Lyon walked over to the table and sat down. his arm still hurting he decided he might as well. "Sure..." Lyon said resting his arm on the table. He wasn't even surprised that Mortimer was there but had no urge to even try and punch him. He figured he was done for now. It wasn't Mortimer's fault that Lyon had hurt his arm, it was his own plan and he even knew at the time what the consequences would be. "So, what did you think?" Lyon said referring to day he just went through.

"I think that you need a few more tricks up your sleeve. Oh and by the by, why is it you are seeking to become better. Most people have reason of some kind, a purpose to push themselves harder to achieve a goal. If you don't mind me asking what is yours?"

About this time Lyon should have had an odd sense of deja-vu at the similarities of the conversations.

Lyon thought back to the conversation he had with the voices that led him here. "Well, I have always been someone to try and get stronger. This strength is also to help me gain better control of myself." Lyon said in a bit of a daze. The pain in his arm numbing as it just layed on the table. "I also look to better my abilities since I came to this magic world. It seems there is something odd happening every turn I make." Lyon pulled his dagger off of his chain and set it beside his now numb hand. "How do people hear about you?" Lyon said focusing back to where he was and his surroundings. His attention now on Mortimer.

*sigh*"I was afraid you were going to say that. But to answer your second statement first, if people want something done, someone found, something destroyed or somewhere explored they tend to find me through the mercenary guild roster in bosporus. I have a standing order with them to send me any missions with a reward of an amount I am not inclined to disscuss. Since the mercenary track record is public knowledge it is also possible to select individuals to specifically deal with certain tasks. On the other hand if people want to find me for other reasons, kill me, or meet with me personally they usually have to go through a bit of digging to find where I live.

But if possible I'd like to focus on what you just said... ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F***KING MIND!" Sending several cookies flying at Lyon as he said this.

"You have NO reason to get stronger. You don't gain more control to get stronger you NEED more control the stronger you get. A person could remain an utter weakling all their life and still have more control then the strongest of men! What you are doing is setting out on the road of the paradox of power without even knowing WHY you are doing it! Power, the ability to accomplish tasks whether through your own hands or the hands of those you control has always been a MEANS! Normal people don't seek out power as an ends unto itself. People seek out knowledge for its own sake. People seek out love for its own sake. People seek out COMBAT for its own sake. But power is a means... and every person I have known who seeks power simply to have it has either given up, died or gone insane. Now unless you find a purpose for becoming stronger, I can garuntee you will end up like them... So what's it gonna be?"

Lyon dodging the cookies thrown at him but was surprised at the rant Mortimer just went on. He had no idea how to react to what was being said so he waited silently until Mortimer finished. "In no way do I seek power... I seek the strength to control, I seek physical strength for other reasons..." Lyon said after a second of silence. "But you do bring up good points." Lyon paused again then continued. "I guess I should be more clear in my responses..." Lyon said more to himself than Mortimer.

Calming down again,Mortimer asked him slowly. "Alright then... I'm going to ask you thi again in as calm and measured a way I can... WHY do you seek power? And WHAT are you controlling or seeking to control? Physical strength can be gained for simple entertainment but true power requires a higher purpose... so if you don't mind me asking again WHAT is your higher purpose?"

"Well, to kind of explain this I don't just listen to music because I want to..." Lyon said in a calm tone. "but my higher purpose... that I am not completely sure on..." Lyon knew he had good reasons to get stronger but nothing he was ready to share with anyone yet. "Sorry to frustrate you..." Lyon said in a failed attempt to calm Mortimer down. "If you want I will leave..." Even though he did not want to Lyon figured he might be wasting Mortimer's time. Lyon waited to get up but was ready to leave, even in his condition.

*sigh* "No, no.. you may be frustrating me but it's more that you won't admit that you're not ready to share the reason yet. If you could just say that you are not at liberty to say rather than lying about not knowing it then that I could understand... And I'm afraid I can't let you go with your arm in that bad of shape. If you would please just lie down on the couch in the other room" leaving the kitchen Mortimer entered the living room and sat expectantly next to the couch in a large puffy arm-chair.

Lyon followed him and layed down on the couch. "Well the truth is I don't know my higher purpose but I do have reasons to get stronger. But you are right, I am not ready to share them." Lyon said as he lay almost motionless on the couch. His arm was still numb but when he did try to move it he could feel what was like thousands of needles sticking through his arm. "What was your higher purpose?" Lyon said moving his head so he could see Mortimer. "If you don't mind me asking..."

"I never had one actually... I lived my life the best way I could. Sometimes I was forced to fight, sometimes other forced me to work, some forced me to kill. Becoming stronger for me wasn't a choice or a means, it was an unintended consequence. Now if you will shut your eyes and you should go to sleep for about an hour."

Even as he said this, Mortimer was already weaving the spell, causing Lyon to fall asleep and a black cocoon to envelop him whole. A small quite space where he would be steadily healed over the next hour and awaken healed and stronger than he was before.

In the meanwhile, Mortimer also needed his rest. Heading up to the loft, Mortimer dropped down on his bed and was asleep instantly. Sleep. Quiet peaceful sleep.

(feel like this is a good place to stop?)

(Yeah, it's a good place to stop)

Rewards

Alberio: 4 SP, 4 MP and 650,000 Drachma
Lyon: 4 SP, 4 MP and 620,000 Drachma