Cervato - Rise of the Phoenix (Part 2 of Cervato's Saga)

The Dream is Over

Cervato Caballero had ceaselessly daydreamed of a moment where she could reunite with Saromire Lancastir. Ever since the golden blade that bore his spirit came into her possession, she had prayed to Kormir and Dwayna that there could be some way to return the man to life. After Collyn's sacrifice, the desperation in this thought strengthened. The man had sacrificed himself in order to save his brother. Cervato meanwhile sacrificed every waking moment consumed to fulfill Saromire's simple request. For peace. Yet in Arah they had found only a dark lingering magic deep within the ruined city.

Miraculously, Saromire had been returned to the land of the living. Yet he had tried to attack Cervato upon the altar, only to be intercepted by Penelope Valmont, and knocked unconscious. Dave, the dutiful norn medic of the Tyrian Accord, had been the one to deliver a letter from the man himself, stating how he had immediately set out into the world without a word to anyone else. Upon reading it's contents, she had felt the first inklings of an unsettled emotion seeping into her stomach. Saromire was fixated on a moment that preceded his death nearly three years prior, where his cousin, Luna Lancastir, had been kidnapped by the damned dragon cultists that had been fixated on preventing Saromire's journey in crafting his family's sword. He had no idea that Cervato had long ago rescued Luna alongside Joan, an avid adventurer and norn enthusiast. It'd taken her half the day to reach the Lancastir manor, yet the servants present had stated that Saromire was no longer there, all in a near jittery excitement and nervousness with the prospects of their lord returned to them.

It was late into the evening, when the man had returned to the guild's camp north of Brisban Wildlands. She had been working tirelessly on matters that had been left forgotten during the two Seasons' she had spent dedicated to the sword's whims. As the familiar figure passed through the doors, Cervato's sienna hues lingered upon the azure and silver armor before they settled on his visage. He was unsettled by everything around him, unsure by the world he had suddenly been thrust back into, and that ache within her heart deepened. He'd asked for the truth, so she was forced to give it. Explaining how Luna was indeed safe. That a majority of his friend's were well. The only thought she selfishly could not convey was Collyn's death, as she felt it was not her place to inform him when he was already tormented by the sudden changes to a world he no longer knew.

And in admitting such truths, she had to inform him of her relationship with Ryuuzaki Kurai and the fact that they had bore a child together, Zen. It was here that Saromire felt more with unease, realizing that time certainly had passed, and that a man he considered a friend had developed a relationship with a woman he had once admired. Yet, Cervato insisted that her heart remained true to Saromire. That she loved him still. That she always would. That in his years long absence she had tried to move on, but never could. Cervato was captivated by Saromire and his untimely death merely resulted in a wound that had never been capable of healing.

Yet it was not enough. Saromire had explained that he needed time. To which she understood. There was years of missed opportunities and conversations with loved ones. It was here, that Cervato finally realized that despite Saromire telling her he loved her before he passed, despite the pain she had lived with for years, and despite how alone she had felt being the sole person to believe that the sword was actually his spirit, that even this would never be enough to reform a bond she felt meant more than everyone and everything. Even more than herself.

That was the last she saw or heard of him.

The woman's spirit felt fractured in that moment as she watched him take his leave. Her heart now grown cold for she could not fathom loving another person the way she had for him. Cervato's mind convinced herself that it perhaps had been her ardent feelings of Saromire upon his death that had captivated her in such a way or perhaps she had fabricated the words whispered to her in Godslost swamp when he fell, cradled in her arms.

Heartbroken, Cervato ended her relationship with Kurai. It was unfair of her to keep him around when she had obviously gone against every single wish of his in her efforts to help Saromire. The man appeared to take even her admission of her love of Lord Lancastir in stride, but even he had insisted that he would wait for her for as long as it took. A jaded disconcerting notion was planted in her mind then, watching him on his knees before her.

If you loved me truly, you would give me peace.

And so, the woman found herself alone. This time however, she felt that it was alright. She didn't need to actively seek the company of another to be alright. In fact, perhaps disregarding notions of romance for the time being would be for the better? The lie almost sounded plausible. Underlying beneath her new facade she had crafted, was the shell of the woman who felt utterly betrayed by her own emotions. That she had never been worth loving.

The thoughts continued to fester underneath the surface. To be kept private to herself. She wanted to guard the last remnant of emotion she felt she could ever associate with Saromire.

Pain.