Amalia watches the white dragon speed in with a pang of guilt, which is only increased as Jyoti follows, cooing worriedly at her new friend. The starcalf settles on her shoulder, nuzzling the baker with soft concern. I know. I'm sorry, she thinks in response, reaching up to stroke the creature over her dorsal fin. Through sable eyes she watches the soldier and his companion, noting the care of his quiet nature, the way he still finds room to smile. Another pang of envy hits her then: not for his life but for his outlook, his ability to have endured such hardship and still persist with kindness and poise.
"You weren't the cause. The Voice was." She shrugs, but there is darkness on her face, guilt assigned where it was due. "It's her fault we were locked away to begin with. You all couldn't have known." She sighs, reaching below the counter to grab her thick oven gloves, knowing the honey cakes are nearly ready based on smell alone. Tilting her head, she pulls at her hair, gaze focused more on Sugar than the man. "If... if you could go back, would you?"
"You weren't the cause. The Voice was." She shrugs, but there is darkness on her face, guilt assigned where it was due. "It's her fault we were locked away to begin with. You all couldn't have known." She sighs, reaching below the counter to grab her thick oven gloves, knowing the honey cakes are nearly ready based on smell alone. Tilting her head, she pulls at her hair, gaze focused more on Sugar than the man. "If... if you could go back, would you?"
Amalia & Jyoti
born from dark water, daughters of the rain and snow
