Adelric

The half-child follows Erebos forward, the cerndyr just behind, though Adelric is admittedly not feeling very brave. Large crowds bother him, make him nervous and shier than he already is on most days. Still, his only friend in the whole world is moving forward, so he follows, into the shadow of the woman he has not known to be a goddess until one of the other’s here says so. But this is no ordinary meeting, it seems- she queries, others answer. Dare he be one that does? Erebos dares, naming his desire succinctly, but how can the half-child even begin to imagine only stating one word that describes everything his heart yearns for? And even if he can find that word, that one word that names everything that swirls in his cavernous soul… should he speak it? Should he ask for something from this goddess when his friend has asked too, or should he let Erebos have this opportunity before him? And what of his sister, who also stands near. She is more worthy than he as well. So many that deserve more than him, why she he be the cause of them having less?

His mind swirls and wanders, pondering the pros and cons of answering and not answering, of searching and not searching, and in the end he finds that his fear of reprimand for not answering the goddess is worse than his fear of winning some gift from this woman instead of Erebos. At least, if for some reason the goddess should not see that he is far less worthy, he may be able to use whatever gift she would give him to the benefit of Erebos, driving his friend further in his quest for power and control. That is one thing that Adelric is sure he does not desire. What does his heart really want? Freedom to ask questions, to study, to classify, to categorize, to delineate problems and create solutions. He wants to know how things work, why things work, what drives the need for them and how they sustain themselves in the ever changing climate that houses them. He wants to learn everything, to know everything, to… to have “answers.”

Will she understand what he tries to convey with this one word as he shrinks back into the shadows, pressing up against Tobias? Or will she see an awkward child who dare not stand in her glorious light, unworthy of any gift she might have to offer? In many ways, he hopes it is the latter.

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Words|422
Summary| Adelric’s word is ‘answers’