over the moaning bones
of those who quit and chose to remain
of those who quit and chose to remain
His time in Delumine is cut short when a letter arrives, calling him back for a meeting of utmost importance.
Terrastella itself has seen far better years – he had grown up in them, and while the land had begun to repair itself during his short absence, it’s worrisome what the winter season will hold for them. Some may pray to their Gods to fix disaster, but in Terrastella, their patron Goddess was the disaster.
Finding the gathering, it is to Fiona’s side he goes, standing to her right so that she may not look into the rotten impurity of the right side of his face. She, and perhaps only she is worthy of the smallest of smiles, true and sincere in a way reserved only for her. Even Atreus himself couldn’t rightly explain why he was so enamored with his fellow Champion, but seeing her again after the weeks spent in Delumine is a short-lived breath of fresh air, for he must return there once more after today.
His attention is drawn away as Asterion begins to speak. Intently he listens to the starlit man, appointing individuals to fill previously empty roles within the court. To each of them he looks – Theodosia, whom he had yet to hold a real conversation with despite their travel time together, a woman he knew was passionate for her people and her home here, was to be the Champion of Battle. Then there was Euryale, a name foreign to his ears, as the Champion of Wisdom. Atreus followed Asterion’s gaze in order to find her, lingering for a number of moments until focusing back on their Sovereign. He would be sure to seek her out when he had the time.
Next there is talk of war, or rather a mutiny as Israfel so eloquently explains it to be. An entire war over the actions of one, singular man? Atreus barely hides the smile tugging so desperately at the edge of his lips, begging to be known. Israfel goes on to speak briefly of Somnus, not in any amount of detail, but it’s enough to take that wild urge to grin away at once.
“I would not call an entire country against one man a war,” he chimed in next, eyes sweeping across those who had already spoken and most importantly, Asterion. “If Seraphina’s people are as loyal as you state they are, I can’t imagine her usurper will breathe Solterra’s air for much longer.”
be careful with that one, love, he will do what it takes to survive
all contact is permitted and encouraged
