Azura/Saul

Happy Mother's Day everyone! I didn't mean to upload this one so soon, but if the shoe fits...

Recommended Song:

"Be Encouraged" by Elle Varner

"Repentance" by Lord's Child & Montell Fish

C-Support:

Saul: My, my, the Goddess truly has blessed me.

*Azura walks by.*

Saul: Excuse me madame, but would you like to join me for a cup of tea?

*Azura pauses to look at Saul.*

Azura: Aren't you a little young to be flirting?

Saul: Firting? I'm just asking for a chance to talk about the Goddess' blessings over some nice refreshments.

Azura: Uh-huh. Is that what they call it now? Speaking of which, I'm sure your beloved Goddess wouldn't want you to miss the latest sermon, would she?

Saul: I'm not sure what you...oh no, I'm late! Forgive me my lady; tea will have to wait. But as a parting, may I at least know your name? So I can pray for you, of course.

*Azura chuckles.*

Azura: It's Azura. And yours?

Saul: Saul, my lady. May we meet again!

*Saul rushes off*

Azura: ...Saul...could it be...?

B-Support:

Saul: Yeesh, Father Yoder knows how to stretch a scolding out...we missed dinner! ...and now he'll probably want me to bring him some...Saul you're too selfless! ...wait, is that…

*Azura dances*

Azura: That should do it for tonight.

Saul: That was beautiful!

Azura: Saul?! How long were you watching?

Saul: Not long Lady Azura, I assure you. But your dance was breathtaking!

Azura: Thank you for the flattery Saul, but I'm afraid the dance will never be what it was before.

Saul: What do you mean?

Azura: The dance is called "Sun Showers over Indigo Flowers." Gaudy name, I know.

Saul: No, no I can see it.

Azura: It's a duet, but time changes all routines, and not every partner can stay in step.

Saul: Well, if you need a new partner, how about me?

Azura: I beg your pardon?

Saul: I'll dance with you! Holding me close as you teach me the steps...few things are better than that! Being embraced by a woman is one of the Goddess' greatest blessings after all.

Azura: I see. You're a little young to know the hold of a woman.

Saul: Nonsense! Three of my four greatest embraces were by those of the fairer sex!

Azura: …

Saul: *blushing* …

Saul: So...I know you don't need it, but sometimes, having a companion or even just a talking buddy can be nice…

Azura: I'm sorry, but this routine and my thoughts are mine, and mine alone.

Saul: I...I see. Are there any other dances you'd like to practice tonight? Any that need partners? I have some time on my hands!

Azura: Saul, you're a sweet child. But no, I think not. It's getting late, if you'll excuse me.

*Azura leaves*

Saul: ...couldn't you see...?

A-Support:

*Saul walks by*

Azura: Saul! There you are!

Saul: Lady Azura? It's been a while, I'm glad the Goddess has kept you safe. Is there something you need from me? Tea perhaps?

Azura: Brother Saul...I'd like to confess.

Saul: I see. Let us head to the chapel then, shall we.

*Scene changes to the chapel*

Saul: Now, my child, what are your confessions?

Azura: They are for a...friend of mine.

Saul: I understand. What would the friend like to confess?

Azura: Years ago, my friend was in a dark place...children are supposed to be a light in a mother's life, right? My...friend's children were supposed to be that to her, but they weren't. The only one she cared about was the middle child. Those days were so dark...she felt like she was a failure of a mother, and that made her feel like she was losing herself, which made her feel like a failure of a mother in a vicious cycle. There was no end in sight.

Saul: …

Azura: She had a daughter that loved her, but she couldn't seem to care about or even relate to. And her youngest son...he was always so happy, so he'd be just as happy without her...right? But her middle child, she felt something towards him she couldn't feel towards the other two...one day, when it was too much, she took him and ran. From her husband, from her other children, from the life she had. She ran home, to her family and to get help.

Saul: ...go on…

Azura: She meant to come back, she really did! ...but by the time she felt stable enough, her husband had passed, and her children were gone in the wind. So, ashamed, she went home to her one child. Years later, she saw her children again, if only for a brief time. They had grown so much, and neither mother nor children knew how to navigate their relationship, so they acted like it didn't exist. But now, once again, she can see them. And this time, she wants to do things right.

Saul: …

Azura: It's too late to be a mother to them, but is it too late to be in their lives, maybe as a mentor? Tell me Saul, how does she make this right? How can she atone? How can she ask for forgiveness, when she would do most of it over again if it meant dealing with that darkness?

Saul: ...I think I have an answer…

Azura: Please, anything!

Saul: But first, may I tell a story?

Saul: Long ago, a friend of my own was left by his mother. He was young then, too young to understand what was really going on. But his first memories are crying for a woman he can't even remember now.

Azura: Oh Saul…

Saul: His next memory is his sister embracing him, telling him that she misses their mother and brother too. And then he remembers their father, swooping them up in his big arms for a great big hug, while they all cried. But as soon as things were adjusting there, my friend's father died in a great tragedy. Another loss my friend couldn't understand.

Azura: I'm so…

Saul: My friend and his sister drifted around for a bit, until she was taken in by a mercenary company. They still traveled a lot, but they never worried about a roof over their heads. But that didn't erase the boy's pain. He was mad, Lady Azura. Mad at his mother for leaving, his father for dying, and the Goddess for making them suffer through so much.

Azura: I...I didn't…

Saul: One day they passed a church, and the speaker there was no other than the great Lady Rhea. And you wouldn't believe it; in the middle of her sermon my friend gets up and starts screaming at the Archbishop! He starts yelling at her that it's the Goddess' fault for everything, and that he hates her and refuses to believe in anything. As he's screaming, the Archbishop takes this kid and, instead of punishing him, she just hugs him. She starts crying - can you imagine it, the Archbishop crying - for the pain this kid she doesn't even know has had to go through. And Lady Rhea tells my friend that she knows that his life has been hard, but he's not alone. The Goddess is with him, watching him. And then she lets the kid just cry, ruining all of her good clothing, until he falls asleep.

Azura: Lady Rhea is a great woman...

Saul: And the next day, my friend woke up, and in the warmth of the sun and light, he felt her.

Azura: Who?

Saul: The Goddess. He felt her embrace, and she's never left him since. It was that day my friend decided he'd dedicate his life to the Church.

Azura: You have no idea how much that warms my heart to hear.

Saul: Ah! But we're not at the answer just yet. My friend's journey has a little more to go.

Azura: If you have time, I'd like to hear it.

Saul: Lady Azura, confessions have no time limit. We're here for you. But yes, let's continue the story. Working as a pastor, my friend soon saw that everyone fails, and forgiveness is harder than it looks. Soon, he learned how to approach those, and in healing others, he himself was healed. If I'm not imposing too much, could you relay a message to you..r friend?

Azura: I'd love to.

Saul: My friend forgave his mother for not being there because she had her own demons to wrestle with. And he forgave her for not being the mother that he needed. He's doing fine now, and if he can forgive his mother, maybe it's time for your friend to forgive he

rself...do you understand?

Azura: I think I do. Thank you so much Saul.

Saul: It's what the church is for. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm feeling a bit parched.

Azura: How about some tea? My treat.

Saul: Now this is a reversal! Well, I won't say no to that!

Azura: Also…

*Azura hugs Saul*

Azura: I'm so sorry, and I'm so proud of you.

*Azura lets go*

Azura: Now let's get going. I know a great place.

*Azura walks off*

Saul: Goddess...I truly am blessed...

Author's Notes:

This was the first support I ever wrote, so it holds a special place in my heart.

The C and B supports aren't that long compared to the A support, and honestly feel like GBA era or really short 3DS era supports. But I feel like their length is good enough. I'd really like one more support between the two (probably a B+ support), but I'm not sure what it would cover. I did consider splitting up the A support as well, but I didn't want to ruin the flow of the story and the emotional impact.

I'm really proud of the A support. I feel like it touches on some themes that I wanted this support to explore in the nature of forgiveness and faith, and even has a little piece of myself in it!

If it wasn't clear, Azura was suffering from Post-Partum Depression. She recognized this and went to get help (a very buried reference to her mysterious disappearances in two of the three routes in Fates), leaving behind Soleil and Saul, but taking Shigure with her. The father of her children was a Knight for Faerghus and died in the Tragedy of Duscur. (In my head it's still Inigo/Laslow, but I'm not sure how much more I want.)

Saul is about 12-13 in the Academy Arc and 17-18 in the War Arc, which is why Azura notes that he's a little young to hit on women. Saul calling Azura "my child" in the A support has to do more with his position in the church - as a spiritual "father" of sorts, all of those who believe in the church are his "children." I may change that to "sister," since he's technically a Brother and not a Father in the church just yet, but I kind of like it where it is.

Forgiveness is always a tricky thing, and Azura and Soleil's relationship is completely different. I weirdly don't have an idea for a support between Shigure and Azura though. I feel like it'd be pretty similar to her normal supports with Shigure in Fates, but maybe it'll come to me eventually. In terms of Shigure's relationships with his siblings, I think he and Soleil would have a stronger bond than he and Saul would. Saul wouldn't remember Shigure, and Shigure's a pretty quiet and shy dude, so the two would have a rough go at connecting. (Another thing Azura could probably have some angst about). Meanwhile Soleil would want to know EVERYTHING about her lost little brother.