Shadow's Salvage [Renown]
Nov 30, 2023 23:16:14 GMT -5
Post by Delta on Nov 30, 2023 23:16:14 GMT -5
It was still in shambles.
Dante stared out at the desolate city, the last and only bastion of civilization in the harsh Ash Lands. It was as if the very land was trying to swallow the city. Despite all he had done with the community in trying to help clean the city up, his success was such a small thing. Buildings were still cracked and broken, windows were smashed, and trash sprawled across the street. What did he ever find beautiful in this city? The people perhaps, but there was a sinking futility that weighed upon him when he saw little had changed. It was the same slum city as before, just more broken and more desperate.
His mind drifted to Moonglade... to Kamille...
He shook his head and sighed. He cleared his throat and put on his best winning smile, saying, "Everyone gather around! It seems what we need a little bit of organization. You there, bring the reclaimed stone to our resident street mason. I'll compensate your Solar loss, but we're never going to get this city back together if we keep bickering over coin. You, sweep up the glass with them and bring them here. No one takes this alley anyways, and we can figure out what to do with it later."
Dante directed the small crowd who seemed to listen to him. People always listened to him when he applied the right words at the right time with the right body language. But now his tongue was as magical as a witch's broom, and he found he could sway folks with less effort than before. He hoped he wouldn't lose his edge to the convenience of magic. Sighing, he let the confidence fade as he turned to pass out blankets to the homeless. As he draped the cloaks, his vision swam with the thought of casting funeral shrouds onto people, and he felt as if he were burying the entire city in a funeral procession. Death and even killing weren't beneath him, but the cruelty Vulcadraeus had inflicted went far beyond what he knew. He never felt so small.
Dante stared out at the desolate city, the last and only bastion of civilization in the harsh Ash Lands. It was as if the very land was trying to swallow the city. Despite all he had done with the community in trying to help clean the city up, his success was such a small thing. Buildings were still cracked and broken, windows were smashed, and trash sprawled across the street. What did he ever find beautiful in this city? The people perhaps, but there was a sinking futility that weighed upon him when he saw little had changed. It was the same slum city as before, just more broken and more desperate.
His mind drifted to Moonglade... to Kamille...
He shook his head and sighed. He cleared his throat and put on his best winning smile, saying, "Everyone gather around! It seems what we need a little bit of organization. You there, bring the reclaimed stone to our resident street mason. I'll compensate your Solar loss, but we're never going to get this city back together if we keep bickering over coin. You, sweep up the glass with them and bring them here. No one takes this alley anyways, and we can figure out what to do with it later."
Dante directed the small crowd who seemed to listen to him. People always listened to him when he applied the right words at the right time with the right body language. But now his tongue was as magical as a witch's broom, and he found he could sway folks with less effort than before. He hoped he wouldn't lose his edge to the convenience of magic. Sighing, he let the confidence fade as he turned to pass out blankets to the homeless. As he draped the cloaks, his vision swam with the thought of casting funeral shrouds onto people, and he felt as if he were burying the entire city in a funeral procession. Death and even killing weren't beneath him, but the cruelty Vulcadraeus had inflicted went far beyond what he knew. He never felt so small.