To Be A Quincy [Cyrus]

"Mm. Yes, I understand the sentiment quite decidedly, Miss Brauer. Do not misunderstand me, Miss Auber has a great many worthwhile qualities. She is a kind soul, even if her displays of such kindness manifest in violent ways. I suppose I could never prove this, but I feel she quite genuinely only means the best. With that said…"

Cyrus turned to Sylvia then, and studied her carefully. It was difficult to tell exactly where he was looking at any given moment due to the sunglasses covering his eyes, but it was obvious just from his demeanor that there was nothing untoward about his gaze. It was more that he wished to see how she reacted to his words, and how she conveyed her own response. Anything more...intimate would simply not be in his nature.

"Even in her kindness, she is dangerous. Or, perhaps, one could say it is that very heart of hers which makes her such a threat. She will help you, yes. But, if you will allow me to make a comparison to the stories of my homeland, her assistance is something akin to that of the daevas, one which carries with it the potential for ruin. She has harmed people before you, Sylvia. She will likely do so again. Whether out of malice or simply a consequence of her actions, I could not say."

His tone dropping a touch, the Grandmaster seemed a bit more grave as he spoke his final point. It was not merely a matter of severity, but of the very wisdom he wished to impart simply being...well, somewhat bleak. Still, wisdom it was, and perhapd some that Cyrus considered among the most important he could offer her.

"It is good not to hate her, Sylvia. You may hate what she has done, what she will do, even what she is. But she is still a fellow member of creation, as we are. She has hopes, dreams, fears, all of those things which make us more than animals. Ulv Auber is something akin to a demon of old. I will not deny that. But what is more important than hating her is to understand why she is a threat to you. Hollow-kind are anathema to all we are. You assuredly know this already. But there are a great many things in this world which are so equally diametrically opposed. Quincy and Hollow are not so unique in that way.

"The arrow of a Quincy carries infinitely more weight than any other weapon. Those it kills are simply destroyed, removed from the cycle. Yes, there are creatures and people who may deserve such things. But is that a judgment you can simply mete out in a moment of fear? Can a decision made in the blink of an eye carry with it the total and absolute consciousness that is required to snuff out a life for all eternity?"

There was an obvious sense of weight to Cyrus' words, as if he had long contemplated these things. His gaze had drifted away from Sylvia, off to the waters of the Pacific, and it was almost as though he were simply stating a lamentation than directly addressing it to Sylvia. Nevertheless, it was fully intended for her ears.

"Every time you draw your bow, every time you fire even a single arrow, you are bringing to an end a soul that has lasted for thousands of years. It is the burden of a Quincy to know when they must truly mete out such a judgment. It is why our rivalry with the Shinigami is not one that was truly worth maintaining. Most souls, even those shackled by their sins in life, may still be purified and sent along the cycle. It is good and right that the Shinigami do such a thing. But when the time comes for those souls who are truly beyond reproach, that is when the Quincy must step in."

Admittedly, Cyrus had meandered a bit. He knew that. But he hadn't planned this speech or any such. He was simply speaking as thoughts came to mind. He could not simply impart all the wisdom of the ages into Sylvia in one swift motion or the like, so this would have to do. Turning to her again, then, his stern countenance lightened. He raised his sunglasses, to truly look her in the eye, and he smiled.

"It is good you did not fire your arrow, Sylvia. For Ulv is many things, but such a level of true uncleanliness upon the Earth is not one of them. You've shown a sense of judgment that I believe has been lost among great many Quincy. I, as both your superior and as your kinsman, am quite proud. I am aware you are within the Jagdarmee, but… If you would consider a position as Sub-Captain within the Sternritter, I would be quite honored to have you."

The grip on her own fist lessened some as her superior spoke. It was a lot to think about, and while she was in no state of mind to properly consider each and every point in the moment, she did listen closely and let his words sink in.

In short, he had made many good points. She knew that her arrows didn't simply kill a Hollow, but erased their very soul from existence. Her parents, her teachers, her very blood told her that this was a good thing. That she was removing a blight from the Earth that had no right to its own life.

Yet, she had not fired on Ulv, and Cyrus claimed this was the right thing to do. Sylvia breathed a soft sigh, of relief that someone did not blame her for such a mistake. Even if it had meant little, it eased her mind.

"Danke." The young woman thanked Cyrus through a small look of thoughtfulness and relief. "I'll need... to zink apout your offer. Apout ein lot of zings, hacdually." Her thoughts were still in a tumult, but she might be able to make sense of it all now. "Is zere hanything elze, zir?"