[h3][color=#166FC2]Cloven Brevis[/color][/h3][sub][@TheHangedMan] | [@Bartimaeus][/sub][hr]
[indent][indent]Not too far from the city of Crocus, on its outer edges was an agrestal forest that separated the guarding mountains from the gladiator metropolis. Tall red trees broke the skyward scene, leaving just enough space for a cool breeze to saturate the area. 

Cloven felt this breeze, believed that it was brushing the strands of his raven hair. But he knew very little. The red trees had ancient parents, elders whose roots were bent, gnarled, and made a decent den for those searching. The one Cloven had found was spacious and would do for the complete mess he had become and needed to sort out. At first, he had found the place by accident. Upon returning, he ran and he ran hard. Ran so fast and so long, that the city had blurred into forest, and evening into night. He had lost any desire to actually understand where he was headed, so three days later, when he awoke beneath the shade of an Elder Red (he started calling them that a week into his excursions), damp and musty; he was confused.

The journey back to Fenixtear that first time had brought revelation to him. He was no longer afraid of Grasidia, though logic had told him now more than ever it was necessary. [color=#166FC2][i]She and I… [/i][/color] A stake was driven deeper into his head. He stopped thinking altogether, immediately. That same afternoon, he realized the dread was gone. But now he was anxious, far too anxious. Breathing became hard around her and he had to stifle screams when he [i]could[/i] find his breath. It was like she had opened a box of horrors; a box of eldritch devils. 

It was becoming too stressful to stay at the guild, so he packed a few necessities and moved out to the red tree forest. There he found ways of coping with his new insight. The first was distraction. He had remembered; Marduk was helpful in that regard. A book of knowledge, so to speak. He was really good at talking, knew what to say and how to say it, when to say it too. Cloven found that hard to replicate but he tried. Often though, he was too distracted. Obviously so. A few times he had interrupted the lesson. 

[color=#166FC2]“Sorry, Marduk. I can’t seem to concentrate today. I think we can stop.”[/color] A great excuse to hide the panic threatening to boil over and force manic laughter or harrowing screams. 

When that happened, he would run back to the forest, crouch tight in his little den (knees near his chest and arms laid over them) and just stare out. Not seeing anything but mentally placing pieces back to home. Sometimes he heard a voice, a knowing, sympathetic baritone that lingered on cocksure. [color=#64A7DF]‘Let it go, don’t fight it, Cloven.’[/color] It would suggest. [color=#64A7DF]‘All things will pass in time, this too will pass.’[/color] Then the most cryptic. [color=#64A7DF]‘Find grace.’[/color] 

That’s where he was now, on the last stretch of one of his ‘[i]moments[/i]’. It was frightening and pathetic all at once. He had spent the majority of his life unaffected by murderers, rapists, and bullies. And now, a simple conversation had broken him. He shuttered an exhale, [color=#166FC2]“Finally.”[/color] 

He stood on shaky legs then started back towards the guild. His first journey there had been interrupted by the sudden mental-attack, and he refused to let it be laid-out for all to see just how fractured he’d become. Marduk might know, Grasidia for sure would, but only the observant would take notice, and even then, only those keen to him would worry that it was any different than normal loner-vibes. Afterall the guild had become crowded since their victory against the monster. 

[color=#166FC2][i]Monster… No! Don’t think,[/i][/color] he commanded, tensing every muscle he had. 

Cloven grabbed his weathered cloak, latched it over his shoulders, and started off through the peaceful forest at a lazy pace. [color=#166FC2]“Another mission will do me good. I’m running low on jewels.”[/color] Then the pressure of it all started to weaken him again and he came to halt, surrounded by gentle sunlight. [color=#166FC2]“... Maybe I should talk to someone about all this. Marduk, maybe. I wouldn’t consider him a friend but he certainly isn’t judgy and he might… he might have an answer.”[/color][/indent][/indent]