Afterwards

[Anastasia]

A silence from that, as Mother settles for making you up a plate of food. Once done, "Expects to die? How can you live like that?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"You come to terms with it. To a degree, I have. Alihana will too. Or she'll plateau in her magic. It's less expecting to die and more accepting the possibility of it. He's a soldier, and soldiers die. For mages, magic can go out of control or be too powerful, or do something you don't expect."

[Anastasia]

"Though," Alihana frowns, "If he serves the Red Knight, doesn't he know where he's going when he dies anyway? I've talked to a few of the spirits here and it's maddening. Dying sounds so...normal to them. It's impossible!"

[Iron Dragoon]

"That's partly because you've still got a short view of life. It's a hard thing to do, shifting your perception. There's all kinds of things. Wait until you meet a fey and talk about their rebirth. Dying is normal. Everything does it."

[Anastasia]

"Even you?" Mother asks, voice quiet.

[Iron Dragoon]

"It's entirely possible. You too, you know. But what you'r learning, Alihana, is that death doesn't mean the end. I guess an easier way to think of it is... Getting married and moving to a town on the other side of the mountains. Another stage in the cycle, but communication isn't impossible as long as you have the means and put the effort in."

[Anastasia]

Father eats a bit before, "It's hard to put our minds around," he finally says, "You hear about bard stories and tall tales, but to live is another thing."

"It scares me," Mother admits after, "To speak of life and death in such a cavalier manner."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods, "It should. Keep it close. That fear will keep you wise and cautious, and many who don't soon become foolish with risks. But don't let it rule you.

And papa, you're running a Smith shop in a God's garden, effectively. You're going to have stories about you eventually."

[Anastasia]

"What a life," Walt smiles faintly, "To what tomorrow will bring under that."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Well if my big sister gets off her rump, more family hopefully!"

[Anastasia]

Laughter at this as the night goes on, togetherness and happiness.

Next move?

[Iron Dragoon]

Guess it's either Ash or Ianvasah.

[Anastasia]

Gimme a d100 real quick.

[Iron Dragoon]

[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 76, total 76[/blockquote]

[Anastasia]

Back in your office, you find Dolmaya waiting for you. She's sipping a cup of warmed cider, gaze out the window as a light breeze blows in against her. The air is cold, the scent of leaves and pumpkins on it.

Odd, considering that part's new. Must be magic.