Text;

[onerous]

What is it that keeps you living? Why? What makes it worth it to you?

[That’s, uh. That’s it. That’s the message. There’s no follow-up explanation or anything.

She’s just curious and doesn’t seem to see how alarming a question like that out of the blue might be]

Comments

phone tags are the worst

[hagrides]

The latter. [It's technically physically possible, it's just really difficult.] Though even were I to find more ease in dying, I would not lash out against my fate.

[onerous]

Why not?

[She probably shouldn't probe so much, and she'll stop if anyone says they don't want to answer of course, but she's curious]

[hagrides]

Had my predecessor not accepted their fate, I would not exist. Their predecessor before them, the same.

I am willing to pass on so that my own child may grow.

[onerous]

[...This raises so many more questions than it answers.]

Do you mean that you have to die at this predetermined time in order for others to keep living on? Like a sacrifice?

[hagrides]

Burn the father, feed the child.

[onerous]

I see. [Sort...of...]

And you don't resent that?

[hagrides]

Not at all. I love my child dearly.

[onerous]

That's sweet. I'm glad for you, honestly, to have something like that. You must miss him a lot here.

[hagrides]

I do. As charming as this land is, and as fond of my new friends as I am, I long to return to their side at once.

[onerous]

Will you tell me about them?

[hagrides]

My dear child is endlessly curious about the lands we travel to. They warm up to new people easily, and enjoy taking naps on their friends. They're learning quickly and growing by the day, now.

I couldn't be more proud.