#sanctaria

“ if i may be so bold, i would ask for your advice. “

"Advice? Sure, though I don't consider myself the best at giving it."

There was a distinct irony in the nature of their circumstances - a moon goddess of the new world inviting the counsel of a descender from beyond the skies - some would have deemed it SACRILEGE of the highest order. All that said, it was fortunate that neither of them cared very much for such distinction.

Mechanical  head  tilt  ,  weighing  the  words  of  the  moon  goddess  and  processing  them  through  her  systems.  The  only  other  person  who  had  ever  seen  Ineffa  as  someone  with  feelings  was  Aino  ,  and  even  then  ,  Aino  was  a  child.  Creative  and  brilliant  ,  but  at  that  age  every  thing  had  feelings.  Ineffa  had  explained  to  her  that  Krumkake's  didn't  get  upset  when  they  were  eaten…  or  when  some  were  left  over  ,  because  there  was  no  excuse  for  eating  the  whole  batch  at  once.

But  in  a  complicated  way  ,  Ineffa  did  have  her  own  version  of  feelings. 

❝  moon  goddess  ,  how  did  you  know  ?  ❞

poor, mad, cursed knave. a new blade to turn on the skies.

still, that is not the current matter (though peruere's growth will be fascinating to witness). anastasya watches the damselette with the patience of a snowstorm, the sort that weathers any attempt at warmth, and sees it. reminiscence. it may be that her title was not wrought from bloodstained hands, but there was certainly blood all the same, only lighter; dappled by moonlight. as such, it cast a shadow⸻a large one, for she remembers the protests of other members at columbina's nature, both godly and moral. it did not matter then. it does not matter now.

there is inherent closeness here, from one stricken divinity to the other. her voice cannot melt, but it will soften slightly⸻only another god can fathom the endless deposit of earnest emotion that comes with mortal prayer, the contradictions humanity breathes into each syllable. in this way, kindness. even this question is an offering; speak to me, describe your own suffering. will it be tender when held by my tongue?

“ but still, it lingers. ” it does not pass by, nor can it vanish. “ are you wistful? or, perhaps, you will become the source of light you needed for her. ”

when columbina became a harbinger, they were an organisation in their infancy. anastasya herself had been barely-crowned, her father's dying words still bright in her ear. but she was not lonesome for long; others joined, insistent, and became connections. “ i would hope you, too, have found your home here. it is my wish that your fellow harbingers are family. ... it is quite endearing how some have made such space for her already. ”

“This world’s version of immortality… it doesn’t truly preclude you from DEATH, does it?” Like Raiden Makoto’s sacrifice, like the death of Buer - the true Buer - dead in body and memory, like Focalors struck down before the altar of her own Nation’s rigid court. He contemplated her, and his mind flitted to the wretched cave within which he’d glimpsed the remains of Havria, a deity killed by her own people in a final act of kindness.

Perhaps he’d judged the divinity of this world too harshly.

To be human was to be finite; to be mortal was to understand the natural limit and shy from MORTALITY. Upon countless other worlds, the distinction between the realms of the mortal and divine had been much clearer - whether that be due to the true functional immortality of the gods, physical or physiological distinction, or a separate plane of morality and ethical perspectives that humans could never hope to understand. Beneath Teyvat’s skies however, there was a muddied line where a clear cut boundary ought to have been, an overlap that became difficult to compute and rationalise.

The  Pyro  archon  giggles  ,  ❝  it's  quite  alright  Columbina  ,  it  is  hot  here  in  Natlan  ,  many  that  visit  us  are  quite  taken  aback  by  the  way  the  heat  hits  them  upon  arrival  ❞.  Mavuika  herself  was  used  to  Natlan's  heat  ,  though  having  such  high  ranking  visitors  unnannounced  was  more  the  shock  to  her  system. 

❝  can  I  get  you  anything  to  help  you  cool  down  a  while  ?  the  traveller  said  they'd  be  back  soon  ,  but  I'm  unaware  of  how  long  soon  actually  is  ❞ 

Lauma  didn't  know  what  to  think  ,  unsure  of  the  memories  Columbina  had  chosen  to  cherish  over  her  many  years  or  those  that  brought  her  great  misery  where  the  scions  were  involved.  The  moonchanter  couldn't  change  that  past  ,  couldn't  take  back  any  one  of  those  lonely  day's  the  moon  maiden  had  spent  trying  to  serve  the  greed  of  the  scions  before  her.  Lauma  only  knew  now  that  change  was  a  necessity  and  while  she  had  lost  many  followers  ,  those  that  had  stayed  believed  in  change  for  the  better.

❝  I'll  admit  miss  Columbina  ,  I  am  a  little  nervous  to  perform  such  rituals  with  you  in  attendance  ,  of  course  you're  welcome  ,  but  I  fear  that  what  I  do  here  today  ,  may  not  be  familiar  to  what  you'd  have  witnessed  before  ❞.

Lauma  of  course  kept  up  with  the  scions  monthly  ceremony's  ,  but  instead  of  focusing  on  the  moon  goddess  ,  things  had  shifted  ,  to  the  moon  and  earth  and  genuine  happiness  and  wellbeing  for  all  that  walked  under  the  moonlight. 

"That is something I hear quite often-" also doesn't help that farrow had been charging head first into small hoards of wild hunt without much of a second thought or how much of a monotone expression farrow usually has on their face."Considering the dangers of nod-krai im not surprised im an odd ball out compared to most others"

"but I suppose im not really afraid of to much around here least for the time being ,such things can change -" farrow said jokingly or at least like a half joke, giving columbina a small smile