02. audio.

[embodies]

Do you think...

[ her hands are covered in blood. It had been easy. So terribly, terribly easy - they'd been so weak, just as he'd said. It was a mercy, just as he'd said.

Yet as she'd left the cavern, she'd seen the animals starting to come towards town. Even if they were... monsters, even if it had been quick, she'd taken something away from them.

Madoka swallows hard and rolls the soul gem between her bloody hands. ]

Do you think that it's worth it. To... to do what he says.

Comments

audio

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya's quiet a few moments after the audio cuts on. she has gone through so many weapons that have just proven...inadequate for her. it would be nice to have the mainstay back. but, all the same, even after some reconsideration, her answer remains the same. ]

No.

audio

[embodies]

[ She curls her hand around the gem. ]

I...

audio

[glowsferatu]

Not in my case, at least. The price he named was too high.

What was it he had for you?

[begleiter]

That depends, doesn't it?

audio.

[keymaster]

I dunno, but... I'm not gonna let anyone get their hands on something that powerful.

Is it worth it for you?

audio

[embodies]

[ A slow shake of her head before she remembers Kanaya can't see. ]

Nothing. It was... really easy! It wasn't bad at all. Ha ha...

[embodies]

I'm not sure.

audio.

[embodies]

[ That powerful... It's right, isn't it? With all she knows... The fact that he has this meant that she needed to take it away from him.

But this isn't hers. Not really. Even if it was, it seems empty. ]

I'm not sure.

audio

[glowsferatu]

[ madoka you may just be a worse liar than kanaya herself. ]

If it wasn't so bad, then why entertain second thoughts afterward?

[begleiter]

What did he want from you?

audio

[embodies]

[ Ah. ]

I guess... because it must be a lesson...

[embodies]

T... there were some animals around the town he wanted me to... [ how does she even say it. the words stick in her throat. ]

audio

[glowsferatu]

But what sort of lesson would it have been?

[ she doesn't want to become a monster, if that's what the trader had in mind. she can't let herself fall so far. ]

audio

[embodies]

Maybe it's a lesson.. about me.

audio

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya's quiet for a long moment, having too much trouble putting any of this together. ]

Madoka. What aren't you telling me?

[begleiter]

[Well, given how upset she sounds, Konatsu can't imagine she was asked to take care of them.] Most people would say it's a small price to pay, especially in conditions as harsh as these.

audio

[embodies]

[ This is her soul gem.

Which means she must have killed witches. She... she must have. ]

Are you.. um, are you at home right now, Kanaya?

[embodies]

I know.

[ It's selfish to be upset. ]

audio

[glowsferatu]

[ there's a sound like a shift of weight, heavy footfalls. ]

I can be soon. How far out are you?

audio

[embodies]

I just left his caravan.

audio

[glowsferatu]

I'll meet you on the road.

[ and then she puts her pipboy away to pour all her focus into running. ]

audio

[embodies]

[ She's moving quickly, but carefully. ]

action

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya runs toward the caravan, slowing only when she sees madoka. she puts up a hand to shield her eyes against the sun, waiting til the distance is closed. ]

audio.

[keymaster]

I guess... it's really different for everyone. But--even if you think it isn't worth it... doesn't mean that it was wasted, you know? You learn from mistakes, right?

[begleiter]

What did you get in exchange?