Sy was the personification of security, the foundation for order. When he was killed in a goblin siege, Burbon had lost more than a leader and a soldier; the town and its people lost the essence of their identity.
Captain Klusac had assumed command, but he had grown anxious over whether or not he could gain the respect and trust of those he led. He never doubted his abilities as a soldier, but he openly wondered if he could replace Sy Fenden and hold the town together.
When Sy's spirit returned, those doubts disappeared. He didn't have to replace the respected captain, he only had to hold to the courage and duty of a true soldier.
Ryson, however, never considered himself a soldier, and the delver's perspective was often foreign to the captain.
"What does his return mean to you?" Klusac asked of the delver.
"The substantiation of a new perspective," Ryson responded without hesitation. "Sy died. No one can dispute that fact, yet here he is. We know it's him. You can communicate with him, even if I can't... at least not directly."
"We all agree on that matter. I don't think there's anyone in Burbon who doubts this is truly the spirit of Sy Fenden. Surely the soldiers know it's him. We felt his presence in battle."
"And that's exactly what I'm talking about. Sy filled your soldiers with courage and determination, not through some grand speech or battle cry, but through a fashion that can't be described in physical terms. He reached them through his spirit."
"Again, I don't think there's anyone who would argue that point, either. We felt his presence before we even saw him."
"But you're not matching his arrival with your own circumstances. That's the perspective I'm talking about. His very presence here now confirms what I saw in Demonspawn."
"I'm not sure what you mean. You've told me about what you saw, but you just said the people of this town may be failing to understand the significance of Sy's return. What does your experience have to do with the rest of us... the rest of the town?"
Ryson decided to try and make the connection more apparent, even if it meant asking a rather dire question.
"Have you considered what will happen to you when you die?"
Klusac frowned.
"It's not something I dwell upon," the captain admitted.
"Even as a ghost stands right next to you?"
"You think that after my... demise, I might return to protect Burbon as well?"
"I have no idea what will happen to you... or me... or anyone else. I'm just pointing out a simple fact. A spirit stands before us right at this moment. Sy is actually listening to our conversation. With all that the return of magic has brought, I can almost understand how such a thing could seem almost trivial, but I can't dismiss certain implications."
"And they are?"
"There must be more to life than our current existence in this land. If not, how could Sy be standing here now? And if there is more, what do I need to do to understand it?"
"Maybe you should be more focused on the life you have now," Klusac offered.
Ryson knew he couldn't explain his considerations to the captain, and he didn't wish to try. Klusac had not seen what he had seen.
"For me, I can't separate the two," Ryson offered. "Not anymore."
Klusac realized debating the delver was a pointless effort. Rather than argue, he decided to focus on minimizing the danger to both Ryson and Burbon.
"I've never understood what drives a delver," Klusac admitted. "Do what you have to do, but don't leave us too long. You're still a valued member of this town... and of the guard. Sy can protect us against many threats, but your services as a scout in the surrounding lands add to our defenses."
Ryson considered the request. He knew he was just beginning his search, but it was not a quest that would be completed in a single trip. With the harvest coming to a close and the dormant season nearing, he believed the first leg of his journey could be completed fairly quickly and he could return to Burbon in a few
Captain Klusac had assumed command, but he had grown anxious over whether or not he could gain the respect and trust of those he led. He never doubted his abilities as a soldier, but he openly wondered if he could replace Sy Fenden and hold the town together.
When Sy's spirit returned, those doubts disappeared. He didn't have to replace the respected captain, he only had to hold to the courage and duty of a true soldier.
Ryson, however, never considered himself a soldier, and the delver's perspective was often foreign to the captain.
"What does his return mean to you?" Klusac asked of the delver.
"The substantiation of a new perspective," Ryson responded without hesitation. "Sy died. No one can dispute that fact, yet here he is. We know it's him. You can communicate with him, even if I can't... at least not directly."
"We all agree on that matter. I don't think there's anyone in Burbon who doubts this is truly the spirit of Sy Fenden. Surely the soldiers know it's him. We felt his presence in battle."
"And that's exactly what I'm talking about. Sy filled your soldiers with courage and determination, not through some grand speech or battle cry, but through a fashion that can't be described in physical terms. He reached them through his spirit."
"Again, I don't think there's anyone who would argue that point, either. We felt his presence before we even saw him."
"But you're not matching his arrival with your own circumstances. That's the perspective I'm talking about. His very presence here now confirms what I saw in Demonspawn."
"I'm not sure what you mean. You've told me about what you saw, but you just said the people of this town may be failing to understand the significance of Sy's return. What does your experience have to do with the rest of us... the rest of the town?"
Ryson decided to try and make the connection more apparent, even if it meant asking a rather dire question.
"Have you considered what will happen to you when you die?"
Klusac frowned.
"It's not something I dwell upon," the captain admitted.
"Even as a ghost stands right next to you?"
"You think that after my... demise, I might return to protect Burbon as well?"
"I have no idea what will happen to you... or me... or anyone else. I'm just pointing out a simple fact. A spirit stands before us right at this moment. Sy is actually listening to our conversation. With all that the return of magic has brought, I can almost understand how such a thing could seem almost trivial, but I can't dismiss certain implications."
"And they are?"
"There must be more to life than our current existence in this land. If not, how could Sy be standing here now? And if there is more, what do I need to do to understand it?"
"Maybe you should be more focused on the life you have now," Klusac offered.
Ryson knew he couldn't explain his considerations to the captain, and he didn't wish to try. Klusac had not seen what he had seen.
"For me, I can't separate the two," Ryson offered. "Not anymore."
Klusac realized debating the delver was a pointless effort. Rather than argue, he decided to focus on minimizing the danger to both Ryson and Burbon.
"I've never understood what drives a delver," Klusac admitted. "Do what you have to do, but don't leave us too long. You're still a valued member of this town... and of the guard. Sy can protect us against many threats, but your services as a scout in the surrounding lands add to our defenses."
Ryson considered the request. He knew he was just beginning his search, but it was not a quest that would be completed in a single trip. With the harvest coming to a close and the dormant season nearing, he believed the first leg of his journey could be completed fairly quickly and he could return to Burbon in a few
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