TheCavernMonster
Cav || Caligo
It's dark in Myln Arbor, though sunrise soon approaches. The sky is already tinged with blue-green, and the clouds appear black as early dawn light silhouettes them.
Fallen leaves crunch softly under feet, one cloven, the other metallic. The tiefling navigates his way through the foliage, eventually coming to a bit of a clearing, surrounded by giant mushrooms. He lays flat on his back, staring up at the last few stars still fighting for visibility.
"Vale, Aethrim," he says after a moment.
"It's been a while since I've talked to you, I'm sorry about that. I just...I wasn't sure where to go. I can't find your grave anymore, not since they renovated Mitrona. You weren't ever actually in that grave, though, I suppose..." He gives a bitter smile. "Anyway, how have you been?"
There's a long pause. The long grass tickles his cheek. "I know you can't answer me, but I'm hoping you're doing well. I'm doing..." Caligo is silent for a long moment. "I've been worse," he concludes.
"I'm learning magic now! Aeromancy!" He raises a hand to demonstrate, and fog swirls around the area, before rapidly dissipating. "I'm not very strong yet, but I'm studying hard. Elduin's the one teaching me, he's a Lunarmancy Archmage now. Have you checked up on him at all?"
He pauses again, waiting for a response that will never come. Caligo's expression turns a bit sour.
"Will you...do me a favor, Aeth? If it's alright. I'm not in any place to ask for them, but if a de'nevir named Raska or a goblin named Badger enters the land of the dead soon...take care of them please? They've both done some awful things, but they're both good people. I promise. Just a bit foolish."
Silence again. A breeze ruffles Caligo's hair, and he sighs.
"Am I cursed, Aethrim? Is there some-... some spell on me that I'll always lose those I care about? Am I destined to be a mourner? If so, why? What did I do?" Caligo sits up. “I'm sorry, you don't need to hear any of this. Just a sad man pushing 40 with two thirds of his heart on the other side of the veil." He chuckles.
"It's like you said once: This is not a world without pain. Without grief. Without cruelty. This is a world with all three."
Caligo stands, preparing to head back into town. He does need to talk with the Khari'cerr, after all.
"Vale'tar, Aethrim. I'll be by again in a bit, I'm sure... Say hi to everyone for me, will you please?" He smiles up at the treetops around him. A smile intended for a person who no longer exists.