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“I’m not built for this. I liked the simplicity of the Order where problems were faced head-on.”
“I’m hearing problem after problem, yet few solutions. You cannot expect me to make decisions on all matters.”
“We did our best,” Holt said, stroking Ash’s neck. “We could have done better. I could have done better.” “Just learn. That’s all we can do.”
have the blessing of the Life Elder himself. Your words wither in the air around me.”
‘Do not help those who can help themselves.’ There was dignity in overcoming struggle. A student should struggle until they mastered an ability, a sword form, or a meditation technique.
“I cannot account for what passed through the Life Elder’s mind,” Rake said. “All I know is that few things worth having in this world come easily.”
A part of him hoped to be past this prejudice, but it would follow them wherever they traveled. Until their power was such that no one would question them.
And yet short in the scheme of all things that are, that were, and that will be.
“The songs of fate sing in all voices. Songs of grief, of joy, of triumph and despair. No song sings louder than the others.”
His whole life had been like that. No matter what he had done, it had never been quite right or enough.
“Perhaps,” Holt admitted, “though if your neighbor’s house catches fire, you help them put it out or else risk it spreading to your own.”
And I’ve found that all beings – whether dragon or human – find it impossible to get out of their own way. They have a set of beliefs about the world, about the people or dragons in it, about how things are and how they should be, and anything that counters those beliefs, whether it’s true or whether for good, doesn’t matter – they will resist it with every fiber of their being. Even to their own detriment. To change would be worse. To surrender one’s beliefs is to surrender much more.”
“You have to surrender your entire self in that case. You must start from scratch and rebuild yourself and how you view the world. That’s so hard to do. To voluntarily reduce oneself to ashes and then rise again. It’s so hard that most choose to stand in the flames and burn.”
To give in. An easy thing to do. In fact, it’s the easiest thing of all. So, sure, give up all hope in the face of adversity. Yet know that if you surrender yourself to that dark void, you will lose your empathy and disconnect from anyone and anything you once cared about.
It was the truth, albeit a hard truth. Perhaps he did have to accept that the world wasn’t going to change just because it ought to. Not quickly, at any rate.
“If you’re brave and willing, there are ways to expedite your growth.”
“Such ways also lead to a quick death.”
“It is life, young one. Our true strength lies not in staving off suffering but in how we deal with it when it comes. No living thing can last forever,
Now the time for talk is over. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us, and Thrall’s head won’t cut itself off.”
