She bows to no one.
Maea's outburst only served to heighten her anger. "Have you heard a word I've said?!" She slammed her hands on the desk in frustration. "Appearances really are deceiving," Thal threw the words back at her, "because I didn't think you were still a frail, scared little girl who takes the easy way out." Her eyes narrowed in pointed accusation as she leaned forward, speaking in a lethal voice. "If they thought you a burden, too weak to survive, they would have sacrificed you to the monsters the day you were born. If you truly believe yourself to be that feeble person, you are indeed not the intelligent person I thought you to be." The pause was poignant with intentional insult. If Maea thought she was - and is - a weak person, all the belief that Thal had in her was sorely misplaced.
Grinding her teeth and baring her fangs, Thal continued her tirade. "If appearances really are deceiving, why can't you acknowledge that your family saw more in you than just a fragile and broken body? If you truly knew them and their hearts, why are you so blind to the love and affection they obviously had - and still have - for you?" She pointed to the simmering figure in the corner. "Do you think she came here to guilt you into depression? Or to prevent you from ever finding joy? Because I don't think that's the case." Maea appeared to think that Thal had just wandered through a field of daisies to get here, unable to see the months of struggling she did to learn the world while protecting herself from its dangers alone. "I may not have grown up here but I sure as hell know that cowering - whether it's your only choice or not - is no life, just like your family knew it, just like she knew it." Her pointed hand shook in rage. An overwhelming desire to slap the Ancient consumed her thoughts. "Despite your supportive family, you're so delusional about your own capabilities! You're limited by your own perception. What do you hope to achieve by discrediting yourself? You insult every person who has ever put their trust and faith in you - especially your family - by pretending that you are powerless!"
Thal took a rattling breath and gripped the desk's edge, feeling the wood beneath her fingernails. Her body was fully tensed and ready to beat the truth into Maea, but she let her final questions be the blow. "How do you expect to beat the Void and this "Family" if you've already defeated yourself? How are we supposed to follow your lead when you are stuck in the past? How are you going to honor your family by diminishing their sacrifice? Why are you alive?"
Grinding her teeth and baring her fangs, Thal continued her tirade. "If appearances really are deceiving, why can't you acknowledge that your family saw more in you than just a fragile and broken body? If you truly knew them and their hearts, why are you so blind to the love and affection they obviously had - and still have - for you?" She pointed to the simmering figure in the corner. "Do you think she came here to guilt you into depression? Or to prevent you from ever finding joy? Because I don't think that's the case." Maea appeared to think that Thal had just wandered through a field of daisies to get here, unable to see the months of struggling she did to learn the world while protecting herself from its dangers alone. "I may not have grown up here but I sure as hell know that cowering - whether it's your only choice or not - is no life, just like your family knew it, just like she knew it." Her pointed hand shook in rage. An overwhelming desire to slap the Ancient consumed her thoughts. "Despite your supportive family, you're so delusional about your own capabilities! You're limited by your own perception. What do you hope to achieve by discrediting yourself? You insult every person who has ever put their trust and faith in you - especially your family - by pretending that you are powerless!"
Thal took a rattling breath and gripped the desk's edge, feeling the wood beneath her fingernails. Her body was fully tensed and ready to beat the truth into Maea, but she let her final questions be the blow. "How do you expect to beat the Void and this "Family" if you've already defeated yourself? How are we supposed to follow your lead when you are stuck in the past? How are you going to honor your family by diminishing their sacrifice? Why are you alive?"
Thalassa
