Ancient or Wise?

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to live through

ancient

history? Or looked at someone and thought, "How did they live to that age?" Well, my friend, so have I—and today, we talked to some of our wiser and older friends! I asked a series of questions to two perfectly lovely individuals. Let’s hear what they have to say.
The following interview is brought to you by Mellow Secret

Starting off strong with Hesta Eisenhart:

1. What has been the most challenging thing about aging?

With age comes wisdom, and with wisdom comes the burden of knowing that there is much you do not know. Youth is beautiful, ignorant bliss. It is easy to feel knowledgeable, and that, in turn, locks you into your worldview. It is only as you grow older and discover more that you realize that your worldview is one tiny piece of the large puzzle that is the universe. And you look back upon your younger self and realize that you were both foolish, but also privileged to be free from the heavy weight of harsh reality.

2. What was your favorite childhood memory and how does it affect you to this day?

My happiest memories are of the lover of my younger years, Femi. He meant the world to me, but we were never fated to be together freely. Our tribes were enemies. We were caught, and he was murdered, and I was exiled. It is a rage that I have never let go of, not even decades later.

3. If you could change one thing in the past, what would it be?

If I could go back in time, I would demand that my younger self not use her Silvertongue ability so recklessly. It is this very curse that caused so much tragedy. I wanted everything back then, and it was all too easy to have it. I did not understand that the scales of fate had to balance themselves. As such, I lost in equal measure. It was not worth the price I paid.

4. What life lesson took you the longest to learn, and how did you finally learn it?

I have learned that a talent such as Silvertongue is, in itself, neither bad nor good. It is what you do with it that determines a good or a bad outcome. In the past, I believed the ability itself was a curse. But it was not the ability that was cursed—it was my actions that determined what came of it. Thus, if I choose to use Silvertongue for good, rather than to satisfy my selfish desires, the ability becomes a blessing instead.

5. What would you tell your younger self if you had just one sentence?

OOG Hesta: "It's okay to not be sure of what you want to do in life, and you don't have to pursue something that you do not want to just because other people are saying that you have to.".

Wise words, but will you take them to heart? I sure will.

She is cherished on our site much like Hesta, the Queen of the

ancient

realm of Eldathren. Let’s see what she has to say.

1. What has been the most challenging thing about aging?

I wouldn't say that the process of aging itself has been particularly challenging. I am still a relatively young elf and have more than a couple of centuries still to go. But I will say one challenge is coming to terms with the reality that I have or will outlive many others whom I have grown so close to.

2. What was your favorite childhood memory and how does it affect you to this day?

My young years in my druidic enclave weren't without their extreme challenges, but there were still plenty of moments that I cherish. Like many of my fellow druids, many of my favorite young memories revolve around the creatures that we were helping to care for. One that really stands out was a time when I had come across a forest troll hiding by a small creek. I was very young at that time and I was so afraid that the sweet troll was going to get lonely if I left him. So instead of returning to the grove for my lessons, I spent most of the day building all sorts of little friends out of sticks and twigs. The troll helped me find materials, and I spent hours making little creations and practicing my Eldalair with them.

Memories like that always remind me that my duty for all of these years has been to protect not only the people of Eldathren but the countless creatures who live in harmony with us. Our people grow up with such an intimate connection to the wilds and it can be easy to forget that when all of your time is spent in cities or the palace.

3. If you could change one thing in the past, what would it be?

I don't think I would want to change anything. I have lived through horrific times and lost so much in my century of life. But all of that pain and loss is what built me into the woman that I became and brought our realm to an era of peace. I would never want to jeopardize all of the progress that our realm and allies have made. It's not that I think "everything happens for a reason", but I do believe the pieces have fallen in a way that I would never want to change, even if it meant taking away some of my more personal pains.

4. What life lesson took you the longest to learn, and how did you finally learn it?

This one is easy. The lesson was that the people of Braitheld were not my enemy. It is easy for the younger generations to be ignorant of the deep hatred that existed between Eldathren and Braitheld for centuries. Even within the druidic enclave, the forces of Braitheld represented the largest threat to our peace and tranquility. The war defined how we saw the world and I watched the horrors of battle firsthand. Both sides did horrific things to one another that only deepened that hatred. Even when peace finally arrived, the hatred did not fade. My advisors and I still viewed Braitheld and its people as our enemies. Their new king had killed my husband, and countless friends of mine had died in the fighting.

It was my time with their king that slowly helped me to see that the suffering was shared. Spending time in their realm and side by side with Leander made it impossible to remain blind to the fact that they weren't the monsters I had made them out to be. There was a kindness and pain in Braitheld that I was able to see and learn. Despite the mutual horrors, they were just as tired of death as we were. The more time I spent, the more I loved about the chaotic people and their unique customs.

5. What would you tell your younger self if you had just one sentence?

Don't stop building worlds and writing stories.