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Description
Lorencio:
Lorencio knelt before Ignacio's shrine in the bustling square of Skeldr Town. He was afraid, well and truly afraid, and he'd managed to slip away from his mother's watchful eye long enough to make his way to the shrine of Ignacio. He wanted to be alone for this prayer; he wasn't sure why. Somehow, though, it felt more... real to be here on his own. This way it was just him, the god of fire, and one small request. He bowed his head and closed his eyes.

"Lord Ignacio? Sir? I uh... well, you see, I... um..." Oh dear, how did his mother do it? She made it seem so easy, but he was all tongue-tied. "Well, you see, sir, I just... I wanted to ask for something to help me. Something from you, I mean, an ability. A blessing, like my mom's. But... maybe not just like hers, unless that's what you think I should have, of course, sir. I just... I'm worried, sir. Really worried. Something's going on and nobody will tell me what it is but it's big and dangerous and I just... I want to be able to help, somehow!" He was talking loudly now, and he paused a moment. When he began again his voice was softer but no less intense. "I need to make sure my mom stays safe. And Uncle Mui and Lady Hira and everyone else. All my friends. Please, sir. Please."

He broke off and opened his eyes, staring up at the statue of Ignacio looming over him. He felt tiny before the statue, and it seemed to match a feeling inside him that had been sitting there for months, ever since the fighting on the ship. He'd been brave for his mom. He'd been pretending that it didn't bother him, that he didn't sometimes dream about a big black ship appearing from fog and swallowing him up. All the grownups seemed afraid now, though they hid it when he was around. Something big was coming, and he wanted to be able to do something about it.

"Please, sir. I just... I... I don't know what else to do. I think this is all I can do." He was alone in the shrine, and he was grateful for it. This was private, this prayer to his god, and he wouldn't have wanted any strangers to see it.

Ignacio:
Unbeknownst to you, your voice reaches across the Starscape, soft and small against the vast endlessness of a spinning galaxy yet able, somehow, to catch the attention of an eternal consciousness. The being pulls the threads of his observation to a single focus: you. He listens.

He answers.

Lorencio.

It is a soft exhale, a rumbling undertone. It is a greeting, and as you raise your head the world has gone dark but glitters beautifully with the distant twinkle of stars. The statue is alive, looking upon you with azure eyes.

You are too young to be so deeply burdened. The god says. Regret tinges his words. You did not know a deity could feel such worldly emotions. A blessing will not alleviate all that troubles you. Yet...

His eyes trace the lines of your face. He looks at you, and then through you, searching for something nestled in your soul.

Strong is your desire to protect, and strength I can offer you. My Shield has faced and withstood the onslaught of adversaries far more terrible that your imaginings.

Or perhaps you don't wish to defend. Perhaps you wish to make the first move. He considers. Your mother is dear to me, little one, and as wild and incautious as my flame. You follow in her hoofsteps, yet you are more careful... more precise. Not the flame, no, but maybe the gaze... yes, my Gaze could serve you well.

Which will it be, child?

The god pauses, awaiting an answer. The nature of fire does not lend itself to patience, yet he is tempered, cooling - waiting, as you find your voice.

Lorencio:
Lorencio gasped as the statue before him was transformed. He stumbled backwards, slipping on the stones of the temple floor, as the world around him went dark and turned into night, stars extending outwards endlessly.

Before he could really process the transformation a voice spoke. It was somehow right next to him and coming from far away at the same time, strangely captivating and more than a little terrifying. He sounded... sad. Lorencio's heart broke. Even Ignacio could be sad? What had happened to make him sad? Could Lorencio help? Of course not, Ignacio was a god. He didn't need Lorencio's help.

Lorencio knelt as the god spoke to him, offering him a choice. A choice? He had a choice? He never would have guessed he would be given such an honor. He wasn't sure quite what the options were. A shield sounded helpful. It would be good for protecting for sure. He could probably hide all his friends under a shield! But the other option? That sounded better. If he attacked first, he could make sure he didn't have to hide under a shield. That would be good. He could protect more people that way, not just his mom and his friends.

"Lord Ignacio? Sir?" His voice was smaller than he expected, and it trailed off into the vast distances of the strange space he was in. "Could I... could I please have the Gaze? I want to make sure people don't have to be protected or afraid." He stood straight and tall. "If it's not too much to ask, sir. And... thank you. Very much. I know I can help fix things with this."

Description
Lorencio:
Lorencio knelt before Ignacio's shrine in the bustling square of Skeldr Town. He was afraid, well and truly afraid, and he'd managed to slip away from his mother's watchful eye long enough to make his way to the shrine of Ignacio. He wanted to be alone for this prayer; he wasn't sure why. Somehow, though, it felt more... real to be here on his own. This way it was just him, the god of fire, and one small request. He bowed his head and closed his eyes.

"Lord Ignacio? Sir? I uh... well, you see, I... um..." Oh dear, how did his mother do it? She made it seem so easy, but he was all tongue-tied. "Well, you see, sir, I just... I wanted to ask for something to help me. Something from you, I mean, an ability. A blessing, like my mom's. But... maybe not just like hers, unless that's what you think I should have, of course, sir. I just... I'm worried, sir. Really worried. Something's going on and nobody will tell me what it is but it's big and dangerous and I just... I want to be able to help, somehow!" He was talking loudly now, and he paused a moment. When he began again his voice was softer but no less intense. "I need to make sure my mom stays safe. And Uncle Mui and Lady Hira and everyone else. All my friends. Please, sir. Please."

He broke off and opened his eyes, staring up at the statue of Ignacio looming over him. He felt tiny before the statue, and it seemed to match a feeling inside him that had been sitting there for months, ever since the fighting on the ship. He'd been brave for his mom. He'd been pretending that it didn't bother him, that he didn't sometimes dream about a big black ship appearing from fog and swallowing him up. All the grownups seemed afraid now, though they hid it when he was around. Something big was coming, and he wanted to be able to do something about it.

"Please, sir. I just... I... I don't know what else to do. I think this is all I can do." He was alone in the shrine, and he was grateful for it. This was private, this prayer to his god, and he wouldn't have wanted any strangers to see it.

Ignacio:
Unbeknownst to you, your voice reaches across the Starscape, soft and small against the vast endlessness of a spinning galaxy yet able, somehow, to catch the attention of an eternal consciousness. The being pulls the threads of his observation to a single focus: you. He listens.

He answers.

Lorencio.

It is a soft exhale, a rumbling undertone. It is a greeting, and as you raise your head the world has gone dark but glitters beautifully with the distant twinkle of stars. The statue is alive, looking upon you with azure eyes.

You are too young to be so deeply burdened. The god says. Regret tinges his words. You did not know a deity could feel such worldly emotions. A blessing will not alleviate all that troubles you. Yet...

His eyes trace the lines of your face. He looks at you, and then through you, searching for something nestled in your soul.

Strong is your desire to protect, and strength I can offer you. My Shield has faced and withstood the onslaught of adversaries far more terrible that your imaginings.

Or perhaps you don't wish to defend. Perhaps you wish to make the first move. He considers. Your mother is dear to me, little one, and as wild and incautious as my flame. You follow in her hoofsteps, yet you are more careful... more precise. Not the flame, no, but maybe the gaze... yes, my Gaze could serve you well.

Which will it be, child?

The god pauses, awaiting an answer. The nature of fire does not lend itself to patience, yet he is tempered, cooling - waiting, as you find your voice.

Lorencio:
Lorencio gasped as the statue before him was transformed. He stumbled backwards, slipping on the stones of the temple floor, as the world around him went dark and turned into night, stars extending outwards endlessly.

Before he could really process the transformation a voice spoke. It was somehow right next to him and coming from far away at the same time, strangely captivating and more than a little terrifying. He sounded... sad. Lorencio's heart broke. Even Ignacio could be sad? What had happened to make him sad? Could Lorencio help? Of course not, Ignacio was a god. He didn't need Lorencio's help.

Lorencio knelt as the god spoke to him, offering him a choice. A choice? He had a choice? He never would have guessed he would be given such an honor. He wasn't sure quite what the options were. A shield sounded helpful. It would be good for protecting for sure. He could probably hide all his friends under a shield! But the other option? That sounded better. If he attacked first, he could make sure he didn't have to hide under a shield. That would be good. He could protect more people that way, not just his mom and his friends.

"Lord Ignacio? Sir?" His voice was smaller than he expected, and it trailed off into the vast distances of the strange space he was in. "Could I... could I please have the Gaze? I want to make sure people don't have to be protected or afraid." He stood straight and tall. "If it's not too much to ask, sir. And... thank you. Very much. I know I can help fix things with this."