Polathrin's Ruins

Magony sat with her arms folded around her legs. Her eyes were so puffy from crying, they might not ever open fully again. She wanted to cry more, let everything flow from her, but she resisted. Too many things had been said, and her mind was curious. The group around her was a puzzle to solve, and she loved good stories and puzzles.

Ramza, Rozmo, Zak, Akio, and Mia. Magony sifted the names around in her mind, looking to each of the people as she thought of them. Zak and Akio had been gone a long while already, their forms long gone beyond the top of the hill. It left only three, but Magony couldn’t be sure of the remainders’ strengths and weaknesses. Rozmo had talked about his connection to the giant beast, and he had heard Angus coming before anyone else. He had some kind of ability, there was no telling about the others.

“Do you want any food?” Ramza asked in a soft voice. It reminded Magony of her own mother’s voice, and it made Magony want to puke.

“No,” Magony managed.

They all went back to their own conversation. Something about the caves, but none of it mattered. Magony had other thoughts to contend with. Thoughts of family and loss and the dark, cruel nature of the world. It wasn’t fair. This group had escaped with everyone they loved, while Magony sat with nobody and nothing.

Magony squeezed her hands together. Everyone she had ever loved was gone. A mother, a brother, and now a father. All she had left were her Gods. Magony closed her eyes and looked up to the sky. They had to be there; they had to hear her. But what would she ask for? She could beg them to bring her family back, but that prayer was long gone with the first death. It would do her no good for that, but she could do something else. Something to make her spirit light.

Magony had always been a good person. She had only ever helped, and she had been willing to guide anyone who came across her path. Zak, Ramza and Akio were no exception. She saw a thirst for safety and knowledge in their eyes, even the cold dark of Zak’s. She knew there was hope for them, a humanity was thriving in the midst of despair and it filled her with hope. Even when Ramza had pointed a gun at her, still Magony persisted. She was sure then. Now, she wasn’t. Taking strangers with them resulted in calamity.

So, she would curse these strangers. She would ask the Gods to rain Sor’s hell on them. To bring them to their knees in the same way she now felt lifeless. Magony asked for Grief to invade their hearts, and Love to step away. Magony would not hope for death, only agony. This group would suffer. And when they wondered why, Magony hoped she would be able to smirk and tell them exactly what part she played.

Magony opened her eyes, a small smile on her face. They would regret running and leaving her father for dead.

“You’re not alone,” Mia suddenly whispered. She was close to Magony’s face, though Magony hadn’t noticed before. “You have us. We can keep you safe. Zak is strong, Ramza protects us, Akio makes us laugh, and Rozmo invents. Together we can face the whole world and win.” Mia smiled, touching Magony’s hand. “You can make it far with us.”

Magony felt her stomach twist. She would love the company, and Mia was sweet, but she couldn’t get over her feelings. She was jealous and upset. Magony wouldn’t let it go. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do without her father; her path seemed to be coming to an end, but she could use these people. Zak, Akio, and Ramza had used Magony and her father to get to Creed, and now, Magony would return the favor. She would get to the ship, and she would set sail with them; she would live. But she would do it in the hope that she would bear witness when the group was tortured for their sins.

Magony felt a sort of pride build up inside. She was strong, her father had made her strong. This group would think they had fixed her, maybe even believe she was fully one of them, but they had only turned up the heat raging inside.

Mia was still smiling, but slowly her smile started to fade and Magony’s grin grew wider. This girl was smart, but not smart enough.