A/N: EDIT: Ouch. That's a lot of flames.
This fragment's told in a different format. Hope you like it..
Notifications are still bugged to heck and back, it seems. T_T
As ever, the Embers rule still persists. If folks don't like this story? Poof! Gone!
Awaaaaay to the void it goes. Gone once and for all. Forever. Completely. That's no joke.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! I'm literally working every day now, so I have less and less time to write. Daily updates might...slow down for a bit, but I know that would upset a lot of people. Its just hard with two jobs.
...Popular Monster and Audience with Eternity are next. Followed by Chef, Partners in Crime, and the like.
Sorry for the strange update schedule, had some kinks to work out, and I'm really not feeling well. That said, this story clearly isn't as popular as the other two, so I thought I'd update it again on a lark, see what happens. See if anyone notices. *Sigh* In any case, this chapter is dedicated to Havria, Goddess of Salt, as seen-mentioned- during Zhnongli's story quest in Genshin.
I'm sure many of you are...aware of what happened to her. That's just a bad way to go.
I really couldn't help myself. It was just so damn sad...
As ever, I own no references, memes, or themes.
"For how could a god, who had never once resisted -even till the end- nurse hatred for her people in her heart?
"In the end, I suppose it was that same kindness that drew him to her.
Like-minded souls think alike, after all."
~Morax.
Salt the Earth (Fragment)
All things die. It is inevitable.
In the end dead, is the great equalizer. It consumes all. Weak and strong. Good and evil alike. Time is an implacable enemy. Even gods fall to it sooner or latter. Wind falls silent. Rock crumbles. Forests wither and die. Fire fades. Water evaporates. Ice shatters to nothingness before the fullness of time. Even the almighty roar of thunder is muted by the void and it flash of lightning burns away.
But the same cannot be said of salt.
Salt persists. Salt is stubborn. Salt endures.
Such was the tale of Havria, one goddess of Salt.
By contrast to those who vied for control of Teyvat, she was not a strong god. She was weak, gentle, and small, known more for her pale hair, silver eyes and purity than any real strength. Compared to those who raged with the might of wind and rock and lightning, she was but a minor deity, scarcely able to stand with those she called kin.
And when the time came...
Conflict had begun to brew between deities. It was not a war, not truly, not yet, but conflict nonetheless. Perhaps some felt threatened by the alliance between the Lord of Geo and the Lord of Lightning. Maybe they simply sought to eliminate others in their name. Who can say?
Rather than join them in such prideful pursuits, Havria took her followers and fled into the wilds; refusing to partake in the ever-encroaching hostilities. All the while she prayed that the peaceful era of the past would yet return. Unfortunately, she found herself ill-suited for the harsh realities of the coming war. She chose not to fight but flee, hoping they would leave her people be and remain content with what they'd taken.
They did not.
Havria's enemies were wolves, and she, but a sheep. They took from her. Again and again. Without remorse. Without mercy. Without end. They pursued her when she escaped, plundering all she held dear whenever and wherever they could. Her lands, her wealth, until she had but three things to her name. A single chalice, a ruler, and the tiny domain known as Sal Terrae. It was here that she and her people were cornered. Here that she accepted her demise.
Until they came. They were but three, and yet they turned the tide.
Osial, Lord of the Vortex, perished under a rain of stone spears that split heaven and earth alike. Scores of his comrades fell to bolts of furious lightning wielded by a golden fox. Still more were rent apart by blades of wind that sang like a bard's song. Havria gazed upon her saviors and knew them to be Gods among Gods. Before their wrath, none could stand. Scores of gods died that day.
When all was said and done, the enemies of Havria fled the field, vowing vengeance.
One of her saviors stepped forth, a young man with blue eyes alongside striking blond hair. But he did not take from her as the rest had. He merely offered her his hand and with a rueful smile, helped her to stand. She gazed upon him, then his comrades, and found herself at a loss. Who were these three, she wondered? Why did they intervene when none would?
"Why me?" she asked the blond. "Surely there are those stronger than I. Why seek me out? Why save me, of all people?"
The Lord of Lightning smiled at the Lady of Salt and uttered but three words in response. "Because you're kind."
His words struck Havria; indeed, they took her aback as none had before. None had ever valued her for her compassion before. Even the most devour of her followers had oft bemoaned her lack of strength when they thought she wasn't listening. Yet this man, this god, looked upon her and saw not weakness, but hope.
So too did Havria see him; this was not a cruel god, but a kind one. And yet unlike her, he and his fellows were strong.
It was something she'd not considered before. Strength in numbers; not simply in solidarity, but by standing with those of her kin, so too could she become strong. She looked to his companions and knew them for what-who!-they were, the Lord of Geo and Lord of Anemo alike. Through unity these three, already strong were stronger still. Her fingers curled around those of the Lord of Light, caressing the rough calluses of his palm as she considered his words.
She uttered four words in return. "May I join you?"
Her savior smiled and held her hand close, gently teasing the back of her hand. "Nothing would make me happier."
And so it was that the Lady of Salt met the Lord of Lightning. They would be wed a year thereafter.
She would be one of many to come under his protection in the days to come.
Their children would run amok across Teyvat.
But that is a story for another time.
Another time indeed...
A/N: Going for a bit of a fairy tale vibe in this one. Don't mind me~!
As ever, the Embers rule still persists. If folks don't like this story? Poof! Gone!
Awaaaaay to the void it goes. Gone once and for all. Forever. Completely. That's no joke.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! I'm literally working every day now, so I have less and less time to write. Daily updates might...slow down for a bit, but I know that would upset a lot of people. Its just hard with two jobs.
So In The Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly? It keeps us all alive.
Without reviews, we wither and die. Sorry, but that's the truth.
Simple previews this time. No one seems to like when they get word, and this story clearly isn't as popular as the rest.
(Preview)
"Mom! Dad!"
Havria creaked an eye open, bright iris flashing in the faint light of the full moon. "Your son is awake."
Naruto creaked an eye open beside her. Scowled. Rolled over. "Before sunrise he's your son...
She smiled a little. "Such a grumpy husband...
He didn't say a word...just offered her his hand.
Perhaps she would die someday.
But it would not be this day.
R&R~!