02-07-2018, 12:40 PM
Armande paused, mulling over the situation. The sound of children in the distance, the spray of the fountain distant but still audible, birds flitting about, singing their mating calls. All things he had always ignored as distractions. Yet now they impinged on his concentration.
Even so, he focused. Danger existed. When did it not? But potential as well. He had a new vision. Her words had burned themselves into his brain, words he'd mulled over again and again since they were uttered. "You need the right weapon."
At the time, he had thought that simply the physical weapons the ancient Atharim had used in the god-wars. And those would play a part, as would the new weapons. But there was so much more he had foolishly ignored. Far more powerful, for all that they weren't physical at all. Weapons of an entirely different nature.
It meant a new role for him. Something beyond Regus. And he needed to reestablish control over the Atharim. A trip to Rome was in order. And there was her map, her vision.
And Valeriya had a role. What that was, he didn't now. Her place was not merely a support to him, a source of knowledge, a confidant, as much as he appreciate those things. She had a purpose too. That much he was sure of. He had gotten glimpses of it. Together, together, they would be far greater than what they could accomplish alone.
Theiss was content to wait in the silence. Armande turned and looked at Valeriya. What Theiss thought of this, he was wise to keep to himself. She seemed uncomfortable on the bench, he realized. There was an energy to the way she held herself on the metal, an impatience to her face as her eyes seemed to jump between watching them and trying see everything.
Despite himself- the gravity of everything before them- he smiled. He had noticed her reactions to all that she had experienced so far. It reminded him of his first visit to University, the overwhelming allure of having everything he had every wanted to know- at least for the fields and questions he knew enough to ask about- available so casually before him and in such abundance, as if they were nothing.
Too much to do....but there was some time. There were a lot of moving parts to line up. He needed to talk to Valeriya. He would need her help. "Give me a moment." he said to Theiss and then reached for Valeriya's hand to lead her off the bench and away a distance. He looked down at her. The Khylsty needed to be taken care of before they left. And as much as he was their prophesied leader, she was the one they knew. And trusted. Most of them. This was a new world for them. Which meant new opportunities for the ambitious.
And that was another reason.
His voice low, "The Khylsty and Atharim need to merge. Our people can't stay in the bunker forever. Matvei may be subdued now, but it is only a matter of time before he starts trying to gain followers again. And you and I have places to go. More importantly, destiny to fulfill." He smiled at her, raising an eyebrow. "Places every bit as beautiful as this. People to speak to. Things to do. We cannot do that and serve as caretakers as well.
"I will have Theiss recruit Atharim from outside the city to take the Khylsty in. Divide them up into smaller groups, help them to assimilate into The Above. Learn the language and the customs. Dilute anything Matvei might try. Above all, our work." He paused. Remembered. Together, we are more than we are alone. He did believe that. Still...this was not something he was used to. "Help me, my Beloved." Saying that was far harder than he expected.
He studied her green eyes. He was fairly certain she would agree. Her hunger to devour this life in all its visceral experience was palpable. It wafted from here, from her, that appetite, that desire. Their frenzied animal passion of night before; the joys of her experiences this morning, even in the smallest things. The image of her smile- pure, radiant, joyful- at the simple feel of a flower petal on her cheek brought him more pleasure than he would ever have thought possible. She had to know there was so much more for her. For them. "Then, we will travel. We will get supplies, clothing, other things. And then our quest starts in earnest. We will fulfill our destiny."
He looked around, gesturing, a smile of promise. "I will give you the world."
Edited by Regus, Feb 9 2018, 11:47 PM.
Even so, he focused. Danger existed. When did it not? But potential as well. He had a new vision. Her words had burned themselves into his brain, words he'd mulled over again and again since they were uttered. "You need the right weapon."
At the time, he had thought that simply the physical weapons the ancient Atharim had used in the god-wars. And those would play a part, as would the new weapons. But there was so much more he had foolishly ignored. Far more powerful, for all that they weren't physical at all. Weapons of an entirely different nature.
It meant a new role for him. Something beyond Regus. And he needed to reestablish control over the Atharim. A trip to Rome was in order. And there was her map, her vision.
And Valeriya had a role. What that was, he didn't now. Her place was not merely a support to him, a source of knowledge, a confidant, as much as he appreciate those things. She had a purpose too. That much he was sure of. He had gotten glimpses of it. Together, together, they would be far greater than what they could accomplish alone.
Theiss was content to wait in the silence. Armande turned and looked at Valeriya. What Theiss thought of this, he was wise to keep to himself. She seemed uncomfortable on the bench, he realized. There was an energy to the way she held herself on the metal, an impatience to her face as her eyes seemed to jump between watching them and trying see everything.
Despite himself- the gravity of everything before them- he smiled. He had noticed her reactions to all that she had experienced so far. It reminded him of his first visit to University, the overwhelming allure of having everything he had every wanted to know- at least for the fields and questions he knew enough to ask about- available so casually before him and in such abundance, as if they were nothing.
Too much to do....but there was some time. There were a lot of moving parts to line up. He needed to talk to Valeriya. He would need her help. "Give me a moment." he said to Theiss and then reached for Valeriya's hand to lead her off the bench and away a distance. He looked down at her. The Khylsty needed to be taken care of before they left. And as much as he was their prophesied leader, she was the one they knew. And trusted. Most of them. This was a new world for them. Which meant new opportunities for the ambitious.
And that was another reason.
His voice low, "The Khylsty and Atharim need to merge. Our people can't stay in the bunker forever. Matvei may be subdued now, but it is only a matter of time before he starts trying to gain followers again. And you and I have places to go. More importantly, destiny to fulfill." He smiled at her, raising an eyebrow. "Places every bit as beautiful as this. People to speak to. Things to do. We cannot do that and serve as caretakers as well.
"I will have Theiss recruit Atharim from outside the city to take the Khylsty in. Divide them up into smaller groups, help them to assimilate into The Above. Learn the language and the customs. Dilute anything Matvei might try. Above all, our work." He paused. Remembered. Together, we are more than we are alone. He did believe that. Still...this was not something he was used to. "Help me, my Beloved." Saying that was far harder than he expected.
He studied her green eyes. He was fairly certain she would agree. Her hunger to devour this life in all its visceral experience was palpable. It wafted from here, from her, that appetite, that desire. Their frenzied animal passion of night before; the joys of her experiences this morning, even in the smallest things. The image of her smile- pure, radiant, joyful- at the simple feel of a flower petal on her cheek brought him more pleasure than he would ever have thought possible. She had to know there was so much more for her. For them. "Then, we will travel. We will get supplies, clothing, other things. And then our quest starts in earnest. We will fulfill our destiny."
He looked around, gesturing, a smile of promise. "I will give you the world."
Edited by Regus, Feb 9 2018, 11:47 PM.