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His voice is a deep rumble, and Nasreen quivers in elation. A god, a god has graced her with his presence! Back in Th’orqui, only a select few were so blessed. She is still processing all of this when the thought occurs to her—perhaps this god knows where Th’orqui is! Trying to contain her excitement, Nasreen eases out of her deep bow, raising her jubilant eyes to see…Kahlua.
Her friend rushes toward her, and she is caught up in her joyous embrace. “I’m so glad you’re safe!” Kahlua is telling her, and Nasreen begins to cry again, overwhelmed. “I…I’m so sorry I left you,” she replies, ashamed at her selfishness. “Thank the gods you’re all right!” Before she has a chance to remember her place, the god speaks again. Nasreen shrinks back in fear and embarrassment—who is she to interrupt a deity?
But he is merciful. “Greetings to you all and welcome. As long as you call this place your home, you are not foreign,” he intones benevolently, and as Nasreen dares to gaze rapturously at his face for the briefest moment, she sees a smile on his godly lips. She relaxes, basking in his glow. “I ask you now why you believe this sickness and darkness came over Helovia?” he continues in a deep voice. Memories of the monster resurface in Nasreen’s mind, and subconsciously, she inches closer to the god, seeking comfort and safety in his light.
She is puzzled, though, at his query. What did she believe? She did not know how to answer. Who was she to question the will of the gods? The others answered in turn, and she listened in confusion to their explanations, gasping softly when she discovered that Kahlua herself had been infected. They all sounded so wise. She, though, was just a girl. All her life, she had been taught not to question authority, and certainly not to question the gods! Nasreen knit her brow, puzzling over this dilemma, and quite accidentally missed Cera’s introduction in the process. What was she to say?
When it came time for her to answer, she swallowed before replying meekly, “Dear deity, I must admit that I don’t know. Who am I to say why things happen the way they do? I am a mere mortal, and you…well…” she ducked her head reverently before continuing. “What I’m trying to say, o god, is that while I cannot pretend to know why the darkness came, is it not an occasion to rejoice when you have brought back the light?”
Her friend rushes toward her, and she is caught up in her joyous embrace. “I’m so glad you’re safe!” Kahlua is telling her, and Nasreen begins to cry again, overwhelmed. “I…I’m so sorry I left you,” she replies, ashamed at her selfishness. “Thank the gods you’re all right!” Before she has a chance to remember her place, the god speaks again. Nasreen shrinks back in fear and embarrassment—who is she to interrupt a deity?
But he is merciful. “Greetings to you all and welcome. As long as you call this place your home, you are not foreign,” he intones benevolently, and as Nasreen dares to gaze rapturously at his face for the briefest moment, she sees a smile on his godly lips. She relaxes, basking in his glow. “I ask you now why you believe this sickness and darkness came over Helovia?” he continues in a deep voice. Memories of the monster resurface in Nasreen’s mind, and subconsciously, she inches closer to the god, seeking comfort and safety in his light.
She is puzzled, though, at his query. What did she believe? She did not know how to answer. Who was she to question the will of the gods? The others answered in turn, and she listened in confusion to their explanations, gasping softly when she discovered that Kahlua herself had been infected. They all sounded so wise. She, though, was just a girl. All her life, she had been taught not to question authority, and certainly not to question the gods! Nasreen knit her brow, puzzling over this dilemma, and quite accidentally missed Cera’s introduction in the process. What was she to say?
When it came time for her to answer, she swallowed before replying meekly, “Dear deity, I must admit that I don’t know. Who am I to say why things happen the way they do? I am a mere mortal, and you…well…” she ducked her head reverently before continuing. “What I’m trying to say, o god, is that while I cannot pretend to know why the darkness came, is it not an occasion to rejoice when you have brought back the light?”
Please do not tag Nasreen except for in opening posts and in spars!
