413 → Aweee, Erismom is the bestest.
Eris was the driving force behind it, yes. And that was what urged the child on, to continue dislodging stones from the bottom of the river and to the base of the weir. If she hadn't hankered so earnestly for approval, maybe the offer to help wouldn't have even occurred to her, but it had, and she was. It wasn't often that her mind wandered to what might be, unless of course it had to do with the harm of those she most cared about, and it felt bizarre. Such a foreign concept it was, 'what if'.
Perhaps—no, of course—the word 'upset' had been incorrectly used in this situation. Her mother wouldn't be troubled by the progress of her children but, as she had so eloquently phrased it, worry for them instead. It was only right, or so the middle-child thought. Nodding her quiet agreement to this clarification, Artemisia made a mental note to remember it. A mother would worry, a leader would be proud. Was that the life of her mother, constantly separating her personal life from her work? The dust colored child would make an effort to do the same if the decision ever arose. Somehow... Somehow she doubted it would come down to that. She would always put Salsola and The Family ahead of herself, but not only because she thought it was right, but because it was necessary. Duty, honor, necessary, morals. She would have much to think about later, thanks to the dark woman working next to her.
She was not of the typical build for those who gathered intelligence (slight, small, easily hidden) and she feared that because of this her mother might laugh at her ambition, but she was ever-watchful, keen, and strong; even pyknic if one were to go so far, despite her hopes that the gods would at least give her hips. The Auxilary possessed a mother's love though, so Arte hefted her shoulders and wedged a stone into place with her foot. Leaving no room for doubt, Arte spoke with a boldness previously unknown to her. "I will be Salsola's Sapienza," She broke off, looking for laughter or cruelty, but mentally objected and continued. "In a few weeks I'll go to Ichika no Ho-en and gather information." Her ambivalence would help here, as opposed to hatred for the strangers. They had proved themselves a danger to The Family, but she was a child still. No one would hurt her. They couldn't.
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