Aska
"through the fire and ashes we stand."

It hurt.

How could it not, right? Losing ones soulmate and son, paired with so many other deaths upon shoulders was for certain heavy no matter who wore the burden. The crippling guilt that came with it only a reminder that she could have done better – should have done better. Rationally, Aska knew that things happened and it for certain was not her fault alone, yet rational thought had left her the moment she lost the two most important beings in her life. Loneliness had not helped but staying would have made things even worse but now..

What was once a strong, proud and happy woman, was now a mere shadow. Her coat had seen better days, some strands of hair were starting to tangle, her eyes near void of all life, hipbones a little too sharp to be healthy.. She was wasting away and she knew it, but did not know how to stop it. Grief had overtaken her, wavering her spirit and clawing into the heart ‘till there was nothing left.

With her head lowered and dull eyes closed, she took a moment to breathe – ignoring the tears welling up beneath her eyelids.

“I can’t go on like this..”

Her voice was rough from not having used it for a long time yet still filled with the emotions that slowly started to crash into her again. “What do I do..” she whispered, not knowing if anyone would even answer her. She knew she would not if she saw herself like this. Though the energy surrounding this place.. was charged, it was not a feeling that could easily be explained in words. All she needed was a glimmer of hope, a sign of something – someone – to fuel the now dormant flame of Hope. She needed to know if things would change, if she would ever feel whole again.

Aska had no idea if she would receive this sign and with everything that happened – it had seemed to her that the Gods had forsaken her. Still, with her upbringing that was very much Faith oriented, she could not turn her back onto Them like that, no matter what happened in the past. It was hard, hope had long been crushed inside of her but she needed this, needed to let it out whether she was heard or not.