>>31820343Olivia's predicament was an unfortunate one. Defying the things we know as next to the gods themselves was unthinkable. Nevertheless, it was worth it to try. You thought it worth it to try anyway. You thought it worth it to ask her to dinner. Moonlit walks. Quiet conversation over coffee, tea - it hardly mattered so long as she was there.
But there were not the best laid of plans. They were the machinations of a mortal man. A spec. As trite and numerous as a grain of sand upon the many beaches you agreed to meet. The very same beaches that were hit with storms, faced unexpected closure, or seemed to have evaded your ability to find them. They couldn't be that hard to find. You picked one not ten minutes from home.
The scales. These curious scales. Every time. Without fail. These curious scales. Invigorating, and known to restore health to those that touched them. Known to kill those that touched them. The cruel totem had spoken, again and again. Olivia was not for you. Not for any but the callous whims of Lele itself.
You strap a belt around your waist. You pull a polishing cloth away from a white and red ball. Lele had erred. For love, you'd level towns. Snap. Snap. Snap. Venom. Iron. Undead. Anathema to the god. This god.
This grain of sand would not be washed into the surf. For love, you'd fell the gods themselves.
