Quanil instinctively took a couple of steps towards the form of their sister, bleeding and in need of help. The guilt welled up in them:
I shouldn't have run off like that. I shouldn't have left all of you, and for my own selfish reasons. If I'd kept an eye on you...
But the lecture on the dangers of the Labyrinth was still fresh in their mind. This might not be Freina. They'd prepared a question for this moment, just in case, and they open their mouth to ask it...
But then there was a roar and a cry and Quanil spun towards them, putting their back to their supposed sister (well, and Ms. Weaver, who's ahead of them).
THE PROVOST HAS FALLEN.
And panic welled up in Quanil, their eyes widened, and for a moment their breathing stopped.
Jigano Silversmith has been a kinder and more understanding parental figure than either of Quanil's actual parents. He is the Guild Master and Provost of the Loreseekers' Guild, the man that Quanil has looked up to ever since the guild's inception. He is THE Loreseeker to the youth, the symbol of everything Quanil's ever wanted to be.
And he wouldn't be here now, wouldn't be bleeding and trying desperately to heal himself if it weren't for Quanil.
If it weren't for me and my selfishness and my... sheer ignorance and ineptitude...
Mr. Samuel and Ms. Weaver reacted with knowledge and experience, and all Quanil could do was stand there with their borrowed metal staff. But this is my mission, they thought. It's my fault. It's my responsibility.
"Help Provost Silversmith to the right!" they called out, taking Ms. Weaver's suggestion. "Get him out of danger, out of the Labyrinth if you have to!"
And they turned to the form on the ground. "I'll be right behind you all."
They swallowed hard and walked over to where they could see her eyes and she could see them, but didn't move closer than that. They'd had a plan for this moment, if it came. A way to tell Freina from Foe with a simple question.
But they asked a different question entirely.
"Freina, do you forgive me?"
No Post Order, as usual!
Technically, Quanil has given an "order" for Mr. Samuel and Ms. Weaver to help Provost Silversmith out of danger. Whether they listen to Quanil is up to them, of course, but their preference seems to be getting the injured to safety and facing Freina - or is she?!?! - alone.
I shouldn't have run off like that. I shouldn't have left all of you, and for my own selfish reasons. If I'd kept an eye on you...
But the lecture on the dangers of the Labyrinth was still fresh in their mind. This might not be Freina. They'd prepared a question for this moment, just in case, and they open their mouth to ask it...
But then there was a roar and a cry and Quanil spun towards them, putting their back to their supposed sister (well, and Ms. Weaver, who's ahead of them).
THE PROVOST HAS FALLEN.
And panic welled up in Quanil, their eyes widened, and for a moment their breathing stopped.
Jigano Silversmith has been a kinder and more understanding parental figure than either of Quanil's actual parents. He is the Guild Master and Provost of the Loreseekers' Guild, the man that Quanil has looked up to ever since the guild's inception. He is THE Loreseeker to the youth, the symbol of everything Quanil's ever wanted to be.
And he wouldn't be here now, wouldn't be bleeding and trying desperately to heal himself if it weren't for Quanil.
If it weren't for me and my selfishness and my... sheer ignorance and ineptitude...
Mr. Samuel and Ms. Weaver reacted with knowledge and experience, and all Quanil could do was stand there with their borrowed metal staff. But this is my mission, they thought. It's my fault. It's my responsibility.
"Help Provost Silversmith to the right!" they called out, taking Ms. Weaver's suggestion. "Get him out of danger, out of the Labyrinth if you have to!"
And they turned to the form on the ground. "I'll be right behind you all."
They swallowed hard and walked over to where they could see her eyes and she could see them, but didn't move closer than that. They'd had a plan for this moment, if it came. A way to tell Freina from Foe with a simple question.
But they asked a different question entirely.
"Freina, do you forgive me?"
No Post Order, as usual!
Technically, Quanil has given an "order" for Mr. Samuel and Ms. Weaver to help Provost Silversmith out of danger. Whether they listen to Quanil is up to them, of course, but their preference seems to be getting the injured to safety and facing Freina - or is she?!?! - alone.
