Pieces (Eighty Days)

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"The more that time passes.." Eryn said, staring into the dying embers.

"The more I believe you never left me."

The room was quiet, the fire's glow casting long shadows on the walls.

*Skill Activated: Echo Mirage. (8 Mana Used.)

"I only have these powers to remember."

The shadows twisted and the figure of Eryn appeared.

Eryn's fists clenched, his knuckles white. "What do you want from me? Is it not enough that I carry this every day?"

The copy's eyes were his own, the weight he couldn't shake - reflected.

"I keep trying to bargain," Eryn said, his voice breaking slightly. "As if I can change what happened, as if I can bring her back."

The fire crackled, the copy didn't move.

Eryn took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging.

"I don't want to feel this anymore."

Eryn shook his head. The floor creaking as his steps circled the room

"Tomorrow's a new day," as he closed his eyes. "Another hour of blurred consciousness."

The shadow twisted and his double faded as the embers of the fire twinkled.

Eryn closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

Throughout the night whispers kissed his mind.

"You could have saved me, Eryn," she repeated, the voice of Alyssa. "Why didn't you stop them?"

The whispers continued all night.

Eryn opened his eyes to the floor creaking and the door knocking.

He didn't respond, his eyes still on the dead fire.

"You need rest," he said under his whisper. "Here - again later. I'll be here."

The knocking on his door continued.

"Come in," Eryn said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The door opened slowly, and Liora stepped inside. Her eyes were soft. She glanced at the dead fireplace and then back at Eryn.

"You didn't sleep much," she said, her voice gentle.

He nodded.

"We've got a long day ahead," she said. "There's a place we need to go. Something you need to see."

Eryn raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Liora grabbed his hand and directed him forward, the morning air biting against their skin. Her hand warm and steady.

"You understand the importance of the guild, yet?" she asked.

"We protect what's left of Veldria," Liora continued.

"The kingdom of Hemric is big. It's easy for a small gutter like us to get ran over."

Eryn nodded.

"I've been fed and given a warm fire," Eryn replied.

"There are not many around that get to experience that."

"There's many things the guild has given me to continue," he gripped the steady hand of Liora.

"I owe them my life."

Liora stopped as she led him a door within the guild. It was large, out of place within the guild, built from iron and wood, bearing marks of age and wear.

"I hope you mean it Eryn," she looked into his eyes and held his hand tighter.

The door creaked open, the air was thick, heavy with the scent of iron and earth. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, a single blade resting on it.

"This is the Rite of Blood," Liora said, her voice low.

"Every member has passed through this trial. It's a symbol of your belonging."

Eryn stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the blade. The room was silent, the gaze of the shadows piercing his skull.

"You must offer a part of yourself," Liora continued.

"leave a part here and forever remember the sacrifice."

Liora took a step back and blurred into the surrounding shadows.

Eryn's heart pounded in his chest. The blade cold and his limbs fragile.

"Then I'll give my ring finger." he said as he lifted his left hand above the pedestal.

He wrapped his hand around the blade, feeling the sharpness. With a rapid thrust he cut his finger. It was not deep, it was shallow. 

Eryn clenched his jaw, the blood dripped.

"Again!" he yelled.

The blade more steady, rapid, it cut deep into his ring finger.

Still attached, a bloodied thread, his ring finger dangled.

"Again!"

The air in the room palpable, the shimmer of the blade glistened, the bloodied thread severed.

A dull plop and the severed finger rested on the pedestal.

Eryn exhaled, fell to his knees, cradling his mutilated hand to his chest.

Tears welled in his eyes, he clenched his jaw, he caught his breath.

The room was quiet, all but the sound of those ragged breaths.

Liora stepped forward, she knelt beside him, wrapping the bleeding hand with a strip of cloth.

"You've done it, Eryn," she said softly.

Eryn nodded, his face pale and drenched in sweat.

Liora helped him to his feet, supporting his weight as they made their way out of the chamber. 

The door creaked as they stepped out into the hallway. The silence was broken by the faint murmur of the guild members moving through the hall. 

As they reached his bedroom, Liora stopped and looked at him.

"Remember, this is only the beginning," she said.

"The sacrifices we make are not always physical. There will be more asked of you."

Liora paused, her eyes searching his face. She placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze before turning away.

Eryn watched her leave, then, alone in the room, he sunk into his cot.

The fire was dead, the window bleak, the room was silent.

"Tomorrow is a new day." he said as he pressed his hand onto his chest.

"There's still a heart in here somewhere," he looked up to the ceiling.

"To make decisions like this, you've need still be alive somewhere."

The wind whistled past his window, the wood croaked outside his door, and the halls echoed laughter.

"It was hard to steady the blade and let pieces of me remain." he whispered.

"I had to move passed my fear and pain to move forward."

"What do you have to think of this, Alyssa?" he asked the fireplace.

The silence whistled.

"This is my new home now," he said as he closed his eyes and listened to the orchestra of noises.