>>6056598“Your arms,” you ask, lowering your gaze to her blackened limbs laying deeper in the pool. “What did they say?”
“Well—” Soralisa hesitates. “I was lucky to survive. The Sanction truly got out of control.”
You hesitate at those words. Ansàrra is the one who ultimately provides and concedes Sanctions.
Which also means that She allowed it, which—
You blink. You never thought about it that way. This means…
“It will take time,” she whispers. “A few weeks at the very least, to be able to use my hands properly. One year or more to recover upper body strength. But I have likely lost some sensibility forever…” she raises her arms off the pool and you notice how they look now. The cracked crystalline surface has been absorbed by the skin, so it now reminds you of dry earth, or old bark. But beneath and between the black layer you can see faint pinkness peeking through. Her new flesh and skin is slowly growing.
“Let’s not be gloomy,” Rubida sighs interjecting herself into the conversation. “She will recover, and she may recover well than intended. After all, you got saved at the last moment once already,” she points out, her deep blue eyes affixed to you. “Who knows what the future may have in store for you.”
“Thank you Rubida,” she nods, closing her eyes. “Apologies, I am still a bit weaker. Weaker… than usual at the very least.”
This reminds you of the rest of the time you will have to spend together.
“I’m glad you feel better. There is something else I wanted to ask… we did it. We stopped the incarnation.”
“Which sounds incredible when you say it like that,” Salicera points out, with her usual grin. She lazily takes a swim around you three. “I can’t wait for people to start carrying us in triumph. Maybe your Master can lead the way?”
“I don’t think we should get a parade for something we were supposed to do,” you reply. “Also, the whispers of pride are dangerous. I did not want to talk about anything like that, just that—” you blush as you try to string the words together. At this point you are not even attempting to dance, you are just throwing yourself into the ballroom covered in tar and feathers.
So be it.
[cont.]
