Regret

[Tirdisar]

I have to stop it.

Tir stared down at the steps he slowly was walking up. They led to the top of the highest tower of the Hawkbrand estate, at the corner of the northeast wing, just over the city wall. He lifted up a hand close to his face, seeing that it was shaking. He was scared, but he had many reasons to be so.

What's even real anymore?

He was afraid of his dreams. They would be pleasant ones, of happiness and love, but they would haunt him when he awoke. He was afraid of his bed, as he kept a knife nearby, one he would hold absentmindedly as he had thoughts that disgusted him.

I'd be doing nothing but hurting them, otherwise.

He was afraid of himself. He was slowly losing control, and he knew he couldn't stop it. Jealousy boiled in his weak heart. He wanted to move on, but could not force himself to. He wanted to forget, but the dreams only rekindled his memory.

I will stop it, no matter what I must do.

The tower ended with a small circular room, with a large open window overlooking the forest outside the city. In it's center was a roost, mostly for messenger pigeons, but his arcane hawk familiar, Kuraga, rested on it as well. The hawk perked up as it's master entered.

"Sorry to wake you, Kuraga. I'm going to be going away for a little while. I need you to watch Diandro'ei for me, alright?" Kuraga only cawed lightly as Tir rubbed it's head.

Tir turned to the window. The sun had long set, and the sound of crickets had replaced that of the city. "Maybe for longer than a little while." He crawled out the window, holding himself on the sill and looked down towards the ground. Without warning, he let go and fell forward.

The ground came rushing up at him, but he kept his eyes closed. "I have no regret, Ninorra." He had one last thought before he blacked out. "Alright, maybe one."

[Ninorra]

((!!!))

[Ninorra]

((Edit, since there's no body!))

As she shrieked the statement, the windows of the Silvermoon Inn burst into millions of miniscule shards around her and the law enforcement officer. Brighthope shielded his eyes, allowing Ninorra to run from his sight, retrieving the hearthstone from one of her bags.

"Tir.. Tir.. Tir, answer me.. we were just talking last night!" She said desperately, running through the nearly empty city in the direction of the Hawkbrand estate. "Tir! Tir, you have to answer me! You're not dead! You can't be dead!!"

[Tirdisar]

Tir awoke to the smell of trees and harsh wind whipping his hair behind him. His hands clutched at the ground, instead finding feathers. Kuraga had picked him up before he hit the ground.

"Just in time. I thought you were going to miss me." The hawk had grown to a size more fitting to carry someone on its back. Tir leaned over to see the trees zip by beneath them. "Morning, already?"

A sparkle beyond the branches told of a lake below. "Set down there."

The lake was unoccupied, excpet for a family of lynxes. They ran off into the bush as Kuraga landed, and Tir slid off its back. Kuraga held a package in its talon, which Tir took and began to unwrap. In it was a change of clothes, a dark green cloak, a white shirt, and brown pants, much more common than the formal robes or mage outfit he usually wore. He threw his old clothes into the water, along with some other belongings. He had nearly finished going through his bags before finding his hearthstone. He nearly jumped as it began to crackle to life.

It was her. He didn't answer, only holding it tightly before tossing it into the water. Fully dressed in his new outfit, and carrying a violin case, he set off into the forest. "I'm sorry. I can't come back, just yet."

[Ninorra]

She heard nothing at the other end of her hearthstone. For a brief moment she thought there was some static, but it dissapeared into nothingness. Ninorra stopped in her tracks, clutching her hands over her eyes.

"Why did I have to talk to him.. why did I have to tell him.. gods above, what have I done? Tir, you can't leave me.."