You learn to speak so calmly

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame “In Halo.” Mountains not his own, not like the Aurora, with their beautiful borealis, hues blending and sharpened across the sky, caverns where they plotted, secret tents where there furtive orchestrations came alive, unfreezing lakes, hot springs to slip within after duels. He lifted another box, his jaw yearning to be rendered tight, defiant, done, but there was some amount of peace in the selected words, and if he glanced around he might’ve imagined Rexanna to be a part of the conversation, adding in her joviality and comments, about worlds beyond these. “It has cannibals, dragons, and genies.” He shrugged, allowing Bastien to determine the amount of danger – the Sword had unfortunately been witness to all three and the disasters they rendered. It wasn’t the same as the Basin, and any longing he’d had for the summits had been damned by Halo’s inability to be anything other than desolate. He placed the artifacts down on another table, before repeating the actions. A long exhale followed Bastien’s comment, then a light, tightened smile; why anyone would be honored to be in his close circle of companions was up to them; especially now, when it had only led Rexanna to a point of no return. The beast flinched at the cry of the child in the crib – eyeing it warily as Bastien picked up the babe and lifted it; he should’ve felt something else, perhaps, as the babe was one last remnant of the Penumbra. But what followed distracted him more, so much so that he paused in his carrying, the chiseled foundations of his brow simmering back to their nonchalance. “I deserved it. And I still blame myself.” Not Sam, who’d only been trying to do a good deed, not Safrin, who’d only lended her aid in his belief that it would render something of use. “But I have only ever wanted to protect people here.” Everything else seemed to backfire horrendously. Rexanna had known, permitted it, allowed it, and still, it hadn’t mattered in the slightest. master of nothing place; of recoil and grace