Dread Mage

Sonder was on a small boat, with Hrygo rowing it alone. They had no sail, nor did they have a destination in mind.

Hrygo just told her to keep rowing.

Sonder felt the gentle sway of the boat against the water, the rhythm of her strokes creating a soothing harmony with the lapping waves.

The sun hung high on the horizon, painting the sky with shades of yellow and orange, and Sonder thought back to the story of the gods that Hrygo had told her the day before.

“Keep rowing,” Hrygo repeated, her eyes scanning the distant shore where the trees were silhouetted against the newly born light, casting long shadows that danced on the water's surface.

The air was thick with the scent of earth and salt, and the distant call of a seabird echoed like a forgotten memory.

“Tell me more about Simer,” Sonder said, curious to learn more about Simerian mythology. “What kind of man was he to throw himself in front of a god’s wrath?”

Hrygo's gaze turned grave. "He was a man of principled resolve, a guardian. For Simerians, loyalty is paramount, and Simer personified this ethos. He comprehended the broader implication, realizing that his people's destiny hinged on the power equilibrium among the gods. His sacrifice was not merely for Ohm but for the continuity of his lineage."

“But it cost him everything,” Sonder said softly, the resonance of the story settling heavily in her heart and her question holding a deeper implication. “How can one act with such bravery, knowing the price?”

"Courage and bravery often spring from love," Hrygo responded, her voice unwavering. "A love for one's tribe, one's homeland. It drives deeds that might appear foolhardy to outsiders, but for a Simerian, it is as instinctive as breathing." She discerned the unspoken question in Sonder's eyes. "My brother was aware of the price."

"He was, but how about you?" asked Sonder, her gaze peculiarly intense. "Why decide to train me? Anyone else could have done it; many would have balked instantly, and you had the most compelling reason to shun me.”

“I would have declined, until I learned of the story. My brother met his death at the hands of the irathy, and in his final moment, he chose to live in defiance. There must be a reason for your significance to them, and he wanted to spite them.

You haven’t told me why yet, but I won’t pry. When you arrived here, I saw the pain in your eyes, mirroring my own.

I lack the resolve to annihilate the irathy, but it burns brightly in you, so I live in defiance, just as my brother did. If I can survive long enough to witness their downfall, I'll know I have done him justice, and if you're the catalyst for that, my pride will know no bounds."