U-SKALD03 (Aug 12, 2022)
Puzzle
"A changing world."
Knowledge – II | 7 Words
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: More like a changed world.
Clue 2: 'The world has changed...'
Answer and Explanation
Answer: People Don't Dream Like They Used To
Explanation: In C-BMAD06 of Date With Death, Mrs. Ballard says this after remarking that the world has changed.
Summary of Receipt
Summary
Transcript
Days turned to months which then turned to years as time marched on. With each passing day, Eve spent more and more time with Abraxas in Skald. At first, she split her time between the Skald and Arcadia to help Demiurge rebuild Eden. But over time, she began to spend entire weeks in just the Skald. And then months. Then years.
Eve and Abraxas had, over time, built a small village together, brick by brick, using nothing more than the Archons' own hands and a few mundane tools. They worked together, side by side, in Skald's endless hours. Still, Abraxas couldn't help but feel that everything they were building together would be temporary. Eve would never stay in Skald for good, no matter how much he wanted her to. As long as there was a chance to go home to Eden, she would return to it. Abraxas knew this, and yet he still held out hope that one day, given the chance, Eve would choose to stay with him in Skald.
One morning, Abraxas awoke and made his usual pot of coffee for himself and Eve. He sat alone at the small wooden table in his cabin and watched the Skald's sunlight filter through the pine trees. The light cast dappled shadows on the wooden floor, creating a dance of light and dark. He stared into the murky depths of his black coffee and sighed.
"You know, Eve, I have to confess something to you," Abraxas said, closing his eyes as he took a sip from his mug.
"Hm?" Eve murmured, lifting her head slightly from its usual spot on the table.
"I am beginning to think I am… in love with you."
Eve's eyes grew wide. She didn't say anything in response, just sat there quietly for a moment, then she lifted her head to take a sip of her coffee. Abraxas waited patiently for her to speak. To respond. To acknowledge what he had said. But she didn't. The silence lingered like an autumn chill.
"I—I'm sorry, Eve. I shouldn't have—"
"It's okay," Eve interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No, it's not. That wasn't fair of me. I just—I wanted you to know how I felt. In case there was a chance. In case I never saw you again."
"What do you mean?"
"When we started working together, I had hoped that you would choose to stay here. To stay with me. But, of course, you won't. I couldn't ask that of you." Abraxas took another sip of his coffee. It was cold now.
"You could come with me, you know."
Abraxas shook his head. "I have work to do, Eve. I can't abandon Skald."
"Then… I will stay," Eve replied.
Abraxas nearly choked on his coffee. He coughed, trying to regain his composure, then he slowly lowered the mug back down to the table. "You can't. Once Eden is restored, Demiurge will want you there. He'll need you there. We all agreed—"
"I haven't seen Eden in years, decades now. I don't even remember what happened to it. All of my memories… all of the good ones? They're with you. With your Skald. Our Skald. If you want me to stay, then I will stay."
"You can't mean that."
"I can and I do. I will stay." Eve reached out and placed a hand on top of Abraxas', the warmth of her touch spreading through his entire body. Abraxas looked into Eve's eyes and smiled.
Something finally seemed to change.