video; username: julius

[viscontree]

Hello everyone. My name is Julius Visconti.

Allow me to take this opportunity to formally thank all of you. I was held in prison for some time along with some others. I understand how much trouble you went through just to aid us.

There isn't a lot I can do to repay the favor. For that I apologize.

[He bows his head down in apology.]

I promise that I'll work even harder from now. [It's the least he can do around here. Julius isn't going to waste his time.]

On another note, I'd like to ask you all a question.

What do you know about magic? I've been intrigued by its concept and origins for some time, yet I hardly know anything. Magic is a difficult thing for me to grasp. I'd appreciate it if we could sit down and discuss it in detail.

Comments

[anti_altruisms]

Mana is magical energy.

We require a certain amount of it in order to maintain a presence in the physical world.

[viscontree]

The reason I can speak to you currently is because of this magical energy called Mana. [Got it.]

The other day I spoke to a man with blue hair. He said he was Lancer. Are you two from the same world?

[Julius has seen both of them fight at least once. He can sort of put the two pieces together.]

[anti_altruisms]

We are.

Did he assist you?

[viscontree]

He did. I felt the same kind of presence around him.

His abilities are quick like yours--impossible to follow with the naked eye.

I thought there must be a connection between you two. [A vague one at that, but he's glad they do share something in common.]

[anti_altruisms]

We participated in the same War.

[ The details aren't all pleasant so he decides not to mention them. ]

He's very skilled at what he does.

[viscontree]

You're war adversaries.

[No one can say that Lancer's a bad fighter at any rate.]

War itself is never pleasant. I'm guessing you weren't surprised upon coming here? Fire power's always needed somewhere.

[anti_altruisms]

No.

There is very little here that has surprised me.

[viscontree]

I wasn't surprised to be here either, to be frank. [He's a strategist, there's value in having one for missions.]

Many of our recruits have some latent ability or can fight exceedingly well.

[anti_altruisms]

It's to their benefit that they can.

Otherwise, this 'crew' wouldn't last very long.

[viscontree]

They'll use anything to accomplish their goals, even people.

All of us are war tools to them.

[It sounds a little harsh, but Julius was used for war in the past too. He has his own opinions regarding this subject.]

[anti_altruisms]

[ It doesn't sound harsh to him. It's simply realistic. ]

We are tools.

It remains to be seen if peace comes of our efforts or not.

[viscontree]

Prosperity can't be built with tools alone. We'll need something more powerful than that to achieve true peace.

[A war weapon is only one factor of it. They need another force at work in order to get anywhere.]

[anti_altruisms]

Will you work towards that end, Julius?

[viscontree]

Of course. [No hesitation in his answer.]

It's part of our mission and someone needs to do this task. We can't afford to fail now that we've come this far.

[It would be such a waste to give up halfway.]