[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HWXJapd.png[/img]
[h2][b]Cerzelium Orchelas[/b][/h2]
[i]Street in 7th Arrondisement, Core District[/i]
[@Phonic][@Danchou][@SSW][/center] 
"...so, this is a magus."

That idle hope he had was snuffed out as he saw the other's eyes. Those were not the eyes of a human being. The overlapping figure of a young man of the Orchelas, a product of Cerzelium's own mind, vanished into the wind. Because, after all, what he faced now-

“I see. The second you step forwards, you are no longer a person. You are a machine that exists to safeguard your defined future. No, not even a magus...so, then, is this a knight?”  

He murmured to himself, words for only his own sake, as the boy made his descent. Yes, Cerzelium knew- becoming a machine means no longer being human. A machine is something that undoes all in the way of its purpose.  

He did not know the other's past. Had the young boy thought about this when he was still a person? Had he feared taking that step? Had he been wracked with shudders at the thought before forcing that nature down, shackling it with steel?

...it did not matter. The boy's actions declared that, even if it had once existed, such fear had long since ended.

It was inspiring, for at such a young age, he had forged himself into a being that would not hesitate.

It was terrifying, for at such a young age, he had become a fixed standard born of that weight.

He could not criticize another's path. He did not have the qualifications. Yes, for after all, Cerzelium Orchelas was unquestionably a fool. If he was not, then he would not be thinking of such things for a man he may be about to kill.

[quote][color=f26522]“No matter how short or long one’s life is there are always regrets, and always desires.”[/color][/quote]
That presence of Cerzlium Orchelas changed. No, physically he remained the same, and magically too, but in a sense beyond either the physical or magical, in nothing other than that ephemeral concept of "presence", something changed. 

"With all due respect, I disagree. We are born and burn up in life. We gain experiences, we suffer losses, and when an end comes, we feel regret and longing for what could have been. But, this is not necessary." 

[center][s]A child weeping for all the tragedies in this world.

A man praying for all the good in this world.[/s][/center] 
His tone was soft. A dying man lecturing one just born. A fool lecturing a genius. 

"You and I may well carry regrets. Even the heroes standing beside us, shining stars exalted by faith, may. But, that is not proof of the necessity of regret. After all, a hero is someone who changes fate. That we stand beside such figures proves that the things we believe as necessary evils can be changed- can we not aspire to do the same? Beyond that, can we not aspire to exceed these heroes who inspire us?"

Magic Circuits flared to life. A simple Bounded Field to conceal the potential combat to come was formed, shoddy as the construction was. Two hands vanished into nothingness. 

"Heroes shaped their legends, changing fate, with human will. The era may have changed, but the friend who stands beside me would not have given up and accepted regret and tragedy as fact, so I cannot either. Because if these figures from a bygone time managed to break through their limits, there is no reason you and I cannot."

"That is why I will acquire the Holy Grail, to disprove that axiom- so that, even if I cannot reach that same place, at least the ones I love may die without regret."

What came next was not a challenge, nor a provocative act. Indeed, anyone with the barest level of social competence could see, clear as day, that the elderly man's question was laced with nothing more than genuine curiosity.

"It is presumptuous of me to ask, but forgive me- Sir Noon Triswich, why are you a knight?"