we are not truly immortal

[dark_light]

After Glass's party is over with, Amariah and Kas go home.

Amariah fetches down their alethiometers.

"It's about time I took care of Alethia's afterlife, whatever it may be," she says quietly. "What can the alethiometer tell you about what I'll find?"

Comments

[lifes_sake]

"Okay. So wizards and Elspeth and possibly me-especially can calm down the truth-hungry... things... and then they will stop bothering people."

[she_sells_seashells]

"But anyone who goes will acquire a daemon. A square will show what you'd get," Shell Bell adds, "mine would be some kind of duck thing."

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth would apparently get a brightly colored parakeet.

[lifes_sake]

Cam's daemon would be a kickass hawk.

[dark_light]

"And if I understand it right, the reason you have to get them to do this is because your souls can't enter the afterlife - which means separation. I've done it, all witches do, but it's not fun."

[truthwright]

"It is not fun," Petaal confirms, curling around Kas's neck as a small black snake.

[dark_light]

"But it doesn't cause long-term trauma if it's done purposefully, and - can one of you ask the alethiometer if the associated pain can be wished gone?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

If I wish on a coin, can I separate from my daemon painlessly? Elspeth asks the alethiometer.

[truthwright]

The alethiometer says to Cam, "To separate from one's daemon is a thing of anguish."

"That means no," says Kas.

[lifes_sake]

"I wonder if Sarion could ignore it," says Cam. "How bad is it, Amariah?"

[dark_light]

"Bad. But I did it on the first try, on foot," Amariah says, "when the only consequence for failing was not being considered an adult witch till I managed. It's not as bad as having someone touch your daemon... I'm trying to think of comparisons you're familiar with but I've got nothing."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"I judgesighted Kas along with all the other Jokers. I could pass a taste of it on, if we assume it's similar for everyone," says Elspeth.

[truthwright]

"I don't see any good ways to tell," says Kas.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"I can show Amariah and she can compare," suggests Elspeth, "if nobody involved minds."

[truthwright]

"Fine by us," says Petaal.

[dark_light]

"Go for it."

[her_imperial_radiance]

[dark_light]

"...Similar intensity. Different flavor," murmurs Amariah.

[truthwright]

"What do you mean?"

[dark_light]

"We both felt about the same amount of bad - well, I assume you were in worse shape at the time, but Elspeth filtered out the parts that weren't about separation in particular - but not the same kind of bad."

[truthwright]

"Huh."

[dark_light]

"It's probably a fine gauge for total unpleasantness, though, if you want to share it around, Elspeth."

[lifes_sake]

"Hit me."

[she_sells_seashells]

"I'm probably not as important to the expedition but I'll have a look too."

[pythbox]

"Me too," says Jellybean.