[open] when the sky falls down

[Everclear]

If she had felt like unloading her burden upon him, like telling him of her worries and woes, he would not have turned her away. As he’d said, his understanding of the trials their lives in this magical land often faced; he would gladly listen to her troubles and provide support if it seemed prudent. That has always been his way – when he had felt similar, overwhelmed and unsure, he had sought the support of others. He likes to think he is capable of providing such a service in return.

As it is, she does not seem willing to discuss whatever weighs upon her mind so he does not press the matter.

Instead, he aims to distract. He tells her his name and she repeats it in a tone that suggests calmness. He smiles as she does, glad to have provided some diversion to her thoughts.

She builds further upon his words of belonging and a tinge of sadness finds its way to his smile when she states that she has never truly ‘been a part of anything.’ A low breath leaves his lungs and he dips his head. “Sometimes devoting yourself to a cause can be troublesome in its own ways,” he admits, “but it does have its rewards.” He wonders, though, if his time in the Gates back then had really been beneficial to the kingdom itself or if he had, as so many claimed, really been more of a blight upon their culture.

Narya asks him of the past and the sadness leaves him then, replaced by a more distant sort of stoicism. It does seem strange to him how the lands are no longer divided between moral allegiances – he had noticed that the last time he’d sought to mingle with the general populace. Similar to her inability to grasp the concept, he had not quite understood how the lines had become so blurred.

Truly, how is one meant to tell who to trust these days?

“It was indeed one of the ‘good’ kingdoms,” he obliges with a nod. “Heaven’s Gates and the Dewdrop Deserts were both more or less designated for the more pure-hearted inhabitants of Beqanna. The Gates tended to be home for those of us with less magic than others while the Deserts were home to many who had wonderful powers. I suppose time has changed both aspects now,” he finishes with a vague shrug and swish of his tail.

“Between you and me, though,” he adds, “I am not sure the allegiances of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ were truly measured or observed, back in those days. Before, when Beqanna was younger, perhaps. But in my time…” He trails off somewhat thoughtfully. He had lived in the Valley, after all, though he had never been cruel or evil by nature and neither had the majority of its residents.

It doesn’t seem worth mentioning, though, so instead he meets her eyes again. “Perhaps you could fill me in on the more recent events around Beqanna? I fear I have once again been away for much too long.”

E V E R C L E A R

@Narya