[God Quest] and set with a quiet peace

Zavien

Having returned from his trek to the Greatwood, Zavien's heart and body were heavy with exhaustion. Sol's absence had taken a toll, and he found it hard to return to Stormbreak without him, the feeling oppressive and draining. He had to continue telling himself that it was temporary, distracting himself with tasks or minor purposes. His quest had given him a reason to stay focused, to escape the confines of the city in pursuit of a greater purpose than himself and his suffering. Yet when he returned, he still felt the absence of his companion pulling at his chest, making his thoughts roam without anything to ground them. 

In spite of his struggles, his task had been complete, and he gathered the necessary items to call upon Vi again. As he made his way through the Celestine, his mind filtered through what he might say, how he might justify himself in order for the God of Life to bless him with a rose. Had he done enough? Would he still find him worthy? The anxieties started to build, worries and stress darkening his mind. He thought it might start to overwhelm him as it had before, wondering if he should come another day, to write out something to say, to mentally prepare. But this wasn't something he could afford to delay, and Zavien paused to steady his breathing, squeezing his eyes shut to block out the thoughts as he stepped into the shrine.

It was easy to spot Vi's statue, the one he'd prayed to plenty of times, the face he'd seen with his own eyes. He placed at the god's feet the contents of his quest - the budding lavender, the soil from the Eyes of Vi - along with a stained-glass image of Vi that shimmered in the sunlight. Kneeling with his head bowed, he tried not to dwell on the shadows of his mind. His hands unconsciously kneaded together as he spoke, nervous and uncertain. "Vi. I have done what you asked. Do you have a moment?"

---

Zavien is turning in his quest from I rose with the sun

1. Doing a selfless deed.
- take heart - Gave up Sol to help a griffin return home
2. Creating life. (e.g. planting a seed and tending to it until it sprouts, or the other thing)
- do not fear - Planted lavender until it sprouted
3. Protecting something/someone.
- Well, that was a choice - Protected Zen from robbers
4. Collecting soil from the Greatwood.
- cup with dirt in it - Collected soil

A flower cannot blossom without sunshine,
and man cannot live without love.

Zavien may have only brought a few sprigs of his budding lavender, but the space around the shrine will fill with the gentle scent of it as Vi arrives, the small buds blooming and stretching towards the sunshine overhead. Clearly the location isn't ideal - not for the dragoon and not for the deity, but nevertheless Vi appears, radiating a warm light that filters beautifully through the stained glass offering he has brought.

"It is never easy, to make a sacrifice for what is good and what is right," he says, his voice low and rich as the soil that sits between them. And if Zavien looks closely, that very soil will appear to shift ever so slightly through their conversation. "But nothing worth doing is ever easy. You will emerge from this stronger than you expected, and with a renewed appreciation for all that you have."

Something emerges from the soil, sprouting dark and creeping slowly upwards, its stem rising up towards Zavien. Golden thorns push out and glimmer in the light, and a crimson bud forms, unfurls and blooms into a rose before him. Power radiates from the rose, begging the dragoon to reach out and pluck it from the earth.

---

Zavien has completed his quest and has received the following!

Vi's Roses (rare): A beautiful crimson flower with thorns of deep gold, it is rumoured that these roses are coloured with Vi's lifeblood. When planted, they have the ability to cleanse the area around them.

VI

Table by Sky!

Zavien

The scent of lavender wrapped around his heart like a warm embrace, succeeding in its purpose of cultivating calm and tranquility within the Dragoon. He felt his hands slow their nervous ministrations, a deep sigh releasing from his chest as the blooms appeared, full and vibrant in their purple petals. Although the anxieties and fears didn't vanish, they felt lighter in the presence of Vi, more insignificant when he looked upon the glowing figure that stood before him. On instinct, his head bowed further, reverence stilling his mind and body. 

He lifted his head enough to glance at the god, his words soft. "I thought I understood sacrifice, but this was... harder." Dying had been instantaneous. A decision to protect that had resulted in the second worse scenario - next to failure. It was unfortunate, but something he didn't regret, even if he would have hoped to avoid it with proper strength and preparation. He had certainly suffered in the aftermath, physical pain, being unable to face his home, plagued with nightmares and anxieties; yet it hadn't been the same, because it hadn't been his choice, knowing full well what the consequences would be. Giving up Sol was something he'd known would result in pain - and he'd done it anyways. 

Perhaps he should be proud of himself, proud of his willingness to lose one of the only lifelines he'd come to rely on for stability, but all it had done was show him how much farther he had to go. 

A shift in the jar of soil drew his attention as the rose sprouted, gold and red emerging to expand into thorns and petals, an ethereal image that didn't compare to any rose he'd ever seen. His breath shook, filling his heart and lungs with an awe that gave him confidence that it was all worth it, that they might stand a chance against the Family. He swallowed back a swelling of emotions, nodding his head as he reached forward to take the jar, cradling the delicate flower in arms. 

Zavien finally looked to Vi, the depth of his green eyes saying more than his words ever could. "Thank you..." for trusting him, for finding him worthy, for giving him something to strive for.

[FIN]

A flower cannot blossom without sunshine,
and man cannot live without love.