Daybreak:Volume 3 Chapter 9 - Revision history

Aorii at 14:03, 6 April 2017

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Aorii at 14:02, 6 April 2017

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Aorii at 13:59, 6 April 2017

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Aorii at 08:52, 19 July 2016

2016-07-19T08:52:59Z

Aorii at 22:15, 17 July 2016

2016-07-17T22:15:34Z

Aorii at 14:15, 1 July 2016

2016-07-01T14:15:26Z

Aorii: Created page with "===Chapter 9 - Fundamental Bias=== Kaede grasped the door frame as she limped out from the Princess' cabin. Her legs still felt like sticks of jelly. The lingering pain had l..."

2016-05-05T16:33:26Z

Created page with "===Chapter 9 - Fundamental Bias=== Kaede grasped the door frame as she limped out from the Princess' cabin. Her legs still felt like sticks of jelly. The lingering pain had l..."

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← Older revision		Revision as of 08:52, 19 July 2016
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	Sure, Kaede was still scared. Yes, she still felt bitter and sullen. But in the face of such emotional misery, it had been impossible for her not to feel sorrow and pity in return.		Sure, Kaede was still scared. Yes, she still felt bitter and sullen. But in the face of such emotional misery, it had been impossible for her not to feel sorrow and pity in return.

	~~In the end, they were both victims of circumstance.~~

	The barriers crumbled one at a time. Before long, Kaede found herself hugging Sylviane back. Hesitantly at first, but with soft, reassuring whispers as the night went on.		The barriers crumbled one at a time. Before long, Kaede found herself hugging Sylviane back. Hesitantly at first, but with soft, reassuring whispers as the night went on.
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	...Though to be honest, both the situation and the posture had grown rather uncomfortable over time. Kaede was certainly glad when Lady Mari returned in the morning.		...Though to be honest, both the situation and the posture had grown rather uncomfortable over time. Kaede was certainly glad when Lady Mari returned in the morning.

	''~~It was definitely~~ a 'unique' bonding experience...'' she concluded.		''Definitely a 'unique' bonding experience...'' she concluded.

	Kaede could forgive the Princess this time. After all, Sylviane was truly sorry for it, no permanent damage had been done, and her own legs would recover in a day or two. As far as punishments went, the Princess certainly could have done far worse: being told to kneel for hours was closer to the disciplining of an old-fashioned Japanese schoolteacher than vindictive royalty.		Kaede could forgive the Princess this time. After all, Sylviane was truly sorry for it, no permanent damage had been done, and her own legs would recover in a day or two. As far as punishments went, the Princess certainly could have done far worse: being told to kneel for hours was closer to the disciplining of an old-fashioned Japanese schoolteacher than vindictive royalty.
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	"You could say they're pioneers in the field. In fact, they were the ones who coined the terms 'anxiety disorder' and 'mood disorder' to separate behaviors like panic attacks from the more common problems we see in everyday life -- like mania and depression."		"You could say they're pioneers in the field. In fact, they were the ones who coined the terms 'anxiety disorder' and 'mood disorder' to separate behaviors like panic attacks from the more common problems we see in everyday life -- like mania and depression."

	"Why did you become a royal armiger if both of your parents are healers?" Kaede puzzled ~~aloud~~. "It's obvious that you're interested in their line of work."		"Why did you become a royal armiger if both of your parents are healers?" Kaede puzzled. "It's obvious that you're interested in their line of work."

	"Well..." Robert scratched his cheek~~, a little unsure of how to put it into words himself~~.		"Well..." Robert scratched his cheek.

	"You see, I wanted to be a healer ~~as well~~. I mean, like most boys, I wanted to be like my father. I wanted to be like them, to help others and see the gratitude in my patients' smiles. But my parents? They wanted me to be a royal attendant... They told me that it was a rare opportunity -- since they had become ~~well~~ acquainted with the Emperor thanks to his interest in their work. They said that if I truly wanted to help other people, this was the better way."		"You see, I had wanted to be a healer. I mean, like most boys, I wanted to be like my father. I wanted to be like them, to help others and see the gratitude in my patients' smiles. But my parents? They wanted me to be a royal attendant... They told me that it was a rare opportunity, since they had become acquainted with the Emperor thanks to his interest in their work. They said that if I truly wanted to help other people, this was the better way."

	''Of course,'' Kaede nodded. ''The difference in scale was just incomparable.''		''Of course,'' Kaede nodded. ''The difference in scale was just incomparable.''
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	Meanwhile, Robert took a deep breath as he leaned back against the yew tree.		Meanwhile, Robert took a deep breath as he leaned back against the yew tree.

	"But you know, I was a child back then -- I could only see the results that were in front of me. So one day when I was ten, papa decided he had enough of my pestering to become a healer~~. He~~ chose settle the matter once and for all ~~and took me to the neighboring farm~~."		"But you know, I was a child back then -- I could only see the results that were in front of me. So one day when I was ten, papa decided he had enough of my pestering to become a healer, and chose settle the matter once and for all."

	~~Sir Robert's countenance soon clouded as he sat down besides Kaede and stared into the sky.~~

	~~It seemed~~ as ~~though~~ he ~~was reliving memories of that very day~~.		His countenance clouded as he sat down besides Kaede and stared into the sky.

	"~~You see, I loved animals as a child.~~ I ~~would sneak off to that farm all the time to watch the horses and play with the dogs. There weren~~'t ~~other~~ children ~~my age~~ nearby ~~so they were~~... ~~sort of my~~ friends. ~~Then~~ on that day, papa asked me to pick ~~the mare that was~~ my favorite... ~~and~~ I ~~did~~..."		"I didn't grow up with many children nearby. So the animals of our elderly neighbor's farm sort of... became the friends I watched or played with. But on that day, papa told me that we could adopt one of their dogs as our own. He asked me to pick my favorite... so I called Carly out..."

	Even now, there was still a sense of lingering guilt as his vivid-green eyes darkened:		Even now, there was still a sense of lingering guilt as his vivid-green eyes darkened.

	"He struck her down with a cutting spell right in front of me."		"He struck her down with a cutting spell right in front of me."
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	One thing was clear: for all the dedication his parents poured into researching the effects of trauma, they did not hesitate to inflict one upon their own son.		One thing was clear: for all the dedication his parents poured into researching the effects of trauma, they did not hesitate to inflict one upon their own son.

	"''I was appalled,''" his breathing hastened as ~~outrage~~ flashed across his eyes. "I screamed at papa ~~right there~~. But there he was, just calmly watching ~~as the mare thrashed~~ and ~~shrieked in~~ her ~~dying breaths~~. There was blood all over ~~him~~, but he paid it no mind and ~~just~~ looked at me with the coldest eyes I had ever seen in him. He ~~told~~ me ~~that we~~'~~d have a contest -- maybe not immediately, maybe years later when I could train and perfect myself -- but he~~'~~d challenge me eventually~~: that ~~he could slay the animals~~ of ~~the farm much, much faster than I could heal~~ them."		"''I was appalled,''" his breathing hastened as outraged memories flashed across his eyes. "I screamed at papa, pleaded for him to heal her. But there he was, just calmly watching her thrash and whimper her life away. There was blood all over, but he paid it no mind and looked at me with the coldest eyes I had ever seen in him. He asked me which could be done faster, ''easier'': to kill them all, one by one just like that, or to save even one of them from death."

	''...Just as a prince could kill faster than any healer could save,'' Kaede thought.		''...Just as a prince could kill men faster than any healer could save.'' Kaede thought.

	Robert sighed once again before ~~half-snorting~~ at himself:		Robert sighed once again before simpering at himself:

	"I ~~knew I didn't stand a chance~~."		"I never did forgive him for that."

	"That... must have been a difficult ~~experience~~," Kaede's wispy voice barely made out.		"That... must have been difficult," Kaede's wispy voice barely made out.

	"It certainly changed me, changed how I looked at everything," he admitted. "It also made me realize that the world... was just really unfair. That becoming an adult means to accept reality for what it is, and not what it should be."		"It certainly changed me, changed how I looked at everything," he admitted. "It also made me realize that the world... was just really unfair. That becoming an adult means to accept reality for what it is, and not what it should be."
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	"Because you can harm others faster than you can help them?"		"Because you can harm others faster than you can help them?"

	"Well... yes," he gave a tilted nod. "~~And~~ the fact that the Knight Hospitallers -- the only institution in Rhin-Lotharingie that offers training in both arts at the same time -- doesn't accept any men."		"Well... yes," he gave a tilted nod. "Also the fact that the Knight Hospitallers -- the only institution in Rhin-Lotharingie that offers training in both arts at the same time -- doesn't accept any men."

	"~~You're joking~~--Ouch!"		"But--Ouch!"

	Kaede's attention swiveled back to Pascal as his healing spell finished with an electrifying shock.		Kaede's attention swiveled back to Pascal as his healing spell finished with an electrifying shock.
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	"The shock is part of the healing spell though," Pascal puzzled back.		"The shock is part of the healing spell though," Pascal puzzled back.

	Recognizing that her cause was 'lost in translation', Kaede ~~looked~~ to Sir Robert for a third opinion.		Recognizing that her cause was 'lost in translation', Kaede turned to Sir Robert for a third opinion.

	"Well don't look to me," he replied. "I thought His Grace picked the right spell... but I'm no professional healer."		"Well don't look to me," he replied. "I thought His Grace picked the right spell... but I'm no professional healer."
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	"You say that as though I chose this life," Kaede mumbled in retort.		"You say that as though I chose this life," Kaede mumbled in retort.

	"Neither did I," Robert half-shrugged as he looked back ~~with a~~ peaceful ~~smile~~. "~~I just didn~~'t ~~run away from it~~."		"Neither did I," Robert half-shrugged as he looked back, peaceful. "Those who stay among aristocratic connections don't choose. We're simply given a role to play."

	He then took ~~the first~~ step away, halted, and ~~then~~ swiveled right back around to stare at her again:		He then took a step away, halted, and swiveled right back around to stare at her again:

	"By the way, is it true that you were a young man before being summoned?"		"By the way, is it true that you were a young man before being summoned?"
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	"You know -- I'm kind of envious."		"You know -- I'm kind of envious."

	With that, the young armiger turned away once more and walked off, leaving Kaede with her mouth ~~gaping~~ in astonishment.		With that, the young armiger turned away once more and walked off, leaving Kaede with her mouth hanging in astonishment.

	''What is there to be envious about me? or does the psychiatrist himself needs psychological help?''		''What is there to be envious about? or does the psychiatrist himself needs psychological help?''

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:15, 17 July 2016
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	"''Air Cushion!''"		"''Air Cushion!''"

	The distant spell came just in time. The air condensed beneath her, breaking her fall as though a giant, deflating balloon ~~and allowing a soft landing on both hands~~.		The distant spell came just in time. The air condensed beneath her, breaking her fall as though a giant, deflating balloon.

	"Kaede, are you alright?" Pascal called out as he and Sir Robert rushed up to help her stand.		"Kaede, are you alright?" Pascal called out as he and Sir Robert rushed up to help her stand.
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	But emotionally speaking, she was still struggling to persist that forgiveness.		But emotionally speaking, she was still struggling to persist that forgiveness.

	It wasn't exactly easy when she couldn't even walk by herself~~, thanks to the events of yesterday~~.		It wasn't exactly easy when she couldn't even walk by herself.

	''Besides... what about the next time?'' she worried.		''Besides... what about the next time?'' she worried.
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	''Of course,'' Kaede reflected. ''Not only do Hyperion mages live much longer, but magic can bring a level of destructive savagery onto the battlefield unseen on Earth until the late industrial age...''		''Of course,'' Kaede reflected. ''Not only do Hyperion mages live much longer, but magic can bring a level of destructive savagery onto the battlefield unseen on Earth until the late industrial age...''

	Robert then offered her a wry smile. He wasn't instantly rebounding from his earlier moment of depression, but there was still a shadow of his usual cheery self as he explained with a personal passion.		Robert then offered her a wry smile. He wasn't instantly rebounding from his earlier moment of depression, but there was still a shadow of his usual cheery self as he explained with a personal passion:

	"You could say they're pioneers in the field~~," he continued~~. "In fact, they were the ones who coined the terms 'anxiety disorder' and 'mood disorder' to separate behaviors like panic attacks from the more common problems we see in everyday life -- like mania and depression."		"You could say they're pioneers in the field. In fact, they were the ones who coined the terms 'anxiety disorder' and 'mood disorder' to separate behaviors like panic attacks from the more common problems we see in everyday life -- like mania and depression."

	"Why did you become a royal armiger if both of your parents are healers?" Kaede puzzled aloud. "It's obvious that you'~~ve taken a personal interest~~ in their line of work."		"Why did you become a royal armiger if both of your parents are healers?" Kaede puzzled aloud. "It's obvious that you're interested in their line of work."

	"Well..." Robert scratched his cheek, a little unsure of how to put it into words himself.		"Well..." Robert scratched his cheek, a little unsure of how to put it into words himself.
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	Instead of answering Kaede, Robert pulled open one of his extradimensional belt pouches and reached into it. What came out was a stack of papers that he handed to Pascal:		Instead of answering Kaede, Robert pulled open one of his extradimensional belt pouches and reached into it. What came out was a stack of papers that he handed to Pascal:

	"~~Before I forget --~~ Her Highness wanted these done today... or at least as soon as possible. Though I would suggest you discuss them with the senior lords and commanders first. Unlike Weichsel, the Rhin-Lotharingie military is still feudal; the various dukes have authority over their fiefdoms' battalions. It would be best if we snubbed as few prominent noses as possible."		"Speaking of which, Her Highness wanted these done today... or at least as soon as possible. Though I would suggest you discuss them with the senior lords and commanders first. Unlike Weichsel, the Rhin-Lotharingie military is still feudal; the various dukes have authority over their fiefdoms' battalions. It would be best if we snubbed as few prominent noses as possible."

	"I know that," Pascal added irritably as he began to flip through them.		"I know that," Pascal added irritably as he began to flip through them.
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	"Last night?" Pascal's jaw dropped. "She had but a few hours! It would take even a headquarters staff -- an entire team of people multiple ''days'' to examine the hundreds of personnel available and make such proposals!"		"Last night?" Pascal's jaw dropped. "She had but a few hours! It would take even a headquarters staff -- an entire team of people multiple ''days'' to examine the hundreds of personnel available and make such proposals!"

	"Like I said: straight to her head," the royal armiger reiterated. "I dare say that her brain ~~might work~~ even faster than yours when she is in one of these energized states."		"Like I said: straight to her head," the royal armiger reiterated. "I dare say that her brain works even faster than yours when she is in one of these energized states."

	"So these 'hypomania' episodes give her a boost to intelligence?" Kaede pondered aloud.		"So these 'hypomania' episodes give her a boost to intelligence?" Kaede pondered aloud.
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	Pascal had barely said another sentence before departing, only claiming that he had best start the reorganization process ~~as soon as possible~~. Although before he left, he told Kaede that he would drop by the field kitchens and tell the maid Marina to come take care of her lady today.		Pascal had barely said another sentence before departing, only claiming that he had best start the reorganization process immediately. Although before he left, he told Kaede that he would drop by the field kitchens and tell the maid Marina to come take care of her lady today.

	Perhaps not surprising for a trained spy, Marina was multilingual and even had a native Lotharin accent. Combined with her servant status which had most people ignore her as part of the background, it made her the perfect candidate for discretely gathering information from the Lotharin forces -- especially the officers' tables as they shared meals and alcohol.		Perhaps not surprising for a trained spy, Marina was multilingual and even had a native Lotharin accent. Combined with her servant status which had most people ignore her as part of the background, it made her the perfect candidate for discretely gathering information from the Lotharin forces -- especially the officers' tables as they shared meals and alcohol.
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	"Mother..." Edith returned a calming smile. "I don't mind. I really don't. We all know that I am by far the least experienced of the front commanders..."		"Mother..." Edith returned a calming smile. "I don't mind. I really don't. We all know that I am by far the least experienced of the front commanders..."

	"--As if that pretentious, insolent brat has any more experience than you do," the Mother Abbess scoffed. "At least you've had practice commanding a border garrison for the past ~~half~~ decade."		"--As if that pretentious, insolent brat has any more experience than you do," the Mother Abbess scoffed. "At least you've had practice commanding a border garrison for the past decade."

	"Nevertheless," the saint patiently added, "if the Holy Father has sent Her Highness, then her fiancé is just as much a part of his plans. After all, His Grace is the prodigal son of the famous Marshal of Weichsel. If our Lord wishes to make use of his talents to aid our country in repelling the ~~heathens~~, then whom are we to say no?"		"Nevertheless," the saint patiently added, "if the Holy Father has sent Her Highness, then her fiancé is just as much a part of his plans. After all, His Grace is the prodigal son of the famous Marshal of Weichsel. If our Lord wishes to make use of his talents to aid our country in repelling the infidels, then whom are we to say no?"

	But Anne wasn't convinced in the slightest:		But Anne wasn't convinced in the slightest:
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	Feeling uneasy, Edith had opened her lips again to counter, only to halt when the Mother Abbess stopped her with a raised hand.		Feeling uneasy, Edith had opened her lips again to counter, only to halt when the Mother Abbess stopped her with a raised hand.

	"You were not there at the meeting yesterday," Anne's sad tone rang with disappointment. An agitation fueled by disillusion soon began working its way in: "you did not hear how she callously advocated that we forsake our vows and abandon the innocent. You did not see how she lashed out at the officers for bravely making our stand; how she raved with the fury of one possessed! She even stated that we should have just retreated -- turned our backs upon helpless women and children! -- while those immoral ~~heathens~~ overran the main refugee column."		"You were not there at the meeting yesterday," Anne's sad tone rang with disappointment. An agitation fueled by disillusion soon began working its way in: "you did not hear how she callously advocated that we forsake our vows and abandon the innocent. You did not see how she lashed out at the officers for bravely making our stand; how she raved with the fury of one possessed! She even stated that we should have just retreated -- turned our backs upon helpless women and children! -- while those immoral disbelievers overran the main refugee column."

	"--Why? Why would she say such things, if she was truly the chosen of our Lord?" Anne exclaimed. "No virtuous woman would speak such blasphemy! Unless, of course, she was not sent by the Holy Father, but by the Devil to trick and deceive us, to tempt us into damnation instead!"		"--Why? Why would she say such things, if she was truly the chosen of our Lord?" Anne exclaimed. "No virtuous woman would speak such blasphemy! Unless, of course, she was not sent by the Holy Father, but by the Devil to trick and deceive us, to tempt us into damnation instead!"
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	With a deep breath, Edith returned an uncertain gaze.		With a deep breath, Edith returned an uncertain gaze.

	To her dying day, she doubted she could forget that moment when Princess Sylviane's white-blue hew soared in from the horizon. When all hope seemed lost, when forty thousand Lotharins found themselves in the noose of ~~heathen~~ cavalry, the ''Cerulean Princess'' had descended like the light of heavens to save the day.		To her dying day, she doubted she could forget that moment when Princess Sylviane's white-blue hew soared in from the horizon. When all hope seemed lost, when forty thousand Lotharins found themselves in the noose of Cataliyan cavalry, the ''Cerulean Princess'' had descended like the light of heavens to save the day.

	It seemed too perfect, too beautiful not to be the work of the Holy Father.		It seemed too perfect, too beautiful not to be the work of the Holy Father.
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	"That is because the Imperium is decadent and sinful," Anne stated.		"That is because the Imperium is decadent and sinful," Anne stated.

	"But surely, it is still better for the people to be educated in the true words of our Lord?" Edith thought aloud. "Even if the state is sinful and most of its people corrupt, would it not still be better than ~~a heathen religious~~ empire that sought to lead ''everyone'' astray?"		"But surely, it is still better for the people to be educated in the true words of our Lord?" Edith thought aloud. "Even if the state is sinful and most of its people corrupt, would it not still be better than an empire of false religion that sought to lead ''everyone'' astray?"

	This time, even the Mother Abbess could not answer.		This time, even the Mother Abbess could not answer.
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	"However, mother, you are also right: the Holy Father would never love someone who gladly abandons the innocent. Thus," she added with increasing discomfort, "we must also prepare ourselves for the worst possibility -- that she is indeed tainted by evil, and therefore unworthy of the throne."		"However, mother, you are also right: the Holy Father would never love someone who gladly abandons the innocent. Thus," she added with increasing discomfort, "we must also prepare ourselves for the worst possibility -- that she is indeed tainted by evil, and therefore unworthy of the throne."

			''...Just like that kingslayer and kinslayer Gabriel.''

	Staring at the subordinate who was also her foster mother, Edith declared her intent as the road forked before them:		Staring at the subordinate who was also her foster mother, Edith declared her intent as the road forked before them:

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:15, 1 July 2016
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	"--Not to mention her 'hypomania' are a milder form of the bipolar 'mania' episodes -- ones where we could still talk her out of some poorly influenced decisions," Robert finished with a grave stare. "'True bipolarity' is utterly crippling."		"--Not to mention her 'hypomania' are a milder form of the bipolar 'mania' episodes -- ones where we could still talk her out of some poorly influenced decisions," Robert finished with a grave stare. "'True bipolarity' is utterly crippling."

			The fact they had such precise, clinical terminology for psychological disorders was yet another sign of just how advanced Hyperion medical sciences were. It reminded Kaede of how much she grossly oversimplified a complex reality every time she slapped the label of 'pre-industrial society' upon this world.

	"I take it that your father is some kind of expert in this field then?"		"I take it that your father is some kind of expert in this field then?"

	"As close as it gets," he half-shrugged. "Both of my parents are actually healers by training. They've campaigned alongside the army in every recent war Rhin-Lotharingie has fought and spent countless hours patching troops together. But over the years they ~~discovered~~ that while physical wounds could be readily healed by curative spells, the mental scars that veterans accumulated were... much more difficult."		"As close as it gets," he half-shrugged. "Both of my parents are actually healers by training. They've campaigned alongside the army in every recent war Rhin-Lotharingie has fought and spent countless hours patching troops together. But over the years they realized that while physical wounds could be readily healed by curative spells, the mental scars that veterans accumulated were... much more difficult."

	''Of course,'' Kaede reflected. ''Not only do Hyperion mages live much longer, but magic can bring a level of destructive savagery onto the battlefield unseen on Earth until the industrial age...''		''Of course,'' Kaede reflected. ''Not only do Hyperion mages live much longer, but magic can bring a level of destructive savagery onto the battlefield unseen on Earth until the late industrial age...''

	Robert then offered her a wry smile. He wasn't instantly rebounding from his earlier moment of depression, but there was still a shadow of his usual cheery self as he explained with a personal passion.		Robert then offered her a wry smile. He wasn't instantly rebounding from his earlier moment of depression, but there was still a shadow of his usual cheery self as he explained with a personal passion.
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	One thing was clear: for all the dedication his parents poured into researching the effects of trauma, they did not hesitate to inflict one upon their own son.		One thing was clear: for all the dedication his parents poured into researching the effects of trauma, they did not hesitate to inflict one upon their own son.

	"''I was appalled,''" his breathing hastened as outrage flashed across his eyes. "I screamed at papa right there. But there he was, just ~~calming~~ watching as the mare thrashed and shrieked in her dying breaths. There was blood all over him, but he paid it no mind and just looked at me with the coldest eyes I had ever seen in him. He told me that we'd have a contest -- maybe not immediately, maybe years later when I could train and perfect myself -- but he'd challenge me eventually: that he could slay the animals of the farm much, much faster than I could heal them."		"''I was appalled,''" his breathing hastened as outrage flashed across his eyes. "I screamed at papa right there. But there he was, just calmly watching as the mare thrashed and shrieked in her dying breaths. There was blood all over him, but he paid it no mind and just looked at me with the coldest eyes I had ever seen in him. He told me that we'd have a contest -- maybe not immediately, maybe years later when I could train and perfect myself -- but he'd challenge me eventually: that he could slay the animals of the farm much, much faster than I could heal them."

	''...Just as a prince could kill faster than any healer could save,'' Kaede thought.		''...Just as a prince could kill faster than any healer could save,'' Kaede thought.
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	"Are you saying," Pascal's eyes suddenly widened. "That she becomes like this because she wants to be more confident in herself?"		"Are you saying," Pascal's eyes suddenly widened. "That she becomes like this because she wants to be more confident in herself?"

	"That's a theory," Robert shrugged back. "Honestly, even my parents have no idea. It may very well be a combination of factors, and the burdens on her as a Crown Princess is just one of them. All we know is that the ~~Feykissed~~ in general exhibit mood disorders with greater frequency, and that for Her Highness, the hyperactivity goes straight to her head when she enters 'hypomania' mode."		"That's a theory," Robert shrugged back. "Honestly, even my parents have no idea. It may very well be a combination of factors, and the burdens on her as a Crown Princess is just one of them. All we know is that the Faekissed in general exhibit mood disorders with greater frequency, and that for Her Highness, the hyperactivity goes straight to her head when she enters 'hypomania' mode."

	"What do you mean?"		"What do you mean?"
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	Instead of answering Kaede, Robert pulled open one of his extradimensional belt pouches and reached into it. What came out was a stack of papers that he handed to Pascal:		Instead of answering Kaede, Robert pulled open one of his extradimensional belt pouches and reached into it. What came out was a stack of papers that he handed to Pascal:

	"Before I forget ~~again~~ -- Her Highness wanted these done today... or at least as soon as possible. Though I would suggest you discuss them with the senior lords and commanders first. Unlike Weichsel, the Rhin-Lotharingie military is still feudal; the various dukes have authority over their fiefdoms' battalions. It would be best if we snubbed as few prominent noses as possible."		"Before I forget -- Her Highness wanted these done today... or at least as soon as possible. Though I would suggest you discuss them with the senior lords and commanders first. Unlike Weichsel, the Rhin-Lotharingie military is still feudal; the various dukes have authority over their fiefdoms' battalions. It would be best if we snubbed as few prominent noses as possible."

	"I know that," Pascal added irritably as he began to flip through them.		"I know that," Pascal added irritably as he began to flip through them.
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	"But that's--!"		"But that's--!"

	"You must remember that the higher an individual's social status, the more they value reputation and image; for royalty, this becomes critical as legitimacy is above all," he added sternly. "Infidelity towards a sovereign is a ''capital offense'' for a reason -- because even the ''illusion'' of it undermines their authority."		"You must remember that the higher an individual's social status, the more they value reputation and image; for royalty, this becomes critical as legitimacy is above all," he added sternly. "Infidelity towards a sovereign is a ''capital offense'' for a reason -- because even the illusion of it undermines their authority."

	"''Nobody'' will obey an empress who becomes the laughing stock of the court," he finished.		"''Nobody'' will obey an empress who becomes the laughing stock of the court," he finished.
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	With that, the young armiger turned away once more and walked off, leaving Kaede with her mouth gaping in astonishment.		With that, the young armiger turned away once more and walked off, leaving Kaede with her mouth gaping in astonishment.

	''~~Does everyone have psychological issues around here~~? ~~Especially~~ the psychiatrist himself?''		''What is there to be envious about me? or does the psychiatrist himself needs psychological help?''


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	"You believe we should place our faith in the Princess then? When her words actively seek to lead us astray?"		"You believe we should place our faith in the Princess then? When her words actively seek to lead us astray?"

	Edith could only frown and look out the window.		With no clear answers to guide her, Edith could only frown and look out the window.

	''O Holy Father... just what is your will?''		''O Holy Father... just what is your will?''

	~~There was~~ only silence, only dark clouds that continued to obscured the heavens.		But there came only silence, only dark clouds that continued to obscured the heavens.

	She had to think for herself, to remember those truthful words that -- in a fit of irony -- had been taught to her by the same emperor now cast off by the representative of the Lord:		She had to think for herself, to remember those truthful words that -- in a fit of irony -- had been taught to her by the same emperor now cast off by the representative of the Lord: