"It is the choice you made," he said, gently but firmly. "The world does not always hinge on what we want, as you well know. You could yet choose to set aside this experiment - if you think you can give up that power. Nothing has yet been officially announced or done, beyond a little dabbling most will quickly forget, if you choose to walk away." He watched her for a moment, considering the pale, quiet girl who had come to him so timidly during Long Night. She had blossomed since then, strengthening at a rapid pace that almost defied belief. He had known Sam for much longer, and the bookmaker was only beginning to come out of his shell... with no few missteps and backslides along the way. The difference in their changes could not be more stark, and he gave a slow shake of his head. "I do not think you will, though. Power, authority... it can be a heady brew, and once taken up it is far harder to give away then you might have intended when you set these gears in motion. And it is a lesson that never really sinks in from being simply told about... it can only be experienced." He arched a brow. "But could you do it? Could you step back, right now, hand the reins to Evie or Vai, and let that power slip through your fingers? Or do you feel like no one else could do this right except you? That you need to be the one to control the course of how the Hollowed Grounds' first government is formed and run? And if you do not think you can let it go now... what makes you think that it will be any easier to step away later? There will be new problems, later. Things that need a strong, steady hand with experience at the wheel of governing. There will be problems you are in the middle of dealing with that you feel like you can't step away from, so just a little delay in changing power will be fine... and so it will go." He shrugged, lips twisting into a smile that was as much bitter as wry. "Or... perhaps not. Perhaps everything will go as smoothly as you hope and some unknown hero will arise from the ranks of your neighbors that you never realized before. But if such a natural leader existed to be elected... wouldn't they have stepped forward by now? Wouldn't they already be a part of your government?" He sighed, glancing down with a faint grimace. "Ah, don't mind my pessimism, Maea. Speaking of Roana has me on edge, especially knowing that she is now in a position of power over those who defied her will before."
He recovered his hands, tucking them into his wide sleeves as he considered the woman in front of him again, trying to force his mind from the ruts of a previous life he had little wish to revisit, and mistakes that had shaped him but left hidden scars behind in the process. "You are a Loreseeker, as much as Sam and Amalia and Caiside are. Everyone has their tasks they must do to feed themselves and find shelter and clothing. The Guild does not begrudge that - it expects it. This government does not change that, so long as you continue to help out with your guild work as and when you can."
Conversation break until we can get back to the Voice
He recovered his hands, tucking them into his wide sleeves as he considered the woman in front of him again, trying to force his mind from the ruts of a previous life he had little wish to revisit, and mistakes that had shaped him but left hidden scars behind in the process. "You are a Loreseeker, as much as Sam and Amalia and Caiside are. Everyone has their tasks they must do to feed themselves and find shelter and clothing. The Guild does not begrudge that - it expects it. This government does not change that, so long as you continue to help out with your guild work as and when you can."
Conversation break until we can get back to the Voice
