twenty-two swords start anew.

[swordedpast]

[ voice ]

Would you like to know something?

[ A voice that might be familiar to some cuts in abruptly, without any fanfare. ]

In ancient times, many cultures had legends of apocalypses followed by the world's rebirth. The Aztecs, the Greeks, the Norse...yeah, even Christian eschatology has it.

[ There's a pause, as he lowers the communicator away from his face; the sound of waves crashing on the beach becomes clearer for a moment. ]

But, you know, a lot of the time...the world that came after each of the endtimes was a little bit worse than the one that preceded it. That's something they don't mention as much.

Well, in case it isn't obvious, what I'm saying is this: I thought "the City" was a ridiculous name for a place, but "Heropa"? That's unbelievably stupid.

Comments

[detriments]

Lies do serve a function, sometimes. Call it a means to an advantageous end.

[swordedpast]

Yeah, that'll surely end well.

[detriments]

For someone, it will.

[swordedpast]

For someone who enjoys the suffering of others?

[detriments]

It doesn't seem to me that people like that would care about who suffers.

[swordedpast]

I see, then just who is it who wins out from vain hope?

[detriments]

The liars, of course. Why else would they lie.

[swordedpast]

[ A disdainful, noncommittal noise. ]

It'll come down on their heads eventually. And everyone else's too.

[detriments]

It all depends on how the cards are played.