the chronos is woven

[astromancing]

[ Though Artemisia was aware it had been a long time since she had been separated from her brother and taken under the wing of the poet Sophia, it didn't make the events that had transpired any less vivid in her mind. She remembers as if it were only yesterday that she had been reunited with Elefseus after he rescued her from that vile priest, and they, alongside Orion, had fled from Ilion together...but even that reunion had been short-lived, hadn't it? Yes...there had been a terrible storm, causing their boat to crash and separating them once again. And that was when Phyllis had found her washed up on the shore of Lesbos and introduced her to Sophia, who had raised her to become a beautiful woman who loved everyone and could overcome her grief. She had told her that no matter what hardships were thrown her way, she could do nothing but accept fate, and so Artemisia lived by that philosophy.

Even while the stars foretold her tragic fate - her impending demise - she lived by that philosophy. Even though she longed for nothing else but to see Elefseus again, to live happily with him forever just as they had promised when they were children ("Let's be together forever!" "Yes, let's!"), she had to cast aside such selfish desires because it was not what Moira willed for her, and she could not dare defy destiny.

That's why when she heard the commotion outside, the disruption caused by the intruders who dared to trespass onto Astra's holy domain, she knew that, too, was Moira's will. Even if she would be betraying her promise to her brother in the process, she simply could not allow someone else to die on behalf of her selfishness. She could not live with herself if she blindly let an innocent life to be taken. Therefore, she volunteered herself in Phyllis's place and showed no resistance as Scorpius's troops seized her and carried her to the temple of Hydra, the water god, to lift her up as an offering.

"I'm sorry, Elef..." She whispers, an apology she knows will never reach the ears it was intended for. "We weren't able to be together forever, after all."

Even so, had she become a woman whom she could feel proud of? Had she finally become the woman Sophia wanted her to be - a woman who could love everything and lived without fear or doubt swelling in her heart? If she had become that much, then...even if she harbored regrets of an unfulfilled promise, she could at least die knowing that truth. She could die with that fact comforting her.

Scorpius unsheathes his sword and approaches her. "O Hydra..." he says, drawing back his sword just enough to align it with her chest. "Please accept this offering."

And he moves in with a thrust. ]

Comments

[astromancing]

Mm. [ She can't help but completely agree. If someone had told her younger self that she would eventually grow up to become a shrine maiden who could read the stars, she would've thought them to be mad; that's how drastic of a change it was. That's why she says without even thinking: ] Isn't it funny what Moira has in store for us...?

[ However, as soon as those words leave her lips, she then processes what she had just said, and stops walking then and there, as if her body had suddenly become frozen. She glances down at the ground, ashamed, as if she's a child currently being scolded by their parent. ]

Ah...I-- I didn't mean to say that...

[ How could she say something like that when it was Moira who had put them through all the hell they've been through? How could she be so inconsiderate to say that with what they've both just escaped from...? ]

[hadesvessel]

[ When those words come from Misia's lips, he can't help but silently agree. O Moira, why did you cause for your children to suffer constantly? Pulling them through the mud, causing them to struggle on and on through life constantly? He remembers people saying the same, during his travels. The people at the port, some of the people in the various towns and villages he had gotten to visit. He pauses seeing his sister no longer walking along with him side by side.]

Ah. [ Elef stops now too, slowing turning to face his sister.]

...Moira has a strange way to raise her children then, don't you agree? But Misia, it's okay.

[ He takes a moment to close the distance between them, taking her hand into his own. ]

Despite everything, we've been able to overcome her games and prevailed, opposing what she laid for us.

[astromancing]

...Yeah. You're right, Elef.

[ Misia squeezes her brother's hand gently, but it's more so to try and comfort herself than anything. She gives him a wistful smile, regretful that her brother has to see her so down, but she can't keep the cheerfulness up - not now, anyway. Her gaze falls downcast again, and she presses her forehead against his chest, her grasp on his hand tightening ever so slightly. ]

I...was destined to die today. [ There's a laugh that follows that statement, but it doesn't sound genuine; it's dry and empty and almost...mocking? As if she's scornful towards Moira for planning that fate for her. ] When I saw it in the stars, I-- I thought...I had made my peace with that.

[ Parthenos, the Maiden. At Moira's mercy, she falls...but was it truly mercy when it was Moira that had made her suffer in the first place? ]

Sophia had told that there was nothing we humans could do but accept our destinies, so I believed...I had no choice but to go through with it. But I realize I truly...I didn't want to die. I wasn't ready to...

[ After all, who could honestly say that they were ready to die? Who could truly go through with their tragic destiny willingly...? She glances up at him, this time with a more genuine smile, but her eyes are brimmed with tears. ]

...I wanted to see you again, Elef. [ She lifts up her free hand and presses her palm to his cheek, cupping the side of his face. ] I wanted us to be together forever, just like we promised when we were children.

[hadesvessel]

[ His eyes advert from her own, remembering the nightmare that he awoke from. Sacrificed to Hydra, that was her destiny that Moira wished for his twin sister. He then frowns then promptly embraces Misia, bringing her close to his chest. Silently holding onto her as she talks – talking about her predetermined destiny and of a woman named Sophia.

Hadn't Milos spoken of her, prior? If he wasn't mistaken, they had...met once. A long time ago.]

I did as well, I'm glad to have prevented your death, Misia.... [ Tears begin to brim in the corners of his eyes, while he's talking toward her. ] I..do too, which is why I had gotten to you quicker. If I hadn't known, then....[ He trails off, the imagery flashing past him – as if to mock him of what was supposed to occur.]

...Admittedly, I...I...[ Tears begin to slide down his cheeks now.] had a nightmare of what was supposed to happen. It felt so real, it scared me to hurry up to find you – and I'm.. glad that I had it because otherwise I don't know how I'd live with myself... [ Her corpse lay in the water, clutching onto the moon that she longed to keep in the palm of her hand.

[ The carnage he committed – in his sister's name, cast down Arcadia and the King. And...whoever that woman was–– ? Ah, he feels a headache come on, which causes him to wince.] ...I was able to find my way home too, after we left Illion and...found mom and dad's graves back home. So knowing you were destined to die...I...[ Be alone with his own destructive thoughts too and the ominous shadow that lurked behind every corner too. Perhaps he still was a crybaby, even now. But Elef is elated to know his sister is safe in his arms, away from the dangers and the plans Moira had in store for her, no, the both of them.]

I'm relieved to know you're safe, Misia; this time, let's be...together forever then?

[astromancing]

[ ...Ah. She had always wondered what had become of their parents; she wanted to have hope and believe that they were okay, but she remembers the day that Scorpius had broken into their home. She remembers how their father had told them to run, how their mother had tried to help them escape, how they had eventually been captured and brought to the slave market. She should've known better than to cling to that childish faith. ] I see...so even mom and dad were...

[ Even their parents couldn't go without suffering; ah, Moira was absolutely relentless...but that was why Misia was determined to fight back against her. She wouldn't simply accept her will any longer; as long as she had Elef by her side, she could take on anything, even something as powerful as Moira. As he had said, they already managed to overcome everything thus far, and she would only continue to turn her back on the divine force.

Misia shakes her head, snapping herself out of her sorrow, and reaches up to wipe away her brother's tears with her thumb. ] Now, there's my crybaby brother I know and love. No matter how much you've toughened up, you're still the same old Elef, hm? [ Even though she's teasing, her tone is warm and fond. There was no need for them to cry, because their lives would be different from now on.

She takes her brother's hand again, holding it tenderly between her own, and smiles brightly at him. ]

Yeah. This time, we'll be together forever, no matter what. [ She nods, feeling more resolved than before. No matter who or what she had to sacrifice to fulfill that wish, she'd do it without hesitation. ] Elef...you are, and always will be, the most important person to me. Therefore, I'll devote myself entirely to you.

[ And thus, she abandons the Sixth Horizon. ]