The Obsidian Empire

Chapter 16: A Spirit Bound

Possibly the worst part about this whole nightmare is that at this point, this cell is starting to feel like home. Llwell feels safer here than he does in the main hall, or outside in the streets. At least in here there are metal bars to give him an illusion of protection from everything out there.

He hasn't moved since he was put back in the dungeon while the magisters sent countless soldiers out to try and locate Thylle. He still doesn't understand why they would have done that. He gets that they despise Tessiavar, but this isn't just about the kingdom anymore. That was pure spite that was turned around and spat in the face of the Restoration. It's exactly as they said before leaving the Living Forest; the Restoration is liable for anything they do.

Any chance they had at proving innocence is gone.

And there's nothing he can do about it.

At the sound of footsteps approaching, he slightly lifts his head to see Dumaine standing at the cell door with a worn down look on his face. Llwell can't tell if his own expression looks the same. He can't tell what he's feeling, if anything at all.

When their eyes meet, Dumaine sighs before taking out a key and unlocking the door, walking in and shutting it behind him without locking it again.

As he enters, Llwell's gaze slowly trails down to the floor again and resumes his distant staring. His eyes feel dry since he keeps forgetting to blink for minutes on end.

Dumaine lightly clears his throat as he remains across the cell from the elf. "There's... still no sign of Thylle. The search parties have scoured every corner of the kingdom and found nothing. It's as if he simply—"

"Vanished," Llwell says blankly. His voice is as empty as his eyes.

They disappeared. Just like Ysve.

Dumaine stops and stares down at him for a moment before slowly nodding and looking away. "Yes."

Llwell blinks back some of the dryness, forcing himself to take a deep breath. "And Etho?" he asks and looks over at the mage. Dumaine meets his gaze and his eyes soften as he lets out another sigh.

"Still no sign of him..." he says mournfully. "Bella hasn't stopped searching. This is just... so unlike him to just... leave."

The elf weakly shrugs and turns his gaze back to the floor. "Maybe he disappeared too."

He knows in his heart he should feel more concerned for both Etho and Thylle, but at this point he just doesn't have the energy to feel much of anything. He's exhausted.

There's a long moment of silence as Llwell doesn't care to speak and Dumaine probably doesn't know what to say. It should hurt more that they don't even know how to talk to each other after everything, but he felt all of that pain when this all began. Now he's just drained.

Dumaine clears his throat again and steps over to lean back against the wall. "I'm... not sure if you've heard, but... Apparently Galarius was in the lead for Grand Magister, so... with him dead, it seems the council is set on giving it to Verrona," he says to break the silence, only for it to draw out a few more minutes before Llwell responds.

"So... the trial is over," he doesn't say it as a question.

Dumaine stares sorrowfully at him and offers a single small nod. "...It is."

More silence. Llwell just lowers his head, closing his eyes and focusing on nothing but his slow breathing. Not the thoughts in his head nor the world around him. Just his breathing. Best to enjoy it while it lasts.

Dumaine takes a deep breath and steps away from the wall. "But... I'll have a word with Verrona. Work something out to call off the execution. I know she and I aren't exactly on good terms anymore, but we used to be friends. I'm sure I can convince her to..." he trails off when Llwell just meekly shakes his head with a feeble huff.