Cyrus' Considerations

It was well into the night and Cyrus could be seen laying back on his bed, his head full of thoughts as he reflected on the hectic day.

"First and foremost was the first part of the exam. It was a bit unique but still within my expectations, although I did not do as well as I had hoped on the written exam. That merely highlighted the amount of progress humanity has made though, as even a small gap of 7 years is enough to make a lot of what I know outdated. Next would be the second part to the exam, the true exam perhaps. Putting aside whether Cato and Adara knew that was what they did, it was still surprising to say the least. I can see how it was effective though as my musings with the mask on were fairly accurate, each fight was to test a specific trait or lack of traits in the examinees. The ability to do what must be done, the ability to see through deceit and lies, and the ability to know when to retreat when matched with a superior foe. All these traits are clearly meant to test the mental fortitude and maturity of the examinees, which would no doubt help decide who to focus on more when deciding how to allocate resources."

Cyrus then reached out to his side and picked up the black mask, looking at it carefully as the various oddities that involved it came to mind.

"This mask… it seems there is more to the story than what Cato had told me about it. That instinct it brands me with when I use it for too long is a good example of that. Not to mention how wildly it transforms how I think by almost…twisting my normal values into one of their opposite extreme. Empathy becomes apathy, curiosity becomes obsession and caution becomes paranoia. Still, the benefits it gives me are still what Cato had originally told me, that I become accustomed to do the dirty work in life as I use it. No matter how useful it is though…" Cyrus paused his thoughts for a moment before trying to control both his Vita and Mors domain at the same time, experiencing the same impossible task as before. He then put his mask on, feeling his usual emotions being suppressed and twisted, then tried again. This time he easily did so as well as he felt his physical strength begin to be sapped instead.

"Even if it allows me to do something like this, something that should not be possible with my current skillset and level of knowledge... I can not let it become something that controls me. I am me, and while I am not yet set on my current course in life I will not allow anyone or anything to own me. Where I go, where I end up and how I do it will be up to me. While I do understand gratitude and plan on paying back my debts, that is all: paying back debts and possibly maintaining a close relationship of mutual respect" said Cyrus, in a rare moment where he did not completely disregard others with the mask on.

He then took the mask off and looked out the window and at the stars above, admiring their beauty and sighing at their transience.

"If I were to put my current goal into words… I would say that I wish to understand the world better. I need to know why things are before I begin to meddle with it. Looking back on the place I grew up, I want to know why things must be hell in that area. Why do they starve, why do they fight and die amongst one another like animals, and why do those that rule them see fit to reap their lives like a farmer to their crop. I still have memories of when I had nothing but endless hunger, that intense feeling of being willing to eat anything… to imagine that so many people have not only that feeling but perhaps even worse… why then would they subject that horror onto others the moment they free themselves and rise up… I do not quite know the answers yet, but in the Empire where they have seemingly solved the many problems that chaos brings perhaps I will figure it out in this place of order. If the Empire does have the answers, I will support it and seek to root out any tumors that may be found within it. I am keenly aware that even the greatest of civilizations can fall, what with the wasteland being what it is today and even with Mundus itself showing me firsthand. If it does not, however, and is merely casting people's eyes from the various ways they destroy lives... Then I will have to take a page from my other halves book, and maybe think about raising an army for myself. When words fail, only the sword remains to be convincing."

With that Cyrus put the mask to his side and laid down once more, casting his thoughts aside and finally giving himself much needed sleep after a long and hard day.