[Ryou quietly sets the gem on the bed between them, glancing at it only for a moment before returning his attention to Atem.]
According to everything I've read, this gem is an ancient magic. I think it even predates Mana. It's not clear if it was made by the Fog, by Mana's predecessor, or both. Maybe it was even something a shade did. I don't really know, but I know what I wanted it for.
It takes in bad feelings, like a shade can, and holds them to alleviate the stress of whoever uses it. You just have to concentrate on it. The thing is...taking feelings doesn't mean they'll go away forever. A sentient mind will circle back and think about something hard enough to make it a problem again, and you have to keep using the gem to siphon it out.
...It has a limit though. Because the feelings don't dissipate.
[He taps one claw against the gem, frowning.]
They come back for the user because that's how thinking works. But the jewel doesn't give them back. It takes, and takes...and it's very easy to become dependent on the gem while you're letting it take your thoughts. Until it finally overloads and unleashes everything inside it to attack you and everyone around you. The books don't say what that means...just that it's not ideal, and can be lethal to the last person who touched the gem.
[Ryou smiles wryly, his tail tip flicking rapidly where it's settled. There's no color flash as of yet, but what he says next is not particularly happy.]
I imagine everyone expected me to use it until it blew up in my face without me realizing. In fact, I'm certain of it. I can't even make a network post without Saint-Germain wondering if something's wrong with me, so I guess I give off that feeling to people. But...I was never going to use it that much.
[He shakes his head.]
...Now though, I'm going to do it. I'm going to think of nothing but terrible thoughts and bad feelings, so I can fill it up anyway. Because when it's full, it unifies with its user and uses them as a conduit to push out all the badness on everyone else.
So...I'm going to ask the Fog if She will help me use that to attack the Fourth God and his followers. It will probably lead to me dying, one way or the other. But it might also lead to giving the Fog her strength back, if I can destabilize Elias.
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According to everything I've read, this gem is an ancient magic. I think it even predates Mana. It's not clear if it was made by the Fog, by Mana's predecessor, or both. Maybe it was even something a shade did. I don't really know, but I know what I wanted it for.
It takes in bad feelings, like a shade can, and holds them to alleviate the stress of whoever uses it. You just have to concentrate on it. The thing is...taking feelings doesn't mean they'll go away forever. A sentient mind will circle back and think about something hard enough to make it a problem again, and you have to keep using the gem to siphon it out.
...It has a limit though. Because the feelings don't dissipate.
[He taps one claw against the gem, frowning.]
They come back for the user because that's how thinking works. But the jewel doesn't give them back. It takes, and takes...and it's very easy to become dependent on the gem while you're letting it take your thoughts. Until it finally overloads and unleashes everything inside it to attack you and everyone around you. The books don't say what that means...just that it's not ideal, and can be lethal to the last person who touched the gem.
[Ryou smiles wryly, his tail tip flicking rapidly where it's settled. There's no color flash as of yet, but what he says next is not particularly happy.]
I imagine everyone expected me to use it until it blew up in my face without me realizing. In fact, I'm certain of it. I can't even make a network post without Saint-Germain wondering if something's wrong with me, so I guess I give off that feeling to people. But...I was never going to use it that much.
[He shakes his head.]
...Now though, I'm going to do it. I'm going to think of nothing but terrible thoughts and bad feelings, so I can fill it up anyway. Because when it's full, it unifies with its user and uses them as a conduit to push out all the badness on everyone else.
So...I'm going to ask the Fog if She will help me use that to attack the Fourth God and his followers. It will probably lead to me dying, one way or the other. But it might also lead to giving the Fog her strength back, if I can destabilize Elias.