Ring Around [Mazda/Ajora]

The first instant that Mazda had noted the feeling of Santa's presence, there had been a brightening in his heart, and he had even felt a touch of genuine joy. But quickly such a thing turned cold, his heart once more hardening as he realized that things were not entirely correct. He should have recognized his own presence, as well, and as he simply appeared as if on the wind, his eyes carried immeasurable judgement.

"And who, pray tell, are you, that pretends to be my precious ray of light?"

Of course, even as he spoke so fondly of Santa, there was no softness in his voice, no sense of that he might have been even the faintest bit merciful simply because there was some resemblance to a woman that he held very dear. After all, to attempt to lie to the sun itself was a grave sin indeed.

Mazda's gaze did not immediately change as he heard this woman's explanation, but it was quite apparent as he listened to her that his hostility had fallen well by the wayside. He certainly did consider that this could have been nothing more than deceit, but the eyes of the Sun were not so easily fooled.

"You speak so assuredly of my love for you, of that piece of you I have known more deeply than any other."

As she curtsied, Mazda's eyes moved over her, but there was not the hunger that he had shown before to Santa. No, it was simply affection, nothing more or less. His hand moved to touch Ajora, but it simply came to her face, a gentle caress of her cheek as he looked into her eyes with a remarkably simple air to them. His superiority, his arrogance, all of it seemed to fall when faced with what he perceived simply as another aspect of the woman he held deeply in his heart.

"Your words are true, and fall rightly in the presence of the sun. Speak, then, and I will listen."

Such fascinating words she spoke, and at such length, no less. But just because she had given him so much to think about, that did not mean Mazda was incapable of responding in any timely manner. He was, after all, the Wise Lord.

"Then, indeed, who is it that I have come to hold dear? This part of yourself, which holds no attachments, and which flits from place to place as a bird to a flower? For as lovely as such a creature may be, it is fickle, and when each flower has given its harvest, the bird departs without a care. But it is not simply for the beauty of that creature that it is seen in such regard by the Lord of Heaven."

Of course, that was far from the only comment Mazda felt the need to make, but it certainly felt far more important. That he did not consider the woman before him any different. It was simply one aspect or another, so far as he was concerned.

"All things, in their blemished and imperfect state, exist because that is their nature. Who is to say that the vastness of infinity diminishes the life of even a single ant upon the Earth, Ajora? Does your being hold less value because other things exist? Do you build your merit, your ability to experience the fullness of life, simply upon the notion that you are the center of all things? Even in understanding of the world as a place of anguish, of agony, that does not change what also is. The radiance of a good life outshines that despair handily."

But he did not say such things comfortingly. They were not spoken judgementally, either, but Mazda spoke with a firmness that made it clear he was stating the nature of things, rather than necessarily trying to assure her. Even in his attachment, after all, his view of things was absolute, and correct.

"If something can never be in one's reach, then it has no further meaning upon us than the wingbeats of a single fruitfly might mean upon the grandest mountain. To create such an existence, out of grief for the ways of the world, is only to inevitably create further suffering in the end. For if that is truly an inevitable truth, then it will be found. Or do you intend to torture that part of yourself for eternity, leave it unable to truly grow, to experience life as it is?"