the words keep moving

 (continuation of the last post)

Lusvega placed a hand on Duma's shoulder, wondering about this fallen man. He was warm. Understanding that he was alive, she turned him onto his back and recognized him as one of her fellow numen. His eyes cracked open and he knew her for who she was as well. Before saying a word, he made to push her away with a wave of his power, but she stayed put, unaffected and seeming to weather it as if it were a mere spring breeze. Realizing the futility of force, he instead tried to push her away with words. He explained that everything around him withered and died, and that soon, she would as well. She might be near death already, he thought belatedly. But she smiled and waved away his concerns, saying that he was harmless and her curiosity far outweighed her desire to live. Hesitantly at first, he allowed her to stick around, eventually realizing that she truly did remain unharmed.
The two became companions. Cut off from everyone else, relying solely on each other for company and solace, they did not have much of a choice. Regardless of circumstances, they got along well despite being polar opposites; each was what the other needed. They spent years, decades, alone together. 

One day, Duma revealed that he'd come up with an idea of how to break her curse. She heard him out before revealing that she'd figured it out long ago, but chose not to pursue it simply because she was happy with the life they shared. He pushed her, however, saying that she could enjoy what they had and still be free from the curse. Why should she remain in exile from everything she'd worked so hard to build? He that she lived in that deep, dark cave for his sake alone, and wished that it was not so. Knowing what she sacrificed for him hurt. So, he pushed her. Lusvega gave in, figuring that while breaking the curse would open new options for her, that did not need to mean she had to pursue any of those new options.
They departed their cave quickly, not having any reason to wait. Duma shrank in size and sat on Lusvega's shoulder as she walked in order to reduce the amount of destruction that would inevitably result from his exposure to the world. She walked without stopping for weeks until they found their way to a sophic city that had once been a seat of her power. Crossing paths with one of her old disciples, they convinced them to hear her out instead of calling down the law and having Lusvega ostracized once more. The disciple snuck the pair into their home and stood before them, waiting to hear their old master speak once more. Instead, Duma and Lusvega spoke in unison, relating a simple discovery she'd made since having left. The simple solution of merging their powers and will was enough to overcome her curse, and the disciple understood at last. However, unbeknownst to any of them, the curse was the only thing holding Lusvega onto that world, and she was wiped from existence without even enough time to blink. Shock and grief overtook Duma, and he disappeared, returning home and never to be seen emerging from his cave again.

His grief curdled in solitude, and many developments took place as a result of this. But that's another story...