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. ]

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[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. ]