Faith and Counsel, Strife Within

In the end, Roland did not agree to volunteer for the Wild Hunt genetic modification experiment. Instead, he told John he needed time to think. John seemed unsurprised and readily agreed, telling Roland he could come to the Governor's Office with his answer whenever he had made up his mind. Then he let them both leave.

By the time Roland emerged from the office, his brow furrowed, it was already noon.

According to the duty roster, his shift was over.

But instead of returning to his quarters to rest, he went up onto the city wall and silently gazed across Revival City. Siegfried had followed him up at some point and now sat on an empty cannon mount nearby, watching the distant blast furnaces belch white smoke. Neither spoke. Time crept by in that strange silence until Roland finally broke it. "Siegfried, can you tell me why you're willing to undergo this experiment? Aren't you afraid you might die?" Siegfried did not answer at once. After a few seconds of silence, he said slowly:

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid. According to Governor John, this experiment will use my own magic power as its foundation. If anything goes wrong, I could drop dead on the spot."

"Then why would you—"

"Because I trust the governor's judgment. I trust that he won't let that happen!"

Siegfried smiled at Roland's startled look. Then, as though remembering something, he spoke with a note of reflection in his voice.

"Come to think of it, Roland, I don't believe I've ever told you about my younger days. When I first came of age, I wasn't nearly as steady as I am now. I was a rather... stubborn young man. After I survived drinking from the Lake of Magic Power and gained the