Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5583506-20150502142033/@comment-5583506-20150524011558

(Time for epilogues!)

And so the great shadow of Riften had been lifted. Yet for centuries the legend of the Pale Man's ghost would continue to haunt the town, especially in idle gossip among the commoners and in stories the adults used to scare their children into obedience.

Even after the events of the Pale Man's defeat, the Derelict would still stand, as if people were afraid to even touch it with a hammer and chisel. The Pale Tunnel in the Underways was finally sealed off on the order of the newly appointed captain of the watch Anja Shield-Breaker. Borgus and Leah's business flowered once again. Amiran's wedding services within the Temple of Mara came to a conclusion when he eventually married himself. Mi'Siri dared to return to Haelga's Bunkhouse after several weeks, but even then she had plans on selling the place and quit her job to go and visit her family, living in Balmora in Morrowind, since the memories of what had happened in her brothel still weighed heavily on her.

"See, sir? The weather is nice", chirped the nurse as she rolled the wheelchair through the courtyard.

Sibern did not respond. He was still tired. A new session with the overseer of Solitude's Estate for the Mentally Ill awaited him and he was in no mood to be cheery. He had just been having dreams about what had happened in Riften two months ago.

"You are... not replying, sir?"

"No, I... I guess I am just a bit weary, that's all."

"I see", said the nurse. "Well, you should cheer up. It's just a matter of a week or so before you are free to go."

"Free?" scoffed Sibern. "I came here on my own will, if you remember. I needed..." He interrupted himself. "I needed some conclusion."

"Is this that debate about what's good and evil again?" she asked.

Sibern nodded. "You don't have to hear it, if you don't want to. Save that for the overseer."

"No, no. Go ahead. After all I am getting paid to encourage our patients to express their innermost feelings."

The Investigator took a deep breath and observed as a sparrow hid amongst the branches of a great oak, to remain unseen as a great hawk swept across the sky looking for a potential prey.

"That's just how I felt back then", said Sibern sternly. "Back before Riften I was that sparrow. Around every corner there seemed to be a shadow waiting for me. Waiting to get to me. No. Not just for me. But for anyone. I can't help but thinking that the thing I have experienced when my sister... when my sister..." He stopped himself momentarily only to feel the nurse's comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Take your time, sir."

He exhaled loudly. "When my sister was taken from me. That exact evil. That precise definition of evil is taking place somewhere, right now, even as we speak, in this world. And there is nothing we can do to stop it. Around every corner there are shadows, but we are the light that casts them."

"Are you... saying that you are responsible for your sister's death is that how you feel?"

He shook his head. "No. Perhaps there could have been a chance for me to save her, yes. I don't deny that. Likewise there could have been a chance for me to save Embla. Yet I failed there as well. The same goes for that sparrow over there. It is very well aware of that bad things can happen if it were to get out of that tree and fly now as the hawk sweeps above it, yet it remains hidden, in fear for its own life."

The nurse looked at him slightly confused.

"That's where the differences between me and the sparrow goes however. The sparrow was taught early on to be prepared for the worst to happen, and has therefore learnt to take precautions. What I am saying is that the reason why I failed to save my sister's and Embla's life from ultimate evil, is because I failed to recognise the evil in my vicinity and surroundings. I should have foreseen that Embla was in danger, that way I could have had her escape Riften even long before the Pale Man's plan to have her killed came in order. I should have foreseen that my sister's husband would be a dangerous lunatic, that would have given me the time to... to..."

His voice failed him as he began to sob and cry hysterically, burying his face in the palm of his hand.

The nurse gently stroke his shoulder and he grasped her small hand, squeezing it tightly, as if to assure himself that someone was there to comfort him.

"Come now, sir", said the nurse and began to push the wheelchair. "It's not all that bad. Think of what this Embla told you, alright? She told you that if you could face an even greater evil, the shadows that burdens you would disappear in time. I have noticed you aren't taking your daily dose. So that means that you haven't been having any of those sights as of yet, have you?"

She was speaking the truth. He drew for breath amidst the tears as he produced a small smile. "I haven't", he declared triumphantly.