As the founder of the New Order, the world idolized Sacha as their Savior. With almost disturbing devotion, they followed her every command. There was no way their Hero could be wrong, after all. She was magnificent, she was glorious! It was as though she could solve all the world's problems.
Sacha smiled through clenched teeth, waving sagely to the masses. Cries of adoration followed in her wake, and people trusted with all their struggles. She stood before the mirror, fingers pulling at the edge of her cheeks. It was her duty to appear the person the admired so much...
She rubbed her temple, sifting through a mountain of papers. All of these troubles, why come to her for petty little squabbles? Had they forgotten the reason she rejected god in the first place?
...No one would be grateful to become what they most despise. Temptatious whispers plagued her mind. "Steal away their precious light... Remind them what it means to suffer". She shook her head, trying to wash away such terrible thoughts.
She confided only in her most trusted friend, the boy Marlais raised alongside her. If nothing else, he still remembered their mission. She could stand next to him as his equal, rather than some unattainable god. And yet...
Two emissaries fidgeted nervously under Marlais' gaze. "We've, um... We've come from Colony C, seeking audience with Lady Sacha."
"Whatever is the reason?"
"Lately... Lately it seems like the colony hasn't been shipped enough food to sustain ourselves. We don't have fertile land to grow our own..."
"Colony C is a coastal settlement, yes? Harvest from the seas."
"A disease has affected the population of-"
"Oh, how convenient."
"...General Marlais?"
"Always some new excuse with you people. You just want your life handed to you on a silver platter--would Commander Sacha overlook providing for her people? Here's a better idea: Tell your useless colony to get it together!"
"But-"
"Scram!"
Marlais' voice rumbled with fury as he chased off the pleading visitors. Under their clothes, their ribs portruded from their thin outlines... A weak murmur was heard from behind him, edged with barely-suppressed tears. "Marlais, you..."
"C-commander?"
After a sharp breath, Sacha clenched her trembling fist. "...General Marlais. You are hereby discharged from your position."
"What-?!"
"Don't... Don't look for me. Don't talk to me." She stepped fearfully behind her, with the panicked expression of a fawn. "I don't want to see you again."
As she fled with burning eyes, Marlais cries rang after... But it was too late. Her disparate hope had finally shattered.
...Don't feel too bad, dear Marlais; This was inevitable. The Darkover Phenomenon is no curse, fluke, nor failure. It is the end to a god's life cycle, the natural order of this world.
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