While Joshua wasn’t known for extending the hand of kindness to random passersby, he made an exception this time for two major reasons. One was that the Roc obviously had little love for Shardbearers, and was taking it out on innocent people. That didn’t sit well with Joshua. If it had only affected Shardbearers, that would have been one thing. However, when others got caught up in the punishment? That was when things became unjust, and Joshua really couldn’t abide by that. It was his job to fairly judge who was worthy for a second chance at life. Didn’t that same principle of fair judgment extend also to the people in leadership positions? Shouldn’t it?
The second reason was that the Seelie Monarchs had asked for help on the matter. While the promise of reward was a good incentive, Joshua had other reasons to follow their proclamation at that point in time. Quite simply and rather shrewdly, he didn’t think it paid to set himself up as disobedient just yet. It definitely wasn’t going to be prudent of him to cause any bad blood between himself and the High King and High Queen when he was so new to the Drabwurld. No, it was for the best that he treat them as if they were as powerful as, or stronger than, the Angels.
Now, he didn’t have any supernatural ability, magic or otherwise, that included pyromancy, unfortunately. It would’ve made the whole thing easier and faster if he did. Sadly, Joshua had to do it the old fashioned way. He needed to drag them to shelter, give them blankets and something hot to drink, and probably make sure to keep a fire going in the fireplace. It wouldn’t be practical to do that as a 15 year old boy, though. As such, he had to assume the physical age and appearance of a young man in his early to mid 20’s. At least then Joshua would have the height, weight, and strength needed, not to mention it was most likely less embarrassing for the savior to be a man in comparison to a boy.
It was difficult work regardless of his age. If the snowfall and harsh winds were too great and made seeing a hand in front of his face impossible, then he was forced to remain inside or die in the snowstorm. That wasn’t the way Joshua wanted to go and lose his shard to, if he had the choice. If Joshua was to lose his shard, then it would have to be on his own terms. Either way, he couldn’t afford to lose it in the first place. Shibuya’s survival depended on him keeping his shard and staying alive in this world.
When visibility wasn’t such an issue, Joshua would bundle himself up as warmly as possible and go out to search for those unfortunate people who’d been caught in the middle of the blizzard. Any children he found took priority, carrying them into the shelter he could provide and warming them up by the fire. He would make sure that they weren’t injured and afterward would promptly go with them to search for their legal guardian or parents.
As for adults, the way he got them to shelter would vary. Some were too heavy for him to carry, and so he had to make do with dragging them, using his telekinesis to gently lift them enough so that they could glide over top of the snow instead of plowing through it. Others were light enough that Joshua could feasibly fireman carry them back. As with the children, he would sit them in front of the fire and give them hot tea or coffee or even hot chocolate. With the women, Joshua would graciously escort them back to their home, if they wanted him to. He gave the same offer to the men, but only a handful took him up on it. The last thing Joshua wanted was for those people to get frozen again, and perhaps not be so lucky as to get found by someone and taken into a shelter to get warmed up. It wouldn’t be the first time people saw someone in trouble, but didn’t lend a helping hand and just let that person in need rot, though neither would it be the last.
It was an arduous task, to be sure, and one that Joshua was very careful with. Helping others was all well and good, but once he started feeling the chill seeping into his bones, he made sure that he stayed inside to get warmed up himself, especially if he was starting to lose focus or was becoming too focused on the task at hand. They were typical warning signs that he was about to suffer the same fate as the people he’d been helping. Joshua was pretty sure there was an irony in that.
Joshua didn’t just offer his aid to just one city or town, though. After a few days, he would teleport to the next town and see if they needed any assistance. If the town or city didn’t need his help, or other Shardbearers had everything more or less under control, then Joshua would simply go to the next settlement. While he was sure that his help would be appreciated in those places where Shardbearers had things under control, it wasn’t what they needed. There were more towns and cities where assistance was more of a necessity, and those were the places that Joshua prioritized ahead of everything else. Not to mention, there were probably people stuck out on the roads, but he couldn’t do anything for those people. If he had pyrokinesis, perhaps he could do something, but Joshua was also just one person. He couldn’t canvas an entire road all on his own, and neither could he help in organizing a party of search and rescuers.
Just stick with what you know and what you know you can do. It’s the best way to help. Or, more accurately, the only way he could help.
Honestly, Joshua couldn’t wait for the Roc’s magical blizzard to stop.
Blizzard Event: Closed
The second reason was that the Seelie Monarchs had asked for help on the matter. While the promise of reward was a good incentive, Joshua had other reasons to follow their proclamation at that point in time. Quite simply and rather shrewdly, he didn’t think it paid to set himself up as disobedient just yet. It definitely wasn’t going to be prudent of him to cause any bad blood between himself and the High King and High Queen when he was so new to the Drabwurld. No, it was for the best that he treat them as if they were as powerful as, or stronger than, the Angels.
Now, he didn’t have any supernatural ability, magic or otherwise, that included pyromancy, unfortunately. It would’ve made the whole thing easier and faster if he did. Sadly, Joshua had to do it the old fashioned way. He needed to drag them to shelter, give them blankets and something hot to drink, and probably make sure to keep a fire going in the fireplace. It wouldn’t be practical to do that as a 15 year old boy, though. As such, he had to assume the physical age and appearance of a young man in his early to mid 20’s. At least then Joshua would have the height, weight, and strength needed, not to mention it was most likely less embarrassing for the savior to be a man in comparison to a boy.
It was difficult work regardless of his age. If the snowfall and harsh winds were too great and made seeing a hand in front of his face impossible, then he was forced to remain inside or die in the snowstorm. That wasn’t the way Joshua wanted to go and lose his shard to, if he had the choice. If Joshua was to lose his shard, then it would have to be on his own terms. Either way, he couldn’t afford to lose it in the first place. Shibuya’s survival depended on him keeping his shard and staying alive in this world.
When visibility wasn’t such an issue, Joshua would bundle himself up as warmly as possible and go out to search for those unfortunate people who’d been caught in the middle of the blizzard. Any children he found took priority, carrying them into the shelter he could provide and warming them up by the fire. He would make sure that they weren’t injured and afterward would promptly go with them to search for their legal guardian or parents.
As for adults, the way he got them to shelter would vary. Some were too heavy for him to carry, and so he had to make do with dragging them, using his telekinesis to gently lift them enough so that they could glide over top of the snow instead of plowing through it. Others were light enough that Joshua could feasibly fireman carry them back. As with the children, he would sit them in front of the fire and give them hot tea or coffee or even hot chocolate. With the women, Joshua would graciously escort them back to their home, if they wanted him to. He gave the same offer to the men, but only a handful took him up on it. The last thing Joshua wanted was for those people to get frozen again, and perhaps not be so lucky as to get found by someone and taken into a shelter to get warmed up. It wouldn’t be the first time people saw someone in trouble, but didn’t lend a helping hand and just let that person in need rot, though neither would it be the last.
It was an arduous task, to be sure, and one that Joshua was very careful with. Helping others was all well and good, but once he started feeling the chill seeping into his bones, he made sure that he stayed inside to get warmed up himself, especially if he was starting to lose focus or was becoming too focused on the task at hand. They were typical warning signs that he was about to suffer the same fate as the people he’d been helping. Joshua was pretty sure there was an irony in that.
Joshua didn’t just offer his aid to just one city or town, though. After a few days, he would teleport to the next town and see if they needed any assistance. If the town or city didn’t need his help, or other Shardbearers had everything more or less under control, then Joshua would simply go to the next settlement. While he was sure that his help would be appreciated in those places where Shardbearers had things under control, it wasn’t what they needed. There were more towns and cities where assistance was more of a necessity, and those were the places that Joshua prioritized ahead of everything else. Not to mention, there were probably people stuck out on the roads, but he couldn’t do anything for those people. If he had pyrokinesis, perhaps he could do something, but Joshua was also just one person. He couldn’t canvas an entire road all on his own, and neither could he help in organizing a party of search and rescuers.
Just stick with what you know and what you know you can do. It’s the best way to help. Or, more accurately, the only way he could help.
Honestly, Joshua couldn’t wait for the Roc’s magical blizzard to stop.