Amalia listened with an earnestness that made it easy to keep talking and say things he might not normally let slip. They had both changed so much from who they had once been, and though difficulties and awkwardness remained as they tried to find new footing in their friendship Jigano was reassured that they both were still trying. She had asked to be treated as an equal and he tried to give her that trust.
Mention of Maea brought a sigh to his lips, both exasperated and fond, as he looked over to the baker with a wry smile. "I think Maea believes that it's true. Without knowing the source of her vision, though, I'm not entirely sure I trust it. It seems... mmm. Almost too convenient. A way to make Outlanders doubt themselves and to open another divide between Naturals and Outlanders. After all, if Outlanders are just copies, if we aren't 'real' people, what rights do we have?" He shook his head. "The Voice is powerful. I've experienced that power myself and I won't deny it. But that she can create souls, even copies of them... no. If she could make souls as Vi does, there would be far more Ascended in this world. Hell, even if she just made copies of her existing children she could swell her numbers exponentially." Terrifying thought, and one that sent a shiver through him even in the warm water of the geyser field.
"But if Maea is right? Mmm. I'd still be running from the past, I think. Still moving south, working my way through the kingdoms of Avistan... maybe finding a ship east for Tian Xia, where my ancestors were from." He shrugged lightly, but there was an echo of old pain in his smile as he tilted his head back to watch Isuma amid the greenery. "Still walling my heart off, I expect, hiding behind fear of losing anyone else and refusing to stay in any one place long enough to risk making friends." A sigh stirred a stray, damp tress as he flicked a little water idly at Amalia's tapping tail. "For all the pain and sorrow Caido has given me, it's taught me that I'm weakest when I'm alone. I'm better for having bonded to Isuma, fallen in love, and learned to trust people again."
Mention of Maea brought a sigh to his lips, both exasperated and fond, as he looked over to the baker with a wry smile. "I think Maea believes that it's true. Without knowing the source of her vision, though, I'm not entirely sure I trust it. It seems... mmm. Almost too convenient. A way to make Outlanders doubt themselves and to open another divide between Naturals and Outlanders. After all, if Outlanders are just copies, if we aren't 'real' people, what rights do we have?" He shook his head. "The Voice is powerful. I've experienced that power myself and I won't deny it. But that she can create souls, even copies of them... no. If she could make souls as Vi does, there would be far more Ascended in this world. Hell, even if she just made copies of her existing children she could swell her numbers exponentially." Terrifying thought, and one that sent a shiver through him even in the warm water of the geyser field.
"But if Maea is right? Mmm. I'd still be running from the past, I think. Still moving south, working my way through the kingdoms of Avistan... maybe finding a ship east for Tian Xia, where my ancestors were from." He shrugged lightly, but there was an echo of old pain in his smile as he tilted his head back to watch Isuma amid the greenery. "Still walling my heart off, I expect, hiding behind fear of losing anyone else and refusing to stay in any one place long enough to risk making friends." A sigh stirred a stray, damp tress as he flicked a little water idly at Amalia's tapping tail. "For all the pain and sorrow Caido has given me, it's taught me that I'm weakest when I'm alone. I'm better for having bonded to Isuma, fallen in love, and learned to trust people again."
