Aurelia
Upon such a display of affection, Ronin might feel her body stiffen momentarily. It had been a long time since anyone had been happy to see her, let alone showed any kind of affection. Been a long time since any human contact at all. But after a moment of hesitation, rather than letting the gesture overwhelm her, Aurelia reciprocated the hug, her arms tentatively wrapping around Ronin's broad shoulders.
When it was over, and she pulled back, she answered his question openly. "The Oerwoud,” her voice was a touch hesitant as her fingers absently traced the worn leather of her bracers, “I.. needed time. To heal, to reflect, to find a way back to myself.”
“And right as I was getting ready to come back, something started… infecting the ecosystem,” her voice lowered and she glanced over for a second to make sure the kids were still playing. She didn’t want to scare them. “The animals, the plants, it’s like they’re sick, Ronin. Or poisoned. Weird creatures swarming out of nowhere… I saw the second moon from there, too…” she looked up at him, her brows threading, concern washing over her green eyes.
“I want to help. I’m not going to stand by and watch. I might not have been here for the war, but I don’t think I would’ve made things much better. Not in the emotional space I was in back then. I would’ve added to the destruction… would’ve made more mistakes I couldn’t take back. When I found out the one person I ever felt true love for, had died.. I was so angry, Ronin.” Her chest tightened, as if she’d forgotten how to breathe. She clutched her chest and squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth as she let the pain come… and go. A sigh escaped. It was not easy to carry on knowing she would never see Milo or feel his warm presence again.
She still wrestled with the guilt of not having been there when she was needed most. For surviving, when others had not.
When it was over, and she pulled back, she answered his question openly. "The Oerwoud,” her voice was a touch hesitant as her fingers absently traced the worn leather of her bracers, “I.. needed time. To heal, to reflect, to find a way back to myself.”
“And right as I was getting ready to come back, something started… infecting the ecosystem,” her voice lowered and she glanced over for a second to make sure the kids were still playing. She didn’t want to scare them. “The animals, the plants, it’s like they’re sick, Ronin. Or poisoned. Weird creatures swarming out of nowhere… I saw the second moon from there, too…” she looked up at him, her brows threading, concern washing over her green eyes.
“I want to help. I’m not going to stand by and watch. I might not have been here for the war, but I don’t think I would’ve made things much better. Not in the emotional space I was in back then. I would’ve added to the destruction… would’ve made more mistakes I couldn’t take back. When I found out the one person I ever felt true love for, had died.. I was so angry, Ronin.” Her chest tightened, as if she’d forgotten how to breathe. She clutched her chest and squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth as she let the pain come… and go. A sigh escaped. It was not easy to carry on knowing she would never see Milo or feel his warm presence again.
She still wrestled with the guilt of not having been there when she was needed most. For surviving, when others had not.
What is clear is what is gold
You're only human after all
You're only human after all
