Wisdom's Younger Brother

Yuna's mind scrambled to make sense of the situation as Shin sat in the chair across from her. 

"I'm sure you have questions," he remarked. "While you may not be my brother, I know you two have already grown quite close since his arrival. That being said, he's always been a bit of a sucker when it comes to girls..."

"Itsuki said he had a younger brother..." Yuna pointed out. 

"He's not lying," Shin admitted. "Though I bet you already suspect what the truth is. Am I mistaken?"

"The Goddess - Amane - mentioned she arrived here a few years ago," Yuna surmised. "If that's true - and Itsuki only came to the Fallen Lands a handful of weeks ago - then the three of you did not arrive at the same time..."

"Nearly seventy years," Shin confessed. "Quite a long time to have waited, if I'm honest. Perhaps it was predestined, though. If I had not had the last half-century to work my way into the Overseer position, then I would not be able to provide Itsuki the support he is now going to need..."

"Support?" Yuna questioned. "What support? You've only been ..."

"Yes, you mentioned already your feelings towards our actions. We do not need to retell that tale."

"What about Velmoria?" Yuna asked. "The Cataclysm that transpired there. It was the Directive's doing, wasn't it? Why?"

"My brother and his only ally were ambushed by a small group of vampires and subsequently taken to their stronghold,... From the outside looking in, that appears to me like a death sentence."

Yuna wasn't sure what she had expected as an answer, but that wasn't it. She wanted to be mad, but she too had been incredibly suspicious of them until interacting with them. 

"The Starbeasts of the Cataclysm will not target the Judge or his immediate allies," Shin noted. "You were safe from any harm. Your decision to defend the settlement in earnest was surprising, but I now see that I misjudged the Velmorians."

"Your misjudgment cost them several casualties..."

"That does not weigh on my conscious," Shin replied, cold and focused. "Even ignoring our bond as brothers, he is the single most important individual currently walking the Fallen Lands. Even if I had to burn down one-hundred towns like Velmoria. I would do so without hesitation if it ensured his survival."

Yuna was floored by Shin's words. 

"That's horrible!" she exclaimed. "Itsuki would never think himself better of others like that!"

"Nor should he. He is the Judge - the Chosen for the God of Wisdom. Much like dear Amane is the Chosen for the Goddess of Life. We all were brought here because a deity chose us to perform a certain role..."

"And yours?" Yuna asked. 

"My patron - and my purpose - is Truth," Shin told her, "and the Truth is that the Judge is worth thousands of random individual souls. It may not be fair, but it is the reality of the situation."

"So what about the other settlements? What about Brightmoor? Are they all part of some larger 'Truth'?

"Before I answer, let me pose you a question," Shin started. "From our discussions thus far, I'm under the impression that you believe the Directive controls the Cataclysms. What if I presented a different idea... that any Chosen was able to direct the Cataclysms?"

"Are you suggesting one of the others caused that Cataclysm?" 

"I'm suggesting that one of the others caused the Cataclysm, yes. Particularly, the one who would benefit from an alliance with the two of you if they were to appropriately convince you that the Directive was your enemy..."

Yuna sat back and took in the thought. Would Amane have really sentenced those settlements to die just to convince her and Itsuki of joining forces with her? Sure, Amane and her may have had a feud over Itsuki's affection... but Amane had never been outwardly hostile like that.

"Amane is a kind and gentle soul," Shin noted, suspecting Yuna's current thought process. "Back in our home world, she was one of the nicest people I knew. Fast forward about six decades, and she shows up here in the Fallen Lands. As Overseer of the Directive, what do you think would be the logical approach for me to take when I found that out?"

"I guess... to establish contact?"

"Exactly!" Shin exclaimed. "Fast forward a few more years to now. You've seen our current tensions - what does that tell you?"

Yuna didn't need to think much for that one. 

"That something must've gone wrong."

"Very wrong..." Shin assured her. 

"Are you implying that Itsuki is in danger there?"

"I doubt it. Let me ask you - what is it that Amane wanted of Itsuki?"

Yuna thought about the question for a moment. Amane hadn't shown any hostility towards Itsuki at all. In fact...

"She wanted to marry him."

Yuna half-expected the 'little' sibling to laugh at the idea. He was no young child, though. His expression was stoic and cold. 

"As I expected..." he stated after a moment. "Marriage would help her convince Itsuki to remain in Evermere. He would stay by her side and rule, but never travel and experience the rest of the Fallen Lands. He would never gain the Wisdom needed to make his judgment, and the cycle would fall into turmoil..."

His gaze locked onto Yuna's - a flare of intensity seemed to rise up in his eyes. 

"I'm afraid the only hope lies with you, Yuna," Shin admitted. "If you're willing to at least give my viewpoint some credence, then I have a plan. I intend to tell you everything I know - the truth about what is transpiring above. The strategy I'm going to suggest is incredibly risky, so it's only reasonable that you know exactly why we're so hellbent on achieving our goals. If, after that, you agree with my methods - then we can proceed. What do you say?"

Yuna sat back in her chair. She was hesitant to believe Shin's story just like that, but had Amane really given her much reason to believe in her? Was it just because they happened to run into Amane first and she gave a convincing argument? 

At this point, Yuna realized at least one thing that was for certain. She and Itsuki were stuck between two large opposing forces. Both were pleading for his alliance, and neither had actually provided surmountable proof that they had selfless intentions. Amane had sheltered them, but that could all be tied to her ambition. Shin could truly intend to reunite with his brother, or intend to murder him at the first opportunity. 

Yuna had to simplify it. Her main concern was Itsuki - and right now she needed him separated from everyone involved. Both his brother - and the Goddess.

"I will hear out your plan," Yuna finally decided. "But I will make no decision until I've heard it. Are we clear?"

"That is alright by me," Shin admitted. "I suppose we should start with the simplest of facts, then. By this time tomorrow - I intend to initiate a full-scale war on the city of Evermere... and the Cataclysm will serve as the vanguard."