[Sarah]

“Not in the general term, more in the way that prophecy turns all its users mad eventually,” he explained. “When you look upon an Ascendant they are so alien that the madness sets in and you become Ascendant yourself. Those who gain the ability of prophecy outside of my own people gain the madness of other prophetic gods,” he said. There was a long moment of silence, and Neliana wondered if he was going to expand on how exactly she was being permitted to live. Anything else he said could wait, she’d dreamed for too long not to have answers.

[Sarah]

“Why?” she asked, breaking the silence.

“Because… I have not found you deserving,” he said slowly, and Neliana knew he was not telling her the truth.

“What will you do with me then?” she asked. “I will not perform,” she said firmly. She’d died too many times on that stage, done too many things on that stage, if nothing else she would never set foot on it again.

[Sarah]

“No,” He agreed, he looked pained. “Give me some time. I cannot let you leave… There are some things I need to figure out first,” he told her. “Until then you will be given shelter here, and I will find someone fit to teach you and guide you,” he said.

Neliana’s heart broke. She was not some bird to be caged and admired from afar. She was smart and wild and free. No matter what she felt about her situation – about him – she would not be locked away from the sky.