“ Thou should have care not to stroke my ego, brother. If I wouldst to answer fairly, sure. Mayhaps there may exist such a contender. ‘Tis possible, but an onerous endeavor ‘twould it be as I have no intention to make my defeat an easy one. They wouldst find themselves hard-pressed.”

“A curious thought indeed. Thy convictions art strong, as thou hath proven well. ‘Twould take a truly mighty foe to trounce thee. Though humored I am at the thought, I confess I have my doubts that many or any can contend with thee. Thou’rt a remarkable sort.”

“Ah, thou’rt a flatterer? I thank thee, curious one.” She tilted her head. “I wouldst be a poor witch if I did not. Thou attempt to learn from me, I presume?”

“ Aye, that seemeth the way of things. I wish I hadst given him a steady hand. Had I but known what his intentions were. But I suppose we all have our grand ambitions. ‘Tis easy to be led astray in the pursuit of salvation. I myself am no saint, just a sinner all the same. “

“There is naught for me there and a fool thou’rt to believeth so. She will not recognize me in this body. I have caused her enough grief. Mine presence wouldst not bring comfort, ‘tis would be torture. But I shall humor thy fantasy. Let us hope thou shalt not cometh to regret it.”

“Thou thinkst thyself a saint then? Baffled, I am indeed after thy impassioned babble. But I ask in kind: what comfort canst I offer my mother? A mire her mind becometh and try as I might, I canst offer little now. Her heart longeth only for a love now faded…Thou wouldst send me on a fool’s errand?”

“Thou cannot mend what is fundamentally flawed. Thy naïveté is boundless and ever the fool thou proveth to be with every breath. Thou wouldst see thyself controlled once more and for thee I mourn. But naught can be done. For now, I have lost. Spare me thy lectures and render my punishment.”

—And canst play the role of ‘good son’ after thy blunders in the war. Redeem thyself from thy own failure, overwriting it all in glorious homecoming——putting villains to thy sword to restoreth mother’s “sacred” order. In the simplicity of thy game, I know well the futility to shatter thy delusion.”

“ Thou canst see it as such, if thou wishest my cause diluted. A fitting narrative for thee. The accursed witch slain her brother to temper thy mother’s woes and wound her to such a sorry state. Thy poor mother committed the deed and thy evil sister seeketh to forsake and betray all. Easy villain. +

“Thou speak as if there was death before this. Thy mother cast it aside, imprisoned it. I merely would see it unfettered. I did not anticipate the seedlings it sprouted, though necessary my deed ‘twould be. My belief is fate not dictated by false idols or gods but by our own hands, for weal or woe.”

“I know naught what thy mother hath endured but I know plainly what she hath wrought. The seeds she hath sown have already quickened and I pity her, as I do thee. Thou wouldst rather shackle thyself to the will of the Two Fingers knowing they use us as puppets? A deluded, naïve fool, thou art…”

“And what of thee? Of our father? Thy mother? All of us art sinners, marred by our deeds. All of those slaughtered in the name of thy order. What of those? Yet thou wilt scorn me? ‘Tis true my deeds are reprehensible. I’ve no excuse. But thou’rt no better. So… what doth thee plan to do now? Gloat?”