Chapter 63 - Discussions

On the way back, Yarrow looked at her curiously, "Why did you choose to tell him then instead of waiting for us to send word to the other temples?"

"As a Blazewing, he is one of the most trustworthy from Virtus' temple to give the news to," she responded, taking note when her words drew confused gazes towards her.

"How'd you know he's a Blazewing," Fel said, "You haven't seen him without all the fancy armor."

Ash smiled slightly, tempted for a brief moment to lie and state something silly, like all creatures made of a gods magic being able to recognize each other on sight. The problem was, though, that they might believe her little joke and then she'd get scolded for it later.

"The way he greeted Lucrum was what told me," she said, mentioning that he'd just barely inclined his head to the god just as she had.

"I see you still haven't returned to using honorifics for him," Yarrow observed, clearly not speaking about Ailanthus anymore.

She chuckled ever so slightly, "I see no need to continue doing so around all of you, since you've been made aware of the fact that he pursues me, romantically. I will do so in public settings however," her words took on a note of admonishment that was likely meant for the god himself if he happened to be watching, "For I will not be called disrespectful and bring shame to Sidus in so doing."

Magic wrapped around them, its gentle embrace seeming to change something just a little and Ash knew their conversation was rendered private. She glanced at the source, Gardenia, and found the priestess looking at her. Her expression was concerned but not fearful.

"Ash," she said, her voice calm and quiet, "Are you actually interested in him…or?"

It was a valid concern. The very idea of leading a god on in a romantic pursuit with no reason was near sacrilegious. Ash took a moment to contemplate her interest in Lucrum. Their interactions had been few and it was truly too early to tell with any clarity where things might go. They might eventually settle into a friendship or a relationship like siblings where she took the lead and made certain he learned all he could from her own wisdom. They might become something more or fall apart, nothing was yet set in stone. She ran a hand through her hair and looked up at the sky, letting out a gentle sigh.

"At this moment he is a curiosity to me. A god that is younger by far than myself, something I never thought possible growing up. A god that looks to me with envy, seeing the things his power is supposed to weave within me and not understanding that his power long preceeded his consciousness. He is young and in need of guidance but he is old enough to think he must have learned all he needed from the other gods by now. I will not deny that he is nice to look at and that it feels nice to have someone look at me for once and to feel that they see more than just the power I wield. His domain makes him capable of fixing my magic, something that must be done for my world to keep on living…"

Gardenia moved to stand in front of her, a gentle hand touching her cheek, "None of those things are love, Ash," she said, her voice soft as if she thought her words might make Ash upset, "They are, perhaps, a small infatuation but not love. I am not saying that you should not do this…I would like to think we are friends, even if the time we have known each other is short," Ash nodded ever so slightly, "Don't rush into this. Take your time even if you fear you don't have enough of it. A decision this important made in haste will likely only end in sadness."

She nodded once more. Normally, she might have balked at such advice. Normally, it would feel presumptuous on the part of the advisor. Ash was, however, still young by the standards of the Starborn. She was not a child by any means but still not so far removed from childhood as to claim an adult's wisdom in all things.

She was also smart enough to understand that there were things that Gardenia had experienced that she had not: falling in love, making the decision to be with someone for the rest of her life. Luna had made the decision as well but it had always seemed a courtesy to some degree. Luna was all but required, given her station in the temple, to have children.

She loved her husband dearly in her own way but she would always hold Ash first in her heart, an unshakable oath that could never be broken sealed by magic that bound them forever. Ash hated it to a small degree, always worrying that Luna would have chosen otherwise if given the chance.

"I know well not to rush into things but I am grateful for your advise nonetheless," she said gently before giving a slight sigh, "I know also that some choices are not in our hands to make, for good or for ill. I do not get to choose who can fix my magic and that person will hold an important place in my life even if it is not that of my love."

Gardenia seemed to sense where her thoughts had wandered or, perhaps, had spoken at length with Luna already for she answered without hesitation, "Some souls are bound to each other by the threads of fate itself the moment they come to be. Yours and Luna's are such souls, sisters bound together by magic and fate rather than blood. The one that can fix your magic is the same and their place in your life will feel just as natural."

Assuming, Ash thought darkly for just a moment, that they yet lived. There had been much strife and fear during the great hunt. The one bound to her magic might have fallen victim to it and she had no way to know. Even in the present, the strife was not fully done and there was at least one left that hunted magical beings like herself. The one that could fix her magic, the one whose magic she would be able to fix, might have fallen victim to that hunter.

Uncertain why it was on her mind at all, Ash shook herself slightly as if to shake away the thoughts themselves, "No reason right now to rush forward," she agreed softly with an earlier statement Gardenia had made, "For now, I'm here to enjoy myself and I think I'd like to begin working on my alchemy some while I work on my magical skills."