"It's not proven no one's ever escaped," Raine pointed out. "It's not likely that everyone who's vanished is dead." Right now especially, she couldn't bear to think otherwise.
"I'm reminded--strongly--of the Imperial Research Academy. It's only speculated that this is a research facility, but it's unlikely to be anything else."
She paused, wondering how to put this. "And as I said, you were here previously. I don't know how long--you vanished shortly after I arrived, and before Kratos did. I never learned more than that, but I've heard of someone confirmed dead--several people witnessed it when he was killed--who later returned. Predictably, he remembered nothing of his previous stay here; so far, no one has.
"You may have noticed that you have much less magic than usual; it happens to everyone here. So far no one has found a way around it, at least on their own terms--but one type of experiment we're taken for restores all powers for a night. Unfortunately, the target is also brainwashed to fight for the Institute, despite not recognizing where they are. Kratos knew me, but not an acquaintance from here." Looking at him, she added, "I assume you thought you had orders from Yggdrasil?" If he'd said as much, she didn't remember anymore.
No, she hadn't had to add any of that last part, but in her current mood especially she had no reason to spare his feelings. She didn't blame him (at least, she told herself not to), and she was just stating facts.
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"I'm reminded--strongly--of the Imperial Research Academy. It's only speculated that this is a research facility, but it's unlikely to be anything else."
She paused, wondering how to put this. "And as I said, you were here previously. I don't know how long--you vanished shortly after I arrived, and before Kratos did. I never learned more than that, but I've heard of someone confirmed dead--several people witnessed it when he was killed--who later returned. Predictably, he remembered nothing of his previous stay here; so far, no one has.
"You may have noticed that you have much less magic than usual; it happens to everyone here. So far no one has found a way around it, at least on their own terms--but one type of experiment we're taken for restores all powers for a night. Unfortunately, the target is also brainwashed to fight for the Institute, despite not recognizing where they are. Kratos knew me, but not an acquaintance from here." Looking at him, she added, "I assume you thought you had orders from Yggdrasil?" If he'd said as much, she didn't remember anymore.
No, she hadn't had to add any of that last part, but in her current mood especially she had no reason to spare his feelings. She didn't blame him (at least, she told herself not to), and she was just stating facts.