For hours, Rain sat silently in his cage. A cage that slowly drained the mana of its occupant, ensuring that his already low level of mana would take weeks to recover if he remained inside.
For a time, he could hear Cassiel and Auric, just outside the door and indistinct, talking with each other. But then things grew silent.
He still felt the compulsion, the constant flow of mana anchored just outside the door where Auric stood watch.
Silent enough for him to think. And remember.
The looks on the villagers' faces.
An old couple in their shelter, who hadn't watched the exchange. How they called out when he appeared, thinking he was there to save them. Their faces when they realized he'd come to them with his sword in hand, drenched in blood.
