Rock and Stone
Blood did not come out of stone easily.
Tuya knew this, both from sight, and the work she did. Like many of the realms of the Nexus, Sky Temple had become a battleground. So-called heroes doing war because of the will of cruel and fickle gods, her own gods either impotent or uncaring to stop the bloodshed. So in the aftermath of every battle, she set to work. Using sacred water to purify the pathways that the warriors had fought over. Patching up the architecture of the temple before the battle began again. And most grim of all, to remove the bodies of the fallen.
Today was no different. A siege giant, its body covering a walkway. Taking slow, deep breaths, somehow still alive. A rarity by most standards. Slowly she walked up to it.
"Stay away."
And stopped, turning to her senior, Miriam. An actual priestess. The one who would bless the departed, so that they might find mercy before Anubis.
"He is too far gone."
She returned her gaze to the siege giant. One of many that had fought in battle. The only difference was that this one was not dead yet.
"Strange," Miriam said, walking up to her. "Is it not?"
"How so?"
"Siege giants attack their foes by throwing stones. The siege giants of Sky Temple are made of stone as well, and still use them as projectiles."
"Rocks can be effective weapons."
"Any being of any realm can be an effective weapon," Miriam said. "But a warrior will usually utilize a weapon that is distinct from themselves. Rare is the warrior to use themselves as a weapon."
"If you say so." Tuya didn't know much about weapons. They existed, and she could name them, but that was the extent of her knowledge. She didn't'' know why a sword was better than an axe, or what the difference between a spear and polearm was. All she knew was that they killed. And the denizens of Sky Temple paid the price.
The siege giant coughed, gravel coming out of his mouth. It took all of Tuya's restraint to not provide comfort.
"We shall wait," said Miriam, as if reading her mind. "He shall pass, and we shall move the body."
"And then what?" Tuya whispered. "More bodies will come. More battles will be fought."
"It is the will of the gods."
"Not our gods," Tuya whispered. "They do not speak for us. We do not worship them. And yet we tolerate their wars. The misery they cause."
"We are but mortals," Miriam said. "If gods higher than our own dictate it must be as thus, we must abide."
"And is that the only reason?"
"It is the only reason," Miriam said. "We are creatures of flesh and blood. We exist because the gods allow it. If our people must die per their wishes, we must abide by it." Tuya opened her mouth but Miriam kept talking. "And you, Tuya, must follow your own obligations. There is more blood to be removed from the temple."
Tuya nodded. She started walking, casting one last glance at the siege giant. And reflected on Miriam's words.
Creatures of flesh and blood. Mortal. She and her kind were indeed such things.
Flesh was easily cleaved.
And blood was not removed easily.