![[-]](https://www.horuset.com/images/igame/collapse.png "[-]")
25-04-2023, 07:59 PM
Chapter 4: The Cost of Success
Sheros disembarked the shuttle that brought them back from their first Trial, keeping his head low and hood raised to conceal his face. His presence was dampened to hide his emotions and, as soon as they were dismissed and others turned their backs to him, he slipped behind the shuttle and rushed into the undergrowth; heading towards the large tree that had become his shelter in this harsh landscape.
"Why... why did I do that?"
His voice cracked, a tremble in his throat that barely held back the tears, and he moved to sit with his back against a rock near the water so that he was hidden from view to most of the estate. He rested his head back against the rock and released a long exhale. He spoke again with a quivering voice.
"I... I didn't mean to kill him, I.. I only needed their blood..."
A sudden wave of tears overcame him and he wailed briefly in distress before inhaling sharply to cut the noise off, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the bridge. He sat there in silence for a few moments before his reflection in the water caught his gaze, it almost felt as if it was watching him even though he was looking away. He crawled closer and leant over his reflection, looking himself in his bloodshot teary eyes.
"Was it worth it?
"Wh-what?"
Sheros quickly shook his head, closing his eyes as the tears dried away. Distracted from his grief in his confusion. He looked around, sure that someone else was nearby before his body froze up and he slowly looked back to the reflection, scared of what he might see. He felt like the reflection had never looked away from him and yet, somehow, he felt like he couldn't recognise himself. Like it was someone else in the water looking back.
"They were innocent, they did nothing to you... and you pushed them into a fire. Was it worth it, all that pain for the word 'Success' on your notes?"
Eyes widening in fear he scrambled back away from the water, slipping in the mud more than once as he rushed to the tree for a sense of shelter and protection. He clambered high into the branches and curled himself into a ball, limbs trembling in fear. And all that time, he was sure he could hear a distant laughter that mocked him. He told himself the other Acolytes were celebrating in the camp nearby and he wrapped himself in a stolen blanket, high in the canopy, and shivered until slumber eventually claimed him...
Sheros disembarked the shuttle that brought them back from their first Trial, keeping his head low and hood raised to conceal his face. His presence was dampened to hide his emotions and, as soon as they were dismissed and others turned their backs to him, he slipped behind the shuttle and rushed into the undergrowth; heading towards the large tree that had become his shelter in this harsh landscape.
"Why... why did I do that?"
His voice cracked, a tremble in his throat that barely held back the tears, and he moved to sit with his back against a rock near the water so that he was hidden from view to most of the estate. He rested his head back against the rock and released a long exhale. He spoke again with a quivering voice.
"I... I didn't mean to kill him, I.. I only needed their blood..."
A sudden wave of tears overcame him and he wailed briefly in distress before inhaling sharply to cut the noise off, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the bridge. He sat there in silence for a few moments before his reflection in the water caught his gaze, it almost felt as if it was watching him even though he was looking away. He crawled closer and leant over his reflection, looking himself in his bloodshot teary eyes.
"Was it worth it?
"Wh-what?"
Sheros quickly shook his head, closing his eyes as the tears dried away. Distracted from his grief in his confusion. He looked around, sure that someone else was nearby before his body froze up and he slowly looked back to the reflection, scared of what he might see. He felt like the reflection had never looked away from him and yet, somehow, he felt like he couldn't recognise himself. Like it was someone else in the water looking back.
"They were innocent, they did nothing to you... and you pushed them into a fire. Was it worth it, all that pain for the word 'Success' on your notes?"
Eyes widening in fear he scrambled back away from the water, slipping in the mud more than once as he rushed to the tree for a sense of shelter and protection. He clambered high into the branches and curled himself into a ball, limbs trembling in fear. And all that time, he was sure he could hear a distant laughter that mocked him. He told himself the other Acolytes were celebrating in the camp nearby and he wrapped himself in a stolen blanket, high in the canopy, and shivered until slumber eventually claimed him...
