After losing much, small victories feel like redemption.
After losing much, strength feels like the key to all the secrets of this unknown world.
After losing much, one would expect more precaution, but most of the time, that precaution is only on the surface.
If one were to dig enough in the heart of many, they would see only one thing.
And that thing would be the illusions one builds around their heart to protect themselves from the harsh reality.
From the harsh reality that the world does not have a favorite.
The harsh reality is that the Vita does not have a favorite.
Not even the Gods were the Vita's favorite.
The ultimate beings, the beings closest to the Vita, had her back shown to them as the Heavens shattered.
It would be foolish to think a mortal would have the Vita's favor.
But when one tastes the sweetness of strength, of the illusion of choice, they cannot let go. They see it as their birthright.
But there are only two birthrights each person has.
The right to live, and the right to die.
None other.
So yes, it is beyond dangerous to see one who, in hopes that all will be well, chooses to forget this universal truth.
But the Vita is just. The Vita sees that one does not forget.
And she makes sure to do it when you least expect it.
Whatever form that might take.
"Pass me the bowl," Blanc said to his younger brother.
"Here," Kael said as he pushed the bowl his older brother requested.
The smell at the campsite as Blanc cooked was beyond divine, as he prepared one of the turtles they had killed during the day.
As the meat was sizzling, Blanc took the bowl from Kael and took some of the mix of condiments inside to add to the uncooked side of the meat, before turning it.
"Thank you," said Blanc, "Go take Lune and enjoy a bath. I should be done here by the time you two come back."
"Very well," Kael nodded, getting to his feet and heading towards the tent to pick up Lune and some clean clothes.
Blanc then turned towards his wives, "Did the sickness leave you for good, my love?" he asked Celine.
"It feels like it," she nodded, "I only feel hungry now."
"Same," Miyanna sighed as she watched the fire, "It's weird for me to say it, but I was getting tired of meat."
"Haha, true, I have yet to hear a commoner say those words," Blanc laughed, "But you are basically drooling."
"I was getting tired of meat," she repeated, "Today seems fitting."
"Is that so?" Blanc asked, placing another log on the fire below to keep the temperature of the fire constant.
"Damn right," Miyanna nodded, "I'll keep you to your promise tonight."
"You know these things take a while, right?" Blanc sighed, seeing how excited she was to get pregnant.
"So what? It's important that we try," Miyanna replied, not bothered by the idea.
Celine giggled, watching the two as she held her chin up with two hands, "I'm already pitying Blanc."
Blanc let out yet another sigh at her words, "Thank you."
"Oh, come on," Miyanna said, "It won't be that bad."
"Though I was the one who said it," Blanc took a seat back on the log, "I see only hardships ahead."
"Care to explain?" Celine grinned, already knowing the answer.
"Nothing I haven't said before, but we need to hurry to the father-in-law's Domain once we leave the Gardens," Blanc explained, "He has the people and resources that would allow you, and you, Miyanna, if you're to get pregnant, to give birth in a safe and controlled environment."
Miyanna sighed, "See? That's the problem with the Noble Bloods, it's dangerous for a woman, yes, but if it were as lethal as you make it sound, there would only be Noble Bloods left alive."
"And why would it matter how others do it, my love?" Blanc asked, "I don't want harm to come your way by being careless. If we can get to a safe place where Celine and you can give birth safely, why refuse it?"
"Enough about that," Celine giggled, "It will take a long time before I give birth, and so would Miyanna if she were to get pregnant tonight. But before any of that becomes an issue, we have two Gardens ahead of us left to conquer."
"And a way too narrow a path to cross," Miyanna added, a chill running down her spine.
"You wanted to think about it," Blanc said to Celine, "Any results?"
"I do," she smiled, "Care to listen?"
To which both Blanc and Miyanna nodded.
This started a conversation that continued as they ate and bathed.
The meeting only concluded the plans ahead once they got back to the tent, for work had to be made, and a promise had to be kept.
And over the course of many long hours, well after midnight, Blanc found himself keeping the promise a few times before he and his tired but satisfied wives decided they needed to rest a bit for the day ahead of them.
And morning came soon after with the promise of a new day ahead of them.
A day they knew would be difficult.
And although it was only the eighth day inside the Jaguar Path, with two days left from the proposed duration of their stay inside this first Garden, they decided that it was enough, and worth attempting to cross into the next one.
With that in mind, they hurried through breakfast, packed all they had as well as they could in hopes it wouldn't be affected by the water, and went towards the river, where, over fifteen minutes Blanc took all the bags inside the cave one by one as he was the fastest one.
Then, just as the day before, Blanc went back first and waited for the others, helping them onto the cave floor as they came.