a message

Hotaru,

I received a message for you from Mort's Halls...it's a new ability I have.

The voice was quite hard to understand I'm afraid, so I apologize if I didn't get everything down quite right. I asked the man to repeat himself a few times but he seemed to just get frustrated with me, so I did the best I could.

I couldn't tell how old he was, but his voice was very low and it sounded as if he had some sort of speech impediment. He said to tell you that he was happy and that he was building again and that he's always kept an eye out on his sister (Romina? I think he might have called her?). He said he loved you, I heard that quite clearly, and that he'll have built you a castle by the time he sees you again.

I thought he said his name was 'Ruined', but that can't be right.

Hope you're well.
Remi.

the lullaby

Valkyrie

The paper is slightly damp and crinkled from tearstains, though they are now dried and indistinguishable. A faint smell of salt and wildflowers hovers over imperfect handwriting - it's clear this was written outside.

Remi,

You've given me a gift I can never repay. I do wish you'd stop doing that - you know how I hate favors, even ones owed to my favorite people. I can't have you calling them in on something ridiculous like more demigod-bonding sessions.

I'm sure you can see right through me even through a letter. I wish you'd stop doing that too.

His name was is Ru'in, and the name you heard - Romina - was correct. They're my children. My twins - my first twins. I never knew if Romina made it here, or if Ru'in ever made it to Mort. He died days before the Voice brought me here, and Kiada said his soul was stuck somehow outside of his reach. I don't know if you can understand the pain of that uncertainty, but it's a wound I've carried for years. And I don't know what to say except thank you. Thank you, Remi.

Romina would care more for flowery words, but Ru'in only needs to know this:

I love you my prince. I'm sorry I came too late to hold you one more time. Be happy, build every machine and palace hall you can imagine. I can't wait for you to show me each and every one.

-

I don't know if you can send messages back in return. If you can't, please don't tell me. I don't want to know. You may not be the Lullaby anymore, but you've always been so good at letting me dream.

Write me more often, won't you?

Sincerely,
Hotaru Kaito the Valkyrie

(The parchment Hotaru receives has been stained with watercolours depicting a rough wash of colours to imply a field of flowers with a silhouette of a woman with four children around her).

Hotaru,

If not a bonding session what about dinner? I've already cleared it with Sunjata, and Ronin has promised to be on his best behaviour. I even expect he'll try and be charming, if only to prove that he can. I might not be able to sweep us away to the infinity fields of your former life, but the meadows in the mountains ought to be in bloom this time of year. It's a far cry from the beauty of your memory, but it's what I have to offer these days.

Ru'in and Romina, Enzo and Flora...you've always had such a gift for names.

See you soon?

— R

the lullaby

Valkyrie

At the top, crude stick figures depict a few demigods holding hands. Remi has comically large, flat green circles for eyes. Ronin has a blocky, impressive jawline where the other heads are circles. Melita's red hair sticks straight up, Deimos stands far away with a crescent frown, and Sunjata has a smile with a teardrop.

Remi,

I ran out of room, don't tell the other demigods. Or please do, if an accusation of favoritism might free me from future bonding days.

I suspect Ronin forgets he was plenty charming the first time we met, even after he knew of your involvement in my Attunement. I even got to ride on his cloud.

But if you are certain - and more importantly, if he is certain - then consider me agreed. If any of us make a blunder we can simply smooth things over with those flowers you mentioned.

You have so much more to offer than you know, Remi. As a little girl I would dream up baby names and write them down over and over, picking my favorites and discarding others in a cycle that hasn't ended. Some of the first names I ever dreamed up are still at the top of my list as a grown woman. But I still asked you to provide names for Flora and Enzo. That gift was entirely yours - I simply picked the best of the lot. And I don't regret it at all.

See you soon,

Sincerely,
Hotaru Kaito the Valkyrie