jeido | [Empatheias] TDM + Emotion Sample

- Prompt D -

[Jade was no stranger to dangerous tasks, having undertaken several lifetimes' worth not too long ago, no thanks--usually--to a certain scheming emperor. As such, climbing mountains and following winding tunnels--even with the caveat of changing direction whimsically--to Piphron's domain should have been child's play for him.]

["Should have", being the keyword.]

[It sounded simple enough on paper, yet no amount of preparation made him ready for these annoying voices plaguing his head ever since he entered the labyrinth.]

You don't need their help.

You've always managed on your own, haven't you?

Didn't you always say that if you wanted something done, you'd do it yourself? You don't need that "partner" with you.

Besides, who would trust you anyway?

You're the Necromancer, after all.

[He internally scoffed at the voices in his head, well aware that they were a product of the environment he was currently navigating. Succumbing to those thoughts, after all, meant failure and if there was anything Jade detested more than anything else, it was failure.]

[Yet, he could not deny that a small part of him did feel affected, if the slight tightening of his chest was any indication, as was the dull ache in the back of his head. After all, it was practically the only thing in his mind for the last few hours, and the worst part was that they were all actually true.]

[Whether it was plain and simple annoyance or something else, that remained up in the air.]

[Without looking back at his companion, he continued walking, keeping his expression level as he did so. In difficult situations, it usually fell on him to keep a calm front, and he found no reason to break the tradition now, of all times.]

[Even if his companion literally had no reason to trust him.]

- Prompt F1 -

[Staring at the clump dirt in front of him, Jade could only hold back a sigh as he wondered why the seedling underneath simply would not grow as it was supposed to.]

"...Hmm."

[Being a quick learner capable of producing equally fast results, it was quite a baffling experience for him. Theory said that he had to channel some sort of emotion into it, but his usual calm was barely effective for this particular endeavor, only managing to produce a small sprout in each session before it reverted back to a seedling underneath the barren soil when he left.]

[Yet, it was the closest emotion that came to affecting the plant, so he took to experimenting with various meditation techniques nearby and checking on the plant's growth at the end of one round.]

---

[An hour later, he released a deep breath and opened his eyes. Not one, but two small leaves were poking out of the soil, and he could not help but grin to himself at this additional amount of progress. Small victories, or so he told himself.]

[As he suppressed his smile of satisfaction, the sprout grew another leaf, much to his surprise. Staring at the plant in muted wonder, he started to rethink his initial premise for this particular problem. Was joy, perhaps, the key...?]

- Prompt G -

[As fate would have had it, someone's hand was also on the shop's last pack of tofu.]

My apologies, but perhaps you'd be kind enough to give way to this old man? Travel isn't easy on my poor, aching joints.

[He gave the other a bright smile--a dangerous type that could definitely burn if refused. It was the first time he saw his favorite food item on sale in this world, and he was not about to easily pass up the chance to secure something familiar for a change.]