A question was shot back, one that made her blink. Had she not told him? She was sure she had been meaning to, had been eager to share the miracle once it happened. But... perhaps it was one of those things that had been overlooked.
"Yes, I can," she smiled. "I made a bargain with Ludo. They would heal my eyes, and in return I would invite them to the Fiat Lux. It's why it was there." To her, it was a short while ago. Back then, she had made quiet plans to extend the invitation again for the following year, just to see if the dark Herald would come even without a bargain. Spend time with her, just for fun. She had certainly enjoyed herself in its company. But seeing what had happened now... perhaps it was for the better that she hadn't. While Ludo's presence at the festival might have prevented much damage, its absence also meant it couldn't be blamed for the disaster. Maea hoped so, at least.
She conveniently left out that something else had withered in place of her eyes. It was unimportant, something she didn't care about, and certainly far less interesting than what Jigano told her about. The honor he had been bestowed. It was how she saw it; an honor, beyond anything she would have dared ask for. If there was a thorn of jealousy somewhere - that someone had received such attention from her favorite deity - she plucked it swiftly and swaddled the small hurt in the ribbons of that joy.
It was so very easy to forgive tonight, and Maea savored every second of it.
"That's amazing" she breathed, watching the lantern with renewed interest. "That's what the song was about? It was beautiful, but also... a bit eerie. It tugged on something inside me." Made her think of family, of home. Her brother smiling, the scent of her mother's perfume lingering in a rarely-opened closet. Warm things, painful things, memories half forgotten.
Again, she thought of the secret she had. It bothered her, begged for attention. She sighed.
"Jigano... I need to tell you something. But I don't think you will like it. I don't know... if it's been a year, I can't say if it's important anymore. But... Do you want it now, or some other time?"
"Yes, I can," she smiled. "I made a bargain with Ludo. They would heal my eyes, and in return I would invite them to the Fiat Lux. It's why it was there." To her, it was a short while ago. Back then, she had made quiet plans to extend the invitation again for the following year, just to see if the dark Herald would come even without a bargain. Spend time with her, just for fun. She had certainly enjoyed herself in its company. But seeing what had happened now... perhaps it was for the better that she hadn't. While Ludo's presence at the festival might have prevented much damage, its absence also meant it couldn't be blamed for the disaster. Maea hoped so, at least.
She conveniently left out that something else had withered in place of her eyes. It was unimportant, something she didn't care about, and certainly far less interesting than what Jigano told her about. The honor he had been bestowed. It was how she saw it; an honor, beyond anything she would have dared ask for. If there was a thorn of jealousy somewhere - that someone had received such attention from her favorite deity - she plucked it swiftly and swaddled the small hurt in the ribbons of that joy.
It was so very easy to forgive tonight, and Maea savored every second of it.
"That's amazing" she breathed, watching the lantern with renewed interest. "That's what the song was about? It was beautiful, but also... a bit eerie. It tugged on something inside me." Made her think of family, of home. Her brother smiling, the scent of her mother's perfume lingering in a rarely-opened closet. Warm things, painful things, memories half forgotten.
Again, she thought of the secret she had. It bothered her, begged for attention. She sighed.
"Jigano... I need to tell you something. But I don't think you will like it. I don't know... if it's been a year, I can't say if it's important anymore. But... Do you want it now, or some other time?"
