Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?
Are you death or paradise?
When Thal had left the Festival of Lights weeks ago, she'd thought that a new level of healing had been achieved, one of acceptance and flickering hope to free her soul. She'd somehow convinced herself that Maea might still live, and that one day they may cross paths again. It was something she'd told herself to ease the guilt; a fleeting, impossible idea that she'd clung to for selfish reasons. A way to help her move on.
Never - in a million years - had she expected those intangible thoughts to take physical form.
She froze, wondering if the spirits had decided to play another crueler trick on her. There could be no other explanation for the pale figure before her. Because if Maea was truly alive, what reason would she have for hiding? Why would she torture her like this? Perhaps she'd deserved some form of avoidance, but to leave her thinking she was dead for months? It felt cruel.
So, certainly, the image before her must be some strange vision or facade, a trick of her mind to reignite old feelings as LongNight approached. Yet the heat of the flames wasn't something she could deny. Its proximity was like a brush against her mind, thawing the ice that had crystallized in her head.
The emotions transformed and passed in such a blur that Thal couldn't identify a single one, overwhelmed with the shock that flooded her system. Her fire winked out, too stunned to summon the magic any longer. Even her breath solidified in her chest, releasing a single, raspy breath too soft for anyone else but the mirage to hear, "Maea?"
Never - in a million years - had she expected those intangible thoughts to take physical form.
She froze, wondering if the spirits had decided to play another crueler trick on her. There could be no other explanation for the pale figure before her. Because if Maea was truly alive, what reason would she have for hiding? Why would she torture her like this? Perhaps she'd deserved some form of avoidance, but to leave her thinking she was dead for months? It felt cruel.
So, certainly, the image before her must be some strange vision or facade, a trick of her mind to reignite old feelings as LongNight approached. Yet the heat of the flames wasn't something she could deny. Its proximity was like a brush against her mind, thawing the ice that had crystallized in her head.
The emotions transformed and passed in such a blur that Thal couldn't identify a single one, overwhelmed with the shock that flooded her system. Her fire winked out, too stunned to summon the magic any longer. Even her breath solidified in her chest, releasing a single, raspy breath too soft for anyone else but the mirage to hear, "Maea?"
Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die
There's just no time to die
Thalassa
