#raserus

She had always been there for him, whether his issues were large or small.  Tended to his injuries, minor or severe.  Cere’thien saved him from many things, including himself, even when things had all seemed so very hopeless, where others would have deemed him a lost cause.  She tended to the spark, and helped it grow.  

He owed her so much, and so many words had been left unsaid.  

Life was immensely cruel, and this night... His faith, in the Light, in all things pertaining to such that were beyond mortals, lay broken and scattered to the winds.  He never thought he’d be without her, he always thought she’d be there forever, childish as that thought may have been.

His thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind as he stood in his washroom, hands gripping the edges of his sink so tight his knuckles where white, and the surface of the stone began to crack.  The sounds traveled through him, and gradually, he let go, took a step back...  And felt something touch his leg.  Immediately, his head snapped to the side, and found a child.

“Cere’sai, what are you doing awake?  It’s so late, my goodness...”

He knelt down and scooped her up in his arms, then very gently brushed the blonde bed-headed curls from her face.  “Ann’da, you so sad,” she said.  Though her voice was so very soft and quiet, it cut through the silence around them.  A tiny hand placed itself on his forehead and she gently patted him.  “Please, no sad.  I feel it, makes me sad, too.  Woked me up.”

For a moment, he gazed at her in wonder, but then, tears welled up in his eyes and he held her close.  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.  Her little arms curled around his neck as much as she could manage, and she gave him the best hug she could.  “It okay.  Love you, ann’da.”

Raserus couldn’t help but laugh, even though it was very brief.  She was a special child, definitely.  “I love you, too.  Come on, let’s go to bed.”

He carried her back to her shared room, where little Dristan lay sound asleep, oblivious to the world in his crib.  Raserus sat Cere’sai back in her bed and tucked her in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.  “Try to ignore my sadness, little one.  I’ll be fine in time.  You need to sleep, because you have to grow big and strong.  Sleep is very important.”

“Don’t need sleep...”  And then she yawned wide.  After she had finished, she wiggled under her covers and closed her eyes.  “Okay, maybe sleep.”

Quietly, he laughed again, and moved to depart.  “Sweet dreams, Cere’sai.”  She was out before his words even reached her, and he took a moment to pause, just... Watching.  Some of the books he had been loaned while healing, and this child he bestowed her namesake upon...  It was all he had of her.

Tears welled up in the man’s eyes once more, and he quietly left the room, disappearing to the darkened halls where he could pace, and think.

There would be no more warm summer afternoons with delicious tea, there would be no more random chats in the middle of the night, and there would be no more guidance.  The comforting hand of yet another friend would be gone, and though he had so much around him... His children, his wife, so many family members...  

Ras, ras, ras, ras..... Oh buddy.

I absolutely love ya, man. You’re hilarious as shit, and an absolute cryptid at times. I’m just really really happy that I get to roleplay with you and have such a good time because god you’re such a good writer and I love getting to enjoy that.

You’re super caring and always listen no matter what. You’re honest and shameless about your dweebish love of dinos. Legit, i’m just so hyped up about getting to be your friend sometimes. Even though your schedule sucks ass, I’m happy that you find time to hang out with all of us and even more so that you never have any problems.

You’re just... like... super unproblematic man. You go with the flow every time and I wish I could be just -that- chill.

Please never stop being my friend.

The sun did not peek through the cloud cover, and instead, ships of black and sickly green floated in the sky, shrouded partially.  Great green fires raged across the plains, and villages burned.  The smell of charred flesh filled his nostrils, and the loss of life could easily be felt in the very air.

It enraged him.

Raserus could not stand it.  Innocent lives, lost to this menace.  Infants, toddlers, young children.  Adults, the elderly.  Of all races, all creeds, that called the Barrens their home, and all were snuffed out in a flash of green, or in the swing of a wicked and twisted blade, held in the hands of a demon all too hungry for death and destruction.

The Light had kept him on his feet for over twenty hours now, and he showed no signs of stopping.  His mace broke the bodies of demons left and right, sending splatters of their blood across his dark red and skull-embellished armor.  He had been waiting for the right time to wear it, having it fashioned so long ago for one reason or another.  It had nearly been forgotten about, in the depths of his armory, until he heard the calls over the communicator.  It was time to bring it out.

With a yell that equaled that of his opponent, the great Sin'dorei clashed with a Felguard.  The heavy bladed head of his mace sliced easily through it, rending it to pieces, and he sent an impressive spray of vibrant green blood into the sky.  A hand was raised and pointed at the creature's head, and a swirl of holy flame surged forth, searing away the flesh and sinew until nary but a skull remained.

It was his first of the day, and he would affix it to a piece of his armor, sharp edges of metal catching and holding it in place.

These demons would grow to fear the Skull Keeper, adorned in the skulls of their commanders, and they would bear witness to their armies being swallowed up in a blaze of holy fire.  There would be no mercy, for the lives of the lost cried out for vengeance.  

Oddly enough, this wouldn’t be the first time someone abandoned their babies in front of Alburton. He’d likely pick one as his favorite and give the rest to other friends. But given he’s incredibly superstitious, he’d probably be scared out of his mind by any black kittens and leave them with Bishop Lilithsahl Olethos @lilitholethos.

Then again, some cats are actually attracted by indifference and a lack of eye contact and any Black Kitten would probably try very hard to be adopted and likely follow him home. He’d only grudgingly accept it and hastily perform however many prayer rotations each time it walked by him or climbed onto his desk.

“My Lord!  Lord Tal’therin!”

The cries rang out, and the large doors to the study burst open.  It had been moderately cleaned, and was quite bare, save for a makeshift desk and chair.  Raserus rose in alarm.  “What?!  What is it!  Speak!”  The elf panted heavily, catching his breath a second, then moved to stand tall and relay the bad news.

“Your brother is gone, sir!  He has been sprung from the dungeon...  By his visitor.”

The silence that hung in the room was deafening, and the guard sweated nervously.  “Did no one think to keep an eye on her when she went down there?”  The guard stammered.  “We did!  She’s... Powerful.  Nothing we could do.”

Very slowly Raserus slid back into his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.  “I had better write a letter to the Archon, then.  He’d like to be kept up to date on the latest Oathbreaker, I assume.  Dismissed.”  With a sharp salute, the guard left, leaving the Patriarch to sit and stew in this news, and to consider his options on what to do now.