Green Paladin: INSERT RANDOMINATION HERE
Green Blackguard: INSERT RATIOCINATION HERE
Green Paladin: INSERT EXPLICATION HERE
Green Blackguard: INSERT SULKING HERE

Note to FE6 fans: I'm taking the words said by the Village Elder in FE6 differently. So if any FE6 fan wants to have a moan, DON'T. I haven't changed a thing, just manipulated its meaning. If you do not understand yet, you'll find out when you read.

Note to Lord Destroyer: I'm sorry. I had sent a PM asking questions of what you wanted of me, but it seems it never reached you. I'm sorry if my apparent lack of response insulted you. I would like to be a part of this, but I don't know what I could contribute, other than continuing to write this.

Chapter 21: It's Always Darkest… (Part 2 – Fallout)
Nothing.

Nothing would emerge from my throat, as I tried to speak, to put into words the confusion and disbelief that this man had sparked within me.

This man… claimed to be the Archsage. The Archsage Athos, one of the eight legendary Heroes; from the Scouring over a thousand years ago.

'That's just… not possible.'

It would mean he would have to be over a millennia old; no race lives that long. It's just not possible; he would have to be immortal. And as I had just proved with Lyyr, immortality can't be achieved by man... "…Well, regardless of how grateful I am for your help I am not inclined to believe such a claim, therefore I must conclude that you are mad. As much as I'd like to repay you for your kindness I need to get going, therefore I must take my leave of you now."

"What evidence is there to prove I am not who I say I am?" he said cryptically, as I got up to leave.

"I like to think of myself as a very well educated man and most importantly rational. What you are suggesting… the identity you claim as your own. It's certainly not rational, and definitely not possible. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but it's the most irrational thing I've ever heard. If I am to believe you I need proof you are who you say you are."

He gave a weary sigh. "Very well. Consider the fact that you are still alive despite the condition you were in."

"So you are the one who saved me back there?"

"I caught you when you almost fell into the magma."

I barely remember; there was only one thing I was thinking about... still am thinking about, "Lyn… the girl that was there, where is she?" I asked hurriedly, desperation evident in my tone.

"The daughter of Roland and Hanon? Rest assured; she is safe."

I was struck with momentary confusion. "Daughter of Roland and Hanon… wait… her parents were Hassar and Madelyn… Ah, now I understand. Roland founded Lycia, her mother's homeland, and Hanon founded Sacae, where her father was born."

"You remember your history well."

"So do you."

"But to me, it isn't history," he said, a sense of fatigue so strong it seemed to almost overwhelm him as he added, "I lived it."

Suddenly one word he said earlier leapt to the forefront of my mind. "…Safe? She's all right?" I asked, with the somehow foreign feeling of shining hope in my darkened soul.

"I… wouldn't say that." He said in an almost-whisper as he looked to the ground, incredibly saddened by even voicing it aloud.

Dreading the answer after getting my hopes up, but knowing I had to ask, had to know, I finally spoke, "…How is she?"

"Your former leader missed her heart, but struck a lung. She nearly drowned in her own blood by the time I got to her. With help from the healers here, we managed to save her. But from what Lyyr claimed, she may not as yet be well."

"…I need to see her." I wasn't going to concentrate on Taliver Mountain and why he seemed to know everything that had happened and more. My mind was preoccupied with other thoughts, thoughts of what could possibly have happened. Last I saw her, I had believed her dead. That was a lot of blood loss, and she must have had extraordinary luck to have survived, even with immediate medical attention. 'Almost as much luck as myself,' I thought, remembering the wounds that should have killed me many times over. With a worried look, the bearded man led me outside of the room I had apparently been in for quite some time; where I managed to get a good look at this village. From my vantage point on a high raised walkway this place seemed to be entirely enclosed. Looking around I noticed a good many people going back and forth about their business, some giving nods and others a friendly greeting to the supposed-Archsage as we walked; and still others seemed to focus on me, giving me a more then cursory glance, as if they were frightened by my presence. What were they scared of; what was so scary about me? And why was this a hidden village?

I easily saw the beauty of this place; blue ornate stonework seemed to be everywhere, with rivers and streams running through them at odd places by way of aqueducts and canals which in turn entwined with the stairways and streets. All of it combining into a glorious crescendo in the central plaza, where I was surprised to see a sight I had not seen since Valor. A dragon. I almost died on the spot by way of sheer horror.

"Is that what I think it is, or am I the one who's gone mad?"

"Luckily for you, you are seeing the truth."

"Luckily?!"

He, for the first time, gave a small smile. "Do not worry, they will not harm you. The draconic inhabitants of this place are nothing like the ones you may have encountered before."

I had reservations… oh spirits did I have reservations, and they were many and severe; but after all he had done I was willing to believe him. Plus now that I analyzed the situation in detail the dragon seemed to be just as docile as the humans here were; flying to wherever it was going, stopping every once in a while to chat. As my gaze travelled I now noticed more than one, and even more astonishingly I saw one warp and shift into the shape of a human. "Now that… is odd." I silently wondered how many others around me were also dragons in another form. I was certain now as to why this village was kept from the public eye. It would make the common folk of Elibe very nervous to know that dragons still lived here among them.

"This place is a sanctuary where dragons and humans both live in harmony, as we did before the Scouring. I built this place, and led a small gathering of humans and dragons I found living in the desert to this place so they could be safe from the others who were left prejudiced by the conflict."

"Alright, that makes some sense." I was beginning to believe him to be Athos because of his sincerity combined with the way he seemed to speak of the past as though he was still there; it just wasn't something that could be faked easily even for the insane. Plus everyone here addressed him as Athos, and he definitely had a sage's wisdom. Something my experienced eyes could tell by simply looking. "Humanity was still reeling from the horrors of that Great War, and they simply wouldn't have believed that any dragons would show kindness," I noted, "Especially not after the many atrocities they committed."

With a clear warning to his tone, Athos reprimanded, "Atrocities were committed by both sides."

"I'm not delusional; I know humans did terrible things in their attempts at victory. Possibly things far worse than anything the dragons did." Athos fell silent and still and I knew something was troubling him. "What is it?"

"…Nothing at all." he whispered.

I decided to let him keep his secrets, but I was sure he was holding something back. Maybe something that proved me right…? Or perhaps, something that proved me very wrong. As I'd now accepted him as Greybeard, I realized he must have witnessed much that would disturb the most mentally hardy of people. The war was savage; I knew that from the history texts. But history, as always, was written by the victors. This man before me was possibly the only being still alive who saw what really happened.

We soon arrived at a large enclave, where I saw people bustling in and out, absorbed in some work or other. "This is our place of healing," announced the Archsage. "You were both taken here after I safely got you into the village. You recovered quickly; in fact it was only the blood loss that kept you unconscious for the last few days. I've rarely seen anyone heal quite that fast from injuries that extreme. You hadn't slept in days, wore yourself out through constant travel, you had many internal injuries, multiple fractured bones, and a large infected wound on your left arm." He said all this even as he led me though the doors and many corridors of the hospital. Upon our arrival to a fairly nondescript room he looked at me for a moment, before speaking; "You should go in."

I did so. Closing the door behind me I saw her lying there, sleeping soundly and even more beautiful then ever. She was dressed in a blue robe that covered her up completely from the shoulders down, but I still could see the scarring from before, just ending their curves and spirals at the base of her neck. They barely showed themselves, but suddenly there were all I could see; and they were laughing taunting and mocking me because of my failure, my failure to protect my love. What seemed like many years ago, a while after I began my first long journey with her I made a solemn promise, a promise that I would protect her no matter the cost. That I would protect her, and always put my life before hers. Even though she seemed to want to do the same for me I thought, it doesn't stop the truth. And that truth was I failed her. I was the reason she was in danger in the first place.

She was breathing, so I at least knew she survived. But then I noticed something; she was awake, and staring at me.

She was silent, but had an almost fearful expression on her face that pained me just looking at it. What could make her scared… 'Is she scared of me?' I thought fearfully as my expression suddenly mirrored hers. I suddenly realized what that would do to her. 'I need to calm myself,' I thought. Taking a deep breath I cautiously moved towards her even as she flinched away from me. I stopped, filled with fear once again. What happened to her? "…Lyn?"

"…No… not…not again… please…" she whimpered. She was trying her best to move farther away, crawling into a corner of the wall and hugging her knees as she continued to mew and whimper.

"What's the matter?"

"I-… it's not you… it's never you…" she said, seeming to speak to no-one even as tears began to form. I felt like I needed need to wipe them away, but in her current state I doubt she'd let even me get that close. But regardless, I took a careful step forward. She tried to move backward, but found she couldn't. There was nowhere else to go. "Lyn, I'm here." I said carefully, arms outstretched. "I'm really here. It's really me."

"No… never is… never…not again…" I was right at the edge of the bed, and I began to reach out my hand. She tried again to get further away, so I moved my arm back. "…That… that isn't… like before…" she said in wonder as her fearful gaze suddenly settled, and focused on me with a striking intensity; what I dared to believe was hope gradually filled those gorgeous green depths I had lost myself in so often, and yet not often enough. She gazed deep, deep into my eyes, observing every detail of their blue hue, taking note of every golden speckle and where they were. "…It… it is…"

Without warning all the fear and anxiety that had been building in me was replaced with such a powerful surge of joy and happiness that I had to rein it in as I vociferated, "Yes, it's me! I'm here. But… I said… I said I'd protect you. and… and…" Tears of shame began to roll down my face as I confessed, "…I failed… I couldn't stop them…"

"It…it really is. It's really you!" She hadn't even heard me. She was lost in her slow realisation that what she was experiencing now was reality. "You… you came…"

"Of course I did! I… I could never abandon you!" I cried, while these tears I was shedding were of both joy at her recognition, they were also of sorrow; sorrow at the fact that her condition was caused by her association to me, and nothing else. I had caused these events, I was the reason these things happened to her, and I loathed myself for it.

She slowly left the corner, the corner she seemed to have been huddled in for so long. As she approached she reached her hand out towards me, and ever so lightly touched my face with tips of her fingers. "Oh… oh… it is you…" As the last of her disbelief collapsed so did she; and all I could do was hold my beloved Lyn close as she clung to me weeping tears of relief and joy. I said nothing as I continued to hold her; all my questions and confessions could wait. Now was not the time. I will have to deal with my shame later. She needs time to heal, both mentally and physically, and I'll do everything I can to make sure that happens.

It was a long night for the Elite. The injured had to be carried on stretchers, and those were almost ruined beyond repair in the explosion. Earlier, while searching the underground maze they were trapped in Dorcas had discovered both Priscilla and Legault; both were in terrible shape and near-death, and had been taken out as safely and quickly as possible. But as much as they could do for them it wasn't enough, and they would need proper medical attention soon. This brought even worse news for the group though, as it meant that now none of their healers were in action; so they just had to rely on Hannah's medicinal knowledge. It was extensive, so extensive in fact that she had to requisition a great many supplies from Merlinus; much to his fevered protests, and then later resignation as she finally added that she would pay for the goods… eventually.

First, she mixed up many painkillers, as they were definitely needed for some of the more seriously wounded. Next, she made a few extra vulneraries; which struck many in the camp as odd as most didn't know what they were really made from. Racked with curiosity many went to see what the old lady used to make them, a choice they would forever regret as all who went were now certain that they'd never be able to look at their precious vulneraries in the same light ever again.

They had to travel lightly. So it was a mixed blessing when they discovered that not much was left intact to take. The horses were prepared and made to carry most of what they decided to take in makeshift saddlebags; the Pegasi, as strong as they are in some areas, are rather frail creatures when it comes to carrying a heavy load. They can carry their rider, and maybe a passenger or two depending, but their bones are hollow like a birds and break easily under pressure.

Now that Hawkeye was leading the army through Nebata and directly to the 'Living Legend', their journey here would be significantly shorter. Something Eliwood was thankful for as he had to rethink the water rationing issue yet again. Eliwood proceeded directly to Hawkeye and asked how long it would take to get to his master, and after being told it would take at least three days Eliwood cursed his luck and circumstances. If that wasn't bad enough the large desert man had also confirmed Eliwood's suspicion, there were no known water sources along any route they were headed in.

He double checked their current supply just to be sure. And once again came to the same conclusion, there was only enough water for a one way trip. Even if they turned back now they would never make it, their only choice was to move forward. The last few battles had taken a heavy toll on everyone; and demands for water, most especially from the wounded, were relentless. After letting all this information run through his mind a couple times, and considering the state of the morale and the wounded; Eliwood decided to take a risk, he'd stop the rationing completely. Because if they had to fight again then at least they wouldn't be suffering from dehydration; thinking of the battle that had just taken place and how they were caught off guard. How so many of the most skilled among them had been incapacitated so easily, or had fallen victim to a trap, he knew he had made the right decision. He would just have to rely on there being enough water at their destination.

While it was well received when he first began distributing the precious liquid in reasonable quantities again, morale was still poor. Seeing so many of their comrades incapacitated and near death was depressing everyone. And so time passed, and the moon and sun passed through the sky when at last they neared the objective which Uther had sent them upon.

I remain in the same position I've been in since I first caught Lyn, when she collapsed. And so there I remained; after the first four hours I lost track of the time. I spent the time just gazing at Lyn and thinking idle thoughts; anywhere from a day to a week could have passed, it didn't matter to me. Lyn was all that mattered to me, and I could gaze at her forever. I wasn't sure why I didn't go, and spend my time doing the multitude of other more constructive things that I knew I should be. I just… can't leave her side. My clothes were soaked through; she'd cried all the tears she had onto them, an almost never-ending stream. It had only eased when she eventually drifted off. She was still grasping onto me so tightly that it felt as if her soft body had been welded to me, even though she'd fallen asleep many hours before. Occasionally her hands gripped even harder during her rest, periodically cutting off the already poor circulation in my body completely. Lyn's beautiful emerald eyes moved slightly underneath her flickering eyelids as she dreamed, but she almost never talked in her sleep; so except for very random and fleeting expressions I had no idea what she was experiencing, although her steady heart rate assured me it was probably pleasant...

As glad as I was that she was getting the deep restful sleep she so desperately needed I couldn't help but be a little confused by her restful slumber; with what my poor Lyn had just suffered through never would I have thought that someone, anyone, could have such a good dream so soon afterward… Maybe it was my presence. I allowed myself to enjoy the pleasure that thought brought me. More importantly though that's why I hadn't left, because if my presence helped her; then nothing could make me leave her side. I owed her too much to leave her alone after this; not again, never again, I assured myself.

I had left once before, thinking it best for us both and all it accomplished was leaving her to adjust to a new life in a strange country alone and that hurt her. It hurt her because she'd given me the honour of joining her tribe, but I was oblivious to the traditions that made it so. I hadn't known how much she wanted me to stay. And that hurt me too.

After another long, unknown time, a woman in healer's garments peered through the door. She noticed me there with her patient wrapped around me, and she gave a small smile and entered quietly. She silently came over to me and whispered, "The Archsage has requested to see you."

I replied just as quietly, "Very well, but I don't want to wake her…" I stated, as I gazed at her with pleading eyes.

The healer smiled warmly and proceeded to gently peel Lyn's arms off me with a practiced ease, as I flexed and moved my body to return the circulation I watched as she gently as humanly possible (then again, not everyone here is human, are they?) laid my precious Lyn to rest.

"I have one question," I uttered. When I noticed her looking at me with interest I continued. "Well, when I was walking here with Archsage Athos people seemed to not want to look directly at me, they seemed to be afraid to even make eye contact. It's like… they were scared of me. I don't know the reason for that, but can you tell me why; and why aren't you?"

That warm smile returned to her features as she answered, "People here are scared of you, but it's nothing you did. You're an outsider, and there haven't been many since this village was originally built. Our ancestors came here to hide from those outside our community, in the fear that they would destroy us if we were found. And also, we know nothing of you; other than the Archsage's assurance that you aren't like that. So the people here simply tolerate your presence."

I nodded in comprehension. That made sense. "So why-"

"When I came in and saw you there, so still and unmoving just to comfort her and not disturb her rest, I thought, 'He's someone I don't need to fear. Anyone like that is safe to be around.'"

That wasn't the first time I'd heard such sentiment, so I thought about it for a moment. Eventually I stood up, and moved to the door. Standing in the open doorway I sorrowfully stated, "…I'm not safe." 'Every time I start to believe that, something bad happens to someone I love', these thoughts were ringing in my ears as I left the healer to attend to Lyn.

It was some time before I could find anyone who would even go near me, let alone talk to me. I didn't know where Athos resided, so I needed to ask directions. I was still wary of talking to the dragons, so for a while I steered clear of them. After a time I realised that would only increase my problems, because if anyone was watching me they would immediately notice I was avoiding them; therefore I must be prejudiced, and all I would end up doing is reinforcing the idea that I was a danger.

Plucking up my courage I decided to seek out a dragon. Since they seemed to be everywhere it didn't take me long. It didn't take me a second to spot one just ahead of me; it was running around and seemed to be playing with some small children. The dragon itself seemed small for one of its kind, probably a child itself. Beyond being rude it might be dangerous to refer to the dragon as 'it', but as of yet I don't know its gender; so all I can do is hope it transforms soon. As I waited I noticed its beautiful violet scales shimmering in the sunlight that filled this village, and I found it hard to see what mankind could ever have had against these beautiful intelligent creatures; if this one is anything to go by at least. Maybe the war started because of fear of a possible future threat. It's shameful, but gazing at these dragons it may very well be correct.

Eventually the dragon had finished playing, and seemed a bit tired. It was slouching a little, and its movements weren't nearly as fluid as they had been earlier. It was starting to shift to a human form, so I decided to approach. As I drew closer it completed its transformation, and I saw standing where the scaled creature was mere seconds ago a small pretty young girl; she looked to be no more than about 8 years old, she had wild untamed hair the same beautiful violet color as her dragon scales, very pale skin, bright expressive green eyes, and a strange red mark on her forehead. She was dressed in a thick shirt with a matching orange skirt, a yellow cloak, and a pink undershirt (though I could only tell that through her sleeves).

As I finished taking note of the happy girl's appearance I watched as she skipped towards nothing in particular, laughing all the while. I made sure that as I walked toward her I was noticed by pressing the heel of my boots down on the ground as loudly as possible with every footstep. She suddenly stopped her movements, and then spun around on the spot her arms almost gracefully flinging around with the rest of her body until she was facing me directly, with an even more joyful expression on her face then before. "Hi! Who are you? Are you from outside? Fa wants to know all about outside!"

Stunned at the mass of words just flung at me in the space of a second by this small girl, I gaped; it took a while for my mind to register anything she'd said. And even then it took a while still for me to form any kind of response, with her all the while just standing there expectantly, that infectious joyful expression never leaving her bright cheerful face. "…Err… My name's Andur…" My mind was so muddled at this moment in time that I was double-checking to see if I was right about even that. "…And I am from outside this village. The Archsage brought me here."

"Fa knows! Fa saw you being taken to the healers!" she exclaimed.

"…Then why did you ask?" I enquired, even more befuddled then ever.

"Fa wanted to! To see if you're a nice man! You're a nice man."

Hearing it put so simply I was surprised. I would never have said that or expected to hear it about myself, from anyone. Yet with a child's incontrovertible logic, she thought I was a 'nice man.' I used to believe I wasn't. It took me years to work out what she did in a matter of seconds. Thinking of Lyn, Leila, the healer just moments ago, and now this girl I couldn't help bit think that maybe I'm just a bit dim.

"…People have said as much." I replied, a grin inexorably making its way to my face as I gazed at this exuberant girl.

"You talk funny! Fa likes you! What'dya want to talk to Fa about?"

Once again, the child's words came out like a shot. How can someone say so much in less then a second, it's just too many words coming at me all at once! "…How did you know I wanted to talk to you?" I said, after my quick mind managed to decode what she had spoken.

"Saw you walking to me, so Fa came to you!"

"All right. I wanted to know where the Archsage lives. I've been asked to see him."

"Fa knows where he is! Fa will take you!"

"…Umm… thanks." I said, as I stopped to gaze at her once again. I watched as she began skipping off once more in a direction I could only describe as random. No matter how nice or cute this girl was I thought to myself, it was still rather difficult to talk to a person when they constantly referred to themselves in the third-person. Rather off-putting. Yet she looked as though she knew where she was going. So as I began to follow her lead I couldn't help but doubt she'd taken the most direct route.

I was soon proven correct. All the way there I was bombarded with questions about the outside world; the amount and manner in which she asked clearly showed that she was completely fascinated by it. I knew that she shouldn't go outside. The outside world was just too dangerous for a dragon, especially one as innocent, young and impressionable as she. So I did my best to give answers that didn't encourage her to leave; yet I made sure I still give her enough information so as not to disappoint her and make that happy little smile go away. I never lied, that much is true. But I made sure I put a negative spin on things.

"There! He lives there!" she said, pointing to a door just across from where we were standing.

"All right, thanks." I turned to leave, but a tugging on my sleeve prevented me.

"When you go, can Fa come too?"

Oh dear. I was expecting this, yet I still had hoped she wouldn't ask it of me. "…I'm afraid not Fa."

"But why? Fa wants to see the places you've told Fa about!"

"Well Fa… it's dangerous out there right now. I was in the healers for a reason. Bad people are out there, and people like me are out to get rid of them. Once they're gone, it'll be safe for you to come out."

"But Fa wants to go!"

While I looked calm on the outside, my mind was frantic. I couldn't let her go with me, but neither did I want to hurt her feelings. Suddenly, as I looked down on her sweet yet determined face gazing up at me with her violet eyes wide and shining with hope, an idea struck me. "Tell you what, Fa. When it's safe I'll come back to fetch you. Then we'll explore the world togetherI promise, how does that sound?"

"We'll go outside?"

"I'll introduce you to many of my friends, and we'll all travel around Elibe; seeing all the sights and wonders the world has to offer together! But, it may be many years before I return; possibly even a few decades." I had to be honest. I really thought that travelling around the continent under more relaxed circumstances would be enjoyable, lots of fun even, as I'd never seen some of the fascinating and wondrous places I've studied and read about yet; and the places I have visited… well my visits have never been under the best of circumstances, to say the least. And I never get to see much before trudging on... But the more I thought about it the more I realized I was right about the decades thing. I had no idea how fast dragons aged. The only thing I was sure of was that Fa probably aged slower; otherwise how could dragons live for so long? A decade to me may only be a year or so to her.

"Okay! Fa will wait for you to come back!" Once again I turned to leave, and once again a tugging on my sleeve prevented me. "You'll play with Fa later, right?" She stated with her usual speed, before I could even completely turn around to face her.

Hearing those words I gave a bright smile as I replied, "Of course. I'll come find you later." Making a happy noise, she went on her way.

For the third time I started for the door Fa indicated. And actually managed to get there this time and rap lightly on the door. "Enter." I did so, and Athos glanced up from one of his desks; it was littered with books, much like Erk's and Canas' always seem to be whenever we stayed at an inn. Not to surprising I suppose; I guess all mages are alike, at least when it comes to their endless fascination with knowledge. "Greetings, Andur."

"You called me here?"

"That I did. Some information has recently come to my attention. But before I get into that," He reached under his desk and pulled out a bundle wrapped in cloth. "Here." It was my sword. I suddenly remembered that I cast it away when I had tackled Lyyr.

I took it from his outstretched hands. "Thanks."

"I returned to the mountain, and retrieved it, along with your other possessions that you left there," he said, while motioning to a bag hanging from the inside of the door. "But while I was there, I discovered something."

"The information you referred to earlier?"

Suddenly his gaze fixed on me with a steel that made me realize what had made the man such a legend. "Yes. It was… most troubling. Lyyr… is still alive."

I almost broke down. I couldn't believe that. I'd seen him plunge into the molten lava. I'd heard him burn. I'd heard him scream. He should be disintegrated. "…How can he have survived? No man could have survived that!"

"As you may have found out when you fought him, he is no longer a man."

"Yes… he wasn't hurt by anything I did. And I threw everything I had at him… all he would do was smile and shake it off though; like it was nothing, like he enjoyed it. But… even that should've killed him! I mean come on; he fell into a pit of Molten Lava! Where is he now? Do you know?"

His gaze focused on me; his ancient hypnotic eyes seemingly seeing straight into my soul, and then he stated as calmly as possible, "Is that a desire for revenge I see in your heart? You want to kill him for what he has done?"

"Without question. Yes. Yes I do."

"You will find that to be quite impossible. You see, he's still inside Taliver Mountain, he's still inside that pit of molten lava. And there he will remain, as he is even now… screaming in agony."

My mind stalled completely at that. I was suddenly flooded with an endless amount of questions, but in the end I only asked one. "How is that possible?"

"He said it himself. He was, is indestructible."

I mulled that over... as I fought Lyyr, I saw his wounds heal over instantly. Is that what was happening even now? "You mean, the moment he hit the lava and his flesh and bones started to burn and melt away, he was, and still is instantly healing and regenerating. And then the process just repeats all over again and his body burns and melts away, then heals, then burns, and so on forever?"

"I believe so, yes."

I took a moment to really think about this, and at first I was pleased. But then a sudden horrific thought struck me full in the face, and I immediately spoke it aloud. "…I don't know whether I'm glad about that or not. He was, is one of the most deplorable and truly evil men I've ever had the grave misfortune of encountering, but even he doesn't deserve an eternity of constant agony and never ending pain. He said… that I am capable of the same blood thirst that the Taliver had. I think… I think he was right."

Athos remained silent; he knew he had to let the man speak his mind. He didn't know how he'd react if he had found out that he'd sentenced someone to a literal eternity of burning, no… melting alive.

"In that place," I began. "When I saw Lyn stabbed, I just reacted, and I reacted relentlessly and mercilessly. My only thoughts were of revenge, as bloody and horrible as humanly possible. And… I succeeded. I gave Lyyr the worst possible fate imaginable. The worst fate any living being could ever be subjected to. I… I… How could I have done such a thing?"

"No one, not even I, could have foreseen the outcome of doing such a thing, under any circumstances."

"But I should have! No one deserves that, not even him! Lyyr was right; I am just as bad as the Taliver! No, worse! No-one's ever inflicted such never ending agony and torment… committed such an act of abject cruelty on another living creature!"

His gaze didn't seem to quite reach mine as he replied "…I have said all I need to. You may leave." His back was turned to me completely. After a few moments of quiet hesitation, thoughts of self-loathing strangling every conscious thought, I departed. Returning to my temporary abode I repeated my arguments to myself in my head… over and over, trying to find any fault; there had to be one, there had to. Lyn and the others… they all saw good in me. They all did. So it had to be there… somewhere. But my actions inside Taliver mountain had brought out the worst in me, and I saw what I truly was… underneath all the layers of civility, morality, and guilt I'd created to mask the truth… to mask what I truly was….

A Monster.

Green Blackguard: Still very dark, this one, wasn't it?
Green Paladin: Don't worry; things will be getting brighter soon!
Green Blackguard: Seems like I'll have no part in the next chapter!
Green Paladin: After all the hurt, after all the pain, comes the next chapter, a chapter of healing. Adrenaline junkies steer clear! Chapter 22: …Before Dawn (Part 1 – A Day in Arcadia), released soon!