> Lailyn, first of the name.
Sweet is the wine of Justice served by gods to those that deserve it. Sweet is the taste of rightful vengeance. Never have I seen a person so broken and wretched. Thrice she's been paid for her insults. A shell of her former glory is what remained.
Good riddance.
“I Have been told Nafira left the temple and confined herself to her former home.”
Where she intends to waste away. No sweeter news to my ears.
“I… Yes. The news affected her rather poorly. She marked her own daughter. I would not wish that upon anyone.”
A punishment befitting that harlot.
“What of her daughter? Is she still under your care?”
Lair avoided my gaze on purpose. Bitch. Yet a cunning one.
“Yes.”
She spoke without conviction.
“More of a walking corpse than a person. Whatever has been done to her… I cannot say that my efforts do more than prolong her suffering. Let us hope she quickly find the goddess grace.”
“Is there truly no chance?”
What would I give to look her in the eyes, to see the understanding before I crush her hope.
“I do not believe so. She has not shown any signs of recovery. People, places, she has no recollection of whatsoever. As it stands now, we may begin preparing the naming ceremony. She will not come back. If she lives to see that day.”
As if I would have any of this!
“Do not let your spirit falter. Remember those that came at the last calling of the name? Hope is there for those that seek her.”
“Forgive me o Light ever bright!”
Lair bowed before me. Such an empty gesture. Done to hide the smirk on her lips. Shall I smash her face against the wall tearing her silver hair out? No. I let my fingers brush her head and stop on her cheek.
“Raise your head child. Doubt is not only the sign of fear but also the one of searching. As long as you do not stop and linger in despair, you shall discover what is worth of your faith. Have faith in Mother’s way. She brought her back to us. She would not let the girl be forgotten.”
No. She must look into my eyes and know.
Know who ends her.
> Galen Vesa
“No. I do not know you.”
The words were bland and tired on my tongue yet time and time again I repeated the phrase, staring at yet another face from her life. All but meaningless to me. The woman, perhaps young or perhaps older than my great grandfathers, slowly came to terms with whatever her feelings were and bowed slightly then walk away without a second word. A much calmer and graceful reaction compared to rest of them.
Most came with expectations. Some came with hope. All left crushed by my inability to satisfy them. Several tried endlessly, day after day calling upon me.
Carlila was one of such.
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After the initial shock of my awakening passed. She came pestering me endlessly. Dear sister would you care to do this or see that? Dear sister doesn’t that taste familiar? I brought your favorite…
On and on went her attempts. With each passing day ever more desperate. Her requests turning from inconvenient to outright painful. Painful to her and to others around me.
Like being dragged into family dinner almost every day now. And every day I went there and looked into the mother's eyes and I could see what Carlila refused to acknowledge. Instead, she saw her family giving up on their eldest daughter. Once again an argument arose between her and Nafira. Carlila shouted at her using language one should never use toward their parent. If not from politeness then from self respect. No one should lower themselves to such level no matter what kind of trash their elders might be.
I put my cup down with such vigor as to silence them.
“That is enough. Whatever you wish to achieve this is not the way. My presence here only brings you pain. I shall not come any more.”
I wiped my lips with a handkerchief Moss put in my palm.
“Please do not call upon me anymore.”
I got up and let my legs carry me away from the table and out of that house with Moss silently falling in behind. If I did not put any thought into my walking, the enchants did their work balancing my steps and making sure I would not trip over my own evening gown. A welcomed help given the size of the heels Moss made me wear.
“May I walk you back?”
Noca ventured catching up to me in several swift jumps. The longest sentence this silent twin ever said in my presence.
“If you wish”
I didn’t care and she didn’t speak but walked besides me.
“We never really been close.”
Her lips opened after she won some internal battle.
“Me. You. They.”
She stopped and slowly linked our arms together.
“This. I had never had the courage.”
I looked at her head resting against my arm. Even while she wore heels taller than mine, I towered above her by no less than several inches.
“Pleasant.”
She whispered as we walked. I did not rush. The evening weather felt fine and I saw guards lurking in the shadows. Patrolling the forest.
When we reached Allynna’s home I freed my arm and proceed to enter when she grabbed me from behind. Clinging onto me with her cheek pressed against my back, she whispered.
“I love you. I always did. I always will.”
Her frame shivered pressed against me. Noca held me tightly for as long as her courage allowed her.
“Please forgive me. “
She let go and bow deeply before me.
“I know you consider us no more than strangers but I had to. I feel… as if I would never have the chance to do it.”
“She won’t bother you anymore. I promise.”
Noca left without waiting for my answer. Perhaps she knew I had nothing to say to her.
Evening went and night began with me neither sleepy nor particularly inclined on anything. I stood as I came, perched against the balcony doorframe in a hastily altered emerald gown. It fit perfectly although it left a lot of my upper torso exposed.
Fresh, nightly wind played with the curtains and tugged at my hair. In the sky a thin crescent moon remained. A week at least. I watched while a leaf danced across the room and fell upon a book that wasn’t there a minute ago.
“Go away. I am not fond of your company.”
The curtains rustled as the wind left.
Yet the book remained.