Revolutions

115 - Saqatli

We march through the exotic Ulxa jungles in silence, as a gloom hangs heavily over us. Nothing has gone according to plan, and morale feels as if it is lower than the deepest depths of a cave. Paxilche is brooding, likely from having his plan rebuffed. Tlexnín is angered by the loss of the capital of her people. The Sanqo are upset from being away from their homeland for so long. But it is Walumaq whose despondency is the most alarming. In the short time I have known her, she has been the one full of hope and optimism. What has caused her such distress?

I approach the Sanqo princess, though she is not aware of my presence. Her attention is on the ground in front of her, her face solemn, lost in her thoughts. Noch assists me in getting her attention, rubbing along the legs of the princess. To my relief, this elicits a warm smile from her, albeit a tiny one. But it is a victory nonetheless.

"What seems to be the problem, Sanqo princess?" I inquire, my voice resonating within our respective minds.

She looks around, then her gaze meets mine. "I'm beginning to believe we're straying too far from the path," she thinks.

"But we are walking to the next Ulxa village, as we all discussed," I respond, confused by her statement.

She shakes her head. "No, I mean the path to defeat the real evil—the Eye in the Flame. I fear we've become distracted from our real goal. That, and the trust I have seemingly misplaced in others. And..." Her voice trails off inside my mind, but I can tell there is something greater—even greater than all of the issues she has just expressed—that is causing her much grief.

After a pause, she sniffles, wiping her nose hurriedly. Then, she continues, "I fear that this mission to rally support for Ulxa to regain Analoixan is important, but it's allowing the surviving Eye in the Flame time to regroup and gain strength while we're only weakening the forces that could resist them. And Paxilche... I worry about him. His emotions often override his rationality. I fear what he is capable of, and I worry I won't always be present to quell his basest desires."

Noch moves closer to Walumaq, rubbing her head gently on the calf of the Sanqo princess. The soft, comforting purr seems to calm her somewhat. I step closer, my heart aching for her.

"Sanqo princess," I begin, trying my best to choose my words carefully, "your concerns about the Eye in the Flame are valid. We must remain vigilant and not lose sight of our ultimate goal. I believe our course, though it may appear to be diverging, will lead us back to the fight against true evil. But as for Paxilche..."

Noch looks up at me, as though she is telling me to speak from my heart. "The emotions of Paxilche are strong, yes," I continue, "but they stem from a place of deep care and passion. It is not easy to balance such intense feelings, especially in times of conflict. Your presence does help him, more than you realize. But you are right to worry. It is important to guide him, to remind him of what is truly at stake. Perhaps, in those moments of anger, try to reach the part of him that cares deeply. It is in those moments that his true strength can be found."

The eyes of Walumaq soften slightly, and she nods again, more resolutely this time. "I will try," she says.

Despite the slight relief, I can see that the worry in her eyes does not fade entirely. There is still something weighing heavily on her heart.

I do not know how to address it. Maybe I am not the person to whom she should be speaking. Maybe I am not capable enough of aiding her with carrying her burdens. Maybe I am not worthy to be in the presence of a goddess.

Sensing my uncertainty, Noch nudges my leg with her head. She purrs softly, looks up at me with her wise, amber eyes, and then glances back at Walumaq, as if urging me to say something more. She always seems to understand more than I do, possessing an intuition I can only hope to one day obtain.