A Troubled Mind

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Orianna had wanted to speak to Digs almost all day but an opportunity had not presented itself until now. Valethra was curled around Florian’s legs, letting out little growling purs of delight over the attention the newest, full fledged Herald was giving her. Orianna wanted to be considerate towards Digs and his dislike of dragons even included the young wyrmling — which was a whole nother thought that broke her heart to think about.

But this moment wasn’t meant to be about her, it was to check in with her friend.

“Digs? Hi. Hello. Um, could I speak to you for a moment?” Orianna asks, hands lacing together in front of her.

“Oh umm… hi O-Orianna. E-everyone’s been so nice, but I need to get back to my house before it falls down again.” He goes to leave, but pauses and turns back around. “I c-can stay a bit though. What’s up?”

“I just wanted to check in with you,” she starts stepping off to the side of the room. Lucan, Toothy’s father, was in the midst of preparing the fillings for whatever goes into a ‘burrito’ and there was enough interest around the food prep that they had a moment of implied privacy.

“I hope you are doing alright with regards to Meldrosa,” she starts, getting straight to the topic without any preamble. “She is- Well, she is very much like Florian, and that, I think, makes her-… What I mean is-” She stops herself and tries again. “I couldn’t help but notice your reaction to seeing her dragon form.” She looks at him. “The Archwyrms are quite grand and despite having met them many times now, I still feel small in comparison…”

Digs looks up at her with big puppy dog eyes for a moment before glancing away and kicking at the floor gently. “I-I know most things are big compared to me, but that one… th-that one was something else. I’m n-not some big strong adventurer like you are Orianna, and dragons scare me.”

Orianna blushes. “I-I’m really not all that, truly. I mean, I certainly don’t think of myself as being a ‘big strong’ adventurer.” She looks over and gestures towards Toothy. “Not in the way others are, at least.” She turns back to Digs. “But there are many frightening things in the realms. I remember when we faced Magdara, how you tried to gain an advantageous position. That’s a bravery I do not possess, Digs. But you do.” She smiles a little. “You’re stronger than you know.”

“I’m t-trying to get better! I just had a bad time with a dragon back… home.” He tries to smile nervously, but it doesn’t quite happen so the look he gives her is more of a blank expression. It’s disconcerting to say the least.

“Oh. That-… would explain why…” She shakes her head and closes her eyes. When she opens them again they shine a little brighter for the tears that are just forming in the corners. “We should have informed you better then, in some way. I am sure Florian is glad for your help, but though we may know these dragons you do not. It’s not fair to throw you into situations that could make you… uncomfortable.”

“Th-that’s really kind of you Orianna. D-do you mind if I ask you a question though?” Digs tilts his head a little and it’s like his eyes take on a more wary yet keener shine. “Why do you ‘know’ them? I-I know the dragon that you bring with you is small, but ones like that,” he waves his hands with his arms fully outstretched, “are super dangerous. Do they make you do these things?”

The question seems strange to Orianna at first because, she realises, she doesn’t think of the Archwyrms as ‘other’. “Well, it is as Florian said,” she starts, brow pinching together slightly, “Meldrosa is his many times great-grandmother.” Orianna gestures towards Florian. “Stellarum Tenebris is the same to me.” Her hand rests on her chest. “We are descendants of these great dragons, who are themselves aspects of the Nine-Fold Dragon, Asgorath. But that-” She catches herself, letting out a small laugh at the history lesson she was about to dump on him. “That doesn’t really answer your question. I suppose… to put it more simply, they are very old, and though they are family, it is not always easy to speak to them. Their strength, their power, means they can be quite brash. But they listen to us.” Again, Orianna gestures between herself and Florian to emphasise her point. “If we do not think a course of action is the best way forward, they can be convinced otherwise. Not before or since becoming the Star Herald have I been made to do anything I have not wanted to.” Orianna looks down at her hands and adds, “That does not mean I have not sacrificed things though.”

Digs visibly winces at the word ‘sacrificed’. “Yeah that sounds… kinda familiar. But you say they listen to you? Like, they’ve been about to do something and you stopped them?”

“I would not say ‘I stopped them’, no. It was more reminding them that not every Primordial Incarnate is our enemy. That if certain actions are taken in retaliation, then what we have been working towards with our allies could fall apart before it can truly grow into something better.” She smiles a little at the thought, in a modest way.

Digs nods along at a lot of words and concepts he doesn’t understand after the answer to his question: ‘no’.

“I-I think I get it a little more now. Thanks. And thanks for always being so nice to me.” He smiles sadly.

“I always will be. We are friends, and… well, it is what friends do, no?”

He winces again, “Yeah, but I need-…” He trails off and takes a deep breath, “Y-yeah. W-we are. Th-thanks again.”


Continued in ‘Umm… Calla?’ 💫