Valkyrie
The paper is slightly damp and crinkled from tearstains, though they are now dried and indistinguishable. A faint smell of salt and wildflowers hovers over imperfect handwriting - it's clear this was written outside.
Remi,
You've given me a gift I can never repay. I do wish you'd stop doing that - you know how I hate favors, even ones owed to my favorite people. I can't have you calling them in on something ridiculous like more demigod-bonding sessions.
I'm sure you can see right through me even through a letter. I wish you'd stop doing that too.
His name was is Ru'in, and the name you heard - Romina - was correct. They're my children. My twins - my first twins. I never knew if Romina made it here, or if Ru'in ever made it to Mort. He died days before the Voice brought me here, and Kiada said his soul was stuck somehow outside of his reach. I don't know if you can understand the pain of that uncertainty, but it's a wound I've carried for years. And I don't know what to say except thank you. Thank you, Remi.
Romina would care more for flowery words, but Ru'in only needs to know this:
I love you my prince. I'm sorry I came too late to hold you one more time. Be happy, build every machine and palace hall you can imagine. I can't wait for you to show me each and every one.
-
I don't know if you can send messages back in return. If you can't, please don't tell me. I don't want to know. You may not be the Lullaby anymore, but you've always been so good at letting me dream.
Write me more often, won't you?
Remi,
You've given me a gift I can never repay. I do wish you'd stop doing that - you know how I hate favors, even ones owed to my favorite people. I can't have you calling them in on something ridiculous like more demigod-bonding sessions.
I'm sure you can see right through me even through a letter. I wish you'd stop doing that too.
His name was is Ru'in, and the name you heard - Romina - was correct. They're my children. My twins - my first twins. I never knew if Romina made it here, or if Ru'in ever made it to Mort. He died days before the Voice brought me here, and Kiada said his soul was stuck somehow outside of his reach. I don't know if you can understand the pain of that uncertainty, but it's a wound I've carried for years. And I don't know what to say except thank you. Thank you, Remi.
Romina would care more for flowery words, but Ru'in only needs to know this:
I love you my prince. I'm sorry I came too late to hold you one more time. Be happy, build every machine and palace hall you can imagine. I can't wait for you to show me each and every one.
-
I don't know if you can send messages back in return. If you can't, please don't tell me. I don't want to know. You may not be the Lullaby anymore, but you've always been so good at letting me dream.
Write me more often, won't you?
Sincerely,
Hotaru Kaito the Valkyrie
Hotaru Kaito the Valkyrie
