Andria Andromeda Rivera and The Chalice of Belief

Reflect and Deflect

Courage isn't having the strength to go on -it is going on when you don't have strength. - Napoleon Bonaparte

The boy was smart, Cresto would give him that, but definitely not as smart as he thought himself to be. It was entirely obvious to one of his distrusting nature and keen eye that the boy hated every second of this dark life, and even then, Cresto might've assumed that he came here in fear had he shown a different memory to convince Quietus.

His lord had connected to his mind with a telepathic-emotional bond while subjecting the child to the grueling test to see what Cresto's thoughts on the matter were.

Frankly, for once, his master couldn't have been more wrong in his assumptions. And Cresto knew this because he'd been part of the memory the park conversation represented.

Cresto and Evaneria were quietly walking through the park, discussing their murky future.

"It won't work." Cresto said flatly, but not unkindly, "They'll overpower us easily."

"We can't just give in to them!" Evaneria protested, "That's exactly what they want! This is so much bigger than us, Crest."

Cresto shook his head, not sure what he was denying, "It is. But we can't change anything by standing in their way. They'll kill us, Evana, us, and everyone we care about."

That the "everyone we care about" included their lovely girls went unsaid.

"Cresto, have you ever wondered why people like them get their way?" Evaneria said softly, "It's because people like us act selfishly and say, 'we can't make a difference alone anyway!' and let them win."

"This is stupid, Evana," Cresto muttered, "Tell me you're not going to get us all killed because of a sudden burst of hero complex. Don't you understand- we can't hide ourselves from them for long. They'll find a way to get to us in the end."

Evana frowned at him, "I know they will. But that 'in the end' will be years from now, and by then we'd have done ourselves and our children proud before we die. I know it sounds bad, but people are dying everywhere Cresto, and barely few have the courage to do anything about it. If in time we can lessen their power considerably we'll save a lot of lives! I know we can, because we're not alone. Don't you understand- this society looks up to us. If we give in, everyone else will! If we resist, most of them will come together and put up a firm stand!"

"Look-"

"Tell me supporting murderers and then taking part in their tyranny- don't you deny it, even if we accept them but deny to work with them they won't let us be- is better than motivating the society of magicians to fight back and considerably harming- or perhaps even rooting these filthy people out and then possibly dying, making work easy for the next generation- for people like Eava and Andria."

"They're going to come and show you our ways today." Someone said softly.

A young boy blinked up at Mrs. Wilson, who was engaged in conversation with him. Upon further inspection, Cresto assumed it was her son Jace.

Little Jace said, "Who?"

"My company..." His mother said quietly, "You'll take my place someday, will you not, Champ?"

The boy stifled a giggle, "Of course, Ma."

For a second Cresto knew Catherine Wilson was just tempted to leave, because he could see the emotional strain this was putting on her, but instead she tackled Jace in a hug, "You'll see some things you don't like there, but keep quiet, okay? You need to come back to me safe and sound."

Cresto raised an eyebrow at Evana, but she wasn't looking at him. She was staring at Jace with sympathy and horror.

"No." She said quietly, "He is too young. Too young to see this."