80 years in the face of eternity
Someone - or something - has been disturbing graves in the monastery's graveyard. The knights are busy with preparations for the monastery's defenses, and so patrols to the site have not been a priority. If you have some rare free time, would you bring peace back to these departed souls? Then find the culprit, even if it means having to spend the night surrounded by the dead.
@thankudeath
The graveyard was cold and silent. The sky was overcast and nearly black, no stars able to pierce through the thick veil cast over the skies. For several nights now, there had been reports of a hooded figure standing over a single grave, the only thing visible being glowing red eyes. Some claim it was death itself visiting the recently departed, others made accusations of grave robbers. Either way it was a hot new topic for gossiping over the table in the dining hall.
Tonight was, once again, one of those nights. Standing in front of one grave in particular, a short hooded figure was playing a song on his flute. But this wasn’t death, no. It was a student, Nils, of the Golden Deer House. He stood over the grave of a recently deceased old nun, playing a mournful song.
Once the song ended, he allowed the last note to drag out just for a little bit longer, before it finally stopped. Taking the instrument off his lips, he began to speak, his voice trembling slightly. “There… I finally got to perform for you. I’m sorry I couldn’t do so sooner…”
For the past few weeks, Nils had been assisting in the care of an elderly nun that lived at Garreg Mach. She had no family, and often kept to herself. But she was very passionate about the choir, visiting almost every day when they had practice. It was apparently something she was in charge of, several years ago. By chance Nils got to talking with her, and they found they got along quite well!
She was still recovering from an illness, but they had agreed that once she recovered, they’d go outside to see the wildflowers that are in bloom this time of year, and that she would come see him perform. He knew getting close to humans was difficult, but the woman treated him so very kindly, he.. was looking forward to getting to know her better.
Perhaps that was his mistake. Humans were fragile creatures, living for only the smallest fraction of the time he would. ….she died, only a few days ago, both promises unfulfilled. Now he stood there over her grave, contemplating why he even tried at all.
“You’re all so fragile… why.. why do I even bother with humans…” He said, his voice full of sadness, but also something akin to bitterness, almost. Losing someone hurt. This was exactly why he avoided becoming too close to humans. It.. makes it harder to move on when they inevitably pass. Before it was his time, he’d have to say goodbye millions of times. And that scared him. He already had other humans in his heart, against his better judgment, and the idea that they would all pass on someday, eons before he would… it scared him.
His shoulders shook as his small frame trembled, holding back sobs. Then, he suddenly heard a rustling sound. Quickly turning around, he spoke up. “W-Who’s there?!”