Resolute.
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 3:41 am
"This is my last trial." Kerala's words echoed in Lupinum's ears while he bounded down the steps as well as he could.
The alcohol had worn off, but fear and worry had taken its place. This is not how things should have gone.
Lupinum was excited when it was Kerala's turn at the Inquisition. She had brought some things with her, a box of black lacquer and a hexweave sack, and he always loved surprises. "...I burn their colors." the misshaped bag Kerala brought was stuffed with the clean white linens of her old guild. The Horns... Lupinum's face was barely held together. This was not the time to think about Konro. This was a separate ordeal.
He watched in silence while she upturned her past life into the all consuming flames. Kerala stopped short, holding a small bone attached to a leather loop. This too, whatever it was, was given to the fire.
Lilliana had stepped forward to inspect the items in the large brazier. As she did, Kerala opened the large box to display the fine leather wrapped staff, nearly as tall as Lupinum is, and a thick set of supple shoulder guards. These and Kerala's own spear, the very same she had swung at his neck, were placed into the sorcerous fire.
Kerala stood and faced the Inquisitors, "I am Grim. The Mandate was always mine, though I had never before put words to it. So, Peace through Annihilation. I sacrifice my future."
Lupinum stopped at the landing while he replayed the scene in his head. Kerala had seemed so sure of herself, it made him happy. But Ruuki had a problem with that. What had she said... "Sacrifice is different than devotion to the Mandate."
But couldn't she see? Kerala couldn't... which is why it was a sacrifice. Her powers being used to further the cause."
Our cause. Lupinum corrected himself angrily. He slammed a fist into the wooden panel next to him and continued down the steps. Kerala even said! "To embrace the Mandate, fully," she could learn. Why wouldn't they give her a chance?
It was as though the Grim had turned a blind eye to her efforts. They weren't there when she almost died from eating the hearts. They didn't see what Lupinum saw...
The Commander, the stoic pillar of the Mandate in Lupinum's eyes, had made his decision, "So, tell me. Who are your allies in this world?"
Kerala leveled a gaze at him and answered, "The Grim."
"And to what do you strive?"
"To protect them," Kerala had narrowed her eyes in defiance. Awatu blew a heavy snort through his nostrils.
"Wrong."
Lupinum couldn't remember what happened after, only that Awatu had Kerala gripped in his thick plate gauntlets.
"You are no use to me," Awatu's low growl carried to every corner of the room. In a smooth motion, he flung her aside like trash into the fire. Kerala screamed and rolled out, onto the floor with a heavy thud. The rank smell of burnt fur and skin flooded everyone's nostrils. The Forsaken's mind raced, should he save her? How would he even go about that without being ripped apart again? Regardless, Lupinum bounded forward several steps and stopped short.
Syreena's voice was behind him, "Lupin..."
There was no way to make things better... only worse. He had to wait. No... he couldn't wait. He looked at the stairwell and back to Awatu. He didn't hear any words, his own mind was too busy. He heard voices... Awatu's, Emmon's. What they said didn't matter: Lupinum had let another friend down. He clenched his jaw, spoke a word and let his illusioned visage take his place while he slipped away to find Kerala.
The alcohol had worn off, but fear and worry had taken its place. This is not how things should have gone.
Lupinum was excited when it was Kerala's turn at the Inquisition. She had brought some things with her, a box of black lacquer and a hexweave sack, and he always loved surprises. "...I burn their colors." the misshaped bag Kerala brought was stuffed with the clean white linens of her old guild. The Horns... Lupinum's face was barely held together. This was not the time to think about Konro. This was a separate ordeal.
He watched in silence while she upturned her past life into the all consuming flames. Kerala stopped short, holding a small bone attached to a leather loop. This too, whatever it was, was given to the fire.
Lilliana had stepped forward to inspect the items in the large brazier. As she did, Kerala opened the large box to display the fine leather wrapped staff, nearly as tall as Lupinum is, and a thick set of supple shoulder guards. These and Kerala's own spear, the very same she had swung at his neck, were placed into the sorcerous fire.
Kerala stood and faced the Inquisitors, "I am Grim. The Mandate was always mine, though I had never before put words to it. So, Peace through Annihilation. I sacrifice my future."
Lupinum stopped at the landing while he replayed the scene in his head. Kerala had seemed so sure of herself, it made him happy. But Ruuki had a problem with that. What had she said... "Sacrifice is different than devotion to the Mandate."
But couldn't she see? Kerala couldn't... which is why it was a sacrifice. Her powers being used to further the cause."
Our cause. Lupinum corrected himself angrily. He slammed a fist into the wooden panel next to him and continued down the steps. Kerala even said! "To embrace the Mandate, fully," she could learn. Why wouldn't they give her a chance?
It was as though the Grim had turned a blind eye to her efforts. They weren't there when she almost died from eating the hearts. They didn't see what Lupinum saw...
The Commander, the stoic pillar of the Mandate in Lupinum's eyes, had made his decision, "So, tell me. Who are your allies in this world?"
Kerala leveled a gaze at him and answered, "The Grim."
"And to what do you strive?"
"To protect them," Kerala had narrowed her eyes in defiance. Awatu blew a heavy snort through his nostrils.
"Wrong."
Lupinum couldn't remember what happened after, only that Awatu had Kerala gripped in his thick plate gauntlets.
"You are no use to me," Awatu's low growl carried to every corner of the room. In a smooth motion, he flung her aside like trash into the fire. Kerala screamed and rolled out, onto the floor with a heavy thud. The rank smell of burnt fur and skin flooded everyone's nostrils. The Forsaken's mind raced, should he save her? How would he even go about that without being ripped apart again? Regardless, Lupinum bounded forward several steps and stopped short.
Syreena's voice was behind him, "Lupin..."
There was no way to make things better... only worse. He had to wait. No... he couldn't wait. He looked at the stairwell and back to Awatu. He didn't hear any words, his own mind was too busy. He heard voices... Awatu's, Emmon's. What they said didn't matter: Lupinum had let another friend down. He clenched his jaw, spoke a word and let his illusioned visage take his place while he slipped away to find Kerala.