Half of the Kingdom(ft. commentary)

~Mar 11

These next few days covering this whole part takes way too long and is way too drawn out.

Iphnis woke slowly. The sun was shining, but the sky was otherwise overcast. Birds were singing merrily, and a soft breeze whispered through the pines. Iphnis slowly sat up. He was terribly disoriented and stiff from sleeping in a tight position on the hard ground; as well as cold, for it was not yet spring.

He sat in a daze for a minute for two, trying to remember what had happened. He felt a deep dread settle upon him as he remembered. He had been cast out of his family, and the Gnomes. He would be as a human to them, but worse in some ways. Even Gnomes made some contact with humans when necessary, but no Gnomes would ever speak to him again. His scars would make sure of that. He reached up a hand and touched his cheek. It had stopped bleeding, for now, and dried blood caked the whole side of his face.

hey quick question,

He moved stiffly to position himself so he was sitting, leaning against the door. He turned his head and pressed his ear against the stone, hoping to maybe hear some activity. But he heard nothing. Just the cold, hard, silence of the mountain.

what did i think this was going to accomplish aside from me getting a high off of sadness?

He sniffled, from the cold, and from grief. He wasn't sure what to do with himself. He had no foreseeable purpose. He didn't even feel like a Gnome anymore. He took in a shaky breath. His tired gaze wandered to the sck with all his stuff in it. He crawled over and grabbed it. Rummaging inside, he found a few little wooden figures he'd carved. Tears sprang into his eyes as he recognized a few that he'd carved for his little brother. He also found some of his tools for smithing, his clothes, and other odd knickknacks he'd either made, or picked up somewhere.

and All of his stuff... ALL of it managed to fit into that one sack?

Well, he had his tools, so he could be a smith among the humans. But that would bring back too many memories, he thought. He had his bow, and his sword. But he didn't want to use them either. Every stroke of the blade, every draw of the bow, he would think of where they'd come from, and he would think of his people, and how they kicked him out. How he didn't qualify as a Gnome anymore. He shuddered and tears came to his eyes again.

Iphnis sat there for what felt like forever, not knowing what to do. His mind eventually got to Miryanna. He didn't want to push in on her life; but then again, knowing her, she'd probably welcome him with open arms. But no. He couldn't impose on her. She was busy with Karayan, and Andarin, and still had some things with her father to resolve. Then where would he go?

nah bruh miryanna is run by me and i love characters interacting so she'd love having you you around again

He honestly felt like death was the best escape at this point. He had nothing to live for. But he wouldn't do that. Whatever else he may do, he would not kill himself. Slowly, Iphnis stood up. His legs felt shaky, but he didn't drop back down. He knelt, deliberately, and started getting all his stuff in order. He took his quiver off his back, and put it in the sack; he wouldn't need it. He kept his sword. He took his dagger out of the sack and put it on his belt. He'd forgotten to grab it before leaving for Miryanna. He remembered that day well. Asofa had come into his room whilst he was packing, and asked where he was going. Iphnis answered vaguely that he was going on a journey. Asofa had asked where. Iphnis shrugged it off, but in the end told Asofa that he was going to help the humans in one of their disputes. He'd made Asofa swear not to tell. But had he? How else would his father know what he had been doing. It wasn't like Asofa to tell on him.

yeah sorry to say this, iphnis, but your brother is a snitch