Chapter Text
If you love children so much, how the Hell could you let this happen to me?
The thought echoes bitterly again and again through Tav's clouded mind. Well, it might be clouded but it's full of lightning and sharp edges too, all leaving them feeling...feeling. They don't know what exactly it is they're feeling right now--there's just so much of it--but at least they're not numb anymore.
If you want your followers to suffer so others don't have to, maybe you should get better followers. Because if you love children so damn much, how could you just let them do this to me?
Tav's arm hurts--a lot, actually; more than it did before. But, well, at least they're not numb anymore. If Ilmater wants them suffering, He's got it. He didn't protect them as a child, so why start now?
...
An Ilmatari is sitting in Loviatar's temple...they're not doing much but they've got the attention of nearly everyone in the building.
Abdirak had found them--wandering by with a near vacant look in their eye, hair freshly shorn to their chin, arm wrapped and bleeding. And it had started as such a beautiful day too. A cool, steady breeze carrying gray clouds even promised rain.
Right now the Ilmatari is sitting in front of the stained altar, quiet as a prayer, and to any other observer it might look like they were actually praying, but Abdirak is a priest--he knows how much turmoil can look like prayer.
They haven't spoken since Abdirak guided them here, observing their mannerisms, looking for any hint as to why they might be here. They're a novice, or at least not yet a full-fledged Ilmatari, that much he can tell by their clothing--street clothes, rather than gray robes and the pale hands on a chain around their neck.
After watching them sit there a while, Abdirak joins them on the bench.
"Are you lost, Dear One? Do you know where you are?" The endearment slips out almost by habit but that seems to be what gets their attention. They look up at him, and those eyes--oh those eyes. Abdirak sees himself mirrored back in them. What has happened to them?
They nod but don't speak as their hand comes up to rest on the emblem on their chest. They glance back to the altar and for a moment Abdirak thinks they're going to say something but they instead shift their position, lifting their foot onto the bench and resting a cheek on their knee.
A stirring awakens in Abdirak's chest--He wants to help them. He thinks that, perhaps, his Lady will be pleased if he can bring this person into their fold...? But it's a delicate matter, isn't it? Technically they're enemies. Or, his god is their god's enemy, at least. What an interesting conundrum.
It's been years since Abdirak was truly at a loss...and he's not about to find himself at one now. His eyes drift to their bandaged arm and see that they're rubbing it absent-mindedly under light fingertips.
"Child," he says and their eyes snap back to him as though in those few moments they'd forgotten Abdirak was there. "I am Pain Abdirak. What is your name?"
The poor soul looks like they want to answer but still, no sound crosses their lips. They sigh and the noise ends in a frustrated sort of groan as they again look away, but it's aimed at themselves rather than Abdirak. Perhaps they're mute?
"Let us first take care of your injuries and save our introductions, then," he offers. The look they give him is one of surprise but they nod slowly and stand as Abdirak gestures for them to follow. He leads them with a hand on their back away from the altar and to a back room where members of the church go to heal themselves after prayer. Most outsiders don't see this part of the building but Abdirak makes an exception today.
There's a plan for this one; he just doesn't know what it is yet.