“I-“ Arabelle swallowed, the shame running down her throat as Crystal handed her a cup. “I killed someone I loved. I was chasing a dream… a dream that deep down, I knew I never could’ve, or should’ve, accomplished. But I wasn’t myself… I w-was a monster. August was m-my friend for a long time. She went out to stop me, and we fought many times, both with our words and with magic. But one evening, we met and argued, and it escalated. But August didn’t want to hurt me, and I-I ended up hurting her…” Tears ran down Arabelle’s face. She couldn’t look the goddess in the eye.
Crystal's hand fell to her face and lifted it up. "A kind soul. I cannot raise the dead sadly. Fate has seen to that. But you made a mistake. It's human nature. Everyone fucks up. Even I, though tis very rarely. What then my precious little sunbeam are you asking for? I cannot kill either."
Arabelle’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion, despite the tears. “Raise the- oh no, I could never ask that of you. I need to know what I can do to make it up.” She wiped away her tears, her resolve and determination returning.
She sighed. "Keep your heart warm. And open. Keep her in your prayers and do things with the strength and remorse you had when you lost her. Remember that each action has a reaction. Do not be blinded. And learn from her death. Maybe she'll haunt you every once in a while, you never know." She winked and handed Arabelle a cup of tea. "Drink this. It'll calm your nerves a bit dear."
Kenna stood in the back of the crowd, fidgeting. The questions she so desperately wanted to ask seemed to crush her. She shouldn't be here, she didn't know if she could even say the words aloud. To think them was one thing, but to say them, to make them true… but she needed to know. Desperately. She tugged her cloak tighter around herself, searching for some form of comfort as she watched the goddess talk to the blond girl. Something about the woman, dressed in green, something about her power seemed to tug the strings of her own magic and almost unconsciously, unwillingly, she took her first step towards the woman. In a daze she gently pushed through the crowds and towards the goddess, then stopped, her mind catching up with her body. She had no more time to think about her words, she was already there, in the front, in front of a goddess. She couldn't back away now, so instead, she stood, arms slack, and waited,
Crystal after wrapping a blanket around Arabelle and sitting her down so she could collect her nerves, noticed yet another blooming flower step into the circle. Her vines seemed to notice too this time, and instead of them being slack or at Crystal's loyal service they tensed up, and seemed to get closer to Crystal, ready for orders. Crystal tossed her red hair behind her, a few flowers growing in her hair and then wilting just as quickly where she touched, before she walked forth to the new comer. "Why hello there dear! And how may I help you hm?" She wore her same old endearing smile and twinkle to her eyes, seemingly oblivious to the way her powers were riling up beside her, ready to fight.
Kenna felt like she was going to puke and debated making a quick exit, but decided embarrassment would be worse than admitting her defeat. So she gave in.
"My name is Kenna Blackwell," she said, her voice, somehow, managed to stay steady, yet her body betrayed her as her hand twitched at her side, aching for the comforting weight of her sword. The fire in her veins seemed to dance, to come alive in the presence of someone so powerful, someone who matched her forever growing flames. "I don't know if what I will ask is in your range of ability, but I need to know." She took a deep breath, steadying herself. She had never said the words aloud, never dared to utter them in fear that it could make them true, even in the darkest hours of the night when no one but her own gods could hear her, she couldn't bring herself to admit it. To admit to fear.
"I have been blessed with fire. My-" her voice broke and she cursed herself silently, "my mother and father arranged their deaths for me. So I could save them from the threat they couldn't demolish, their deaths were to push me in the direction of salvation. But the woman, she took my kingdom, my birthright, and has now made an army of powers that I fear are greater than my own." Her entire body threatened to shut down as she finally admitted it. "Everyone expects me to save them. I've been told I'm the only one who can save them, I've been told I'm too reckless." She stopped, then started again, "They all have such hope of what I can do. But I'm only sixteen. I'm a child, and I'm terrified I will not be able to accomplish what people believe is destined. I'm afraid I'm not strong enough. And I fear what will happen if I'm not." Her chest, lungs, seemed to collapse.
She looked at the vines. "How dare you souls try to fight the child! Poor dear." Crystal sighed. "I had a daughter. Evelyn. Spunky and wild could do whatever she wanted. A completely free bird. Confident,with stride and strut. And fear of failure. Constantly putting herself down, but just as fiery as you. You can do it. Remember the goddess of life and death herself is watching over you. Protecting you my child. The day you claim the throne back as rightfully yours, I'll be there cheering you on and seeing where I can twist Fates arm to do my bidding of seeing you succeed. He always did love a challenge. Just be sure to train your powers to preciscion. Keep control amongst chaos,don't loose your head and know where you are going. The direction you are to take. Never loose sight. And the only thing to fear is fear itself. If you let it get to you it will get under your skin. Abandon it completely you'll get yourself killed wrecklessly. You'll lose control. Keep that in mind during battle and all planning. Let it help you to keep you going, but make sure you can still fly, young Phoenix."
The goddess's words seemed to cover Kenna like a blanket. A soothing touch from a motherly voice she had been longing for, hadn't even realized she had, and with a start realized she couldn't remember her own mother's tone. But the words the woman had said, it was everything she had been waiting to hear. A promise. A beacon of hope, of light, in the darkness that seemed to be overtaking.
It was all she could to keep her composure and dignity and not throw herself down at the goddess's feet, to let the woman take her away from here.
Instead, she steeled herself, let the wisdom the woman had given her guide her thoughts, her heart, and said, "Thank you."
"My child. Come. I can sense a need to grovel. Do not see me as the title I've been given. Come. Have tea. And just call me Crystal. Though I'm used to other more… motherly terms. See me as a friend and a guiding hand, dearest Kenna." She then sits on the throne. "Give me your hand. And relax it. Don't tense. Or it'll ruin what I wish to do." She gently takes her hand and turns the palm upwards towards the ceiling. She then draws with her fingers, a green insignia. And up grows a rose made of fire. "A gift. To remind you. Of whatever you may forget. And don't worry it won't burn out ever as long as it's on you, even when doused with water. It will last 24 hours outside of your touch between holds. Then. It's gone forever."
Kenna stared at the burning rose, it was beautiful. She lifted her eyes to Crystal, called her by the name the woman asked for. She had no words left, a simple thank you was not enough to show her gratitude.
"I thank you," Kenna said, "from the depths of my heart I thank you."
"Be strong Kenna, nevermind the thanks. I will not accept it until I see you succeed. So go on then. And fight, fight for what you are and what you are owed." She patted the girls head and smiled as she sipped her tea, looking around, waiting to see who else would step forward.
