[IRW Aylhr] Penumbra - SD242307.15 - The Melancholy of Rhae'go tr'Neyl Pt 2

A Mission Post by Riov Rhaego tr'Neyl
Mission: Penumbra
Location: Neyl Estate, Aihai, Ch'Rihan
Timeline: 2 Weeks Previous

[Neyl Estate, Aihai, Ch'Rihan]

With a wry grin, Ihho dusted off her soil-stained trousers as she entered the spacious kitchen. The setting sun cast long, golden shadows across the room, painting the rustic stone walls and wooden furniture in a warm, inviting hue. The remnants of their meal still sat on the table, but Ihho paid them no mind, her determined gaze settling on Rhae'go.

"Ah, where we left off," Rhae'go answered, exchanging an amused glance with D'Nal. Rhae'go had always admired Ihho's fiery spirit, as relentless as Eisn burning through the vast vacuum of space.

Outside, the wind began to sing its low, mournful melody, rustling through the leaves of the ancient trees that dotted the estate. Their towering forms swayed gently in the evening breeze, silhouetted against the twilight sky that resembled a great cosmic canvas, painted in brilliant hues of fiery orange and deep purple.

Just then, a high-pitched, jarring sound cut through the quiet evening – Maec and Maiell were at it again, their laughter echoing across the sprawling estate. The sound was like a healing elixir, mending the broken silences of years past. The children's unrestrained mirth filled the manor's corridors with a sense of warmth and life that had been absent for far too long.

"I wanted to ask you," Ihho began, her voice slicing through the reverie. "Why did you choose now to return? There must be a reason, Rhae'go. The tides of destiny don't turn without cause."

Rhae'go took a moment to answer, his dark eyes reflecting the last traces of the day's light. "Ihho, remember when we were young? The times we would stay up all night listening to the old tales of S'Task? Those stories of brave warriors and endless space voyages sparked something in me, a longing to traverse the stars. But now..." He paused, his gaze turning distant. "Ever since my mother's death, the stars have felt meaningless…" he sighed "but now, as Leih of the Aylhr, I may be able to do something more than exhist in that empty vacuum. Perhaps I can find the one responsible, perhaps…" his voice trailed off.

D'Nal cast a knowing glance at Rhae'go, his stern facade momentarily softening. The sentiment was not lost on him. Space was beautiful, but it could also be incredibly cold and isolating. There was something comforting about the familiar touch of home soil, something that no star could replicate.

Ihho simply nodded, her gaze thoughtful. "I see. The prodigal son returns home, to take his revenge then. What does that mean for house Neyl?"

Rhae'go met her gaze with a determined one of his own. "It means we start anew. We rebuild. House Neyl will rise once again, not just in name, but in honor, in glory, in the blood of our house's enemies."

At that moment, Eviess bustled back into the room, a list clutched in her hand. She stopped at the sight of Ihho, then at Rhae'go, her keen eyes taking in the heavy atmosphere. With an understanding nod, she turned to Ihho. "You've dirtied your dress again, child. Go clean up."

Ihho sighed dramatically but complied, throwing a playful salute at Rhae'go as she left. "We'll continue this later, hru'hfirh."

Rhae'go chuckled as Ihho retreated, her playful defiance in stark contrast to the tense exchange they'd just had. A wisp of nostalgia curled around him as he took another long look at the fading hues of the twilight through the kitchen's large window. The grandeur of House Neyl, so richly bathed in sunset's tender glow, seemed to breathe with a quiet resolve, a testament to its past and a promise to its future.

The distant sound of Maec and Maiell's laughter came to him once again, a reminder of the younger generation's blissful innocence during a tempest of change. Their laughter was like a summer rain, washing away the dust and dirt of a long, weary journey and making the world feel fresh and new again.

He turned his attention back to Eviess, whose aging eyes still glinted with a wisdom that time had only refined. She was busy scribbling something on her list, the gentle scratching of her pen against parchment adding to the room's rustic symphony.

"Eviess," he began, his voice softer now. "Do you think we can restore glory to this house?"

The elderly woman paused, pen held mid-air, her gaze never leaving the parchment. After a few moments of silence, she replied, her voice as gentle as the passing breeze.

"Rhae'go, in our lives, we find ourselves standing on the edge of precipices more often than not, uncertain if we should take that leap of faith or retreat to the safety of the familiar. But remember, the mightiest trees were once mere seeds, bearing within them the courage to grow despite the uncertainty of weather and soil."

She finally turned to look at him, a small, understanding smile gracing her wrinkled face. "Right or wrong is not ours to foresee, Rhae'go. We do what we must, with the best intentions, and let the stars above guide us."

Her words washed over him like a calming tide, soothing his concerns, if only for a moment. Rhae'go had seen more than his fair share of cosmic wonders, yet, as he sat there in the gradually darkening room, the wisdom of the stars seemed closer to home than ever before.

As the last vestiges of daylight disappeared, swallowed by the sprawling inky veil of night, the house seemed to settle into a comforting lull. The scent of firewood and the quiet hum of the distant winds intermingled with Eviess' floral perfume, a unique melody of homely comfort that he hadn't realized he'd missed until now.

Eviess rose, her old joints creaking slightly. "I'll prepare your old room, Rhae'go. We've a long day ahead tomorrow."

Rhae'go nodded, standing to leave the kitchen. He paused at the threshold, taking one last look at the rustic room, now a gentle tableau of homely intimacy, bathed in the silver moonlight. He breathed in deeply, the scent of the old wooden beams and cooling hearthstone bringing an unexpected wave of contentment.

His journey through the cosmos had been thrilling, but perhaps, just perhaps, the true adventure lay right here, within the familiar stone walls of House Neyl. A challenge far removed from the vast expanses of space, yet equally monumental.

Stepping outside, he looked up. Amidst the celestial ballet of distant galaxies and nebulas, ch'Rihan's twin ch'Havran shone brightly against the inky canvas of the night, casting a silvery glow upon the silent estate. As the whispers of the nocturnal breeze danced around him, Rhae'go couldn't help but think that, indeed, he was home.

[End]

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