2011-05-20 - Cutscene: Heart of the Sun

EARTH CRADLE ~ HANGER 0234 HOURS

Seril Vaskell, princess of the La Gian kingdom of Helena, stands before the unmoving shape of the Yatagarasu. Given the early hour, the hanger is deserted, leaving the girl alone in the presence of the Godmachine. She stares up at the hulking shape, cheeks red and streaked with tears. Unable to sleep, she'd decided against her better judgement to confront the god within the machine.

"It was you," she says, though there's nobody nearby. Seril's voice is filled with anger, choked with sadness. Her hands, clenched into fists, shake at her sides, "You made me do it." She closes her eyes, bowing her head, "As if what you've been doing to me isn't enough, you made me kill them all!?" She snaps her gaze up, glaring at the dormant Yatagarasu, "I won't forgive you!"

-My Divine Flame.-

The girl's face goes blank with surprise. It's speaking to her. But she's not inside it. Stunned, Seril takes a step back, staring at the godmachine with a mixture of awe and horror. The eyes have opened, glowing faintly gold in the depths of its knightly helmet.

-You have sacrificed much already.- -Would you give up now?- -Would you render all you have lost as meaningless?- -All is justified for a pure world.-

As she listens, Seril bristles with conflicting emotions. Fresh tears well up in her eyes before she squeezes them shut, leaning forward and roaring with all her rage, "I hate you! I hate you! Shut up! I don't care about-!"

-My Divine Flame.- -Allow me to bless you with understanding.-

For just a second, an unimaginable pressure fills Seril's senses, surrounding her with weight and heat. The girl halts mid-tirade, eyes snaping open again. She can feel her heartbeat--No, she can feel the pulse of magic within the Yatagarasu. Slowly, she draws up her shaking hands, staring bleakly into them as realization dawns upon her.

-You need me.-