[ She’s prepared this time, so the upside-down lightning and the sudden appearance of the titan’s flesh don’t shock her quite as much as they did the first time, but it’s still an incredible sight, and she watches with rapt attention as the Founder’s body springs to life out of nowhere. It’s fascinating, she thinks, the way it seems to grow around Frieda, quick but not quite instant, not like the summoning of familiars and spirits she’s seen at home — it seems like a different kind of process altogether, more… visceral. It brings to mind the feeling of dragon flesh and blood coalescing around her, changing her, and she can’t help but shudder at the memory.
The gentle way the titan picks her up, though — that makes a difference, and so does knowing that it’s because Frieda is inside it, unchanged, still herself, her mind still her own even as her body becomes something else entirely. There’s no discomfort or revulsion as she settles on the titan’s shoulder again, ready to keep an eye out for anything interesting or dangerous. She’s glad to see no pure titans pursuing them, and her own side of the mindscape seems free of monsters as well; as they leave the village behind, the landscape just turns to a forest again, pines and firs slowly giving way to deciduous trees more suited to temperate climes. She takes note of the sky on Frieda’s side lightening up a little, the clouds no longer seeming quite as dark and oppressive, and she smiles, hoping it might be a reflection of some change happening inside her friend’s mind. Wouldn’t that be nice?
As they arrive at the gate, she hops off of the titan’s shoulder and helps Frieda get out of the nape of its neck. ]
Are you okay? [ Picking up on Frieda’s tiredness, she can’t help but feel a little worried. ] Should we rest here for a while before we go through?
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The gentle way the titan picks her up, though — that makes a difference, and so does knowing that it’s because Frieda is inside it, unchanged, still herself, her mind still her own even as her body becomes something else entirely. There’s no discomfort or revulsion as she settles on the titan’s shoulder again, ready to keep an eye out for anything interesting or dangerous. She’s glad to see no pure titans pursuing them, and her own side of the mindscape seems free of monsters as well; as they leave the village behind, the landscape just turns to a forest again, pines and firs slowly giving way to deciduous trees more suited to temperate climes. She takes note of the sky on Frieda’s side lightening up a little, the clouds no longer seeming quite as dark and oppressive, and she smiles, hoping it might be a reflection of some change happening inside her friend’s mind. Wouldn’t that be nice?
As they arrive at the gate, she hops off of the titan’s shoulder and helps Frieda get out of the nape of its neck. ]
Are you okay? [ Picking up on Frieda’s tiredness, she can’t help but feel a little worried. ] Should we rest here for a while before we go through?