His surprise is plain on his face as he watches Dirk remove his hand, then release it to stroke his hair in an affectionate manner that almost fits Hades more than Dirk. Regardless it leaves his heart beating with warmth, even as Dirk sternly asserts what the topic is about.
"Yes, right." He responds softly. His hand hangs in the air for a moment, before returning to join the other in his lap.
"He and I met in the Akadaemia, much as I had met Hythlodaeus there. Though, thinking on it, his unusual approach to everything should have been all the warning I'd need to predict the future we would share--that his clash with the collective and the Convocation would eventually end with his resignation..."
His gaze falls again, his jaw pulling tight.
"...Hythlodaeus, Azem, and myself were...we three, while doubtlessly important members of our society, stood out among the others for our eccentricities. Though, I never thought that Azem would break ties with us--with Amaurot. He refused to take part in the summoning of Lord Zodiark. His intuition, or morals, whatever it might have been, would not allow it. And so...in the days leading up to the Final Days, he was nowhere to be found."
Here his voice wavers, though he sternly attempts to keep it in check. Even though it hurts to say this much, to admit that when they needed Azem most he abandoned them...that he would lose Azem twice, it was almost more than he could bear--yet he clearly could. Had no other choice but to carry on.
"The man that would fell me upon my return--the one that would inherit stewardship of the star from me--he is Azem reborn. Bearer of the soul of The Shepherd, though he remembers me not, remembers himself even less..."
no subject
"Yes, right." He responds softly. His hand hangs in the air for a moment, before returning to join the other in his lap.
"He and I met in the Akadaemia, much as I had met Hythlodaeus there. Though, thinking on it, his unusual approach to everything should have been all the warning I'd need to predict the future we would share--that his clash with the collective and the Convocation would eventually end with his resignation..."
His gaze falls again, his jaw pulling tight.
"...Hythlodaeus, Azem, and myself were...we three, while doubtlessly important members of our society, stood out among the others for our eccentricities. Though, I never thought that Azem would break ties with us--with Amaurot. He refused to take part in the summoning of Lord Zodiark. His intuition, or morals, whatever it might have been, would not allow it. And so...in the days leading up to the Final Days, he was nowhere to be found."
Here his voice wavers, though he sternly attempts to keep it in check. Even though it hurts to say this much, to admit that when they needed Azem most he abandoned them...that he would lose Azem twice, it was almost more than he could bear--yet he clearly could. Had no other choice but to carry on.
"The man that would fell me upon my return--the one that would inherit stewardship of the star from me--he is Azem reborn. Bearer of the soul of The Shepherd, though he remembers me not, remembers himself even less..."