She bows to no one.
Seeing Maea in such physical pain was difficult to swallow. She wished she could end the suffering, wipe away her guilt, give her peace. But that wasn't something Thal could give her because it wasn't hers to give. The gore of the slaughtered children must have been traumatizing and Thal was sure the images were seared into her mind. There was no erasing those memories. Unfortunately, it sounded like there was also no blame to disperse and no table to turn. It was just a regrettable circumstance with a depressing outcome.
Thal looked at Maea, caving into herself with that haunted look in her eyes, then shifted her attention to the woman in the corner. It had started to take a more recognizable shape, deep-set eyes boring into Maea's back with malice. While staring straight at the figure, Thal asked, "Did they love you?" The rhetorical question was simple, directed for her fellow Ancient. Thal had never been good at comforting people. Her shoulder was stiff and useless for crying on. But she knew how to recognize intentions and start fights. She watched to make sure the specter was paying attention. "They let you leave. They wanted you to live. Although the additional food was an excuse, they knew that even if they couldn't survive, you could. You were the strongest of them with the best chance at living." Each word was enunciated with furvert and her voice had risen. Thal stood and looked down at Maea. Her voice grew low. "Hiding scared in their home wasn't 'living.' Their hope died long before the monster got them. Their dying wish was for you to survive." Leaning forward onto the desk, she brought her face closer. "And you have done more than just survive. You have thrived. You have grown stronger despite your traumas and trials. You have made a place for yourself in this world. You are actively trying to make it a better place for others. You are good."
As the word echoed through the icy chill of the room, Thal straightened, focusing once more on the ghost. A fiery anger colored her next words. "If your family doesn't recognize this and rejoice in all that you have done in their memory, your love for them was exponentially more than their love for you." The challenge stood in the air while the rain continued to pelt the Atheneum, a drone of noise being the only sign that time itself did not freeze.
Thal looked at Maea, caving into herself with that haunted look in her eyes, then shifted her attention to the woman in the corner. It had started to take a more recognizable shape, deep-set eyes boring into Maea's back with malice. While staring straight at the figure, Thal asked, "Did they love you?" The rhetorical question was simple, directed for her fellow Ancient. Thal had never been good at comforting people. Her shoulder was stiff and useless for crying on. But she knew how to recognize intentions and start fights. She watched to make sure the specter was paying attention. "They let you leave. They wanted you to live. Although the additional food was an excuse, they knew that even if they couldn't survive, you could. You were the strongest of them with the best chance at living." Each word was enunciated with furvert and her voice had risen. Thal stood and looked down at Maea. Her voice grew low. "Hiding scared in their home wasn't 'living.' Their hope died long before the monster got them. Their dying wish was for you to survive." Leaning forward onto the desk, she brought her face closer. "And you have done more than just survive. You have thrived. You have grown stronger despite your traumas and trials. You have made a place for yourself in this world. You are actively trying to make it a better place for others. You are good."
As the word echoed through the icy chill of the room, Thal straightened, focusing once more on the ghost. A fiery anger colored her next words. "If your family doesn't recognize this and rejoice in all that you have done in their memory, your love for them was exponentially more than their love for you." The challenge stood in the air while the rain continued to pelt the Atheneum, a drone of noise being the only sign that time itself did not freeze.
Thalassa
