06-14-2017, 02:49 AM
Cleaning of the corpses took till dusk. The stench ruined Joric’s nose for a lifetime beyond his own, and the task of maneuvering stiff bodies to wash them clean was perhaps more difficult than hauling heavy longs for the pyre. It was grueling to bend the body delicately, as if one might hurt the dead. It did not matter if he used excess force, but it still did not feel right.
The end result was exactly as he hoped for. The gang all stood at the Pyre, thirty or more men bowing their head in a moment of silence. Joric was there, closest to the flames, sweating profusely under the heat but bearing it for the sake of penance. This is all my fault. The survivor’s guilt had its clutches on his heart and soul and there was no light in sight for him. No light except for the funeral fire in front of him.
I should be in those flames. The thought seems daunting. He feared death; that is why he stopped when confronted by the swordsman’s murderous glare. Maybe… just maybe… he should have feared living more. Joric took a step closer to the fire. He took another step, till it felt like his face was catching on fire. They shouldn’t be in there alone.
A sudden weight rested upon Joric’s shoulder. The large man peered up at the even larger were-boar. “You have failed, Joric.” The beastly man’s baritone rattled his soul. It was confirmation to what he already knew. “But… throwing yourself into the fire will do Ban and Leo no good. Instead, perhaps you should help us plan…
“Brothers!” His voice rose, the thundering baritone carrying for quite a distance over the crackling fire. “Today, we have lost two of our own!” At these words, Joric felt a great many glares in his direction. “Do not think your harsh words have not reached my ears, or the glares not caught my attention.” As quick as the glares found Joric, the same eyes found the dirt underfoot.
“We are kinsmen! We all exercise together! We train together in the pit! When you achieve my strength – and you will – you will fight alongside me as equals!” General Boar’s gaze flicked between the individuals brave enough to meet his eyes. “But strength of the individual is not enough in this world! A new Prime has taken two of our own. Primes are powerful, but in numbers, SO ARE WE!”
Spirits were rising, and the large Boar-man let them for but a moment. Then… he crushed them. “However… though a Prime has slain two of our own… Many of you almost slew the sole survivor. Grief wracks his spirit, and you add salt to his wounds? Had he not survived, we would have nothing!” The sharp bite of his words had those nearest him flinch, even Joric recoiled – and the words were not even at him.
From his leather vest, he tugs a magic scroll and unfurls it. Upon the page a picture formed. A man with long, black hair tied back was presented. Stray locks escaped, looking like an explosion captured in his hair. His eyes were cold, and upon his lips was a smirk. In the picture, blood stained the stubble along his jaw. “This is our culprit! Shinmen Takezo: he is a deadly young Prime with no hesitation when it comes to murdering us Secondaries.”
He handed the scroll to the nearest man. One by one, they each look upon the scroll. Sneers pealed many faces at the sight of the Japanese man. “We will hunt him down… and end him.”
The end result was exactly as he hoped for. The gang all stood at the Pyre, thirty or more men bowing their head in a moment of silence. Joric was there, closest to the flames, sweating profusely under the heat but bearing it for the sake of penance. This is all my fault. The survivor’s guilt had its clutches on his heart and soul and there was no light in sight for him. No light except for the funeral fire in front of him.
I should be in those flames. The thought seems daunting. He feared death; that is why he stopped when confronted by the swordsman’s murderous glare. Maybe… just maybe… he should have feared living more. Joric took a step closer to the fire. He took another step, till it felt like his face was catching on fire. They shouldn’t be in there alone.
A sudden weight rested upon Joric’s shoulder. The large man peered up at the even larger were-boar. “You have failed, Joric.” The beastly man’s baritone rattled his soul. It was confirmation to what he already knew. “But… throwing yourself into the fire will do Ban and Leo no good. Instead, perhaps you should help us plan…
“Brothers!” His voice rose, the thundering baritone carrying for quite a distance over the crackling fire. “Today, we have lost two of our own!” At these words, Joric felt a great many glares in his direction. “Do not think your harsh words have not reached my ears, or the glares not caught my attention.” As quick as the glares found Joric, the same eyes found the dirt underfoot.
“We are kinsmen! We all exercise together! We train together in the pit! When you achieve my strength – and you will – you will fight alongside me as equals!” General Boar’s gaze flicked between the individuals brave enough to meet his eyes. “But strength of the individual is not enough in this world! A new Prime has taken two of our own. Primes are powerful, but in numbers, SO ARE WE!”
Spirits were rising, and the large Boar-man let them for but a moment. Then… he crushed them. “However… though a Prime has slain two of our own… Many of you almost slew the sole survivor. Grief wracks his spirit, and you add salt to his wounds? Had he not survived, we would have nothing!” The sharp bite of his words had those nearest him flinch, even Joric recoiled – and the words were not even at him.
From his leather vest, he tugs a magic scroll and unfurls it. Upon the page a picture formed. A man with long, black hair tied back was presented. Stray locks escaped, looking like an explosion captured in his hair. His eyes were cold, and upon his lips was a smirk. In the picture, blood stained the stubble along his jaw. “This is our culprit! Shinmen Takezo: he is a deadly young Prime with no hesitation when it comes to murdering us Secondaries.”
He handed the scroll to the nearest man. One by one, they each look upon the scroll. Sneers pealed many faces at the sight of the Japanese man. “We will hunt him down… and end him.”