"Too many people in this world never think about the possible consequences of their actions. Oftentimes, things done with good intentions in mind might very well cause the opposite effect, just because that's the way the dice decided to roll. I learnt of this the hard way." - Saying attributed to the Silver Maiden.

Palace of Bones

Tohrmutgent

Lichdom of Ptolodecca

7th day, 1st week, 8th month, year 80 VA.

Aideen turned her head as she heard the noise of footsteps on the cobblestones. These past few days, when she was resting after a day of healing recovering patients that had suffered from the plague, she had sought for some solitude, and the bench by the fountain, in one of the grand cathedral's courtyards that was styled like a park, had suited her needs. Others could find her there if needed, while for the most part she had the solitude she had sought for.

When the figure got closer, she could finally tell from the slight illumination of the enchanted lighting on the fountain itself that it was her older brother Diarmuid. He had a large bottle in one hand, and a pair of glasses in his other hand.

He sat down on the bench without asking, right beside her. One look at her older brother made Aideen wince with sympathy. Diarmuid looked old, whereas before this mess he looked spry enough that he could pass for a man a couple decades younger, now he looked every bit of his seventy one years of age.

Kestera's death had affected him hard, and Aideen just felt more guilty at the melancholic look on his face. She felt that if she had somehow managed to arrive just a couple days sooner, maybe she would have made it in time.

"You look like you could use a stiff drink, sis," Diarmuid plaintively stated as he placed the glasses on the bench between them. He then uncorked the bottle with a small knife, and poured to fill both glasses halfway. Even from where Aideen sat, the strong stench of alcohol was noticeable.

"Thanks… not that you look any better…" she said as she accepted the glass he proffered. She drained the glass in one gulp, allowing the very strong liquor to burn its way down her throat, until it settled warmly in her stomach.

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Her Unliving physique normally meant that most poisons and intoxicants would simply not affect her, but over the decades, she had learnt how to control parts of that, and allowing alcohol to affect her when she wanted it to, was well within her capabilities, like now.

"Stop beating yourself over this, sis," Diarmuid said in a consoling tone. He poured himself another glass, chugged it down, then poured her another before he refilled his glass with the strong, smoky, clear brown liquor. "You did the best you could. None of us would blame you."

"It wasn't enough, brother," Aideen said as she swallowed the contents of her glass, before extending her hand for a refill. She had been feeling pangs of guilt over her own perceived failure, that even with her best efforts, she still lost someone she cared for. It starkly reminded her of when she was perhaps only moments too slow, yet too late to save her own brother. She drained her refilled glass before she looked her brother in the eye and said with all seriousness to him: "The best I have… wasn't enough…"

"Such is life sometimes. Just try to do it better next time?" Diarmuid said with a dejected sigh as he rubbed his little sister's back comfortingly, draining his glass of liquor before refilling both their glasses once more. "You do realize that I'm the one supposed to be grieving now, right? Instead I got to look over my sulking sixty-something little sister. Imagine that."

"Heh… you're right. Sorry, brother," replied Aideen as Diarmuid's words got a forced chuckle out of her. She had mostly sulked in stress and depression whenever she was not busy healing these past few days. At times, memories of the eyes belonging to the innocent girl she had killed haunted her.

When she was still on the way back to Tohrmutgent, even when she was spending every moment at Kestera, Mimia, and Éirynn's sickbeds, she had not thought of it much, but now after the situation finally had a resolution - once the medicine was tested and proved go be effective in Tohrmutgent, they had immediately sent batches to the forest as well - she felt the weight of what she did.

She knew that her feeling of guilt was pointless. That girl would be dead even if she hadn't thrown her weapon, as the agents wouldn't have left her alive. Even if they did, that vial their target smashed in his last moments might have claimed her anyway. Scout reports - from distant observation via spyglasses - had indicated that nobody had left the fort since that day, and not a single sign of life could be seen within.

Ptolodecca has sent even more mage cadres to the shadow forest, to ensure that the curtain of death was maintained at all costs, and that not even animals were allowed to cross the line and enter Ptolodecca.

Aideen shook her head, and bottled her grief, setting it aside, as she accompanied her brother in drinking until they were both too drunk to even stand. She could instantly sober herself from such a state, and did so, though she stopped herself from fully sobering up and allowed a slight inebriation to remain.

Diarmuid had no such ability however, and was so drunk that he was barely conscious, so she draped one of his arms around her shoulders, and helped guide him inside, to his own chambers where he could get some much needed rest.

Deities know they needed some rest by now. Aideen just hoped that for once, fate would pull its punches and allow them some time to properly rest, instead of inundating them with even more blows, as bad things rarely come alone.