Tears in the Night

Claudia sat restlessly on a small, burgundy cushion. A trio of swords surrounded her, embedded in the stone floor several inches deep. It was a tradition she had picked up from Lucien, before his body was overtaken by their old foe. She thought fondly of the circle of swords that rested atop the Heroes Requiem Keep, a place she longed to return to. She dwelled on the days of the Republic Civil War, when she first truly befriended Group Alpha, the Eyes of the Archon. She had grown lonely without them, in truth. She missed the days spent in the Silver Rose, playing music while Nathaniel and Vox watched excitedly from behind the counter, soldiers and officers alike listening to her play the damodran, the preferred instrument of the Vel’Kari. She missed her time studying in the Groves Library, and in the Southstream Library, learning of the land that her friends hailed from.

“Why can’t they see?” She asked aloud. “I’m doing this for them. For all of them! They want to see you just as much as I do, I’m certain of it.”

The two wooden coffins beyond the circle of swords sat still, and quiet. Claudia stood up, looking at the names engraved on their surfaces. It had not felt right, defiling their graves, but she knew they would not be resting for much longer. She traced a slender finger against the grain of the coffin to her left, shorter than the other. Closing her eyes, she could see visions, wonderful memories of the past. A bright smile amidst a library, and a kiss on the forehead. Touching the one to the right, she saw a brave and triumphant man, calling out to his soldiers like a king, moments before hellfire rained from the sky.

“I did my best to protect you. Both of you. I’m sorry that I wasn’t enough. But I’ll make things right. The betrayers' sins will be wiped clean, and we will see your smiling faces again. This I have vowed, and to that end I shall toil.” She whispered to them, fighting back tears.

She did not cry for them. No, instead her sorrows fell upon another memory, far more recent. Black rain falling from the sky, the people around her torn apart by foul, inhuman monsters. She recalled her own horrified look as the monsters left her alone, barely acknowledging that she was there. She knew that she would one day have to pay for her own sins, like The Betrayer did. But that time would not come soon. The woman jolted up as a rasping knock came from the wooden door behind her, which creaked open as another woman entered.

Ilyena had a tired look in her eyes, as if she had not slept at all. But her night-gown and loose, frazzled hair indicated that she had just risen from bed. Claudia approached her, gently placing a hand on her arm. The older woman gave a small smile, stifling a yawn as she rested a hand on Claudias in turn.

“Nothing. They haven’t entered Telian’Rhiod at all, as far as I can gather. I’m sorry.” She said.

“I figured as much. None of them seem much in the mood to talk. And they know you’ll be watching, no doubt.” Claudia rasped, nodding.

Ilyena stepped past her, towards the pair of coffins. Her eyes lingered on the small one, but she shook her head and placed a finger on the other.

“This is him, then? Illum’Vek?” She asked, thinking about all the things Claudia had told her of the man. Claudia nodded once more in confirmation.

“It is. Alheim Cornelius, the Lux-Hadar, as they call him. A beautiful man, in body and in heart. You will find his personality agreeable, I think. He was a rational, stalwart, and kind man. I regret that I did not have the time to know him better. But he was all of those things, and more.”

Ilyena slid her hand off the Coffin, then walked towards the three swords next to it. She eyed Raianel, the blade that had struck down her Nephew. Then she looked upon Nemesis, a sword she knew well. She was surprised at the black blade, darker than it had ever been before. Her own memory stirred, that of battles fought a century ago, the woman at her side cutting down countless men on her path to victory. Ilyena’s heart was filled with regret, remembering the brief brush of death she had felt, so long ago.

Finally, her eyes turned to Aeon, The Shadow-Dancer. It’s blade was still stained with the blood of men. ‘Kalziar’, they called themselves. For those Claudia killed in pursuit of this blade, the old woman felt no remorse. She had seen first-hand how they treated those not of their kin, countless slaves, ‘Veshani’, wrapped in thick iron chains, forced to labor until their bodies broke. She placed her palm atop the bottom of the hilt, which jutted up from below. But Claudia quickly placed a hand atop her own, moving it away from The Shadow-Dancer with swiftness. The white haired woman was taken aback at herself, holding up her palms to Ilyena in apology.

“I’m sorry! I do not know what came over me, there. But please, do not touch it. It is still… Charging.” She said, giving a small bow to her long-time friend. Ilyena breathed in deeply, letting out a sigh.

“Alright. That’s fine, I reckon. But… Claudia, are you sure this will work? Are you absolutely positive?” She asked, faint doubt still lingering in the back of her head.

“Of course I am!” Claudia shouted. “With Raianel, Aeon, and Nemesis, I have everything I require! Do not doubt me!” The words came from her mouth quickly, almost nervously. Ilyena raised a hand, and struck Claudia across her face with her palm.

“Calm yourself! Do not raise your voice towards me! I know how you feel, woman! I can almost taste the anguish in your heart! But do not let your emotions overtake you, lest they destroy you! You should know better than that.” She barked, watching Claudia recoil in shock at the blow she had dealt her.

“Ilyena, I…” She stammered, in disbelief. She was infuriated, but she did her best to remain calm, thinking carefully. Finally, the words came to her. “You are right. Accept my apologies, please. And… Do not strike me again. If you would be so kind.”

Ilyena placed her hands on her hips, and huffed. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she placed her arms around the woman before her, squeezing tightly. She felt how cold her body was, almost like something was missing. She could feel another stream of cold trickle onto her shoulder; tears now flowing freely. Ilyena stroked the top of Claudias head, doing her best to console her.

“What’s wrong, young sprout? I know what is in your heart, but I do not know why. Tell me.” She said softly, trying to comfort Claudia.

Her tears continued to flow, as she gripped Ilyena firmly. She had spent much time without her, both during her imprisonment and after. Before, she had tried to forget the hole that Ilyena had left in her heart, tried to forget the agonizing loneliness of losing one's best friend. But now that she had returned to her, she felt herself degrade into the woman she had once been, the one that had so patiently watched and listened to her elder, heeding her every word. Wiping away a tear, but still holding on to the embrace, she spoke softly.

“I am so… Angry. Furious. I feel a rage boiling up inside me, unlike any I’ve felt before. It has been like this ever since I returned to Etreidies.” She said, though Ilyena did not respond. Even so, Claudia could feel a pulling sensation coming from her, as if to ask ‘why?’.

“I have seen so many good people punished for their righteousness. So many struck down, or hurt, or reviled, for no reason. Kasdri, Vox, Alheim, Lucien, and so many others. I’m angry at the world for how it treats its heroes. And… I am angry at myself, for being powerless to stop it.” Claudia cried, remembering how their foes had so mercilessly struck down her friends and soldiers alike, and how the people of Duloris treated Lucien.

Once more, Ilyena did not respond. But with the bond that they shared, a link that connected their hearts and minds, Claudia could feel more prodding. They had long since taught themselves to communicate with nothing besides that bond, that they might speak no matter how far away they were. Claudia held Ilyena tighter than before, more tears streaming down. She did not say a word, yet Ilyena knew what she felt.

The sorrow of loss. Those lost in death, and those lost to her in life. The solitude that she felt, that which she knew had been brought upon her by her own actions. The love that she felt towards her friends, comrades, and brothers, even if they did not share it. And the loss of that love, now that they had given up on her. She felt alone, that Ilyena knew well. Yet, Ilyena could feel something else coming from Claudia. An indomitable will, a drive to push forward, to succeed, so that it might all be worth it.

Their long embrace was broken, as a strange noise came from Aeon. It was like the ringing of a tuning fork, with wisps of shadow circling across it’s form in a series of eight circles, fading in and out over and over again. As if by fate, a message appeared in her mind, one which she gave a prompt response.

“Keep your eyes to the sky. And the sky will keep it’s eyes upon you.” She said, looking towards Ilyena.

“It’s… Time. At long last.”