and everybody's gotta breathe somehow
The labyrinth had held distractions indeed, not just for Alys, but for her parents as well. She remembered sneaking off into the hedges, her parents left far behind, so that she could play with the squirrels. They'd been one of the first creatures she'd ever tested her magic on; to this day, she could create a reasonably realistic Speaking Squirrel with her illusions. The memory brought a smile to her face, and for a moment, she was tempted to tease Belial further with a merrily calling squirrel, but the notion faded quickly. It seemed cruel, now that the creature had finally calmed, to stir him up again.
With regard to Halo, her thoughts spiraled and unfurled as Deimos described his vision, and she nodded along as he spoke of safety and strength. That much, she had expected. So, too, did the thought of improved quality of life make sense. But Stormbreak - and a connection with them - gave her pause. She hadn't realized that they had any meaningful connection with a place that barred Abandoned entry, and she wasn't sure that she wanted one. After all, if they hated magic users enough to ban them from their city, why should she wish anything to do with them?
But she'd thought the same of the gods, hadn't she, and her mind was slowly changing with regard to them. Perhaps she was being too hasty with Stormbreak as well.
"Are we self-sufficient?" she wanted to know. "Are there opportunities for trade with other regions?" She was sure that there must be things that Halo had that others didn't, and vice versa. There were plenty of other places in the world, after all.
With regard to Halo, her thoughts spiraled and unfurled as Deimos described his vision, and she nodded along as he spoke of safety and strength. That much, she had expected. So, too, did the thought of improved quality of life make sense. But Stormbreak - and a connection with them - gave her pause. She hadn't realized that they had any meaningful connection with a place that barred Abandoned entry, and she wasn't sure that she wanted one. After all, if they hated magic users enough to ban them from their city, why should she wish anything to do with them?
But she'd thought the same of the gods, hadn't she, and her mind was slowly changing with regard to them. Perhaps she was being too hasty with Stormbreak as well.
"Are we self-sufficient?" she wanted to know. "Are there opportunities for trade with other regions?" She was sure that there must be things that Halo had that others didn't, and vice versa. There were plenty of other places in the world, after all.
ALYS
