Apelatia
Well-Known Member
Just like that, it was over. Melkanai let out the breath that he had unknowingly been holding whilst Gemel gave his response. He hadn't realised just how on edge he had been throughout the latter half of the encounter, but with Loyal's life on the line maybe it was understandable. With Gemel being the man he was, anything could have realistically happened. However, in the end, it seemed that sanity might have won the little skirmish over insanity within the crazed man's head. With no reason left to feel tense, Melk relaxed, listening in as Gemel chatted about some woman that they were no doubt going to meet in the near future. Loyal wasn't able to glean the woman's identity from Gemel's cryptic remarks about her, so Melk doubted that he would have an easier time of it. The fallen Arclight looked quite humbled by the whole experience as he thanked the group for their intervention on his behalf. Perhaps having the fate of his life stripped from his hands might have given him some insight. Unsure what to make of everything, Melk simply smiled and nodded at the immortal once he had finished speaking. He had surprised himself to a certain extent. Since his forced exile had begun, the teenager hadn't felt any particular compassion nor friendliness towards Varus. Rather, he had been more neutral than anything. He disagreed with the man's motives for undertaking the mission. Add to this the fact that Loyal was so unlike him in character and quantity of life experience, forming any semblance of a connection between them seemed a bit of a long shot. Now though, he had actively gone out of his way to defend Loyal against Gemel and had done his best to stop the crazed man from taking Loyal's life. Did this signify a change in his stance towards Loyal, or was it merely an act of selfishness on his part? After all, without Loyal, there was little hope of surviving the next Guardian.
With Carolyn disappearing off with Perran to speak about who knows what and Gemel not-so-politely asking Loyal to stop talking to him, Melk got up from the tree trunk and walked slowly over to the fallen Arclight. Sitting down, he hesitated, then placed a comforting arm around Loyal's corrupted shoulders, before voicing his somewhat muddled thoughts. "We did what we did because we trust and believe in you to lead us on. Without you, we'd be carcasses strewn about Arunsia's wilderness by now..." Melk couldn't bring himself to look at Loyal out of nerves, despite what he was saying, so instead he avoided the immortal's gaze. "I think you've grown on me - once I wouldn't have dreamed of defending you, but now it's a little different. The group needs to stay together, and for that we need our fearless leader. Stay strong, Loyal!" Giving the fallen Arclight a brief sideways grin, Melk removed his arm and moved to sit a little further away, giving the man some space. Speeches weren't really his thing, but he had tried his best. Now, to hope that what had taken place between Carolyn and Gilly hadn't damaged the integrity of the group...
With Carolyn disappearing off with Perran to speak about who knows what and Gemel not-so-politely asking Loyal to stop talking to him, Melk got up from the tree trunk and walked slowly over to the fallen Arclight. Sitting down, he hesitated, then placed a comforting arm around Loyal's corrupted shoulders, before voicing his somewhat muddled thoughts. "We did what we did because we trust and believe in you to lead us on. Without you, we'd be carcasses strewn about Arunsia's wilderness by now..." Melk couldn't bring himself to look at Loyal out of nerves, despite what he was saying, so instead he avoided the immortal's gaze. "I think you've grown on me - once I wouldn't have dreamed of defending you, but now it's a little different. The group needs to stay together, and for that we need our fearless leader. Stay strong, Loyal!" Giving the fallen Arclight a brief sideways grin, Melk removed his arm and moved to sit a little further away, giving the man some space. Speeches weren't really his thing, but he had tried his best. Now, to hope that what had taken place between Carolyn and Gilly hadn't damaged the integrity of the group...