As they left the temple the silence hung heavy between them all. They marched slowly down the towering stone steps back to the cages. In the distance they could see the gory red swamp that remained of the Madmen they had killed with the mortar. Flies buzzed through the air and the stagnant smell of decay wafted across the entire area. They just stood in the sun for a moment unsure of their next move.

Avarith broke the silence “You all can head back to the wagon, no reason for you to stay in this place any longer. Wait for us there, and we’ll return after.. doing what needs to be done.”

“Silvia, Darren, why don’t you go with them? We can clean this up.” Leon said with his back to them.

Darren let out a heavy sigh, he couldn’t let them do it alone. “I’ll stay.”

“Me too.” Silvia’s voice cracked, but she didn’t waver.

Hostich looked at the small girl with pity in her eyes. She opened her mouth to protest, but knew she wouldn’t sway Silvia. Part of her wanted to stay and help, but staring at the piles of the poor stricken non-magical people and their visible rot and deformities kept her mind on her men. Knowing changes like these could already be taking place inside them she nodded to the team, one by one they began walking away, back to the large carriage that brought them here. Hostich looked back one last time to see the four of them standing in the middle of all the cages, drawing their weapons and charging their magic, the temple looming over them.

With heavy hearts the mages and guardians did what they knew they must, for the wretches in the cages to find peace there was only one option. They made each kill as quick and painless as they could. One by one they broke open the cages and stepped inside. The iron floors were awful, dead men and the filth they had let fall anywhere in the cramped cages. A few attacked or tried to squeeze out between the bars, but most just lay there eyes unfocused. Not yet at the violent stages, but too far gone for help. Many said names of people that weren’t there, screaming and crying over deaths that weren’t happening, or had already happened. They muttered and stared and cried at nothing until the blade or magic ended their plight.

Silvia had slowly managed two before reaching a terrified man laying on his side, his face pressed against the bars with one arm extended beyond the confines of the cage.

He was crying and between his sobbing breaths he muttered something. As she leaned closer she could make the words out around his grotesque features “Mathild.. Where’s my little Mathild? My girl, I saw her there.. just yesterday.. or tomorrow?” He groaned in his confusion and began hitting his head against the bars.

Silvia formed a small orb and fired a wooden spike into the base of his skull. His head jerked violently as his arm reaching from the cage fell limp. She rose and walked quickly out onto the dirt, vomiting on the ground before falling back to her knees.

The others didn’t look at her, they just continued their task, Leon and Darren drove their knives deep and with purpose as Avarith used magic to do the same. While she couldn’t make herself keep going, she refused to look away. She could at least witness their end, remember them. Tears silently streamed down Darren and Silvia’s faces as they slaughtered the sick and dying by the dozens, to end the pain and stop the madness for these poor souls was the only gift they could give. As they worked, small streaks of blood sprayed across them, until they were covered in a criss cross of crimson.

More and more flies showed up as less and less prisoners lived, until some of the bodies had large black buzzing patches covering them. The sun was high and the four were sweating as they walked away from the temple, refusing to stay any longer than they needed to.

The next few hours flew by in a daze for Darren and Silvia. No one talked on the entire ride back to town. Avarith thanked the operations team and made his report to the garrison commander. Suddenly they were on a train, wearing new clothes, riding along unaware of anything around them save the rhythmic clunking of the tracks beneath them. The four sat in a private car, a few feet away from each other taking their time with their thoughts. The respective pairs had walled themselves off from one another, not needing to feel any more guilt or sorrow than they already did.

Darren looked around at the forlorn faces of the closest friends he had ever known, and was reminded of a memory from his childhood.

“When I was a kid, we were thinking about moving into a new house, out in the country. I hated the idea of being out there, but that’s where they wanted to go.” He didn’t look at anyone in particular, just stared at the floor over interlocked hands. “While we were checking out a place I came across a kitten. Eyes closed, hairless and pink, brand new to the world. Apparently a dog had taken it from wherever the mother had them for whatever reason. Didn’t hurt it, just carried it away. At some point she must’ve gotten bored with it, cause she left it in the middle of the gravel driveway. It was just sitting there, in the bright hot Texas sun. And as if that wasn’t awful enough, ants had found it, they were all over it. And the worst part was I could see them streaming in and out of its mouth, carrying little bits of red and pink from inside as blood trickled out. This poor thing hadn’t been in the world long enough to even see it, and all it knew was pure pain. An exposed nerve to the world around it.” His eyes were glazed over with tears that rolled slowly down his cheeks. “So I went, found a big board, and set it gently on top of it. And I jumped on it as hard as I could, it was over in an instant.” His hands shook lightly as he spoke “It always stuck with me and fucked me up that I had to do it, that it had to happen. But at the end of the day, I’m glad I was there, and strong enough to do it. Cause what was happening to it, dying, it was gonna happen either way. And at least I could stop it from suffering through it, slowly. I knew that was right at twelve, and I know it was right now.” Darren stood up as the others looked at him from across the car. “I’m glad we were there, I’m glad those people didn’t have to waste away slowly, living in those broken minds and bodies. I’m sorry we had to do it, but I’m glad someone could, and I’m glad we stopped anyone else from having to feel this. I hate it more than anything, but I know we’re strong enough to take it.. and to do something about it.”

Darren felt Silvia’s walls drop and a few wisps came across the barrier and the space between them. He felt ripples of grief and hate and anger and sorrow, bubbling just below the surface, but the only ones she sent him were gratitude and sympathy. He sent back anything warm he could manage as he met her eyes from across the room.

Avarith’s breath shuddered slightly as he let out a deep sigh

Leon stood and put an arm around Darren’s shoulders, he squeezed the back of his neck and gave him a little shake. “You’re a good kid, y’know that?”

They came together and sat on two couches facing each other in the middle of the car. They still sat in silence, but it felt less alone as the ride went on. The tracks kept on clunking, and the countryside kept skimming by out the windows as the sun began to set. Avarith and Leon were the first to go to the four separate bunks at the back of the car. Silvia and Darren sat next to each other, her feet pulled up to her chest, his elbows on his knees. They both stared down in silence. She leaned her weight against him and put her head on his shoulder, the contact gave her a soothing feeling across her skin that spread into her mind, like water running over warm coals. Things seemed to slow down and she gained some small control over her emotions. They sat there long into the night, not moving, not speaking, and for the first time all day, not thinking.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Silvia awoke lying on the couch, a blanket over her. She heard the small clink of a cup on a saucer. She leaned up and saw Avarith and Leon sitting at the small table set between two of the car's windows, still with the far off look in their eyes. Leon stood and brought her a cup of tea. He set it on the table in front of her and squeezed her shoulder before returning and sitting down. She looked around and realized Darren wasn’t in the car.

“Where is he?” she asked them as she sat up and rubbed her eyes with one hand.

“He’s on top of the car.” Leon said before taking a sip from his own cup.

“What’s he doing up there?” Silvia asked, confused. She reached out for him with her mind, but he was completely closed off from her.

Avarith and Leon looked at each other and then at her, as if it was obvious.

“He feels responsible. He alone had a chance, and feels he failed.” Avarith told her.

“He lost his first fight. His first real fight, with stakes. Those men took what we came for, they had a portal which might have helped him contact his family, and they’re undoubtedly the ones who marooned those poor souls outside the temple and caused a soldier under our command to be torn to shreds.” Leon leaned forward “He was the only one that could get to them and he lost, and gods know where those two are now.”

“We don’t blame him for losing to someone bigger and better trained, but it isn’t our blame that’s hurting him. His heart and his ego are hurt, and what we all had to do only added to it immeasurably, I’m sure.” Avarith was clearly bothered by his friend’s guilt. “He did more than we could, yet feels he’s worth less.”

Silvia’s heart sank slowly as she understood what he meant. She knew it wasn’t Darren’s fault, but with how competitive he was of course he would think of it that way. He never ran from a challenge and he wasn’t beaten often, it drove her crazy how sure of himself he could be, but it was part of why he excelled at everything they had taught him. It made him strive to be better, but made defeat all the deeper. She wanted to press against his barrier and break through it, she wanted to climb up and sit with him, but she couldn’t circumvent his choice. If he didn’t want to be alone he would be here. Silvia picked up her tea and took a small sip as she brushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear. She leaned back into the cushions of the velvet seat and stared out the window. The trees to the side were a blur as they sped by. They broke the edge of the forest and a large lake came into view, stretching far enough she couldn’t see the far shore. The water rippled and bright dots of light danced across the surface as it reflected the midday sun. She could see boats floating across the water, fishing and shipping goods back and forth. She leaned her head back and wondered about the lives of the people on the water, thankful that they were there, and not in some cage somewhere.

It was another day and night of mostly silence within the car as they made their way home. Darren came down in the night and spent most of his time brooding like the rest of them. As the train rose over a hill and took a gentle turn the welcome sight of Eufror came into view. Its tall towers and bustling streets could be seen, busy with movement as people lived their lives the same as they had the day before, as they would the day after. Nothing had changed and the people looked happy. Familiarity eased their pain somewhat, a reminder that no matter what happened, somewhere else life was just going on. Silvia found a small smile on her face as the Chevalier keep came into view at the top of the rocky cliffs, sitting just higher than the rest of the town. The large family airship docked at the top, hovering over the open air beyond the cliff. She looked at Darren and saw he only sat with his head in his hands, staring at his feet as he had for most of the day. Her smile disappeared, she tried to seep between the blocks he kept up for most of the journey. She felt him start to tighten them, then slowly release them the slightest bit. Silvia found the gaps and pushed through what little she could of the feeling she had upon seeing the city. Darren finally brought his head up and looked at the keep, he sighed and leaned back in his chair. She felt him tighten the wall again slowly, not shoving her out, but cutting himself off again, gently.

The train finally slowed down and chugged into the station. Masses of people lined the platform waiting to board or welcome passengers as they arrived. Many people ran out and hugged family and friends they hadn’t seen for far too long. Silvia’s heart warmed at the sight before her mind turned on her. She thought of the reunions that would never be had for the people they had killed. Of their families who probably died as they were taken. She was glad Darren had a wall between them, because she felt herself sinking and didn’t want to drag anyone else down with her.

“You two head to your rooms, take your time. This is the first time you’ve seen such horror, and we remember what that is like.” Avarith said as he stood to leave the car. “I’ll report everything to my father. I’ll let him know you both performed admirably, better than we could have hoped.”

Leon squeezed Silvia’s shoulder again and patted Darren on the arm, hard enough to shake him, as he passed them. The two walked off the platform and made for the keep.

Darren and Silvia slowly rose, and stepped out onto the platform. The throngs of people and the sounds of the city assaulted their senses after the almost silent ride home. But, it did pull them from their minds and force them to be more present. Silvia took a deep breath and smelled fresh bread and flowers from stalls set up around the station. She looked at Darren and bumped him lightly with her shoulder and began walking back to the keep. He let a small smile slip across his face for a moment before feeling guilty about it. He followed her through the streets as they weaved their way back home.

Silvia had gotten to her room, finally alone she let everything fall away. She cried heavily, and eventually fell asleep with the evening sun pouring through her windows. She woke in the middle of the night, her lights still on as a pounding headache throbbed against her skull.

She could feel Darren, not sending her anything, but not walling her out anymore either. She could sense him just a room over, in the training space. The wall was down and she could feel the busy machinations of his mind as he tinkered with some piece of magical technology, no doubt distracting himself from thought. Silvia changed from her traveling clothes and walked to join him. She slowly opened the door from her room and peered in to see him bent over his table, his back to her door.

You’re up. His voice floated into her mind, and she felt a little hint of some good feeling come with it.

She walked over to him and hugged him from behind as he sat in his chair, she felt him freeze in her arms. She sent him everything she felt about how hard he tried, how he fought and didn’t give up, even when he might’ve died. Of how he took the pain to his body, and without pause was ready to take the pain to his spirit to lessen it for Avarith and Leon outside the temple.

No guardian could be better. Her words rose in his mind like a chorus.

She felt him exhale a few sharp breaths before his hand came up and squeezed both of hers, locked across his chest. She slid them up to his shoulders and rested her chin on his head. She felt his body relax a bit as his mind calmed. They sat that way for a time, allowing themselves to feel the presence of someone who cared.

At some point they ended up lying on the mat staring out at the stars through the large open windows. The breeze blew in and carried the cool air from the sea along with the smell of the many flowers that bloomed in the vines that stretched up the inner walls of the courtyard.

They walked from one’s mind to the other’s, letting their feelings flow out. Their guilt, their reassurance, their anger, their understanding. They grieved for the people in the ruin, and for the countless others that probably faced things just as horrible across the world. Their resolve grew, they both knew they had to be better, to do better.

Back to training in the morning. The words came in so strong, neither was sure who thought it, but they both agreed. The people in that ruin deserved more than mourning, they deserved action. Experiencing the grief this way was costing them time. As they lay there they turned it all to fuel, burning inside them, burning so hot they felt they’d melt a hole in the floor.

Darren and Silvia looked at each other and gritted their teeth, feeling energy flow as their minds thought in unison. Tomorrow and everyday after, we become better.