Valiance

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*After a brief moment, drops my guard and smiles*
Good to see you back.

@Artifact

Am I?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*A bright reflection of light sets the area awash in gold, and you find me in a defensive position with my arms crossed*

@Artifact

*Blinks at you, still in my held stance*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*In the final flickers of the gold, my voice echoes*
If you trust me don't resi—
*Smirks and throws my own punch into your fist*

@Artifact

*It lands into the resting position of my open palm*
…
*Raises an eyebrow*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

You're a liar and a coward!
*At the words, the manifestation of the gold partially dissolves*

@Artifact

Am I lying when I say I know you have the strength to fight back? Against the true enemy?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*The blade rattles, pushing back hard against something*
Come on...

@Artifact

*Holds my current position while watching, but doesn't increase the intensity with which I am bracing my own attack*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*Recognizes the move and flies after you like before, but the metal of a golden blade materializes in the air, the flat of which pushes against your hand, whereas my own position freezes*

@Artifact

*Raises an eyebrow at the odd result of the attack*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

You clearly feel guilty about it!
*Flies at you with a speed that doesn't match my proportions*
But not about Ringo!

@Artifact

*Grabs you out of the air and hurls you around into the direction you were flying with added momentum*
We can discuss it later.
*Widens my stance and reaches my hands forward, grabbing at the air*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*Hits the tree and it collapses on top of me*
You always were! You lied to yourself and you lied to me!
*Picks up the tree and flings it base-first into you*

@Artifact

*Punches forward, splitting it like a log right down the middle and sending the halves parting away on either side of me*
I’ve had enough of the mind dragon’s trickery. I thought maybe it’d have a point to make. Nothing but deception, in an attempt to defend itself, by acting as if it knows more than it does.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*Red mist coats my hand, recovering it completely*
You've lied since the beginning!
*Flings dust into your eyes and claws into your guts*

@Artifact

Not even once!
*Throws my forearm in front of my face and swipes my other arm across you, hurling you into the nearest tree in that direction*
Because if I ever were to lie about who I am, it would make me like them.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*The world warps, adjusting my position out of your grip, and I kick your knee against its natural direction*
You're a liar, Roland!

@Artifact

*My leg swings backwards and I drop to a kneeling position, while staring at you with a gaze that snaps immediately from empathetic to infuriated*