Shadows of the Last War Epilogue (Naomi)
From Toosigma
| Title | Shadows of the Last War - Epilogue |
|---|---|
| Author | Philip Mann - Naomi |
| Campaign | Convergent Threads |
| Session | Intersession |
| Posted | |
| Game Date |
Homecoming has always been sweet, as an opportunity to wash the grime and cares of the road away and bask in the warmth of a caring family. This time, however, my heart longed to be home from the minute I left the city. It is at once strange and comforting to know that finding one with whom to trust my heart unconditionally has enhanced my love of everyone. I’ve missed mama, papa, and my two brothers very much, but my every waking moment has been filled with Kayli. Her brave confession to me that night has brought my whole world into focus. I no longer go to watch the sunrise alone because I am no longer trying to myself out of the cold silent dawn; each morning she takes the walk through the empty streets with me, her sleepy demeanor telling me so much without speaking a word. As I previously looked toward the new dawn for direction and peace, I now look deep into Kayli’s her emerald eyes, seeing exactly where I am and where I hope I will always be.
I am happy beyond words that Kayli has been given a break into singing! While the venue at the Starfire Dragon leaves much to be desired, it does have the merit of making her even more notable to all who go there. She is truly a class act compared to the others who, at best, seem to be under dressed and over marketed. I am, however, unabashedly biased in favor of my love, so I have to rely on the whispers in the crowd for a more objective appraisal. Many, it seems, came to the establishment and endured the poorer acts just to see my Kayli. That feels good, “my Kayli”. The passion in her heart is amazing, and it permeates everything within hearing when she sings. She will go far in her career, I can feel it. She has the talent, the look, and the will to do what it takes to make it. If I can but help her in small ways, I will to that and more. She mentioned the Diamond Theater, and I think I can help her get there. If Luca indeed still remembers me, maybe she will indulge a favor and audition Kayli. Maybe she will like her, maybe she will not, but I have a connection that may help her so I must try. I must dispatch a letter to her on my way back from the park with Kayli in the morning...
When she sang to me from the stage, looking down at me with those passionate greens, her song became a conversation from her heart to mine. I want to jump to my feet and scream, “She’s singing to me, not some ambiguous love! She feels for me with such passion!”, but I was so enraptured by her that I could not move even if I was on fire. I hope that I may inspire her forever, but I am only now learning what it feels like to be inspired myself. I have no gift for performance as she does, but I sew a little bit of my love for her into everything I create these days. I imagine sometimes that Kayli will see some trinket that I made for a customer years from now and know right away that it came from my hands. I wonder if she sings every song wanting me to hear it resonating in my heart no matter where I am.
I still have fears at night when I am away from home, pretending to be asleep though I am not. I fear that she will reconsider; I fear that her fledgling singing career will take her far away from me; and I fear that I will somehow fail her trust. I also worry that she may ask to come with me on an adventure one day. I would be foolish to allow her along, but doubly foolish if I tried to stop her. She followed me into the night and nearly died from exposure, I would hate to expose her to the dangers of what I do away from the Eyrie, the real dangers that I do not dare tell her about. Mostly, however, I fear that the numerous enemies that I have made will use her against me. Tobias and Aramil are both unquestioningly cruel and with ample resources to take action if they chose to. I doubt that I would be able to hold my anger at bay as I have in the past should one of them hurt her. I could never forgive myself for bringing harm to her, however, regardless of my opportunity to prevent it. I also know that not loving her would be the only way to keep her from becoming a pawn, but that would crush her as assuredly as I would destroy those responsible.
We have not talked about telling our family, but I know that we must do so before very long. It would be wholly wrong to keep them in the dark, those whom we love and trust so very much. Papa may know something is going on already, for I have not been able to keep anything from him for long even when I believed it to be for the good of the family. I believe the whole family will understand how we feel about each other, so I see no reason to delay. I must talk to her as soon as I can about it. Strange…aside from my frustration at Hero’s antics, I have never felt so at peace as when I was away. It is almost as though the walls of the great city are what prompts the horrid visions and my inner struggle. But still, such things are manageable and my affectionate lover does much to distract me from my preoccupation. While she sleeps, however, I labor to recover the details of what I have seen…sometimes I fight crying out because I feel the sense that something dreadful has happened to Kayli…that I have done something dreadful to her, but the details are lost. I don’t think that I have awoken her yet, but I know that I must consider how to explain my visions when that happens…
I worry about Mathis. I worry that he is hanging around with Hero and that the changeling might be heading down a dark path toward evil. Hero seems to be extraordinarily recalcitrant. He seems to respect nothing but himself; not freedom, not peace, not life itself…nothing. I hazard that he loves nothing as well, even himself. In spite of how I feel, or because of it, I will stay the course with him until he either sees the light…or tries to kill me.
