Ashan 9 718; Afternoon
Location: Outskirts of Foster's Landing
The two had nearly arrived back to where it all started, where the expedition had kicked off and eventually brought together everyone. Where the rest were now he hadn't any clue, but Patrick honestly didn't want to chance learning otherwise after recent events. Southguard being a fitting example of his most recent slip up, he already dealt with the never ending guilt that loomed over his frame. Why? Why there? And why Ellen'wyn of all people? She had most certainly seen the worst side of him, and lived to tell the tale in her own right after what had happened.
Thus they fled from the post-skirmish destruction left behind in the Sessfiend's own wake, as Patrick took it upon himself to help Ellen get this far back home. If she considered this anywhere close to home anyways, what had occurred over the past several trials remained questionable. Insofar Pat ultimately tried to keep interaction to a minimum, as it was vividly clear that her condition right now was his fault to begin with.
Because of his inconsideration towards the Fiend and the fact his ring remained on, he didn't believe his desire for her would give the beast reason to hunt her down. Therefore he practically signed her own death warrant the moment he found his ring removed unwarily. Now that Foster's Landing was in their sight and the trip was practically over, Patrick knew that whatever reason he had left to linger was gone. He had done more than enough to Ellen, and while he would've gone above and beyond to make up for her suffering... he sadly couldn't risk putting her into further danger at his side.
First Orimar and then the Sessfiend... She truly had endured enough over the past Season, and with Ashan now almost in full force of nature; it was only a matter of time before the rest of the world would learn of what happened. Thus when they reached the outskirts of the town, Patrick dropped both his and her travel bags to relieve the stress on his back. No matter how much Ellen might've insisted he needn't do that, he certainly wasn't going to let someone in her condition carry all her gear to here. Yet here was the limit for him...
Here was where he needed to put as much distance between him and everyone else as possible.
"Well... This is it." He finally muttered to break the constant silence that loomed over him, his face still sullen with guilt as he inadvertently glanced her way. Yet he couldn't bear to look at her, not for long since her injured form reminded him... It was a mistake he wouldn't make again, never would there be a second time where Fiend nearly killed someone he grew fond of.
"For what it's worth Ell', I... truly feel terrible about what happened." He repeated again probably for the thousandth time, yet one last time didn't seem so bad considering what would come afterward. "Take time to recover and forget about me, least until the Fates determine we meet again anyways... Hopefully by then this curse will be lifted." Hopefully. It would seem the road to redemption would be a much longer one for him, as Patrick honestly didn't know if he'd ever come to terms with Southguard's own loss.