Zavien
It was impossible for him to focus, the information still rattling through his brain worse than any of the earthquakes that had captured Stormbreak. Any semblance of control threatened to fall from the shelves of his mind, crashing and shattering in a deafening sound. Through the cacophony, Zavien barely had the capacity to see Soh's underlying distress. The devastation and heartbreak were expected, his eyes registering that for what it was; but he couldn't read the guilt, the self-blame gripping her, not when he was still grasping his own emotions, wondering what he could have done differently.
He didn't chase Soh, giving her space to process while he strengthened his resolve to do what was needed. His head shook at her question - his hand finally falling from his hair with the motion - giving the answer despite the treacherous path Safrin had presented regardless. "There is a slim possibility that we could save the city, if we recruited the help of others and pushed every Breaker to work nonstop for the next few weeks. Safrin said it might be saved." Knowing how painful false hope could be, Zavien didn't let the option take root.
Taking a deep breath, he braced for the truth of what the goddess had said. "But," lifting his eyes to Soh, he didn't sugarcoat the reality, "the risk of loss would be great, the damages extensive, and the death toll immeasurable." They needed to put aside their own wishes to save a place, and his tone softened as he explained, "For the good of the people, we have to use what little time we have left to evacuate, to get everyone out."
The confession hit harder, a pain stabbing through his chest as he vocalized the difficult conclusion he'd come to, simplifying it with a shaking breath. "Soh, we have to leave."
He didn't chase Soh, giving her space to process while he strengthened his resolve to do what was needed. His head shook at her question - his hand finally falling from his hair with the motion - giving the answer despite the treacherous path Safrin had presented regardless. "There is a slim possibility that we could save the city, if we recruited the help of others and pushed every Breaker to work nonstop for the next few weeks. Safrin said it might be saved." Knowing how painful false hope could be, Zavien didn't let the option take root.
Taking a deep breath, he braced for the truth of what the goddess had said. "But," lifting his eyes to Soh, he didn't sugarcoat the reality, "the risk of loss would be great, the damages extensive, and the death toll immeasurable." They needed to put aside their own wishes to save a place, and his tone softened as he explained, "For the good of the people, we have to use what little time we have left to evacuate, to get everyone out."
The confession hit harder, a pain stabbing through his chest as he vocalized the difficult conclusion he'd come to, simplifying it with a shaking breath. "Soh, we have to leave."
A flower cannot blossom without sunshine,
and man cannot live without love.
and man cannot live without love.
