“ lie by the fire you started ”

German ver.

The cool night air was a balm on his nerves. He hadn't realized how on edge he had felt inside the Conservatory’s party. It was their duty as the arbiter’s of the arts to host a celebration to honor the Spirits. But, with the spirit realm so close, Hwei’s magic had responded in kind, surging beneath his skin like wasps thrashing in a paper hive. It had been nearly impossible to fulfill his role as heir, greeting masked smears of yellow and green and levity and discontent, each guest adding to a swirling cacophony of color and emotion. But out here, it was quiet. Out here, it was only himself and Jhin. Despite the ever present guidance of his masters in his mind, he answered the question. "Here, we honor the Sparrow and the Snake."

A shadow flicked through the tree's when he spoke those names, but when he turned, there was nothing there. Perhaps he was being foolish. Perhaps he wasn't.

Jhin's pleased hum pulled his attention back to the actor. "I'm quite partial to that iteration myself," he acknowledged, continuing to study the garden. "Snakes are a versatile symbol."

His words soothed Hwei's anxiety, and he relaxed. But now he had questions of his own. “Although, I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the... Spirits you named.” Assurances aside, he did not feel like risking naming 'the Kindred' as he had called them. Not again. Not tonight.

"Mmmm." Jhin continued to study the garden, not looking at Hwei. "They are indeed a spirit of Death, found in some form throughout Valoran. They take many forms, a rose and a bee, a sparrow and a serpent.” He named the last with a graceful nod. “But a lamb and a wolf is one of the more common forms." He studied the trees above Hwei's shoulder, where the wind rustled the blossoms. "... It is said that in the start of civilization, there was a pale man with dark hair who would meet all things at the moment of their death. But, as people are want to do, they shunned him, not understanding the beauty of his art. And so this lonely man took an axe and split himself in two, so he would never be alone again." Jhin delivered this story with a neutral expression, nothing in his melodic voice giving away any emotion.

But Hwei could feel the rush of emotion Jhin felt at this story, a heady mix of longing and understanding resonating with each syllable. It piqued his interest.

"And so, one became two. The Lamb and the Wolf. They compliment each other- The Lamb offering a merciful death to those who accepted it, while the Wolf chases down those who would flee. They are separate, but never parted."

And so the strange mask Jhin had worn tonight finally made sense. It was of a white Lamb's face, its soft ears pulled back in an almost plaintive manner.

Jhin considered another point of the garden, studying it intently. Hwei didn't follow his gaze, afraid of what he would see. Afraid, yet thrilled, and unwilling to stop Jhin from speaking of these gods of Death so causally.

"...I had often considered myself alone in my purpose, Lukai Hwei," he murmured. "Cursed to present an art that no one would understand. But perhaps, this island will be the axe I use to cleave myself." He extracted a Spirit mask from the darkness of his cape. With a graceful bow, he offered it to Hwei. "Perhaps I have found my Wolf."

...

Hwei thought back to this night when he found the golden lotus trap amongst the grey ashes of Koyehn. He thought of it when he set out in his boat, leaving his island and his people behind. The Wolf will chase down those who flee.

...

"And everywhere Lamb went, Wolf was sure to follow."

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