[Dropping out since I'm focusing on a different 'ssert. ^^;;
GL to the other entries though!]
Manx wrote:![]()
┌─ ♕ ───────────────────────Username:: Manx
└────────────────────────────
Name:: Akemi
Title:: Sun Goddess
Sex:: Female
Gender:: Non-binary
Age:: Unknown
Orientation:: Aromantic asexual
Family:: Deity of Light« • » ██████████ « • » ██████████ « • » ██████████ « • » ██████████ « • »█
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╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗тнє ℓєgєη∂ υηƒσℓ∂ѕтнє ѕυη яιѕєѕ...
In every great legend told, there are mentions of light and dark, of forces of good and evil. It is the very fabric from which all grand stories find their beginning. This clash of moralities has been the foundation for many a myth and lore, for the simple fact that neither can ever be wholly conquered in the end. For, without one the other ceases to exist.
The legend of Akemi, Goddess of the Sun, is no exception. Her story was said to have begun at the very dawn of time, long before any forms of written records came to be. She was among the first of the deities to arise, adorned in armour that gleamed more brightly than anything this world had ever before seen. A warrior from birth, a creation meant to battle the chaos that grasped the world, making way for the birth of light.
She came from the east, a shining beacon that broke the horizon and delivered the dawn to a world in thrall of darkness. Her presence brought with it order, offering day to rival the night, light to rival dark, and justice to rival corruption. Working alongside the other deities, chaos' clutch was vanquished, and an era of peace reigned over the world. In time, each deity found their calling, falling into their individual roles and maintaining the world as it aged and adapted.
The Goddess of the Sun came to be known as Akemi, a name meaning 'bright' and 'beautiful', for those were the words used to describe the dawn she heralded every morning without fail. With her powerful, shimmering wings she claimed the sky as her realm. Creatures blessed with the power of flight found a guardian in her, and even those that walked the land below often named Akemi as their defender. She was a goddess that stood for equality and truth, a beacon for the downtrodden. While her patience and kindness were bountiful, should her fury be provoked, it was said to rival that of even the most temperamental of deities.
Under the reign of these deities the world prospered, revelling in the newfound sense of tranquility and order. Yet, as with all things, it was not to last. The exact details of the event have been lost in the tides of time, but what is known is that a great betrayal took place. Akemi, in her fury and pain, retreated from this world, no longer answering the calls of her followers or walking the earth of the land she so loved. Yet, dutifully as ever, the sun continued to rise and set with each passing day. The Goddess of the Sun, while ever dedicated to her duties, faded from the realm of reality and into myth and legend.
Despite having not been seen for hundreds of years, rumours that the goddess Akemi has returned to this world have begun to stir. What could have drawn this elusive deity from her hiding, though? After her alleged betrayal, could she have possibly found a reason to trust in the mortals of this world again?
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ιηтσ тнє нєαят σƒ тнє ѕυη
There can be no doubt that Akemi is the embodiment, the driving force and very soul, of the beloved sun. With a dedication that could put even the most sedulous of Deersserts to shame, she has never once questioned her duties, never once failed to complete her tasks. Rather than find them arduous, Akemi is one who takes pleasure in her commitments and the joy it gifts upon others. To look into the heart of this goddess would expose a dogged dedication to truth and honour, an encompassing love for the world and all those who dwell in the light, and, somewhere beyond that, a desire to enforce poetic justice upon those found deserving.
Like the light the sun delivers to this world, she is among the warmer of deities. In the past it was not uncommon for her to descend to the earth, offering assistance to those that asked. At times Akemi was known to be a bit more direct than the other deities, choosing to interfere personally rather than discreetly exerting her influence. Even when attempting to be inconspicuous in her meddling, she is a difficult figure to miss, bearing herself with a noble air that is not easily mistaken. While Akemi is normally rather quiet, preferring to listen rather than speak, she can also be outspoken when it comes to voicing her opinions. Much like the sun, she is bold and burns brightly when it comes to her perspectives, refusing to allow indecencies to pass unnoticed. She is a born leader and while is perfectly capable of being a cooperative follower, enjoys the weight of responsibility.
While an undoubtedly beautiful goddess, Akemi is neither fickle nor vain. Her appearance, with massive, shimmering wings and a golden glow that emanates from her very being, is as noble and valiant as her heart. Akemi's form bears no pure white nor black, for the simple fact that neither colour represents her nature. Black, a colour that across cultures has been used to mark creatures and souls of foul intent, has no grasp on her heart. While she is a warrior, the only battles she has engaged in and blessed are those of noble cause, possessing the firm belief that war without reason is a heinous crime indeed. Yet, white also does not properly convey the essence of this deity. Akemi is no innocent, no young Deerssert that is given pause by the ways of the world. She is not one to back down from a challenge and is more than willing to fight for a worthy cause. As such, she is portrayed in both legend and truth as resonating with gold, a noble colour of strength and triumph.
As one who has heard countless oaths sworn, and countless oaths broken, Akemi has been known to be somewhat cynical at times. She is not one to be swayed by flattering words or gracious gifts, and rather finds one's ability to uphold their oaths to be a truer judge of character. A Deerssert may devotedly bless her shrine with gifts of laurels and prayers every morning and never truly gain her assurance, while another may persistently hold true to every promise given and find themselves in her favour. While perhaps not easily won, once held Akemi's trust is of unequaled value. Her loyalty is as unwavering as her courage, and her oath is worth its weight in gold. Despite her occasional cynicism, Akemi still possesses an innate belief that individuals are inherently good. It is for this reason she fights so fiercely for honesty and justice, a willing defender of the oppressed.
Forging relationships in general are rather frivolous endeavours in Akemi's mind. Her life, her soul, and her mind are utterly committed to her duties as goddess, leaving little room for such trivial matters. With no interest in romance and courtship, she is also a sworn maiden for life. Akemi's seriousness has been known to be rather off putting for some, as she can rarely be found to smile, let alone engage in lighthearted activities. Yet, when she does, you can be certain her contentment is genuine. Despite all of this, she is certainly not a cruel or humourless goddess. Quite the opposite, Akemi is, in fact, a rather kind and generous deity. She has no qualms in helping and teaching the mortals of the world, finding pleasure in the ability to provide service and watch them succeed.
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════▹Responsibilities:
The Sun: First and foremost, Akemi's
duty is to that of the sun. Raising and
and setting it each day is a task she
undertakes with utmost seriousness,
taking great pride in watching this
celestial body arc across the sky and
bathe the mortals below with its
warmth. While respectively retreating
throughout the winter months to allow
the Lunar and Winter Deities to make
their mark, she is utterly dedicated
to her duties.
Oath: As Deersserts swear oaths upon
the rising sun, they can be sure their
promises are heard and noted. Akemi
values truthfulness and honesty, and
should an individual fail to make good
on their pledge, you can be sure she
won't forget, and perhaps even deliver
justice should she find it appropriate.
Defender: When she deems the cause
worthy, Akemi has been known to be an
exceptional patron. To fight with her
blessing is a privilege indeed, and one
she rarely indulges in. She is, in general,
a peaceful goddess and condemns
unnecessary war, believing life to be a
privilege that should be cherished, not
squandered. Still, should war arise,
Akemi is more than willing to take her
place as a guardian.
-By LunaHydreigon
-By hawaiianbabidoll
-By happythorn07
-By lizziecat1279
-By Manx
"∂ση'т мιѕтαкє му
кιη∂ηєѕѕ ƒσя
ωєαкηєѕѕ.
ι αм кιη∂ тσ
єνєяуσηє.
вυт ωнєη ѕσмєσηє
ιѕ υηкιη∂ тσ мє,
ωєαк
ιѕ ησт ωнαт
уσυ αяє gσιηg тσ
яємємвєя."▹Abilities:
Truth: Akemi has the rather uncanny
ability to sense the truth in another's
words. Perhaps it is simply her sharp
wit and years of experience, but it
can be rather disconcerting for those
that meet her. Only the most skilled
of liars may deceive her, such as the
Trickster Deity them self.
Shifting: As with many of the deities,
Akemi possesses the ability to take the
form of a significantly less intimidating
figure. Still, she appears far taller than
average and holds herself with a nobility
that is difficult to miss. Her fluid grace
and eloquent speech do little more to
disguise her true nature.
Strength: As the goddess she is, Akemi's
stamina and endurance surpasses even
the most athletic of individuals. After
many a millennia of raising the sun,
she has gained strength beyond mortal
reckoning, making her a remarkable
asset on the battlefield.
Memory: The eons may stretch onward,
and history books may lack details, but
Akemi does not forget. Her memory is
as impeccable as they come and it is
rare for her to fail to recall so much
as a detail. As such, a grudge held by
her can extend far beyond a lifetime.
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════┏━ ☀ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓● Shrines to the Lady Akemi are often erected
┗━ ☀ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛
outside upon hills and mountains, so that her
followers may be feel closer to the great
deity in time of prayer. Most congregate in
these areas at either dusk or dawn, for it is
believed that these are the two points in
her daily flight that Akemi passes closest to
the earth.≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎
● Rather than make daily trips to places of
worship, there are some Deersserts who
choose to wear choice tokens of the goddess
to honour her throughout the day. Generally,
they are symbols of Akemi forged in gold,
such as a sun or one of the offerings
commonly gifted to her, and may also be
blessed or sworn upon.≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎
● While a prominent deity, Akemi is not
necessarily attributed to many grand events
in a Deersserts' life. Rather, her name is
often referenced when swearing oaths or
gifting blessings of good will. Her assistance
is most commonly sought after in times of
strife, but also, rather contradictory, in
marriage. Despite being a sworn maiden
herself, Akemi blesses those that choose to
initiate such unions, vowing on the sun of
their eternal and unbidden love for one
another. Such pledges are not taken lightly,
but is the most binding oath one may give.┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ☀ ━┓● While specific sanctums vary from place to
┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ☀ ━┛
place, there are common similarities among
most. Many are open or roofed with glass to
allow the sun rays to touch the entire shrine,
and some also contain sundials. Gold is the
usual colour for such places, and may also
be built as a shared worship area with that
of Akemi's sister, the Goddess of Light.≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎
● Offerings of laurel, dogwood blooms and
golden roses are frequently placed at her
shrines. They are symbols of victory, joy,
and celebration, all of which are often
associated with Akemi and the sun that she
heralds. There are those that also light
candles in the early morning and winter
months, to welcome the dawn.≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎≎
● The Summer Solstice Festival is a yearly
occurrence that takes place on the longest
day. It is a day of grand festivity, that often
transpires from sun rise to set. Although the
activities vary, it is often full of games and
plenty of fun for all who attend. Offerings
are burned or placed on shrines throughout
the day, and it is rumoured that during this
festival the Goddess herself may descend to
converse with the mortals and watch as they
compete in her name. Whether or not it is true
is debatable, but winners do still receive prizes
of laurel wreaths to signify their victory.
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ѕυммσηιηg тнє gσ∂∂єѕѕ
⋄ Akemi ⋄ 'Sister' ⋄ Brennan ⋄ Whimsical ⋄ Youssef Şahin ⋄ Elias Quincy ⋄ Lysia ⋄ Friga ⋄
A cool breeze ruffled the luscious hillside grass, bending and weaving each blade into undulating patterns. The landscape stretched for as far as the eye could see, few trees obscuring the view of the gently cresting hills and the distant mountain cliffs. Above, a few stray stars still glistened defiantly on the dark expanse of sky, seemingly challenging the dawn to outshine them. The easterly horizon had gradually lightened over the past few minutes, just as it had every morning for as long as anyone could remember, and the peak of the mountain that shrouded the celestial body now resembled a scene from a fairy tale. Streaks of pink and orange accented the few smooth clouds that remained in the sky, bestowing those below with a promise of a beautiful day. The colour only grew in vibrancy as the heavens slowly awoke from its slumber, the horizon claimed by a vein of yellow. Farther on, a blossom of red had already begun to chase away what remained of the heavy night, beckoning the dawn to follow in its wake.
“Not long now,” Elias Quincy murmured, almost to himself. Beside him, his mate, Lysia, shifted uncomfortably as the cool wind rushed past her, but offered no reply as their eyes remained fixated to the east.
A few other Deersserts had silently accompanied them on the hillside, all gazes fixed on the same thing as they waited, almost impatiently, for the sun to break the horizon. Aside from being a truly stunning place to take in the sunrise, this particular area held far more significance of than that. Atop the hill, a golden shrine rose, already adorned with various offerings despite the early hour. Today was the day of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and naturally many had congregated in order to place gifts upon the alter of the Sun Goddess. Laurels, golden roses, and dogwood blossoms were woven along the outer edge of the sanctum. This particular one had no roof, no glass, and rather stood as a circle of freestanding golden, embellished pillars, allowing the individuals to weave freely through them as they each delivered their own prayers to the Goddess, to the sun itself.
Only the soft whisper of the breeze was heard as they watched, breathless, as at long last the sun made its appearance, the light's rays cascading down to bathe the occupants of the world in its warm embrace….~~~~~~~~~~
“You should join them, you know, for at least today of all days. It would do you well to visit the earth again. Not all is as it once was.”
Even as she waited for the Deity of the Lunar Cycle to set the moon so she may take her place in the sky, Akemi found herself reflecting back on her sister’s earlier words. The Goddess of Light was among the few to visit her these days, as isolated as Akemi had found herself in her cloudy realm. Her sister had very nearly succeeded in reciting the same phrase every year, century upon century; ever since Akemi had first withdrawn from the land below. Each time Light had been met with stony resolution from the Sun, unable to do so much as sway her prideful opinion.
Yet, the past decade had been different. When the topic was brought forth, Akemi had begun to pause before giving her definitive answer, until finally turning away with what had almost appeared as regret. This year had not even been met with that level of resistance, Akemi having simply remained silent until her sister had taken her leave.
It was only now, looking down on the darkened world, that Akemi could feel the regret and uncertainty stir within her. Had she made the right decision, stealing herself away from the world all those years ago? At the time it had seemed like the only way, the only possible path. The pain of that event… That fateful betrayal still stung raw in her mind, and with it the fury she had battled for countless years rose anew. It was a wound that even time was helpless to heal, for Akemi did not forget. She never did.
Still, just as there was light to counter dark, warm memories seeped forth to soothe the searing wound. Memories of grand festivals, of playful competitions and days infused with laughter rang in her mind. The gratitude of mortals as she answered their calls, willingly joining in the festivities. It was such memories that beckoned with temptation, invoking a wistful longing that she hadn’t realized she’d possessed.
Perhaps, just perhaps, this once she would entertain such desires…~~~~~~~~~~
“May our darkest hours herald the brightest dawns, and may the sun always shine on us, so long as we do live.”
Elias murmured the end of his prayer, his voice adding to the gentle chorus of others that enveloped the shrine. Each bade tales of good fortune in the days to come, and of allowing the light to guide them along the path of life. Raising his head, Elias added a small, golden sun token to the multitude of other trinkets that glimmered upon the shrine, setting the golden ring afire in the morning light. Around him, others were completing the same actions, each adding their own rituals to welcome the dawn.
The sun had already broken free of the horizon when all had completed their traditions, allowing free conversation to flow once more. While some would now take their leave, Elias knew that many more, he included, would be attending the following Summer Solstice Festival. The yearly event was hardly one worth missing, and the accompanying festivities would not cease until the sun once again touched the horizon, to the west. Taking the place of far more solemn ceremonies, it was a celebration of the Sun Goddess on this day, her grandest day of the year.
Elias turned to bestow his own sun blessings to Lysia when a sudden hush fell over the shrine. Without any apparent prompting, every conversation had simultaneously ceased, leaving only an eerie silence to fill the void. Following the eyes of those beside him, Elias found his breath, too, escaped from his lungs at the sight of the newcomer.
She was tall, perhaps the tallest Deerssert Elias had ever before come across. While her body was slender and she moved with pristine grace, her very presence radiated a certain power that dared any to challenge her. Perhaps it was the antlers she possessed that gave the impression, curved and topped as they were with wickedly sharp edges. Her pelt was of the lightest gold, as though created from silk spun from the very sun’s rays. Two massive wings remained pressed against her body, and her mane fell in a cascading wave alongside her neck. While growing up with wealth had taught Elias of the social classes, she carried herself in way he had never before witnessed. Nobility, power, and grace; it was all there, radiating from a willowy figure that appeared too frail to support such a soul.
Of all her attributes though, it was her eyes that were most bewitching. They were pools of molten sunlight, a deep golden colour that appeared to catch sight of their very souls. It was unnerving, yet strangely comforting, to be caught in such an intense gaze. The continually rising sun appeared to reflect in their depths, giving the illusion that her eyes were surrounded by a light glow.
She regarded each of the individuals surrounding the shrine curiously, paying no heed to the abnormal silence that had settled upon the area. Elias was among the first to recover, and realizing that their silent staring may be considered rude, hastily stepped forward to extend a greeting.
“I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met,” Elias began with a bright smile, courteously dipping his head in welcome as he broke the silence. “I am Elias Quincy, but please, call me Eli.”
The stranger’s gaze fell to him, regarding Elias for a moment in silence. “Elias Quincy,” she mused, as though testing the name upon her tongue, before taking a step forward to return the gesture. “You may call me Akemi.”
“Why, the name of the very Sun Goddess herself! How very fortunate,” he replied, rather relieved to find the others surrounding them beginning to offer their own introductions, allowing for conversations to slowly gain in volume.
“I am Lysia,” Eli’s mate greeted cautiously, stepping forward to his side. “If I may ask, where is it you come from, Akemi? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anyone like you before in these parts.”
Akemi paused a moment before answering, her even voice betraying little of her emotions. “I hail from the far east, although I have been known to wander. My time here will be brief, as I am only passing through.”
“A warm welcome to you, then, and I hope you enjoy your time here,” Eli replied. Her speech, while flowing, was rather… Odd. She used no contractions, he noted, and carefully enunciated each of her words. “Will you be joining us for the Summer Solstice Festival?”
Another pause, and for a moment a flash of uncertainty flickered across Akemi’s face before returning to a placid mask of calm. “I was not planning to stay for the day, but perhaps I will remain a while longer…”
“Oh, you certainly should,” Eli said with an enthusiastic smile, Lysia at his side chiming in agreement. “If you’re only here for a while, the Summer Solstice Festival is not an event you’ll want to miss. They will be games and plenty of food to go around. Perhaps, if you’d like,” he added with a sidelong glance to Lysia, “you could accompany Lysia and myself for the day?”
“Your offer is most kind,” Akemi replied graciously, warm eyes flickering with appreciation, “and one I would be inclined to accept.”
“It’s settled then,” Eli said with cheerful finality. “If we want to catch the beginning of the festivities, we’ll have to go soon. After all, the day has just begun!”~~~~~~~~~~
Akemi had not truly realized how time had stretched since she last step foot upon the earth. There was once a time when few would have failed to recognize her, especially on this auspicious occasion. She never had been one for grand disguises, believing that hiding behind a mask to be a deception worthy only of the cowardly, and her appearance had been well known for many a generation. Yet, these mortals ignorance presented her with a rare opportunity; to be, for a mere few hours, not see as the immortal she was. Still, Akemi would not lie to them. If they managed to piece together her identity through the answers she implied, then so be it. However, Akemi held her doubts that it would be the case. With every passing century it seemed as though fewer and fewer deer put their faith in the deities; perhaps, not without reason…
With few words exchanged she followed this Elias Quincy and Lysia as they trekked back down the hill, casting her gaze around as they strolled. In many aspects, the world still looked as it once did. The mountains still rose, cutting swaths from the land, and the grass still grew ever green, soft and speckled with dew beneath her hooves.
It was only a few more minutes before Eli drew their small group to a halt, stopping just short of the area set aside for the festival. Already there was a great deal of Deersserts milling throughout the area, speaking eagerly amongst themselves as they set to work on bringing the ceremony to life. Golden ribbons and laurel leaves scattered the area, runaway offerings that were to be burned that night, just before the sunset as an offering to the Sun Goddess.
“Just a moment, there’s a few deer I’d like you to meet,” Eli called over his shoulder once Akemi had halted, darting into the crowd with Lysia just behind.
Akemi offered no complaint as he disappeared, taking the opportunity to assess her surroundings. It had been some time since she had been witness to such elaborate events, and the familiarity of it brought forth a shiver of pleasure, with it old, unvisited memories. The clearing held a buzzing atmosphere, the very excitement seemingly causing electricity to fill the air. It was all incredibly infectious.
It wasn’t long before Eli reappeared, two new deer in tow. “Akemi, I’d like you to meet Brennan and Whimsical. They’ll both be helping organize some of the events today.”
“Pleasure to meet your acquaintance,” Akemi replied, giving a brief nod at the newcomers. They gave their own greetings in turn, welcoming her in the same manner as Eli.
“I have a few things to do right now to help set up, but I should be back soon. Would you mind staying with these two until I get back?” Eli asked, distractedly glancing over his shoulder.
“Not in the least.”
“Fantastic,” Eli sighed in relief, before trotting off again. “I shouldn’t be too long!”
A brief moment of silence followed as Eli departed, before the deer Eli had introduced as Whimsical piped up. “Akemi, right? What a suiting name to have today! Eli mentioned you were a bit of a traveller. What brings you to these parts?”
“My own curiosity, I suppose you could say,” Akemi murmured in reply, watching in fascination as the festival began to take shape. “Do tell me,” she added before either could respond, “do all these deer still truly believe in the deities of old?”
“Well… Well, not quite all of them,” Brennan answered. “But many still come out to attend. Whether or not you believe in the gods and goddesses, it really is a fun time for everyone.”
“And the children adore it!” Whimsical added with a laugh. “There are games and food and music and dancing. And once the sun begins to set we always have the fires burning strong, and plenty of stories to tell around them. A few of the older deer know the most wonderful legends about the deities, and in the end it really is a marvelous event. Do they not have a Summer Solstice Festival where you come from?”
“It is rare for us to organize such celebrations. I do remember a great deal from my younger days, but they were… A bit different from this one,” Akemi mused.
“Well, I do hope you enjoy yourself! And don’t hesitate to say ‘hello’ anytime you see me around; I’ll be around here most of the day,” Whimsical grinned, already showing impatience for the celebrations to get underway.
“I will take care to remember that,” Akemi said, although she found her attention drawn away from the two. “If you would excuse me for a moment…”
Beyond the extent of the festival grounds, a flicker of movement from a lone deer drew her interest. With so many already amassed, helping one another and laughing together, what was the purpose of this lone individual? Perhaps it was not that unusual, yet the figure pricked her curiosity and with light steps she quietly trailed them, catching up with ease. Her hooves passed silently over the soft ground, and with a few more quick steps the intent of the stranger became clear. There, set aside, was a small sun shrine. It possessed none of the hill top sanctum’s glory, but still shone bright with gold. A few humble offerings were twined around it, and Akemi watched as the individual bent to add their own golden roses to the alter, murmuring a soft prayer as they did so.
“A grand festival is about to commence mere paces from here, and yet you choose to remain on your own?” Akemi suddenly spoke without forewarning, her words layered with curiosity. “Why is that, if I might ask?”
The individual –a male, Akemi realized- whirled around with sudden panic, having not been aware of her presence. His wide eyes met her for only a moment before dropping away, focusing instead on the ground before them. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb anyone…”
“Do not apologize. If anything, it is I who has disturbed you,” Akemi abolished gently. It was only then that she took note of the prosthetic limb that took the place of his right hind leg, a bulky extremity he appeared to have a hard time controlling. “It is difficult for you to make such a trip, and yet you still do. Why is that?”
Hi eyes refused to meet her’s as Akemi spoke, only flickering briefly to the shrine as she asked her question. “I… I still make an offering for the others… Those who still fight. The Sun Goddess… She was a war patron too,” he mumbled in return, his voice taking on a waver.
A soldier. The realization dawned upon her as she glanced down at the nervous deer, barely able to withstand her presence. Akemi’s voice took on a softer, sympathetic tone now, “Tell me, dear one, what is your name?”
“Youssef Şahin,” he replied, voice trembling, and then tensed as though realizing he has said too much. “I-I’m sorry, I have to go,” he suddenly added uneasily, darting away as fast as his prosthetic limb would allow.
Akemi watched him go without pursuit, the sight striking a cord of bitterness within her chest. It was indeed true that she had been a war patron, descending to bestow her blessing on the causes of fights she supported. Yet, Akemi had so rarely given a blessing for the act of war. She herself had led many a battle, and the atrocities committed on the battlefield… They were fates she did not wish to curse upon even upon her enemies. Even for those that survived, it was only with a bittersweet sense of victory that the war would end. Scars that were not visible on the surface ran deep in their minds, the loss of friends, family, and comrades leaving wounds that even time could not completely heal.
Yet, among the death and destruction such battles heralded, it also gave birth to a place of such mercy. Despite the steep prices paid… To watch the oppressed be freed and given opportunities once denied to them was a magnificent event indeed. Akemi had witnessed countless mortals rise and fall, and still, in the end, could not say whether war was truly good or evil. Even when fought for the name of good war was a vile thing, but perhaps, just perhaps, in that case the reward surpassed the price… It was that Akemi, and countless others, had fought for, that elusive ray of light that shone even in the darkest depths of the night.
“Youssef Şahin,” Akemi repeated lightly beneath her breath, “may you one day find your peace in the light.”
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling her name, and Akemi turned to find Brennan. “There you are! Eli told me to come find you. The games are about to start!”~~~~~~~~~~
The following hours were a whirlwind of activities that even Akemi found difficult to keep up with. Just as promised, there was music and dancing, and delicious aromas that wafted throughout the entire festival. Games of all kinds found their place there, from races to obstacle courses, to children’s games of tag and apple bobbing. Even Akemi, often content simply to observe from the sidelines, found herself engaged in the fawn’s antics, coaxing soft smiles from her placid exterior. More than once they whispered in her ear, much to her astonishment, naming her as the Sun Goddess she was. Their parents merely laughed, gently correcting their children, all the while Akemi shared a knowing glance with their young ones. It still astounded her that, in all their naivety, children could possess such intuition. Their giggles and wonderment drew her forth, reminding Akemi in a rush all that she had left behind those many centuries ago.
With careful calculation Akemi had watched the sun cross the sky, ensuring that it still remained on its course despite her absence. Now, though, duty was calling her and she knew it would not be much longer until the Deity of the Lunar Cycles rose to take her place in the sky. So, it was when Friga, having won the majority of the competitions throughout the day and adorned with the victory laurels, was ceremoniously burning offerings to Akemi for her winnings that she quietly slipped away. She had fully intended to disappear unnoticed, but found a voice brought her strides to a halt.
“Akemi, certainly you’re not leaving us now?
Eli’s words gave Akemi pause, drawing the attention of her molten eyes onto him.
“I am afraid I must,” Akemi replied evenly, remaining still as Eli approached her. “I have duties I must attend to before the sun completes its westerly descent.”
“Well, then at least allow me to say good bye,” Eli said with a soft smile. “It was wonderful to have you here today, Akemi, and I wish you well on your travels. Will we be seeing you again anytime in the future?”
“While I dare not take an oath I can not guarantee… Perhaps, one day, Eli,” Akemi replied, allowing a note of warmth to enter her tone. “With that being said, if we do not, I would like to thank you.”
“I hardly did anything,” Eli answered humbly. “There are many others who worked far harder on this event than I.”
“Yet you were the first to approach me, and the first to offer your assistance. Not everyone would so willing greet a perfect stranger with welcome arms,” Akemi reminded him. “Most of all, you helped remind me of something I daresay I had nearly forgotten, and for that, above all else, I must thank you.”
Closing the gap between them with a few swift strides, Akemi lowered her muzzle to touch Eli’s forehead. While startled at the sudden movement, he remained still as Akemi began to speak, her voice suddenly resonating with power and pulsing warmth radiating from her touch.
“May your darkest hours herald the brightest of dawns, and may you find peace and fortune as you follow your threads of fate.”
It was a simple prayer, and yet Eli found himself enveloped by the power of her words. As the last syllable rung into the evening air, Akemi whirled then, allowing her power to sing through her veins once more. With a flash of light she took to the air, leaving a dazed Eli to stare, bewildered, at the place in which she had occupied only a moment ago. He remained there for several long moments before clearing his head, turning to find his mate.
“Did you find Akemi?” Lysia asked once Eli returned, peering over her shoulder as she lounged across the grass.
“I did, but she had to… Continue with her travels. She wished us well, and thanked me before she left,” Eli replied, joining Lysia on the grass to watch the sun as it dipped beyond the horizon, marking the end of the summer solstice.
“What on earth are you smiling about?” Lysia piped suddenly, noticing the expression that crossed Eli’s muzzle.
“Why,” he said with a chuckle, “I do believe we have found ourselves more blessed on this day than we realized.”
Although it may have simply been a trick of the light, Eli could have sworn that when the final rays of the sun fell across the land, the silhouette of a deer was framed in their path, brilliant armour set afire in the dying light…
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