[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/fTD5yRH.png[/img] [color=black][b]0 MP/0 FP [/b][/color] & [color=f6989d][h1]Arae[/h1][/color] MP: 7 | FP: 17 [/center] Arae’s voice was but a whisper in Orvus’ head, and one he barely believed to be real at first. His mind was clouded down by a great weight, it was hard to actually think about anything, other then ways to simply not exist. But Arae was a familiar name, one he vaguely knew to be more then some falsity. Thus he listened, and his foggy mind began to spin about and focus on what she was asking. She wanted his time? For a chat? Orvus did not move from under his tree as he began to send her his own message. It was simple, and yet profound. Nothing words could convey, but feelings. An intense wave of anger, malice, and dread would wash over her for the briefest of seconds before vanishing into bone numbing sadness as it ended. For Orvus did not want to talk, nor did he want to do anything. He simply wanted to be alone in the quiet, where his thoughts might devour him whole. As Arae emerged from the Dragon’s Crown, a plethora of negative emotions struck her mind as Orvus’ message reached her. She recoiled from the initial shock, but soon recovered, her mind filled with even more worry than before. Was Orvus… [i]rejecting[/i] her? This would not do. She had to reach Orvus. Fortunately, Arae still had his familial bond to follow, so he was not difficult to track down. What she had found, though, was rather unsettling. Arae had found the Gateway to Orvus’ sphere, but what encompassed it was a rather massive whirlpool and storm. It would be unpleasant to go through, but it would not stop Arae. She made the plunge into the center of the storm, passing through the Maelstrom. Arae finally emerged into Veradax, seeing the land of eternal twilight for the first time. Normally, Arae would be glad about visiting a godly sibling’s Sphere, but this was not such a pleasant time. Veradax was also certainly not a cheerful place, and Arae had little time for such thoughts. Continuing to follow the familial bond, it was not long before she found Orvus himself. “[color=f6989d]Orvus,[/color]” Arae said as she landed close by, her voice full of concern. “[color=f6989d]What troubles you? Please, talk to me.[/color]” This time the voice was far more present in his mind, oozing with concern and disturbing his quiet. It had seemed his warning to Arae had gone unnoticed, or rather, ignored. Mentally he reached out to feed her more images, but he abruptly stopped when her presence was far closer then he could have ever imagined. She was on Veradax, and right before him. Slowly his eyes began to glow white, refocusing his vision so that he might see. For though Orvus would never sleep again, his eyes had been shut and blinded to the world before him. Now they looked with crystal clarity at the Goddess before him. He began to stand, placing a hand upon the Mar Tree as he did, without ever looking away from Arae. His eyes expressed an emptiness, devoid of any feeling. When he spoke, his voice was as equally unemotional, [color=black]”Why are you here? Was my message not clear? Must my quiet be interrupted by the likes of you?”[/color] he finished, and though his voice was flat, there was a certain spite that followed. He looked to Arae expectantly. “[color=f6989d]Of course I got your message, that’s why I’m here,[/color]” Arae said. “[color=f6989d]You are part of my family, and as a family member, I cannot ignore you. Three of our siblings, Ashalla, Kalmar, and Phystene, have developed unfriendly relationships to you, perhaps to the point of forming a whole alliance against you. I cannot aid you, though, without at least hearing your side of the story.[/color]” Orvus listened to the dragon talk of family, siblings, alliances… At least his suspicions were correct, others were coming together to plot against him, as they should. It was a natural occurrence that the weak unite against the strong and dangerous. But Arae did not know all, it seemed. She wished to know his story and if that meant she would leave, he would gladly tell it. Orvus sighed softly, his eyes now expressing sadness. His voice remained much the same however. [color=black]”Your information is partially true. There is another that already…”[/color] he paused as the memories resurfaced, [color=black]”You forgot K’nell.”[/color] Orvus sat down then and placed his hands underneath his chin as he looked at Arae once again. [color=black]”You have fooled yourself into believing that you might bring some sort of assistance to me, Arae. Though I cannot speak for Kalmar, Phystene and Ashalla have every reason to hate and despise me. Did you know I defiled Ashalla’s realm with monsters? Or that I attacked Phystene for creating life that I may never touch? Or that I had the audacity to dream, only for it to be crushed before my own eyes?”[/color] Orvus paused again, letting his words sink in. [color=black]”So no,”[/color] he continued, [color=black]”I don’t believe you would have ever aided me, willingly or not. As it goes with families, there will always be favorites, and then those who are less desirable. Am I not right? Surely you cannot think us all equally? So tell me, which do you think I fall under, [i]sister[/i]? A favorite, or a monster?”[/color] he asked quietly. Arae listened to it all. The story of Orvus was not a happy one, but it was one that needed to be heard. When Orvus was done, a tear shed from Arae’s eye, falling onto the ground. She heard enough. “[color=f6989d]You are the one fooling yourself if you believe you are less equal or less important than anyone else,[/color]” Arae retorted, a tinge of sadness and anger in her voice. “[color=f6989d]You may have wronged our siblings, yes, but they have also wronged you. Just as they have been given their roles by the Architect, you have been given your role as the God of Desolation. You perform a duty that is just as important as theirs. While they create, you destroy, thus maintaining the balance between the two sides. It is a necessary evil that must be filled, whether our siblings like it or not. So don’t put yourself down like this, Orvus. You deserve a chance.[/color]” He listened to Arae speak, heard the anger and sadness in her own voice and sat silently, contemplating it all. She truly believed they were all equal, that their roles defined what they really were. And there it was again, the age old question that wouldn’t leave him alone. Create, or destroy? Worded like that was the only thing he would ever be capable of. Did she really think he wanted to destroy, or to maintain some balance decreed by the one who brought him here unwillingly? No, Arae simply viewed things differently from his own perspective. She was blissfully unaware, almost childlike in her belief of family and roles. Thus, Orvus pitied her. He realized she would never be able to take sides, and she would suffer far more greatly then any of them when the fighting and conflict came. That was her role, to keep peace for all time and Orvus knew, it would break her eventually. When he spoke, his voice was somber, [color=black]”K’nell showed me something in my dream, a possibility. I was a farmer, a mortal with a family and friends. A wife, children to call my own. And do you know what I did? I accepted it as my own reality as he forced memories of that possibility into my head, blocking out what I truly am. I had a life. I was happy and I knew what love was. And do you know what he did? He made me remember that it wasn’t real. That Rowan, Ava and Lily, weren’t real. Then he told me I had a choice. Creation, or destruction. And I awoke, wanting nothing more then to be with them in that false reality. He should have left me there, honestly.”[/color] his voice fell silent and he looked away to the floor. He began to speak again but softly, [color=black]”I promised Phystene that we would die together, that’s why I was punished, because K’nell sees everything. But I realized something today, that would hurt you wouldn’t it? Probably far worse than either of us could inflict upon one another. For that, I am sorry.”[/color] he sighed once more, [color=black]”I didn’t want this, any of this, Arae. This existence. This constant torture. All I ever wanted was to fade away in the quiet of my birth. I tried to create, I did, but we all saw how that ended. So I came to the conclusion that I am meant to create things that destroy. Look at the monument before you. Do you know what it will do? It’s purpose is to fray souls, to bring about depravity. Soon enough it will.”[/color] his voice faded and he stood once more to face Arae within the shadow of the valley. [color=black]”Any chance I had, died when I entered this universe. I am evil, I am to be hated and despised, and I am unlovable. And I have embraced this. Now you know my story. So I shall tell you this: leave me alone in my grief of what never was. For it is better this way.”[/color] he finished with sadness in his voice. Arae did not want to leave Orvus, but she wasn’t sure how she could help him at the moment. Her words would not reach him, and he would not reach out. She sighed in defeat, believing she should not push the issue now. It was time to go and let Orvus have some time to himself. Perhaps time was the only thing that could help him now. As she turned to leave Veradax, she muttered under her breath, almost inaudible even to herself, “[color=f6989d]You are not the only one to know suffering.[/color]” Then she took off, leaving Orvus to himself. The teardrop left by Arae on the ground continued to glitter softly under the dim twilight. [hider=Summary] Orvus hears Arae’s message and sends one of his own, basically telling her ‘leave me alone’ Arae’s like ‘NOPE’ and travels through the maelstrom to Veradax, where her familial bond allows her to locate Orvus. They have a long, sad chat. Orvus eventually tells Arae to leave him be, and not knowing how to help Orvus, she does. The only thing left behind is a glittering tear of Arae, and the silence of Veradax. [/hider] [hider=Might Expenditure] Orvus; Started With: 0MP & 0FP Broke sad boi Portfolios: 10/10FP Towards Asteroids Unlock > Not Purchased 3/5 Towards [b]Soul[/b] Decay Unlock > Not Available for Purchase. Arae; Started With: MP: 5 | FP: 17 No Might Spent [/hider]