[h1][colour=lightseagreen][center]Confidant[/center][/colour][/h1]

Deep underwater was a cave, hidden from any prying eyes. Outside the cave was the darkness of the Abyssal Rift, but within this inconspicuous niche was a faint prismatic glow. Crystalline fragments of the Lustrous Garden lined the floor of the cave in a geometric mosaic, casting their light about the cave. In the center of it all a soul crystal sat on a shallow stone pedestal.

The water in the cave shifted subtly, and behind the pedestal condensed a icy statue of a selka woman sitting cross-legged. The frozen lady reached out with both hands and picked up the soul crystal. The crystal began to glow dimly, and a small apparition of a selka man appeared above it facing the lady.

"Oh Delphina my beauty, only goddess of the sea, have you come to visit me?"

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"Oh Ippino my dear, sole mortal to hear, my thoughts and my-"[/b][/colour] The aqueous voice hesitated in its poetry, then finished quietly, [colour=lightseagreen][b]"fears."[/b][/colour]

"Oh? Well, I am humbled that you would speak to me so intimately. It sets my heart aflutter- well," the apparition of Ippino looked down at himself and through his translucent hands. "It would if I still had one."

Ashalla's icy face did not meet Ippino's eyes. "You're normally more talkative. Something must be bothering you," Ippino said.

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"There is."[/b][/colour]

Ippino's apparition sat down on his soul crystal. "Would you like to talk about it?" he asked gently.

Ashalla was motionless for a few long seconds, then said, [colour=lightseagreen][b]"Orvus has fallen. He was one of the few gods who I thought would be able to match me in combat, yet was gravely wounded by a mere [i]mortal[/i]."[/b][/colour] The last word was emphasised with the sound of cracking ice. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"He was then dragged off by a mere fragment of himself to the dark-moon, where Orvus lay incapacitated for ten years while this fragment, Abraxas, prepared to rain desolation on Galbar."[/b][/colour]

Shock plastered Ippino's holographic face. "That is dreadful! How horrible! Although, did you stop Abraxas and save Orvus?"

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"Yes."[/b][/colour] In the water around them moving ice sculptures depicted the events around the Mar tree and the battle against Abraxas. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"Abraxas had unleashed his forces on the world. Arae and I went to stop him. But Kalmar had gone on ahead and alone. While Kalmar was able to awaken Orvus, he was overpowered and gravely wounded by Abraxas. Arae tended to the wounded while I fought with Abraxas. We threw our divine strength against each other. It may have been Abraxas' territory, far from sea, but Abraxas was only a fragment of the God of Desolation. I could have dealt with him myself. At least..."[/b][/colour] Ashalla hesitated again, then continued softly, [colour=lightseagreen][b]"I could have probably beaten him."[/b][/colour]

"It is important to know your limitations. You can't always do everything alone," Ippino suggested.

The water in the cave quivered with rage, shattering the icy diorama around them, and Ashalla's voice roared like a maelstrom. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"I am a god, Ippino! I am not limited as you mortals are. Reality bows to my very word! I [i]would[/i] have defeated him myself, if Orvus had given me time."[/b][/colour]

Ippino's apparition recoiled and cowered in fright. After the water had stilled, Ippino's face creased in confusion. "Defeated who?"

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"Abraxas, fragment of Orvus. He had gravely wounded Kalmar and was sending harm onto Galbar."[/b][/colour]

"That is dreadful! What happened?"

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"The power of Abraxas was tied to that of Orvus. In order to stop Abraxas, Orvus sacrificed his own divine power and became mortal. Killing Abraxas was then trivial. But I do not understand why he would make such a sacrifice."[/b][/colour]

Ippino thought for a few moments. "Could it be so Abraxas could be defeated?"

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"It made it easier, but was not required. When I asked him why, he said that he was tired of godhood. That godhood did not suit him. He said it was all his fault. Then he departed for his family."[/b][/colour]

Ippino pondered this for a little longer. "I've seen similar things. People tire of doing the same thing all their life. A person will seek out new things as they progress through their life. Especially as they grow old, things they used to do will grow less appealing, or they'll be less capable of doing them."

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"He was a god, Ippino. Gods do not grow old."[/b][/colour]

"They might not suffer the frailties of age, but I can't imagine what I'd do with my life if it was unending. When I was finally graced by your beautiful presence I felt as if my life was complete. Although, it sounds as if this... uh..." Ippino held up a hand vaguely as though searching for a word.

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"Orvus."[/b][/colour]

"Yes. It sounds as if Orvus was also living with guilt. He probably did something which made him feel unworthy of his godhood. I've seen in my time parents leave their children or chieftains leave their tribe because they felt as if something they did made them unworthy to hold that position. Could Orvus have done something?"

Ashalla rumbled, then eventually answered, [colour=lightseagreen][b]"He was concerned for the harm and damage he had caused by his divine power, both directly and indirectly. Why that would be cause for him to surrender his divinity, I do not know."[/b][/colour]

A worried look crossed Ippino's face, but he took the time to choose his next words carefully. "Not everyone has such great self-control as you. He was probably concerned about further harm. Was there anyone Orvus would have wanted to protect?"

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"Orvus has a mortal family. And there was also the harm which had befallen Kalmar, which he said was all his fault."[/b][/colour]

Ippino appeared surprised. "Did something happen to Kalmar?"

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"He was gravely wounded when fighting Abraxas, representative of Orvus, in his effort to stop Abraxas from unleashing further harm on Galbar. Arae was unable to heal his wounds at the scene of the battle. They carried Kalmar away, although..."[/b][/colour] There was a pause, then the icy statue representing Ashalla lifted her head and called out. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"Kalmar. Kalmar, if you are alive, respond."[/b][/colour]

Ashalla held that position in silence for a long time, waiting. Nothing came. A chill approximating sadness came over the cave.

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"No answer."[/b][/colour] A tremble sat beneath Ashalla's voice. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"Kalmar is likely dead. They could not save him."[/b][/colour]

"Dead? How?"

[colour=lightseagreen][b]"Killed in battle while defending Galbar from Desolation. I thought Arae would have found a way to heal him, but it seems she did not."[/b][/colour]

"If there was a chance to heal him, couldn't you have done so?"

Ashalla glared at Ippino, who shrunk back, but then went back to a neutral expression. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"It was likely some property of the wounds, the draining of Kalmar's essence by Abraxas, the will of Desolation imposed on him. If a god wills another god to die, then it simply becomes a matter of whose will is stronger."[/b][/colour] Ashalla then cast her gaze downwards. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"But that is my fear. Li'Kalla was broken by Vakk. Vakk was slain by K'nell, Eurysthenes and Shengshi. Kalmar was killed by Abraxas. Orvus was gravely wounded by Laurien, a [i]mortal[/i]."[/b][/colour]

"A mortal wounded a god?" Ippino interjected.

Ashalla's answer was almost a whisper. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"Yes. She used a sword formed by Orvus' own power, but she was mortal nonetheless. That is what makes me afraid. The evidence suggests that us gods are not as immortal as I first thought. I know that I am strong. I would not succumb to such a fate. But... they likely thought the same thing, yet they also fell."[/b][/colour]

Ippino's apparition reached out and touched Ashalla's face, his hand refracting as it passed into her ice. "We all have to come to terms with death at some point. People try to deny it, they try to find ways around it, they get angry and depressed, but eventually they must accept it."

Ashalla stayed within Ippino's touch for a few moments, then drew back and decreed, [colour=lightseagreen][b]"No. I am not bound by your constraints. I am immortal and mighty. They had forms mimicking mortal creatures - their first weakness. But I have absolute power over my own form. I have overcome many of my initial weaknesses and shall continue to do so. Only another god could possibly kill me, and only if they can overpower me. And who can overpower the whole ocean? As long as I am the strongest, I cannot die."[/b][/colour]

Ashalla lowered the soul crystal back towards the pedestal. [colour=lightseagreen][b]"Your perspective has been of value. Goodbye, Ippino. Until we next speak."[/b][/colour]

"So long, Delphina, until you next humble me with your magnificence."

Ashalla released the soul crystal and Ippino's apparition disappeared. The lady of ice then melted away and the cave was empty once more.

[hider=Dear Diary]
Ashalla talks to Ippino's soul crystal in private. It is implied that this is a thing she does every now and then. Today she talks about her feelings regarding Orvus' abdication and the mortality of gods. Ippino's perspective is of value. Recall also that soul crystals remember nothing new unless extra measures are taken.
[/hider]