She never did pay much attention to anyone back then, not even Kings and Queens, Czars and Czarina’s. Titles were titles, and little more. They were fake power, power that was easily stripped away. Though magic was not much different, apparently, though she had still found herself hard pressed to believe it back then. She always figured there must be a way to return her siren powers to her. That there must be a way to return to the powerful creature she once was. Why would she care what names other horses went by, when she’d plan to leave them all behind just as soon as she got her powers back? Why would she care what power they wielded when it had been nothing compared to her own, though lost, powers?

It is only recently that she has come to understand her powers will not be returning. Syrena had left Helovia and had not been returned to normal. And so, now she stays, because here at least she can earn tiny scraps of her magic back. Now she pays attention, at least some, to name and faces and titles. They matter in this world, and so if she is to survive, to become anything at all, she must learn to care about things she never before cared about.

“Ah, yes,” she says, recalling some vague details that she should have known without hesitation. “I didn’t pay much attention to titles at the time,” she says, as if this explains something. Maybe it does. Its likely Syrena wouldn’t have cared if the mare saved the world, let alone if she ruled a herd. The only memorable thing to her then would have been restoring her powers. Which no one seemed capable of.

The mare – the Cadaverous, apparently (hell of a title) – continues to ask how their herds are, and Hotaru answers first. Her answer is somewhat generic, pluralizing herds and speaking as if she knows what’s going on in all four herds. Maybe she does. Maybe she doesn’t mean it that way. Syrena can’t honestly tell. Instead, she lets the mare talk, listening, picking up whatever information she can since she’s supposed to know things as Storyteller. She’s a terrible storyteller though – she knows almost nothing.

When the Lady finishes, Syrena adds her own little piece. “Well enough,” she says, her face calm and emotionless. The Falls is quiet, truthfully, but that always seems to be the case, and is perhaps true of other herds as well. Though she liked quiet, so she didn’t find this to be a bad thing. “Isopia and Ranjiri currently rule, and there are open positions should you desire a job.” She doesn’t add anything about foal and weather. It’s cold, there are foals growing, this seems obvious enough that stating it again is just unnecessary. She’s fine with short and sweet.


les words "chat chat"

Syrena

let the water take me