>>5138758"Have you considered what would happen if she were to fail?"
Silence.
"Then let us consider this: what will you do if Shu perishes before she can reach the top?"
Silence.
"Then lets say, Shu is truly worthy of saving the world, and she ascends to the throne of
heavens and takes her rightful place. And all is well. Then how will the world reconcile with her ascension? Her choices that have condemned others like Sam and Isabelle? Her sins that arise in the wake of her actions?"
Silence.
"Do we have evidence to show she is ready for the ascension?"
"Why are you asking these questions?" the Hive mistress finally replied. The colour of gloom and frayed emotions stained her voice, an emotion shared by many of the flock.
"Why indeed? I ask because the answer is simple. I wish to know what you think. And I wish for you to learn and consider these questions."
"How is this even-" The Hive Mistress gestures about "Learning experience!?"
Peng opened her mouth to speak but refrained as the leader of the pilgrimage group burst into a Kalidescope of vibrant colors in Peng's eye. Peng didn't dare interrupt the beautiful speech colored by those emotions.
"We're simply a group of daughters who want to visit Shu's birthplace so we can connect with the person we look up to. She is our inspiration, she is our hope."
"Who stopped the Spiraling Fear? Shu. Who negotiated with West Alpha and convinced her into a non-aggression pact? Shu did it. Who stripped Mother of her power and stopped her favored daughter from gatekeeping the Cord? It was all SHU!"
"We don't care if Shu is or isn't worthy! We don't care if Shu succeeds or fails! We see the deeds that she has done, and want to help make her wish come true! It doesn't get any simpler than that! Is that reason enough?"
It was Peng's turn to be silent in the wake of the Pilgrim's zealous speech. But the silence of the Sage was not out of shock, but out of respect. 'A pity' Peng thought 'such beautiful passion empowered by her youth. And yet she has yet to gain wisdom.'
And so Peng spoke once more.
"Are you sure your actions are in good faith with the Defiant's wishes?" asked the Sage.
"Yes!"
"Then why are you so keen on deifying the Defiant in spite of her earnest wishes to not be placed on such a high pedestal?"
"ENOUGH!" roared the Hive Mistress, disgust and anger clouded the pilgrim's mind.
Peng frowned at this development. "And here I thought this discussion was about to get more interesting-"
"No more questions!" The Hive Mistress's temper was steaming red.
"If you ask one more question-"
"Is that VIOLENCE I hear?" Sathriel softly interrupted, the words tumbling out her lips with the weight of a lead coffin.
(cont.)
