Pinnikle: The Lost Truth

6: Of pride & humility

Recorded by Finnegan Lionhartt,
Of events which began to take place on the 14th eve of Balendra, and were continuing through the early morning of the 15th day; year of Pinnikle: 1,216.

"Nix of Pinnikle," Lumin reiterated, and paused to wait for jeering. After a moment, he asked a shattering question: "Who among you witnessed Sophia Lionhartt's death, and stood by?"

The crowd looked around dodgingly, unwilling to recall their guilt. They felt embarrassed, and pride rose within them to assure each against any wrong-doing. They did not answer.

After a time of silence, Tryn shouted powerfully, "Answer! Admit your omission!"

"I... I will admit it," I heard a little brave voice.

I could not find the one who spoke among the crowd, but they concluded, "I saw her die, and I did not help," the voice came from Lumin's other shoulder, from Tiko. "You have my deepest apologies," She said, and looked past me, down into Sophie's eyes.

As they shared looks of understanding, Tiko sniffled and lost a little tear to Lumin's chest beneath her.

"Be forgiven, little one," Tryn said delicately, and looked at my friend with loving eyes. "You are only a small nix, the burden of a life lost does not belong to you."

Tiko responded to the bright star, "Still, I was among those who watched. If no one will take the blame, I will - on behalf of the village."

The crowd was clearly not disarmed by Tiko's words, but felt ashamed and threatened in reputation, because they had been represented by someone so small. Trynity turned her gaze back to the crowd, and grew flustered by them. She raised her voice over the silent gawkers, "Who else among you have the wits to admit your omission!? Surely you will follow the example of this child!"

I thought it was harsh of Tryn to pester them, but I supposed they each needed to admit what they had done.

"I,", One said.

"M-me too," said another.

"N' as well," came from one more.

But that was not enough to satisfy Tryn. The nix had only admitted to each other that they had watched Sophie die. They did not lift their eyes to myself, or Sophie. Nonetheless, Tryn and Lumin waited patiently until every nix had confessed to each other.

Once they finished and grew silent yet again, Tryn continued to press them: "Nix of Luca village: For your omission on the night of Sophia Lionhartt's death, know you deserve to have this child and her brother stripped from your responsibility. I have brought the issue to the current queen and king. They have committed to raise these children and see to their safety, if you will not. But we agree on the sense that Sophie and Fin should be brought up in the village of their parents. On that note: who among you have sought after these children's parents, or did you even notice they went missing?"

The crowd was silent again, and again Tiko was the first to respond, though this time she kept her response to a whisper in Lumin's ear. He turned his back to the crowd as he listened, and asked her in a clumsy whisper, "Will you share this with your village, bold one?".

"Yes," Tiko responded in a cute whisper, feeling very honored by the giant.

Lumin faced the crowd who was becoming cantankerous by the second, and addressed them, "One of your little ones will speak on your behalf."

"No, no!" Interrupted the nasally man. "Ignis and Kelora, the tike's paren's - they're not from around here. They're not ours to look after."

"You crude little..." Tryn sneered, "Those two have spent time in every one of your homes. They showed you hospitality, helped with your tinkery, and much more! They were certainly two of your own!"