Jigano nodded slowly at hearing that Vi was against the fall of the barrier, that Rae would sacrifice them without regret for what they considered ‘good.’ It had been a choice he had made once, and it had broken him. It was not one he wished to be a part of making again, if any alternative could be found. For the moment, however, all he needed to do was listen, and learn, as Safrin’s truth revealed the history they had wondered at for so long.
He stood, arms tucked into his sleeves as he listened and remembered with focused intensity. Isuma chased starmotes until she tired and then crawled into Amalia’s lap to rest. He nodded slowly at hearing that the Voice allowed her creations the illusion of free will, and that her body was bound but out of her reach, somehow. ”The Acquired,” he said softly when she was done. ”Surely not all of them followed her down that dark path? Some must have eschewed that ambition, and remained pious and loyal to the Old Gods?” He hesitated. ”And… the Ascended she has made… is it possible for her - was it possible, in the past – to tear away that appearance of free will and command them to go against their own choices and desires? To control them as a queen bee with a hive?” Gods least fortunate, it was a terrifying thought… and one that needed an answer all the more for his reluctance to ask it.
He glanced down fondly to Amalia as her yawn interrupted her own questions, but before he can offer her a hand she had stood up, fear crossing her face and bringing a slight frown of concentration to his own. ”I don’t know Lily,” he admitted, ”But Seiji is a smart young man. He would know to run if things became dangerous, and they have the Sparkbird’s feather, and Safrin’s starmote guides. They might be worried about us, though,” he added wryly. ”Since we’ve disappeared on them.”
He stood, arms tucked into his sleeves as he listened and remembered with focused intensity. Isuma chased starmotes until she tired and then crawled into Amalia’s lap to rest. He nodded slowly at hearing that the Voice allowed her creations the illusion of free will, and that her body was bound but out of her reach, somehow. ”The Acquired,” he said softly when she was done. ”Surely not all of them followed her down that dark path? Some must have eschewed that ambition, and remained pious and loyal to the Old Gods?” He hesitated. ”And… the Ascended she has made… is it possible for her - was it possible, in the past – to tear away that appearance of free will and command them to go against their own choices and desires? To control them as a queen bee with a hive?” Gods least fortunate, it was a terrifying thought… and one that needed an answer all the more for his reluctance to ask it.
He glanced down fondly to Amalia as her yawn interrupted her own questions, but before he can offer her a hand she had stood up, fear crossing her face and bringing a slight frown of concentration to his own. ”I don’t know Lily,” he admitted, ”But Seiji is a smart young man. He would know to run if things became dangerous, and they have the Sparkbird’s feather, and Safrin’s starmote guides. They might be worried about us, though,” he added wryly. ”Since we’ve disappeared on them.”
