how is that name taken
- ♛ `A L T H E N I A
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YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE BEEN FOR BREAKFAST AT THE HEARTBREAK HOTEL☂
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tab ❝T-THE FUTURE❞
- Initially Althenia was amused by Cecil's modesty, but as their conversation continued her heart dropped. Regular? It took her a moment before she knew how to respond. Every thing she had grown up learning was just thrown out the window. "B-But you are the chosen one! You are one of the last pods left- they did not find you! That has to be mean something!" She could hear her voice shaking, but whether it was from anger or sadness she was not sure. The regular male seemed so uncaring, so cold to the situation. It was beginning to look like her initial suspicions were suddenly confirmed.
Normally, Althenia was able to keep her emotions under control, but too much had happened to her on this day. She started out quietly, "no, no. Surely you are being too modest. You had to awaken at that moment for a reason." When the male's expression did not change, she quickly became upset, "no, see, you can't just be another human okay? You clearly do not understand what is going on here." She stood up pointing at random people in the distance, "that woman there, she has no one left. Her children were captured and killed by these aliens and her only solace was you. The hope that you would exact vengeance one day. That you were with them in the afterlife." She scanned the horizon for another person to further her point, "And that man there, he took care of your pod every day. He's spent more time with you than probably anyone! And his son, some of these people spend their lives telling great tales about the pod people. About the Gods." Nothing was appearing to change the situation much to her frustration. "And I... I have spent so much time talking to you. Didn't you hear...me? Didn't you hear us!?" There were so many instances from her childhood of sitting next to his pod crying about the reality of her life. When her people blamed her it was her only sanctuary since it was considered a holy place.
The silence was insufferable and she began backing away, her hand over her mouth, "you don't get to use those words like that. It is not just a whatever. We are humans and we believed in you." She could feel a lump in her throat forming and her pace picked up, "for your sake, I hope you're wrong and if you are, I will accept my punishment then." She didn't want to admit it, but she knew from the moment she had laid eyes on him he wasn't divine. We really are alone. There really is no one. With that thought she allowed a single tear before swallowing her disappointment.
A TIMESKIP TO THAT EVENING FOR REASONS?
"He is just a person, Althenia. Like you and me and everyone else! They might kill him from their sorrow if they find out the truth..."
"Then that is the fate he is given by a real God. He does not care for our people as a fellow human. Even if we do continue to lie, they will find out eventually."
"Did you forget what it was like to suddenly have expectations put on you? Do you not remember what they put you through when you could not meet them-"
"I remember."
"And he might not be completely useless. That pod had many things. Maps, several weapons, and other trinkets. We have to continue this game for a little longer, at least until we get to Ne'ork. Then he can ascend or leave or whatever he wants. We just need to use him as hope to get there first."
"What makes you think he is even human? He could have been sent to us by the bastards themselves!"
Zanni handed her an old photograph before continuing, "that is why. There are things here that I do not know how to use, but we have read of them in the old texts. He will know how to use them. He may not bless us, but he is still a blessing."
Althenia was still not completely convinced by her brother's words. When she turned to leave he grabbed her hand, "hey. No one knew what was in that pod. You all worshipped the pod without knowing what was inside. What changed now? Because it was not what you expected? Grow up Althenia, it is just another disappointment you need to let go- that you all need to let go! You cannot control it so just deal with it."
"And-" her brother emphasized, showing her another one of the small bombs in his hand, "he did save us. These were with him."
Looking over at Cecil in the distance, she hoped he would cooperate. Ignoring the crowd surrounding him with foods, she fought through and began leading him away. In a hushed voice she began, "look, you may not be a God. I know you are not as much as I wanted you to be. But a lot of these people lost everything just now. No matter what you may have said to them, it is not going to change their faith, especially today. You can try and tell them the truth, but I do not know how they will act. It really is no fault of yours, but when they are upset, they can do terrible things. Believe me." When they came to an isolated area she stopped, "we are just a small group, Ne'ork is much bigger. Surely others we did not know about have been woken up just like you. Maybe more of your people will be there." Finally she looked him in the eye and asked quietly, "you really do not remember anything? Not even from your time?" Handing him the picture she continued, "this was with you in the pod. Were these your people?"
Althenia wanted to apologize, but despite her words a part of her was still upset. There were few things she had believed in with all her heart and to find that one was a lie was difficult to deal with. She tried to take her mind off of it by asking Cecil questions to make him seem more human to her. "What did you do in you time? Was there anything to run from?" Althenia continued her random questions late into the night until she started falling asleep.
