Cibella & Lathna (Dragalia Lost)

Cibella & Lathna from Dragalia Lost, drawn for the Dragalia Fanbook. I’d never participated in a fanzine before, so I wanted to try it out. The background is derived from a picture of a pond up at Aspen Grove, Utah.

Cibella’s devotion to helping children is what draws me to her character. I cannot imagine Cibella standing idly after the traumatic events that Lathna and her village suffered. I think such outreach is especially important, considering Lathna’s village and Cibella have antagonistic religious traditions.

THE SUN & THE DAWN (PAIRED CHARMS)

THE SUN: you are freed to light the world. honor upon you for doing so. honor upon those who give you this freedom and power.

THE DAWN: you are empowered to bring out the best in others and let their wings soar. peace be upon you.

ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς / Rhododáktylos Ēṓs – Homer: Rosy-fingered dawn, a reference to the goddess Eos’ opening of the gates of heaven every morning so that the god Helios could ride out on his chariot, carrying the Sun.

THE THEATER (CHARM)

A silhouette stands on the stage of an outdoor theater.

you can feel ok when you are distressed. you can feel distressed when you are ok. every emotion is needed to make your play a masterwork.

Cogito ergo sumus / Je pense donc nous sommes – a variation on Descartes’ “I think therefore I am,” instead reading “I think, therefore we are.”

THE GARDEN (CHARM)

Interweaving tree branches.

peace as you move forward through the endless branches of choice and a blessing upon whichever path it is that you finally take

“Dejo a los varios porvenires (no a todos) mi jardín de senderos que se bifurcan” – Jorge Luis Borges (Jardín de senderos que se bifurcan): I leave to many (but not all) futures my garden of forking paths.

THE AXOLOTL (CHARM)

axolotl charm with saturn in the background

A blessing in the midst of sickness and health, cures and setbacks, hopes and unknowable fantasy, in defiance of (in harmony with) an uncertain, unfixed future.

“Los ojos de oro seguían ardiendo con su dulce, terrible luz” – Julio Cortázar’s (Axolotl): The golden eyes continued burning with their sweet, terrible light.