They're under a ruined overpass when he spots it, next to a quietly burbling stream.
"Hey, 2B, look at that."
They're under a ruined overpass when he spots it, next to a quietly burbling stream.
"Hey, 2B, look at that."
"If you've significantly mislead us about the nature of the problems of this world or your position with respect to ending them such that you're more the source."
"Wouldn't without a good reason, like last resort protecting ourselves or to save a significant number of other people."
She lets him go.
"Thank you. You're, ah, very impressive. Your companion doesn't need to worry, I'm not going to do it to her unless something changes and I really need to.
We greatly appreciate your willingness to help.
And seriously, impressive."
(...it feels like she should be able to do better than that but her mind seems to be pretty failing to provide anything for her. Which, well, might happen in very unaccustomed situations! But still. Maybe they can - show them with actions, or. Something.)
"Well I mean if what you've said is true which it should be you're the nicest person I've ever met? Best person? So now I feel kind of bad except obviously I couldn't have known that without doing it so?
Uh, sorry," she adds to Genea.
"I'm not going to be offended." Obviously people who won't stand by during torture for years are better people than me.
...well, if she can't think of anything else to do might go give them the information they did this over.
"Alright, so: information.
I'm not actually from here, I'm from Tscher. I wanted to check out Kashjar but, as noted, they don't go for that kind of thing. I met Genea when I snuck into the town she was a fore-citizen of the guard in and pretended to be a mage-slave. I was doing some mind stuff for people not to notice me and she noticed me anyway because she was curious about mage-slaves.
Then she saved some people's lives in a way her town didn't like so they were probably going to kill her, so I helped her get the hell out.
The going plan at the moment is -
So I can pretend to be a mage-slave. Genea can pretend to be looking for a job as a guard. Rescuing mages is a pretty hard problem - there's records and stuff, and the Helas know who and how many are supposed to be around. But if a mage growing up turns out to be too powerful the Helas kill them. I'm pretty sure I can catch one of those, make them think they killed them, and actually smuggle them out. Meanwhile Genea, with my help, can go around seeing if there's any sympathetic people - or potentially sympathetic people - like her around.
Payoff, some kids don't die and if we pull it off a few times we'll have more people and maybe we can do something bigger or something.
Disadvantage, it doesn't help the rest of anyone.
Counterargument, it's the best idea we have."
She points between herself and Genea. "Two." (however trustworthy even magic says, she's not outing the hidden mages until they've done a good bit more than talking.)
There's a moment of a feeling - oh thank spirits someone who knows things. She - hadn't even realized how much she was feeling not having that. She clamps down on it - magic questions or no, she shouldn't get hopes up. But.
Brief moment then she pulls out the map.
Map, population centers.
"Patrol routes vary. My town figures them out for each next year. I don't know what other towns do, but probably also that."
"Without resources we'll have to rely more on the terrain. Cliffs or rivers to guard flanks, caves or ruined buildings for shelter. Somewhere we won't be stumbled across by accident."