Himeko remembers when Dan Heng first came back in the form of the Imbibitor Lunae. The hesitation, the anxiety that washed over as he stood before her before awaiting her reaction. Fear in the face of how she would view him now. And just so Himeko remember the smile the curled her lips. How she welcomed him home without hesitation.
How in the next time she spoke words genuine from her heart as she twirled the strands of coral that echoed her own.
"You are ever the child she, that I....wished to have." "I am ever blessed to see you as....mine."
Years have past since then and Dan Heng has grown time and time again whilst she remained in place. Bound by stagnation for the sake of pushing him further. They do not stand within the same place anymore and that is okay. Time to leave the Arcadia is apporaching and its what drives her to ask to meet here.
How times change when it is her experience this position.
Waves of coral weaves into indigo at her back, each strand twinkling with stars as the Emanator await, water lapping at her ankles. When she hears the steps the Trailblaze gloved fingers clutch around the precious collection of pearls.
"Thank you for being born," Himeko begins. His steps grow closer. "-for living past your hardships," If she didn't know any better his pace increasing. She doesn't dare to consider it. "-for growing so that now I must look upwards to you."
When he's close enough Himeko can wade in the tides of uncertainty anylonger. The Emanator of the Trailblaze turns and her gift is presented.
"My pride of you eclipses the very stars. " A constellation drawn and crafted by Himeko's hands. The the first born by this power, to the first she ever considered family. Her Son. "But Those made by my hand will suffice in showing you that right? My love, my pride."
"My hope."
A star studed jade orbits her wrist, it's constellations formerly twinkling gold shimmer with life bestowed by the cosmic sea. The sea that now bows to the 'maid smiling weakly, tears twinkling like the stars adorned in her eyes, light unyeilding.
"Happy Birthday my Nameless, my Trailblazer Dan Heng. Thank you for giving me the honour...to be your very foolish mother."
@chasersglow.
since arriving on the express, he has experienced so many things that were antithetical to the vidyadhara way, specifically the way the imbibitor lunae was typically raised. the proud draconic race had no family to speak of, and the closest they could come to familial piety was to their mentor, who would in turn become their student hundreds and hundreds of years down the line. so there had been a fear upon realising his own mentor would not follow the same protocol, and that at any moment himeko might be subject to the end of their journey. she had come to close in the last battle, dan heng still found himself reeling from the thought.
there were clouds that obscured the view of the night, though the stars painted onto the world of canvas shone valiantly through. the viewpoint was beautiful, a long clear shoreline so like the faint memories himeko had talked about before, that he could finally cast his gaze upon what he had only imagined - the real thing was incomparable, beauty in every brushstroke, living art, himeko’s paintbrush illuminating them with the conjured dash of light. a dragon. it’s spine moving amidst the celestial sea. dan heng found it impossible to look away from the marvelous sight, until the voice of his navigator drew him closer and closer still.
‘ himeko … ’
dan heng strode forward to envelop her wrist, pure joy and affection in is expression as he led her further and further into the open water. emanators of sea and sky, his footfalls landed atop the water’s surface, his magic extending, enveloping himeko too, so that as long as they were connected they could both walk amidst the reflection of the stars. they could stand beneath her conjured light, dan heng’s other hand rising, cloudhymn brushing away the mists obscuring the moon until that beautiful canvas was crystaline. his hand in hers brushed against the protection charm at her wrist, a similar pride welling in his chest.
‘ i am the culmination of every imbibitor lunae before me, billions of years spent wishing to see the stars - now i have one of my own, and you to thank - ’
dan heng leaned down, pressing his forehead to the top of hers, a vidyadhara greeting for loved ones. for family.
‘ - for this life. for this chance at happiness. i have had no greater honour, than becoming your son. ’
birthday asks !
