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Mourning

The rain was falling heavily over Jahaur. Lightning lit up the skies while thunder rumbled in the distance. Everything was dark and wet, sticky from the blood and tears that decorated Eresin’s clothing. His uncle was gone. The thought was surprising to the boy who just stared out numbly towards the dark field. Kian and he had been fighting others when the worst happened. Once they thought that they had managed to defeat the group of dark mages the two had prepared to drag themselves back to camp. Eresin was so exhausted that he didn’t even know if he could have gotten the willpower to move forward and his ribs were surely bruised while a leg screamed whenever he tried to stand on it. Everything, just everything, hurt all over.

But what hurt the worst was his heart.

The trauma of the event continued to run through his mind. He had freed the children and everything was going smoothly despite the struggle of the battle it was obvious that Kian and he both were winning the battle. But then when those two other strangers appeared everything went straight to hell. That woman with her red gaze was almost like a demonic spirit who was ready to destroy everything and anything in her path. It just happened that Kian and he both were there in the way. Kian had tried to hold them off and even Eresin had tried, but they had been overpowered since the previous fight had exhausted them and the man was surprisingly strong. He was also brutal with the way he unleashed that magic attack. Such magic Eresin had never experience before, but that was definitely something he wished to never see again. It made him feel weaker than a youngling. It also filled him with dread and showed him a dark future if there was even a future should he survive such an attack. Death and doom. All of that magic was just tainted and such a thing sent a shudder through the mage. How could someone live with such darkness inside of them?

Worse, how could someone so easily destroy his whole life without even flinching or batting an eye? His uncle was gone. His uncle who had bravely stepped in to block the blasts for the boys and then had proceeded to kick the a** of those who were attacking them. If Eresin had ever doubted the strength of his mentor before all that doubt was gone in that battle. Everything that he had been so proud of and all of the victories from the other battles seemed pointless when he saw the level that his uncle and those two mages were on. Was it because of such people that even Kian was obsessed with gaining more power? Was this what Talisia’s twin and his childhood friend truly wanted to become? Eresin didn’t even know himself, but after watching such a fight things did make sense. How could either of them dare to protect someone unless they could fight on that level? Was that what made all those sacrifices worth it? So that they could fight on equal standing with people like them?

But at the same time if they had just behaved themselves and had never entered that clearing then such a battle would have never happened. He would have never lost his uncle then. His uncle who had bravely stood up in front of them and fought so hard. He had destroyed the male mage with ease, but the woman had him spinning. Eventually it was a fake out that had taken his uncle by surprise. Her attack had switched towards him and Kian forcing his uncle to jump in the way. Even if Kian had then found enough time to get the energy to use the strange runes he had reclaimed it wasn’t enough time. Nothing was enough time to bring back his uncle from that blast. Such thoughts twisted Eresin’s chest. What had he done? He had just helped Kian to regain energy, but they still had been too slow to help in the battle. Sure both of the mages attacking them had been defeated, but the cost was not worth it. It was never going to be worth it! Another scream of pain left his throat as he fell back to the ground in defeat. Why did it have to be his uncle out of all people?!

The thought made Eresin bang his fists against the ground, “Uncle.” Tears gathered at the boy’s eyes. How could he have lost his uncle like this? Magic was always supposed to be about knowledge and giving. He had fought so hard to show Talisia that instead of death it could bring life, but now he was at a loss. His uncle had died and Eresin couldn’t even give him a proper burial. Kian had only stated simply that by his body falling from the cliff it was better that way. The raging river below could take him to a new life, but the thought still twisted Eresin. He wanted to say goodbye, he wanted to have been there as his uncle took his last breath. There had been so much he had wanted to say to thank the man for, but now it was all lost. Everything was lost because Kian had once more found trouble that shouldn’t have been there. Why the hell did he have to quest for power so badly? And why had Eresin even been possessed to follow him? I shouldn’t have worried. But at the same time…would he have been fine with leaving behind the good that they had managed to do?

They had saved younglings and stopped a few bad guys, but Eresin still was feeling bitter. Death tended to have that on you after all. Eresin closed his eyes against the ringing pain in his skull as the constant memories of that battle kept coming back to haunt him. Even though it had just happened he still couldn’t seem to register that this was it. The sun would come up soon and he would be expected to follow Kian back as if nothing had happened. Well, not even Kian seemed to be able to wipe off this battle. Eresin remembered the look on his childhood friend’s face as he too had stared in shock after it all came down. Though they both had managed to react in time by sending out a spell of their own to blast away the other mage, both had ended up just standing there in shock. All they could do was stare at the cliff while Kian just stood there with a cold expression Eresin had found tears slowly running down his own cheeks. Misery was clearly written on their face along with guilt. Remorse that they could have moved in time and that in the end their gains were only because of a great loss.

Eresin’s fingers dug into the ground once more as if to steady himself. What was he supposed to do now? His uncle may have said that they were doing better and could become mages on their own now, but this was not the farewell he had wanted. He had wanted to be able to say goodbye and then come back to show off to his uncle all the new things he had learned. What really had he hoped for though? Was there much to his goals save for just becoming the best that he could be? He couldn’t even complete a full confession on the woman he cherished. Eresin’s expression fell as he slowly raised his gaze towards the sky from which a flood of rain poured.

“I’m so sorry uncle.” Eresin gulped against the flood of emotion that made his throat feel so raw. Death was something he had seen before, but to experience it with someone so close to him was a completely different story. This was new and strange. It wasn’t what he had ever been expecting. The mage placed a hand against his aching chest before pulling it away. It was stained red and brown from the mixture of blood and muck that had coated his once fine clothing. Anyone who saw him would think that the boy had nearly escaped death and they would be correct. His uncle had taken that blow for him and Eresin would never forget it. That sacrifice would stay with him forever and he would always do the best that he could for his uncle’s memory.

He just hoped that he could find it in himself to continue on, but his own path was a mess. Where did he go now? Who could he go to? He didn’t know. Honestly right now he had no idea what to do save for turning around to follow the path where Kian waited for him. They would go back to the camp and heal first. Heal and then try to sort out the mess which was in his head. Surely then…something would give and he could find his way again. Right, Nerio?

(1515 - 5 pnts)