Location: Lux Cantatio, Deep, Sinis

    Both Lys and Xander share twin expressions of surprise, glancing at each other and sharing a silent conversation.
    "That is a name I've not heard in quite some time," Lys says, tapping a finger to his lips, "and someone of whom I have not thought in nearly as long.  We have extensive records of their predictions and premonitions, and thus far they have failed to be inaccurate.  I never had an audience myself, I was too busy with my travels, then I spent some years in...  By the Sea Plains in the south of Terra."  He was about to mention a place name but quickly changed his mind at the last second, clearly another painful memory.  "Once war broke out I then devoted myself to providing healing to those who needed it, and traveled here after the war before the portal was sealed.  Her demise, like so many, was tragic and undeserved."  This provokes another memory, and Xander gets up to go to his side, a hand on his shoulder.  Lys shakes his head and waves him away, but Xander remains in place, worried about his companion.  "Further, I am intrigued to find that you are the one responsible for such destruction.  I must admit that I am impressed.  There is one in my employ who wields power similar to your own, and to know that you use it for the betterment of the world eases my mind."

    Once again there is the shared glance and unspoken words, and Xander sits back down at his chair to return to his tablet.  Lys removes his glasses and sets them on the desk, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
    "There is about as much known of me as there is of you, so I shall assume that you know only that I am the founder of this city as well as this conservatory.  To take the story back to its beginning, as I said, I was an itinerant healer and musician, going where my whims and the stories led.  I traveled extensively until war broke out, and once it was over, I chose to stay on this side, running away from all that had happened and seeking solitude.  However, I was not long secluded within this forest before a community began to grow around my meager home, and it eventually evolved into what it is today.  Not all due to my efforts, I will not be that egotistical, but a great deal, yes.  Though I was surrounded by others I remained alone, and stayed that way until around three thousand years ago, when the Mythou known as Refrax challenged me, recalling what I had done in the war."  He pauses to sigh and tap his fingers on the top of his desk.
    "I will not go into the details, but the short of it is that in the clash of our powers I was...  There is no proper word for it, but 'mirrored' will have to do.  Usually these copies are the darkest manifestations of one's soul, loyal and beholden only to him, but this time, it not only defied him it fought in my defense.  Xander has been my closest companion and confidant since that time, and I have found him to be an invaluable resource and source of support.  You are already aware that we run the Yggdrasil network.  That has been one of my oldest projects, and one that I had created in the hopes of maintaining peace in Sinis, but I fear that my efforts will come to naught and war will be inevitable."  He leans back in his chair, pausing for thought, then sighs.
    "What else would you ask of me to know?  There is so much to be told, yet I would not bore you with minutiae."
    Xander frowns at something on his tablet, sighs with trepidation, and begins typing.

    Lys's eyes narrow a bit at this, and he leans a bit closer to examine it but refrains from touching.  Seeing this, Xander puts aside the tablet and stands up, putting a hand on Lys's shoulder.  His hand on the desk as he likewise leans in, Xander shares the same expression as his companion for the third time.
    "Hunh.  That's...unusual..."

    Lys sits back in his chair, gripping the armrests.
    "I would have that explanation anyway."
    Xander squeezes Lys's shoulder, grabs his cup from the coffee table near his chair, and fills it from the pot, barely remembering to fill Tidus's cup as an afterthought.
    "Things continue to get better, hunh?" he remarks, though without his ever-present smirk.

    The two share a matching silence.  Xander snarls and Lys looks grim.
    "I owe that wanker my existence, but all the same, good on you, mate.  A pity you didn't take more of him."
    "Your reflection...how strange..."  With his glasses Lys prods the shard thoughtfully.  "I am glad to see that you are still more or less whole after your encounter with this...person."  Lys clearly had another word in mind, but chose at the last moment to change it, though he still speaks it as though it tastes foul.  "You are indeed a warrior of strength.  It is to my relief that even if you are not on my side you are not an enemy."

    Gingerly, Lys picks it up to examine it more closely, and Xander's fanged, cheeky grin returns.
    "Hey, be careful with my dad."  Lys juggles it frantically, nearly dropping it at Xander's remark.  "No, wait, he's my mom, you're my dad.  I mean, you like it when I call you 'daddy,' right?"  The finger hits the top of the desk with a clatter as Lys stares at Xander, open-mouthed.  His shock only lasts a second before he bursts into laughter.
    "You are a wonderfully terrible nuisance, and I did need that.  Thank you."  Wiping his eyes, he sips his tea to compose himself as Xander does the same and squeezes his shoulder fondly.

    "At the moment, no, though I am certain that after much rumination and research that that will change," Lys remarks, putting the object back onto the desk.  Xander wrinkles his nose thoughtfully and shrugs.
    "Nah, me neither.  We know he's back, so that means questions for the network, not you."

    Xander growls in his throat.
    "That bastard better not.  I've had three thousand years to prepare for a rematch, and I'm not letting it end in a draw again."  He sees Lys's eyes lose focus as he thinks of something, and sighs as he shakes him gently by the shoulder.  "Oy, stop that.  Worry's not gonna help.  They may lay low another three thousand years, they may show up tomorrow.  What's important is that we know that recently they've been active.  We can use that."  Lys hesitates for a moment before nodding in agreement.

    Lys grips the arms of his chair, about to say something, when Xander yet again makes that small bit of physical contact and leans over to him.
    "Ii'n da yo, himitsu ja nai.  Kare ni setsumei shite."  Lys releases his grip on the chair but doesn't look very convinced.
    "Sou wakatte imasu.  Demo, sorera ni shinpai suru wa ne.  Sono basho wa kiken'na arimasu."  Chuckling, Xander straightens and sips his tea, leaning on the side of Lys's chair.
    "Like I said, it's okay.  We've got our best out there and she arrives tomorrow.  News of this is probably gonna blow up anyway soon enough.  Besides, he's more likely to help than hinder, yeah?"  With a sigh of resolution, Lys nods.
    "As ever you are correct."  He turns his attention to Tidus and picks up his tea again.  "And you are correct as well, we have had visitors, beyond our usual petitioners and guests.  Azandra of Pax arrived, asking to withdraw a student from my conservatory, with the student's and parent's permission.  They both gave consent, and reluctantly I allowed them to leave together, as I could find no reason on the surface to deny her departure, though I suspected ulterior motives.  Sadly, my assumption was true, and Azandra exerted control over her charge, sending her to establish contact with the members of my network.  I do not know her reasons, not yet, but as she chose to use someone under her direct influence to attempt an audience instead of appearing herself speaks of subterfuge and underhanded intentions.  Fortunately, the girl is clever and resilient, and was able to ask for help before anything unpleasant could occur.  She is now being guarded by members of my network, and my best agent is en route to provide extraction."  He trails off and puts the tea cup down, having not drunk any of it.
    "Mate, you know that you can't save everyone, and she's too far gone.  Stop beating yourself up."
    "I know that, but that doesn't mean I can't still try-"
    "Quit being an idiot!" Xander snaps, quite angry, and Lys jumps at his tone.  "Yes, you should try, and I'm gonna support that, but you need to learn when to let some people go 'cause there's no changing them or their minds."  Lys doesn't reply, reaching for his tea and only getting halfway there before he puts his hand on the desk.  This is clearly a long-standing argument, and it appears that Xander is slowly winning it.