15th
"If you'll excuse me, Alberach. I didn't manage to finish the research we discussed. I'll keep in touch with the echo scrolls."
Some time had passed, mere hours, since the events had unfurled. Time rewritten. In the time he'd spent contemplating his next move, and taking a moment to breathe, Woe had arrived and suggested a research team be sent to help Varlum. Varlum explained he wasn't allowed to bring others into the room, but that he would ensure they stay in touch where possible. Truth be told, he was unsure how time would complicate things in that regard. But it was an issue for later.
It seemed a shame to the man that Woe was a face he knew, yet few to no words had ever been spoken. Perhaps it was the unfortunate circumstances, and something they might rectify some trial. But this wasn't one of them. Whatever resolve Varlum had, while strong, had limits. He'd seen the world explode, as had many others it became apparent. But he had also marched into it knowing that he was the one that had to stop it. One mistake and it could have all crumbled. One single error, one wrong word spoken. Once the island was saved he had expected the weight to life. But it didn't.
Kata had come closer to her goal of taking the power of many Immortals for herself, and Valtharn had stolen the power for herself. Varlum had killed one and been ready to fight the other. But they were a known enemy. Stood before him, weapons ready to fight if he insisted. But while these explosives had been laid by their enemies, the ignition came from within, regardless of intent. As all the people burned in his vision it hadn't been some attack, and it hadn't been soldiers fighting, it had been a man and a mistake - leading to the death of civilians. Varlum could stomach soldiers fighting and dying. It was never easy, but they knew what they marched into, Varlum included. But the children that had burned. The screams he heard. That was a reality that left him sick to his very core.
Dismissing himself, with an echo scroll to keep in contact, Varlum made his way into the woods.
As he walked to his home he looked around, the streets silent. Not out of some fear. But staring. Apparently it had been more than a select few that had seen the truth, but all of them, each one looking at the towering Ithecal with a varying look. Many looked at the man that saved them with an admiration, others with some pity. But each of them knew the truth. As he walked he saw heads bow, nods of approval and even some cheers and applause as he went. Utterings of the word 'thank you', salutes from groups of Elements that patrolled the city. Acknowledgement of what he'd done for Scalvoris. Perhaps if it were time for celebration their joy would be more vocal, but while they all knew they were alive, they also knew the fight wasn't quite over.
Eventually, he arrived back to the door hidden in the forest, using Defiance to part the wall of stone he made to block it in, before sealing it shut behind himself. He opened it and closed it behind him, taking a seat in the library with his head in his hands. There was finally some quiet. Time around him crawled to a slow, ensuring he had as much time as he needed, taking a deep inhale. How could he sit in here knowing what he knew now? That any moment could go by and another simple mistake could kill everybody.
"I believe most people celebrate when they saved an island" Ralaith spoke behind him, placing a hand on the Ithecal's shoulder. Truth be told, Ralaith understood the weight on Varlum, the crushing reality of what could have been. But he also knew that what Varlum had done was something to be celebrated. The Mortalborn rubbed his temple for a moment, before looking over his shoulder at the immortal. "Did I do the right thing? Changing time, sparing Nir'wei, all of it?"
There was a moment of quiet before Ralaith gave a reassuring look. "Do you think you'd be in this library if you'd done the wrong thing? Besides. Pier and Pre are the judge of right and wrong. If you are asking me, however, if I thought what you did was wise?" he raised an eyebrow. "Wise enough to save an island. Wise enough for people you don't know to admire you and see what you did. Brave enough to risk my scorn, and your own life, for the good of these people. So while I can not tell you what is right or wrong, what you did was wise. Which is why I understand your eagerness to be out of here."
With a snap of his fingers Varlum felt a shift in time, Ralaith waving his hand as a bundle of books drew from the shelves around and placed themselves on the table, opening to the pages that mattered. "The world outside is frozen. Not that they know it, of course. But if time is what you are afraid of, I can help you with that much. Read. Research. The puzzle pieces you are missing are there, as am I to help you. Then go. See your sister, stop more riots, do whatever you must. But your place now is not among books. So let's make it fast, shall we?"
And they did so. Varlum and Ralaith read the books for some time, exchanging comments. But what Ralaith had done was more than simply help Varlum on the way and grant him all the time he needed. He'd given him a chance to breathe, and a person to do so with. The two talked, and after some days (although none passed by in Idalos) they even laughed. Taking moments to share tales, exchange stories, even though Ralaith knew all of Varlum's. The tension broke and the Mortalborn returned to his regular self, blissfully unaware of just how intentional that had been.
When it came time to finish the research, when Varlum came to the same revelation he would have elsewise, he closed one of the tomes with a heavy sigh. "So what next, my friend?" Ralaith asked, giving a warm look. The Ithecal stood slowly, glancing to the door. "I tell everyone what I know, what they need to know. Then I get to work. People need to feel safe. If I can help, so be it. And if anyone from the Centipede remains, I'll see what I can do to weed them out."
Ralaith gave a small nod of approval, before gesturing for the door. "Very well. Off you go. Next time, though" he chuckled a little before he spoke. "Don't wait for the world to be on fire to come visit."
16th
With his newfound time, Varlum ensured that the researchers knew everything he does (same as his prior post, before the things exploded). Then he made an effort to visit Vega, the new militant and his sister, who has nothing but his praises to sing before the two get to business. Varlum offered his assistance as a temporary member of the Elements, acting as her right hand if needed and ensuring that she would always have someone she could count on.
Regardless of her answer, he asked what he could do to help. When she mentioned the pirates that were held prisoner he nodded calmly, explaining that he'd already interrogated some but to little avail after the attack he'd fought in, but that he'd be willing to find out anything he had to from the ones they had captured.
With her blessing, he made his way to interrogate them immediately. Varlum was an intimidating man when he needed to be. But now, with the knowledge he had, this became more than a job. It was personal. People would have been killed, unfathomable amounts, for their schemes. Rather than take them aside to a room each, ask them questions, Varlum made his way to the cells they were kept. With Elements standing guard outside they unlocked the cell and allowed him in, the Mortalborn stepping in and breaking the darkness with his molten scales.
He wanted them to see him interrogate their friends, all the pirates in other cells able to watch as he walked into a cell of three. Then, putting a mixture of his defiance, blessings and Intimidation to use he got to work. Varlum was far from the kind to torture someone. But they needed this information. He wouldn't be tying them to tables and cutting into them any time soon. But a hard grasp from a molten hand here or there would get answers.
If that was what it took, so be it.
17th and Onwards
Varlum would mostly spend this time sharing any information he net from his interrogations, patrolling the streets to ensure people were safe and reporting to Vega if anything came up.
"If you'll excuse me, Alberach. I didn't manage to finish the research we discussed. I'll keep in touch with the echo scrolls."
Some time had passed, mere hours, since the events had unfurled. Time rewritten. In the time he'd spent contemplating his next move, and taking a moment to breathe, Woe had arrived and suggested a research team be sent to help Varlum. Varlum explained he wasn't allowed to bring others into the room, but that he would ensure they stay in touch where possible. Truth be told, he was unsure how time would complicate things in that regard. But it was an issue for later.
It seemed a shame to the man that Woe was a face he knew, yet few to no words had ever been spoken. Perhaps it was the unfortunate circumstances, and something they might rectify some trial. But this wasn't one of them. Whatever resolve Varlum had, while strong, had limits. He'd seen the world explode, as had many others it became apparent. But he had also marched into it knowing that he was the one that had to stop it. One mistake and it could have all crumbled. One single error, one wrong word spoken. Once the island was saved he had expected the weight to life. But it didn't.
Kata had come closer to her goal of taking the power of many Immortals for herself, and Valtharn had stolen the power for herself. Varlum had killed one and been ready to fight the other. But they were a known enemy. Stood before him, weapons ready to fight if he insisted. But while these explosives had been laid by their enemies, the ignition came from within, regardless of intent. As all the people burned in his vision it hadn't been some attack, and it hadn't been soldiers fighting, it had been a man and a mistake - leading to the death of civilians. Varlum could stomach soldiers fighting and dying. It was never easy, but they knew what they marched into, Varlum included. But the children that had burned. The screams he heard. That was a reality that left him sick to his very core.
Dismissing himself, with an echo scroll to keep in contact, Varlum made his way into the woods.
As he walked to his home he looked around, the streets silent. Not out of some fear. But staring. Apparently it had been more than a select few that had seen the truth, but all of them, each one looking at the towering Ithecal with a varying look. Many looked at the man that saved them with an admiration, others with some pity. But each of them knew the truth. As he walked he saw heads bow, nods of approval and even some cheers and applause as he went. Utterings of the word 'thank you', salutes from groups of Elements that patrolled the city. Acknowledgement of what he'd done for Scalvoris. Perhaps if it were time for celebration their joy would be more vocal, but while they all knew they were alive, they also knew the fight wasn't quite over.
Eventually, he arrived back to the door hidden in the forest, using Defiance to part the wall of stone he made to block it in, before sealing it shut behind himself. He opened it and closed it behind him, taking a seat in the library with his head in his hands. There was finally some quiet. Time around him crawled to a slow, ensuring he had as much time as he needed, taking a deep inhale. How could he sit in here knowing what he knew now? That any moment could go by and another simple mistake could kill everybody.
"I believe most people celebrate when they saved an island" Ralaith spoke behind him, placing a hand on the Ithecal's shoulder. Truth be told, Ralaith understood the weight on Varlum, the crushing reality of what could have been. But he also knew that what Varlum had done was something to be celebrated. The Mortalborn rubbed his temple for a moment, before looking over his shoulder at the immortal. "Did I do the right thing? Changing time, sparing Nir'wei, all of it?"
There was a moment of quiet before Ralaith gave a reassuring look. "Do you think you'd be in this library if you'd done the wrong thing? Besides. Pier and Pre are the judge of right and wrong. If you are asking me, however, if I thought what you did was wise?" he raised an eyebrow. "Wise enough to save an island. Wise enough for people you don't know to admire you and see what you did. Brave enough to risk my scorn, and your own life, for the good of these people. So while I can not tell you what is right or wrong, what you did was wise. Which is why I understand your eagerness to be out of here."
With a snap of his fingers Varlum felt a shift in time, Ralaith waving his hand as a bundle of books drew from the shelves around and placed themselves on the table, opening to the pages that mattered. "The world outside is frozen. Not that they know it, of course. But if time is what you are afraid of, I can help you with that much. Read. Research. The puzzle pieces you are missing are there, as am I to help you. Then go. See your sister, stop more riots, do whatever you must. But your place now is not among books. So let's make it fast, shall we?"
And they did so. Varlum and Ralaith read the books for some time, exchanging comments. But what Ralaith had done was more than simply help Varlum on the way and grant him all the time he needed. He'd given him a chance to breathe, and a person to do so with. The two talked, and after some days (although none passed by in Idalos) they even laughed. Taking moments to share tales, exchange stories, even though Ralaith knew all of Varlum's. The tension broke and the Mortalborn returned to his regular self, blissfully unaware of just how intentional that had been.
When it came time to finish the research, when Varlum came to the same revelation he would have elsewise, he closed one of the tomes with a heavy sigh. "So what next, my friend?" Ralaith asked, giving a warm look. The Ithecal stood slowly, glancing to the door. "I tell everyone what I know, what they need to know. Then I get to work. People need to feel safe. If I can help, so be it. And if anyone from the Centipede remains, I'll see what I can do to weed them out."
Ralaith gave a small nod of approval, before gesturing for the door. "Very well. Off you go. Next time, though" he chuckled a little before he spoke. "Don't wait for the world to be on fire to come visit."
16th
With his newfound time, Varlum ensured that the researchers knew everything he does (same as his prior post, before the things exploded). Then he made an effort to visit Vega, the new militant and his sister, who has nothing but his praises to sing before the two get to business. Varlum offered his assistance as a temporary member of the Elements, acting as her right hand if needed and ensuring that she would always have someone she could count on.
Regardless of her answer, he asked what he could do to help. When she mentioned the pirates that were held prisoner he nodded calmly, explaining that he'd already interrogated some but to little avail after the attack he'd fought in, but that he'd be willing to find out anything he had to from the ones they had captured.
With her blessing, he made his way to interrogate them immediately. Varlum was an intimidating man when he needed to be. But now, with the knowledge he had, this became more than a job. It was personal. People would have been killed, unfathomable amounts, for their schemes. Rather than take them aside to a room each, ask them questions, Varlum made his way to the cells they were kept. With Elements standing guard outside they unlocked the cell and allowed him in, the Mortalborn stepping in and breaking the darkness with his molten scales.
He wanted them to see him interrogate their friends, all the pirates in other cells able to watch as he walked into a cell of three. Then, putting a mixture of his defiance, blessings and Intimidation to use he got to work. Varlum was far from the kind to torture someone. But they needed this information. He wouldn't be tying them to tables and cutting into them any time soon. But a hard grasp from a molten hand here or there would get answers.
If that was what it took, so be it.
17th and Onwards
Varlum would mostly spend this time sharing any information he net from his interrogations, patrolling the streets to ensure people were safe and reporting to Vega if anything came up.
Off Topic
Peg gave me permission for Ralaith to do what he did and to write him as such, but I kept it brief on purpose!
