"...It's natural when your state is as precarious as yours or mine. But if you linger on what-ifs for too long, you forget to live the life that's in front of you already, and perhaps if it ever did happen, you would have missed what chance you had."
Is it comforting or frightening to know that Padparadscha, too, sleeps each night wondering if they'll even wake up in the morning? Maybe a bit of both, if the combination of Antarcticite's slight frown, and the lessening of tension in their shoulders is any indication. But there is sage advice to be found in Padparadscha's words, too, if Antarcticite can bring themselves to accept it.
For a gem, that might require several human lifetimes of perseverance.
"Of course," they agree regardless. "Thank you--" 'Teacher,' they nearly say, but stop themselves abruptly before making such an embarrassing (and revealing) mistake. They are no junior to consciously go out of their way to seek out a replacement for Adamant now that they are suddenly without him... but they would similarly have to be as empty-headed as Phos not to admit to themselves that they miss him, and are rudderless without the guidance and companionship that he provided them during their long and lonely tenure as winter's keeper.
Still, that is not Padparadscha's burden to bear. After all, how many centuries of their long life have they actually been able to enjoy? Antarcticite fumbles clumsily for something more to say, to impart to Padparadscha their gratitude without placing any expectations upon them, and comes up short. Instead, they simply frown earnestly and say again, "thank you," quietly.
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Is it comforting or frightening to know that Padparadscha, too, sleeps each night wondering if they'll even wake up in the morning? Maybe a bit of both, if the combination of Antarcticite's slight frown, and the lessening of tension in their shoulders is any indication. But there is sage advice to be found in Padparadscha's words, too, if Antarcticite can bring themselves to accept it.
For a gem, that might require several human lifetimes of perseverance.
"Of course," they agree regardless. "Thank you--" 'Teacher,' they nearly say, but stop themselves abruptly before making such an embarrassing (and revealing) mistake. They are no junior to consciously go out of their way to seek out a replacement for Adamant now that they are suddenly without him... but they would similarly have to be as empty-headed as Phos not to admit to themselves that they miss him, and are rudderless without the guidance and companionship that he provided them during their long and lonely tenure as winter's keeper.
Still, that is not Padparadscha's burden to bear. After all, how many centuries of their long life have they actually been able to enjoy? Antarcticite fumbles clumsily for something more to say, to impart to Padparadscha their gratitude without placing any expectations upon them, and comes up short. Instead, they simply frown earnestly and say again, "thank you," quietly.