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[Nephrite watches his posture calmly, smile never fading although his eyes are assessing. Calculating. This is a soldier standing in front of him, a capable warrior, and one who wants him to be very aware of it.

Good. He straightens his own back and shoulders slightly, lifts his chin - he was never a military man in this life, but some things carry over. They can speak as equals.]

I'm sure you understand there are things about our work I can't divulge, and things about my past that are mine alone. ...But for Luke's sake, what I can share, I will.

[For Luke's sake is the reason he's here at all. For Luke's sake, he would do so much, and it's to his benefit if this man is at least a little bit aware of that.]

[As were Takame's eyes, though unlike Nephrite his expression turned more severe. Subtle, but with pretenses dispensed of he saw no reason to veil his disdain.

He knew the Order was full of capable fighters. Speakers. Authority figures. Soldiers. And he can see that in Nephrite's posture. An officer observing a line as they stand at attention by his command. Equals indeed.]

I would not have you divulge that which is confidential, nor personal. What I wish to know about you also pertains to Luke. Namely, how is it you know him? In this life and your last. And the other young man who came to his room. I can only presume that is his brother by blood but he, too, is in the Order.

I would know your intent with my student. Should you care at all for him, you'll speak only the truth.

[Takame would know if Nephrite intended to bring Luke into the Order's circle. He knew they were under reform but that was all the more reason to know for certain. To latch onto any sign of deception and bring it straight to the top.]

[Now, at last, his smile falters just slightly. It's a fair question, but it's such a complicated answer.]

...Asch and Luke are twin brothers in this life, that's correct. And Asch is in the Order because of me.

[When he says it like that, it really sounds damning. But it's the truth, as much as he hates it, as much as he wouldn't have chosen it if he'd had a choice.]

I knew them both in our past life. We were... I traveled alongside Luke, and supported him in his journeying. I considered him a dear companion. ...When I encountered Asch in this life as a child, I thought at first that it was Luke I had found. His brother was lost, so I promised him we would look together. [It had been the only way to get Asch to accept his help; even as young as he was, the boy would have just run off on his own, or at least entirely refused to cooperate, if Nephrite hadn't placated him.]

But Luke had been taken by Krusnik, so there was no evidence of his presence for years. And when he resurfaced, he had been adopted by another family, one too protective to allow us near even if he remembered that he had a brother looking for him, which he didn't. [He keeps his expression blank, neutral, matter-of-fact. It had been a torment for both of them when they realized, but that was years ago.]

It was only because I am a part of the Black Order that I was in a position to encounter Asch at all. But when he began to regain memories of his past life, I couldn't protect him from them, as entwined as I was.

[He'd had an escape plan. He'd known that sooner or later, their leadership would cross a line Asch couldn't condone, and the two of them would have to go on the run. He'd made a deal with Jane to that effect, so that they'd have at least a chance of getting out if and when they needed to.]

[The faltering smile was one sign of truth. Takame needed more though. To his credit, he heard the entire tale out. Mentally he was aligning it with what had been shared the other day. What Harumasa said and what Belle and Zelos confirmed.

While he was steady as stone for the tale, the mention of Krusnik made him tense up. Made the phantom pain of pricks and restraints rise in his memory again. He willed the memories and pain away, this was not the time to be lost in that experience.

Regardless of the reasoning, Takame disliked that Nephrite had brought Asch into the Order with him. But it was not the first tale he'd heard about it being an inevitability.]

A victim of circumstance, then.

[It was not strictly that he believed or trusted Nephrite, it was that evidence backed his word up.]

... Tell me of the teacher he had in his past life.

[Nephrite also dislikes that he brought Asch into the Order with him, so they're still aligned on that much.

When he's questioned about Van, his smile settles back into place, this time with an unpleasantly sharp edge.]

Ah, "Master Van". Vandesdelca Musto Fende. A charismatic and influential figure, the leader of the armed forces for the church whose prophets guided the path of all the world.

[Is that raising some red flags? It should be.]

He took Luke under his wing and pretended to take him into confidence. His parents, royals themselves, were only too happy to allow such a renowned figure to train their son in swordsmanship. [His voice hardens further.] And so he became the person who Luke trusted the most in all the world, right up until he manipulated Luke into using his hyperresonance to destroy a city.

[When he thinks about it, this is actually something Takame should know anyway, so he'll continue to elaborate:]

The why of it doesn't really matter here and now; but you should understand, if you are to be training him, the level of betrayal involved in the memories you very nearly triggered. That boy who was sickened by killing a single person in self-defense [in both lives now] was forced, used, to devastate an entire town. That's the sort of damage his power can cause if mishandled.

[That right there was a smile Takame knew. That was hatred. And it took only one sentence for Takame to completely understand. Enough that this deeply stoic and monotone man let out a sharp exhale through his nose, one tinged with a dragon's growl. A scoff from Takame Kesi of all people.

He was bloody sick of men like Archbishop Thordan believing they have the right to rule or guide a single person, let alone the world.

Besides that and a subtle broiling rage in his core, Takame once again listened quietly. Until it boiled over, his rage was always just that: subtle. Quiet. A student trusting his authority figure, his role model only to be used for mass destruction. A sheltered child.

Dare any shard of Vandesdelca's soul enter this realm, Takame will see him breathe his last and see naught but a shade of his killer.

But his anger was put to the side in the face of that warning. He was silent for a long while, as if considering. It was a heavy burden. It was a risk. There was no guarantee they'd even find Everstone let alone that Luke could agree to carry it.

A town was laid waste to. A voice overhead as Takame rushed through a city facing apocalypse came to mind. His many dances with death on his journey did.

But nevertheless, the answer was simple.]

... I accepted Luke as a student aware that his memories will cause him harm. I still accept him knowing the power he holds. And the risks that come with that power going awry.

Luke was betrayed by a teacher in the past and that memory has carried into his life now.

I will not make history repeat itself.

Good.

[Nephrite's smile brightens, but there's still a threat in his eyes.]

Because I have known these young men through two lives, through fates neither deserved, and their histories have repeated often enough already. Whatever power I have to break that cycle is at their disposal. And even if I can't prevent it, I can certainly ensure there are consequences for anyone who does them harm.

[Threats are familiar. Takame took comfort in the familiar. Enough to cross his arms and raise his brows.]

Such consequences would be well earned.

[If Takame makes an irreparable mistake, Nephrite can do what he will. There is a time and place for self-defense. That was one of the early topics in his classes.]

I would not ask that you place your trust in me. It would be unfair given you do not yet have mine. Only that you observe and become aware that I only wish keep Luke away from what may cause him harm.

[Like the Black Order. Or Guardian Nephrite Curtiss of the Black Order.]

Then I think we're agreed on the points that truly matter.

[Yeah if Neph ever hurts his kids (and Luke is his kid now whether he's ready to acknowledge that out loud or not), he'll have earned the consequences from Takame, too.]

Did you have any other questions, or should I let you return to your classes?

Indeed we are.

[They can proverbially shake on it. Takame wouldn't do so now, but at the very least he relaxed his posture somewhat. A soldier-off-duty now rather than one ready to enter the front line. Still tense, but less so with a natural sway in his tail.]

None that pertain to Luke. And for now, that was my primary concern.

[He gave another bow.]

My misgivings set aside, 'tis truly appreciated that you took the time to speak with me.

[Neph shrugs cheerfully.]

It's to both our benefit to clear the air, after all. And my, I don't think I've ever been threatened so politely before.

Well, I'm sure we'll be seeing more of one another sooner or later, since we're both involved in this business now.

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