Chapter 303 - Dialogue I (1/2)

Lira sat up with a quick movement, tufts of grass blowing up and drifting gently down around her, a few strands sticking to her radiant hair. She sat cross legged with her posture a little forward, her hands on her ankles in a rather child like sitting posture that reminded Li of Tia.

She tilted her head this, then that way, her lips thinned as her brows knitted together in concentration. While she thought, Mason, seeing that the conversation had moved on, stood up, excusing himself to be by himself. Mercer perked up and left with his brother, no doubt to comfort him.

Lira gave the two brothers a lingering gaze as they disappeared off from the edge of the firelight, their backs growing darker as they went into the night. ”I cannot deny that in the many years I have been away that change has not been wholly kind to this world. If it is even such that you-,”

She nodded to Asala. ”A sand scholar strictly devoted to neutrality, sways from your oath even this little bit to beseech me for aid.”

”Aye, tis so.” Asala's gleaming yellow eyes flitted down for a second in a ponderance of shame at having the terms of her oath reminded to her. ”But I ask such of thee now for mine sisters uphold their oath knowing not the nature of this world, how it has changed in the near cycle that they hath long decided to enclose themselves within the Sandriver.

The winds of change hath passed by the oath, and now more than ever, change doth gather, and not kindly, I should say, but in a storm that I fear shall lay waste to all, and what use art our tablets and stele shouldst there be but the ashes left by war?”

Sheela took to Asala's side. ”You are strong. Very strong. Fight with us. Save lives.”

Vilga looked on the conversation with noted interest but did not try to engage, her arms crossed as she simply listened, contemplating. Old Thane, however, did not hesitate to chime in.

”Lassies, give the seeker space to grant us her answer,” said Old Thane. ”It is her choice whether she decides to raise her spear for us or not.”

”Her choice?” Sheela's voice deepened. ”Or responsibility? Many can die or many can live No choice. Only the fight.”

”Aye, I understand,” said Old Thane. ”There are lives at stake. Many, many lives. Innocent lives among them, to be sure. But choice is sacred. You may judge the seeker for her choices, but she has the right to make them herself.”

”Come now,” said Lira. ”My true form has not even descended upon this world yet.”

”When it does?” said Sheela.

”I will fight,” said Lira. ”But perhaps not in the way you wish me to. My eyes can sense that there is a fire burning within you. Against demons.” Lira shrugged. ”I do not slay demons.”

”But you are demon slayer,” said Sheela.

”And slayer of elementals and dragons and even gods, they say,” said Lira. ”Does not mean I go out of my way to kill all of them.

No, I am to fight against the true Darkness that your Seer himself stands against. If, of course, by the time I get here, I am even needed. Your Seer seems more than capable enough.”

”Speaking of,” said Li. ”When will you get here?”

”I do not know. My memories split off from my true self shortly fifty years ago. said Lira. ”My true self is alive, I can sense it, and I have sent a calling for my self to return, but where she is, what she is doing, I do not know. It may be the very morrow that she returns. It may be the following year.”

”Then I'll take that as an answer not to rely on you,” said Li.