A Wall In The Way XIV
As you prepare for sleep, a knock at the door interrupts your evening routine. You quickly stash your cookies and your accounting books in the drawer and answer the door.
Lorn swings the door wide open, followed by Star who immediately begins speaking to you animatedly, “Good sir, I must protest. I cannot in good conscience allow you to go forth with this journey. Whatever Cecil has told you, I’m sure it is well intentioned, but you are messing with powers you cannot possibly understand. He has sent you to your death. How very Langstaffian of him, to send others to do his bidding.”
Lorn rolls his eyes towards you, “Star, why are you here, exactly? You refuse to help, you refuse to not help, and you refuse to keep to yourself. Are you not the town mage…”
“Wizard.” Star mumbles absentmindedly.
“...that we have trusted all these long years? Either speak plainly, or kindly stop speaking at all.”
Star looks to Lorn for a moment, and you can see his internal struggle before he smooths his robes and takes a deep breath.
“There are powers in this world even I do not dare trifle with, but if I cannot convince you to change your mind, I shall share with you the only helpful legend I know regarding Zho. His followers were known to be extraordinarily kind, and when in his domain you had but to ‘speak the ancient word for friend’. What happens beyond that is something only the gods know now.” Star pauses for a moment before practically pleading with you. “Consider once last time staying home and safe - ignore this fools errand.”
You shake your head, intent on ensuring Thomas’ safety.
Star looks quietly to Lorn and disappears in a cloud of feathers but words echo, “Friendship. More enriches life, less offers nothing.”
Lorn looks quietly to you, “Whatever ails Thomas, he seems inextricably bound in all this, in ways I don’t understand and no one will explain to me, for better or worse. I…don’t want either of you to go. I’m a fool - I believed Thomas having a goal would help heal him, instead I’ve put you both in terrible, terrible danger.” Lorn pauses a moment, and a single tear runs down his left cheek. “Even now, I realize I’m not too old to have new regrets, new follies. Be safe. Bring my friend back safely.”
Lorn lingers a moment longer, seemingly wanting to say more but he turns slowly and steps out of the house and you are left alone, feeling as though you’re on the precipice of something bigger than you understand.
Lorn swings the door wide open, followed by Star who immediately begins speaking to you animatedly, “Good sir, I must protest. I cannot in good conscience allow you to go forth with this journey. Whatever Cecil has told you, I’m sure it is well intentioned, but you are messing with powers you cannot possibly understand. He has sent you to your death. How very Langstaffian of him, to send others to do his bidding.”
Lorn rolls his eyes towards you, “Star, why are you here, exactly? You refuse to help, you refuse to not help, and you refuse to keep to yourself. Are you not the town mage…”
“Wizard.” Star mumbles absentmindedly.
“...that we have trusted all these long years? Either speak plainly, or kindly stop speaking at all.”
Star looks to Lorn for a moment, and you can see his internal struggle before he smooths his robes and takes a deep breath.
“There are powers in this world even I do not dare trifle with, but if I cannot convince you to change your mind, I shall share with you the only helpful legend I know regarding Zho. His followers were known to be extraordinarily kind, and when in his domain you had but to ‘speak the ancient word for friend’. What happens beyond that is something only the gods know now.” Star pauses for a moment before practically pleading with you. “Consider once last time staying home and safe - ignore this fools errand.”
You shake your head, intent on ensuring Thomas’ safety.
Star looks quietly to Lorn and disappears in a cloud of feathers but words echo, “Friendship. More enriches life, less offers nothing.”
Lorn looks quietly to you, “Whatever ails Thomas, he seems inextricably bound in all this, in ways I don’t understand and no one will explain to me, for better or worse. I…don’t want either of you to go. I’m a fool - I believed Thomas having a goal would help heal him, instead I’ve put you both in terrible, terrible danger.” Lorn pauses a moment, and a single tear runs down his left cheek. “Even now, I realize I’m not too old to have new regrets, new follies. Be safe. Bring my friend back safely.”
Lorn lingers a moment longer, seemingly wanting to say more but he turns slowly and steps out of the house and you are left alone, feeling as though you’re on the precipice of something bigger than you understand.
