.P. ET .A. GEMINI
Silly things
First days...
- Guys. I've just realized...
- Be quiet!
Solomon's attempts at keeping the ambush unnoticed were a mixed success at best. Red flames flickered around his hands, briefly revealing the faces of his inhuman companions. Severus pulled his hood down, frowning at the sight of a surprisingly overexcited Shard. This was an especially bad moment for any sort of epiphany. Occasional distant echo revealed the Purifying Flame's position; Princeps Hamadi's troops were steadily moving down the dark forest path. The usual tactic for this kind of encounter didn't include even the brief attempts at diplomacy, which would be somewhat lost on the fanatical knights. Hamadi, however, was either foolish or bloodthirsty enough to replenish lost numbers with civilian recruits and initiates so young they haven't passed through the Flame itself. Most of the ex-Envoys hoped that a show of authority and inhuman presence would at the very least disrupt them, and Yafdat's sudden cheerfulness didn't exactly paint a menacing enough picture.
- No, this actually matters! So, Tularis, you know?
- Unsurprisingly.
- She can't see me!
Even a slightly raised voice was met with a unified "hush!" from the rest of the group, both standing on the path and hiding in the vicinity. An almost comical victory leap the Shard was about to perform was, to everyone's relief, stopped by Valen. Their obliterator friend slowly raised a hand and placed it on her shoulder with the unreadably neutral expression that was now eternally frozen on his face. For a few seconds relative peace and quiet were restored, until the thick foliage to the right belatedly spoke up, as if its inhabitant has only now realized that he should be offended:
- What ties do you have to the vile creature?
- Edmund, please stop enabling this.
The leaves moved, glistened and clanked; it wasn't entirely clear if Edmund, Regan or both were going to move out of their cover and engage in a heated debate and inevitably ensuing violence. The Purifying Flame appeared before this could be decided. Heavily armed patrol briefly paused before a curious sight: a man with an intricate artifice mantle flanked by two hooded figures, one of which would prance on the spot if it wasn't firmly held down by an obliterator. Solomon broke the heavy silence first.
- The Warlord is gone. I am the last of the Magelords. Remember your true allegiance,- a calm, businesslike tone didn't match well with bright Wrath flaring at his fingertips- Or we will make you.
...and the last
This wasn't the most groundbreaking, nor the most grand of Aspect deals. Most of Sekhmet's acquaintances have expected him to give up any political power as soon as Nova Ossia and his own order would be stable enough to function without aid. Eternal existence as a silent overseer of the slowly stabilizing world was just a well-deserved boon from Sacrifice. Most people weren't even sure about the kindest member of the Seven's whereabouts anymore. At least those who weren't equally ancient and nomadic.
- What do you have against rice puddings?
At some point the former grandmaster of the Screaming Eagles stopped asking his dubious friend rhetoric questions. Over the years it became easier to just accept the fact that a crystalline creature could appear in the second floor window, snatch an untouched dessert from his desk and consume it in a matter of moments. Not like he was ever short on food: the pudding, along with a basket of carefully packaged meals, was left in his living room yesterday. The Harbingers regularly sent their initiates to bypass the magical wards and carefully plant lunches around the place. He never had the heart to use force against them, even though a few less fortunate ones were repelled across the small garden of the moving tower back in the early days.
- Will they ever stop?
- Not really, no. I've left it as one of the core scriptures. "Take care of the wizards, for they are silly and routinely forget about supper"!
Yafdat laughed, jumping into the room before he could push her off the window sill into the soft grass underneath. Upbeat as ever. Her hands left faint carmine traces on the light wood, and she did a poor job of hiding restrained movement caused by the haphazardly bandaged abdomen.
- Hey, you've made yourself a perfect nonlethal target for the kids!- she stuck her tongue out, removing the last drops of blood from dark, painted lips- And it's not like I can command them anyhow. I am officially dead.
Sekhmet chose not to believe the story about the last disastrous exploration. Yafdat disappeared off the battlefield before, only to re-emerge a few days later and dive back into the fight. He stepped forwards, reaching out with an attuned hand to heal the wound; the Shard frowned and moved away. She never approved of Balance, even though its restorative properties were almost identical to those of Hope.
The whole ordeal was awkward at best. They knew enough about each other's life that asking gradually became less and less necessary to know the truth.
- I thought you were...
- You know I can't. He's probably one of Regan's many offsprings, at least got the death stare down.
Yafdat smiled again. They both would prefer it if he knew this grin less well. "Everything is fine".
Neither of them ever settled down. At least in her case it was a matter of impossibility. It's not like she never wanted to find something to treasure: a home, a cause, even a person. The essential parts were lacking. No point in living somewhere without belonging, no point in finding someone if you will mourn them without any of the feelings that should come beforehand. Yafdat never was successful in finding her theoretical relative someone to share a path with, and he never convinced her to share a dedication to any given cause. The usual excuse was "Shards should appear on this world any decade, and I'll be here for them".
Shards never appeared. They've hunted down the old Voices, corrupted by Wrath, and waited for centuries. Nothing. At least in this case it was easier to pretend that this was in no way disappointing.
- Where are you going to be?
Probably the only reasonable question to ask. Not even considering the possibility of her taking cutting the last ties. Judging by Yafdat's sincere smile he was right.
- Taking my place. Come by if you need a chat...or a hand!
She asked Sekhmet to leave her out of his Masterpiece, the statue of the Seven built in Zuka. Shadow that Wanders was represented by the faint illusion that crumbled to shining dust as the real Yafdat stepped on the pedestal. Even after all this time the statue persisted, a frozen image of their dysfunctional yet endearing family. It was all too possible to care and miss them without ever loving the people who rebuilt her home. She sat down next to Severus' stoic figure and closed her eyes, letting the crystalline head tilt back with a quiet clicking sound. How did Discovery's old trick work? Leave senses in one hand, and let the rest of your mind sink back into memories. Something that mattered. The last moment of proper belonging, a call resounding across an entire world.
"SANCTUARY ENDURES!"
First days...
- Guys. I've just realized...
- Be quiet!
Solomon's attempts at keeping the ambush unnoticed were a mixed success at best. Red flames flickered around his hands, briefly revealing the faces of his inhuman companions. Severus pulled his hood down, frowning at the sight of a surprisingly overexcited Shard. This was an especially bad moment for any sort of epiphany. Occasional distant echo revealed the Purifying Flame's position; Princeps Hamadi's troops were steadily moving down the dark forest path. The usual tactic for this kind of encounter didn't include even the brief attempts at diplomacy, which would be somewhat lost on the fanatical knights. Hamadi, however, was either foolish or bloodthirsty enough to replenish lost numbers with civilian recruits and initiates so young they haven't passed through the Flame itself. Most of the ex-Envoys hoped that a show of authority and inhuman presence would at the very least disrupt them, and Yafdat's sudden cheerfulness didn't exactly paint a menacing enough picture.
- No, this actually matters! So, Tularis, you know?
- Unsurprisingly.
- She can't see me!
Even a slightly raised voice was met with a unified "hush!" from the rest of the group, both standing on the path and hiding in the vicinity. An almost comical victory leap the Shard was about to perform was, to everyone's relief, stopped by Valen. Their obliterator friend slowly raised a hand and placed it on her shoulder with the unreadably neutral expression that was now eternally frozen on his face. For a few seconds relative peace and quiet were restored, until the thick foliage to the right belatedly spoke up, as if its inhabitant has only now realized that he should be offended:
- What ties do you have to the vile creature?
- Edmund, please stop enabling this.
The leaves moved, glistened and clanked; it wasn't entirely clear if Edmund, Regan or both were going to move out of their cover and engage in a heated debate and inevitably ensuing violence. The Purifying Flame appeared before this could be decided. Heavily armed patrol briefly paused before a curious sight: a man with an intricate artifice mantle flanked by two hooded figures, one of which would prance on the spot if it wasn't firmly held down by an obliterator. Solomon broke the heavy silence first.
- The Warlord is gone. I am the last of the Magelords. Remember your true allegiance,- a calm, businesslike tone didn't match well with bright Wrath flaring at his fingertips- Or we will make you.
...and the last
This wasn't the most groundbreaking, nor the most grand of Aspect deals. Most of Sekhmet's acquaintances have expected him to give up any political power as soon as Nova Ossia and his own order would be stable enough to function without aid. Eternal existence as a silent overseer of the slowly stabilizing world was just a well-deserved boon from Sacrifice. Most people weren't even sure about the kindest member of the Seven's whereabouts anymore. At least those who weren't equally ancient and nomadic.
- What do you have against rice puddings?
At some point the former grandmaster of the Screaming Eagles stopped asking his dubious friend rhetoric questions. Over the years it became easier to just accept the fact that a crystalline creature could appear in the second floor window, snatch an untouched dessert from his desk and consume it in a matter of moments. Not like he was ever short on food: the pudding, along with a basket of carefully packaged meals, was left in his living room yesterday. The Harbingers regularly sent their initiates to bypass the magical wards and carefully plant lunches around the place. He never had the heart to use force against them, even though a few less fortunate ones were repelled across the small garden of the moving tower back in the early days.
- Will they ever stop?
- Not really, no. I've left it as one of the core scriptures. "Take care of the wizards, for they are silly and routinely forget about supper"!
Yafdat laughed, jumping into the room before he could push her off the window sill into the soft grass underneath. Upbeat as ever. Her hands left faint carmine traces on the light wood, and she did a poor job of hiding restrained movement caused by the haphazardly bandaged abdomen.
- Hey, you've made yourself a perfect nonlethal target for the kids!- she stuck her tongue out, removing the last drops of blood from dark, painted lips- And it's not like I can command them anyhow. I am officially dead.
Sekhmet chose not to believe the story about the last disastrous exploration. Yafdat disappeared off the battlefield before, only to re-emerge a few days later and dive back into the fight. He stepped forwards, reaching out with an attuned hand to heal the wound; the Shard frowned and moved away. She never approved of Balance, even though its restorative properties were almost identical to those of Hope.
The whole ordeal was awkward at best. They knew enough about each other's life that asking gradually became less and less necessary to know the truth.
- I thought you were...
- You know I can't. He's probably one of Regan's many offsprings, at least got the death stare down.
Yafdat smiled again. They both would prefer it if he knew this grin less well. "Everything is fine".
Neither of them ever settled down. At least in her case it was a matter of impossibility. It's not like she never wanted to find something to treasure: a home, a cause, even a person. The essential parts were lacking. No point in living somewhere without belonging, no point in finding someone if you will mourn them without any of the feelings that should come beforehand. Yafdat never was successful in finding her theoretical relative someone to share a path with, and he never convinced her to share a dedication to any given cause. The usual excuse was "Shards should appear on this world any decade, and I'll be here for them".
Shards never appeared. They've hunted down the old Voices, corrupted by Wrath, and waited for centuries. Nothing. At least in this case it was easier to pretend that this was in no way disappointing.
- Where are you going to be?
Probably the only reasonable question to ask. Not even considering the possibility of her taking cutting the last ties. Judging by Yafdat's sincere smile he was right.
- Taking my place. Come by if you need a chat...or a hand!
She asked Sekhmet to leave her out of his Masterpiece, the statue of the Seven built in Zuka. Shadow that Wanders was represented by the faint illusion that crumbled to shining dust as the real Yafdat stepped on the pedestal. Even after all this time the statue persisted, a frozen image of their dysfunctional yet endearing family. It was all too possible to care and miss them without ever loving the people who rebuilt her home. She sat down next to Severus' stoic figure and closed her eyes, letting the crystalline head tilt back with a quiet clicking sound. How did Discovery's old trick work? Leave senses in one hand, and let the rest of your mind sink back into memories. Something that mattered. The last moment of proper belonging, a call resounding across an entire world.
"SANCTUARY ENDURES!"