my only guiding light

Seren

Melancholy did not come naturally to the starchild, nor was it common for her to brood over mistakes. But this grief was sharp and still fresh, and in her mother's arms it was easier to permit herself this lapse and set aside all laughter and smiles. For a time, they were traded in for tears and sobs that shook her slender shoulders, and a bit of wallowing in the ugly memories. Fire and smoke and the death of beauty spilled forth alongside anger and frustration over not understanding why. Why did it come to this? Why had blood been spilled, lives cut short and complications allowed to cast shadows over her beautiful, fun-filled homeland? She did not understand.

Gradually the worst of the pain eased, and the tears abated. Sniffling, so that she wouldn't dribble snot over her mother's lovely gown, Seren turned her head and rested a cheek against Safrin's shoulder, as fingers played with the soft tips of her night-dark hair. "Who should I save, Mother?" she asked in a quiet murmur. "There seems to be so many who need help. The Abandoned... I keep thinking I want to do something for them. Anyone I meet, too." It felt wrong, that so many should suffer so much, on the account of so few. Of only one, in truth. But what could she do? Her conversation with Deimos had made it sound as though an attempt might only make things worse.

I'm ready to start the conquest of spaces
Reaching the starlight and silver fields