( imeeji ) memory registry

[worthathousand]

	DATE	LINK
亜子 Ako	day 75	you lift it anyway
Hero Worshipped	day 111	it has been my dream to live by your example
Alone in the Fields	day 111	the rice stalks sway
The Wyld Hunt pt. 1	day 127	your heretic chosen
The Wyld Hunt, pt. 2	day 127	the fate of those who lose their will to demons
Joined with Shiho	day 199	kimono in Serenity blue
A Fight for Father	day 201	once there was a maiden
The War Yeddim	day 201	the battle is a song
General Ascendant	day 201	white lily of war
Calibration Stories	day 201	born an exception
Shrine Maiden	day 260	you are my child of peace
First Battle	day 260	cries of the injured and dying
Shiho's Illness	day 260	a season of cold and fever
Meet-Cute	day 451	Tits, indeed.
Imagining a Future	day 456	"What do you want to do, after?"
TBD	---	---
TBD	---	---

full registry on trello

Comments

[worthathousand]

taken privately, day 260:
[ A few weeks after Amaranth has given birth to ░░░░░ (Persephone), Shiho takes ill with fever—and within a few days is already bedridden. Her face, as she lies in bed, is gaunt, and there are subtle but unmistakable hints of age that are entirely absent from Amaranth's own still-youthful features.

A village physician stops by to offer help, free of charge, but it is soon apparent that this is too severe a disease to soothe with standard herbal poultices and prayer. Perhaps a Prince of the Earth studied in medicine might help... but the Realm regularly adopts (that is, takes away to be raised in their own noble households) any dragon blooded who exalt in the province. Domain Lord Okudaira Kaoru is the only one remaining, but she is a warrior, not a scholar. (For this, Amaranth might have been willing to swear service, had it truly been within Lord Kaoru's power to call for aid for the sake of one heretic exalt.)

Instead, all she can do is reassure her daughters, care for her fragile son, and spend the evenings at Shiho's bedside. She falls asleep curled beside her, clutching Shiho's thin hand in her callused one. ]

Notes

• This memory makes clear what Amaranth already knew vaguely/in passing: disease takes the form of a spiritual infestation (literal spirits of the associated disease).
• Amidst the sadness of the memory, there are also details of the personalities of Amaranth's family members:
  - Shiho is gentle and artistic, but as strong-willed as Amaranth, and clever at teasing her wife.
  - Miwa, the oldest, is bold and resolute, already keen to follow in Amaranth's footsteps as a warrior.
  - Hanae is level-headed and responsible; even at age 5, she's already takes pride in being able to help around the house.
  - Fujiko is already spirited at 3 years old, but will slow down when offered the chance to make something with her hands.