➵ rufus

[riegan]

would rufus be an ashen wolf........

Comments

[soulus]

What is it?

[riegan]

(Cutting right to the chase because he's always gotten the impression Rufus isn't the type that likes to waste his time,)

Will you tell me about what happened when you removed Hikaru?

(He's calm when he speaks, not quite confident because he's very uncertain about all of this still but,)

I want to understand.

[soulus]

Are you asking about what transpired that night?

[riegan]

Yes.

(Nodding.)

I've always had thoughts about what happened but I'd like to hear from the source.

[soulus]

. . . We met after the others had fallen asleep. She asked if she was splintering, then requested that we move somewhere isolated for a spar.

She gave me her bracelet. We traded blows until she could no longer fight due to her growing instability, at which point I used her sword to sever her spinal cord. I then buried her body and the evidence in the graves and mountaintop, and used the bracelet to mark them.

[riegan]

(...

Listening, quietly, solemnly. He isn't entirely sure what he expected now that he hears him but... this sounds right.)

Quickly and painlessly. (The severing of the spinal cord.) With respect.

(Leveling his eyes with Rufus. Did he get that right?)

[soulus]

[Their eyes lock. Yes—quickly and painlessly.]

Her request was to spare everyone the sight of violence that morning.

[riegan]

Through out the trial, everyone noticed it was handled... as well as it could be.

(To the point people suspected someone like Claude or Xie Lian had done it out of compassion or mercy.)

All things considered, this is strange to say but, thank you for that.

(It was some peace in what was otherwise... a difficult day.)

[soulus]

I didn't do it to be thanked. It was a direct request from the Realm.