That she answered him when her own heart was breaking was a gift beyond words, and Hadama bowed his head deeply, humbled by her compassion. Her touch may have been gentle, but it caused a fresh ache in his own heart at her loss. Their loss. The loss to Caido, that it would never now know what Seren would become, and the great things she would have done.
He did not usually reach out to Safrin, content to let her choose when to bestow the touch of galactic fingers upon his mortal flesh. But he was less mortal than he had been, and there was no solace to be found in distance now. So he reached out to her, to try and touch the hand she had extended. To fold it within his own, offering his warmth if she allowed him.
To pull it closer, to press against his chest over his heart, which beat blood blessed with starlight through his veins. She was a gentle soul. Full of light, and kindness. She had been his friend. One who would have become family if they had been allowed the time, bound by their connection to Safrin and their love of Torchline. I cannot return her. But I can share my memories of our times together with you. I do not... His thoughts paused, hesitated as plans yet half-formed drifted beneath the surface.
Seren's death could not go unanswered.
I do not wish them to be lost. If anything should happen to the Tidebreaker in the coming weeks and seasons, Seren's mother should have all that remained of her daughter. He would not be so selfish as to take those precious memories into danger without ensuring their protection. That someone else would carry them on into the future.
He did not usually reach out to Safrin, content to let her choose when to bestow the touch of galactic fingers upon his mortal flesh. But he was less mortal than he had been, and there was no solace to be found in distance now. So he reached out to her, to try and touch the hand she had extended. To fold it within his own, offering his warmth if she allowed him.
To pull it closer, to press against his chest over his heart, which beat blood blessed with starlight through his veins. She was a gentle soul. Full of light, and kindness. She had been his friend. One who would have become family if they had been allowed the time, bound by their connection to Safrin and their love of Torchline. I cannot return her. But I can share my memories of our times together with you. I do not... His thoughts paused, hesitated as plans yet half-formed drifted beneath the surface.
Seren's death could not go unanswered.
I do not wish them to be lost. If anything should happen to the Tidebreaker in the coming weeks and seasons, Seren's mother should have all that remained of her daughter. He would not be so selfish as to take those precious memories into danger without ensuring their protection. That someone else would carry them on into the future.
