The chains might have been falling, but the bard's struggles had ceased as Safrin's interrogation shook him to his core, snapping connections inside of him that he had clung to for years just as much as the shackles that bound him. As he was given more freedom of movement he curled inwards, instinctively trying to make himself smaller and less of a target, though there was no evading the arrows of her words.
To remain with the man he loved, or to lose the friendships and family he had built over the past year?
The question should have been harder than the others. And yet... so many had died. So many he couldn't save, or at least hadn't been there for. Even those who lived he had hurt over and over again, by accident or self-righteous arrogance. Sam and Amalia, Kiada and Remi... It would hurt them if he left hehoped knew. It would be a betrayal, in a long line of them, that few would ever forgive, not after all he had done before.
But they would mourn his loss and move on, hopefully to healthier, better friendships than he had been able to give them. Safrin was right. He had no real importance to the Hollowed Grounds except in his own mind. They might not be better off for his loss... but they wouldn't be worse, either. There would be others who could do more for them, be more for them. Remi and Ashetta, Loren and Ronin, all powerful guardians who could put their lives on the line for the people of the Hollowed Grounds.
All Jigano had was words.
And only one that mattered in that moment.
"Rory."
To remain with the man he loved, or to lose the friendships and family he had built over the past year?
The question should have been harder than the others. And yet... so many had died. So many he couldn't save, or at least hadn't been there for. Even those who lived he had hurt over and over again, by accident or self-righteous arrogance. Sam and Amalia, Kiada and Remi... It would hurt them if he left he
But they would mourn his loss and move on, hopefully to healthier, better friendships than he had been able to give them. Safrin was right. He had no real importance to the Hollowed Grounds except in his own mind. They might not be better off for his loss... but they wouldn't be worse, either. There would be others who could do more for them, be more for them. Remi and Ashetta, Loren and Ronin, all powerful guardians who could put their lives on the line for the people of the Hollowed Grounds.
All Jigano had was words.
And only one that mattered in that moment.
"Rory."
