dev 5 - weep

Once the messengers had done their work and gathered a large number of Knights, they'd find the Radiant with a pensive expression. The woman beside him, Holly, was also smeared with blood, now dried somewhat from her travel back home. "There was an attempt at further communications with Moonfall that ended poorly, to discern why they harbor Occultists in their village and perhaps meet with the Druids directly..."

"One such Occultist, a woman called Cornelia, who seems to be in a... leadership position of sorts, oddly, struck out and attacked. She was enraged by a recent visit of another Exarch, which I was unaware of."

And there's no Asphira or Jasper in the crowd, still...

Troubling.

Elijah glanced to Holly, checking to see if he missed anything out. She was the only witness present. "...is that accurate? I assume you have more to add."
(Elijah Soleis)

Some people can't die. Or at least, that's the belief he inserted in his mind- knowing that rather capable people went on a mission, he wasn't worried - though, with the pensive expression that Elijah has taken upon his countenance.. he can't help but think that something had gone poorly.

"So these rumors are not false." It's spoken more as a matter-of-fact. Though..

"The communication with them went rather poorly, Radiant Soleis. As much as they weren't going to attack us, yet, they clearly looked tense the whole time."

"Why, though? What happened? Are we going to have to quell something?"

It's almost as if he's wilfully ignorant of these missing- putting the worst possibility to the backburn, not until it's directly shoved in his face.

They have to be fine.
(Nerin)

Holly would offer a nod in response to Elijah as her gaze pans back over to the gather and she'd decide to fill in what blanks there were that she'd noticed of just remembered.

"Yes." She first responds to Atrosus. "We arrived and they were already exceedingly hostile - due to what the letter entailed, the presence of the Archdruid was asked for - if he was available. That, sent Cornelia into a rage where she strangled Asphira on the spot."

She continues on,

"Then, as the letter was read aloud for all the hear - Cornelia made no efforts to brush aside the claims and, instead, flaunts her occultic arts whilst assaulting Asphira. She could've escaped, but Jasper got caught up. So we stayed. Then... got separated as everyone in Moonfall flocked out o try and fight us as well. Thus, I've returned and am currently unaware of the other two's whereabouts or conditions." She explains.

"I'm not certain if the Druids actually support Cornelia, one tried to stop her and was attacked--"

She paused at Asphira's appearance...

"Ah..."
(Holly Hargrave)

It took a while to get home.

With the injuries Asphira had, it was exceptionally hard to make the journey that hadn't given her much trouble before. She ran and ran without looking back all while ignoring her pain as well as she possibly could rather than succumbing to it. Her sole goal after her bout was survival.

Somehow, in the end, she'd live. There was too much at stake.

By the time she'd reached the gathering, Asphira was barely hanging in there. She stumbles over the final step and collapses down to her knees, eyes moving over the crowd as she wheezes and struggles to catch her breath. Holly was there, yet...

Jasper was nowhere to be found.

She looked hurt, confused, worried, and scared. Her body was littered with cuts and bruises, the most prominent markings being small punctures in her neck and burns surrounding it. The extent of the damage was difficult to discern from a mere glance alone, however.

Her lips part to speak yet even now she couldn't find her voice. Asphira appeared oblivious of the two that had presumably accompanied her all along the way and ensured her safety through the forest.
(Asphira)

The initial news from Holly were met with a frown.

It was only a matter of time. Deep inside, he knew that what he was told would turn out to be true, that eventually, there would be conflict between First Light and the people of Moonfall. But of course.. they were supposedly harbouring Occultists and even Syndicate agents, so it was bound to happen eventually.

Although he listens in, for the most part, in silence - his gaze turns towards Asphira as eh arrives.

A squint, once, twice.. before he makes an assessment out of her injuries. Here, he clearly understand that she needs help - and being a medic himself, he glances off to the command nearby, exclaiming.

"She appears to be in shock. Would you allow me to step out of line and take a look at her?"

But no matter how much he looks..
There's no Jasper.

He should be around, somewhere.. he was capable, that one; until the end, he couldn't believe that anything could've happened to him. If anything, he addressed his concerns regarding the Cadet that made her way here.

"Unless someone else would have to."
(Nerin)

A few small nods are given to Atrosus and Nerin, and he takes in Wano's piece of information and puts it to mind. Three Shaman. Perhaps more druids beyond that, too. "Holly has all but confirmed the Druids are not on good terms with the Occultists, and their reluctance to leave the village may be their equal disdain for Osrona," he half-whispered, disappointed and dejected in himself after getting a good look at Asphira.

"We must decide what to do from this point on. My suggestion is that we move in force, with some of our strongest. And we demand an audience at their gate."

"...It is clear they do not take kindly to a softer approach."
(Elijah Soleis)

Holly remained silent as she'd inspect Asphira's form from where she stood... She was evidently far more mangled than before they'd left for the simple task of delivering a letter. Moonfall had likely just declared a war with Osrona - or, well... The Witches in particular had declared the war.

Not the Druids. As far as she could understand, the Druids had done nothing. Yet.

A brief flicker of teal eyes behind Asphira revealed the lack of Jasper accompanying her. That, it itself, just provoked the darkest reality she could have in mind right now. Perhaps... Jasper wouldn't be coming back.

She'd almost wince as Berrios asked for Jasper.

"It was just that one Druid I spotted, I didn't notice any others. Cornelia mentioned something about that one Druid not being allowed to have a say in anything, due to the fact she'd been 'absent for so long'? I'm unsure what that means, but... Yeah." She recollects.
(Holly Hargrave)

Clearly a bit out of breath and not in the state of mind to just... Clarify so easily, he'd just blurted out what happened without really thinking. The sudden attention makes him rethink how he handled those words, and rights himself a bit, taking some deep breaths to properly speak.

"Whatever your plan was, didn't go as intended. The village people got hostile and attacked the group you sent. I happened to be nearby so I could see from a distance, but... Jasper moved to engage someone named Cornelia, according to what I heard another villager say. She... Well, they fought, and Jasper lost. He only fought her because she was moving to harm Asphira here. Though... There were so many fighting, she ended up hurt anyways, it seems." He'd say a bit long-windedly. He looks down after this, just wanting to shut himself off from the world, it seems.

"The others will have more details, I'm sure." he'd add.
(Iskan Furthis)

It was hard to breathe, think, or focus. The people around her seemed to blur together before her very eyes as she pressed her palms against the stone beneath her. Shuddering, the young Cadet coughs up blood and shuts her eyes tightly. "Jasper... he protected me. I ended up fighting someone else. I couldn't do it." Asphira was trying her hardest to speak though it was anything but easy after how much her throat had suffered. To make matters worse, there were so many voices around her. Everything felt much louder and her head was spinning.

Some had chosen to approach her, but it didn't look as if she'd fully registered it. She'd continue trying to speak quietly and frantically to whoever's ears it may reach.

"He took me down and pressed his palm against my chest. Something burned, and I-"

Through the commotion, she heard it clearly. Jasper was gone and she knew that it was all her fault. All because she had been tooweak and failed again. The young woman didn't know what to do nor did she know how to process the feelings knotted in her chest.

It was hopeless. She felt hopeless.
(Asphira)

This was only a medical duty. Carefully inspecting Asphira's wounds upon approach, already he takes on the kit that he carries around, putting on a pair of gloves; as he listens in to the conversations nearby, he bobs his head - almost as if he doesn't take it seriously. With so much attention given.. he figures that Iskan was joking.

"Mm.."

Except.. it doesn't feel like a joke. As far as he listens in, an evident frown settles in on Nerin's face. Just like he's been once told.. he has a strong frown. So much so that it almost looks like he would rather deny this time and time again.. a thousand times - and even that wouldn't be enough. A single chortle escapes, almost as if mocking the idea that Jasper is dead.

"He cannot die. He's more capable than most." Something spoken with almost disdain in his voice. While he assesses Asphira's wound, and figures that it's not something that could be treated on spot.. he takes upon a tourniquet to briefly secure the wounded area from further bleeding, the hydrogen oxide used with swabs of cotton to cleanse it as well and lay a pad via secured bandage.

This is no treatment. This is first-aid, to transfer her to a surgery later - just to make sure she doesn't bleed out. But..

Why?
Why do they keep talking about this..

"...No, no. It's--" Not possible. It can't be. Here, while the first-aid is laid upon Asphira.. he can almost feel his own eyes beginning to become misty. He could've sworn he's keeping himself composed - he could've sworn that this is all a lie. Then why? Why it doesn't feel like one?

Why can't he stay focused?
Why does it ache?

At the very last, his actions cease. Even if the Cadet was secured this way.. there's something that felt wrong about this- Nerin didn't even know that he can feel this way, but.. this awfully reminds him of the time in sewers. Of how he prayed to all gods to return his brother, of how he prayed to divines - for them to take his life, just to save him, but..

Praying won't work, will it?
Of course not.
Of course it won't..

"How.." He could've sworn the hand didn't end up over his face, that the glove didn't slip. "Why..?" And it's not him covering his eyes frantically with a single hand. No.. why would Nerin ever seem this way?

He has this under control.
He swears he wouldn't be crying.
Even if the droplets hit the ground.

"This.."

"He's still a captive.. right? We can still save him, right?"

Who is he talking to? Only gods could know- for his gaze bounces all around command. What is he looking for?

Hope. In a place where it can't be found.
(Nerin)

Elijah had to do something, say something, to help regain control over the current situation. Many close friends of his were present here and Once the initial shock of Jasper's death fades some, the tall, broad-shouldered blonde turned around to take a look at the ground, tilting his chin back and steeling his expression. His eyes resembled two freshly cut emerald gemstones under the light of the sun, though it is a solemn look.

Nerin is in disbelief.
Asphira barely has a grip on her mind.
Berrios is breaking down.
Erika was overwhelmed by guilt.

The Radiant is silent as Atrosus makes their stance going forward clear, and he gives a strong nod of his head while walking forward, "Nobody is to act alone or unsupervised. Nobody will callously seek out revenge. We cannot lose another Brother or Sister going forward," he made clear, his determined gaze scanning the crowd, "The First Light will come together as one after this, and move as such. Aproper force will march south and confront the murderer of Jasper head on."

"Mourn him. Rest. Train. Prepare for what's to come."
(Elijah Soleis)

Drip, drip, drip..

It's odd to be subjected to this. For he remembers that back in the day, he promised to always stay strong- for his family, for his friends, for those he cherished. Many times he would retreat and bask in his sorrows alone with nobody to see it - many times he would put up a smile and play the Fool to amuse others, if only to mask what's truly beneath.

Then why can't he be strong now..
Why do these tears fall?

No matter how much he tries to wipe away at his eyes, no matter how much he tries to pretend he's got a grip on himself.. the truth is, he does not. Perhaps for the first time, he feels as if he's overwhelmed by it.. by the sorrow for what happened, for what they've done to him.

But where sorrow floods one's heart..
It's quick to become anger and hatred.

He promised to be strong. He promised to keep things together, so that others wouldn't have to - but there are different ways to do that, are there not? It hurts- it hurts so much that he feels he could scream, but he knows that screaming won't do any good. That now, more than ever, he should keep his head straight and vision clear.

For his family and friends.
For Jasper.

"I shall not mourn till war is done.."
"I shall not weep while blood still runs.."
"I'll.. hold my tears when weeping comes.."

The tiniest of mutters, much like a re-assuring prayer to himself. Here, even when he's running low on just staying still, without anything to betray his emotion.. he knows that he should pull through- even if for now. Steadily, his gaze rises up; the reddened eyelids becoming a clear testament to the tears shed previously.

"...I'll--"

"I'll be ready. When you call."

It's not easy.
But it has to be done.
(Nerin)