Chapter 9: Anguish

As night drew over, the tired and weary group of fighters moved into the village, their hearts pounding and heavy with the loss that they had faced. Both Oswin and Dorcas had the terrible duty of carrying Priscilla's silent corpse into the village. As they walked, bruised and sweating, the villagers looked on in horror at the image. It was akin to a death procession, the horrible reminder of the pain that 'heroes' had to go through in order to save the day.

Within the inn, Lucius was sat inside his room, which he was sharing with Canas and Serra. The three of them sat silently on their beds, their heads in their hands. The stench of grief was thick in the air and each was attempting to nurse their pain.

"…I can't believe she's gone…" Canas said quietly. "I remember she gladly healed me yesterday when I tripped and grazed my elbow. And now…"

"This is so horrible" Serra uttered, her usual perky attitude completely gone. "I…I-I…."

Lucius did not say a single word. He was dressed in a vest and a pair of baggy trousers, having removed his bloodied robes. His thoughts were on Raven, who was aided to the inn before his wound was tended to. Lucius could remember watching Raven hold back as many tears as he could as he sat on the chair in the main room of the inn whilst the owners tried to stop the bleeding.

There was a knock on the door, to which nobody responded. It opened slowly, revealing Hector on the other side. His face was one of severe discomfort, already steeled for the occasion, but unsettled by everybody's grievance.

"…Due to the…circumstances that we're faced with…everybody's payment will have to be halted until next week"

Hector's announcement was met with a deadly silence, one that caused him to slowly shuffle out of the room. As he closed the door, Canas sighed once more.

"…Oh, how is Raven going to cope?" he sniffled. "It must be…s-so hard for him…"

"…I'm going to speak to him" Lucius said suddenly, standing up and walking out of the room with an unusual speed. Both Canas and Serra looked up to see Lucius leaving, before placing their heads back in their hands.

Lucius walked briskly through the inn towards the room where Raven was resting his injury. Knocking on the door, he waited patiently for a reply.

No response. He knocked again.

Still no answer. Lucius knew he had to speak to Raven. Without knocking again, he defied his usual patience and opened the door.

There was a heavy thud against the door as soon as he moved it. Lucius flinched as the door shook suddenly; a loud bang filled the corridor he was in. He heard something drop against the floor soon after; something had been thrown against the door. A few seconds of silence passed before Lucius took a deep breath and slowly continued to open the door. The room on the other side of the door seemed to be almost completely dark, and as Lucius walked in and closed the door behind him, he saw the only light in the dim room was coming from a weak lantern and the moonlight that shone through the window. He could make out a bed that had specks of blood on an oddly positioned pillow, usually where the arm would be in a sleeping position.

Looking at the window, he saw a half illuminated face peering grimly out of the window. His expression was cold, emotionless, and one could just make out a glistening in his lit eye.

"Lord Raym-" Lucius said quietly, walking slowly towards him.

"Get out" raven said sharply. Lucius felt the tone of his voice cut through him, stopping him suddenly.

"Lord Raymond…I'm so sorry…" Lucius said quietly. "If…i-if only I had been faster…I could have done something. His light brand….I was able to resist it. I should have faced him…."

Raven said nothing in response. Lucius watched as his face slowly twisted into one of anguish. His head lowered; the shade covered his eyes, further masking his expression. Lucius's eyes had adjusted to the dark and he could make out Raven's body in the darkness; he was leaning against the wall with his good arm, his bad arm in a bandage, carrying the wound that would haunt him forever.

"Lord Raymond, if it makes you feel any better…" Lucius started. "I-I'll do anything you ask me to from here on out. If you want me to carry your weapons, or if you want me to keep you company at any time, or…"

"Shut up Lucius" Raven said harshly, silencing Lucius once again. "Just…shut up"

"…Lo-lord Raymond…" Lucius stuttered, almost afraid. Raven let out a quick yell and struck the wall next to him as hard as he could, causing the whole wall to reverberate in response. The extinguished ceiling candle rocked from the strike.

"For…g-god's sake…" he said, slowly caressing his damaged arm as he curled in pain. Lucius quickly walked up to Raven, extending his arms to care for his wound. But as he neared, Raven snapped towards Lucius, driving him back.

"Go away!" he yelled. "Stay away from me!"

"I'm only trying to help you!" Lucius pleaded in desperation. Raven grabbed the little fake flower decoration on the windowsill and threw it violently to the ground, shattering the ceramic jug it sat in.

"I don't need you or your stupid help!" he yelled. "You're just a pain to me! If you could have saved her, then why didn't you? Why didn't you see what was happening and stop her!"

Lucius stood back, beginning to feel upset at Raven's outburst. Raven stood up and shoved his face right into Lucius's, their eyes merely an inch apart. Lucius could feel his anger raging out from his grating breath.

"If you're not to blame, then whom do I blame for her death?" he spoke harshly, his voice a raging whisper. "That wretch, Hector! That's who!"

Lucius couldn't believe what he was hearing. Of all people, he had to mention Hector.

"Raymond, you can't bring your grudge into this" Lucius reasoned with a pleading tone. "You'll tear the foundations of this group into pieces!'

"I couldn't give a shit about the foundation" Raven spat. "Hector was there, looking at Priscilla when it happened. I saw him and Eliwood telling her to go, but Hector was careless…I could tell by the look on his smug, conceited face!"

"Raymond, that's enough!" Lucius spoke, his voice raising. Raven then pushed Lucius out of his way, starting for the door. "Where are you going?"

He watched in swift horror as Raven impulsively grabbed his sword with his good hand, flinching as he lifted the heavy blade up into a readied position, still stomping towards the door.

"I'm gonna kill that piece of crap, right now!" he yelled. Lucius quickly ran towards Raven, grabbing him by his good arm.

"No, control yourself!" Lucius yelled.

"Let me go!" Raven yelled back.

"Nrrggg…Raymond!" Lucius yelled, suddenly grabbing Raven's bad arm. Raven felt the pain surge right through him causing him to drop his blade and scream in pain. Lucius quickly let go in shock, unable to believe he hurt Raven in such a way. A second later, he felt a gauntlet grip his throat tightly, squeezing against the Adam's apple within. Raven was choking him.

He looked right into Raven's eyes; he was lost in anger. Grabbing onto his arm, he tried to free himself, but his physical state was severely undermined by Raven's. Was he going to die here at the hands of his own friend? As he was forced against the wall, striking his head against the concrete, he closed his eyes tightly and prayed within his head to St Elimine, pleading that he would make it safely through the night. He felt queasy and light headed as he struggled to breathe against the tight grip of raven's hand.

Raven suddenly let go, dropping Lucius to the floor. Lucius gasped for breath, still choking on the air around him. As he gasped, his eyes filled with tears, streaming down his face. He looked up, still able to feel the hand on his throat, caressing it as much as he could as he breathed rapidly to see Raven looking down in shock, his hand to his mouth.

"…A-ah…" he uttered. "Lucius, I'm…."

But Lucius had had enough of Raven. He tried to get to his feet.

"Go away" he said firmly, still regaining his breath. "I-I don't want to see you…go!'

Raven looked at Lucius in anguish, before gripping his hair and yelling. Quickly, he spun around and stomped out of the room, not bothering with his sword. He slammed the door behind him, extinguishing the lantern with the sweep of the door. Lucius was shut within the dark, panting for breath.

The room was spinning around him. He coughed violently, the residue of his cough splattering onto his hand. He couldn't see, but he was convinced by the strength of the choke that he was coughing blood. Thankfully, as he brought his shivering hand to the light, he saw that the fluid was clear. He wasn't bleeding. Leaning against the window, he pressed his head against the glass, trying to suppress his tears. He felt so miserable, not only had he lost a dear friend to him, but also his closest friend in violent exchange.

"I'm so stupid…" Lucius cursed to himself. "I shouldn't have come here….I just made things worse"

Looking up, he allowed his tears to flow from his face. Wasn't he allowed to cry now and then, when nobody was looking?

"H-he…he ch…ch-choked me…"

Lucius could hear the door opening quietly behind him as he cried to himself. Bringing a hand to his face, he knew he couldn't face who was behind the door.

"…Lucius?"

"Florina…please, leave me alone"

"I heard all the shouting…"

"please…*sob*…Just leave me alone…."

There was yet another silence before he could sense the door closing again. The immense sense of gratitude built inside Lucius as his wish was granted to him. Turning so his faced the darkness, he nursed his grief as he slumped onto the floor against the wall, caressing his face with his tear soaked hand.