DEIMOS
Heave the silver hollow sliver
Deimos was not an individual to simply hand out compliments – high expectations fluidly combined with reaching, teaching efforts – but Evie had markedly improved from where she’d been, and the notion that she’d deigned to practice, when so many others couldn’t be bothered, should’ve been commended. The General nodded at her thanks, shrugging for a moment at the off-handed notion of creating the targets, for it wasn’t a hassle at all. In a matter of moments, his calculating mind concocted the gilded aura in his hands again, extending in an unfurling motion: something akin to a balloon, with a long stretch attached, held lightly in his fingers while he released the floating device out beyond Evie and her knife. If she shot it and it popped, he could easily replace it with another, and he could tug on the string to maneuver it. For now, it merely bobbed and hovered, along the touch of a breeze. “Try this?” He inclined his head, another shrug; if she didn’t care for it, he could attempt to orchestrate something else.He demonstrated, taking his weapon back from the fellow Abandoned, extending the string and tension so that it bobbed along, maneuvering seemingly of its own power. He narrowed his eyes in precision, backing up so gain more distance, imagining it as a foe, as an adversary, before winding his wrist back, and tossing. The knife sailed through the air, landing along the floating particles, and with a resounding pop, it deflated, stuck through and through. The beast renewed it instantly, grabbing hold of the munitions that had sunk to the ground.
He doesn’t, however, know what to do with the other compliment thrown his way. He never really had. A majority of the time he doesn’t believe in them – no one from his past would’ve ever called him a good man; manipulative, devious, intimidating, treacherous, and dangerous, but something virtuous? Hardly. His gaze flickered to the soil and earth down below, fingers playing with the knife. “Thank you,” he proffered instead, not quite delving into anything beyond the surface of it. He’ll always strive to do what he could for Amalia, and for the rest of them.
As for if any of these things would be useful, all he could think about was the previous summer. About Zariah’s movements and motions across the earth. About the rebellion simmering in blood and bonds. About violence and vehemence stirred amongst them. “Learning to defend yourself will always be useful.” The more powerful and potent they were, the less the rest of the world could strike, could pummel, or could unleash their bestial shards upon them.
Unite and spread the heart apart
