on, this was the
result: everyone else's." He pauses for a moment considering.

"Visual reference is all I usually require. Think of it as a storage
device in my brain that copies data from each Wishborn ability I
witness. I am able to recall them later as I see fit, though the
capabilities of them are nowhere near the strength of those they
belong, or once belonged, to." Kyrk gives a small nod.

Crossroads nods. So if he couldn't see it, he couldn't use it. That
was good information to have... Just in case. Though it wasn't going
to be of any use to her at this moment. Crossroads closes her eyes and
starts digging through each of the timelines for another self she can
use. Eventually she pulls one forward, taking a step back to give her
a place to stand.

The other Crossroads looks thoughtful, "So then would you be able to
use any other abilities someone might have? Or would you have to see
them as well."

"If I don't see them, as far as I'm concerned, they don't exist. That
is generally how it works." Kyrk looks pointedly at the Crossroads
behind the one now brought forth, his expression somewhat narrow.
"These questions have the air of someone assuming me to be on an
assassination mission. I'm not sure I appreciate it."

"Is there a reason I should be assuming something like that?" The
Crossroads behind the first one raises her eyebrow and steps to the
side so that she might look at Kyrk, "I'll admit the question has been
on my mind. Your powers are... Unusual compared to the rest of us.
Your wish too. Please don't make the mistake of thinking I was the one
actually asking though." Crossroads looks at her other self who just
smiles and shrugs before fading away. "Besides, you are always free to
refuse to answer something if you are worried."

"Not everybody needs something more than what they have to attain
happiness. Selfish motives were not on my mind when I took Kyuubey's
offer, unlike so many others that now lie buried under the dirt."
Kyrk's tone becomes slightly edged, as if he were taking Crossroad's
tone as a mocking one. "Don't judge me because I'm different. You
spend several years seeing people die, destroying previous allies, and
see if it doesn't harden you somewhat, too."

Kyrk places a hand on his forehead, closing his eyes for a moment,
before looking back at you. "I didn't come here to squabble over our
differences. That power you utilized, just now. How is it related to
your clairvoyance?"

"I never said it was a bad thing, Kyrk. Nor was I judging you by it."
Crossroads sighs and shakes her head, "Anyway, the power is basically
drawing myself from an alternate timeline based on a decisions I make.
For example, there are many choices in how I can present this example
to you. Should I curtsey? Should I shake your hand? Or should I just
stand here sticking my tongue out at you?"

Crossroads pulls two more of herself forward. One steps to the side
and curtsies to Kyrk, the other steps forward and offers her hand to
him. The original self simply stands there with her tongue sticking
out at him and smiling.

"It only works for the decisions you have presently though. I can't go
back in time. And I can't pull in a version of me that has not been
standing here at this spot at this time." Crossroads says, "As for how
long they last, it depends on two factors. How much power is used in
holding them here, and if their own timeline changes too drastically
from this one. Of course I could also dismiss them."

Kyrk inclines his head, taking in this information. "So it's all the
same person, but at different points in time and space. Yes, I see.
Then we should be able to mutualise with this. I have something
similar to yours, and I think I can help you endeavor to manage this
power of yours to become like another of mine. It's only a matter of
where you are, and where you want to be. The rest is all in your
focus." He looks up again, thoughtfully.

"Tell me. When you perform this way, are you bound to return to the
original "you", each time? I would like to see if we can't change
that." Kyrk steps forward a single plod.

The three Crossroads watch him take a step forward, " There is only
one original me who is bound to this current timeline because that is
where I belong. I think of the others as just being borrowed."
Crossroads says, "Do you mean to say I can take up the timeline of
another self?"

"I believe this is possible. Since all of these..." Kyrk gestures
to, well, all of you. "...Are you, you are all still the same person.
Thus, you are connected by soul, and you should be able to transfer
your consciousness to one of theirs, taking their place. This
effectively puts you in their position at that point in their
timeline, while remaining here, in your original timeline.
Essentially, all you are doing is shifting your position through time
and space to somewhere else that could potentially have occurred.
This technically breaks the laws of physics in the sense that you
can't be in two places at one time without being in two different
dimensions. But if you focus and will yourself to become a
"different" you, I don't see why your power will not allow it." Kyrk
winds his speech down, looking something like an accomplished
professor.

All the Crossroads look at each other contemplating how this could be
done. "If that is the case, Then I could be any of the other two here
at any given moment? I only need to transfer my consciousness?"
Something about that seemed like it would be helpful in fighting, but
still it sounded kind of risky. She wasn't sure she really like the
idea of losing her who her real, original self was.

Kyrk looks comfortable with the idea. Maybe, though, because it isn't
him doing it? "You should, yes. You see, the key factor here is that
this is all you. Al of "you" are "you"; you're not anyone else. It
doesn't matter if you're this one." He points at one Crossroads. "Or
this one." He points at another. "Or this one." He points at the
third Crossroads. "You all share the same consciousness, the same
heart beats in your chests."

Kyrk says 'All you're doing is changing one's consciousness, or
experience, from one to another. You remain the same person, but in a
different place in space and time. If you have to, think of it as...
teleportation, using yourself as a vessel for transfer. But nothing
should be lost in the process.'

All three Crossroads look at each other nervously, then close their
eyes. Crossroads takes a moment to sort everything out. The other two
there felt like separate entities acting upon their own free will
after she pulled them forward for their decisions. All her still her
though. She had the ability to be any one of them. She tried to
mentally shove one aside, sliding her consciousness into that body. Or
maybe it was already her body? Maybe she hadn't transferred at all.
She opens her eyes, as does the other two, however this time she is
seeing Kyrk from a different perspective.

"So... What would happen then if any one of us died?" Crossroads chews
on her lip thinking about the possibility, her eyes falling upon
herself... her last self. The one who she still considered the
original.

Kyrk notes Crossroads' uncertainty, but doesn't look phased, himself.
He probably knew she could do it. "It probably only feels like the
other two that you aren't looking out from aren't you, because you can
only ever see out of one pair of eyes. But once you accept the fact
that you're all one and the same entity, it should become less
disconcerting. You're merely switching places with an "alternate"
you, to a "current" you, and assuming their spot in space and time.
However, I don't know if I can answer your question. In theory, since
there you three of you, if one is killed, that still leaves two
remaining. It will probably feel awkward if the original is killed, I
would think, but if they are made of flesh and blood, unlike my
ability is, you essentially become three lives instead of one. It
wouldn't be a matter of killing one to destroy the others, I don't
think." Kyrk seems, at the very least, interested in this theory.
Maybe too interested.
'
Crossroads stares at Kyrk uncomfortably. Yes, all three were made of
flesh and blood. All three had her powers, her abilities, her soul
gem. "I am not too sure I like this." She admitted.

Kyrk gestures. "Nobody can force you to use it. I only thought it
might be helpful. In fact, I believe that if you practice enough, you
can switch places with "yourself" without even bringing that "self" to
manifest. If you can envision an alternate timeline and where you are
in that timeline, you should be able to eventually place your
consciousness there right away, without needing to bring about a
"copy" of yourself first. Like I said, though, with practice. That
is a big step."

Kyrk says 'This might be preferable to you, actually, if you are
nervous about multiple versions of "you" being around at the same
time. If you learn to do it the way I mentioned just now, you would
only ever need one of "you" out at a time.'

Crossroads shuddered, placing a hand on her soul gem. It gave her
something to work towards but at the same time... "Yes, I suppose your
theory is sound." She said at last.

Kyrk shrugs indifferently. "I do this for a living, when I am not
fighting. I have a laboratory near Viorar, so I am well-versed in
these concepts. I would not be trying to explain them to you if I
didn't understand them well enough myself."

Crossroads dismisses her other two selves and they fade away as though
they were nothing more than ghosts. She looks at Kyrk and smiles a
little. It looked as though she at least had one small thing in common
with this guy. "Near Viorar, huh? I was living there until recently."

Kyrk averts his gaze, intentionally. "I try to avoid people when I
can. I don't fit in with the rest of them anymore because of what's
happened. I can help them from afar, and that's good enough for me."
He looks up after a moment. "I have companions that I work together
with on that side, from time to time, even if they are a bit rowdy.
And of late, I have been helping you and yours."

Kyrk says 'Though from what I'm beginning to see, you may not need my
help much longer. I believe you'll soon be fully capable without
needing me to lurk in the shadows as insurance. I just don't want to
see any others die, when they could have been saved.'
Kyrk furrows his brow for a moment; something seems to be bothering
him, but his face is having a difficult time figuring out how to
express it. Instead, it just reverts to a blank slate of
straightforwardness.

Saved? That was kind of amusing. If anything he was just prolonging
the inevitable. All of them die, or they become witches. There were no
other options. "I am sure it would be good to keep you around if we
need a hand though." Crossroads said with a smile, but upon noticing
his expression it fades away, "Something on your mind?"

"Just the past. It's always there, no matter how hard you try to tune
it out." Kyrk looks toward Truce for a moment. "You know, the people
you meet will always have an effect on you, regardless of whether you
approve or disapprove of their actions. It's hard to believe in an
absolute truth when so many people have conflicting opinions of what
is 'right' and what isn't."

Kyrk looks back at Crossroads, calmly. "You did not approve of my
handling the inert Wishborn as I did. This much is certain. At this
time, I apologize for your grief, as I would think that there is a
reason that only you can understand that would drive you to consider
my choice 'wrong' in how it was handled."

Kyrk says 'Nevertheless, I ask that you keep an open mind in regards
to us all. We fight on the same team and toward the same goal, but
our methods will always be different. I am not quick to slay unless
there are no other options; in doing so, I only hope to avert the
possibility of more death."'

"I still do not agree with what you did. And I am surprised that you
would talk about people affecting others at the same time." Crossroads
voice is calm, not harsh, "You couldn't know what she would have done
with her life until she came to her end. Back where I came from..."
Crossroads looked down, shifting her foot a little, "I was born to die
when I turned 15 and for a long time I believed it would save others.
But... I still had all those years of living. I thought the best thing
I could do with my time was live my life with the hope that I would be
able to impact others in some small way." Crossroads should her head.
Even now she didn't want to talk about it.

Kyrk inclines his head, thinking on the matter for a moment. "The
difference here is that you still felt like you wanted to help others.
I don't know if this means you were resigned to your fate, but you
still had the notion of living life with what was handed to you. The
Wishborn did not. She had given up, as was obvious by the fact that
neither Tyrranis nor I could persuade her to keep fighting. What
would have happened and where would you be now, had you simply thrown
in the towel? Would you be here, fighting alongside us? You're
bettering yourself more than I think you realize. You can blame
Kyuubey or me for everything that's happened and all the despair
you've witnessed. But in the end, you're fighting to protect them."
Kyrk gestures broadly away from himself. "And you're fighting to
protect each other. Those you care about, and maybe, grudgingly,
those you don't. And in the end, we will die. But you were going to
die anyway, weren't you? Now look at you. Look at what you can do.
Look at what you've become. Is this not more than you ever expected,
in your previous life?" Kyrk pauses, looking toward Truce again.
"There will be injustice. People will die. Not all the choices we
make will seem right to each other. But in the end, we have to
believe we did the right thing, for the right reasons. This is
responsibility. For who we are."

"Tell me then Kyrk, if she had so completely thrown in the towel and
given up on living and If you had told her that you planned to destroy
that gem of hers, would she have done it?" Crossroads had seen Lenai
refuse to hand it over too him and him resorting to force. Although
that had all changed she had still seen what would have happened if
that route had been taken. "If you think she would have you must
wonder why she reacted in the manner that she did. If you think she
wouldn't have, then why not if she had given up on it entirely?"

Crossroads shakes her head, "I agree with you in some things, but take
away all the powers and the fighting and I am still marching to my
death just as I was. The only difference this time is that it was my
own mistake that put me in this spot. I have to accept it. As long as
I am alive I can have some impact. Anyone can in fact. Even without
them realizing it.

"What it all boils down to I guess is that you never truely know,"
Crossroads smiles a bit, "I mean, you aren't psychic are you?"

Kyrk is unphased as he looks from Truce to Crossroads again. He is
quiet for a long, long time, before he speaks. "If you have the power
to change the future, and you don't, does that make the effects of the
future responsible for itself? Or is it your fault for being able to
do something and refusing to?"

Kyrk looks at Crossroads evenly. Something in his rose irises
indicates that he's not asking out of curiosity.

Crossroads lowers her eyes. Was Kyrk trying to imply that what had
happened back then was also her fault because she knew and had not
acted? She had contemplated this before. Lenai had handed the gem over
freely by her own choice. The future she had seen changed, but she had
not checked into what the new future would have brought. Should she
have? She probably would not have had the time.

Kyrk closes his eyes for a moment, and when they open again, his
expression softens somewhat. "What I'm saying is that, sometimes, we
have to be responsible for our own decisions. We can't expect someone
to be watching us all the time, waiting to save us when we falter.
She had to accept the consequences for her actions, whether anyone
could have protected her or not, Crossroads. I refuse to believe that
she did not take that wish from Kyuubey for the sole purpose of greed
and selfishness; she had no intention of fighting anything for it.
She thought she was going to get a free ride." Kyrk sighs, in slight
exasperation. "We can't afford to have sloth in our ranks. It will
just become another Witch to fight further down the road. It always
has been."

Crossroads didn't think it would be a good idea to mention that she
had a person in a similar position living in her house. "I suppose you
are right. But I still believe that your actions were a bit too
hasty."

Kyrk softens his stance somewhat, hooking his thumb into a pocket
corner. "You'll understand, someday. I'm sure of it. You're not
going to die tomorrow, after all."

Didn't they all have potential to become threats then? Crossroads
folded her arms thinking that she had a lot to think over. Kyrk was
right in some things, but she still didn't believe he was right in
everything. They could probably go on like this until sunset. Instead
of doing that however she changed the subject, "Anything else we need
to cover for this lesson today? Or was the switching consciousness
all?"

Kyrk stands up straight. "That should suffice for now. I'm sure
there's more I can help you learn, but I wouldn't want to fill it all
in at once. Oh, but there is one thing." He steps forward, holding
out his hand. "May I see your Soul Gem?"

Crossroads looks down at his hand then back up at Kyrk. This question
coming after having just discussed him crushing Lenai's soul gem did
not add to the comfort. Still, there seemed no logical reason for her
not to give it to him. He didn't have any reason to kill her. She
undid the claps on her necklace and put it in his hand, looking
uncomfortably at him as she did.

Kyrk holds up Crossroads' Soul Gem, studying it briefly. "Not too
bad, actually. Still, it's best to always be at the peak." He lowers
her Gem, and produces his own Rose egg from a pocket somewhere,
connecting the two pieces of jewelry together; there is a subtle
pulse of light that encompasses the two, and when it fades, what
little corruption that had been in Crossroads' Gem is gone,
transferred to Kyrk's own.

Following this action, Kyrk grimaces with an obvious wince, but
regains his composure after a moment, offering you her Soul Gem back.
"Always good to... make sure."

Crossroads blinks, "You just took my... But how? I thought you needed
a grief seed?" Then noticing his reaction she reached for him, "Hey!
A-are you okay?"

Kyrk nods somewhat, standing up straight and shaking his head. "I'll
be fine. It just hurts a bit, each time. Willingly accepting
corruption tends to have that affect on you." He offers a small
smirk, devoid of any real feeling. "Don't worry about me. Just do
what you need to do, and stay alive so that our paths will cross
sometime again. Until then."

Kyrk turns, and begins heading back toward the south. His smirk
remained, however, for whatever reason.