Hotaru
“It is somehow both human nature to be wary of those not like us, and to want to form close attachments to those close enough to us. I doubt there are many who truly hate the Ascended themselves, extremists aside.” And that is why they are all struggling. Why the entire continent is torn between religious faith and their own flawed human hearts. It is a relief to hear such things spoken even from a younger individual. Still a woman in her own right, and as such another voice that tells Ru she is not alone in her feelings.
Ru can read Helovia’s tale in the shadows on Melita’s face. She’d barely known the girl at all then, but they’d suffered so much together on that fateful day that it hardly mattered. They were kin in grief if nothing else. “I am going to live as I always have. Raise my children. Take the time to be close to those I love before we are forced into war. Train, so I may protect them more efficiently. And when war comes, I will not raise my hand against the Ascended unless they do so first.” Only if her hand is forced. The Valkyrie has no qualms with murder, but she will not seek it out. “This war is going to be played out amongst the demigods more than us. I doubt I will be commanded to do any one thing.” She is not an important piece on the greater game board.
“We are not powerful enough to cause any harm to The Voice. And while it may enrage her, I doubt killing her Ascended would hurt her either, so I do not see why anyone would be told to do that regardless of which herald they align with.” Ludo more so perhaps, but the Ascended as individuals did not seem to make The Voice stronger or weaker by their numbers alone. Shrugging, Ru smiles. “In the end, I protect my own.” New and Old God alike. It’s a small fold, but that only means she is more capable of looking out for them. And Melita stands among them.
Ru can read Helovia’s tale in the shadows on Melita’s face. She’d barely known the girl at all then, but they’d suffered so much together on that fateful day that it hardly mattered. They were kin in grief if nothing else. “I am going to live as I always have. Raise my children. Take the time to be close to those I love before we are forced into war. Train, so I may protect them more efficiently. And when war comes, I will not raise my hand against the Ascended unless they do so first.” Only if her hand is forced. The Valkyrie has no qualms with murder, but she will not seek it out. “This war is going to be played out amongst the demigods more than us. I doubt I will be commanded to do any one thing.” She is not an important piece on the greater game board.
“We are not powerful enough to cause any harm to The Voice. And while it may enrage her, I doubt killing her Ascended would hurt her either, so I do not see why anyone would be told to do that regardless of which herald they align with.” Ludo more so perhaps, but the Ascended as individuals did not seem to make The Voice stronger or weaker by their numbers alone. Shrugging, Ru smiles. “In the end, I protect my own.” New and Old God alike. It’s a small fold, but that only means she is more capable of looking out for them. And Melita stands among them.
from the base of her neck to the arch of her eyelids
her beauty made a slave of me
her beauty made a slave of me
