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>>142422"The closest connection to the spirit, and greatest tranquility of mind comes where that is so." She answers
>>142425He tilts his head at her.
"Why is it not?"
>>142426“Because they are opposites, as opposite as things can be. Spirit is that which is One, Eternal, Immaterial, Unchanging, Immutable. It is just the same now as it was before the world was as we know now, and as it shall be when all is renewed. It knows no time. And through it, Kylan - creatures - may achieve unity, bliss, and peace. But passions? Passions belong to the material. The worldly. It is many, temporary, ever changing, and corruptible. Its forms last only a moment, ever changing shapes, being created and destroyed, and lasting moment to moment. It can know no peace, for change is its very essence. It cannot know immortality, for it is trapped in time. Those who align their souls with the worldly will find themselves much the same, forever in conflict, inhabited fleeting bodies, and always in pain and disruption.”
>>142427"Hmm...Khoi? Would you be willing to hear me out, as to my own philosophy on matter?"
>>142428I will hear you, but I know what I believe" She answers
>>142429He nods.
"Our souls originate from spirit, yes? And without souls, we would not be truly alive?"
>>142430"Parts of being come from spirit, yes."
>>142431He nods again.
"What would you associate passion with? What element, or aspect of this world is passion most like?"
>>142432"The material. The world itself. It changes from moment to moment, it does not last, it brings conflict, and even if you sate it, it is back again."
>>142433"It is much like fire, is it not?"
>>142435He smiles, and nods once again.
"Passion is Fire, and Fire is change taken form. Fire is born, it grows old, and it will die. Just like life. It is immutable fact of life, in fact. Life
is change."
>>142437"So, passion is fire, fire is change, life is change, life comes from soul, and soul comes from spirit. Could it be correlated that passion and spirit are related?"
>>142438"No no. Life and soul are not the same. Not much at all. The former is of the world. The later, in those noble parts, partakes in spirit."
>>142440"I did not say life and soul was same, I said live comes from soul."
>>142442"So, do you see connection?"
>>142443She presses her lips together, and her eyes look upwards into the vaulted ceiling
"Hmmm... no."
>>142444Silver looks down and lets out a sigh.
"No, I...did not think you would. I am not as good at explaining myself or making arguments as anyone I have met, you included. What I believe, is that life is short and that it is not dishonorable seek out that which gives you pleasure and happiness in its duration, provided you do not interfere in other's search for happiness."
>>142445"But life's shortness is one of the reasons why the cycle should be escaped. To escape the cycle of misery."
She blinks, and there is a slight pause before she continues.
"Don't you know?
Everything is connected. Everything you do. This is true of the material world just as surely as that of the physical. Everything you do affects somekyla... - somecreature else. If you farm a plot of land, then someone else is not farming it. If you sit home and do not work, then the baubles you did not make are not for sale to someone else. And in love above all other things, that affects two. Maybe more. So let it be done with a view to what is eternal, to your own tranquility, and to the wellbeing of others..."
She blinks again
"That is what the teachings long written down say. But we barely live by that in my country. And your country has never lived by those teachings. It has never had them..."
Now, she is silent, taking a long breath out
>>142447"There is only one way to truly escape cycle. That is to die. No matter how close you may come to Spirit, you are still bound to your body in Material. Until then, I see no reason to live my life in misery and loneliness. I have already tried that, and in these past few days of having others around me I have been happier than I have been in years."
>>142449"No. Don't you see?"
In some strange sort of way she sounds almost afraid.
"Death is not an escape from life, any more than winter is the death of all life, or that the death of one king is the end of rule by a kingdom. It is another part of an infinite cycle of misery that repeats endlessly. The only end is the Quenching. The Cessation of Suffering. Becoming One with being, and the end of the cycle..."
She lays down on the bed, placing her forelegs in front of her
"But friendship is good."
>>142450He sighs.
"I do not mean to try to make you give up what you believe in, just to understand different position."
>>142453"Eh...I mean I want you to at least understand different position, not...nevermind."
>>142453>>142454Khoi moves her forelegs together so that they touch. Her hindlegs are pulled under her, pushing her highs as high as her backbone. Her long, griffin-like tail is pulled behind her, off the side of the bed.
"We used to be many in number. All of the kirin lands...
all of the Kirin lands, across the Realm to the Khamare. Many of the deer, including their great conqueror. Even the pony invaders who came from across the sea adopted our wisdom. United. Now, we are fewer. The Deer rejected us long ago, our temples are smashed where they used to dominate the hills in the Realms, and now even half of the Kylan reject the old wisdom. We are now a few walled cities the merchants run along the coast. And here... I knew I would be alone. I should have expected it. I just didn't know how it would feel."
>>142463He looks right at Khoi, right into her eyes.
"When you decided to come here, to Equestria, how long was it for?"
>>142464"To... 'Immigrate.'" She answers
>>142465"I assume that means you mean to stay...I do not mean to suggest you should give up your old customs, but just as deer and ponies who came to your lands adopted your customs and culture, it may be good idea to at least learn about our own. You may reject everything about Equestrian culture, you may fully embrace it, or most likely you will find some to include in your own beliefs, but it would be way to avoid feeling alone in foreign land."
>>142466"I was told Equestria was a land of Friendship and ponies. Where the civil war is over and the wages are higher. It's... It has not been that."
>>142467He shakes a hoof.
"Eh...admittedly it has still only been short time since you were freed from 33 Hoebuck."
>>142468"True..." She says, and looks away
"Still... I wonder if I made the right choice."
>>142469Deciding to take a bit of a risk, Silver reaches out a forehoof, and places it on top of one of Khoi's.
"Do not doubt yourself. You are wonderful, smart kirin and Equestria is lucky to have you. Tartarus,
I am lucky for having known you."
>>142470She moves her head back. Then she smiles, and looks up to Silver
"Why do you say that?"
>>142471"Friendship is best thing anypony can find here in Equestria, but it means nothing without quality friends. Ponies, or in this case kirins, like you are what makes life worth living. You are honest, kind, and generous. You are hard worker and are very talented. You are beautiful both inside and outside. I am sorry that Equestria has not exactly put best hoof forward, but I hope that if you will let me, I can show you best of what we have to offer."
He holds her hoof with one forehoof, and uses the other to pet it.
>>142472She smiles, looking up at Silver with her magenta eyes
"Thank you..."
There is fur on the top side of the hoof just the same as a pony, but like all kirin she has two toes on her feet rather than just one.
"I... haven't exactly been fair to you. You've been very generous. I admire what you did back at that concrete building with those griffins. I am... impressed by your fighting. I don't agree with everything you have done, or everything you say. But you have been very good to me, to Jubilosa, and to those migrants who would have fallen prey to the Griffins. Thank you..."
>>142473He beams a big smile at Khoi, the biggest and brightest so far.
"You are welcome, Khoi. And thank you."
>>142474Her smile has a restraint to it, and she curls up her hoof. She nods to Silver
>>142475"So...what now? Would you want to continue talking? Would you rather we went our separate ways for now? What?"
>>142476"I don't know." She looks away, and then back to him
"Were you serious about your... 'offer'?"
>>142478She blushes, and places a foreleg over her face
"I will consider it" She says
>>142479"That is all I can ask of you."
He sits up in the bed, seemingly in good spirits.
"I suppose I will ask again to be sure: you did not have any questions about intimacy?"
>>142480She looks away, then back to Silver, then away, and then back to Silver
After a pause, she asks
"What is it like?"
>>142481He seems pleasantly surprised that she finally asked him something about the subject. He gladly answers.
"It depends on whether it is good or not, but when it is...it is like you and your partner become as one. Two hearts beat as one, two souls intertwined and inseparable. There is nothing better in this world than looking into eyes of your lover as you are deep in each other's embrace, and enjoying feeling of togetherness."
>>142482She smiles, though she is still blushing
"That's not quite how Jubilosa describes it. But I like your description."
>>142484Silver in turn raises an eyebrow with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"What, pray tell, did she describe it as?"
>>142485"She was more physical. More description of pain and pleasure."