Jarrick closed the heavy oak door behind him as he entered his quarters, his mind very visibly elsewhere.
A dim candle, the only source of light left burning in the room, caused shadows to dance, playing tricks on the wall and ever so slightly illuminating the bronze pendulum that swung back and forth in this late hour.
Alone in the silence, save for the sound of the restless clock.
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
He walked over to the table and set the white pawn down on it. He turned away without giving it as much of a glance and ran plated fingers though his beard as he thought about the events that transpired tonight.
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
Subconsciously, his gaze found its way to the white pawn, but his thoughts did not change.
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
He turned towards the keg in the corner; untouched since the night prior.
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
He turned on his heel and paced across the room.
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
He exhaled deeply, sinking into the chair at the table, still deeply consumed in his thoughts.
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
His gaze wandered back to the white pawn and his mind turned over the words that Sielic repeated in his cell before they left him at his own request.
“Tyrilyna… How could I have done this to you…”
The sentence echoed through his head for what seemed like an eternity, trying to find some semblance of peace.. of redemption. Something.
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
He ran plated fingers through his hair as his mind continued to wander.
“Sielic, old friend.. Do you remember who I am?”
The look on Sielic’s face was a look that he would never forget for the rest of his days.
“…I remember everything.”
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
He found himself sitting with his jaw locked as he turned the nights events over in his mind.
He was not the only one that fought to bring Sielic back from the terrible fate which had befallen him, but even he couldn’t predict this outcome.
They had recovered his mind, body, and soul alike, but it was not without a heavy price tag. One which he was not entirely certain could ever be repaid.
His eyes made their way back to the white pawn; the idol that Ravaji had given him after Caelryn had surrendered it. A symbol of hope? Of redemption? A second chance, perhaps? It was meant to be a symbol of something, but he could not decipher it.
Sielic was supposed to be redeemed, not damned. Celebrated for his selfless act, not confined to a cell to suffer his transgressions.
Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock… Tick… Tock…
He ran both of his plated hands through his hair, clasping his hands behind his head, his gaze still lingering on the white pawn.
Only time could remedy what plagued Sielic now.. and he could only hope that time was enough.
——————–
Continued: The Legion Comes
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