escordvi | closed 🪶⚡ i'll be the light to lead you home

[Cid can only watch her carefully as the ghosts glance at each other.

"...It's true. Not everyone is ready for death when the time comes, or willing to give up what they had in life," Marcus answers quietly. "Those are the ones who are most vulnerable and need the most healing. And...also the ones causing the problems here."]

The corrupted souls and the cracks.

[By then Cid had moved to put his arm around Benedikta's waist, subtly giving her some comfort.]

[His arm around her is appreciated, even if she might not say or show it just yet besides the subtle brush of her fingers over the back of his hand. She feels Marcus and Lily's presence come up beside them, their own gazes casting out below, both of them nodding.]

And so we need to help put them to rest.

[A glance their way, and she manages a smile.]

I do hope that they have not ruined your honeymooning.

[To that, Lily flushes. "Oh no, we made the best of it."

Marcus laughs. "But they are getting more restless. Things are only going to get worse If no one does anything to stop it, and there's only so much we can do in here."

Seeing the distant look on Benedikta's face, Lily gives Marcus a little tug.]

[He also catches her expression and finds her hand, giving it a squeeze.]

Not to worry, we'll do the best we can. After seeing this place, it really helps show how much is at stake.

[Not just some nameless ghosts or vague concept, but a real place, and...]

["Thank you both. We still feel like we owe you so much..."

Benedikta stops them there, returning a squeeze of Cid's hand before she takes a step forward to Lily.]

I already told you. You may repay your debts by going back and living your lives the way you wish. So I will hear no more about owing us anything.

[Her voice is firm, but only as much as it needs to be, and they both smile.

"Alright, alright." She lifts a hand in surrender. "But we will leave you two to it. And if you need anything, you know where to find us."]

We appreciate it. Perhaps if we have time we can meet again.

[They do smile at that before Lily seems to fidget for a moment.

"But...be careful. Your souls...they may target you even more."

He looks at her with some question, his expression hardening.]

Come again?

[That tension snaps right back up into Benedikta's shoulders, and they both give a bit of a sheepish look, seeing this.

"Well... those who have already died or are dead... they can sense that."

"They have been specially targeting those souls. Trying to 'put them in their right place' is what we think. There have been reports of people being taken by the restless ones. We don't know why or how, but just be careful."]

And they can tell...

[When the couple nods, he just sighs, his hand subtly tightening over hers. If a friendly pair like them could tell, then it won't be hard at all for someone actually looking for it.]

Of course it wouldn't be easy. Well, suppose we were somewhat prepared for that. We appreciate the warning.

We will not make it so easy for them.

[She says it like a promise, but there is now an uncertainty edging its way into her expression, and the way her fingers tighten again around Cid's.

They both nod. "Still, be careful. I wish there was more we could do to help, but again, if you need something while you are down here, please come find us."

Benedikta nods.]

[He can feel that tension from her, but he just keeps his calm, steady self as he gives them a smile.]

We will. And take care yourself.

[The couple nod and give them a wave before they turn to leave, walking off a bit before fading away, likely traveling in that special way all true ghosts can.

With it now just the two of them, Cid looks at Benedikta carefully.]

You all right?

[She watches them disappear, caught up in her own thoughts that when Cid's voice finally reaches her, she needs to be tugged out of them.]

Oh. Yes...

[It's an automatic answer, though she would not be so foolish to think he would believe it for a moment.]

I was just... thinking...

[As her eyes rest on him before it goes to the tree branches that hang over their heads, the papers swaying in the breeze.]

[Definitely not, and his brows will furrow slightly.]

About?

A lot of things.

[Too much, if she's honest. It would have been so much easier if they had just gone to find a crack to fix, or a spirit to defeat, but instead, she is left with her thoughts. This is one of those times when she could use the distraction...

And while there is a lot that she could and perhaps wants to say to him, the rustling of leaves reminds her of why she had asked for a tree in the first place. Wordlessly, in answer, she reaches into her pockets and pulls out the several slips of paper that she'd taken before they left.]

... There are a few more I wish to write.

[He continues to look at her, wondering if he should try to push her to say more...

But when she takes out the slips of paper and looks again to the tree, he decides to hold back—for now.]

...All right. Suppose I could add a few more myself.

[She knows that he is holding back, she can see his questions written clearly across his face, but when he doesn't push right away, she gives him an appreciative smile, small though it may be. It carries a promise that they will talk, but she simply wants to get this out of the way first.

This time, however, she will not try to hide her wishes from him. And while they do not carry the same sentimental value that her earlier one had, they bear no less meaning to her as she writes down the names of her fallen men, the soldiers that she had hand-picked for herself, with Gerulf's name being the final one she writes.]

They took care of me... right up until the end.

[He had wondered what she would write, and so he is actually a little surprised when he sees the names. He didn't really know them, though he somewhat knew of Gerulf, her right hand. It makes him think of what transpired not so long ago, and his heart aches for a bit.]

They were loyal men and served you well.

[...And then an awkward scratch of his cheek.]

Suppose I should apologize for cutting a few of them down.

[Back at the Caer. Ahem.]

[She gives a small shake of her head as she folds it up and begins to tie it to a branch.]

They were doing their job. Following their orders.

[As was she.

She kept the closest ones near her anyway. Those are the names that she's written down. The ones who did not run when things had gone south, and who had stuck by her even when she fell.]

And what of yours?

[A light smile as he takes a slip of paper.]

Might need more than one.

[Her eyes soften, and there's a rustling before she steps close to him and offers a few more papers.]

What names will you be writing?

First... The ones who fell in the Hideaway.

[Although he wears a light smile, his eyes are somber as he remembers the names Clive had told him before.]

Then it will be the men and women who directly served under me.

[The first gives her pause because she does not know those ones, but she does know that they meant much to him...

But the second makes her freeze up for a moment, old memories rushing back. She closes her eyes.]

... I remember them well still.

[He glances at her from where he's started writing the lost Hideaway members.]

Should we write theirs together? They might actually appreciate knowing we're back together.

[That glance has her cheeks flushing as she takes a step closer.]

... Do you think they would know?

[A small shrug.]

Who knows? But as we've seen, the universe works in mysterious ways...and no harm in appeasing our own selfish wants.

[Since wishes are also inherently selfish even when made for others.]

I suppose you're right. Apparently our wishes are not quite as private as we thought.

[A small snort of laughter before she's readying the paper for the both of them, spreading it across the tree so that they have a surface to write on. There is a moment where she pauses, remembering the things that they had talked about. How she could not be there to help, and what had happened to them all in the end.]

They were my first friends, I think... Besides you.

[He glances at her at that, and there's a warm if somewhat somber look in his gaze.]

They were quite taken with you from the start and always considered you as one of our own.

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