One step at a time

Onar watches Zoser closely, sensing the weight of his unspoken words. She doesn't press him further, but her gaze softens with understanding.

Onar: (Quietly) "You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready... but sometimes, facing what we've been through is the only way to move forward. Whatever happened to you, it doesn't define who you are now."

(She leans forward slightly, her voice calm yet filled with a quiet intensity.)

Onar: "And I didn't say you were chosen to save the world. But I do believe there's a purpose in your being here. Fate or not, there's something bigger at play, and you... you are at the center of it."

(She stands up, looking at him with a deep, almost knowing expression.)

Onar: "The question is: will you embrace it, or will you turn away from it?"

(She waits for his response, her eyes searching his face for a hint of what lies beneath his guarded demeanor.)

Zoser remains silent for a moment, the weight of Onar's words hanging heavily in the air. His eyes flicker to the ground, avoiding her gaze as he struggles with the turmoil within. He feels a knot tighten in his chest, the fear and uncertainty clouding his thoughts.

Zoser: (Softly, his voice barely above a whisper) "I don't know if I'm strong enough for any of this. Everything... everything has changed. I don't even understand what's happening to me, to this world. How can I embrace something when I don't even know what it is?"

He pauses, a distant look crossing his face as memories of his village, of his parents, flash before his eyes. The feeling of abandonment, the fear of what's next—it all threatens to swallow him whole.

Zoser: (Looking up at Onar, his voice tinged with doubt) "What if... what if I'm not meant for this? What if I'm just a child caught in something too big for me to understand?"

He inhales deeply, trying to steady himself, yet the uncertainty lingers. His eyes search hers, as if seeking something—an answer, perhaps, or a sign that he's not entirely alone in this.

Onar watches him quietly, her expression softening as she takes in the depth of his turmoil. She knows the weight of such doubt all too well, the crushing burden of uncertainty that comes with being thrust into something beyond your control.

Onar: (Her voice steady, but gentle) "Zoser, you are not alone in this. None of us ever are, even when it feels like we are. Strength isn't something that comes all at once—it's built, piece by piece, with every choice we make, every step we take, even in the face of fear and doubt."

She steps closer, her eyes locking with his, a quiet understanding between them.

Onar: "What happened to your village, to your family, it's unimaginable. But that doesn't mean you're powerless. You are strong, Zoser, not because you have all the answers, but because you are willing to seek them. Sometimes, the first step is simply choosing to move forward, even when you don't know where the path leads."

She places a hand gently on his shoulder, a small but meaningful gesture of support.

Onar: "You might not have all the answers now, but in time, they will come. And when they do, you'll see... you were stronger than you ever realized."

Zoser looks up at Onar, her words sinking deep into his heart, offering a fleeting sense of comfort amid the storm of emotions raging within him. Her kindness, so genuine and steadfast, seems to cut through the isolation he's been feeling since the destruction of his village. His chest tightens, and for a moment, he can almost feel the weight of his family's loss lessen, as though her support is lifting some of the unbearable burden from him.

Zoser: (His voice cracks slightly, but he forces the words out) "But... what if I can't find them? What if I'm too late?"

Onar's gaze softens further, her hand remaining on his shoulder as she speaks, her voice firm but warm.

Onar: "You won't know unless you keep moving, Zoser. Even if the answers aren't clear now, they won't come to you by staying still. The path forward is full of unknowns, but it's also full of possibilities. And you don't have to walk it alone."

Zoser's eyes flicker, a spark of determination lighting up beneath the layers of grief and confusion. Though the uncertainty still weighs on him, Onar's presence offers a quiet kind of strength—one that doesn't come from having all the answers, but from simply choosing to take the next step.

Zoser: (More resolutely) "I'll keep moving. For them."

Onar offers a gentle, approving nod, knowing that this resolve—small as it may seem—marks a significant turning point for Zoser.

Onar: "That's all anyone can do, Zoser. One step at a time."

Zoser takes a deep, steadying breath, his heart still heavy with the loss, but now there's something else—a sense of purpose beginning to grow within him. Onar's words have planted a seed of hope, one that feels fragile but undeniably real. He knows the road ahead will be difficult, but for the first time since the destruction of his village, he feels a flicker of strength rising from within.

Zoser: (More quietly, to himself) "One step at a time."

Onar watches him with a soft smile, a quiet pride in her eyes. She knows that this small shift in Zoser's spirit marks the beginning of something more. The journey ahead may be uncertain, but now, he has the will to face it.

Onar: "Remember, Zoser, it's okay to ask for help along the way. None of us are meant to face everything alone."

Her words settle in his mind, and for the first time in a long while, he feels a glimmer of connection to something greater than his own pain. He nods, as if to silently acknowledge her support, before slowly standing up, feeling the weight of the world still pressing on his shoulders, but also the first stirrings of resolve that, with time, might lighten that load.

Zoser: (Nodding) "I won't forget. Thank you."

As they turn to face the path ahead, the air between them is filled with unspoken understanding. The road will be long and filled with challenges, but together, they'll face whatever comes, one step at a time.