Pacifying the Darkness

[Sairalinde Sustrem]

She watched him, as he crawled against the tree, keeping his gaze on her all the while. He was bloodied and battered, and when his back hit the trunk of the tree. He laughed bitterly, spitting out blood, and turned to her. He spoke of the crimes he had committed for the sheer joy of it, but she looked at him emotionless. Finally, he said his final words, as he spit out more blood, his hand against his chest. He asked her why she hadnt killed him on their first meeting almost a week ago, instead of making him wonder, but then he became silent as he realized what her intent was. He hung his head down, thanking her, even if she didnt know why. She pulled out her sword, and with a quick swing she decapitated him. His head rolled between his legs and she merely looked down at his body, somewhat sadly. She turned around, ready to leave, but she jus couldnt leave it there. She came towards the body, and put her hand against the ground, sending a steady flow of energy as a small explosion sounded off and a circle appeared. She picked up the body and laid it on there, with the head included, and then let a breeze blow the dirt back to the hole to cover his body. She laid her hands on it, said a simple prayer, and found herself just sitting right beside the newly covered grave, not quite understanding why. She stuck her sword infront of her, and leaned an arm against the handle.

[Malachi Vondrak]

"That's a nasty habit to stop you know, the both of you, doing what you do." He shook his head and put some herbs he had found by sheer luck into a pouch. He had just checked up on the boy, and now it was up to the boy to live on his own, because he had refused many things that Malachi was going to use to help him, so he had assured Maezyl that everything would be fine and that the boy had inherited the stubborness that was like a wild craze in the Tower. Shaking his head, he eyed the woman and then the hole and just moved over to continue.

[Sairalinde Sustrem]

"What is?" She looked up to him from her place, eyeing him cautiously. Her body flung against the sword, and she noticed the pouch he carried, assuming he was, since not many would come to the Swamp, after the stories told of the 'Phantom' that lived there.

[Malachi Vondrak]

"That. The whole taking of a life and all that. Obviously it's nothing new to my eyes, but it's a habit hard to break. Just look at that boy, went crazy mad off of one life he took. Stupidity, that's what it is in his case at times. His family was full of power hungry idiots and he unfortunately was pinned with a huge burden that he sometimes does not understand he has. It is a good thing his brother is not greatly affected by this. But why am I rambling to you or anything in this swamp for that matter?" He laughed."I should have raised the boy better, perhaps things would have changed."

[Sairalinde Sustrem]

"I am aware of that. Its a habit better left unacquaired, but it is a part of my duties, no matter how affected I am. I'm too emotional for this line of work, yet I'm enough of a masochist to continue." She pulled her sword from the ground and sheathed it to her side, eyeing him. "That's quite the family you speak of. I've no idea who you refer to, but if he managed to overcome whatever madness afflicted him, he is stronger than you might think." She stood lazily, eyeing the grave again. "It is best not to wonder of the "what if's" of life, it tends to take it's toll on a person. You do as best as you can, and you hope that those whom you cared for learn from their mistakes."

[Malachi Vondrak]

"You do not understand..." He sighed."There is strength of course, but I think there is a difference between that and the bravery your very own children show to try and save you. That is by far different." He nodded."Nor do you understand that I've tried to change outcomes, I've tried on several ocassions to change his path, change what has happened, but nothing, none of it can be changed. And it bothers me that his path and the path of others he affects can be so set in stone."

[Sairalinde Sustrem]

"To a mere observer and listener, it sounds as if the strength lies within all the parties involved. To change a path, as you've noticed, is very difficult, mostly because the path extends far greater than just those directly involved. I do not believe in fate or that there is something pre-written. I am firm believer that you write your own history, and it is within the person to allow themselves to be absorbed in stories of pre-destiny. But at times you've no choice but to step back, and let things occur as it would naturally. In the end, in trying to change a path, you might change the lessons a person will need to learn in order to get the end result, you wanted in the beginning." She laughed briefly. "I hope I did not confuse you, because I believe I just confused myself."

[Malachi Vondrak]

"I understand what you are telling me, but you don't understand. You have to try to understand. I've tried to change the outcomes, the children he has given birth to and how he has acted upon them. None of it changes, it happens no matter what. I tried changing that transformation, but it just occurs no matter what when I come back and no one is knowledgable in any change whatsoever." He sighed."I gave up trying to change all their lives for the better a long time ago."

[Sairalinde Sustrem]

"In that case, what is the outcome of the children he has? The way you speak I cannot help but think that some very horrid things occurs to them." She looked to him strangely.

[Malachi Vondrak]

"They have had to endure many trials of suffering and I've tried to change every single one and it doesn't work. Their paths continue in the same way, no matter what. Perhaps small things change, the colors their clothes are, and things like that. I've even gone so far back as to tell myself to never save him, to let fate take care of him, but I was young then, and I have never listened to the advice I gave myself, never. I've always gone back to save him."

[Sairalinde Sustrem]

She thought for a moment, playing everything he just said in her mind. "What if, something occured which made it so things happened regardless. Although the notion of time travel is truly lost on many, whose to say that there is not something to occur to cause someone to travel back in time (Not you, but another), and oversee the things to occur as they have, maybe out of fright, because as I'm sure you know, time travel is a risky business, and to change one thing you have the possibility of changing things that you never intended. Maybe it is best you always saved him, because who is to say that his children would have been born. Of course their suffering would have never occured, but they would not be here, either."

[Malachi Vondrak]

"But, it just, it confuses me. There are certain things you can change and still, not affect other things if there are key parts of the past forced to happen in certain ways. I have gone back many times. But let me stop rambling."He shook his head.

[Sairalinde Sustrem]

"Maybe there is a shadow which you never noticed when you've gone back. If you choose to travel once again, I would give you a suggestion to truly look carefully at your surroundings and then you may find your answer." She smiled briefly.

[Malachi Vondrak]

"I HAVE!" he said out of frustration, though there was no anger towards her."I've gone over it with a fine tooth comb, but it is always the same. And I do not try to brag, but I am knowledgable in many types of magics and spells and well, everything. I am capable to survive through any situation by myself." He nodded."I've done it, trust me, I have lived very long."

[Sairalinde Sustrem]

"Then, I am as stumped as you are with this all. I suppose it shall stay a mystery why these events keep occurring." She looked to him, sensing his power and also bits of his powerful magic, he was not lying about his abilities.