• Closed • [The Glass Temple] Reflections in Stained Glass

[Woe]

4th of Ashan 722

As he wandered into the Glass Temple, Woe reflected on that idiosyncracy of Scalvoris spirituality. Why was it always glass, always lanterns, always with candles? There were repeated themes in the lore of Scalvoris that tempted his more curious nature to probe them. Was it more than coincidence, that the domain of his patron was such an important feature in Scalvoris? Woe didn't have much time these days to ponder these matters, and perhaps he'd ask Stan sometime about the whys of things. Although he held little hope of getting definiitive answers from the tunawa.

Woe hadn't come entirely alone this day. He brought along Sod, who rode along on his shoulder. Woe turned his eyes fractionally toward the diri, "Do you suppose the Induks would like a place of recognition here, Sod? Do you think they need it?"

Sod slowly turned to regard the mortalborn, and hummed to himself "Hmmmm... I... Do... think..." And then he went on to do just that, think, in his ponderous and slow way. He likely wouldn't have an answer until after Woe had met with Elisabeth here, and had their interactions, whatever they might entail.

It'd been almost a year to the day that he'd met her in the Glass Temple, where the cavalcade of Slag Deep's war against Scalvoris had come to a head, and Chrien herself had walked the streets, threatening all who dwelt there. And the time before that, shortly, where Woe had attempted to parlay with Chamadarst to spare the lives of those on the island. First offering his wealth, then his self, then, when that offer was turned down, the life of a woman. Elisabeth.

Of course, Chamadarst was no meddling trickster or devil, like Mastes had been. He was clear and fair, and did not interfere or interject himself lightly into the affairs of Mortals. He'd only used Elisabeth as an object lesson to remind Woe the weight of one life, and how the balance could teeter on such tenuous bonds as mortals shared.

He'd taught him the injustice of mortal attachment. The value of isolation. And of course, in the end, he hadn't cast Elisabeth into damnation. Yet, Woe had commited to that course of action, and meant it sincerely. He would do it again, if the same or a similarly weighted choice was given to him. It was easy, to choose many lives over one.

In their few meetings since then, Woe had come to understand that Elisabeth still held it against him. She had not forgiven him. She'd greeted him warmly enough at Haven, but how much of that was for the sake of the children he brought along with him? How much of it was sincerely meant? There was nuance to the way she was working through the events of the Forging and the Glass Temple before that, to be sure.

Woe had sent his assistant, Fleaface, to give her a message. The grizzled etzori, warrior peasant would hand her the note with nary but a grunt. He invited her to the Glass Temple,. A drastic change of venue from the Scribe, certainly. This was done for a variety of reasons, all meant to test her, and figure out if she was willing to put aside her feelings or even forge a truce with the acrimonious sentiment she still held for Woe.

So, Woe waited, in the cloister of Chamadarst, holding a nel of Onyx for his patron. Should Elisabeth arrive, he would turn it to glass, as he caught sight of her.

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 4 Ashan

Walking through Scalvoris Town, the young leader of Haven considered the particulars of an invitation given. The request itself wasn't a surprise, but the meeting location did manage to get Elisabeth's attention.

The Glass Temple.

Woe had switched the venue for reasons known only to him, although she could make a fair guess about a few of them. The location had born witness to a conflict between them. Elisabeth had lost her temper in a holy place of Scalvoris and paid for it with a one-on-one chat with Chamadarst, who had taken exception to her behavior, as he should have.

However, the base issue itself had been between Woe and Elisabeth and a decision he had made on her behalf. Neither had known the chaos that the Forging would bring, and both were tested in ways they couldn't possibly have imagined. All ended well, but the damage had been done.

In the aftermath, with both Forged of the Scalvoris Induks, it had been time to move on. Elisabeth, a little wiser and less naïve, had gone back to Haven and became its new leader in the following season. Both carried on, but she continued to struggle with those events and their impact – especially where Woe was concerned.

He had visited Haven, looking for Balthazar but found Elisabeth instead. The conversation had been pleasant and informative, but she had been very aware of her demeanor, acting as the leader of Haven instead of simply Elisabeth. Her feelings had no place in matters of business.

This time, even though business was part of the reason for the meeting, Woe's preferred location signaled something of a different purpose. Perhaps underlying – she didn't know – but still, something else was on his mind, and she needed to be prepared.

Always dancing around in the back of her mind, however, was hope. She wanted to find peace with what had happened and actively sought to do just that. As events had taught her, though, letting down her guard was an all-around bad idea.

Clad in all black, dark hair elaborately braided to stay out of her face, the young woman stepped into the holy place, offering a dip of her head in respectful deference. As her head rose, Elisabeth immediately smiled at Stan, who appeared to be assisting a pair of cadouri at that moment, and acknowledged her entrance with a wave and smile. Quickly, she moved on into the interior of the building.

Fintan accompanied her, riding on her shoulder as she strode through the building. He had peppered her with questions about where they were going, but once there, the phoenix fell silent. Their relationship had grown over time, allowing them to better anticipate the needs of the other. Finn knew his Forged was anxious and needed to focus, so he offered silent support should Elisabeth need it.

It didn't take much to figure out where Woe would be, and even if he wasn't, it was the logical place to start.

And sure enough, there he was, sitting in Chamadarst's cloister. Taking a deep breath, Elisabeth called on her experience in the meditative arts to control the rising anxiety within, soothing the rough edges of her emotions. The Glass Temple brought back memories - good and bad - and she didn't need the bad ones interfering with her interaction with Woe.

She stopped just outside the cloister, not wishing to disturb his worship, and waited.

[Woe]

4th of Ashan 722

Woe pocketed the glassed onyx nel when he spotted Elisabeth. He dressed fairly well today, as it should be for a visit to a place of worship. A navy velvet surcoat covered Woe well below his knees, trimmed around the collar and neckline with ermine, with silver buttons fastening the surcoat's front seam. Gloves of velvet, starched around the longish cuffs, are threaded with silver cloth. Breeches of black leather, boots of black leather are worn beneath the surcoat. A belt and baldric with silver buckles cinched the surcoat at the waist. He carried no weapons, obviously, perishing the thought that he’d really need them. But in the event that he did need them, he could always improvise.

That aside, Woe had issues to resolve with Elisabeth. Issues arriving from last Vhalar, which Woe believed, if his memory didn’t fail, was the first time since Saoire’s Gifting that he’d seen Balthazar. And what a transformation it had been. From gratitude to contempt. From friendliness to seeking character assassination.

Since the council meeting in Vhalar, Woe had tried to puzzle out what had changed to effect such a difference in demeanor. While it was possible Balthazar was only interested in other people, insofar as they could be useful to him, that didn’t seem to fit the description of the man willing to take Woe’s place at the vanguard against the Creep, while Woe was relegated to the less dangerous of the duties, of ferrying the civilians to the Fortress. No that didn’t make any sense.

Then there was the addition of Elisabeth to Balthazar’s life. Woe had no idea how they’d come to know each other, only that they did, and an announcement of marriage had been made within an arc.

There was the sense of indignation of Balthazar, which came clear at the Vhalar meeting. Woe could very easily tell that some version of the events in this Glass Temple had been related to him. Whether it was a true accounting, or her words amalgamated with her selfish indignation that he’d not held her life in reverence over the thousands of others who lived on the island. Who really asked for such devotion and deference, other than a despot?

Woe had visited Elisabeth of course after the events of the Forging, sometime before that Vhalar meeting. Not a long time before, in fact. And yet that meeting had done little to dull her aggression during the Council. Nevertheless, Woe decided he would have answers here. But not before Chamadarst. He was only there to consider the moment that had occurred around an arc ago, and put himself in that mind space again.

Once Elisabeth arrived at the Cloister, Woe nodded to her. He was not praying or worshipping. Chamadarst did not ask for worship in the form of prayer. Such words and oaths had little value when idly spoken, and Chamadarst did not brook a trill wasted, where a trill was another onyx to be made. He would only listen if Woe had a deal for him, which he did not this day. His position at the cloister was purely for the sake of finding his head space.

Once she arrived, he waved her over, toward the cloister of Pier and Pre. On the way, they passed by Ralaith’s cloister, as well as a few others. No doubt his bitterness factored slightly into Woe’s attendance at this meeting.

Once they were beside the cloister of Gwelliph, Woe turned to her, his face a mask of uncaring neutrality. Despite that, his tone was weighted by surprise. “I didn’t think you had it in you, to meet me here. I’m surprised.” Woe didn’t need to employ his methods of delivering forked meanings for Elisabeth to take his. Of course he was referring to the Vhalar meeting at the Council. He had assumed that their public display of antipathy toward Woe would’ve rendered any further dealings moot. But here they were, and he’d even received a wedding invitation. Now she was going to tell him why.

Of course, Woe had his own hypotheses for why, but he wanted to see what Elisabeth would say of it.

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 4 Ashan

Elisabeth followed Woe, curious as to where he was going. Her eyes took in the various nooks devoted to Immortals she was familiar with, and some she was not. She moved gracefully along, thoughts churning as she considered some of the topics they had discussed at their last meeting, developing questions regarding each and trying to prepare herself for anything he wished to talk about in return.

They silently walked until reaching the destination Woe wished, where he began speaking of virtues he hadn’t thought she possessed, catching her more than a bit off guard.

Elisabeth considered their past meetings, curious if she could unlock some clues there. She was fairly versed in people, but it was unclear where he was headed with his opening remark. He had come to Haven, and that meeting prompted the follow-up they had that trial. And then, the Council meeting.

That, of course, had to be it, but it would have been improper for her to assume. Balthazar, lacking some of the skills she possessed, had been sharp in his rebuke of Woe’s application for various positions, although he had endorsed him for Egg if she remembered correctly. Elisabeth had as well. If the reports she heard since being in town were accurate, he had been named to that position at the last council meeting, which she had declined to attend, owing to her desire to spend Cylus Dusk with the settlers of Haven.

In her dealings with Woe, Elisabeth had learned that he was unpredictable. For example, changing the meeting place. Unpredictable was neither good nor bad but simply a state of being. Woe was, and she accepted that. But for some reason, they could never find common ground. Perhaps they were just too different.

Did he really not understand how she felt? How hard it could be to feel things and not be able to express them to anyone because you feared them taking over? It was something she lived with constantly, using her gifts in discipline to bury emotions so she could leave behind that which threatened to paralyze her if she considered it for too long. Elisabeth needed to be doing things and helping people, and she couldn't do that if she buried herself in the darkness that was within. Pushing forward, keep going, find a way through - that's all she knew how to do.

Arching her eyebrow gently, she spoke softly. “I don’t understand what you mean. You asked me to come here. I’m here.” Perhaps she had an inkling of an idea, but it wasn’t her place to assume, nor would she disrespect him by trying. Elisabeth was trying to find a place where the pair could move forward from. She had thought it was a mutual desire but was no longer sure about that.

[Woe]

"So you're here. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see you." Woe smiled thinly, "And alone, you came alone?"

It wouldn't be a great leap or assumption to say that Woe could be unpredictable. One could boil it down to that, but for anything Woe did there was a layer of nuance to his changes of course and direction. He found early on in life that being predictable, and plain, and direct were a narrow path to an early grave. Woe softened his expression when Elisabeth asnwered as she did. She wasn't easily pushed, and he could respect that. Surely she had enough of that from Balthazar himself, and was prepared to deal with Woe when it came to that. So he would change his tact slightly. "I'd like to share a bit about myself, Elisabeth. Not many people know this, but I grew up a slave."

Woe let that sink in, wondering how it would hit Elisabeth, if it did at all, or if she'd show her reaction. "Many free people think that they are quite removed from the mindset, the toil and the hardships of slavery." Woe thought on his next words carefully, and then said to her, "And it's true, most will not know what it's like to be lashed for speaking thinking or moving outside of carefully drawn lines. Or the mental recoil as you tread those feared of red-lines, remembering but not experiencing the lash."

"It's quite an experience to let fear run your mind through every single way, fear of letting go, fear of holding on, fear of standing still. That is what it means to be a slave." Woe looked at her, and shrugged, "Worse still, fearing the experience of standing your own ground, being who you are."

Woe looked at the shrine of Gwelliph, and thought for a moment on his next words. The light shone in stained glass over the Twinsn, one of them mischievous, happy and false, the other stern, stoic, and true. "Let me pose a question to you. You come upon a beautiful glass pane. One of a kind, unique, and with a beauty that was never seen, heard of, or will be again. Further, this pane belongs to a dear to a friend of yours, and has brought them out of a deep depression that threatened to consume them once upon a time. Yet it is made from a very rare glass, with properties needed especially to concoct a cure to a plague if the glass could be smashed, melted down, and turned into a lab instrument for that purpose. Finding the raw glass of this type would take too long, and processing it from the sand its made from involving more hands than are available. More importantly, dallying with the search would cost lives."

He looked from the shrine of Gwelliph to her, "What would you do with this glass, given the information in front of you?"

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 4 Ashan

One could say that being in a committed relationship with Balthazar Black had imparted many, many valuable skills upon Elisabeth. Time had firmly convinced her that the powers of persuasion she so deftly wielded had solely developed due to the mage's more erratic antics, and she was all the better for it. He challenged her in ways many others didn't or couldn't, much like the man she sat with.

For everything they had been through, the shining light for her was that despite it all, Woe made her better by forcing Elisabeth outside her comfort zone, pushing her harder than anyone else, except for Balthazar. Most mistakenly considered the young mage a simple creature, and while that was all fine and good to be underestimated, Woe had never – to her knowledge – seen her that way. A threat? A few times, obviously, but never simple.

Woe began imparting a bit of himself to her, and she listened carefully. Had she known he had been enslaved? No, she was sure that hadn't come up. They had discussed Rynmere and Andaris family once – she knew he was from Rynmere – but that was all.

He had prefaced his revelation with the fact that not many people knew, meaning he was allowing her insight into him that others weren't afforded, by design or something else – it wasn't her place to know – so her reaction keyed off that. There was always a reason, though.

Slavery was something Elisabeth didn't react kindly to. She had been raised to respect Yvithia and, in fact, respected the entire pantheon, but it was something she still hadn't come to terms with. Where she had grown up, Viden still upheld its legality, and she didn't understand why for her life.

Woe, however, had her attention. His words touched on themes she was only then considering. Fear was there in many forms and guises the moment she stepped off the path of who she once was, launched into the world of magic, monsters, and Immortals.

He had lived a far different life than she. A harsher life in most respects, Elisabeth imagined. And he had just given her that brief insight into something that couldn't help but shape how Woe viewed the world.

Nodding her understanding, Elisabeth felt the desire to acknowledge what he had done. "I appreciate you telling me. Thank you." A warm smile crept across her lips as she nodded in appreciation.

There was a moment where she thought to mention that she was sorry he had to experience that type of life, but the young mage knew that the comment was a double-edged sword. Life...and death, had taught her that. What would she do if something said they were sorry for her experiencing death? Probably tell them it was a part of her life experience and helped shape who she was; therefore, she wasn't sorry for it in the least. Would Woe feel the same?

A thoughtful expression crossed her features. "Since Rharne, I've realized that courage is resistance to fear, not its absence. I've watched people crumble under pressure, and some rise above it. We all have fears. What matters is how we respond to it, I think."

Then, he posed a question. Some part of her knew that sometrial, they would return to their first meeting in the Glass Temple. The elephant was always in the room with them, and while Elisabeth didn't necessarily wish to discuss the matter, Woe was forcing the issue, and she had to admit that he was right to do so. If they didn't confront it, it would always be there, lurking in the shadows.

Obviously, symbolism was used, and she understood what he was driving at about midway through. The issue wasn't the question, though - it was the context. There had only ever been one thing wrong with the scenario in her mind, and it was time to tell him what she thought about that.

Softly, Elisabeth's voice replied. "I would use the glass." There was more to it, of course. The representation was that of an inanimate object, but it was clear what he was implying.

"I apologize for yelling at you. I was wrong." waiting for a beat, Elisabeth continued, moving past the metaphors and symbolism.

"Anger solves nothing and serves only to destroy things. I allowed myself to get pulled into it in a weak moment. It just means I have much more work to do on myself."

She could say a million more things, but Elisabeth didn't. What would it have accomplished? She could have tried explaining her mindset during that time or reasoning, but anything else she could have said at that point would only create diminishing returns, and that wasn't the way to heal connections with others.

No, all Elisabeth could do was apologize for her behavior and do better next time.

[Woe]

Woe nodded to Elisabeth, when she showed appreciation that he was willing to share some of his story. He, at least now, trusted she wouldn’t use it against him. Which wasn’t to say that Woe found his past as a slave all that damaging in itself. But certain character traits that had persisted into his life as a free man may have been made clearer by the knowledge that he once didn’t hold his destiny in his own hands.

However, he had to object to her definition of courage. “Courage isn’t resistance to fear, nor is it a bulwark against it. It is merely persistence in the face of fear. One can be consumed by their fear, terrified, and yet still carry on. That is essentially what courage is.” Woe shrugged lightly, “The difference between fearlessness and courage is one that isn’t easily distinguished. Yet being chosen to bear Kuvarakh’s effigy has given me some insight into how courage and fear intermingle in subtle ways if my studious observation of mortal nature hasn’t done so.”

“So courage isn’t defined by how you respond to fear, or fight it back. No, I’d argue that courage isn’t possible until you let the fear drive itself through you entirely, through radical acceptance of whatever form that terror takes.” Woe watched her expression, wondering how she took his correction. Elisabeth always had a somewhat stubborn and fixed way of looking at the world, and he suspected she might not appreciate him upending or contradicting something that she held as true. Still, it was worthwhile for him to impart what he could of such matters. If not for his connection to Kuvarakh, then because it was useful knowledge. Knowledge that every Forged should bear with them, to make themselves stronger for Scalvoris.

As for the analogy he used, there was another layer of purpose to it than perhaps even Elisabeth would realize. Not simply a comparison to Elisabeth as the pane of glass, or the one it was precious to, being Darius, Balthazar, or any other number of people to whom Elisabeth was considered indispensable. He wanted to see if she would lead herself to such a personal interpretation, when the meaning was far more broad for Woe. It could have represented anything.

Of course, it didn’t really represent anything other than Woe deciding Elisabeth’s fate, taking away her agency in order to ensure a beneficial outcome for the many. He wasn’t quite sure if she had picked up on that meaning, but it came clear in the next few moments, after she said that she would use the glass.

She apologized for yelling at him, stating that it was wrong. Here, he had to admit to some degree of discontent in himself. Woe had never been more shocked and intrigued than by the flare of anger that Elisabeth had shown him in the Temple that day. An otherwise demure and innocent woman, cursing at him as hoarsely as any sailor.

She’d even ‘irked’ Chamadarst by her boldness. But Woe for his part didn’t hold it against her. How could he? It was a brilliant display of raw emotion, such that Woe rarely got to experience. And as an Empath (at the time) he got to appreciate it on a level that most could not.

“No,” Woe said of her assertion that anger solves nothing and serves only to destroy, “if I had anything to recommend that you should change about the way you approach the world, it would be that you should let yourself feel from time to time, Elisabeth.” He let those words hang on the air a moment, watching to see how she would react to them. If she’d balk at him, or accept his attempt to explain further, “You’re entitled to be angry, when someone offers your life in sacrifice, if at no other time. But I think getting angry and lashing out at others when that anger is warranted… You’d be surprised at how persuasive justly felt anger can be on those it’s directed at.”

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 4 Ashan

It may have seemed like a little thing, but Elisabeth believed in gratitude and appreciation – especially when it came from such a private place. What information people chose to share with her was special, and while some might think it unnecessary, the young woman always tried to show her gratefulness for such.

When he pushed back on her definition of courage, Elisabeth tilted her head a bit, considering what Woe said. She thought she had said the appropriate words to convey her meaning, but his word was better – persistence. Fear was something she had learned to live with – a daunting companion – and likely would for the rest of her life. That didn't mean she shut down or refused to move on with her life. No, Elisabeth was far too stubborn for that. Usually, it meant rushing headlong into whatever she feared and not letting it get the better of her.

"So, in your opinion, you must go through the fear, accept it, and then come out the other side?" Her tone was curious, with no indication of discontentment at his assertion. Elisabeth had far too much experience in the academic world to disregard valid points, and he had made one.

"I think that's logical. One of my coping mechanisms for fear embraces that school of thought. I give myself a few trills to accept the fear and then do what I must. I wouldn't say it's full-on going through it, but perhaps it has a few shades."

As for the rest, Elisabeth had answered as honestly as she could. Woe was sometimes subtle, and other times not as much. The thing about that, though, was that most people didn't lay out their intentions and agendas for others to see. If someone said a collection of words, even the most apparent meaning might not be what the speaker intended. Once people got to know each other, those types of things usually sorted themselves out, allowing understanding. Woe and she weren't there yet, or perhaps they were on the very edges – it was hard to say.

Further, he gave his thoughts about her apology, which were somewhat startling to Elisabeth. Giving profound thought to what Woe said, she considered her response, giving him time to continue.

The reply was measured, but not for any reason other than wishing to express the right intention.

"I will consider what you've said. I confess that letting those emotions out is difficult when discipline dictates you always keep your wits about you and view the world through a clear, measured lens....and the truth of it is anything but. The world is messy and chaotic."

Her smile was proof enough that she was embarrassed by the scene she had caused, despite the severity of the circumstances behind it.

"But, I still am sorry. I didn't understand what was going on. My naivety got in there a bit too. In return, all I can offer you is the promise that I've grown since - in understanding and maturity. At least, I hope that's the case. I want to hope that sometrial, you will view me as someone you can trust to help when needed."

[Woe]

There was little else to speak of regarding the subject of fear, so Woe let it go on faith that Elisabeth had taken his point. After all, he had no reason to think that his own perception of such a subject was skewed. Or he doubted Kuvarakh would have found him worthy of an effigy. Fear, courage, and every sense in between were subjects he'd wrestled with throughout his life. But then that was how it was for most everyone, wasn't it?

He had to admit to some disappointment at her adamant denial of her own emotional response, two arcs ago in this very temple. He heard what she said, about emotions and control, and couldn't agree. He'd seen too much of how emotions worked when he was an Empath and further in his study of human nature. He'd seen more in that process that precluded him from making heads or tails of what she meant by the suggestion that emotional expression must necessarily be paired with a lack of control.

"Emotions can run away with you on occasion." Woe said, flatly, "But in my opinion it's the degree to which that separates adults from children. A free person from a slave. A master from a servant. Denial of emotion is not discipline or control. It is ignorance, plain and simple. But this calls back to my point on fear, that one should embrace it in order to conquer it. The same can be said of any emotion."

Woe sighed. "The world is what it is, in chaos or order. The only thing you can control is your perspective and control of yourself. Emotions don't come from the world. They come from each of us. If we cannot do ought but to deny them, we're little more than children."

"Control, as I said, is not denial. One should live in harmony with their emotions, ideally, or at the very least accept them for what they are." Woe stared at Elisabeth, trying to sense where she was at in her emotional state at the moment. She seemed very comfortable with the situation, and intent on making the two of them comfortable with each other. Woe, in the meantime, was trying to carve to the heart of the issue. He wanted to see if he could glimpse the very real person that Elisabeth had shown that day. Not this conciliatory facade she put forth in hopes of making a situation more 'comfortable'.

"Why do you apologize?" Woe asked when at last they came to the crux of the matter again. Again, she seemed to misjudge his intentions. Woe didn't think she should apologize, or that she was ever in the wrong. "You were not in the wrong, anymore than I was. We were acting per our interests and perspective. Even now, even as I know your intentions better, I still wouldn't give you the choice of giving up your life to save Scalvoris." Woe shrugged, "Why take a chance, after all? For the sake of a leap of faith? To prove trust? These things are immaterial in the face of annihilation. And given your willingness to do what is necessary, as you alluded to, I would feel less remorse this time around for making the same offer of your life to spare the same misery of others."

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 4 Ashan

The young mage did not want to talk about that moment in the Glass Temple, but she wasn’t given an option. He was pushing her hard on the issue – Elisabeth knew that. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out. The only thing she didn’t know was why, but it really wasn’t important. Woe wanted to get to the core of what had happened with her all those seasons prior.

Regardless of whatever discipline she had, it was eroding quickly.

“I never said I denied emotion. I said I controlled it. The first time I was here, I lost control, and it cost me – nearly very dearly.” Her face-to-face with Chamadarst was not a pleasant memory for the young woman and certainly not a situation she wished to repeat.

Elisabeth’s tone was no longer the lyrical melody often attributed to her; a delightful mix of accents that would be hard to identify on their own. Instead, a harder edge laced her words. “I’ve never been ignorant about my feelings. I accept them for what they are, but I contest your assertion that one needs to give into the emotion completely to conquer it.”

Staring ahead at the space in front of them, she continued. “There is controlling your emotions and letting your emotions control you. I prefer practicing the former.”

It had long been evident, through conversation and meetings, that the pair had some very similar elevated skills in the ways of detection and psychology. Elisabeth didn’t know what precisely he was looking for or trying to provoke, although she could make some educated guesses. She knew he was watching her. In the same manner she often observed others, looking for tells or clues to their state of being; Woe was doing the same to her.

Let him, she thought.

Ugh. The apology. He kept coming back to it. Whatever words Elisabeth used to explain how she felt regarding her outburst weren’t sinking in.

And finally, just enough exasperation seeped in that the frustration she felt was evident in her response. “I never asked you to change who you are just because you know me a little better now, nor would I ask that of anyone. We both did and do what we feel is best for Scalvoris and the interests we hold dear. At that moment, however, I wasn’t who I am now. Shades of her are still within me, but the past cycles have been like a fast-moving current. The world opened up, and even I can’t keep up with the new perspectives I’ve gained because of that. You are asking me to explain something that I can’t.”

The rapids of time that shifted around her often left Elisabeth disoriented, but trying to explain that to someone like Woe, who had seen far more than she, was challenging. “Most of the time, I’m simply acting on instinct. A few things anchor me, but I’m still trying to figure out everything else.“