lorelei's inbox

[instructus]

the instructor

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[instructus]

[ ... ]

Well. That's because we have.

[ Which...says something, alright. ]

[undertakings]

[...]

Then what were the results?

[He can obviously guess that it didn't go as successfully as they may have wanted, but whether that resulted in Florence having his data wiped or being destroyed entirely was hard to say.]

[instructus]

Not very successful, unfortunately. Truthfully? It seems as though all of you have been doing significantly better than we have, in that department.

[ For what it's worth, while this is still Lorelei he's talking to, she does manage to sound like she isn't trying to play any games here. ]

[undertakings]

[He doesn't really have a reason to doubt her at the moment, so he will take her word for it for now.]

Which is why you decided to send us inside instead, correct? [...] How did you discover that people from other worlds could participate successfully?

[instructus]

Correct.

[ ... ]

Let's just say that when you've run out of options, desperate times call for desperate measures.

[undertakings]

[There’s a sigh from his end.]

Then let me ask you directly: were there others you tried this with, or are we the first group?

[instructus]

[ She really needed a second to debate whether or not she should answer this, but: ]

...There were a few others. So you wouldn't be the first, no.

[undertakings]

And where are they now?

[instructus]

...You truly haven't seen them?

[undertakings]

...If you're talking about others who have the same marks we do, then I have.

[But that's also a lot more than what most people would define as "a few others"?!]

[instructus]

[ IT REALLY IS...... ]

I thought you might have. ... Now, does that answer your question, Shin?

[undertakings]

Yes, it does.

[It's an unpleasant revelation for sure, but he'd never really trusted that they would all get out of this alive anyhow. Luring people in with false promises and misrepresenting the situation was a strategy the Republic was fond of, after all. Even so, being trapped like that and left to wander on that side for what might be eternity... that was certainly worse than the alternative, to him.]

But if that's the case, what makes you think it'll turn out differently this time? Or will you just pull another group to finish the job when we're gone?

[instructus]

The good news is that it already has. Another group, ideally, will not be needed for this project.

I said that you'd only be here for around two months, when you first arrived. That much has not changed.

[undertakings]

[That's quite a bit of faith she has, and it almost makes him wonder exactly how badly it had gone for the others who had been in their position, once upon a time. ]

But that timeline only holds if you assume we succeed, correct? Otherwise, we'll wander that side indefinitely--like ghosts that can't pass on.

[instructus]

Correct.

[ Just saying it like it is, ig?! ]

But, again, I don't anticipate that you'll fail.

[undertakings]

[Honestly, he appreciates that more than trying to sugarcoat it?! The faith, less so, but it's interesting to note.]

I have one last question. Is Luscinia capable of scouting the other side in advance of the Saturday lessons?

[instructus]

Yes.

Florence is not human, as you know. Therefore, they are not affected by the fog, making them able to scout for Saturday lessons.

[undertakings]

So have you been asking them to withhold information deliberately, or are there limits to what can be observed?

[instructus]

Mostly the former, to be entirely honest. A little bit of the latter as well.

[undertakings]

[Well. Thanks Instructor………

He just hangs up.]