Life had a strange way of projecting onto others and for Dominek, it did so in ways where both truth and reality sometimes blurred. However even with his own shortcomings he came to understand how Faith saw things, and quite honestly it both humored as well as humbled the ghost. The toll of this war seemed even more present lately now more than ever, and the sadder part was things had only just been getting started. Truthfully were it the words of someone else he would've found them hard to swallow, but coming from Faith they sunk in deeper than he expected to.
It led to a period where he only stood in silence while listening to her, his ectoplasm swirling about in two various cycles; one a slow and serene while the other quick and frantic. Clearly he felt at war with himself more than anything, but the truth behind Faith's words weren't something to overlook either. Before there had always been the reasoning that Patrick was always his little brother, and that he simply didn't know better since he easily made mistakes.
Except now... Now he saw the error with that logic. Patrick would always be his younger sibling, but no longer was he a little brother anymore. It made sense now as to why that thinking didn't help the situation, and why Faith was right in saying it disempowered the Rharnian.
Sure enough she also knew he had to have come here for far more than just apologies, which followed with an assurance of no grudges and compliment afterwards. Were he still alive he certainly would've buckled a little, barely able to choke back the emotions that clouded his ethereal form now. The older brother couldn't help but look a little conflicted with her words, but nevertheless project a faint smile of appreciation in return.
"Your exactly right. It's... actually unfair." Maybe now he was being selfish, but the thoughts clearly couldn't be kept at bay.
"Others may notice it but not in the way I have, just now, but this whole war has gone too far. For you especially. You've sacrificed so much, and as you are now the demands just keep coming. From every angle."
He shook his head.
"Patrick may be lucky to have me, but everyone in the world is lucky to have you. You can try to deny it but respectively, you remain the example that people like me try to live by." Dominek's brows furrowed as the tone matched the levity Faith displayed earlier in her words.
"It's why this time I'm only going to ask for help only once more. After this, I'm going to make sure I live a better person... sort of." Granted he was still dead and a ghost for now, but come the time that changed he'd certainly back that promise. Which was why he wanted this to be the final time Faith helped, for Dominek had quickly realized from her words earlier what Patrick needed. Yet he couldn't help but sigh before even beginning...
"All aside from being the pain in the ass that he is, Patrick's honestly let himself go a little too far lately. At the meeting he intended to update you on things, but I doubt he would've given the full disclosure either." There was no second guessing in his mind now, if Pat was to be saved from the path he struggled on; then he needed the best influence Dominek could think of.
"Not that it matters anymore, after what Maxine said that Trial. But the problems stem from before that, back before The Fall started Patrick was one of those attempting to address the situation. He..."
Suddenly it seemed to hurt to reflect on the moment.
"He gave up a couple lofty sacrifices like the others there, the most important one being all the light found within his soul. He gave up all the good in him which everyone around him influenced, you especially, in hopes that it'd somehow save both Emea and the world."
The ghost looked mournfully at Faith now, more so over what took place after The Fall began.
"Afterwards he's done things, hurt others, even given into his impulses once night falls. Overall he's tried but vainly struggled to remain the same ever since. But aside from that point, I think that ultimately..." Another pained sigh softly echoed from his ethereal lips.
"Ultimately it's led to him caring less about himself and more about others. The fact that this war is already costing so much out of everyone doesn't help, as it's likely the reason why he's so willingly dug his own grave. You're certainly not wrong about how he feels, which is why he's desperate to make up the difference. While he believes it the best he can do, all the efforts have only done bad on his behalf; only just to contact the Shadow Network in Rharne."
Dominek then returned his focus back to Faith.
"Even after what it's costed him, Patrick went through with the deal they've made. By now his pride is all but gone at this point, and playing the rogue pawn will only get him killed. If not by one of Ellasin's own, then surely by the Shadow Network itself. Unless someone who I know is both strong and stubborn, can do the very thing I couldn't strive to before." At that point he softly smiled to Faith.
"Which is where you come in. I know... after everything you've had to endure, a matter as trivial as this shouldn't even be asked. But Patrick though... Pat needs someone who can be like that once more, if anything you don't have to be soft on him at all! In fact I implore a good ass kicking, if that's what you would prefer to do instead. He just... he needs someone who isn't afraid to hold back, someone who's willing to point him the way; the right way." At the end of his speech, Dominek respectively bowed with appreciation towards Faith. Were it anybody else then he would've likely asked a lot, hell it already felt like a lot to put on Faith already.
Except his little brother wasn't out of the fight yet, and if she were willing then Dominek also had an idea of his own maintain.
"Patrick", "Follower"
