The Withering

Farther Afield

Nearly three weeks had passed since you last saw Ydris.

The days blurred together, each one passing with a strange sense of detachment. Conversations with the Soul Riders felt distant, their voices barely registering. You kept busy with the usual tasks, but there was no real focus behind your actions, no drive. 

The world seemed to move in slow motion, as if you were trapped in a dream from which you couldn't wake up.

Every morning, you'd find yourself at the window, staring out in the direction of the circus, hoping to see a flicker of life, some sign that he had returned. But the tent remained eerily quiet, its once vibrant colors now as if faded. The wind would occasionally rustle the canvas, but there was no movement inside, no sign of Ydris.

Riding had always been a solace, but now it felt empty. You took longer and longer routes, making excuses to pass by the circus, hoping that he would be there. 

But each time, your heart would sink a little further when you found it exactly as you had left it, desolate and lifeless.

You tried asking around, questioning anyone who might have seen him, but no one had any answers. The townsfolk only shook their heads, offering sympathetic glances but no real information. 

The mystery of his disappearance gnawed at you, leaving you with a constant ache in your chest.

You caught yourself drifting off during meetings, your thoughts consumed by what could have happened to him. The others noticed, of course. They had tried to pull you aside, offering to talk, but you'd brushed them off with a weak smile and a vague excuse.

What if he hadn't returned because of what you'd said? What if he was hurt somewhere, alone, and it was your fault for pushing him away? 

You replayed the last time you saw him over and over in your mind, each time convincing yourself that you'd driven him to leave.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in shades of orange and purple, you found yourself standing at the edge of the circus once again. The place was shrouded in a somber stillness, the same as it had been for days. 

You approached the entrance, hesitant, almost afraid to step inside. The memories of your last argument with Ydris were too fresh, too painful.

But as you stood there, staring at the empty space, a sense of dread began to creep in. 

What if he never came back? What if you never got the chance to make things right? 

The thought was too much to bear, and you quickly turned away, mounting your horse with trembling hands.

You have barely returned since.

You told yourself you would come back tomorrow, or the day after. Surely he'd return. But deep down, you couldn't shake the fear that he was truly gone, and with him, a part of yourself had vanished too.

One afternoon, after a long and largely silent ride back from another mission, you were all gathered in the stables, tending to your horses. 

The air was thick with unspoken words, and you could feel the tension mounting. Alex was the first to break the silence.

"Hey," She started, her voice cautious, "How did it go with Ydris? You never really said,"

You froze, your hand pausing mid-stroke on your horse's mane. 

The question had been coming for days, and yet it still hit you like a punch to the gut. You tried to compose yourself, but the walls you'd built around your emotions were crumbling.