I will still be here, stargazing
Little by little, the shale Iskra bore around him like a cloak crumbled away. Each attempt at hiding recently had been disrupted by some soul or another, strangers and friends alike. For the first time in a long time, Iskra felt like he'd lifted a hand above the wreckage and felt someone's grip reach out in turn, a silent promise to lift him up if only he wouldn't let go. Was it the threat facing Caido now that inspired a greater sense of community in others, that had them reaching out now when he had not felt their fingertips before? Or was it small changes in Iskra that had wormed their way in over the years despite his best (and worst) efforts? He wasn't certain, he only knew that there was a shift.
Deimos had always been a savior for Iskra in that regard. He had offered the man a home and a meager purpose. He had helped keep Iskra alive all these years, buried or otherwise, even if he didn't fully realize it. So Iskra savored this private moment with the Warden and his murmured wisdom of preparations and cautious thoughts of dangers descending upon them all. "I'm guessing you've also got plans to rebuild the springs?" Iskra asked already expecting a certain answer. "I'm happy to help where needed." That was the truth of it. If he did not have the magic or the might to stand against the Family or Starfall as the Resurrected Sword could, he'd find his own strengths and abilities. He could help them rebuild their cleansing waters. Iskra was not the strongest, but he could provide manual labor; he'd always at least been good at that.
Training in the barracks or the academy still felt daunting, as if asking for a strength that Iskra was certain he did not possess. Perhaps he'd find it in the rubble once he was no longer buried in it
Deimo's question lifted Iskra's gaze to the bough he held. Iskra walked closer, scrutiny molding his face as he ran a finger down the wood's exterior in appraisal. "Excellent eyes, that will work perfectly!" Iskra's voice lifted with a warm excitement as he found the branch not only suitable, but precisely what he'd needed. He kept hold of his own subpar find, a backup, just in case. "Excellent timing too, I don't really want to linger where the voidshade ursur are." Although he knew they were more than safe with Deimos' talents, he'd rather not tussle with infected wildlife if he could avoid it.
Deimos had always been a savior for Iskra in that regard. He had offered the man a home and a meager purpose. He had helped keep Iskra alive all these years, buried or otherwise, even if he didn't fully realize it. So Iskra savored this private moment with the Warden and his murmured wisdom of preparations and cautious thoughts of dangers descending upon them all. "I'm guessing you've also got plans to rebuild the springs?" Iskra asked already expecting a certain answer. "I'm happy to help where needed." That was the truth of it. If he did not have the magic or the might to stand against the Family or Starfall as the Resurrected Sword could, he'd find his own strengths and abilities. He could help them rebuild their cleansing waters. Iskra was not the strongest, but he could provide manual labor; he'd always at least been good at that.
Training in the barracks or the academy still felt daunting, as if asking for a strength that Iskra was certain he did not possess. Perhaps he'd find it in the rubble once he was no longer buried in it
Deimo's question lifted Iskra's gaze to the bough he held. Iskra walked closer, scrutiny molding his face as he ran a finger down the wood's exterior in appraisal. "Excellent eyes, that will work perfectly!" Iskra's voice lifted with a warm excitement as he found the branch not only suitable, but precisely what he'd needed. He kept hold of his own subpar find, a backup, just in case. "Excellent timing too, I don't really want to linger where the voidshade ursur are." Although he knew they were more than safe with Deimos' talents, he'd rather not tussle with infected wildlife if he could avoid it.
Iskra
