Flashback A Storm is Brewing

[Castor Riley]

Day 92, Winter of 511 AV Over the past week the tension had been rising and Castor felt fit to burst. For years now he had felt as if the strong, protective walls of Syliras were slowly closing in and smothering him; the threat of the terrible coming storm had taken that feeling and magnified it to the point where he found himself panting for breath, leaning against the corridor outside the apartment he shared with his father. He gathered himself, focusing on his breathing: In… Out… In… Out… In…… Out, emptying his lungs at the last ‘out’. Having calmed down, he walked back into the small apartment. ’Dad, it’s time we moved to the caves’ he said to the man lying on the bed. His father responded with a huff. ‘I know we’re already quite deep into the castle, but we’re talking about a Djed storm here, Dad, and I’d rather not risk it.’ He made a whining noise. 'Don’t worry I’ll carry you down.’ He looked at him sadly. ’Oh, come on I’m just returning the favor! You carried me around for years.’ His stare took on a glint. ’It’s not the same and you know it!’ said those eyes. Castor sat on the edge of the bed, next to his father, and took his hand. ‘But it’s fair. I feel it’s a good deal.’ They sat there for a while just looking at each other. Castor and Barrett Riley had had such silent conversations many times over the past years, ever since a stroke had taken away the latter’s ability to speak and walk properly. Calamitous as this event was, it had forced Castor to postpone a journey he had planned in his youth; a journey, he had since come to realise, that would have most likely ended very badly for the once thoughtless young boy. He took a handkerchief from the bedside table and dabbed gently at the saliva that was dribbling from his father’s ever-sneering mouth. ’Now come on’ he said, grabbing the older man from under the armpits and helping him into a sitting position ’I’ll be your right-hand man’. He smiled widely and saw his father grimace back at him. It would all be fine, as long as they had each other. And as the two walked off, Castor gently supporting his father’s dead right side, and with the sounds of a city in turmoil in the background, neither of them knew that this would be the last New Year’s Day either of them would spend with each other.

[Emblem]

Congratulations! You Get Glorious Experience! Castor Skill Points Earned Meditation 1 XP Persuasion 1 XP Lore Earned The Coming Storm Silent Conversations Returning the Favor Other Shenanigans: Comments : Short but good stuff. There wasn't too much in the way of XP obviously but I awarded what I could. PM me if you have any questions or concerns!