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[Judas D'arc]

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Judas started the morning on his knees. But after an hour of discomfort, and a new-found respect for the looser women of his youth, he had shifted down into a seated, cross-legged position. The stone surrounding the heart-symbol before him was rough against his back-side, and a part of him lamented not bringing a small cushion. Still, Judas was surprised at how well shielded he was from the glare of the desert sun.

"Mu"

When he had first discovered a taste for the Brotherhood of the Rose's famous vintage, Brother Finlay had sternly warned him that enlightenment could never be found at the bottom of a bottle. As was typical, this advice was delivered in a tone that combined paternal with patronizing, and Judas disregarded all of it. Or so he had thought, for while Finlay was years gone, the bard still remembered his words.

"Mu"

Last night's meeting with the Atalan had occurred with little warning, and had ended up defying all of his expectations. Judas still struggled to digest all of what Asimov had shared with them, as well as all the lingering questions that yet remained. But what troubled him most was that the inevitability of the it all now seemed almost tragic.

"Mu"

The Atalan were not birthed by natural means. Forged in the distant past by ancient other-elves, and connected to mysterious, old gods, with no relevance to modern Sosaria. While the details of their history appealed to his inner student of lore, it was their tale of betrayal that caught Judas' attention. Previously, he had considered the Atalan to be largely one-sided: Inhuman. Unfeeling. Faceless. However, this was an unkindness on his part, they were far more faceted than initially realized. Indeed, he had started to notice small things that had distinguished them in form and even personality. And their anger was certainly real, and most likely justified. Judas simply disagreed with where they placed it. But how does one reason with the rage of child betrayed.

"Mu"

He had been surprised at how casually Adamu and Ditto had accepted the Atalans' intentions. Perhaps he had forsaken politeness for bluntness, but Judas did not believe that manners were necessary when discussing enslavement and mass-murder. While he possessed neither Adamu's devotion to Balance, nor Ditto's predisposition towards unpredictability, he could not comprehend their lack of concern. Perhaps his own experiences had distanced the old scholar from his humanity, or maybe they allowed him to relate to the Atalan in a way Judas never could. Still, part of him was relieved that the boy-who-would-be-king never was. Ditto was another matter entirely. Judas found her pleasant, and always appreciated how effortlessly she jumbled from one moment to the next, but he often questioned her motives. Regardless, he knew he had not made any allies that night. This, of course, was nothing new for Judas. Very few seemed overly concerned with the Atalan threat, and even less actually believed him.

"Mu"

Judas closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could not alter what had transpired, and dwelling on last night's meeting only confounded his meditations. Instead, he attempted to clear his head, ignore the distractions of his surroundings, and focus upon the simple mantra that Finlay had taught him long ago: MU. Compassion was the virtue that was best associated with Judas' profession of choice, and as a consequence, it was the one he was the most self-conscious about his devotion to.

"Mu"

His breathing started to slow.

"Mu"

A calmness took root.

"Mu"

A warm and pleasant sensation all over.

"Mu"

He could hear it in the distance.

"Mu"

An incoherent rumbling.

"Mu"

Closer now.

"Mu"

A whisper of words.

"Mu"

At the edge of listening.

"Mu"

Almost there.

"Mu"

Then he heard it. Not with his ears, but in a way that defied description, and that he never knew was possible. And the voice was plain and strong and truth.

"Only a detested life owes its pleasures to another's pain."

***

Minutes later, Judas opened his eyes. He quickly shielded his face, not used to the brightness of the sun. By its position in the sky, it was obvious not much time had passed. Yet he was exhausted, as if at the end of a long journey. Judas slowly stood to his feet, his legs aching from remaining crossed for so long. He paused for a moment, before turning from the Shrine of Compassion, a slight smile upon his face. Brother Finlay had been right after all. While Judas was far from achieving any sort of enlightenment, he had at least uncovered some of the answers.

And he knew what to do next...