She has a lot to mull over and really think about, and while he continued to give her advice as well as explaining how he would feel if he had betrayed his lifemate. Isla wondered if she would feel that same way with anyone, including Alexander; her feelings were more than surface level for him, but with the long stretch of the two not seeing one another alone was a long one and she wasn't sure if seeing him would make her feelings grow or diminish.

Especially after today.

"Thank you, @Anthonius. For telling me all of this." She is grateful the Savante had given her what she didn't know, now giving her full capability of figuring out if this was the life she truly wanted to lead. "How do you know when you find them? Your lifemate?" Was it a sudden shift in the world or a harder thump of your heart in your chest? How did one figure out who was their true forever?

QUEEN OF SHADOWS

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

While speaking with @Isla ♔ , he had found himself lost in his own batch of thoughts. So much had been happening, especially with his family, that it seemed he did not get to think much on his lifemate through it all. She, of course, was always rightfully within his soul; and soon he hoped to have her in his reality.

He just needed to make himself more known in Amaryllis, branch out, meet more people - she had to be somewhere.

A soft nod is given to her when she expresses her gratitude, as well as a gentle smile. "Family or friend, I've got your back." He responds with a soft chuckle, hoping to assure her while also lightening the mood some.

"They save our life - or we save theirs, in some fashion. That part can be a bit complex in meaning. The connection is said to be felt after that... I have heard some say it is like a blinding light that vanishes away all the darkness in ourselves." And he could not wait for his ray of sunshine to be blessed upon him - to be gifted by the Mother.

"Does your family believe in any traditions? Faiths?" He was curious and felt as if he had preached enough of his own, and rather, wanted to learn more about her now.

She gives @Anthonius a gracious smile, one that says she appreciated his sentiment. She stays silent as he begins to explain what a lifemate meant and how it felt when you meet them, giving a soft nod here and there to show she was listening. It all sounded so... so unreal. How could another make you feel that way? Up until now she thought Alexander had made her feel happy, but was it true happiness of the fact that this was her first relationship and she was assuming that was what it was? "It all sounds lovely," comes her words as he finally comes to a close, half present and half in her thoughts.

She is asked if her family believed in anything and she gives a nod. "Maua, the deity that created Amaryllis. The natives have devoted their lives to them for many, many years. They have blessed my mothers with several litters and they are capable of bringing lions back from the dead as spectral beings." It was the only thing that kept Isla sane with knowing Morrigan's life would come to an end sooner than later, but having her be confined to a certain area and not being able to fully touch her gave her little comfort in the fact. "Alexander says your family believes in The Mother? He's told me a little about your traditions but I'm always open to learning more." Even if she decided to not wed into the Savante family, Isla was still curious - just like Anthonius was.

QUEEN OF SHADOWS

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

It all sounds lovely.

It was - all of it was. His whole upbringing, even the worst parts, formed such a lovely faith in him. His beliefs were strong - unrelenting and Anthonius never saw them changing lest he took his last breath.

His ears swiveled towards her then, listening with honest interest as she explained Maua, the deity that created Amaryllis. This supposed deity, it could bless mothers with litters. Bring back from the dead - and something else sparks in his eyes.

"Does she only bless mothers with children?" He asks, prying to know more - to see if he may learn to pray to her, too. "Yes - the Mother. Who created earth, which empowers us so much. Many of our rituals revolve around elements of the land." Blood, too, but he figured he could save that piece out.

@Isla ♔

"No, not just mothers." Isla shakes her head with her words, a brow rising in curiosity as to why @Anthonius was inquiring. Was he simply curious about the matter or did he have thoughts and ideas of his own he'd like to try? "If you love someone very much but cannot conceive together, Maua will come in whatever form you believe in and bless you with cubs. It's the same with only yourself." She takes a pause, paws kneading beneath her. "If you really wish to have a child of your own and are serious enough, Maua may bless that single lion, as well." Their creator was certainly all powerful, at least in Isla's eyes. Being able to bring children from thin air was something her brain could never really wrap itself around - but she had siblings to prove it were true.

She takes in what he gives her of their own deity and belief, giving a nod to show she were listening. It was such an interesting thing, to know there were so many different religions out there that others followed. It was almost too much to think about lest her brain begin to hurt. A soft sigh escapes her before she gives her body a quick shake. "I must be getting back to Illyria," she finally states, feeling an uneasiness begin to settle in the pit of her stomach. Having to speak to Alexander was something she were dreading, but something she knew needed to happen all the same. "I appreciate you, Anthonius. Perhaps if we had met earlier our relationship could have been different." The Heiress aims to give the man a gentle nudge on the cheek in farewell; who knew if he would've found his lifemate within her? It was intriguing enough to speculate in her mind.

"The Summit is always open if you ever need a place of refuge. The Hollows are our ally so you will not be given much grief passing the border." And if he did run into conflict, well, she would deal with it herself. Pulling herself away, Isla gives him a nod in farewell before turning to make the small journey back up the wintry mountain and back to her home.

exit Isla.

QUEEN OF SHADOWS

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

While his faith and loyalty lay with The Mother, he couldn't help but to find interest in what @Isla ♔ shared with him. Maua could grant life, bless those who cannot do it themselves. He wondered... if he never found his lifemate, would he be deserving of being blessed with a child? Someone - something - to fill his void with, to devote his life to - as protector? Father?

He had been in deep thought over it when Isla announced she needed to get back to Illyria. A slow nod, and a spark of understanding in his gaze that she had duties to attend to. Heiress was an essential role, and the woman before him was respected to hold it. Anthonius himself felt a respect for her, too.

Her next declaration and her thoughtful words took him aback slightly, but a soft smile splays on his lips as she presses a gentle nudge to his cheeks. "I appreciate you as well, Isla." Alexander had done a fine job on choosing his wife; she was beautiful, fearless, driven - and overall she had a personality to her that he hoped glimmered into whoever his lifemate was. But alas, she was Alexander's- and if not his brother's, she also wasn't his lifemate. At least the Mother hadn't shown him such a thing yet.

He attempted to mirror the touch back, and her parting words left a warm emotion lingering in his chest. It isn't until she is gone, that he feels the void. The loneliness, only intensified by the departure from his family. Ears flatten on his head, and blue eyes look at the path she took to leave, speaking in her direction as her bodice vanished from sight.

"I will be there sooner than you know."

/exit