Where our Problems Began

Gods above, did Artorias love his little girl so much! His sweet Talyssa, his treasure, seeing her happy was worth anything and everything he gave for just a moment of her smile. She pressed herself closer to his chest as she thanked him for understanding, for treating her the same as all her other siblings. Artorias embraced his daughter, holding her close with a bit of a rueful smile. He hated the circumstances that had brought them to this point, but he would be damned if he let this do anything other than make his daughter all the stronger for it. "Ai mereu sprijinul meu și credința mea, puțină dragoste," came the gentle rumbling reply of her oversized sire before he reluctantly let her slip from his arms.

The real problems came with the next part of their conversation. Artorias was forced to watch as dark recognition dawned on Talyssa's face as she understood just what sort of danger she had been in, how close she had come to being violated in ways unbeknownst to her. In a way, it felt like Artorias was being forced to watch as a part of his daughter's innocence was irrevocably stolen away from her. He just thanked the gods that her innocence hadn't been physically ripped away from her. Looking almost traumatized, Taly just gave a wordless nod to show she was listening and she heard him, but the distant thousand-yard-stare in her eyes wrenched at Artorias' soul. Gods he wanted to go hunt down Sephiran and make him suffer even more for what he'd caused! But for the sake of his child, Art showed no signs of anger, nothing beyond softness and empathy. Talyssa could not know how her own sire had been subjected to such depraved traumas and violations himself. He understood better than most. But it didn't make this conversation any easier, nor the words said and not said any less challenging.

She was thinking. Talyssa was getting lost in her head and thoughts again; Artorias was familiar with that spacey look in his daughter's eyes. But this was not a headspace he could let herself get tangled up in. Lips pulling together in a tight line, the Aegis leaned closer to bump his snout against the end of his child's to tear her attention away from her own thinking, gesturing for her to follow him and resume their walk. "Don't let your mind take you down dark paths, Lys. You're safe, you came away from a difficult situation alive and unscathed. That is the best I could ask for." Artorias breathed a heavy sigh and looked out across the plains towards the eastern sky, watching the navy hues of night melt away into paler tones as the dawn sun made its presence known. "Would you like to continue our talk, or would you like me to take you back so you can get some sleep, puțină dragoste?"

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "Argent"