The Missing Stone

Sickly Terror

Guards rush in, brandishing axes and swords. Glenn is bewildered, putting his hands up in surrender as they search his pockets and clothes. Maris practically shakes in fear, clutching the tome to his chest until it's ripped away by one of the guards. They take their weapons, Maris' device he forgot he had, and Glenn's lance.

Glenn looks over at Maris as their hands are tied behind their backs, mentally asking, What the hell did you do!? Maris doesn't answer, quivering as they are led outside and pushed to their knees, heads bent down, making their hair fall forward and cover their eyes.

The square is quiet, the whispers of merchants and locals making Maris' face burn hot with shame. If only you hadn't lost that stupid book-

"You guys are certainly having a bad day, aren't you?" Someone asks, tone light, a pair of boots coming into Maris' line of sight. "I've been itching for a battle despite all this war going on in Fodlan...you two will do nicely."

-

This chair is dusty, Maris thinks. There's a blindfold covering his eyes and ropes tying him to said dusty chair. He isn't uncomfortable though. While the chair is a little dusty, making Maris sneeze occasionally, it's also soft and large. He's cold. He doesn't have shoes, his bare feet just barely brushing the cold concrete floor of whatever room he's in.

They'd taken him out of the cell with Aubin, tying him up and putting him in this dusty chair. He heard the door shut, then footsteps fade. A really long time passed, and Maris was almost asleep until he jolted awake to someone screaming.

It was one of pain and agony, of terror and petrifying fear.

Now he sits waiting in anticipation, wondering what happened to that person who screamed, wondering if it was Aubin, wondering if the one who gave him his name is gone. Is the person he rescued okay? Are they waiting for him, sitting in anticipation just like Maris, wondering what had happened or where he is?

He shivers, hangs his head. He does not know. All he does know is that he will escape, and live his life to the fullest.

Like she said.

-

"Come on, get up."

She's hauled to her feet, blood rushing to her head and making her dizzy. She stumbles forward, being dragged forward by her chains. She can't find the will in her to disagree, something muddy and cloudy coursing through her veins, not letting her think consciously. They push her into a room, the chains suddenly falling to the ground and making her feel like she'll float away without them.

"Aubin!" Someone cries, a pair of hands taking her by the shoulders. "Is that you!?"

"I..." She tries to speak, her body failing her, as if it is not her own...

"They did something to her," another voice says, the sound rough and coarse, as if they've been crying. Her entire body burns. Someone buries their head into her shoulder, the wetness of tears seeping into her shoulder.

"Everyone is gone.." they sob, clutching her tight. She opens her eyes slightly.

Someone with two small fluffy lumps on their head sits in front of her, their hair and clothes caked in blood, some dried, some fresh, the colors blending together in an ugly mix of brown and green and red. Another person sits farther away, two large shadows behind them.

"Chevalier...Mother..." the person in her arms mumbles. "Macuil and Indech had fled just in time, and Rhea..." They choke on their tears, clutching her tighter. "It's just us now."