The Promise

Petir found himself wandering the moonlit wilds near what he would almost consider his home. The days had been growing darker and the cold was setting in as there was a thin layer of frost on the ground. Petir did not mind as he had already acclimated to this place years ago, but he did remember his younger self was not so happy going from the warm tropical islands where the dragon elves reside to the dark forest filled north where the bloodhunters decided to set up shop centuries ago. Petir let out a slight chuckle to himself remembering those days when he got to the keep almost a decade ago.

He had come to this place as a shattered, vengeful man and, for a fleeting moment, departed it with purpose. Unfortunately, this newfound conviction lasted mere months before he reverted to an echo of his earlier self. Petir believed that he had found someone who understood him and with whom he could rely upon; instead, they left him behind. The sting of their supposed betrayal still resonated with him even after all this time. He now recognized that they did what they thought was right and he could understand why; however, in his past, empathy was not among his virtues.

He had spent the 2 years following the break of the group hunting down and destroying anyone that had an affiliation with the Band of The Lions. He had wandered from nation to nation destroying and killing with no remorse. He had just turned himself into a tool, but eventually the day he feared had come. He met his old party members once more, not as enemies but as allies in their fight against Elenor. He was forced to confront the part of him that he had kept away for so long and when push came to shove he couldn’t do it. He could not hate them, he could not despise them like he wanted to. 

They had fought together once more and they had beaten Elenor, they had beaten Garcius and in the end they parted ways once more. His mind wandered to that moment as they limped away from their battle with Garcius. The decision he made as he watched Adren walk away made him hopeful for his own sake but also distraught from the consequences it has had on the world. He had let Adren live and as a result thousands of people have died, and even now he found himself unable to fulfill the promise he made all those years ago. He could not kill Adren, because he had been the same. A tool.

His reminiscing was interrupted as he heard the creak of the gate in front of him. He had lost himself in thought but alas now he was here for the yearly gathering between the bloodhunters. As he lowered his hood he saw a familiar face walking down from the ramparts. “Could you not have walked any faster? I’ve been freezing my ass off watching you stroll over here for the last half hour.” Siora said with a slight smirk as she approached. “As if there is anything there to freeze off in the first place” he retorted with a similar smirk. 

Siora delivered a playful punch to Petir’s shoulder, chiding him, “Where have your manners gone? I thought you were a noble. Oh, that’s right, you were exiled.” Petir’s stern gaze held her attention for a moment, causing her smirk to vanish as she began to stammer an apology. Interrupting her, he gently punched her back, inquiring, “So are the others inside preparing for the feast?” Siora motioned towards the entrance of the main hall and replied, “Yes, the feast is in full swing now. You’d better catch up.” Without hesitation, Petir followed her lead.

After several hours of feasting, Petir found himself slightly swaying in his chair; inebriation had become unfamiliar since undergoing the hunter’s bane transformation. Regular alcohol no longer affected him due to his bloodhunter abilities. Only during their annual meeting did he consume a potent concoction crafted by his fellow bloodhunters - potent enough to kill a horse but suitable for bloodhunters like them. Scanning the hall once more, he noticed Vadryn and Ingrid arm wrestling at the edge of the main table while Esre taught new recruits how to drink. Focusing back on his drink moments later, Petir’s senses sharpened intensely. He was certain he had spotted an ethereal figure ascending the staircase toward the central tower.

Springing from his chair, Petir grabbed a knife from the table and followed suit up the spiral staircase. As he ascended, elusive heavy footsteps echoed ahead - reminiscent of plated boots striking stone. Atop the staircase stood a partially open door leading to an overlook outside. Gripping his knife tightly, Petir burst through the doorway and saw snowflakes gently descending from above while the dual moons illuminated the night sky.

With no one else present on the overlook platform, Petir scanned his surroundings intently as the snow enveloped him. A frigid gust of wind swept past, prompting him to pause and admire the sights before returning to the staircase. There, he found Siora gazing over the moonlit landscape.

“Did you see something?” Siora inquired, her gaze shifting to Petir. Shaking his head, he replied, “Just getting some air” before leaning on the ramparts. Joining him side by side, they both stood in silence, taking in the view.

Petir’s eyes locked on the moon as he hesitantly asked,

 “If there was something you knew you had to do, but you didn’t know if you could…” 

“Then you bite the bullet and get it done,” Siora interjected firmly.

“What if your own decision caused it in the first place?” He questioned further. 

Sighing heavily, she responded, “This is about him again, isn’t it?” 

Petir clenched his fist on the rampart. “It needs to stop, but I can’t do it.” The stone beneath his fist creaked under the pressure.

Siora observed him for a moment and said, “Then don’t do what you promised. You were in a similar state, needed a reality check, so go give him one. If you feel guilty about it, then fix it. Stop being a wuss.”

Petir felt his tension ease as he listened. He looked at Siora and remarked, “You know you can be an asshole sometimes?” Siora simply responded with a shrug, saying, “What can I say, except it suits me.”

Petir let out a chuckle as they both smiled. He turned back to look at the landscape and focused on the moon once more. 

“The moon is beautiful isn’t it? he said as he placed his hand on the ramparts again

“It’s true isn’t it” Siora said as she placed her hand on his.