This mortal matter concluded, Ochazuke then paced gradually toward Morgan, spurred onward from her plea.
Again she speaks of the Old Ones. Against what they had seen, her blessing upon the mage in their name invited little more than a burning glower from him until Zaofan stepped between the two.
"We've got to find the tomb of Queen Persephone, Brother. If there's other like this one in there, we can't risk them leaving this place. Our Morgan here-"
"
A Morgan." The words passed with a pointed harshness. "How many others are there like you? Was guiding sacrifices to your Ancient Masters under the pretense of shelter part of your duty as well?"
"Look, it's...complicated. Not all familiars are independent like Erosa, you know? Some are bound to their service. She didn't know any better."
"Cheh, don't excuse this charade of ignorance," Ochazuke staggered, shivering in the cold and visibly wracked with pain. Though his physical wounds appeared minimal, he clearly did not leave the combat unscathed. "What this one
decides she knows seems to change on a whim. Everything is subject to her convenience." His eyes passed through Zaofan and fell upon Morgan with a fevered intensity. "Is this the first time you veiled doom in good will and shepherded others to their death? If that is your vision of Avalon, then it should lay forgotten, like all the rest!"
How many others were taken with this charming facade? This undiscovered country shrouded under the peak and snow ebbed with wonderment and subtle mystery. But when she opened her heart to him and showed him the agony that stretched across centuries, Zaofan knew there was a kernel of truth there.
Still, he had heard it in her own words.
"You're right, what's done is done," he sighed, "And we can't change what happened. But you saw that Humbert fellow, he was a victim of circumstance. So is our guide."
"Nothing will change without the resolve to see it done."
"They're trapped, Ochazuke. Avalon and Ampador are lost to memory precisely because no matter how much time passes, it
can't change," Zaofan said. His expression shift, and his eyes glimmered. Ochazuke had not seen such steadfastness fall upon him since the first time they saw the crimes of Simon Battersea. "I know we can help them if we can figure out what we're dealing with."
Risking a step to the side, he joined the rest of his comrades as they looked over to Morgan where she stood.
"So, tell me- tell them. What do
you want to do?"