aramenté

❛ so you  were out here. ❜   percy  knocks  as  he  announces  himself,  stepping  out  towards  the  parapet,  smiling  gently.  his  years  are  beginning  to  show.  the  grooves  in  his  skin,  the  wounds  that  don’t  heal  as  easily  anymore  even  with  the  more  magical  means.  it’s——been  some  time.  he  supposes  he’s  lucky  he  went  grey  early,  but  even  his  hair  is  lacking  its  usual  snow-white  lustre.  he  hadn’t  often  been  reminded  of  his  human  limitations  when  traveling  with  them,  but  it’s  more  apparent  now.  it  should  bother  him  &,  let’s  be  real,  it  does,  but  he’s  made  steps  to  making  peace  with  it.

keyleth has seen many winters. she remembers them vividly: the way her hair blows wildly in the frigid gusts of winter wind, the gentle snowfall that covers zephrah in a blanket of white. winter has always brought with it a sense of peace. only now, in her adulthood, does it bring a sense of sorrow.  “ i just needed some fresh air. ” keyleth turns over her shoulder. she looks percy in the face, at the creases by his eyes and the darker grey of his hair. his appearance serves as a stark reminder of the years that have passed since their travels. there is primal magic in her veins — a soft hum in beneath her skin that never completely fades away — and it makes her timeless. auburn hair has not yet faded, her face is without crease. the mantle sits upon her shoulders, its tricolored leaves contrasting with the surrounding snow. it reminds her how quickly the years have passed, a drop in the ocean of her lifespan. 

percy takes his glasses off  &  rubs  his  eyes,  letting  his  face  rest  in  the  palm  of  his  hand  for  a  long  minute.  then  he  leans  back  in  his  chair,  stretching  out  his  sore  muscles  from  being  hunched  over  all  night.

the mountain air is cool & crisp. leaves snap from their branches and fall slowly to the ground, buffeted by a gentle breeze. illuminated by the afternoon sun, their bright hues of red, orange, and yellow resemble the sky before the sun sinks fully below the horizon. keyleth walks hand in hand with her mother, looking out at the mountain range before them and its many colors.  must you go? her voice wavers with childlike fear and sorrow. can’t you stay here, with us?