I’ve not been so scared in a long time. A man, tall and broad, his stature looming over me, shouting threats. My reaction... attacking him, not caring at all for anyone else around. So very similar to a nightmare I was trying to forget. And then an absolute bloodbath, him chasing after me like a maniac, absorbed by the aim of killing me. I was lucky, my friends saved me, but the distraction also allowed Maximus’ spellcaster to get away.
But then he fell… much to my relief! Next to him, Braz refused to stabilise his fallen form and chose to let him die. I came round and standing next to him his argument that Maximus’ death would end the slavery of minotaurs felt more powerful than any compulsion to find out more from him. Thankfully, the document we found on him though clarified how the oaths work and the fact that Gaius and, implicitly, Sydon are responsible for the issue of slavery. Vallus was right… but I am too tired and hurt to even consider this tonight.
The battle ends and, despite the fear I am in one piece and seem to be the only one worse for wear. Fair payment for the impulsive reaction that started it all. My friends look well. They’ve also already fixed my own mistake, Calliope’s song reviving the minotaur I had singed. He was not collateral damage, that’s an appalling excuse when the reality is that I panicked and didn’t even consider who else may be hit. This wasn’t the controlled wave of energy I released on Helikaon back in the mines. Back then I thought I was making a point about tactics and making sure we think about using our powers in the best way possible in battle; against an ally that I knew well could brush it off. That was a terrible excuse as well and, as much I won’t admit it to Helikaon himself, I am so terribly sorry. An ally should never get hit on the battlefield, intentionally or not. A defenceless by-stander even less...