Honestly, Serio was very glad to hear about the offering. He had questions about how the crone knew that particular offering would suit Novelty, but he couldn't deny that it did. Most importantly for Serio, though, was that it gave him a much better idea of the kind of thing they'd need to begin working on, both as a collective and as individual volunteers. If he felt the least bit flustered or uncomfortable about the idea of sending his soldier to the goddess naked save for flowers, it didn't show in the slightest--in his countenance, nor his thoughts.
In a strange way, it was also relieving that, under traditional circumstances, it would take weeks to prepare an offering for a single volunteer. If the goddess had only given them a day, then surely her own expectations were already askew. Though, if she lacked the context for the difference between a day and a week in the human realm, they might be in trouble... but, if nothing else, surely there was the difference between preparing for one and preparing for ten, at the very least.
Which was not to say that they needn't hit the ground running once he and Ari got back to camp. That much Serio felt certain about now. It might even help separate out the soldiers who were seriously considering this from those who were merely entertaining the idea; if they needed to go ahead and start contemplating these sorts of preparations, that would show who was ready to move forward.
"I understand," he said with a serious nod to the crone. "We may fall short of what the goddess was used to in times gone by, but we will do what we can in the time that we have."
All in all, this seemed good to Serio. He was almost tempted to say he'd gotten what he needed here, but turned his mind instead to Captain Nicolaides. He'd brought her for a reason, but hadn't given her much chance to make her own inquiries. Perhaps now was a good time to try to give her an opening. He turned his attention to her, hoping this wouldn't put her too much on the spot.
"What else do you need to know for your candidates?"
It was an assumption that Ari had any candidates, but one that Serio felt safe enough making. Even if she'd been a bit short on information, surely she at least had a soldier or two in mind.
Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
Ari's stomach dropped as soon as Captain Kade turned to her. Having left the conversation with Lance and his friends feeling uneasy about the path forward, she didn't exactly feel like specific questions were in order, and even if they were, what sort of an offering would be appropriate for Lance? She couldn't even begin to guess. Did they all need to be objects? Would a new story or perhaps a song about the goddess do? And how could Lance come up with something like that in such a short period of time? Gods, Ari was starting to understand the ways in which a god might find it difficult not to view humans as wholly incompetent.
But, no, she needed to push through, and she refused to be made a fool of in front of this priestess. She turned to the crone and said honestly, "I've casually discussed the matter with my lieutenant, and even if this opportunity doesn't strike his interest, I suspect he will help me gather those who are willing." She raised her eyebrows and subconsciously allowed her lips to puff in pleading as she said, "If my lieutenant were to go, do you know what offering he should bring?" If the crone knew about Novelty, was it so far-fetched to believe that she would know about Lance as well?
The crone looked somewhat displeased but was moved by the genuine concern on Ari's face. She closed her eyes again, searching through the female captain's recent past to find the conversation she was looking for. Images of the lieutenant flashed before her, and she tried to help them cohere. She needed a sense of who he was such that she could offer something to the captain--she really did want these matters with the goddess to be settled--but it took a tremendous amount of effort. Lance was a slippery one, it seemed, for all his forward-facing boasts. His motives were complicated. The old woman thought of several possible offerings but sharply shook her head successively after each one, grumbling to herself. Too elaborate. They didn't have that kind of time. With a sigh, the priestess looked up at Ari, her eyebrows raised and pulled together as though she was experiencing pain.
"His offering would demonstrate humility in some regard," the crone said with some effort. She felt a compulsion to apologize but refrained. "I can't see beyond that. You're right; he hasn't made his decision yet. And I doubt I could provide any more help with offerings just now. If we're going to send ten men to the goddess, I have much to prepare, and this conversation wearies me." The crone's eyes watered slightly, though she blinked them back, looking down harshly at the ground for a few moments.
Ari had the urge to reach out and take one of the crone's hands, and she might have asked to do so if they weren't sitting just out of each other's reach. "I appreciate all you've done for us and the cause thus far. You're truly the only reason we've allied with the goddess in the first place. On behalf of all of us, I would like to offer my meager thanks." Granted, Evan was the one who really pulled the trigger on the whole affair, but he was getting enough rewards--and punishments--elsewhere such that he didn't need to be mentioned here. That would be beside the point.
The crone nodded, genuinely grateful for Captain Nicolaides' acknowledgement, though it didn't show on her face. Quietly, she said, "My cause is aligned with your cause. The priestesses still held captive deserve to start their long paths back to wholeness, and the goddess leads the way." There was sincere confidence in her voice such that her statement sounded more like a fact and less like religious sentiment.
But, no, she needed to push through, and she refused to be made a fool of in front of this priestess. She turned to the crone and said honestly, "I've casually discussed the matter with my lieutenant, and even if this opportunity doesn't strike his interest, I suspect he will help me gather those who are willing." She raised her eyebrows and subconsciously allowed her lips to puff in pleading as she said, "If my lieutenant were to go, do you know what offering he should bring?" If the crone knew about Novelty, was it so far-fetched to believe that she would know about Lance as well?
The crone looked somewhat displeased but was moved by the genuine concern on Ari's face. She closed her eyes again, searching through the female captain's recent past to find the conversation she was looking for. Images of the lieutenant flashed before her, and she tried to help them cohere. She needed a sense of who he was such that she could offer something to the captain--she really did want these matters with the goddess to be settled--but it took a tremendous amount of effort. Lance was a slippery one, it seemed, for all his forward-facing boasts. His motives were complicated. The old woman thought of several possible offerings but sharply shook her head successively after each one, grumbling to herself. Too elaborate. They didn't have that kind of time. With a sigh, the priestess looked up at Ari, her eyebrows raised and pulled together as though she was experiencing pain.
"His offering would demonstrate humility in some regard," the crone said with some effort. She felt a compulsion to apologize but refrained. "I can't see beyond that. You're right; he hasn't made his decision yet. And I doubt I could provide any more help with offerings just now. If we're going to send ten men to the goddess, I have much to prepare, and this conversation wearies me." The crone's eyes watered slightly, though she blinked them back, looking down harshly at the ground for a few moments.
Ari had the urge to reach out and take one of the crone's hands, and she might have asked to do so if they weren't sitting just out of each other's reach. "I appreciate all you've done for us and the cause thus far. You're truly the only reason we've allied with the goddess in the first place. On behalf of all of us, I would like to offer my meager thanks." Granted, Evan was the one who really pulled the trigger on the whole affair, but he was getting enough rewards--and punishments--elsewhere such that he didn't need to be mentioned here. That would be beside the point.
The crone nodded, genuinely grateful for Captain Nicolaides' acknowledgement, though it didn't show on her face. Quietly, she said, "My cause is aligned with your cause. The priestesses still held captive deserve to start their long paths back to wholeness, and the goddess leads the way." There was sincere confidence in her voice such that her statement sounded more like a fact and less like religious sentiment.
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
Something softened--melted, even?--in Serio's expression when the crone spoke of the conversation wearying her. He was glad that Ari immediately offered gratitude, though a small, petty sort of jealousy in him wished that he'd been the one to give it. He tried to assure himself that, if and when his image with the priestess mattered in the future, his actions once he got back to camp would weigh much heavier than this one conversation, and he was determined to shine in this scenario regardless.
Serio went ahead and stood, haste now seeming of the utmost importance. But, he still faced the crone before he left, wanting to ask one last thing.
"Would any of our soldiers be able to help you in your preparations, if we sent some your way?"
Serio went ahead and stood, haste now seeming of the utmost importance. But, he still faced the crone before he left, wanting to ask one last thing.
"Would any of our soldiers be able to help you in your preparations, if we sent some your way?"
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
The old woman, who suddenly felt all of her age, considered Serio's offer for a few moments, her eyes flicking back and forth on the ground as she thought about what it would mean to have help. Without much of a pause, she looked up at him, somewhat recovered and said, "Yes. I'd like a team of at least thirty as well as ten cauldrons filled with fresh water, enough wood for each of the cauldrons, your finest scrubbing cloths, two buckets of wet clay, oil for torches, and a new pair of boots." She looked at the captain with a slight, wry smile, knowing full well that her much-worn boots were very obviously on their last legs. If he were going to offer generosity, she may as well save herself the trouble of making a pair herself. The paladin's boots hadn't fit her.
Ari balked at the list and looked at Serio to see how he might respond. On the one hand, it might be good for the camp to give soldiers something to do, some way to busy themselves, and surely by now enough of the soldiers would be curious enough about the goddess to want to participate in a ritual. They certainly had plenty of people to spare on that front. But they would likely need to take the cauldrons from the mess tent, which might mean a night of cold dinner for the troops. And clay meant an awful lot of digging. Perhaps it was worth it to get the ball rolling faster? Ari thought it difficult to imagine the old priestess doing all that work on her own.
After another moment or two, the crone added solemnly, "We're going to have one chance at this, so if you do not find all the volunteers tonight..." The old woman shook her head, terribly anxious about what that would mean, "...it may be worth it to delay. Although..." The crone brought a hand to her chin in contemplation, and her eyes, narrowing, met Serio's, wondering.
Ari balked at the list and looked at Serio to see how he might respond. On the one hand, it might be good for the camp to give soldiers something to do, some way to busy themselves, and surely by now enough of the soldiers would be curious enough about the goddess to want to participate in a ritual. They certainly had plenty of people to spare on that front. But they would likely need to take the cauldrons from the mess tent, which might mean a night of cold dinner for the troops. And clay meant an awful lot of digging. Perhaps it was worth it to get the ball rolling faster? Ari thought it difficult to imagine the old priestess doing all that work on her own.
After another moment or two, the crone added solemnly, "We're going to have one chance at this, so if you do not find all the volunteers tonight..." The old woman shook her head, terribly anxious about what that would mean, "...it may be worth it to delay. Although..." The crone brought a hand to her chin in contemplation, and her eyes, narrowing, met Serio's, wondering.
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
Serio kept his expression steady in unflenching contemplation of what the crone asked. It was a lot, and he wasn't sure he could deliver--certainly not if Mizu and the other captains weren't onboard--but he was determined to give a valiant effort. After all, the favor of a goddess was at stake. In some ways, Serio was very glad for the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the situation.
Before he could reply, the crone spoke on the value of potentially delaying if they couldn't find all the volunteers tonight, and Serio nodded thoughtfully. If they were planning to put forth the effort for a proper send-off, perhaps the goddess wouldn't mind waiting another night, and surely their alliance with the Shel'ti wouldn't hinge on the span of a day.
One thing did occur to Serio to clarify at this juncture, though.
"The goddess opens a portal for Captain Rutliff at sunset, but if that's not how we're sending the volunteers to her, then perhaps their timing is a bit more flexible." Serio's voice only raised a touch at the end, more hinting at a question than asking one, and he paused just briefly to see if the crone contradicted his understanding.
If not, then he continued, "I should be able to get you the soldiers, and at least some of the supplies, but it will depend on the willingness of our commander and other captains to pitch in. I'll start things in motion as soon as we get back to camp, and ensure you know the situation with our volunteers before sundown, then perhaps we can assess whether to move forward tonight?" That time, he did more explicitly ask a question, looking not just for a lack of contradiction, but for whether the priestess would explicitly buy in.
Before he could reply, the crone spoke on the value of potentially delaying if they couldn't find all the volunteers tonight, and Serio nodded thoughtfully. If they were planning to put forth the effort for a proper send-off, perhaps the goddess wouldn't mind waiting another night, and surely their alliance with the Shel'ti wouldn't hinge on the span of a day.
One thing did occur to Serio to clarify at this juncture, though.
"The goddess opens a portal for Captain Rutliff at sunset, but if that's not how we're sending the volunteers to her, then perhaps their timing is a bit more flexible." Serio's voice only raised a touch at the end, more hinting at a question than asking one, and he paused just briefly to see if the crone contradicted his understanding.
If not, then he continued, "I should be able to get you the soldiers, and at least some of the supplies, but it will depend on the willingness of our commander and other captains to pitch in. I'll start things in motion as soon as we get back to camp, and ensure you know the situation with our volunteers before sundown, then perhaps we can assess whether to move forward tonight?" That time, he did more explicitly ask a question, looking not just for a lack of contradiction, but for whether the priestess would explicitly buy in.
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
The old woman nodded as Serio spoke, grateful that she was catching onto her notions.
"Yes, I imagine the goddess would rather the volunteers come more formally than come with Evan at sundown. I will prepare what I can tonight, and I will await your direction for what your commander and the rest of your captains decide about timing. We will do what we can. Now, if you don't have further questions, then perhaps we should all set about our tasks," the crone said, standing up from her chair.
"Yes, I imagine the goddess would rather the volunteers come more formally than come with Evan at sundown. I will prepare what I can tonight, and I will await your direction for what your commander and the rest of your captains decide about timing. We will do what we can. Now, if you don't have further questions, then perhaps we should all set about our tasks," the crone said, standing up from her chair.
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
With one last nod to the crone, Serio glanced to his fellow captain and then began leading the way back towards camp. He set into planning with Ari fairly immediately--a cascade of things needed to happen quickly, and if she could get started on something while Serio spoke to the commander, that'd be a boon. Much to Serio's pleasure, Ari took easily to being given a task, and the captains parted ways warmly and excitedly once they reached camp.
Serio made haste to Mizu's tent, and was relieved that she was inside. He took a steadying breath before entering, and gave the commander his customary bow before starting right into business.
"The good news is I've already found someone who's interested, but I don't think that's actually our greatest bottleneck." Serio had spoken quickly, tipping his hand that he felt in a hurry, but he paused there, giving Mizu a chance to cut him off or give him direction if she needed to. He quite happily continued when the commander displayed little more than interested concern.
"I spoke with the old woman, and I believe it'd be wise to orchestrate a ceremony. I'm a little embarrassed I didn't think of it myself. We shouldn't send the volunteers quietly off with Evan in the night like a shameful secret; they are our honored envoys to a deity, with whom we will be solidifying ties. I feel certain that the way in which we send them off will affect more than their mere departure. I'd be happy to lead the effort, with your blessing, commander."
Serio had spoken confidently and with gravitas. He stood with his chest full and outward, his posture upright and his hands clasped with dignity behind his back. He wanted Mizu to know that he sincerely believed in the importance of this effort, and that he was ready to commit himself fully. It was practically all he could to do keep himself standing still; his mind was already running off on the myriad of things he was now antsy to get to.
Serio made haste to Mizu's tent, and was relieved that she was inside. He took a steadying breath before entering, and gave the commander his customary bow before starting right into business.
"The good news is I've already found someone who's interested, but I don't think that's actually our greatest bottleneck." Serio had spoken quickly, tipping his hand that he felt in a hurry, but he paused there, giving Mizu a chance to cut him off or give him direction if she needed to. He quite happily continued when the commander displayed little more than interested concern.
"I spoke with the old woman, and I believe it'd be wise to orchestrate a ceremony. I'm a little embarrassed I didn't think of it myself. We shouldn't send the volunteers quietly off with Evan in the night like a shameful secret; they are our honored envoys to a deity, with whom we will be solidifying ties. I feel certain that the way in which we send them off will affect more than their mere departure. I'd be happy to lead the effort, with your blessing, commander."
Serio had spoken confidently and with gravitas. He stood with his chest full and outward, his posture upright and his hands clasped with dignity behind his back. He wanted Mizu to know that he sincerely believed in the importance of this effort, and that he was ready to commit himself fully. It was practically all he could to do keep himself standing still; his mind was already running off on the myriad of things he was now antsy to get to.
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
Though she was rested and had talked to many of the captains already today, Mizu still found herself anxious. She recalled her conversation with the goddess over and over again, pacing the length of the strategy tent as she did so, wishing that the surprise of the goddess showing up unbidden hadn't prevented her from asking more questions. She had to admit that, on some level, she had been afraid of saying something that might make the goddess rethink the alliance with them. Mizu did not envy Evan's position. Despite whatever parts of being with the goddess were enjoyable, there had to be a similar and constant anxiety that he was going to mess it all up. No, she did not envy him at all.
But the goddess had made a gesture. She had listened to Mizu on that front. And that counted for something. Every time Mizu had left her tent, she had heard someone talking about it. The commander was grateful that, at least in that regard, she had managed to do something right.
Mizu could feel time slipping by, though, and was anxious that Evan had not yet reported in. She'd told him to return once he'd gotten some rest, and it was possible that he was still asleep, but the longer he waited, the more anxious she became. She hoped desperately that he was simply off collecting volunteers and would have some confirmed names for her when he returned. But, in the meantime, her stomach was in knots, and she continued pacing.
When Captain Kade arrived with all the usual courtesy, if a little rushed, the commander stopped her pacing immediately and turned in his direction, eager for new developments and positive that Serio would have them.
He began quickly, his speech a little breathless. She was grateful that at least there was one soldier it sounded like they could count on, but hearing about yet another bottleneck to the situation was not at all comforting. Mizu waited somewhat impatiently with a neutral expression.
When Serio spoke next, talking about the volunteers as honored envoys and discussing some kind of ceremony, the commander lowered her gaze in contemplation, her eyes wildly flitting back and forth across the floor. Evan had said something about taking the volunteers to the old woman, but Mizu hadn't thought much about what might actually happen there. At first, the thought of a ceremony made Mizu uncomfortable, but after giving it another moment of thought, she decided that Serio was right. They needed as much dignity around the situation as they could muster.
Mizu's eyes met Serio's her brows only slightly furrowed.
"You mentioned this being a bottleneck. What are we weighing here in terms of time?"
But the goddess had made a gesture. She had listened to Mizu on that front. And that counted for something. Every time Mizu had left her tent, she had heard someone talking about it. The commander was grateful that, at least in that regard, she had managed to do something right.
Mizu could feel time slipping by, though, and was anxious that Evan had not yet reported in. She'd told him to return once he'd gotten some rest, and it was possible that he was still asleep, but the longer he waited, the more anxious she became. She hoped desperately that he was simply off collecting volunteers and would have some confirmed names for her when he returned. But, in the meantime, her stomach was in knots, and she continued pacing.
When Captain Kade arrived with all the usual courtesy, if a little rushed, the commander stopped her pacing immediately and turned in his direction, eager for new developments and positive that Serio would have them.
He began quickly, his speech a little breathless. She was grateful that at least there was one soldier it sounded like they could count on, but hearing about yet another bottleneck to the situation was not at all comforting. Mizu waited somewhat impatiently with a neutral expression.
When Serio spoke next, talking about the volunteers as honored envoys and discussing some kind of ceremony, the commander lowered her gaze in contemplation, her eyes wildly flitting back and forth across the floor. Evan had said something about taking the volunteers to the old woman, but Mizu hadn't thought much about what might actually happen there. At first, the thought of a ceremony made Mizu uncomfortable, but after giving it another moment of thought, she decided that Serio was right. They needed as much dignity around the situation as they could muster.
Mizu's eyes met Serio's her brows only slightly furrowed.
"You mentioned this being a bottleneck. What are we weighing here in terms of time?"
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
Serio nodded, relieved that Mizu did not dismiss the idea out of hand. Now, to get her on board with scope...
"The old woman would like to do things as close to tradition as possible, and she's made several requests on that count: Cauldrons, firewood, scrubbing cloths, clay, and oil, as well as soldiers to help her with preparations." He left out the boots, having filed that away as a more personal favor, which he already had a plan to fulfil. "I suspect we may also want to make some preparations of our own, to align us all around what is truly happening here."
"That said," he continued firmly, "what we are doing is not traditional. By the woman's report, it would normally take weeks to prepare a single tribute to send to the goddess, and we must prepare for ten in a matter of hours. I believe we should provide what we can following the priestess' guidance, but take our own practical considerations seriously. Captain Rutliff has his way of dealing with the goddess; now it is our turn to set the stage for how we deal with her, and I believe we should put in a good faith effort to pay her respect within our own integrity, whatever that ultimately looks like."
Serio was being bold with his judgements on this matter, which he trusted Mizu to take quite seriously. He was also setting the stage for how he would deal with the goddess, and he didn't want to remain in the shadows, not for this. He let the gravity of his delivery stand for a moment before adding more gently,
"I believe we do have more flexibility than sundown, for what that is worth. The priestess can send the tributes to the goddess on her own power, on her own time. We should endeavor to be confident before sundown that we will send the tributes tonight, so that Evan can bear the news to the goddess, but we needn't be prepared to send them at that time."
"The old woman would like to do things as close to tradition as possible, and she's made several requests on that count: Cauldrons, firewood, scrubbing cloths, clay, and oil, as well as soldiers to help her with preparations." He left out the boots, having filed that away as a more personal favor, which he already had a plan to fulfil. "I suspect we may also want to make some preparations of our own, to align us all around what is truly happening here."
"That said," he continued firmly, "what we are doing is not traditional. By the woman's report, it would normally take weeks to prepare a single tribute to send to the goddess, and we must prepare for ten in a matter of hours. I believe we should provide what we can following the priestess' guidance, but take our own practical considerations seriously. Captain Rutliff has his way of dealing with the goddess; now it is our turn to set the stage for how we deal with her, and I believe we should put in a good faith effort to pay her respect within our own integrity, whatever that ultimately looks like."
Serio was being bold with his judgements on this matter, which he trusted Mizu to take quite seriously. He was also setting the stage for how he would deal with the goddess, and he didn't want to remain in the shadows, not for this. He let the gravity of his delivery stand for a moment before adding more gently,
"I believe we do have more flexibility than sundown, for what that is worth. The priestess can send the tributes to the goddess on her own power, on her own time. We should endeavor to be confident before sundown that we will send the tributes tonight, so that Evan can bear the news to the goddess, but we needn't be prepared to send them at that time."
Re: Mizu/Serio (heading into night four with the goddess)
A sharp but not unpleasant sensation began building in Mizu's chest, upper back, and throat. She listened attentively as Serio recounted what the old woman would need and found the list rather doable. Somewhat inane, even. Though Mizu was not one for displays of wealth or even decoration, she ached for some greater display, which surprised her. On the one hand, she supposed she should trust the old woman to know what the goddess wanted--she had served as the goddess' priestess--but Mizu wondered if what meager trappings the army had would please the goddess enough.
She reassured herself that the goddess understood this was all happening under some degree of duress, but it was the first time that Mizu started to feel a little... embarrassed at the state of the camp. They hadn't exactly had time to collect all their belongings when they decided to splinter the king's army and start the rebellion.
The goddess knows that. The goddess knows that, Mizu kept telling herself while she continued to listen to Serio.
It occurred to her as he was talking that the captain was... excited about this. Excited about planning it or excited to have an excuse to be more directly involved? Both, likely.
It all unnerved Mizu, though. She hadn't expected starting this rebellion to later mean swearing public fealty to a goddess that the king himself forbade worship of. This was not going to make them very popular with the loyalists when word got around. She began again to question whether they had really made the right call in continuing to work with the goddess, and some part of her begged to pull out of this now before it got too far out of control.
Mizu closed her eyes for a moment, digging deep for any kind of intuition on the matter. What would Phantom think about all this? Well, he wasn't here now, and she didn't have time to contact him. He would likely just chastise her again anyway. No, she needed to listen to herself on this matter, let the reminder of the goddess' demonstration flood her body and ask herself, were they doing the right thing?
The king had imprisoned the goddess. He took their son in ways the goddess did not seem happy about. The goddess hated the king more than any of the unpleasantness they were dealing with now. He had destroyed her temples out of what seemed like simple fear. And the king was... the king was...
She tried not to think too hard of the moment she realized something must be done to stop the man. It wasn't that he had somehow stopped aging. It wasn't that he was making decisions without much regard for his council, it was...
No, she couldn't think about that now. Not in front of Serio.
The point was, the king was not recoverable. And he had blocked the goddess out. He had cut off the relationship the nation had with her, one that had been, assumedly, consensual and mutually understood. The army was only repairing the damage that had been done then in this small way.
But could they trust the goddess? Did they have a choice? Evan trusted her. And, on a ridiculously deep gut level, Mizu could not ignore that. So... yes... Mizu supposed they would be swearing public fealty to this goddess. They wouldn't be able to keep this hushed--Serio was right; there would be consequences for doing so.
And if it was going to be public, then they damn well should make a good show of it.
Mizu opened her eyes and looked with slightly narrowed eyes at Serio, her thin lips parted.
"Word about this will get around. I'm sure you understand that," Mizu began, weighing Serio's reaction before she continued. "We should do everything we can to make this a night to remember. Anything the priestess needs, we should provide her." Mizu felt the absurdity of the statement as she said it. She had been so skeptical of the old woman at her first arrival, and now... But Mizu wasn't one to deny logic to save face. "Anything we can do to make this a jubilant occasion, let's make it happen."
The commander wondered briefly if Serio was the right person to be giving orders to on that front, but he was undeniably interested in all this, and there was no one else she would trust to make a spectacle in a way that remained respectful.
Mizu thought for a moment and then finally asked, "if the goddess didn't set any particular deadline, there would be value in waiting until tomorrow evening. The last thing I want is to rush this, and calling emergency meetings to prepare for this will likely be counterproductive. If we can let this all simmer in everyone's mind for another day, we'll have a better chance of a positive reaction."
The commander raised an eyebrow, intensely curious how Serio would respond to the delay. If he didn't think it a good idea to postpone, then she knew they could make it work, but if they were going to do this, Mizu wanted to do it right.
She reassured herself that the goddess understood this was all happening under some degree of duress, but it was the first time that Mizu started to feel a little... embarrassed at the state of the camp. They hadn't exactly had time to collect all their belongings when they decided to splinter the king's army and start the rebellion.
The goddess knows that. The goddess knows that, Mizu kept telling herself while she continued to listen to Serio.
It occurred to her as he was talking that the captain was... excited about this. Excited about planning it or excited to have an excuse to be more directly involved? Both, likely.
It all unnerved Mizu, though. She hadn't expected starting this rebellion to later mean swearing public fealty to a goddess that the king himself forbade worship of. This was not going to make them very popular with the loyalists when word got around. She began again to question whether they had really made the right call in continuing to work with the goddess, and some part of her begged to pull out of this now before it got too far out of control.
Mizu closed her eyes for a moment, digging deep for any kind of intuition on the matter. What would Phantom think about all this? Well, he wasn't here now, and she didn't have time to contact him. He would likely just chastise her again anyway. No, she needed to listen to herself on this matter, let the reminder of the goddess' demonstration flood her body and ask herself, were they doing the right thing?
The king had imprisoned the goddess. He took their son in ways the goddess did not seem happy about. The goddess hated the king more than any of the unpleasantness they were dealing with now. He had destroyed her temples out of what seemed like simple fear. And the king was... the king was...
She tried not to think too hard of the moment she realized something must be done to stop the man. It wasn't that he had somehow stopped aging. It wasn't that he was making decisions without much regard for his council, it was...
No, she couldn't think about that now. Not in front of Serio.
The point was, the king was not recoverable. And he had blocked the goddess out. He had cut off the relationship the nation had with her, one that had been, assumedly, consensual and mutually understood. The army was only repairing the damage that had been done then in this small way.
But could they trust the goddess? Did they have a choice? Evan trusted her. And, on a ridiculously deep gut level, Mizu could not ignore that. So... yes... Mizu supposed they would be swearing public fealty to this goddess. They wouldn't be able to keep this hushed--Serio was right; there would be consequences for doing so.
And if it was going to be public, then they damn well should make a good show of it.
Mizu opened her eyes and looked with slightly narrowed eyes at Serio, her thin lips parted.
"Word about this will get around. I'm sure you understand that," Mizu began, weighing Serio's reaction before she continued. "We should do everything we can to make this a night to remember. Anything the priestess needs, we should provide her." Mizu felt the absurdity of the statement as she said it. She had been so skeptical of the old woman at her first arrival, and now... But Mizu wasn't one to deny logic to save face. "Anything we can do to make this a jubilant occasion, let's make it happen."
The commander wondered briefly if Serio was the right person to be giving orders to on that front, but he was undeniably interested in all this, and there was no one else she would trust to make a spectacle in a way that remained respectful.
Mizu thought for a moment and then finally asked, "if the goddess didn't set any particular deadline, there would be value in waiting until tomorrow evening. The last thing I want is to rush this, and calling emergency meetings to prepare for this will likely be counterproductive. If we can let this all simmer in everyone's mind for another day, we'll have a better chance of a positive reaction."
The commander raised an eyebrow, intensely curious how Serio would respond to the delay. If he didn't think it a good idea to postpone, then she knew they could make it work, but if they were going to do this, Mizu wanted to do it right.