Sea Lion Shores canopic

there is always a choice, she corrected, but the words fell flat, and she withdrew into herself. it was unexpectedly bitter on her tongue, tasting of metal and the color red. she swallowed thickly, beating back the flashes of memory before they could fully form. the sound of breaking bone, reverberating in her body. torn flesh and gore. she forced herself to focus on his words to ground herself.

they all believed this, didn't they? that they were chosen by some deity and it justified their arrogance, their immorality, their greed and entitlement. aeglaeca was but the other side of this knife, though blind to it— she had been trained, without truly understanding it, to discard any doubt that the sisterhood was correct. if she doubted, it was her flaw to reckon with.

she did not notice the way his eyes moved over her, lost in beating back and reasoning herself out of acknowledging her traumas. she did not take his bait, but continued to steer the conversation away from herself. aeglaeca cleared her throat, feigning curiosity, natal titles? you're important, then? not that importance anywhere else mattered here, but she sensed he did not feel the same. i'd like to hear more of your gods. the path they laid out to bring you here.