Broken Open

SUNJATA

the flood

so put your faith in the devil and the deep blue sea
put your trust in the light that you cannot see

Night creeps in and despite it all, it doesn’t bother Sunjata. Between Aurelia and Haai, he’s sure they’ll be able to make it back out in one piece. So he lounges, instead, offers his advice on the matter that Aurelia brings up even if it isn’t the advice she seeks. Her question takes him a bit by surprise, however, his head tilting as he regards her and tries to think about a time where the girl may have seen either of them. He comes up with nothing, however, realizing he’d met Aurelia after Ronin and Remi had left. So he sucks in a deep breath, a soft smile crossing his face. “Ronin’s Safrin’s Dark Star.” He begins, trying to figure out where to begin. “He died fighting a demon in the Grounds to remove the barrier. Safrin brought him back to life, turned him into her demigod.” He pauses here to consider it. “He is hers. She even had his child.” Though where Seren was, was anyone’s guess. He certainly didn’t know. “He and his husband Remi left shortly before you arrived. I miss him.” He pauses, letting his lips purse slightly as he considers it. Ronin is his best friend, after all. Sunjata never got to keep many of those.

“Anyway, Amalia is the Shield of Safrin." He doesn't know it has changed. "She follows Safrin and Vi the most, but… Safrin has graced her with many things as well. She’s one of Safrin’s chosen as well and I guess I just wanted to be a part of it all too. Ronin and I get along great, Amalia and I…” He makes the equivalent of an ‘ehhh’ sound before he continues. “We’re… Civil for the most part, I think? I fall in and out of Amalia’s graces quite often.” This brings a huff of a laugh to him, a shrug of a tattooed shoulder as he leans forward to peel the shirt from the stick that it had dried off on.

In the process he takes the daggers back, setting them on the ground beside him rather than in the bag. “They do. One does fire magic, the other does lightning.” His gaze lifts back to Aurelia’s face briefly. “I became something like her Blade that day. Though rumors have spread, calling me her assassin which is amusing but it’s not true. I’ve never killed anyone for her.” And nor would he, least of all the Ascended.

Aurelia, however, distracts him with talk of Mildew, Sunjata giving her his all to hear everything she has to say. “I am dedicated to Safrin. Doesn’t mean I have to agree with the things she does.” He offers as if it may help. “That being said… Out of the options? I’d choose her over and over again. She’s only ever rewarded me. I spread her name and work for her and she treats me well.” It goes unsaid how he doesn’t dare to learn what her bad side is. He doesn’t voice his fears of whether Safrin would make him have to choose, what would happen then.

there's a darkness up ahead
i will see you where the shadow ends