Shock was the frame of mind Emalia found herself in when she heard the knock upon her door. She expected none, and indeed, didn't believe anyone she had recently turned away with her vicious verbal attacks would be bothing to come visiting. She opened her door to find a Guardian standing there. She remembered him from Colin's interview, barely recalled his name, and really had no idea why he was there or how he had gotten there. "Sir... Jessiah?"
Indeed, it was he. She looked him over for a moment, noting just how young he appeared, before allowing him inside. Colin had come from the upstairs with his pack in hand, noting also the visitor. He set his pack onto the floor and the trio began with a bit of small talk. The happiness at having Colin involved with the Guardians, the lack of both Emalia and Colin in the halls as of late (easily explained, Emalia felt), and the checking up on the "health" of their relationship.
The discussion shifted and the already on guard Emalia found herself growing more frustrated by the moment. "If I may be so bold, was there any particular reason for your decision to leave? Because I would very much like to help, if I can, of course, the business of any family member, is consequently my own personal business as well..."
"Unless you're willing to tell everyone in Crimson that bringing down the RoK is a good idea and is not evil, just like the Apprentice is not evil, then you will have solved the problem. And, Sir Jessiah, as I am no longer crimson and even grandfa... Sir Jayden has turned his back upon me... I feel I am no longer of your family, or your concern."
The familiar hand of Colin rested upon Emalia's leg, a reminder for her to take a moment simply to breathe. She readily gave in, taking a long breath which only served to keep her ire from rising for a moment. "Just because you do not currently wear the insignia of the Crimson Guardians, does not mean that you are any less a member of the family," Jessiah said.
"I believe we differ on that point now."
"A Guardian, is more than a mere symbol. Do you believe that you have not the Guardian spirit, or the makings and will to be a Guardian?"
Emalia felt her anger welling once again. She kept her mouth closed and silent, tensing and relaxing her jaw muscles as she stared at the white-eyed man with little less than hot contempt.
"Colin... do you believe Emalia has the spirit of a Guardian, and a doer of good?" Jessiah's attention now on Colin, Emalia turned her eyes upon Colin as well. The audacity of Jessiah to undermine her choice by asking Colin what he thought, as though he could do anything in order to stop her. Emalia's eyes darkened, almost challenging Colin to dare answer.
"I know Emalia will go to any lengths to do that whish she feels is right."
"Ahh.. and THAT is the very essence of being a Guardian..."
"Well," Emalia cut in. "Jayden seems to disagree with you."
"No one person can ever know for sure what is right or wrong. Not even Sir Jayden," Jessiah answered. "I've known Sir Jayden for a long time, and though we do not always agree on everything, we maintain great respect for each other, and I greatly value his wisdom."
"Then you should make haste to exit just as he did," Emalia demanded. She rose from the couch, her anger very near boiling from her. Both Jessiah and Colin requested her to simply sit and listen, and it was all she could do to make herself sit once more. Jessiah had only asked for Emalia to listen, and even while Colin attempted to defuse the situation, Emalia felt compelled to let the brunt of her feelings be known. "If you've come to preach to me about what a Guardian is, I no longer care. I don't care what a Jihadian is. I don't care about a wide variety of things. All I care about is setting in motion the means to end this miserable, backstabbing, lying population that runs rampant in the realms. To reset balance and restore the natural order of things."
"I mean not to preach or upset you, Emalia... nor do I wish to comdemn you, or even judge your beliefs. It is not my place."
"If you are not here for those things, I'd appreciate knowing why you are here."
Again Jessiah began requesting of Emalia the reasons for her leaving the Guardians. Things, Emalia felt, were of no consequence. These things were mere trivialities in her mind, things that in the grand scheme of things, were only taking up her time. Time better spent traveling to the place that would bring about the end of these kinds of problems. Jessiah, it seemed, had other ideas upon just how simple the matter was. "It is normal to feel betrayed, when someone you respect and hold so dear turns their back on you."
"If you believe Sir Jayden is the only reason for my ire, you are sadly mistaken. Even the whole of the Crimson family is not the cause for this."
"But Emalia... have you ever given thought to the possibility that you might have done so first?"
If any worse words could ever have been spoken to Emalia, there could have been few to compare. The colors of the room flashed with a new vividness as Emalia stood on her feet. Were she a bull, she would have trampled Jessiah where he sat. "You come into my home and ask me to look at myself as the problem???"
Pain suddenly came upon Emalia's abdomen. She knew what this was, but she would hide it from Colin, and from her guest. In the turmoil of the past several days, Brin had been alright... but at this continued onslaught of stress, Brin's lifeforce also suffered. Emalia's very own body begged her to relent, and narrowly did she bother to obey.
The discussion continued with far less animosity and rage, Emalia the whole while disguising as best she could the pains within her. The longer she sat, the less it hurt. Eventually she sat with a tablet in her hands. Jessiah then said something that struck her beyond all else that he had said and she had either ignored of dismissed, "I only wish you to consider with yourself.. if it is fair to bestow a force of such great magnitude, upon innocent people, and dictate a fate upon them, in which they have no power."
Jessiah cast a spell upon Emalia, easing the pains within her and making it easier for her to relax, before he himself left. Her mind spun his words around. It was true, she was doing to everyone in the realms what she felt had been done to her. Deciding for all of them what was going to happen. She looked at the tablet for a long moment, exhaustion weighing heavily upon her now. She slid the tablet on the shelf, set to read it later, after a bit of rest, when another knock happened upon her door.
