His children were grown, yes, with lives beginning to carve their own shapes, but even so, hey could use more people like this. Bright-hearted. Capable. Unafraid to meet the world with wonder instead of weariness. Ravenna especially, tucked into her apprenticeship, could use a friend her own age. Marcus too, for all his stubborn grit. Even Margot, drifting toward whatever path waited for her. The idea of Nova meeting them settled into him like a small, unexpected hope, and made his smile soften with it.
AS the shrine construction came to a close Noah praised the herald's daughter once more. He removied a glove from his hand and reached out to trace his fingers along the glittering, golden stone she had formed from the dragon eggshells. The light that filtered down into the clearing warmed it and made it sparkle like starlight. Noah breathed out happily, mist curling from his nose, and he was about to ask Nova what she wanted in return for her work when she began crafting another item.
“By the gods,” he said, the words chuffed with genuine admiration. Well, by Safrin. Safrin’s fingerprints were all over her, bright and sure, but the skill was distinctly her own. He’d seen enchantments forged before, yes, but creation was something else entirely. He had always been amazed when Deimos, or Sah, or others crafted things from thin air. That wonder and awe was not lost on Nova.
Noah blinked as Nova vanished, the edges of her laughter shimmering through the air like light refracting off ice. For a moment he simply stood there, glacial eyes sweeping the empty space where she’d been, a slow breath leaving him in something between awe and disbelief. He stepped closer to the sound of her giggles, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It’s incredible, Nova. Truly.” Then his expression shifted, something quieter threading through it. “Just… be careful with it.” He remembered the time he had hit Tal with his magic during voidbeast attack, how easy it had been to lose track of friend someone flickered out of sight. He put his handback in his glove. “In the right hands,” He nodded to where she shimmered unseen, “a tool like that could save lives.” He knew, too, with Deimos having used his cloak to escape from the invasion, and for Noah to use his to slip back into Halo during their exile.
AS the shrine construction came to a close Noah praised the herald's daughter once more. He removied a glove from his hand and reached out to trace his fingers along the glittering, golden stone she had formed from the dragon eggshells. The light that filtered down into the clearing warmed it and made it sparkle like starlight. Noah breathed out happily, mist curling from his nose, and he was about to ask Nova what she wanted in return for her work when she began crafting another item.
“By the gods,” he said, the words chuffed with genuine admiration. Well, by Safrin. Safrin’s fingerprints were all over her, bright and sure, but the skill was distinctly her own. He’d seen enchantments forged before, yes, but creation was something else entirely. He had always been amazed when Deimos, or Sah, or others crafted things from thin air. That wonder and awe was not lost on Nova.
Noah blinked as Nova vanished, the edges of her laughter shimmering through the air like light refracting off ice. For a moment he simply stood there, glacial eyes sweeping the empty space where she’d been, a slow breath leaving him in something between awe and disbelief. He stepped closer to the sound of her giggles, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It’s incredible, Nova. Truly.” Then his expression shifted, something quieter threading through it. “Just… be careful with it.” He remembered the time he had hit Tal with his magic during voidbeast attack, how easy it had been to lose track of friend someone flickered out of sight. He put his handback in his glove. “In the right hands,” He nodded to where she shimmered unseen, “a tool like that could save lives.” He knew, too, with Deimos having used his cloak to escape from the invasion, and for Noah to use his to slip back into Halo during their exile.
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