Neither Aledon nor I spoke as we both sipped our morning coffee. There was not much to say, only much to think. And the silence, which was felt to last an eternity, was interrupted by a knock on the door. Behind that door was Layda.
"She's giving Aledon an offer," Layda began. "She will arrange everything and have him be a Chief Admin of the server of Planet Arturia, after he ends his tenure."
"I'm right here, Layda," said Aledon from behind me. "But I have a question: Why isn't Monika here herself?"
All Layda did was purse her lips. "The offer stands till the day you leave," she said, handing a written letter to Aledon before turning and leaving.
"A rather awkward way to give consolation," I said with a resigned tone of voice.
Aledon returned to his seat and gave another sip of his coffee, looking at the letter. "Well...based on last night, the Society Membership doesn't find her that awkward..."
"I think everyone is complacent nowadays," I reasoned. "They liked her modernist appeal, her closeness to Lora Kotimer..."
"...and now that she's won," Aledon added, "she expects me to simply fall in line. This offer here comes with strings attached, including but not limited to me giving up my stance against so-called 'establishment politics.'"
"I wouldn't do it either."
"And to answer your question from last night," Aledon said. "What am I going to do? I'm going to finish out my Dungeonmaster tenure, doing what I believe is the best of my ability. Afterward, I'm just going to lie low and focus on my studies. Depressing, I know, but I have been with the Society for years now. And I gave them my piece."
***
After that conversation, I escaped for a bit, ironically by questing with Meghan in the Arturian Realm. It was a light quest on a remote, random planet where not much happens. That was the point, though.
During this mindless quest, Meghan gave a very important piece of advice: to stay and resist.
I met with Bernard, Madison, Elisabeth, and Aledon tonight, following her advice. It was a long but productive conversation.