The bard courteously didn't pry into Sam's journal entries, knowing only a little of what had passed between him and the alchemist when they had been together, and not wanting to know more of what had clearly been a private and personal connection. Instead he focused on the events of the Spire, and the strange room full of the dead. Memories given life, or something more sinister? At least his friend's description didn't sound like zombies or ghouls or revenants or any of the more unpleasant forms Jigano was used to the unquiet dead taking, and he nodded thoughtfully, wondering if perhaps Ludo, with his fondness for memories, had been involved somehow? Hearing that Zariah had killed Ronin a second time - or at least, some version of Ronin, illusion or memory or spirit - didn't much surprise him. She hadn't seemed to hold much sentiment in the time he had known her. But that Samuel had killed his mentor, or at least something that seemed to be his mentor, in cold blood...
"You must have been desperate to reach the top," he said carefully, wondering if Sam would so quickly raise his hand against the bard in a similar situation, if he thought the Jigano before him wasn't real. If he would be so willing to risk it. "To risk hurting - killing again - the spirit or memory of the man who had been your father, with your own two hands." It was not the kindest thing to say, by far, but the bard found himself chilled to the bone at the thought of his gentle friend raising his hand and using his enhanced strength not in anger, but simply because someone was in his way and he had convinced himself that hurting them wouldn't matter. That was the first step down the road his previous friends had taken, and Jigano found himself not merely chilled but ice cold as he realized the connections.
"Ah, that was the Core? I was injured myself by the time I made it up there, trying to pull Lucas and Roana from the basement of the Spire." He grimaced slightly at the memory, of the great serpent, of Roana flinging herself into the light of the portal, of the poison seeping through his mask and into his lungs, his eyes, his blood. "My memories of the aftermath are a bit hazy. But that is interesting to know. Interesting indeed... but no closer to retrieving our friends from the woods and the Fae who likely have her." He gave Mia a final pat as he stood and cracked his weary back. "When the current crisis is passed, we should look into that more. Find out what we can about these young gods now that they are free. But for now..." He offered his friend a wan smile. "I should let you rest and gather what supplies you'll need for tomorrow. Thank you again for offering to come, Sam. It means a great deal to me, and I will be in your debt."
"You must have been desperate to reach the top," he said carefully, wondering if Sam would so quickly raise his hand against the bard in a similar situation, if he thought the Jigano before him wasn't real. If he would be so willing to risk it. "To risk hurting - killing again - the spirit or memory of the man who had been your father, with your own two hands." It was not the kindest thing to say, by far, but the bard found himself chilled to the bone at the thought of his gentle friend raising his hand and using his enhanced strength not in anger, but simply because someone was in his way and he had convinced himself that hurting them wouldn't matter. That was the first step down the road his previous friends had taken, and Jigano found himself not merely chilled but ice cold as he realized the connections.
"Ah, that was the Core? I was injured myself by the time I made it up there, trying to pull Lucas and Roana from the basement of the Spire." He grimaced slightly at the memory, of the great serpent, of Roana flinging herself into the light of the portal, of the poison seeping through his mask and into his lungs, his eyes, his blood. "My memories of the aftermath are a bit hazy. But that is interesting to know. Interesting indeed... but no closer to retrieving our friends from the woods and the Fae who likely have her." He gave Mia a final pat as he stood and cracked his weary back. "When the current crisis is passed, we should look into that more. Find out what we can about these young gods now that they are free. But for now..." He offered his friend a wan smile. "I should let you rest and gather what supplies you'll need for tomorrow. Thank you again for offering to come, Sam. It means a great deal to me, and I will be in your debt."
