G’raha Tia put the quill to parchment, a letter to his future self. 

How to begin?

Should you ever falter, know that yours is a burden not easily carried alone. 

The rest of the letter was unfortunately illegible, time had not been kind to it.  

“Mama?” The young miqo’te pulled at the auri woman’s clothing. “When do I get my gifts?”

 “Not until after the day’s chores are done.” As Sarnai said this the girl’s girls drooped down. 

“Oh, stop that’ we left you easy chores, and you’ll have your gift afore you know it. Now, go fetch that water and you will see exactly what I mean.” 

Miah needn’t be told twice, so off the young miqo’te went. 

When she returned what awaited her was a beautiful wooden bow and a quiver of arrows.

“Today, you will learn to fletch.” 

The citizens go outside in waves, flocking to see the night sky returned in all it’s glory. What was once a blazon sky of ceaseless light, was now a cloak of shadow with a sea of stars. 

“Though the world be sundered and our souls set adrift, where you walk, my dearest friend, fate shall surely follow. 

For yours is the Fourteenth seat—the seat of Azem."

What does one do when a soul of a dear friend is finally within their grasp? So alike, yet so different. Emet-Selch had to remember that this was not Azem.

The Hero was not Azem. 

Yet, there was a certain color to their soul that was so alike.

They were a fractured being, yet another sundered soul...that was all they were.

Emet-Selch lied to himself, for he would recognize Azem anywhere, though the years had become eons, the color was unmistakable, though the hue was different.

That was enough to give truth to the lie he told himself, they were nothing alike. And yet, he believed. In them. Up to a point, but expectations gave way to anger and reprimanded himself for being so mistaken.

And yet, for the briefest moment, Emet saw Azem. And again, he lied to himself. 

A trick of the light. They were a broken husk, nothing more.

And yet.

In the end, it was the truth. And who was he, if not the angel of truth? He finally saw the Hero for what they were, his dearest friend, sundered but returned.

And there would come a time they would call upon him again, this time he would see them in all their radiance.