"I thought you'd never pick me." ~Amumu, The Sad Mummy
What can I say? He is just a sad boi.
Drop a comment. A review if you got the time. Any suggestions? And mayhaps a few stones.
Also.... any game recommendations? I just finished Tomb Raider and Vanishing of Ethan Carter. As well as the Sword and Shield demake.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nothing you haven't seen already Soraka." Gregori answered with a smile. He knew praying to her had established a connection where she could see him.
Soraka then walked to the group with a young Stellarcorn in her arms. "Only when you pray Gregori. A handful of times alone." Her eyes fell on the children, "Your prayers on the other hand have been plentiful." She smiled at Daisy, "Especially yours little one."
Daisy perked up, "You heard me?"
Soraka nodded motherly, "Every single one of your prayers." Her singular horn growing from the top of her head shone softly. Her yellow gown rippling as she walked to them.
"Then why didn't you help?" Daisy asked.
"I did." Soraka answered. "I always did."
"How?" Daisy continued question her, "I never saw your magic other than in the stars."
"Well child..." Soraka asked patiently, "What was your first prayer to me?"
Daisy fumbled her words trying to remember, "Uh.....um.... Keep my father safe?"
Soraka nodded, "You wanted me to make sure your father returned safely." She gave him a soft look, "And I made it so. The magic was not affecting you but your father."
Gregori's eyes widened in shock.
"Your first encounter with the Darkin." She continued, "Your body shouldn't have been able to handle that transformation. Even with the blood being there..... you just did not and even now... do not have the constitution to handle a full transformation."
"You have been helping me." Gregori pushed out.
Soraka nodded. "Just a boost to your vitality. Healing you faster. The average
"Why?" He understood what the cost of helping him was.
"Why?" Soraka seemed unamused by that question, "Because of the prayers of your little ones. At first it was Daisy alone but by the time your fight in Demacia rolled around..... all seven of them prayed to me. I couldn't ignore them could I?"
"Despite the harm to your physical body?" He asked, calm setting in.
Soraka's smile never wavered, "Ignoring them would mean your death Gregori. Or rather your death as a human. It is not your time yet. And I will not let you suffer right when you have found happiness."
Gregori grit his teeth and averted his eyes, as emotions overtook him. He didn't know what to say.
"Thank you." Daisy words broke the silence that formed.
Soraka still motherly, replied, "You do not need to thank me child." She turned to Gregori, "Ans I think you need to formally introduce them to me."
Gregori turned, about to start introductions when Soraka raised a hand.
"Ah. Ah. Not until we get a place to sit down and rest. Your travels have been tiring." She turned around and gestured, "Come."
The group followed without question.
"Stop blinking." Rell's exasperated voice was heard despite her trying to whisper, "It is not how it works."
Faye did not stop, "It is right in front of me." She giggled maniacally, "All my wishes will come true now!"
Rell stood flabbergasted at her sister's actions.
Soraka's soft laugh cut through the absurdity that was taking place, "Child it is only a superstition. They has no wish granting powers. They are guides for the stars. This particular one is quite the troublemaker." She said as she held out the Stellarcorn in front of her.
Daani stretched his hand out and then flinched, "Can.. can I?"
Soraka held out the baby creature in front of him.
Daani reached for it and carefully held his hand out in front of it. The Stellarcorn sniffed his hand and then extended its glowing wispy tongue and gave it a lick. Daani giggled at the ticklish sensation.
"You can be your true self here child." Soraka spoke as she observed Daani with a sad smile, "You will be welcomed as you are here."
The young boy looked up from petting the Stellarcorn. He turned to his father for support. Gregori nodded.
He turned back to her and his features began to change back to his original form.
The very moment it did gasps sounded from around them.
It wasn't just the Ottrani that walked with them but also Willa, having seen Daani's true form for the first time.
"Another?!"
"Two of them?!"
"It....It cannot be possible..."
The group looked at them in shock and awe.
"We can discuss this later." Soraka's soft but firm voice interrupted. "The child does not understand his purpose in the world yet. He is but a child. One day he will but that is not today. Or tomorrow."
"But he is an Oovi-Kat." A female Ottrani tribe member stepped forth, "He has to lead us."
"That he will." Soraka replied, "But in the future. The responsibility of leadership is not for a child."
"Can we teach him our ways?" She tried to reason.
Soraka smiled, "That you must. Just because he is a child does not mean that he cannot learn of his people."
Daani looked surprised, "There are others like me?"
"One." Soraka answered, "There is one like you."
"Is she my age? Where is she? Can I see her?" Daani began to fire question after question.
Soraka soothed him, "Not now child. All your questions will be answered soon. Do not worry."
The group ended up walking toward a yurt overseeing a large fountain like structure, with glowing water flowing down from floating rocks. The place was lush with vegetation. Red plants and blue-green grass. Across from the yurt was a small campfire that burned with no fuel. The fire in it a soft yellow, like the first rays of the sun.
It was warm. Not the kind you expect from fire.
The travelers felt their body relax as if a giant weight was lifted off their shoulders.
"Please." Soraka said. "Make yourself at home. You can stay in my yurt."
"It is fine Soraka." Gregori said as he gestured to the beasts. "They are carrying tents."
"Ah of course." She said as she walked to the creatures. "Such magnificent beasts. Perfect guardians for your family." Without fear she touched them and then began to viciously rub their fur. "It has been long since I have seen one of your kind."
The two beasts gave contented purrs.
"You have seen them before?" Daisy asked.
"I have travelled the world child." Soraka answered, "I have healed quite a lot of people and some places, including the Freljord, still have stories of me."
"So you are old?" Briar asked.
Soraka chuckled, taking no offense. "Very."
The rest of the day was spent with the children being taken to where the young Stellarcorns were grazing and then left to play with them with a few Ottrani shepherds watching over them
"You can bring out your friend Gregori." Soraka said as they sat near the campfire, "The Aspects will not come here and his energy will not leak out of the grove."
"The next morning." Gregori said. "Right now.... I just want to talk. The two of us. I need to know if I am doing the right thing."
"That is not a question I can answer for you Gregori." Soraka sadly shook her head, "The right thing is subjective to each person. What is right to you may not be for me. And if you do what I believe is right..... then it isn't right for you."
Gregori sighed. Choosing to change the topic, he asked, "What about your physical form? How much have you burnt through trying to help me?"
"Trying?" Soraka asked with a knowing smile.
"How much have you burnt through helping me?" Gregori corrected.
Soraka nodded, satisfied with the question, she turned her attention to the fire, "I have seen countless wars Gregori. I have helped where I could but warring is in human nature. Conflict is eternal. I understand that....but it my only wish to have mortals achieve their true potential.... their true calling. You all possess capacity for great cruelty but you also possess the capacity for infinite kindness. I had descended thinking I could change the world on my own but I was mistaken. I cannot change the natural progression of mortal life. I can only provide help. You see, every decision, every outcome, it is never written in stone. Every story is written by its characters. Now I heal. I heal and I guide. When I saw you all those years ago.... I chose to guide you. I'd like to believe that guidance has brought you here to this moment."
Gregori nodded.
"Then is it wrong for me to have healed you?" She asked, "For me to see how my guidance has affected the world? You have done a lot of good. But that does not excuse the bad Gregori. I have seen you kill so many. Even children. Did that stop me from healing you? I am countless years old. This moment will pass in an instant. What is years to you is barely seconds to me. But your actions over the years have shown me one thing. You are a seed I've planted. One who is growing in order to bear the burden of glorious purpose. The healing you receive is my belief in your purpose."
"But you haven't answered my question." Gregori replied.
"Do you think healing a single mortal life is going to fasten the loss of my physical body?" Soraka answered as the flame in the campfire grew brighter, "You overestimate yourself Gregori. Your spear friend has overexaggerated more than a little. I can comfortably keep healing for hundreds of years more before I feel any toll of my actions. But unfortunately that is the least of your worries right now."
Gregori frowned, "What do you mean?"