Solira: The Ocean: in too deep and out of time; COURAGE

I discovered that my castles stand
upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

Kratos told Alshain the story of how he met Courage once. He told Alshain after much coercion, threats, and general preamble, but finally Alshain got it out of him.

Alshain didn’t see then how a then-little palomino filly could live up to her namesake the way Kratos said.

He understands now.

Hers is a more subtle strength, an iron rod wrapped in cotton as opposed to the jagged, gilded-blade steel of Alshain and other warriors like him. Nevertheless, it is there, and just as strong. Death itself – a formidable enemy. Formerly the hardest he’s ever faced, until now – now that he comes across the utterly inevitable, as even Death has been shown not to be.

Alshain and Courage come from different backgrounds, operate on different levels in Solira, but they share a common goal. Alshain will fight with all of his and his army’s redoubtable power against the evil of the Shards. Courage and the scholars will discover their secrets, thwart them strategically. For once, Alshain almost understands the purpose of scholasticism. “Courage,” he says, “Kratos is extremely lucky to have met you.” Alshain never would have foreseen such a blessing for his obnoxious, stubborn, baleful son.

“I’m going to help Marshall and Saphira to restore Solira to its former glory and then some,” he declares, bathed in golden sunlight which plummets forth from the grey clouds above, casting dapples of gold across the shining mint-silver of his back and the obsidian of his mane.

He looks over his shoulder at her, with something of a glimmer in that raptor-eye – it’s all he can do, it’s all he’s always done. Attack with all of his heart, with all of his soul. Let nothing – even the impossible – stand in the way. “Can I count on your assistance?”

Because if any of the slumbering Solira is capable of such a task, it’s the daughter of one who took a falling nation (*cough*Alshain’sfault*cough*) and, through its restoration, became immortal.

Alshain’s not immortal yet.

But no one’s told him that.

ALSHAIN
That was when I ruled the world
AIR II || SILVER WARRIOR || TWISTERBLADE