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“The Flowers did not reply.” A small, hysterical snort escaped her. Had he truly expected them to address anyone but the Name-Bearer? “But they gave me another vision. The face of a babe and where to find
“Why me?” “I wasn’t sure, until this day. Now I am certain. It is you who must find the unnamed prince.”
You must become someone new. Like a young caterpillar who changes every aspect of themselves to become a butterfly, so must you transform.”
“You are the Name-Bearer no longer, Phanessa.”
Other children find the priestesses or temples later in life, for they were born appearing male, but over the years come to embrace their inner goddess and transform to become their true selves. Many of these girls choose the Danrayen path, for the goddess Danray is the goddess of both battle and transition.
That is why both the butterfly and the phoenix are so prevalent in Danrayen culture. They are both creatures undone to become something more than they once were.
She was penniless, defenseless, and nameless. Well, she considered. Perhaps not nameless anymore.
It seemed that any young woman was given an equal opportunity to become a warrior, they were each fiercer than the next and all devastatingly beautiful in their strength and resilience.
“With birth there is always pain,” she explained kindly. “And you are being born anew. It will take some time to find your feet again.”
She witnessed firsthand how femininity was not exclusive to soft spoken words and fancy dress, and that embracing more traditional “feminine things'' in no way made anyone weaker. She hiked and explored the neighboring
The most well-known example of a Danrayen who had not passed the Trial was a favorite among the trainees. Mamá.
The fact was that she hadn’t experienced any sort of interest in anyone, male or female, except for Damika.
“You think that your love for your friends, your caring, makes you weaker than the others.” Phanessa tried ducking her head, but Mamá’s fingers tilted her chin up to meet her eyes. “You’re wrong. It is your love that will save them.”
The years with her Danrayen sisters had taught her to be more accustomed to touch, but she had never been held by a man before. The sensation was … strange. She didn’t like it, but she didn’t dislike it either.
There was no reason to feel guilty over what you were or how you were built.
“Very well, we shall meet this leader of yours. Where is he?” “Leader is not he.” Rawl corrected him. “My apologies, where is she?” “Leader is not she either.” Alric glanced back at Nova, who shrugged. “Then —” “Leader is simply Leader,” Rawl explained.
She then understood why they were neither male, nor female, for Leader was somehow both and neither.
“When one travels as much as we do, codes are important. The first of which is to treat strangers the way you would want your family treated. The second is if you are treated poorly, that person is forfeit to their goods. Third, if someone saves your life, you repay them in the most thorough way that you can.”
“Besides, he is not my anything.” “No?” Rawl asked, his voice a little too nonchalant. “Are you sure that he knows that?”
“We are supporters of the Unnamed Prince.” he said.
