(Cithria, Dauntless Vanguard - PoV)
"And...here...we...go!" I carefully place the pile of books on the table next to the cell. They are not really heavy, certainly not compared to the weights we train with, but trying to balance so many can be...interesting. And I wouldn't want to drop them, some are quite valuable!
I've been visiting Sylas as Jarvan suggested. He is quite pleasant to talk to, for the most part. His anger shines through occasionally, but his wit and curiosity remain. I can't imagine how boring it must be, to have that great a mind and be stuck in there with nothing to do for so long, so I have been satisfying his craving for books. He reads incredibly fast, especially since I got better lighting put in.
Really. the whole dark dungeons thing seems just rude. What purpose does it serve?
I pass the books through the bars one by one. "I got everything on the list this time, be careful with them, please? Some of these are really old, I don't want to get in trouble if they get damaged." I plead.
"Have no fear, my dear, have no fear. I do my best to treat knowledge with the respect it deserves," he assures me.
He has always been very careful with the books, more careful than me, to be honest. I may have had a bad habit of dog-earing pages when I was little that the librarian beat out of me.
Umm...literally. She was kinda mean. Didn't exactly encourage my reading habits, or lack thereof, which Sylas claimed to be a tragedy.
I can't tell if he is flirting with me or not. The fact he never wears a shirt doesn't help.
"Ok! Umm, I think that's it for now, sorry! I would stay and chat but we have a lot of work to do right now, I'll be back in a day or two, ok?" So many people to question, and unlike with Sylas I never like their answers. How they can consider themselves just with what they have done...
"That is more than fine my dear, you have already done a great deal for me, and have certainly left me in good company," he gestures to the books. "Best of luck on your work, not that a brilliant woman such as yourself needs it," he says with a smile.
I...uh...
"O-ok, bye!"
"Hi Sylas, I'm back! How are you doing?" I ask.
"Good, good. Better since you are here, of course," he smiles at me.
I can't stop the blush. Yeah, definitely flirting. From a prisoner. One who really shouldn't be imprisoned, but is because he...might be insane.
...
So he is literally crazy hot then? Oh gods don't say that out loud. New subject, new subject!
"U-uh, that's good. Were the books ok?"
"Very much so, some excellent material in there. I admit, that books can only get one so far however...I...hrm."
"What is it?" It's not normal for him to hesitate, he is usually so, confident.
"I am sorry to ask for more, when you have already done so much for me, but, would it be possible to speak with another mage?"
He touches the mark on his chest. I am just examining the mark, nothing else! No, nothing else at all.
...
He is in really good shape for someone who loves books so much.
I refocus on his face as he continues. Not that I ever lost focus. No sir.
"Part of it is just the ability to have a...theoretical discussion I suppose, but more importantly to...hear from someone else about...it. About the...Process."
...
"I...I can understand that. Umm...I, don't know? I don't personally know any mages...I will have to ask around and see, ok?"
He nods. "I understand, my dear. As I said I am sorry to ask for yet another favor when you are already working so hard, just..."
He sighs.
He looks so dejected and alone in there...
I firm up my determination. It's not enough that we catch all the ones responsible, we also have to help all the people they hurt.
Yes, I will absolutely do what I can to find someone for him to talk to. Hopefully, it will help with his whole, you know, madness thing, and we can get him out of here?
"Sylas! Good news!"
"Oh? Cithria? You are looking well. And who is this?" he asks.
I can't help it, I am bouncing on the soles of my feet.
"Thank you! And this is Donnovan! He is from the Academy."
"I see. Pardon me for being blunt but, I had heard...poor things about how the mages of the academy fared recently?" Sylas questions.
I wince.
"Very much so," Donnovan states blandly. "I was lucky enough to have been recruited quite recently, and had been given a," he does finger quotes, "reasonable dose, so as far as we can tell will suffer no permanent effects from my short-lived time under Dr. Brightroar and his staff."
"Ah, that is good news at least," Sylas replies. "I have been told that my own dose was small enough that I am hopefully only," again with the finger quotes..."mildly insane," he says with a smile.
Understanding seems to pass between the two.
"I...I'm sorry..." I feel the need to say. If only I could do more than try to clean up the aftereffects...
Sylas looks towards me.
"Now now dear, you have nothing to apologize for. You have been nothing but a paragon of nobility in this dark world, it is so many others that have much to answer for. Indeed, I thank you for bringing Mr. Donnovan here to meet with me. Donnovan my good man!" Sylas holds out his hand through the bars, which the other mage takes.
TzzzztttKrrraakkthoooommm!
...
...
Wha...what? What happened?
I look around, seeing white dust drifting around me, and shattered stone.
An explosion? Sylas!
...
Sylas stands, free of his cell, a smile on his face as he helps Donnovan to his feet.
"Up we get my good man, sorry about that. Thank you for the charge, exactly what I needed to pop on out of there."
He releases the younger mage's hand and looks around the hallway, prisoners staring out of their cells. In the distance alarm bells begin to ring.
"Ah, freedom at last. Tastes quite sweet, even with all the debris in the air, unfortunate that."
Looking at Donnovan he asks. "So, I am going to free all the Mages, kill those bastard Mageseekers, and we are going to get out of this shithole kingdom. Are you in?"
The man blinks, before smiling. "Sounds like a plan to me."
I stand up. "What? But...Donnovan...the Academy..."
They look at me.
"The Academy? The same Academy that tried to drive me insane so they could murder me?" he answers.
"But...but we arrested them!" I protest.
"What about all the students that beat me every day that I didn't have magic? Spit upon me? Gave me the shitiest tasks every day? Exclude me from every event? Or my family, who disowned me? My friends, who abandoned me? They may no longer be actively attempting to murder me, but I am no more welcome than I ever was. No, I will take my chances with my own kind."
"But...I thought...Things were getting better?" We worked so hard...
Sylas answers me. "They are, somewhat, my dear. But just dealing with the absolute worst of the monsters will not deal with the culture of hatred that runs rampant through Demacia. Even if they do not tie them to the stake themselves, the citizens still cheer as they burn."
"No, we are not welcome here. I would like nothing more than to rampage through everyone, to show them what we are truly capable of, but those such as yourself stay my hand. We shall take our revenge, our justice, on those truly deserving, and leave. Will you stand in our way?"
The two of them walk past me...going to free more prisoners. Sylas pats me on the shoulder.
I...should stop them. My duty demands it.
...
Duty...to who?
I slump to the floor.
Who am I fighting for?