Another Adventure
After the victory, the dead had been tallied. Some 8,000 cultist troops had died, and absolutely no survivors or captives. The Legion had suffered a small loss. Even though they'd never fought the Cultists before, superior combat training for any enemy and conditions had kept them alive. And even the mercenarys, who had far less experience and training, lost minimal numbers. Of course, that was mostly due to the fact that they'd fought nothing but Cultists.
All Legion and Mercanary bodies were wrapped up and sent to their respective homes, so that they could be properly buried. Those without homes were sent to where their homes had once been. If it was a Legionnarre in the same situation, they were sent to the fortress they'd last been stationed at. The cultists were left to rot.
Finally, after all the bodies had been cleaned up and removed from the plateau area, a party began. Food was served, and the soldiers happily ate and drank. The party got truly interesting when some musical instruments were procured from within the stronghold. Those that could play them were summoned up, and soon they were playing away.
"Good music eh?" Asked Tactus.
"I've heard better." Peerha replied.
"Sure, it's a bit off-tune, but it's the only music I've heard in a godd long time." Tactus argued.
"Peerha, you gotta relaxe man. The war's finished. We have no more troubles to worry about now."
"For you maybe. But for me the war hasn't ended. I thought it had though, years ago. When I married Elith, I'd thought it was all behind me. But my war just kept on continuing. I couldn't escape it. So I left her alone, and went on an expedition. I fought many battles. I found many treasures. That expedition was what I needed. My war had ended."
'But then I come home, and I find the war's started all over again. It just won't end for me.'
Jekhel and Tactus stared for a very long time.
"You feelin' alright?"
"Tactus, you're an idiot. Of course he ain't okay!" Jekhel slapped Tactus lightly on the head. "Peerha, tell us what's going on. What do you mean by all that."
"It means that I'm hurting. When I fought Mazda, I lost my brother. I was hurt. Even after Mazda was destroyed, and I'd put Pariah's soul to rest, I was not comforted. I still missed him. The weight that had been lifted off my shoulders just kept coming back. Every battle and adventure I partook in was a battle against my own demons. I couldn't help but despair over him."
'Finally I gave up and quit freelancing. I settled down, started beginning a family. I figured if I put the battles behind me, I'd leave the demons behind too. Well, they found me. They haunted me in my sleep, at first. But then they took hold of me during the day too. It was depression at it's worst. So I tried something. I went on an adventure, like the golden days. A quest for treasures, a quest for new challenges to overcome, new adventures to experience. It cured me right up. I was freed of my demons."
'And that's when I came home. I found my wife dead, my home burned to the ground. All the old wounds re-opened, and the demons flooded me. This war, this physical war against the cultists, was also a war against my demons. I thought that if I won this war, I would free myself up.'
Jekhel interjected. "But you haven't, have you."
"No. A week ago, I was contacted by a friend of mine. We shared many adventures together. She told me that some urgent business had arisen, and it needed my help immediately. So you see, I'm still being haunted by my demons. I need to leave, and find out what this is all about. Then I might be able to free myself."
Though the laughter was loud and raucous all around them, it all sounded eerie and silent to the trio.
"When are you leaving?" said Tactus.
"Now." Peerha stood up. "Tell whatever story you choose to the troops, should they ask. Good bye my friends." Peerha turned and started walking away. Jekhel spoke up again though.
"Peerha. When you get sorted out, find me in Ebonheart. I'll have opened an alchemy shop there. Be sure to see me again."
"I will Jekhel. I promise."