[SE] the joy of youth is to disobey

Maea

And I hope that you don't suffer
But take the pain

It made absolutely no sense to her, but Maea only smiled, let Quanil think what they wanted. As she was no mind reader, she had no way of knowing what paths their mind walked, and all she knew was the next question - because there was always a next one, wasn't there.

"No, not at all," she replied, shaking her head. "So far, it has only answered a few times, when I was praying. We talk about what was on my mind, and a few times I have asked for help, or advice.

"Last time, I asked for a job, something to do... and Ludo tasked me with removing a Cat Sith from its woods. With a little help from Delphia, we managed. And I found a companion thanks to that."

Maea sent a gently prodding thought, and from within the folds of her shawl, a small bluish glow kindled. An orb of light untangled itself, barely visible in the bright sunlight, but did not leave her shoulder, a shadowed nest beneath silken hair. A subdued grumble reached her through the bond, and with a soft smile she cupped a hand over it, adding more darkness and shade for it to glow in.

"This is Shii," she said. "A will-o-wisp."

Hope if everybody runs
You choose to stay