Tale as Old As Time [Finished]

[accalia]

"If that is the case.... May you receive her protection to the fullest degree..."

Echo comments as he bends once more to his origami. Oddly as Echo extends the oblique blessing a shiver of energy races through  Siegfried. A small rush of burning ice that touches every corner of his being and then fades away once more.

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried shivers, then smiles, settling back in his chair as he reaches out for the aether.

[accalia]

As soon as Siegfried reaches into the Aether Echo's eyes drop closed and he fumbles the fold he was performing. Carefully setting aside the ruined crane Echo begins to fold another complicated shape.

In the Aether Siegfried would be somewhat surprised to see he has appeared inside a circle of his own, It's small, barely three feet across at the widest and appears to be made of the same burning ice energy that had just passed through him. The ring radiates a feeling of protect.

In front of Siegfried is the same fountain he had visited the last time he went looking for Echo. This time Siegfried is standing outside the small circular garden that encompasses the fountain. He can clearly see the Magic circle built into the garden, it's curves and lines being made out of small flowers on the grass. He is standing not far from the incomplete point, it being very obvious because the grass in that sector of the garden is wilted and brown, not dead but clearly barely hanging on to life.

In the very center of the garden, sitting with her feet in the central fountain is a figure of a woman, her exact form blurry and shifting but always clearly a woman. A pale lavender dress hangs on the outstretched arm of the stone cherebum in the fountain, slowly drying.

[yamikuronue]

"Sylphia, I presume?" he asks, gently, not yet moving to walk forward. His mental image of himself is clad in blue, for some reason: a deep blue waistcoat with a light blue paisley pattern on it, well fitting, trim and neat, with dark blue slacks and a white blouse. His hair is tied back with a light blue ribbon, and yet somehow it doesn't look effeminate, just pretty. In the real world, the distinction would be impossible to achieve, but here, it suits him somehow. He seems a bit taller, as well, but it seems to be a posture thing more than an alteration: he is confident, standing on his own two feet instead of hiding behind his Master.

[accalia]

The figure stands and turns to Siegfried, her blurred and shifting form the only thing keeping her modesty.

"I was once she, but that was aeons ago. What brings you to this prison of mine?"

[yamikuronue]

He gives a deep, respectful bow. "My name is Seigfried Roidmet, and I'm here to rescue you."

[accalia]

"If that is the case what course of action do you propose to accomplish that task? Even incomplete as it is i cannot cross the inner circle, let alone the outer. And breaking the circle will... Well if you choose that I would hope you are not attached to the city my unsuspecting warden is currently in."

The shade of Sylphia seems interested, snapping her fingers to cause a fluffy periwinkle dressing gown to cover her body, appearing from nowhere.

[yamikuronue]

He gives a slight sheepish grin. "I was hoping you would have some suggestions." So said, he moves toward the incomplete point, kneeling to examine the grass.

"Well, this looks unfortunate."

[accalia]

"Suggestions? Just one. Complete the circle. It's not active yet so all the power that was imbued in it before my fool of a jailer failed is still bound in it. Complete the circle and let it do its job, it's the only way to release me.... and my husband as well."

[yamikuronue]

"And the circle's job is?" he asks, quietly, running a hand over the tips of the dead foliage.

[accalia]

A shrug from the shade,

"may the goddess bless me if i knew. It's something about life and death and moving between one and the other. Did i mention i was dead at the time this was created? My memories of the creation are not terribly good and you can only read so much by examining an incomplete circle."

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried nods. "It was probably designed to resurrect you... would you be okay with that? Or, if it fails, with becoming truly dead once more?"

[accalia]

"I have lived aeons like this, in this loop, nothing changes, and my warden is unable to even be aware that i am here. I cannot be resurrected, the circle could never do that. If the circle is completed one way we will die, finally free of the cycle. If the circle is completed another way we will not die, but we won't live either... It's another option the circle has... we will be joined to create.... I'm not sure, that part is really hard to read."

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried nods. "But you're alright with whatever happens? I wouldn't want to force you into anything."

[accalia]

She pauses for a moment considering.

"Either way would be preferable to continuing as I am now.... Do it, please, do what is right."