Eight Intertwined II

232 - Memory

Therion could not say he was particularly happy with being back in Northreach of all places. 

Unlike the last time he was in town though, Therion's complaints had nothing to do with the people he was going to find there. Instead, Therion was far more focused on just how cold it was in Northreach. Therion had never been the best with extreme temperatures in either direction, and in Northreach, he was bitterly reminded of just how cold it could get in the Frostlands. Flamesgrace and Stillsnow felt like child's play when compared to the raw chill of Northreach, and Therion had not been looking forward to returning as a result. Still, it was either that or go to the desert, and Therion knew which evil he thought was lesser of the two. 

"Cold, are you?" Alfyn asked when they crossed the threshold into town. Therion nodded, and Alfyn slung an arm around his shoulders before pulling him in tight. "How about this? Does this make you feel any better?"

Therion felt a new heat rush into his cheeks, and he wondered how Alfyn could be so shameless about things like this. Therion didn't think he would ever get used to it. "Yeah... Much better."

Alfyn continued to not acknowledge nor mind how close they were as they made their way to the back of the town. "So we're gonna head into the cathedral and look around for any traces of Darius' activity," Alfyn went on. "There's a chance he might've known somethin' else about the dragonstones, and this is the place where we're most likely to find it."

"I don't think Darius knew anything honestly," Therion admitted, doing his best to ignore the way his voice was muffled because of how closely Alfyn was holding him. "He didn't know to expect the dragonstones could power him up until he did it. They were already distorting his desires and pushing him too far. He didn't know what he was getting into. I don't think he even knew how to tap into them until he was on his back foot during our battle."

"Then we can say we came here for the sake of completeness," Alfyn replied. "There's no harm in lookin' around, especially since the others are all doin' the same. If we don't find anythin', then we can hope the others had a bit more luck than us."

Therion nodded, but he froze soon after the cathedral came into view. Alfyn paused a moment later, skittering back awkwardly to Therion's side after realizing some distance had opened between them. "Theri? Is everythin' okay?" Alfyn asked softly and worriedly. 

Therion didn't respond, instead continuing to stare ahead at a familiar purple silhouette. Gareth was standing outside the cathedral, looking up at the building with a frown. Beside him was a grave that had clearly only recently been filled, and Gareth seemed to be pointedly ignoring it. Therion's chest went tight. He already knew whose body was in that grave without needing to ask. 

But he found himself walking forward anyway, breaking away from Alfyn and leaving the apothecary scrambling after him. "Gareth," Therion called out flatly, and sure enough, the silhouette turned. Gareth's expression was unreadable, but Therion recognized it regardless. It was the same miserable look his reflection had worn in the weeks after Darius' betrayal. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"I knew I'd find you here," Gareth replied, his voice too tired to be venomous. He tapped the grave with the toe of his boot. "You know about this, don't you? Were you the one who did it?"

"No... But I had a feeling it happened after I left town," Therion answered. He looked down at Gareth's memorial for Darius, and his chest went so tight it seemed to strangle his heartbeats in an effort to stop them from coming. "I'm glad you weren't here when it happened."

"Because you would've had to kill me if we saw each other again?" Gareth asked with a raised eyebrow, and Therion nodded. Gareth scoffed and shook his head. "Maybe it would've been better than getting here too late and finding him dead in the cellars under the cathedral."