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Into the Moral Darkness: (Now a Completed Story!)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3781447" data-attributes="member: 35788"><p>After breakfast was finished, Ischarus and Rhema headed into the small village of Huetown in order to seek out the butcher and purchase a healthy stock of poultry for the roasting pit. There was to be a festival now that the foursome was planning on staying home for some time to recuperate.</p><p></p><p>Iasho had decided to give the workers half of the afternoon off in preparation of the festival, and the mere mention of the ease of work lifted the spirits of all. When breakfast was over, the workers once more went into the fields, but their burden of work was lifted by the promised rest. Granted, the workers all knew that Iasho was not a hard master to serve, but they also knew that it would be nice to not have to spend all day in the sun as well.</p><p></p><p>Charis decided that she would join the workers in the field for the rest of the morning and the afternoon. Iasho’s earlier comment had convinced her that she needed to be with the people. Many of those working on the villa looked up to her since she was one of them. Like them, she had been rescued from Quehalost and brought into freedom. She had to learn a new language and a new lifestyle. She had to learn how to handle freedom and accountability. She had to learn how to cast off oppression forever. She knew what it was like to go through what the workers were learning.</p><p></p><p>Of course, Charis knew all of the workers by name. Those who were left on the villa had been to Ausaphaborishan’s Valley for the wedding. These were the ones who had returned after the celebration and began the process of replanting and rebuilding. It had been a harder summer than most, and Charis loved these workers all the more for it.</p><p></p><p>Charis stood at the edge of the field and looked as the workers spread out down the rows. She turned back to the house, but Semeion hadn’t joined her. He was more interested in the academics of rebuilding the villa. He wanted to oversee portions of the building process and help where he could. Charis turned back to the field and found the woman that she was looking for.</p><p></p><p>Charis walked across the dirt of the field. Earlier in the summer, she would have sunk into the rich soil. However, the sun and the footsteps of the many workers had since compressed the tilled soil into solid walking paths. The woman looked up to Charis as she approached. Although Charis had approached from the woman’s back, the woman was aware of her approach through the subtle vibrations in the soil. Soft soil would have disguised Charis’ approach, but the compacted dirt transferred small sensations to the woman’s fingers and legs as she knelt on the ground and worked with the plants.</p><p></p><p>Charis greeted the woman. <span style="color: Orange">“Tija, I’m glad I found you.”</span></p><p></p><p>The woman nodded and smiled brightly. Although her face was muddied from where Tija had used her dirty fingers to wipe sweat away, her teeth shined brightly in the sun. <span style="color: Lime">“And I am glad to see you safe and returned, Provenience.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis winced at the title. Most of the workers on the villa had stopped using it in reference to her, but Tija refused to quit. Charis was grateful that Semeion had stayed near the house, because the use of the title didn’t make him happy. To someone born in Tongra or any of the other free lands, the title only reminded them of the cruel bondage of Quehalost. However, Charis knew that to Tija it was a means of constantly thanking Charis for coming back to free them. Charis nodded politely once she had recovered from the use of the name. <span style="color: Orange">“Tija, you are free now. You are learning how to live in a world where you make the decisions and you are accountable for your actions. You do not need to call me Provenience. I have no power over you.”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija turned back to the plant that she was working on. <span style="color: Lime">“I hear that you and your friends have once more stopped a power of Quehalost from taking control. You deserve honor.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis blushed at the praise and knelt beside her. They were being listened to by many of the workers around them. She knew that these were the conversations that Iasho valued. The weeds that she pulled would be one thing, but they would eventually grow back. The values that Charis could teach to the villa workers would never fail. She thrust her index finger into the ground and lifted a weed out. <span style="color: Orange">“I seem to have forgotten a weed bag, Tija. May I use yours?”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija smiled. Charis always forgot a weed bag. It was almost as though she did it intentionally. <span style="color: Lime">“Certainly, Provenience.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis dropped the weed into the burlap sack that Tija shifted to rest between them. <span style="color: Orange">“We vindicated the villa and were the voice of love and justice in Tongra. You are correct in that, Tija. But that does not make us heroes.”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija paused and looked to Charis. <span style="color: Lime">“There are some who say that a few days ago you helped to slay a demon and a powerful wizard. You also played a part in slaying our dragon father. You traveled to Tongra and returned to Quehalost for us. In fact, there are other people who say that you have since been to Quehalost to battle a dark druid. What about each of those events does not make you a hero?”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis plucked another weed from beneath around the base of a stalk of corn. <span style="color: Orange">“Great actions do not make a hero, Tija. Many people do many great things, but not many of them are heroes. In fact, you could say that I was merely doing my job.”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija smirked. <span style="color: Lime">“If that is your job, then I am grateful to have the simple job of plucking weeds from the ground.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis waited until she caught Tija’s eyes and then smiled at her. <span style="color: Orange">“And that is why you are one of my heroes. I know what it is like to be freed from the grips of our dragon father. But so do you. I know how hard it is to make the transition from being a slave to being a freed servant. But so do you. You work to improve your life every day. The people around you do the same. You are learning every day. You do not give up regardless of the adversity.”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija looked back to the ground, not understanding. <span style="color: Lime">“But this is a gift to me and our people. How could we not embrace this new freedom?”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis also turned back to the ground, noting how quiet the fields had gotten. More and more were listening to what she had to say. <span style="color: Orange">“You are free, yet you stay loyal to what Iasho has to teach you. When the villa burned, you all knew that the summer would be hard. Yet none of you left. Every day you toil against the ground knowing that the ground is both your ally and your enemy. The very nutrients in the soil necessary for the crops also give birth to the weeds that want to choke out the crops of the fields. You labor hard and seldom complain against Iasho.”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija yanked hard at a weed and it broke at the surface level. The root was still buried in the dirt. <span style="color: Lime">“But, Iasho is good to us. He asks only that we labor and learn, and he treats us well. You all treat us well, Provenience.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis laughed. <span style="color: Orange">“The situation is really irrelevant, Tija. In some ways, you are like the weed that just snapped off at the ground level. The weed can only be thankful for the good situation that it has been given to grow in. It has the choice to grow strong or weak. It chose to grow strong, and in so doing it planted its roots to make it able to resist being pulled out. It worked hard to give itself the best chance that it could to live.”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija’s hands closed around the root of the weed that was still in the ground. <span style="color: Lime">“But, it is just a weed.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis smiled. <span style="color: Orange">“It is. But it is a weed that chose to work hard and make the best of what it was given. And if you were to leave the roots where they are, what would happen to it?”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija shrugged. <span style="color: Lime">“It would grow back, probably. And it would likely grow back stronger than before.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis smiled broadly. She loved it when she was able to make the servants of the villa teach themselves. <span style="color: Orange">“That is precisely my point. Slaying a demon does not make me a hero. Playing my part in stopping cultists does not make me a hero, either. Refusing to buckle under adversity makes you a hero. Taking what life gives you and working hard to make the best of it makes you a hero. You could have given up and accepted the tragedy of the destruction of the villa. But none of you quit and none of you abandoned Iasho. You accepted the harder labor of the summer and have overcome your adversity. You think what we did was tough? We have labored for only a few days. You all that live here on the villa have labored every day without complaint. You have all worked hard to improve your condition but also out of concern for Iasho and the community that he helps support. That makes you a hero in my eyes.”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija yanked hard at the root that had snapped off earlier. The root came, but not before breaking off deeper in the ground. <span style="color: Lime">“I wanted to leave the root there, but it is my job.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis laughed. <span style="color: Orange">“It was only an analogy, Tija. Pull the root. But realize that a person’s greatness is not measured by how awesome the high points of their life are. A person’s greatness is measured by what they do with their life. It isn’t how big they are, but how far reaching the effects of their goodness has on their life and the lives around them. A hero takes greatness and uses it to make the world around them better. They are concerned about the world around them more than themselves. Personally, I’d rather be friends with someone that I know will come and help me rebuild my villa than someone who makes a big deal about slaying demons and stopping cultists.”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija blushed at the compliment. <span style="color: Lime">“Then you too are a hero, Provenience.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis paused for a moment and used her dirty right hand to push her hair back over her shoulder. With her hair removed, she could see Tija out of the corner of her eye. <span style="color: Orange">“Oh?”</span></p><p></p><p>Tija smiled and nodded. <span style="color: Lime">“You are a hero because you do not forget the workers of the field. You certainly deserve to be exalted, but you would rather praise us and teach us.”</span> A sudden look of understanding passed over her face and she smiled as though she were pleased by her thought. <span style="color: Lime">“You are a hero to me, Provenience. Although you are given awesomely high points in your life, you would rather return and dwell in the normal valleys with the rest of the world.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis blushed, and Tija continued to speak. <span style="color: Lime">“I understand that you do not want to be called a hero for slaying a demon or stopping cultists. But you will always be a hero in my eyes because you sacrifice your life for those around you. You didn’t have to come back for us, but you did. You brought us into freedom, and you still haven’t abandoned us. If I am a hero for not abandoning Iasho in his time of need, then you are a hero for not abandoning your people in their time of need. In fact, I think now more than ever you are deserving of the title Provenience.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis smiled. Tija had gotten the point of her lesson. But, she had also gotten Tija’s point. <span style="color: Orange">“Then it will be our little secret. My title will be a reminder that you are a hero, too.”</span></p><p></p><p>[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]</p><p>After breakfast was finished, Ischarus and Rhema headed into the small village of Huetown in order to seek out the butcher and purchase a healthy stock of poultry for the roasting pit. There was to be a festival now that the foursome was planning on staying home for some time to recuperate.</p><p></p><p>Iasho had decided to give the workers half of the afternoon off in preparation of the festival, and the mere mention of the ease of work lifted the spirits of all. When breakfast was over, the workers once more went into the fields, but their burden of work was lifted by the promised rest. Granted, the workers all knew that Iasho was not a hard master to serve, but they also knew that it would be nice to not have to spend all day in the sun as well.</p><p></p><p>Charis decided that she would join the workers in the field for the rest of the morning and the afternoon. Iasho’s earlier comment had convinced her that she needed to be with the people. Many of those working on the villa looked up to her since she was one of them. Like them, she had been rescued from Quehalost and brought into freedom. She had to learn a new language and a new lifestyle. She had to learn how to handle freedom and accountability. She had to learn how to cast off oppression forever. She knew what it was like to go through what the workers were learning.</p><p></p><p>Of course, Charis knew all of the workers by name. Those who were left on the villa had been to Ausaphaborishan’s Valley for the wedding. These were the ones who had returned after the celebration and began the process of replanting and rebuilding. It had been a harder summer than most, and Charis loved these workers all the more for it.</p><p></p><p>Charis stood at the edge of the field and looked as the workers spread out down the rows. She turned back to the house, but Semeion hadn’t joined her. He was more interested in the academics of rebuilding the villa. He wanted to oversee portions of the building process and help where he could. Charis turned back to the field and found the woman that she was looking for.</p><p></p><p>Charis walked across the dirt of the field. Earlier in the summer, she would have sunk into the rich soil. However, the sun and the footsteps of the many workers had since compressed the tilled soil into solid walking paths. The woman looked up to Charis as she approached. Although Charis had approached from the woman’s back, the woman was aware of her approach through the subtle vibrations in the soil. Soft soil would have disguised Charis’ approach, but the compacted dirt transferred small sensations to the woman’s fingers and legs as she knelt on the ground and worked with the plants.</p><p></p><p>Charis greeted the woman. “Tija, I’m glad I found you.”</p><p></p><p>The woman nodded and smiled brightly. Although her face was muddied from where Tija had used her dirty fingers to wipe sweat away, her teeth shined brightly in the sun. “And I am glad to see you safe and returned, Provenience.”</p><p></p><p>Charis winced at the title. Most of the workers on the villa had stopped using it in reference to her, but Tija refused to quit. Charis was grateful that Semeion had stayed near the house, because the use of the title didn’t make him happy. To someone born in Tongra or any of the other free lands, the title only reminded them of the cruel bondage of Quehalost. However, Charis knew that to Tija it was a means of constantly thanking Charis for coming back to free them. Charis nodded politely once she had recovered from the use of the name. “Tija, you are free now. You are learning how to live in a world where you make the decisions and you are accountable for your actions. You do not need to call me Provenience. I have no power over you.”</p><p></p><p>Tija turned back to the plant that she was working on. “I hear that you and your friends have once more stopped a power of Quehalost from taking control. You deserve honor.”</p><p></p><p>Charis blushed at the praise and knelt beside her. They were being listened to by many of the workers around them. She knew that these were the conversations that Iasho valued. The weeds that she pulled would be one thing, but they would eventually grow back. The values that Charis could teach to the villa workers would never fail. She thrust her index finger into the ground and lifted a weed out. “I seem to have forgotten a weed bag, Tija. May I use yours?”</p><p></p><p>Tija smiled. Charis always forgot a weed bag. It was almost as though she did it intentionally. “Certainly, Provenience.”</p><p></p><p>Charis dropped the weed into the burlap sack that Tija shifted to rest between them. “We vindicated the villa and were the voice of love and justice in Tongra. You are correct in that, Tija. But that does not make us heroes.”</p><p></p><p>Tija paused and looked to Charis. “There are some who say that a few days ago you helped to slay a demon and a powerful wizard. You also played a part in slaying our dragon father. You traveled to Tongra and returned to Quehalost for us. In fact, there are other people who say that you have since been to Quehalost to battle a dark druid. What about each of those events does not make you a hero?”</p><p></p><p>Charis plucked another weed from beneath around the base of a stalk of corn. “Great actions do not make a hero, Tija. Many people do many great things, but not many of them are heroes. In fact, you could say that I was merely doing my job.”</p><p></p><p>Tija smirked. “If that is your job, then I am grateful to have the simple job of plucking weeds from the ground.”</p><p></p><p>Charis waited until she caught Tija’s eyes and then smiled at her. “And that is why you are one of my heroes. I know what it is like to be freed from the grips of our dragon father. But so do you. I know how hard it is to make the transition from being a slave to being a freed servant. But so do you. You work to improve your life every day. The people around you do the same. You are learning every day. You do not give up regardless of the adversity.”</p><p></p><p>Tija looked back to the ground, not understanding. “But this is a gift to me and our people. How could we not embrace this new freedom?”</p><p></p><p>Charis also turned back to the ground, noting how quiet the fields had gotten. More and more were listening to what she had to say. “You are free, yet you stay loyal to what Iasho has to teach you. When the villa burned, you all knew that the summer would be hard. Yet none of you left. Every day you toil against the ground knowing that the ground is both your ally and your enemy. The very nutrients in the soil necessary for the crops also give birth to the weeds that want to choke out the crops of the fields. You labor hard and seldom complain against Iasho.”</p><p></p><p>Tija yanked hard at a weed and it broke at the surface level. The root was still buried in the dirt. “But, Iasho is good to us. He asks only that we labor and learn, and he treats us well. You all treat us well, Provenience.”</p><p></p><p>Charis laughed. “The situation is really irrelevant, Tija. In some ways, you are like the weed that just snapped off at the ground level. The weed can only be thankful for the good situation that it has been given to grow in. It has the choice to grow strong or weak. It chose to grow strong, and in so doing it planted its roots to make it able to resist being pulled out. It worked hard to give itself the best chance that it could to live.”</p><p></p><p>Tija’s hands closed around the root of the weed that was still in the ground. “But, it is just a weed.”</p><p></p><p>Charis smiled. “It is. But it is a weed that chose to work hard and make the best of what it was given. And if you were to leave the roots where they are, what would happen to it?”</p><p></p><p>Tija shrugged. “It would grow back, probably. And it would likely grow back stronger than before.”</p><p></p><p>Charis smiled broadly. She loved it when she was able to make the servants of the villa teach themselves. “That is precisely my point. Slaying a demon does not make me a hero. Playing my part in stopping cultists does not make me a hero, either. Refusing to buckle under adversity makes you a hero. Taking what life gives you and working hard to make the best of it makes you a hero. You could have given up and accepted the tragedy of the destruction of the villa. But none of you quit and none of you abandoned Iasho. You accepted the harder labor of the summer and have overcome your adversity. You think what we did was tough? We have labored for only a few days. You all that live here on the villa have labored every day without complaint. You have all worked hard to improve your condition but also out of concern for Iasho and the community that he helps support. That makes you a hero in my eyes.”</p><p></p><p>Tija yanked hard at the root that had snapped off earlier. The root came, but not before breaking off deeper in the ground. “I wanted to leave the root there, but it is my job.”</p><p></p><p>Charis laughed. “It was only an analogy, Tija. Pull the root. But realize that a person’s greatness is not measured by how awesome the high points of their life are. A person’s greatness is measured by what they do with their life. It isn’t how big they are, but how far reaching the effects of their goodness has on their life and the lives around them. A hero takes greatness and uses it to make the world around them better. They are concerned about the world around them more than themselves. Personally, I’d rather be friends with someone that I know will come and help me rebuild my villa than someone who makes a big deal about slaying demons and stopping cultists.”</p><p></p><p>Tija blushed at the compliment. “Then you too are a hero, Provenience.”</p><p></p><p>Charis paused for a moment and used her dirty right hand to push her hair back over her shoulder. With her hair removed, she could see Tija out of the corner of her eye. “Oh?”</p><p></p><p>Tija smiled and nodded. “You are a hero because you do not forget the workers of the field. You certainly deserve to be exalted, but you would rather praise us and teach us.” A sudden look of understanding passed over her face and she smiled as though she were pleased by her thought. “You are a hero to me, Provenience. Although you are given awesomely high points in your life, you would rather return and dwell in the normal valleys with the rest of the world.”</p><p></p><p>Charis blushed, and Tija continued to speak. “I understand that you do not want to be called a hero for slaying a demon or stopping cultists. But you will always be a hero in my eyes because you sacrifice your life for those around you. You didn’t have to come back for us, but you did. You brought us into freedom, and you still haven’t abandoned us. If I am a hero for not abandoning Iasho in his time of need, then you are a hero for not abandoning your people in their time of need. In fact, I think now more than ever you are deserving of the title Provenience.”</p><p></p><p>Charis smiled. Tija had gotten the point of her lesson. But, she had also gotten Tija’s point. “Then it will be our little secret. My title will be a reminder that you are a hero, too.”</p><p>[/Sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nonlethal Force, post: 3781447, member: 35788"] After breakfast was finished, Ischarus and Rhema headed into the small village of Huetown in order to seek out the butcher and purchase a healthy stock of poultry for the roasting pit. There was to be a festival now that the foursome was planning on staying home for some time to recuperate. Iasho had decided to give the workers half of the afternoon off in preparation of the festival, and the mere mention of the ease of work lifted the spirits of all. When breakfast was over, the workers once more went into the fields, but their burden of work was lifted by the promised rest. Granted, the workers all knew that Iasho was not a hard master to serve, but they also knew that it would be nice to not have to spend all day in the sun as well. Charis decided that she would join the workers in the field for the rest of the morning and the afternoon. Iasho’s earlier comment had convinced her that she needed to be with the people. Many of those working on the villa looked up to her since she was one of them. Like them, she had been rescued from Quehalost and brought into freedom. She had to learn a new language and a new lifestyle. She had to learn how to handle freedom and accountability. She had to learn how to cast off oppression forever. She knew what it was like to go through what the workers were learning. Of course, Charis knew all of the workers by name. Those who were left on the villa had been to Ausaphaborishan’s Valley for the wedding. These were the ones who had returned after the celebration and began the process of replanting and rebuilding. It had been a harder summer than most, and Charis loved these workers all the more for it. Charis stood at the edge of the field and looked as the workers spread out down the rows. She turned back to the house, but Semeion hadn’t joined her. He was more interested in the academics of rebuilding the villa. He wanted to oversee portions of the building process and help where he could. Charis turned back to the field and found the woman that she was looking for. Charis walked across the dirt of the field. Earlier in the summer, she would have sunk into the rich soil. However, the sun and the footsteps of the many workers had since compressed the tilled soil into solid walking paths. The woman looked up to Charis as she approached. Although Charis had approached from the woman’s back, the woman was aware of her approach through the subtle vibrations in the soil. Soft soil would have disguised Charis’ approach, but the compacted dirt transferred small sensations to the woman’s fingers and legs as she knelt on the ground and worked with the plants. Charis greeted the woman. [Color=Orange]“Tija, I’m glad I found you.”[/Color] The woman nodded and smiled brightly. Although her face was muddied from where Tija had used her dirty fingers to wipe sweat away, her teeth shined brightly in the sun. [Color=Lime]“And I am glad to see you safe and returned, Provenience.”[/Color] Charis winced at the title. Most of the workers on the villa had stopped using it in reference to her, but Tija refused to quit. Charis was grateful that Semeion had stayed near the house, because the use of the title didn’t make him happy. To someone born in Tongra or any of the other free lands, the title only reminded them of the cruel bondage of Quehalost. However, Charis knew that to Tija it was a means of constantly thanking Charis for coming back to free them. Charis nodded politely once she had recovered from the use of the name. [Color=Orange]“Tija, you are free now. You are learning how to live in a world where you make the decisions and you are accountable for your actions. You do not need to call me Provenience. I have no power over you.”[/Color] Tija turned back to the plant that she was working on. [Color=Lime]“I hear that you and your friends have once more stopped a power of Quehalost from taking control. You deserve honor.”[/Color] Charis blushed at the praise and knelt beside her. They were being listened to by many of the workers around them. She knew that these were the conversations that Iasho valued. The weeds that she pulled would be one thing, but they would eventually grow back. The values that Charis could teach to the villa workers would never fail. She thrust her index finger into the ground and lifted a weed out. [Color=Orange]“I seem to have forgotten a weed bag, Tija. May I use yours?”[/Color] Tija smiled. Charis always forgot a weed bag. It was almost as though she did it intentionally. [Color=Lime]“Certainly, Provenience.”[/Color] Charis dropped the weed into the burlap sack that Tija shifted to rest between them. [Color=Orange]“We vindicated the villa and were the voice of love and justice in Tongra. You are correct in that, Tija. But that does not make us heroes.”[/Color] Tija paused and looked to Charis. [Color=Lime]“There are some who say that a few days ago you helped to slay a demon and a powerful wizard. You also played a part in slaying our dragon father. You traveled to Tongra and returned to Quehalost for us. In fact, there are other people who say that you have since been to Quehalost to battle a dark druid. What about each of those events does not make you a hero?”[/Color] Charis plucked another weed from beneath around the base of a stalk of corn. [Color=Orange]“Great actions do not make a hero, Tija. Many people do many great things, but not many of them are heroes. In fact, you could say that I was merely doing my job.”[/Color] Tija smirked. [Color=Lime]“If that is your job, then I am grateful to have the simple job of plucking weeds from the ground.”[/Color] Charis waited until she caught Tija’s eyes and then smiled at her. [Color=Orange]“And that is why you are one of my heroes. I know what it is like to be freed from the grips of our dragon father. But so do you. I know how hard it is to make the transition from being a slave to being a freed servant. But so do you. You work to improve your life every day. The people around you do the same. You are learning every day. You do not give up regardless of the adversity.”[/Color] Tija looked back to the ground, not understanding. [Color=Lime]“But this is a gift to me and our people. How could we not embrace this new freedom?”[/Color] Charis also turned back to the ground, noting how quiet the fields had gotten. More and more were listening to what she had to say. [Color=Orange]“You are free, yet you stay loyal to what Iasho has to teach you. When the villa burned, you all knew that the summer would be hard. Yet none of you left. Every day you toil against the ground knowing that the ground is both your ally and your enemy. The very nutrients in the soil necessary for the crops also give birth to the weeds that want to choke out the crops of the fields. You labor hard and seldom complain against Iasho.”[/Color] Tija yanked hard at a weed and it broke at the surface level. The root was still buried in the dirt. [Color=Lime]“But, Iasho is good to us. He asks only that we labor and learn, and he treats us well. You all treat us well, Provenience.”[/Color] Charis laughed. [Color=Orange]“The situation is really irrelevant, Tija. In some ways, you are like the weed that just snapped off at the ground level. The weed can only be thankful for the good situation that it has been given to grow in. It has the choice to grow strong or weak. It chose to grow strong, and in so doing it planted its roots to make it able to resist being pulled out. It worked hard to give itself the best chance that it could to live.”[/Color] Tija’s hands closed around the root of the weed that was still in the ground. [Color=Lime]“But, it is just a weed.”[/Color] Charis smiled. [Color=Orange]“It is. But it is a weed that chose to work hard and make the best of what it was given. And if you were to leave the roots where they are, what would happen to it?”[/Color] Tija shrugged. [Color=Lime]“It would grow back, probably. And it would likely grow back stronger than before.”[/Color] Charis smiled broadly. She loved it when she was able to make the servants of the villa teach themselves. [Color=Orange]“That is precisely my point. Slaying a demon does not make me a hero. Playing my part in stopping cultists does not make me a hero, either. Refusing to buckle under adversity makes you a hero. Taking what life gives you and working hard to make the best of it makes you a hero. You could have given up and accepted the tragedy of the destruction of the villa. But none of you quit and none of you abandoned Iasho. You accepted the harder labor of the summer and have overcome your adversity. You think what we did was tough? We have labored for only a few days. You all that live here on the villa have labored every day without complaint. You have all worked hard to improve your condition but also out of concern for Iasho and the community that he helps support. That makes you a hero in my eyes.”[/Color] Tija yanked hard at the root that had snapped off earlier. The root came, but not before breaking off deeper in the ground. [Color=Lime]“I wanted to leave the root there, but it is my job.”[/Color] Charis laughed. [Color=Orange]“It was only an analogy, Tija. Pull the root. But realize that a person’s greatness is not measured by how awesome the high points of their life are. A person’s greatness is measured by what they do with their life. It isn’t how big they are, but how far reaching the effects of their goodness has on their life and the lives around them. A hero takes greatness and uses it to make the world around them better. They are concerned about the world around them more than themselves. Personally, I’d rather be friends with someone that I know will come and help me rebuild my villa than someone who makes a big deal about slaying demons and stopping cultists.”[/Color] Tija blushed at the compliment. [Color=Lime]“Then you too are a hero, Provenience.”[/Color] Charis paused for a moment and used her dirty right hand to push her hair back over her shoulder. With her hair removed, she could see Tija out of the corner of her eye. [Color=Orange]“Oh?”[/Color] Tija smiled and nodded. [Color=Lime]“You are a hero because you do not forget the workers of the field. You certainly deserve to be exalted, but you would rather praise us and teach us.”[/Color] A sudden look of understanding passed over her face and she smiled as though she were pleased by her thought. [Color=Lime]“You are a hero to me, Provenience. Although you are given awesomely high points in your life, you would rather return and dwell in the normal valleys with the rest of the world.”[/Color] Charis blushed, and Tija continued to speak. [Color=Lime]“I understand that you do not want to be called a hero for slaying a demon or stopping cultists. But you will always be a hero in my eyes because you sacrifice your life for those around you. You didn’t have to come back for us, but you did. You brought us into freedom, and you still haven’t abandoned us. If I am a hero for not abandoning Iasho in his time of need, then you are a hero for not abandoning your people in their time of need. In fact, I think now more than ever you are deserving of the title Provenience.”[/Color] Charis smiled. Tija had gotten the point of her lesson. But, she had also gotten Tija’s point. [Color=Orange]“Then it will be our little secret. My title will be a reminder that you are a hero, too.”[/Color] [Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section] After breakfast was finished, Ischarus and Rhema headed into the small village of Huetown in order to seek out the butcher and purchase a healthy stock of poultry for the roasting pit. There was to be a festival now that the foursome was planning on staying home for some time to recuperate. Iasho had decided to give the workers half of the afternoon off in preparation of the festival, and the mere mention of the ease of work lifted the spirits of all. When breakfast was over, the workers once more went into the fields, but their burden of work was lifted by the promised rest. Granted, the workers all knew that Iasho was not a hard master to serve, but they also knew that it would be nice to not have to spend all day in the sun as well. Charis decided that she would join the workers in the field for the rest of the morning and the afternoon. Iasho’s earlier comment had convinced her that she needed to be with the people. Many of those working on the villa looked up to her since she was one of them. Like them, she had been rescued from Quehalost and brought into freedom. She had to learn a new language and a new lifestyle. She had to learn how to handle freedom and accountability. She had to learn how to cast off oppression forever. She knew what it was like to go through what the workers were learning. Of course, Charis knew all of the workers by name. Those who were left on the villa had been to Ausaphaborishan’s Valley for the wedding. These were the ones who had returned after the celebration and began the process of replanting and rebuilding. It had been a harder summer than most, and Charis loved these workers all the more for it. Charis stood at the edge of the field and looked as the workers spread out down the rows. She turned back to the house, but Semeion hadn’t joined her. He was more interested in the academics of rebuilding the villa. He wanted to oversee portions of the building process and help where he could. Charis turned back to the field and found the woman that she was looking for. Charis walked across the dirt of the field. Earlier in the summer, she would have sunk into the rich soil. However, the sun and the footsteps of the many workers had since compressed the tilled soil into solid walking paths. The woman looked up to Charis as she approached. Although Charis had approached from the woman’s back, the woman was aware of her approach through the subtle vibrations in the soil. Soft soil would have disguised Charis’ approach, but the compacted dirt transferred small sensations to the woman’s fingers and legs as she knelt on the ground and worked with the plants. Charis greeted the woman. “Tija, I’m glad I found you.” The woman nodded and smiled brightly. Although her face was muddied from where Tija had used her dirty fingers to wipe sweat away, her teeth shined brightly in the sun. “And I am glad to see you safe and returned, Provenience.” Charis winced at the title. Most of the workers on the villa had stopped using it in reference to her, but Tija refused to quit. Charis was grateful that Semeion had stayed near the house, because the use of the title didn’t make him happy. To someone born in Tongra or any of the other free lands, the title only reminded them of the cruel bondage of Quehalost. However, Charis knew that to Tija it was a means of constantly thanking Charis for coming back to free them. Charis nodded politely once she had recovered from the use of the name. “Tija, you are free now. You are learning how to live in a world where you make the decisions and you are accountable for your actions. You do not need to call me Provenience. I have no power over you.” Tija turned back to the plant that she was working on. “I hear that you and your friends have once more stopped a power of Quehalost from taking control. You deserve honor.” Charis blushed at the praise and knelt beside her. They were being listened to by many of the workers around them. She knew that these were the conversations that Iasho valued. The weeds that she pulled would be one thing, but they would eventually grow back. The values that Charis could teach to the villa workers would never fail. She thrust her index finger into the ground and lifted a weed out. “I seem to have forgotten a weed bag, Tija. May I use yours?” Tija smiled. Charis always forgot a weed bag. It was almost as though she did it intentionally. “Certainly, Provenience.” Charis dropped the weed into the burlap sack that Tija shifted to rest between them. “We vindicated the villa and were the voice of love and justice in Tongra. You are correct in that, Tija. But that does not make us heroes.” Tija paused and looked to Charis. “There are some who say that a few days ago you helped to slay a demon and a powerful wizard. You also played a part in slaying our dragon father. You traveled to Tongra and returned to Quehalost for us. In fact, there are other people who say that you have since been to Quehalost to battle a dark druid. What about each of those events does not make you a hero?” Charis plucked another weed from beneath around the base of a stalk of corn. “Great actions do not make a hero, Tija. Many people do many great things, but not many of them are heroes. In fact, you could say that I was merely doing my job.” Tija smirked. “If that is your job, then I am grateful to have the simple job of plucking weeds from the ground.” Charis waited until she caught Tija’s eyes and then smiled at her. “And that is why you are one of my heroes. I know what it is like to be freed from the grips of our dragon father. But so do you. I know how hard it is to make the transition from being a slave to being a freed servant. But so do you. You work to improve your life every day. The people around you do the same. You are learning every day. You do not give up regardless of the adversity.” Tija looked back to the ground, not understanding. “But this is a gift to me and our people. How could we not embrace this new freedom?” Charis also turned back to the ground, noting how quiet the fields had gotten. More and more were listening to what she had to say. “You are free, yet you stay loyal to what Iasho has to teach you. When the villa burned, you all knew that the summer would be hard. Yet none of you left. Every day you toil against the ground knowing that the ground is both your ally and your enemy. The very nutrients in the soil necessary for the crops also give birth to the weeds that want to choke out the crops of the fields. You labor hard and seldom complain against Iasho.” Tija yanked hard at a weed and it broke at the surface level. The root was still buried in the dirt. “But, Iasho is good to us. He asks only that we labor and learn, and he treats us well. You all treat us well, Provenience.” Charis laughed. “The situation is really irrelevant, Tija. In some ways, you are like the weed that just snapped off at the ground level. The weed can only be thankful for the good situation that it has been given to grow in. It has the choice to grow strong or weak. It chose to grow strong, and in so doing it planted its roots to make it able to resist being pulled out. It worked hard to give itself the best chance that it could to live.” Tija’s hands closed around the root of the weed that was still in the ground. “But, it is just a weed.” Charis smiled. “It is. But it is a weed that chose to work hard and make the best of what it was given. And if you were to leave the roots where they are, what would happen to it?” Tija shrugged. “It would grow back, probably. And it would likely grow back stronger than before.” Charis smiled broadly. She loved it when she was able to make the servants of the villa teach themselves. “That is precisely my point. Slaying a demon does not make me a hero. Playing my part in stopping cultists does not make me a hero, either. Refusing to buckle under adversity makes you a hero. Taking what life gives you and working hard to make the best of it makes you a hero. You could have given up and accepted the tragedy of the destruction of the villa. But none of you quit and none of you abandoned Iasho. You accepted the harder labor of the summer and have overcome your adversity. You think what we did was tough? We have labored for only a few days. You all that live here on the villa have labored every day without complaint. You have all worked hard to improve your condition but also out of concern for Iasho and the community that he helps support. That makes you a hero in my eyes.” Tija yanked hard at the root that had snapped off earlier. The root came, but not before breaking off deeper in the ground. “I wanted to leave the root there, but it is my job.” Charis laughed. “It was only an analogy, Tija. Pull the root. But realize that a person’s greatness is not measured by how awesome the high points of their life are. A person’s greatness is measured by what they do with their life. It isn’t how big they are, but how far reaching the effects of their goodness has on their life and the lives around them. A hero takes greatness and uses it to make the world around them better. They are concerned about the world around them more than themselves. Personally, I’d rather be friends with someone that I know will come and help me rebuild my villa than someone who makes a big deal about slaying demons and stopping cultists.” Tija blushed at the compliment. “Then you too are a hero, Provenience.” Charis paused for a moment and used her dirty right hand to push her hair back over her shoulder. With her hair removed, she could see Tija out of the corner of her eye. “Oh?” Tija smiled and nodded. “You are a hero because you do not forget the workers of the field. You certainly deserve to be exalted, but you would rather praise us and teach us.” A sudden look of understanding passed over her face and she smiled as though she were pleased by her thought. “You are a hero to me, Provenience. Although you are given awesomely high points in your life, you would rather return and dwell in the normal valleys with the rest of the world.” Charis blushed, and Tija continued to speak. “I understand that you do not want to be called a hero for slaying a demon or stopping cultists. But you will always be a hero in my eyes because you sacrifice your life for those around you. You didn’t have to come back for us, but you did. You brought us into freedom, and you still haven’t abandoned us. If I am a hero for not abandoning Iasho in his time of need, then you are a hero for not abandoning your people in their time of need. In fact, I think now more than ever you are deserving of the title Provenience.” Charis smiled. Tija had gotten the point of her lesson. But, she had also gotten Tija’s point. “Then it will be our little secret. My title will be a reminder that you are a hero, too.” [/Sblock] [/QUOTE]
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