[written outside early in the morning the day before, on the approach to Estoria]
I had a dream last night. And unlike most of my other dreams I seem to remember every second of it. I’ll try to write it down, in case it happens again. How can Lutheria get into my head so easily?
[a soft male voice, like a teacher, maybe resembling one of her lessons with the Aresian monks; it’s all dark, but a comforting dark]
What do you fear the most?
Giving in. Giving in to a destiny that has me as just one more victim in Lutheria’s path to destruction.
So you spite her?
Yes, and I have just barely started: I will make sure she pays for all the lives of those I cared for that she’s stolen away using the excuse of this curse. I will not be her weapon, sending innocent people to the Nether Sea and her sparkling scythe, I will be her nemesis.
I thought there was no hope, that the best I could do was hide, work from the shadows, but this prophecy, that revelation in Demetria’s temple has given me a purpose - you may call it revenge, I call it bringing balance to a world which Titans see as their playground.
And yet, whilst you spite her, more and more people die around you… The longer you live, the more will die… are you sure you’re winning at this game. All feels a bit futile to me!
[the voice starts laughing and becomes shrill and feminine, similar to the one she heard when she came back from the dead in Demetria’s temple]
[The scene changes to a long dark corridor, life-like statues on both sides. Alke starts walking and notices statues of childhood friends, her nanny, monks from the monastery… she starts running… the man she loved, the man she married - all people she cared for that are no longer with us. She runs more quickly to escape, passing more and more figures and in the corner of her eye she can see small statues of baby goatlings…]
[And then, the feminine voice reappears]
Look at how many deaths you’re responsible for. Do you really think you stand a chance of being anything but a niggle in my plans? [evil laughter continues]
[wakes up]
[written early in the morning, on the banks]
It’s been the strangest day yesterday. I remember talking statues. Statues don’t talk, right? And many people turning into stone; and cows. I’m quite sure I can’t do that, even a far more powerful medusa can control who it turns into stone. I’m sure the Lady of Coins mentioned that as she was proudly talking about her collection of statues. I’ve looked her in the eye and I am still here. On that point, why am I sleeping on a blanket on the side of the river. What happened yesterday?
Loreus seems asleep just a few metres away. He’s opened his eyes a few times and checked I was still here and not eaten by… some basilisks only to fall back asleep reassured. I’m not sure how long he’s been up. And despite that he’s most definitely not made out of stone. I think I may have teased him in my daze yesterday, whereas he’s been nothing but kind. And that poem, though definitely unfinished, is probably the most touching thing I’ve ever experienced… must introduce him to pastry, that’ll make everything better!