Memory

Myriad Reality

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*Cranes my neck to look at my boat behind me and in a split second decision, bursts into a backwards leap, embedding the point of my scythe into the dull wood of the vessel with a thud, locking it in place and dangling from the handle above the river's water*

@Techspert

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*Snips the thread in two, adopting a scarlet hue before dissolving in either direction*
This was fun.

@Legend

*Several of us observe, silently*

Myriad Reality

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*Glares with renewed fire*
By the river. And. Its tributaries... Vipers.

@Techspert

Old Woman: *Chuckles*
By the river and its tributaries.
Adult Man: It appears you've signed your own death warrant, regardless.
*Nods toward the young girl*
Brenna.

Myriad Reality

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Don't take me for a fool. I'm familiar with the ways—to choose that wager, even in victory, I've signed my death warrant. No, once I've won, none of you will be entitled to harm me.
*Flips my scythe and plants the base of the handle into the ground*
By the river and its tributaries.

@Techspert

Young Man: You alone? Not your loved ones?

Myriad Reality

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Combat. Pick any of your own. Whoever wounds the other is declared the victor.

@Techspert

Young Man: You've deliberately chosen injury?

Myriad Reality

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The ancient ways aren't very favorable to my choices. But I had beyond enough time to decide on a wager on the trip here.

@Techspert

Old Woman: What terms?

Myriad Reality

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...

@Techspert

Young Girl: Not so snappy now?
Old Man: We've made our decision. I assume you've made yours as well, as prescripted in the ancient ways.

Myriad Reality

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*Narrows my eyes*
This must a joke. As an administrator, I've proven myself to be of the most dedicated.
*Twirls my scythe in my hand*
And capable.

@Techspert

Young Girl: *Rolls my eyes*
Spare us the theatrics. You consider yourself capable, and yet all of our disciples are still alive.

Myriad Reality

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Decisions made in the tributaries cannot be held against the river's body.
*Bows into a glare*
In accordance with the ancient ways.

@Techspert

Young Man: Which give us more than enough leeway to determine that you are unworthy of the river.

Myriad Reality

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I've committed no violation. Neither of the ways of sand, nor of the ways of water.

@Techspert

Adult Man: Your technicalities are not enough to justify you. In far too many streams are your diversions of the river's course a blatant overstep. As said, your conduct is not itself the problem. Your reasons are the problem.

Myriad Reality

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*A frown tugs at my face*
Nonsense. As a master of the sands—

@Techspert

Old Woman: You are still a novice of the water.
Adult Man: You seem to think that you can hide yourself. Did you think we wouldn't see?