
When he started talking, he didn’t stop talking – apparently she only needed to coax him towards his preferred topic of conversation, which apparently was death and dying. She listened intently, intimately interested in this topic and perspective. He was like a spectre, all cloaked in shadow blacks and speaking of having no fear. Who’s to say he wasn’t? Perhaps this big, silent, brooding man was the grim reaper, roving the land for its next victim, and she had walked oh-so-willingly into his trap.
If she had, Euphemia wondered with astute curiosity what world she might be cast into next.
Now, Euphemia had a stark lack of fear within her as well, but it came about from a lack of knowing. For being so wise in the ways of horticulture, she had relatively little real life experience. It was rare that she left frostfang; for what did the outside world offer her, that wasn’t already within the Vale in heaps and droves? But still, she didn’t know enough what about evil existed in the world to know exactly what to look out for, which perhaps is what resulted in the interaction at hand.
But, strangely enough, the more he talked and opened to her – the more he proved her hypothesis wrong, that all things outside the Vale were threatening.
He spoke of willingly submitting to death – as if, in the end, there was any other choice. However, Euphemia’s truth about fear of death was a bit of a devils advocate.
Of course. It would be insane not to be afraid of what I don’t know.It was just nature, wasn’t it? To resist change, and continue on with one’s hard-earned momentum? As much as her studies had taught her, the conscious brain was hardwired to seek safety in sameness and self-preservation. However, it was possible that this inherent fear of death was holding back her full experience of life.
Euphemia glanced down, pondering quietly before she offered an addendum.
I don’t want to die, but as you said… it is a necessary part of life.The maiden hauled a deeper breath, recognizing easily what the truth of it was.
I just hope it doesn’t hurt.It was the factor she thought most about, when her memories forced her to relive her many losses.
She just hoped that they didn’t hurt.
![[Image: UEDj5GA.png]](https://i.imgur.com/UEDj5GA.png)
she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her