Finding Contentus

Chapter 32: The R&R Tale (1)

Just then, another odd thought of disbelief came over him, which ironically enough gave him the last embers of strength that he could leave his beautiful wife with. Like why he still couldn't cry even on that despicable day.

"You need to be strong Banti. No matter what. Promise me you'll be strong for them. You are their best hope. You are their bright light. Besides, this isn't the end. For my love, my spirit and my soul, belongs to you, and it will always be with you."

Renero bravely summoned up all his power to beat his chest once and leave her and everyone else with the most arrogant, mighty and proud beaming smile that showed off all his white teeth shining with the light behind him like only a chief of his caliber and nature could possibly show.

A perfect smile that he imperfectly masked with the pain that showed through his pitch-black eyes of sorrow. The last thing they saw, being his proud lion cape flapping in the wind, carrying him away with his flying spear of nations.

After that sincere goodbye - well... the rest is already known with the events that led to his capture and nightmarish torture while the rest of the Racaans moved on without him.

The last thing Renero heard was Banti's heart breaking, realm shattering screams, shrieks, cries and wails that had the agonizing power to have all the ancestors, all the gods, and all the forces of hell, heaven and earth, crying on their knees without rest. To the point where the black universe swallowed everything whole in Banti's overwhelming grief, sorrow and loss.

★★★

Devastating silence surrounded the main room and choked the two men inside of it.

The whole time Renero had been staring at a burning light that had just gone off in the last stretch of his summarized and brief tale, leaving behind only a whisk of smoke. His eyes were dark and clouded in heartache, so clouded and moist that he forgot that Ramsis was in front of him when his gaze rose upwards to still see him on the opposite side and in the same chained position.

Ramsis had not only remained silent the whole time in not meeting Renero's eyes, but felt like he had literally been transported back in time with the low and quiet intensity in which Renero spoke of his misfortune and that of his people. He would even mimic the voices of the respective people in his story, especially his own family when needed.

So much so that Ramsis could now see images of them all around them in this very moment with the scenes he had recounted. As though they were all here in the house from the past.

So much so that he could see himself amongst them as an onlooker from the outside, witnessing everything and being present in his own memories, feelings, reasonings and circumstances.

So much so that Ramsis finally felt like he had become much closer to understanding Renero. Not just as the last Chief of the Racaans, not just as the man who slaughtered his family and many others, but as a person, an actual person. Making him torment over the possible madness that drove Ramsis that day to free Renero from his tortured suffering after five years.

Suffering that he could relate to on a lesser scale. Suffering that Renero didn't bother going over. Neither would Ramsis for that matter in going into unnecessary detail regarding that nightmarish period of torture in both their lives.

Both men in the room had experienced all kinds of coping mechanisms possible in that regard, and were still dealing with their respective coping mechanisms in their own way.

Ramsis grimaced with a low growl and a heavy sigh that sounded tired and pained with barren eyes. Even the manner he dropped his head down to let his thick dreadlocks obscure his face showcased all levels of exhaustion and weakness.