In the intervening years since Nayl’s reign, many things had changed in coastal kingdom. Even Heartfire, for all her longevity, has changed. Has become something more. She had been far more youthful then, brash in a way that has since been refined. Ultimately, however, she is still Heartfire. But the faces of the kingdom have all shifted over the years, becoming new, different.

Despite everything, the new faces replacing the old, Heartfire remembers. She has always had a talent for names. For faces. A fortunate thing perhaps, especially given her chosen line of work. Though she doubts Castile remembers exactly what had made her so useful to his mother.

She isn’t surprised when he finds her, picking her out from the unfamiliar faces as the only one recognizable from a day long past and nearly forgotten. He had just been a child then, clinging to his mother’s heels as he had learned the vagaries of the world. He too, had changed. Had become something more. Despite this, there is an old familiarity. A welcome one, though she would never admit to such a thing.

Pale blue gaze shifting to settle upon the marbled stallion, Heartfire considers him impassively for several long moments. Perhaps he had thought himself insignificant then, but Heartfire has always noticed the insignificant. Sometimes, the insignificant turns out to be far more significant than one could ever have guessed.

“I remember you Castile,” she greets, her voice level as her icy gaze fixes on his. After a moment, she continues with faint curiosity, “And what brings you back to Nerine?”

i see your sins
and i want to set them free

A faint smile touches her lips as she considers the bi-colored stallion with easy curiosity. It’s not often she finds others who welcome her memory with such lack of expectation. Perhaps that is largely her fault, but nevertheless it is rather refreshing. An uncommon moment, where she can pretend they are merely two old acquaintances catching up. Friends almost, for his mother had certainly come closer to the definition of the word than any other. If she had been capable of making lasting friendships, that is. Regrettable, perhaps, that lack.

But she is not one to dwell on regrets.

She makes no comment when he simply says ’Purpse,’ and neither does she need to. Soon enough, he expounds upon the simple answer. She can understand the reasoning, certainly. Though she cannot say she holds any great degree of loyalty for the land itself, it had come to mean something for her as well. And so she returns, again and again. The familiarity drawing her back. And the inhabitants too, ever changing but somehow still the same. Still as powerful and bold.

He is right perhaps, in that they truly thrive here. Those that hunger for what this kingdom can offer.

“Nerine suits you,” she offers by way of response, an acknowledgement that his return had done him well. For all that he’s aged, there is a freshness about him in the way that he settles into the kingdom.

The corners of her lips twitch at his hastily covered comment, a brief amusement. She could hardly take offense to such a statement, and given that she had ensured she would not, an especially true statement as well. She considers his swiftly given follow up question for a moment before responding a bit cryptically, “Yes and no.”

After a moment, she clarifies, “The residents are different, but it is still Nerine.”

i see your sins
and i want to set them free