Fragments, 4

[shosen]

“Asharan, you haven’t been to see the instructor in weeks.”

“I’m not ready yet.”

“You’ve been ready for longer than that, long enough.”

“I just--”

“You have no idea what your potential is, do you?”

“Brother, I just want--”

scowl

“You just don’t want to have to work at it. Life isn’t this comfortable everywhere, you know. You’re far too sheltered in this city.”

“I’ll go see the instru--”

“Yes, you will. And soon, before we leave.”

“Leave? What do you mean, leave?”

*******

“Light bless this journey ahead of you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You don’t look excited.”

“… should I be?”

“Much good will be done in the Northlands with more of the Church in service there. They can seem quite isolated at times.”

“I don’t see what good I’ll be able to do. I’m not skilled enough to be of any help.”

smile

“Even small actions have great rewards. You’ll be able to help more than you think.”

*******

“There, you see, Asharan? A much rougher life than in our comfortable city.”

“They’re farmers, Brother.”

“Yes, hard-working--”

“I grew up on a farm.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that.”

“You didn’t bother to ask.”

*******

“They’re all dying!”

“Asharan, keep your voice down.”

“Why? You think they haven’t noticed?”

“Asharan--”

“Do you think they haven’t seen the Light failing?”

“That’s it, get ready to leave.”

“Good! I never wanted to be here in the first place!”

“You’ll return to the Cathedral tomorrow.”

“I’m not going back there.”

“Koani--”

“The Light is a lie.”

*******

“Oh no…”

shuffling

“You’re supposed to be…”

growling

“… dead.”

screaming

“Don’t, please. We tried.”

run

*******

“Get away from me!”

pain

dark

angry

“Just stay dead!”

strike

“Asharan, enough! They’re gone!”

“What happened to them!?”

“I don’t know. We have to go, have to--”

“Why couldn’t you stop it?”

“We don’t have time for this.”

“This is your fault!”

strike

“Damn it!”

light

burns