Back when things made sense

[never_b_free]

You may think this, yet mortals do not always see the purpose behind the ways of the immortal.

For all that death is undesirable to the living, we must die or the lands would be overrun with our children and our children's children.

Do not judge the deathbringer lest she judge you.This land was old, and the peoples, old. Here along the banks of

Comments

[myriadbeautiful]

The mother of the boy was the first to notice Amascut's presence. She burst into tears at the sight.

"No... Not my son... he is mine. Not yours... not yet."

The rest of the family turned to regard the goddess. Their faces showed sadness, exhaustion, and guilt.

[never_b_free]

Amascut looked at each of their faces.

Addressing no one in particular, she simply pronounced, "It is his time."

[myriadbeautiful]

"No, he is alive. He breathes!" protested the mother.

[never_b_free]

"He fights, both for your sake and for the sake of people he will never meet. But so do the things that afflict him. I promise you, his death will not be in vain. No death is in vain."

[myriadbeautiful]

The boy's father went to his wife to hold her, to attempt to comfort and calm her.

But she wasn't done. Fighting through tears, she shot back, "Why are you doing this to us?! My boy... he won't be able to help his father gather the harvest. Why? Why do you afflict us with disease and death? You monster!"

[never_b_free]

Amascut was still a little bit shocked and saddened whenever this happened. Did not the clergy educate the people why?

[myriadbeautiful]

"Sssh shh shh. Honey, stop." The father hugs his wife tightly, "We'll be alright, everything will be fine. His time with us was a gift. Life is a gift. It's not something we earn. It is not something so cheap that we can say we deserve it."

"It is a test! A test of our faith! You appeared to a family not long ago to resurrect their daughter after she had been dead for two days! Amascut! I repent! I was foolish before, blinded by lack of wisdom. You alone can bring the dead back to life, and you can bring back my son! I will be your faithful servant until the end of my days, I will even offer my life in exchange! please bring my son back!" The woman was hysterical, and her husband could hardly hold her back.

Her remaining children stared, tearful and confused.

[never_b_free]

"You do not know what you ask for, and you do not know what you offer in return!" Amascut answered. "Would you prefer the deaths of billions, just so your son would live? Would you sacrifice the well being of your family, just so your son would live? Would you rather have your son live a life of torment and fear than to die in peace after having fought for the good of his people