Sometimes it was difficult to tell whether or not Mauja was actually thinking something within that giant stony skull of his, or whether he'd temporarily gone dumb. If the Goddess hadn't known him for multiple years by this point, she might have been tempted to think it was the latter. As it was, she knew him to be the type to think a symphony of thoughts, and to only offer a few choice words. Was the power to rape and pillage his mind within her jurisdiction? Well, it was certainly within her power. And at the very least, whatever modicum of respect she did in fact hold for the Frostheart, Frozen Light, whatever Mauja was these days, made her tread the maze-like prison of his mind carefully. So despite the extended pause, the Goddess merely waited his response with a poised patience, than with a magical assault.
She ignored those who gathered around the veil of mist. With a gentle huff, they thickened slightly, obscuring what few words passed between Mauja and herself. Scavengers...she thought, though was not at all surprised. Of course they ran to her whenever she appeared her. Yet she would have thought that it would have been obvious that what she wanted now was Mauja, and nothing else. Was the ring of fog not evidence enough, that this was a private conversation? Did they really need to hover so? Tembovu maybe .. to ensure that nothing nefarious was occurring. But really. Let the ice king have his moment..
Forgive me, But I do not understand what it is that you ask me.
So maybe he was going a little daft after all.
The Goddess knew that wasn't true - likely he had spun a thousand responses in that frozen skull of his and found each to be unsuccessful or wrong in some way. Still, she was disappointed. Her own hubris prevented her from really leveling with him, but she had hoped that he might have guessed at her intentions and answered her. You led! You were worshiped. You acted as you had to, and now a great deal of them hate you for it. How does that feel? Because deep within her bony breast, beneath a layer of smoke and ash, beat a heart that wasn't entirely immune to criticism. She would always act in the best interest of Helovia as a whole, regardless of how the near-sighted masses might hate her for it. But was it too much to wish some wisdom from them? Some perspective?
But now she was the one silently rambling, and that just wouldn't do.
"Forget it." Her tail flicked causing the frost-flowers to dance in the dark moonlight, as a disappointed and perhaps slightly exasperated sigh left her lips. But still she did not sound cross, or angry.
"That isn't why I'm here. " The Goddess straightened, because more poised and official-seeming. The changes weren't obvious, and yet everything about her suggested that whatever intimate curiosity she had displayed moments ago, was now gone. What was to come next would not seem like favouritism (though with the history between the two, it was hard to imagine how it could seem that way). "You have endured much. Your time here, the invasions ... that thing with my brother and his pathetic mirror... "
The air next to Mauja began to shimmer slightly. A long cylindrical object began to form, woven out of the moonlight itself. Dark vapours twisted around its shaft, working their way up and slowly creating the form. While there appeared to be runes on it - or some sort of etching - it was impossible to discern. The material itself began to harden - becoming more real and less composed of illusory light and shadow play.
"It is not an apology or an excuse-" She began, her voice sombre and soft. "Merely an acknowledgement of those you have lost. What you have sacrificed. What has been asked of you." Psyche ... Sno ... Torasin ... the list was endless. The Goddess' list was far longer, but the phantom pain in the white stallion was far too loud to ignore. But as she said, it was not an apology. She would not apologize for the necessary sway of death nor the parts she would play in the inevitable fate of those around her. But she could also recognize that life was not fair - and for Mauja's years of dedication, or whatever it was that kept him close to her, it was a token she was willing enough to offer.
"Touch it, and you shall see."
@Mauja
The Goddess offers Mauja an enchanted staff - I know you had lots of ideas so I just didn't want to take it off your wishlist in case something had changed. So feel free to either use exactly what is on your wishlist, or tweak if you want - for Mau's 1000 post milestone /late
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