The Keepers of Chaos: A Vault of Hell

Alekzandr Ikorov: CX

Moonlight Tree's: CX

"It's not your fault.. It's not your.." Alekzandr sat in the corner of the room, breathing heavily trying his very best to focus on the floor patterns. It wasn't his fault he hadn't done anything wrong, every time he went to blink flashes of the war danced in his pupils. He reached to his side, slipping out the vodka bottle and taking a few swigs. The more he drank the more the images became blurred. "That's.." He scoffed, "better.." it was no use, however. Shutting his eyes for even a second would mean being swarmed by memories. "Fuck!" He cursed. Shoving his head into his hands he begged the world to stop treating him with such cruelty. Had he any right to beg for forgiveness? After his many crimes.. After his people? Why the fuck did he translate that book, those men and their ideas could rot! He clenched his fists wishing Segeri were near him. He was unable to keep the rifle going into the theater.. Now he was left feeling alone and empty. "Damnit..."

"Alekz?" Riu's voice came to him. He perked up, around the corner he saw Riu walking into the room. "Alekz.. I.. are you alright?" Her voice was different. She sounded less like a woman in attempted seduction and more.. Well sympathetic. He admired the blue and white dress she wore. It had an inner long skirt that was blue with white trim at hits base. On top of that was a veil-like pearly floral fabric. Finally atop was a blue split gown that ran to the right and left yet exposed the middle. Markos had described as.. Japanese? He didn't know what that meant. It had a headpiece at its top, which glittered with a small circle of white and gold. With white floral designs, frills at its front, and sleeves that poofed out largely after going over her shoulders. She had a small window in the center of the dress, below a little flower for her bust. Her white hair was combed cleanly and dressed incredibly over her shoulders with two small parts down her face. Everything worked to accent her icy ocean blue eyes. She looked gorgeous.

"I.. am fine comrade.." He fibbed snapping away from her beauty. "Just.. dealing with things." His PTSD was going off like crazy, flashes of images raced in his mind, he saw dead elves at his feet. People begging for mercy, his own men slaughtered at the Ercelans final weapon.

"Alekzandr.. You're.. Clearly not fine." He looked back up again she was standing over him and pointed at a space on the floor. "Would you mind if I.."

"No of course." He waved his hand indicating for her to sit down. Perhaps if he was smart.. Left with her sooner.. He hated his mind. "I.. did not experience these same attacks when with Asher. I heard of Komandir Exitium during the war.. It was said he was kind to his troops, a good man under General Dmitry, I liked Dmitry. A shame he's dead." Alekzandr gripped the air wishing he had his rifle. He still remembered feigning ignorance when Asher mentioned the war.

"Did.. you just grope the air?" Riu mused, laughing. Alekzandr frowned.

"What? No, no I.. want my rifle- how would you even get that impression?" He grinned wanting to laugh as well. A single tear fell down his right eye. He stared at the wall taking in the kind silence. "People take it for granted.." He whispered.

"Take what?" The Aasimar requested.

"Silence.. Quiet.. Being able to stand alone with one's thoughts... No matter how dark they are." He turned his hand over ignoring the trembling fist he was previously holding. Was he that angry? Had one line... One interference with his rigid dogmatic suppression truly gotten him to that point? Or was it far worse than that? Had he allowed it all to brew below him?

"Alekz.. You don't have to tell me.. But.. I, want you to know I understan-"

"I wanted to imagine it... Just for a little bit." He croaked feeling the despair in his heart. "Every day I like to pretend it is all true." He took a swig and stood up, but for once his brain did not seem to numb enough. He took a seat on a nearby chair, setting one out for Riu; she took it. "That they were good. I'm a Rushiki.. Son of Mother Rushiv."