So much is happening...so much. There's a part of Himeka that's overwhelmed by having her senses so alive again--she'd almost forgotten what it was like to be blind and deaf to the flow of aether in the world that once she got her shard back, it became alive all over again. Alive with color and sound...and blood, grime, and all the edges that had been dulled just so even during her time in prison. She's exhausted, mentally, physically, spiritually, but everything that's happened in the last hour has reignited hope within her belly. The hope that she and Abel had clung to so strongly no matter who opposed it--the hope that they would be reunited with their friends again. That this wouldn't be the end.
How that salvation would come is not what she had expected. Truthfully a part of her had nearly given up as she and Abel were led to their pyres, set to watch one another burn 'til the very last.
But she hadn't needed to. No, in the end hope always wins, doesn't it? The rush of allies, familiar faces and generous strangers into enemy's territory for them had overwhelmed her in the best way. Not once did she believe they would be forgotten, but to risk so much...
It stands to reason, then, that Estinien would be at the forefront of it. She hadn't recognized him at the time, instead believing that the mighty dragon that took to the skies above Achamoth may have be rallied from the forests to fight on their behalf. But with her shard returned and Estinien's voice recently ringing within it, the truth is revealed; he'd given himself wholly to the thing that had been terrifying him the most--the Innocence. His sense of self, his future, the fear of all of these had had confided in Himeka not long ago. Yet he readily gave it up to save them.
She knows the sacrifice, what he values. To think that their journey would once again put him in a position to let go of himself for her sake pains her as much as it fills her heart with love and appreciation. He is her partner, through and through, and she only hopes she can impress upon him how much he means to here once they return. How she can joke that his scales are much nicer than hers now! Tell him that his fondness of dragons has gone beyond what they would have ever guessed it could be back when they met in the snowy hills of Coerthas...
Dokja and Anduin--they suggest that they leave soon. Abel and Himeka, despite being healed and reunited with their shards, are not in any condition to join in the battle. But she keeps her eyes to the skies, pangs of heavy worry hitting each time she sees another Kenoma ready an attack against her dearest friend. Every bit of her being yearns to jump into the fray. Her mana pool slowly regenerates. She could get a few spells off--a Benediction if she could only get closer. Her one true job is to heal her allies. It's the absolute least she can do.
All that is ripped away far too quickly.
The courtyard is suddenly enveloped in light. It isn't the same oppressive light that existed on the First, but Himeka feels the need to try and shield herself and others from it regardless. Yet when it clears, she refocuses her gaze to the sky only to see not a might dragon but the very real form of her friend, pinned mid-air like a moth to a board. But actual pins or spears would be much kinder, what holds Estinien in place seems to be manifestation of pure darkness--Kenoma, likely--and from not one by several points.
Her stomach sinks. The world around her loses focus. A weight fear settles onto her heart, dragging it down to where her stomach ought to be.
"...Estinien?"
No, no. No, no, no no no no...
He had weathered so much until this point. His spirit remained unbroken! Nay, despite the wounds he had suffered his only goal was to escape...or...no it was to instigate their escape...
There's darkness jutting through so much--places, important places she knows that she cannot heal. It's beyond her skill. Beyond any skill known to any of them! Shite. Shite. This...this isn't dissipation, is it? This is different. This is powerful.
"Estinien!!"
Himeka scrambles up to her feet--though Anduin has done all he can, the burns she's suffered at the pyre will not be resolved so quickly. Heavy pain shoots up through her nerves as soon as her weight is put on them, but she doesn't care. Every ache is an old hat at this point, her nearly healed wounds could open again for all she cares. Her steps are uneasy, not quick enough, but she's moving.
She reaches out with both of her hands. Her magic reserves aren't what they should be, but she tries--aether pools at her palms, bright and golden as she tries to swing it outwards to Rescue him to her.
Nothing happens.
She tries again. He's struggling.
"No..."
And again.
"PLEASE!"
He's too far. He's too fucking far.
She takes another wobbly step. She does what she was always taught not to do, what she teaches others not to do and pulls from the aether of her own essence, her life force, and whips it forward in an attempt to widen, strength the spell--
He's gone.
She stands dumbfounded. Silent.
The joy that accompanied their rescue, at being reunited with their friends, at being freed from the torment their daily life had become...ripped away.
It's too much.
It's too much.
The world around her ceases to be. She's at her limit. Himeka lets the aether dissipate around her as she collapses to the ground. She won't awaken for another day. It's a brief reprieve for when reality has to settle in once again.
no subject
How that salvation would come is not what she had expected. Truthfully a part of her had nearly given up as she and Abel were led to their pyres, set to watch one another burn 'til the very last.
But she hadn't needed to. No, in the end hope always wins, doesn't it? The rush of allies, familiar faces and generous strangers into enemy's territory for them had overwhelmed her in the best way. Not once did she believe they would be forgotten, but to risk so much...
It stands to reason, then, that Estinien would be at the forefront of it. She hadn't recognized him at the time, instead believing that the mighty dragon that took to the skies above Achamoth may have be rallied from the forests to fight on their behalf. But with her shard returned and Estinien's voice recently ringing within it, the truth is revealed; he'd given himself wholly to the thing that had been terrifying him the most--the Innocence. His sense of self, his future, the fear of all of these had had confided in Himeka not long ago. Yet he readily gave it up to save them.
She knows the sacrifice, what he values. To think that their journey would once again put him in a position to let go of himself for her sake pains her as much as it fills her heart with love and appreciation. He is her partner, through and through, and she only hopes she can impress upon him how much he means to here once they return. How she can joke that his scales are much nicer than hers now! Tell him that his fondness of dragons has gone beyond what they would have ever guessed it could be back when they met in the snowy hills of Coerthas...
Dokja and Anduin--they suggest that they leave soon. Abel and Himeka, despite being healed and reunited with their shards, are not in any condition to join in the battle. But she keeps her eyes to the skies, pangs of heavy worry hitting each time she sees another Kenoma ready an attack against her dearest friend. Every bit of her being yearns to jump into the fray. Her mana pool slowly regenerates. She could get a few spells off--a Benediction if she could only get closer. Her one true job is to heal her allies. It's the absolute least she can do.
All that is ripped away far too quickly.
The courtyard is suddenly enveloped in light. It isn't the same oppressive light that existed on the First, but Himeka feels the need to try and shield herself and others from it regardless. Yet when it clears, she refocuses her gaze to the sky only to see not a might dragon but the very real form of her friend, pinned mid-air like a moth to a board. But actual pins or spears would be much kinder, what holds Estinien in place seems to be manifestation of pure darkness--Kenoma, likely--and from not one by several points.
Her stomach sinks. The world around her loses focus. A weight fear settles onto her heart, dragging it down to where her stomach ought to be.
"...Estinien?"
No, no. No, no, no no no no...
He had weathered so much until this point. His spirit remained unbroken! Nay, despite the wounds he had suffered his only goal was to escape...or...no it was to instigate their escape...
There's darkness jutting through so much--places, important places she knows that she cannot heal. It's beyond her skill. Beyond any skill known to any of them! Shite. Shite. This...this isn't dissipation, is it? This is different. This is powerful.
"Estinien!!"
Himeka scrambles up to her feet--though Anduin has done all he can, the burns she's suffered at the pyre will not be resolved so quickly. Heavy pain shoots up through her nerves as soon as her weight is put on them, but she doesn't care. Every ache is an old hat at this point, her nearly healed wounds could open again for all she cares. Her steps are uneasy, not quick enough, but she's moving.
She reaches out with both of her hands. Her magic reserves aren't what they should be, but she tries--aether pools at her palms, bright and golden as she tries to swing it outwards to Rescue him to her.
Nothing happens.
She tries again. He's struggling.
"No..."
And again.
"PLEASE!"
He's too far. He's too fucking far.
She takes another wobbly step. She does what she was always taught not to do, what she teaches others not to do and pulls from the aether of her own essence, her life force, and whips it forward in an attempt to widen, strength the spell--
He's gone.
She stands dumbfounded. Silent.
The joy that accompanied their rescue, at being reunited with their friends, at being freed from the torment their daily life had become...ripped away.
It's too much.
It's too much.
The world around her ceases to be. She's at her limit. Himeka lets the aether dissipate around her as she collapses to the ground. She won't awaken for another day. It's a brief reprieve for when reality has to settle in once again.