Before the Storm

Chapter 2: To Chase... A Truth

Acting with no-one else to turn to, Hubris goes back into Ataraxia to alert the only person he could about his findings and what he wants to do to prevent the worst from coming to pass

But the old man doesn't provide the comfort that Hubris wanted at first, fearing that the Knights would only go down the same path that he had tried so hard to stop Thalleous from walking

Author's note: ykw man my illustration game is not strong for these opening chapters; but I drew these like three months prior to release and then just never looked at them again, so it's my own fault. I'm hoping they appear to get better as the fic goes on, since we gon be at this for a few months from now XD

also, yes, this fic does have an update schedule, but it's not as simple as once or twice a week. we're keeping you on your toes this time XD

(also for Wattpad readers, I am still having issues with the image system. I'll get there eventually)

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To say that Hubris was alone ever since the disbanding of the Knights of Ardonia was wrong. He may have been the only one to maintain the cave and polish the silverware when he found the courage to revisit those memories, and he may have been the only one to step foot in the mountainside ever since Ria's spear was returned, but he was far from the only one who still cared for all that had happened ten years ago. He was the only one who did not travel elsewhere even when he sought refuge from the pain of losing so many of his people, to seclude himself from the new person he was becoming in the wake of all that occurred, but he wasn't the only one who remained, for up in the city, in the blacksmith shop as always, Galleous, in his ancient, ageing wisdom still stood proud to be blessed with the knowledge denied to the populous – albeit out of ignorance and refusal.

He may not have seen the Knights valiantly wade their way through treacle to get to the end result that came to pass, but he saw Senn's eyes when he made the decision to leave Ataraxia and join them.

He also saw Senn's eyes when he came back...

To go from the innocent, hurt, clanless silver that they shone, with a glint of hope and determination behind them, to the tinted shade of red, vengeful, spiteful, with the yearn for cunning that sat in the shadow of his irises made Galleous question why he had allowed the boy to go in the first place. He didn't think that things would change so quickly – how swiftly things went awry. Even after everything that he knew – about Thalleous, the clans, the Voltaris, Tygren – he never expected so much harm to befall the boy.

He also never expected him to talk about it. To this day, Galleous knows not of what became of Senn between leaving for Gale Point and returning to Ataraxia before leaving again for Hailstone. Galleous knows not of the brothers, he knows not of Tygren's past intentions with him, he knows not of what Ingressus had said to him; but similarly, he knew it couldn't be as good as Hubris had made out, for Galleous knew Ingressus as only the Deathsinger – a man beyond redemption. There was nothing that someone so hateful, so hated could say to Senn that would change anything. Nothing meaningful, anyway.

Seeing Senn in Voltaris colours hurt Galleous' eyes at first – that someone so innocent could be a part of that clan, especially after all that transpired – but at the end of the day, Galleous had disagreed with Thalleous' intentions and crusades against the Voltaris for a reason. He had a bigger heart and stronger morals. Deep down, the old blacksmith knew that not all Voltaris were to blame for the travesties that befell the Ardoni clans – that the select few pathed the way to prejudice and formed the subsequent stereotype that everyone else came to know and disgust.

Because what is the word of few against the word of a thousand?

Apparently, something more than is worth the breath it takes to shout it; something more than is worth the heart to beat it.