[Aradon Templar]: 240.Drabbles.Ruins

     The man stood firmly as the sun set before him. His eyes gazed off into the distance, as if he were taking in the land around him, but also thinking about other things, events of his past, captured only in memory. In memory, and also in the world. Rythea had many great accomplishments in his time. But they, and their effects, did not touch him now. After his accomplished life, he retreated to an ancient ruin of the Old Era, withdrawn from most of the world.

     Most of the world, but not all of it. He still had friends, and he still visited them. Tonight, though, he was alone. The sun dipped even further into the horizon, and the sky flared into a fiery ocean. The many stone columns, now in ruin and decay, cast long, desolate shadows. Every pebble on the dusty, paved ground seemed annunciated and pronounced, no detail going unnoticed. Inside of Rythea a twinge of emotion grew. He was at peace, he knew. A peace he had earned. He would never need to worry about responsibilities, or food, or guilt from laziness, for his work was accomplished. But still a twinge of discontentment resided in him that awoke every once and again, when he felt and knew himself to be very alone.

     Rythea contemplated his emotions, as he usually did, not allowing them to concern him too much, when he found himself startled by a contradiction. He was not alone. Not now. An extra sense alerted him to the presence of a woman behind him just before she spoke aloud.

     "You always choose the most barren, unhospitable places to contemplate, Rythea."

     He turned around at her voice, recognizing it at once. "Your visits are always a pleasant surprise, Aria. But I do not find this ruin to be barren or unhospitable. Indeed, it has yielded much to my spirit, and I have resided here for years. All I have lacked is company, which you have supplied for me. I am truly grateful. Is there anything I can do for you?"

     The usual formalities and greetings, I see, Aria thought. "Oh, no thank you. I came to see if I could do anything for you, actually. You know, we all worry about you. It can't be healthy to live alone for so long, even if you can take care of yourself."

     "I would agree, but I'm afraid I haven't been very alone since I left. You, and the rest of our friends, visit me at least once a week. I'm not truly alone at all. As it is, I find the silence and solitude very pleasant. Are you sure you wouldn't like a bite to eat?" He moved to his makeshift cabinet and rummaged through the contents for a bit of food as he spoke.

     "Honestly, Rythea, I'm not hungry. You should just take a seat and relax; I've only come to chat and keep you company."

     He let out a short laugh, "I suppose so. You never would take anything I offered. Seemed to think I needed it more. But I tell you, you worry too much about me. The ruins here are bountiful, much more than you would guess."

     "Oh, Rythea, I'm not worried about your eating habits. I know you can fend for yourself: you're still alive. I'm worried about you. You say you aren't lonely, yet you long for company. You smile every time one of us passes by, and whenever you don't see us, you're frowning. I've watched you. You haven't seen me, but I've seen you, and you are unhappy."

     "You've been watching me? And how did I not notice? I must have been truly distracted by something, if you tell no lies. And I know you to be honest. Perhaps you are right. I do feel pangs of loneliness. But what would you propose? Everyone move into the ruins? It would desecrate the very nature of them. Believe me, these ruins c-"

     Her rolling laugh cut his argument in half. "As usual, you are honest with yourself and others, but you came to the wrong solution. We could never live in here. We worry about you living here every day, and we live here? I don't think that'd go over well with the group. No. What I came to talk to you about is a bit different. Well... you asked me if there was anything you could do for me. There is. I want you to leave this place. I've seen you. It is eating you alive. You feel healthy, but it is a disease growing in you. Before you realize what has happened, you will be an old hermit, isolated from society completely, and you will be lost to the world. You don't want that. I know you well enough to know that. Rythea...."

     His eyes glazed over again. His thoughts roamed open fields, cragged mountains, and isolated ruins.

<to be continued when I have time again>