x Brandon winced at the Goddess's words, startled by what he assumed was an outburst; though her tone hadn't really changed all that much. Though the bat was pretty sure he'd offended her, insulted her. “Of course not!” Brandon spoke hastily, “It wasn't my intention to-” Whatever he was about to say was cut off by Dira though as she spoke up all of a sudden. “What?” the bat exhaled, taken aback by that statement, looking up in confusion. “Not even you? But you are-” As soon as his eyes stopped at the Goddess's form they were averted again, the bat remembering his place and fixed his gaze back on the floor.
“Sorry, it's just... surprising. ” More than a bit even; just what did that mean? There was no such thing as Immortal? Then... what was the hiker? What had he become? He'd thrown away his mortality, hadn't he said so himself? And Dira had said he had defied the worlds natural course, which probably meant the same thing... more or less. But if there was no such thing as immortality, then what about the gods? Weren't those supposed to be immortal? And Dira especially! She was Death, how could she die? That just wasn't possible! It couldn't be possible!
Another surprising thing the Goddess of Death had mentioned was his time; his time to die that is. It wasn't so strange on its own, but rather a confirmation he had not expected. So there was a time of dying, a spot reserved for him, a moment in time where he was supposed to die. Was it set in stone? Perhaps. That may also have been what Dira had meant with 'defying the natural flow of the world', maybe Biran had been supposed to die tonight... Then again, if it was set in stone there was no way one could escape that fate. Perhaps this was just meant to be, no matter how awful that sounded. Or maybe Biran had died. The man, the person was dead, but the thing still lived. Who could say?
Dira's question required some pondering though, he needed to consider not only what he could or couldn't do, but also what she had told him just now. No such thing as immortal, which mean he could destroy Biran. However, fire hadn't worked, nor had hitting weak spots of the body, nor stabbing -had he stabbed the hiker? He thought he had... Still, the fact remained he was outclassed in a fight, he simply did not have the power to damage it. Maybe there were means to harm the so-called immortal, though Brandon did not know of them.
Nevertheless, when they'd meet again, the bat was fairly sure he'd meet Dira again, only not alive. Sure, he would fight, he would try to destroy it, he would try to right the mistake of aiding in his creation, but he did not believe he could win. Not in his current state. His opinion hadn't really changed. Nor had his vision of what to do. He couldn't survive in the wild for extended periods of time, he could not keep up with the speed of the hiker, nor could he track him down -well maybe he could... if he still smelled like the foul mud it would be a piece of cake. But, the obstacle was the Unforgiving. No, for a second encounter Brandon believed he'd have to prepare, study countermeasures to magics, to undead things, to whatever Biran was considered to be. The bat had to become stronger, he had to become more knowledgeable. Preparation might just be what he needed to stop that thing.
“I still think I-” No, that was a wrong phrasing, there was no certainty in this, there was only one thing he could be sure of, and that was what he wanted. “I want to go to Wind Reach, whether I get there or not is your domain, Lady Dira, but I want to get there. I doubt I can make it back to Lhavit, and even if I did I'd be incarcerated immediately.” A thoughtful pause. “Well, if I happen to run into the Councillor, that is. But regardless, I am tired, I have been flying for days. Wind Reach is closest to here, which is why it is my destination.” Of that he was certain indeed, but like he had said, he couldn't be sure if he'd ever reach it.
“As for the hiker...” Brandon blew out some air, thinking how to put his thoughts into words, “I do not believe I have a chance of winning. Not like I am now. Maybe never. You are aware of what happened, are you not, Lady Dira? I did not leave a scratch on his body. I could as well have been tickling him.” A fist pounded the earth in frustration. It hurt a bit, but at least it took away the soreness in his knees for a little bit. “I can only use the facts I am given to fuel my reasoning, and while I admit to not knowing everything there is to know -quite the opposite in fact- I have gathered enough to believe I cannot survive a second encounter. I don't know why I was spared tonight, I don't know if that was even your intention, but I know that without help I cannot … destroy Biran, let alone stay alive. But like I said I do not know a whole lot of things; I could very well be wrong. I hope I am wrong.” There, his reasoning explained, surely the Goddess could see how he came to his conclusions? Of course he did not know when he was supposed to die, nor how his death was supposed to happen, but if the second encounter would be anything like this one, well... then he was petched.
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