Wrote this for a daily topic. Topic was "All I have are stories, night thoughts." Those who are familiar with 31 Days on Livejournal know what I'm talking about, except, I never post anything to that site. xD
Wanted to drabble on Celestial Envoys and perhaps eventually throw some more variety into the Okami collection other than Ushiwaka. Also, I wish I could've written this in say, Japanese. English sucks, as far as gender neutral words go.
The Afterwards of the Envoy
Celestial Envoys are lonely beings. They travel only with the gods and then they wander with no one. There is not a single person that could understand the deep, ancient emotions an Envoy feels save for another Envoy himself. Though some believe it is the holy gods of the heavens that keep the demons at bay, in essence it is the Celestial Envoys. Who is it, after all, that gives the gods power through making the gods' people believe? Who else will recognize and guide a god in their darkest hour? Who is the gods' one mortal companion?
The Envoy is an artist. An artist of painting, literature, music, anything. An artist is solitary. No matter if their art travels far, they are still quite alone. They do not mind. The Envoy has his stories, his memories of his glory days with his companion god. The god he will remember until the time of his passing: the duty and curse of all Envoys is to never forget the divinity they had once touched.
At night they wander about the land, thoughts and yearnings shining in their eyes. If a fellow traveler would stop to ask, the Envoy would gladly exchange stories with them, telling their long tale in an animated but grave tone. It would be sad but happy, and it would leave the traveler with a lightened burden and heart through the brutal paths of adventure that awaited them still.
The Celestial Envoy would have nothing, to the naked, inattentive eye. But if one were to look onto an Envoy, his troubles and heart resolved, that one would see that the Envoy has everything he needs and wants.
The Envoy has his stories, to enlighten the world and lift the heaviness from his heart.
The Envoy has his privacy, where his devotion strengthens to an ultimate passion.
And the Envoy knows that while the divinity of the god he yearns for is not with him after his journey, that god is waiting for him somewhere in the great beyond, waiting for the Envoy's return to dust and smoke. Then, the Envoy will be personally complete, his lifted spirit resting lightly on the shoulders of his companion god.
The Celestial Envoy knows this, and that is why, should you share stories with one, you would see a smile and not a tear on the Envoy's lonely face.