@rosespun asked:
‘ do we simply stare at what’s horrible and forgive it ? ’
The night is quiet, save for the rustling of trees and the breeze carrying along the distant call of a nightingale. That breeze blows in through the wide, open windows. A few papers on the desk threaten to fly off, over the edge and onto the floor. It brushes through Umiko’s hair, dark strands fanning across her face, but Ardbert himself can’t feel it. It passes through him just as everything else does. He may as well be a part of the breeze himself.
Even with the night returned, he can only enjoy it so much.
But he did so miss looking at the stars. At least he could do that, if nothing else.
She sits across the room from him, poised and always so, so lovely. Looking at her reminds him that despite their similarities, the differences remain stark. Her gaze is fixated on him at first, before it trails towards the open window to observe the stars instead. Ardbert follows her gaze.
Quiet. So quiet. But the tension is palpable. The Warrior’s work is far from finished. So much to do in a world not her own, and what is Ardbert meant to do? Simply watch, unseen and unheard by all but her? It agonizes him, because he wants to do more, feels like he has to do more.
In the end, he’s only a ghost cursed to haunt these lands for eternity, or until he learns the purpose for why he was spared.
Umiko speaks and Ardbert’s attention is yanked fully back towards her. She always commands the attention of others with hardly any effort, and he still finds himself inexplicably drawn to her regardless. If she speaks, he will listen. He will always listen.
Ardbert pauses, worries the inside of his cheek with his teeth. He thinks not of the sin eaters, nor Vauthry; he thinks not of Emet-Selch, nor the other Ascians; he thinks not of Cyella, whereever she may be now. No, he thinks of himself.
Worldbreaker. Floodbringer. Have you not done enough damage? Best to leave the world-saving to the professionals. You’re no hero, you were never supposed to be.
Would you look at me and forgive me? He wants to ask her. Instead, all he can say is, “Would you?”