Pure Marae Route - 1.9: Post-Victory Talk

Note:
> Option = a text option.
> Option {Hover Text} = an option with hover text

> Talk {Her company would be heavenly. You might learn more about the druids too.}

You'd just like to talk with her. She smiles. "I approve. Come. I know a good place."

She takes your hand in that way you've grown fond of, and leads you across the idyllic grove. As your feet brush the grass, eventually, you reach a small hill that juts out over the island's shore. A great tree's branches stretch over it, and its leaves grant you a gentle shade. Together, you two sit down, admiring the view. You hear the glistening waters roll as the wind passes through. You hear everything more sensitively than when you first came here. But right now, you only want to hear Marae.

You enjoy some small talk together, about her life and your own. Marae seems humoured by your responses: whether your perspective is just that endearing, or if you're just charming, she does not say. Though even with your current progress, the rest of nature's voices around you are quite distracting; you find it hard to listen to _just_ her. How did the druids ever hold a conversation like this?

"Practice." She answers, but encouragingly. "Some druids took years to converse with normal people, so wrapped up in their training they became. Although, that level of training was oft in isolation from myself and non-druids; I don't think you'll have to worry about that."

 As the conversation moves on, you feel finally obliged to ask. When looking at Marae, lately, something has felt strange, like she is more than what she seems. Is this just an avatar? What is she?

"This." She gestures around. Not at herself, but at the land around you. You follow her sweeping hand, still uncertain.

"I am all of this. I am the woman you see here, and the tree she is rooted to. The air you breathe, the grass you rest on and the water we look out at."

Had she said that when you first met, you mightn't have believed her. But something about that rings intimately true with you.

"Let me explain further. Humans were not native to Mareth, as you may know. The first were a band of magi from another world. The other gods and I were fascinated. I approved of them, and I was far from the only one. We created many beings in their image; you may see their descendants today. As for me, I assisted the travelers as best I could. And I found it easier to talk to people in a form they're comfortable with."

So she wears this avatar for familiarity's sake?

"And as a compliment."

You're decidedly flattered.

"So you should be. It is a fine form." You expect Marae to move on, but her eyes linger on you, sharply, as she half smiles. But the smile doesn't last, and she looks back to the lake solemnly

"I encouraged the humans to mingle with the rest of the world. Some did. Some of those became the druids whose steps you walk in. But so many of those became too secluded, only talking to the others out of necessity. They became obsessed with power. Power, or pleasure, or both without balance. They could never be at peace with what they had; families and happiness were a distant afterthought. I sensed this. Much of it. But I never stopped it. It is not a deity's place to control their creations, I said; the free will to decide for yourselves, to grow in ways gods may never expect, is what makes mortals who they are. I didn't want to take that away, so I did not force their hand. Even if they may have thanked me for it.

"Even if I could have prevented all of this."

She says this as fairly as can be. Yet, her sorrow is palpable. The wind itself dies down.

[Silence {You don't have the words}]
[Comfort {No. This isn't her fault}]

------
>Silence

No. You don't have the words right now. But you stay there in Marae's company for a long time, until it is time to leave.

"Be safe." Marae says faintly, gazing with resolve across the lake.

-------
>Comfort

Your hand rests on Marae's shoulder. It doesn't hurt to - quite the opposite, it's like you can feel her heart pounding. The goddess slowly turns to you from the corner of her eye. She closes her eyes.

You curl a finger back, and stroke the goddess' oaken cheek. It feels gentle to the touch, far gentler than one would think. You cup it in your hand with reverent care. Your thumb lifts up to brush at her verdant bangs, while the tips of your fingers lift her chin up.

"Don't think that way." You tell her with a sincere resolve. She wasn't wrong to value that. Lady of this world or not, it's not fair to put other people's sins on her. That's not right. Even more, she is the one thing keeping things from being even worse. She keeps hope alive for all of them, more than anyone. It's not over.

At that, Marae leans into your hand. You continue your caress, calmer than before. Eventually, she leans into you. You can feel her body heave with every soft breath; you can feel her heart beating, so close it is to your own. You wrap an arm around her shoulder as she nestles in closer.

"I missed these moments." She says contentedly.

Soon you'll part ways again, back to fighting the corruption. But for now, you both have this.