2024-03-19: 2 - An Ancient Fear, A New Approach

• Cutscene: An Ancient Fear, A New Approach
• Cast: Elisa Kafim, Faiz Kafim, Adharis Kafim,
• Where: The Silent Castle, Kaffeklubben Island, Earth
• Date: March 19, 2024 (December 3, 0098)
• Summary: Following her thoughtful trip to the Moon in 2024-03-19: 1 - Faith and Betrayal, Elisa Kafim brings her parents to the Silent Castle.

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"So this is where you're living now?" The man asking the question is tall and dark, staring up at the gates of the Silent Castle thoughtfully. "It's secure... It must have been expensive to acquire, even given the land..."

"Faiz! Even now you concern yourself with facts and figures!" The shorter, green-skinned woman beside him shakes her head. "Our daughter has finally invited us again to her home! That is most important, I would say."

"That's true," Faiz answers, and looks to Elisa, who walks up behind both of them. She inclines her head, and the doors begin to open at her gesture--not magic, but those inside knowing to look at the front door.

"Yes," Elisa answers her parents. "I live here... and you will also be safe here. I know that governments have been nosing around you."

"But they never actually did more than that! That was your doing, yes?" Elisa's mother Adharis is upbeat, but... She does have some pause, looking into the castle ahead. "A benefit of the influence you've acquired..."

Elisa inclines her head. "A few bribes, the occasional action of direct control... and the allocation of a few soldiers. These were reasonable measures to protect my parents." She pauses. "But it will not be enough, soon. There is change on the winds; we have discussed this."

"And you needed a new accountant," her father says gruffly. "Well, I do pride myself on it. And I'm glad to help my daughter..."

They step inside, into the warm, and her parents are immediately relieved by that much. "Only," her mother says, "The things you have shown me you do remind me so of the old stories..."

"Old stories?" Elisa wonders.

"Yes. Old stories of things we feared," the Meltrandi says. "...But there is no need for fear. You are on our side. Sure, you avoided us for some time, but..."

"I apologize for that," Elisa says. "...I was... focused. And I did not realize the importance of my..." Her old life, "Connections, in the world. I am pleased that you have agreed to come here."

"Of course, Elisa." Her mother smiles. "...You have changed," she admits. "You are not the little girl I remember. You are not the confident athlete I recall. But we have not forgotten you, or the years we spent raising you. No matter what else you may be, you are also our daughter."

"...The responsbility for a life you have 'created'," Elisa muses. "Is this the way of the human world...?"

"Of course," her father says. "You'd forgotten?"

"No," she says. "Only... I have learned the lessons of a different world."

"Well," Elisa's mother answers, "Then we must teach of the world we fought for as well!" A bright laugh. "Now, where are the children? And your wife's parents?"

"...The servants shall show you to them. I must return to Yuliana, now. I have many things for her..."

"Then we'll all be together soon enough," her father says, and inclines his head. "Good. I'm not one for the cold, but..." He trails off. "Well, we all make adjustments for the ones we love."

"Yes," Elisa answers. "Adjustments indeed." She turns, to face her parents, and searches their faces. She sees their affection, but also their trepidation. She considers.

"...Thank you," she says, more humbly, but only just. "I am... fortunate, that you have allowed me to bring you here." She stops. "We shall have dinner later."

"Of course," Adharis says. "Go to your wife!"

Elisa bows, and then steps down the hall, where she will collect Yuliana's things from the servants.

"...Yes," her mother says once she's gone, looking to her husband. "Like the old stories..."

He looks at her, concerned. "Something even your people feared?"

At length she says, "It is well. ...We can trust her. She didn't have to protect us."

"But trust her towards what, I wonder?" A sigh. "Ah, well. We've chosen regardless. We..." He turns, and regards a man in finery, who bows.

"This way..."

Elisa's parents will have plenty of time to settle in before her return.