Alcarienne aka Alíta's page

"Yes child, daughter. Your son must choose for himself his own destiny, but you have decided hers..."

There is quiet for a time before Alíta speaks again. "Once before, you heard my words, 'Do not follow; do not lead - just go.' You have listened well, and accomplished much. Yet in your travels, in your battles, you have learned much that cannot be asked of the Surya-ka-Vahaak. Mercy, compassion... these too are of worth, great worth, yet they would dull your sword, the sword I gave to you."

"From here forward, you shall be Surya-ka-Caravaah, Shepherdess of the Sun. In your journey, you have learned how to lead and inspire thru example. You shall now lead and inspire others, and perhaps someday, so too shall your daughter, Eshanna. Build here, sanctify this place, and redeem it in the name of Heaven."

The glare of the Sun seems to intensify for a moment before it lessens and Priyya feels a great fire very close to her, the butterflies hovering about yet not being consumed.

"Dear child," Alíta says, "you are grown now. Stand and raise your head. Do it!"

Without hesitation, Priyya rises to her feet, her goddess' presence and imperious bear almost more than she could bear.

"Since this age of the world began, there have been none who have asked what you asked. Not one. Not in five thousand years."

Looking up, Priyya can see her goddess holding her scimitar in a fist crackling with fire. The expression on her face is incalculable, implacable and stern, yet loving and bemused.

"The mantle of Surya-ka-Vahaak is heavy. More weighty than gold and more costly. It is a vestment that cannot be worn by those who are divided in their thoughts, their focus must be singular like the edge of a blade."

"However, once that mantle is bestowed, duty demands that it be worn. If not by you," her gaze lowers from Priyya's eyes to her midsection, "then to the daughter who now grows in your belly."

From on high, the glory of the sun goddess bears down, her intensity and focus unquestionable.

"Priyya Udas, do you know why your sword has abandoned you?"

"You know her that well do you? Very well..."

"And you will do nothing about that?"

The goddess of the Sun casts a glance to her senior. "This hardly goes according to plan. You do realize that the soul crown having combined Yarzoth's abilities with Alis' may as well have made the elf girl invincible, correct?"

"The dwarf? What does he have to do with–" As the inquisitor leapt up, swinging his axe with everything he had in him, Alíta's eyes shimmered with amused disbelief. "Clever. Very clever. I believe the term that the mortals have invented is plausible deniability. Very well, let it be your way then."

"Yes, because a fight for honor and a fight for survival are two very different things. Were I to aid her now, it would destroy her honor."

A sigh hot as a desert wind escaped Alíta. Would the goddess of passion never be silent? Clearly she should not have broached the subject. "It was not the lack of her physical presence to which I made protest, it was the lack of your influence in this battle. The Surya-ka-Vahaak is at her limit–"

Crooking an eyebrow at the enigmatic paragon of beauty, the other goddess commented, "If you are disinclined to focus on the matter at hand, at least do not distract me please."

The sun goddess stiffs a bit at the implication, her attention to Priyya's attack wavering slightly. "No, of course not."

Elsewhere...
Alíta regards the scene in the ancient temple with a critical eye. "A fitting and worthy battle for a Surya-ka-Vahaak this! Yet where is your hand in all of this? Did we not agree that these two should walk side by side? Were you not the one who suggested as much, esteemed elder?"

"And a vessel is made to be filled before one begins emptying it. Otherwise why not use a smaller vessel?"

"Yes! They deserved swift vengeance upon those who wronged them!"

"Courage? What does that girl who flits and sneaks about know of courage?"

Alíta ignores the quip. "Well it should never have happened if she could trust that she had the resources to dispatch her foes without relying upon outside sources of aid! That she must play nurse-maid to so many others distracts her! That mistake nearly cost me!"

The sun goddess' aura flared more brilliantly, burning away the darkness from her visage. "You make light of her purpose? Is it not your credo that mortals should pursue paths that lead to glory and inspire those around them? I grant her power, trusting she will use it well, but when she must squander it like this... you did take note of what happened with Fragarach, correct?"